Gothic horror full of magic and nightmares. Clive Barker's Undying was a critical hit, but a financial flop
Condemning howls of monsters, a cursed family, and a haunted mansion - this is what Electronic Arts tried to scare us with in 2001. Clive Barker's Undying remains to this day a perfect example of how plot and atmosphere should look in games.
The idea for Clive Barker's Undying was born at the DreamWorks Interactive studio, a branch of the iconic film production company, which, with Steven Spielberg's influence, wanted to develop a horror game. The title underwent many changes throughout its development. Finally released under the Electronic Arts label, the game enchanted critics from around the world, but this didn't save it from being a sales disaster. Even after almost 25 years, it remains a superb blend of FPS and adventure action game, with an atmosphere that many modern hits could envy.
Gothic horror story
Clive Barker's Undying starts like a classic haunted house novel. As Patrick Galloway - a veteran of World War I and an expert in occultism - we respond to the invitation of an old friend from the front, ending up at the estate of Jeremiah Covenant. It turns out that our comrade became the last heir to the estate, after his brothers and sisters lost their lives. Nonetheless, this doesn't stop them from remaining on their family estates, all due to a ritual performed years back as a childish prank.
The storyline is the strongest part of Clive Barker's Undying, though it demands some effort from us since the complete picture isn't shown through dialogues or cutscenes. We only get to know it by browsing through old notes or using Patrick's magic. The main character can use a spell that reveals to him what is hidden - for instance, the bloody face of a family painting or echoes of past events. The game also suggests when to use the Scrye spell, whispering in our ear the words "look" or "look around."
This reveals the siblings' fate, their tendency towards aggression, fascination with dark arts, and slow spiral into madness. Here we reach another excellent element of Clive Barker's Undying - the atmosphere.
Playing with fear
It's raining outside. Thunder is rumbling. Agonizing screams of the servants echo around the mannor. The player's heart is beating like crazy. The first stages involve some film tricks. There, we can notice suddenly fading lights, creatures visible only in mirrors, and window curtains fluttering in the wind, hiding impending danger.
Sound design is another thing that does the job. Every exit to the menu is accompanied by a disturbing theme, which doesn't let us forget for a moment about the horrors. The soundtrack by Bill Brown (known for the Command & Conquer music score) subtly complements the ambient sounds during gameplay. Our senses heighten the floor's creaks, the repulsive splashes as we step into a pool of blood, or the constant howling. How many times I've jumped in fear because of this!
Thanks to such details, we can feel in Clive Barker's Undying the darkness characteristic of E.A. Poe, the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft, and, finally, the repulsive nightmares of Clive Barker himself. The last of these writers not only lent his name to the game, but also gave it a unique flair.
Clive Barker dots the i's and crosses the t's
The director and writer of the iconic 1987 horror film Hellraiser, and the author of the Book of Blood short story collections, became part of the team during development. The studio required someone to guide the narrative direction and manage the event pacing. What's interesting, they thought about seeking help from another horror expert, Stephen King. Brady Bell, one of the game's developers, acknowledged that they selected Clive Barker because his stories were more rooted in fantasy.
The English artist rejected the original idea for the protagonist, who was supposed to be Count Magnus Wolfram - a bald eccentric with tattoos all over his body. According to the writer, he didn't look like someone a player could identify with. Barker wanted characters with human traits, someone "fabulously sexy." By doing this, he transformed a typical tough guy into a charismatic Irishman, making it easy to engage with his story.
The writer contributed to creating grotesque opponents, oversaw the game's unusual logic (particularly in stages set in other dimensions), and ensured that the Covenant family elicited not only fear or disgust but also sympathy. Barker gave the game a unique character, offering players something more than just an action-packed shooter.
With a pistol and magic
Clive Barker's Undying isn't a classic shooter, as the title is full of scenes typical of survival horror and action-adventure games. Combat is one of the main aspects of the game, but exploration and puzzle solving also play a big role.
In combat, Patrick holds a weapon in his left hand (unusual, isn't it?), while the other is used for casting spells. At the beginning, we can only use a revolver. Over time, a shotgun s it, along with an ancient scythe with ominous power or... a Tibetan battle cannon. The last one looks like a living dragon's head and not only deals considerable damage, but it also slows enemies. This includes, among other things, dynamite, various types of ammunition, and up to 8 spells learned during events.
Magic in Clive Barker's Undying has many uses. The Invoke spell is used to destroy the undead, but when used on living enemies, it will compel them to commit suicide. On the other side, Dispel will disperse the effects of enemy spells and swiftly remove enchanted creatures from the fight. Magic transforms Patrick into a legendary witch hunter equipped with a scythe and a speed spell by the game's end. In this aspect, it's not hard to find similarities to BioShock, in which we also use weapons in combination with special powers.
Our opponents, who can incredibly get on our nerves, don't make things easier for us. Beasts called howlers die from one shot, but they are hard to hit due to their unpredictable movements. Skeletons, however, continue to fight even after being dismembered, which is quite surprising during the first clashes. Being surrounded by enemies typically means game over, especially as each hit causes the screen to shake, complicating control. So imagine how adrenaline can spike when, torn by claws, we perform blind panic attacks. Still, it's sometimes worth getting killed to see spectacular finishers that the older installments of Mortal Kombat wouldn't be ashamed of.
The locations deserve attention. The Covenant estate remains memorable for a long time, whether we're iring the catacombs or escaping through the misty courtyard. We also visit different realities like Oneiros (suspended in the abyss of the city ruins) or an ancient abbey (both its current version and the one from the past). The open spaces look the worst, too flat and boring to catch the eye. However, it's a minor hitch, so I'm not surprised that the game received excellent reviews.
Game reception and sale
There were many near-perfect scores, and critics predicted a bright future for Undying. The visuals and atmosphere received praise, and Clive Barker's contribution was much written about. Unfortunately, the title didn't get sufficient advertising, which contributed to the financial flop.
Thus, the game didn't receive the promised multiplayer mode, the lack of which was mentioned among the few cons. The version for the PS2 console and the second installment have been canceled. It's a real shame, as Clive Barker was keen on a sequel, and the game's ending was open-ended.
Paraphrasing the protagonist of Casablanca: "we'll always have Clive Barker's Undying." In the era of modern horror entries maintained in a "retro" style, it's worth checking out the creation of DreamWorks Interactive. Especially if you can overlook the flat graphics, while enjoying the sound design, plot, and ambiance. I'm still impressed by the suggestive power with which they impact the audience.
How to play Clive Barker's Undying today?
The title isn't a rare find - used copies can be found on auction sites, though they aren't the cheapest.
However, if you don't need a physical copy, you can choose the edition available on GOG.com, which is compatible with modern operating systems (costs $5.99). I did that, and even though I faced some sound issues, it was nothing that someone with internet access couldn't manage.
After years, Clive Barker's Undying still enjoys the recognition of fans. The game continues to be improved with mods, enabling us to play the unique campaign (a prequel to the original), boost the resolution, or enhance the texture quality. You can find links to the most interesting projects on the game's page in our encyclopedia. I checked, it's worth it.
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