Game: Cthulhu Nation
Publisher: Twisted Empire
Reviewer: CaptainMarsh
Review Dated: 30th, October 2006
Reviewer’s Rating: 10/10 [ Breathtaking ]
Total Score: 10
Average Score: 10.00
This is the first browser-based game I’ve ever played, however I found it almost immediately addictive and exciting to play. I have also seen screen shots from other, similiar, games, but most of them appear very basic and primitive compared to Cthulhu Nation.
The basis for the game is a Lovecraftian fight against sanity-draining monsters and other more generic creatures. Unlike Lovecraft’s original stories, the players in Cthulhu Nation at least have a fighting chance. The trade off for this game is that, while the lesser creatures are easy to kill, many of the larger – More Lovecraftian ones – are almost impossible to kill. And everything will slowly raise your level of Insanity, which can get quickly dangerous at a higher level.
Some of the downsides of it include a relatively slow-paced beginning that doesn’t pick up until you find the quest that allows you to pick one of five professions (Scholar, Scientist, Private Investigator, Archaeologist, or Journalist). Also, because of bandwidth constraints, the game has a Stamina stat that regenerates at a suitable pace, but keeps the player from non-stop usage. Although I understand some similiar games have overnight regeneration, which this does not. Finally, for those die hard Lovecraftian fans, the current set of quests isn’t as Lovecraftesque as it could be, though that may change in the future.
The upsides are that it is quite immersive once you get into it, and the player-base and game play are very enjoyable. Finding new quests and exploring the weapons and magic available will keep most people entertained for a long time. The game is also being constantly expanded and worked on, consistently giving the players new content and items on a regular basis. Biweekly (roughly) quests give the players a chance to gather together to complete fixed goals for the mysterious entity known as The Group.
All in all an interesting and engulfing game that can be either played for free, or for a fair monthly price, subscribed to, to add lots of other content.
