Nocturne - PC Games

Nocturne consists of four separate stories, which can be played in any order, each blending adventure and action gaming. At one moment, you may interrogate frightened citizens or use inventory objects to solve puzzles; other times you may need to carefully traverse broken bridges or draw your pistol, Tommy gun or other weapon to gun down ferocious monsters. You view Nocturne's world from a third-person perspective, leaving you at the mercy of the game's awkward camera system--which is a deadly problem during the hectic combat sequences.

Ample use of grey and brown textures, combined with excellent shadows and ambient sound effects, creates a moody--and quite dark--atmosphere. Nocturne's diverse locations look amazingly realistic, and its character and monster models move with detailed fluidity--but the realism requires a hefty gaming machine. Startling music cues and plentiful dark areas provide genuine scares; Nocturne keeps you up well into the night and looking over your shoulder at every turn. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros: Four distinct adventures Moody graphics enhance the horror atmosphere Generates genuine scares, especially when played at night Solid blend of adventure and action Cons: Steep system requirements Poor camera system hinders combat sequences