Isle of the Dead

Isle of the Dead description

"Supermatrix", "worst game of all time" and so on – these are not the most flattering evaluation received this game in 1993 when he appeared in the light. And after twelve years it was called "a masterpiece of the underground". In my opinion, right and wrong and those and others, but what is now before us – something truly unique (especially in its "spirit"), not be questioned.

Isle of the Dead is one of the first hybrids of 3D action and first person adventure games. The plot, as always in these games, the complexity and depth of Shine: you're here – the only surviving passenger of a plane that crashed on a desert (technically, friends, technically a desert!!!) island in the South Pacific. And if the original we kind of need to play "survival simulator", that is to find food, medicines, weapons for protection from wild animals and some way to get out of here, already very soon will have to meet with horrific zombies, wolves, mutants and other local residents, and at the same time to solve the spooky mystery of the cursed island. If we can survive, of course.

Gameplay, as mentioned above, is a combination action and adventure: the island go with a first-person Catacombs 3D/Wolfenstein 3D as soon as we get in a room (and they're out there, the first salon of the wreckage with the bodies) – the first-person view remains, but the interface is already another "point and click" with "mouse" control: even have to navigate by clicking on arrows, and you can collect items in the inventory to talk (Yes), something to explore, use, and so on – as in the quest. This approach may seem to some to be wild, but it looks at least interesting.

In the game, not many weapons, the first and probably the best is a knife a machete. Then it will be the shotgun, for example, but it still has "not"... there are some standard things like first aid kits, and there are "alternative" things, but no less needed - bananas and coconuts, for example.

But if there was only this, Isle of the Dead would be neither excellent nor nasty game is just pretty mediocre with a couple of amusing moments. But no. Isle of the Dead is truly a masterpiece, albeit a masterpiece of trash, underground and black humor. First, there are the monsters, not just monsters, and the MONSTERS – these creatures are hard to come by anywhere else. To describe them positively impossible – it is necessary to see with my own eyes. Let me just note that a lot of them not only by species, but in numbers they are very strong, evil, and horribly cruel (not the fact that they just killed, is only in rare cases), and fight with them often have just hand to hand (or rather, a knife).

Second, there is BLOOD and violence – and in a fairly naturalistic and obviously with a multiple excess of the prescribed norms of the average one minute of playing time - and it is clear that thought out and drawn all this was a truly sadistic enthusiasm. To die there can be many different ways (in a trap, the Fang of the giant bat, from the teeth of wolves or zombies) and each time the process of your eating and the bloody feast of creatures will show you all the details.

Finally, in the third – there is HUMOR, but not just black, but very black. But some scenes should recognize the "directorial discovery" - for example, a house in the village of the natives (Yes, there are natives), in which you have a surprise in the form of a modern toilet room, where the local aboriginal defecate, reading a foreign newspaper... that's not all of what you are there to see - which is, for example, only one out of the game...

Graphically, it is a riot of fantasy addicts, vulgar and sadistic looks admittedly good – there is, perhaps, not even 2.5 D, but still a good drawing backgrounds and, more importantly, very well made sprites of monsters. It is seen that each location (and the various places you have to visit a lot), the team invented and created with great love and care.

The verdict this time to endure simply impossible: such things cannot be measured in only one sign (plus or minus) and always present a multifaceted portrait composed of many paradoxes. In my opinion, the game (especially now, with the "height" of the passed years) in any case should not be judged as something serious, applying for any credit, but of historical interest she is sure. At least, to look at it is by far and decide how to treat it – as a masterpiece of the "counterculture" or the hideous hack of sadists, can then.

Wish to enjoy your afternoon playing some classic videogames? Play Isle of the Dead online for free here.

Source: Archive.org, Mobygames.com