Vampires (Nosferatu: the Wrath of Malachi)
Platform: PC
Genre: action
Developer: Idol FX
Publisher: iGames
Russian publisher: 1C/SnowBall
Computer Requirements:
Minimum
System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP;
Processor: Pentium III 600;
Memory: 128 Mb;
Video Card: compatible with DirectX;
CD-ROM drive: 6-speed;
Hard disk: 750 Mb free disk space;
Drivers: DirectX 8.1.
Featured
System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP;
Processor: Pentium III 866;
Memory: 256 Mb;
CD-ROM speed: 12-speed;
Hard disk: 1 Gb of free space;
www.idolfx.se
www.snowball.ru / vampires
-Come join us in Transylvania.
- I'd rather you to us.
Our American brothers on reason got this game on the eve of Halloween, and entitled «Nosferatu: the Wrath of Malachi», that is to say, "Nosferatu, Rage Malashi. In the sense of not Malanya or porridge-malashi and a Transylvanian prince. We just did not taste the classic imperialist belching black-and-white Hollywood, this project is declared under the guise of a laconic "Vampires". This writer still would retain the aspect of specifying, say: "Vampires: The horror of Carpathian castle", or something in that vein. After reading the review, the reader can decide which of the three names is preferable, and offer a couple of his own.
Let's start with history. English aristocratic family decided to intermarry with certain Romanian Count. And imagine, for the marriage has been selected ancient and dark Transylvanian castle. Where, indeed, the whole family - the complete set of relatives, friends, doctor, priest, etc. - Immediately go. Delayed only lyric hero "Vampire", a young Jack Crowe, who has a useful habit to carry a suitcase filled with steel blade-type sword. Based in the castle too evil to the game prepared: aspen scattered through the rooms of cola, ammunition and medical kits, distributed a pious family in the territory, making a precise timetable for the ritual killing and gastronomic, and ... hidden. That's the background unobtrusively goes down in history. Eyeballs marks a spectacular fall father Avilla, was awarded in the category "Paster Schlag 2003. Saving relatives, Milyaga Jack gradually unravels a conspiracy of dark forces, fraught with the resurrection of the above Malashi, prince of vampires.
But God forbid the reader to decide what I put "Nosferatu" to blame this whole skit. Niskolechko. Such is, it seems, the law geymindustrii: Do not fuck up stories, games will not do. Another thing is how it fuck up. See below.
Toy marketed by developers just like horror, but because the research of test group was involved, sensitive to the Hollywood horror story. The result can be illustrated roughly as follows:
The author in front of the monitor in headphones holding a mouse, the keyboard klatsat
Author: - Can you say terrible game or not?
Test Group and is suitable for the backs of the author.
Test Group: - Well.
Jack Crowe comes in dark, poorly lit room. Crash, crash and fly board, terrible screams. Author twitches (mentally) and begins to shrug off the looming vampire blade-type sword. Bloody kolomut, creature defeated, the hero gasping after a hot fight.
T.G: - Well, when it is scared?
Author scratching his head, poses for a test of the stool and gives the headphones. The next two minutes, TGtwitches constantly, and then removes the headphones, but stays in front of the monitor to observe the adventures of Jack.
Curtain.
But before giving the final verdict is almost obvious, we explain the other components of the game.
From the beginning, I amuse technical arbitrariness developers. Have not provided them opportunities to influence the work of graphic engine, adjust the brightness, the volume of music and sound. However, vampires are known to cast no shadow, and therefore setting the quality of shadows, of course, would be superfluous. With this approach, it is not surprising that the whole technical side of graphics along the lines of a miserly minimalism: 800x600, a serious shortage of all evil polygon, primitive lighting. But, surprisingly, the picture can not be revisited! Obviously the Swedish developer Idol FX family is known for some infernal secret images of bleak Transylvanian castle and the Dead critters. Caper trupachey small fry, in general, the appeal is only one gripe - pattern: we have already seen it all in other games. But the vampire bosses moving with relish, as the cinematic prototypes.
As you have probably guessed, the gravy is filed under uzhastikovoy 3D-action game. What we see in this context? Most of the creatures crammed into the forehead, waving limbs. In this case the door jamb, a table or stool are on their way an obstacle insurmountable. But evil differently, so to speak, by way of destruction. Vampires calm down, just get an aspen stake into the heart, and not even once. Stray balls of darkness fear of crucifixes, etc. It is worth noting that weapons-grade equipment is original, designed in the spirit of the turn of the XIX-XX centuries and well balanced. The latter does not apply to trim the central part of the castle. Scattered throughout its territory mini-pools nullify the main drawback grail: a small number of enclosing the holy water. A gathered for a half-game three hundred rounds of ammunition, reunited at last with a machine gun dedusi Frank.
It's time to put in a word for the so-called architectural Generator, a formula which, according to developers: a new game = new lock. The trouble is that this engineering marvel not dare to sculpt the original interior, but merely articulated a room in a more or less random order. In conjunction with the general scarcity and monotony of the situation is already becoming a serious problem, according to an alternative formula: the architectural generator + monotonous environment + no minimap = acute attack of topographical cretinism. After the third restart all occurred configuration space finally come together in my head. However, when tempered by these executions cerebellum is derived from the East (read first) wing of the castle, it became easier. But in the center of Transylvanian architectural masterpiece has a new problem - the huge, creepy annoying, dark rooms.
Quest item (the investigation vampire conspiracy) of the game there, but overwhelmed by an endless legwork and klyuchno-linear methods of cleaning the castle. In addition, there is no such a necessary thing as a magazine - well, I can not remember the statements of all these uncles, aunts, priests and doctors.Especially, when ghouls yes vampires for a moment to relax do not give.
So after all these, for the most part not very flattering, words have to go back to the ability to scare and keep on their toes. There it is! Swedish programmers have not sinned against the style and atmosphere. In general, despite the questionable quality of individual components, the game failed. Paradoxically, it is a fact. It only remains to wait for dividends "Nosferartu" will enigmatic Scandinavians scare us grown-up.
And on the localization. I honestly never would have noticed that the game in translation - ie the guys from the Snowball worked cleanly. Particularly pleased with such a nice detail, like Mr. Kingston, tightening now and then, "Goodbye America".
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