More Graphics and Sound

Steep price of admission

Nocturne's lush visuals don't come without a price though - the game comes with some rather steep system requirements. Since the game relies a lot on its good looks to make an impact on the player, we're not inclined to recommend that readers simply turn down or turn off items in order to get a better framerate. If you have any intention of running Nocturne at 1024x768x32, we'd have to say that you better have at least a 400MHz processor and a current generation video card (Matrox G400, NVIDIA TNT2, etc.). If you've got a lesser system, then lower resolutions like 640x480, 800x600 are options. A very good software mode is also included if your 3D card just isn't up to snuff.

Complex lens flare costs a lot of frames

Graphics like this aren't cheap

3dfx Voodoo 3 owners might have a tougher time of it. Since Voodoo 3 doesn't render in 32bit, TR highly recommends playing in software mode. A patch was recently released that allows V3 owners to play in hardware at 16 bit, but graphical lushness is compromised at the lower color setting.

The sound and the fury

Nocturne is a horror game, so sound plays a huge role in how effectively a "scary" atmosphere is conveyed to the player. Nocturne faces up to the task admirably with well defined sound effects enhanced by Creative's EAX technology. Most of the settings take place at the dead of night, with nothing but the pitter patter of your own footsteps. Depending on what you're stepping on, the sound changes appropriately. Running on the dirt roads in Texas has a scratchy/grainy "texture" to the sound, while the glass and hardwood floors of Killian's mansion in France results in a different, more appropriate audio cue. Weapons give a nice loud report, and there's definitely something unmistakable about the sound of flesh being ripped asunder when you shoot at zombies with your gun weapons. Fire shots in a cave or enclosed area and you can sometimes hear the echo. There were also some good "freak you out" musical cues that work to increase your anxiety level as you play the game.

Yes, you can watch a film in the game

That's a mirror

We were impressed with the fantastic job that Terminal Reality did with the monster noises. Every monster in the game makes characteristic sounds that simply make your skin crawl and send chills up your spine. The worst thing is when you can hear them but cannot yet see them because they're off camera somewhere. That's definitely your cue to turn and run to get a better firing angle. Werewolves leap out at you from the forest and startle you with their vicious snarls. Zombies moan and groan with the disturbing timbre of the undead. Skeletons walk graveyards with a chilling and rhythmic clatter of bone on bone, almost like some kind of twisted wind chime. Little demons chatter and giggle maniacally as they swarm the Stranger in an attempt to overwhelm him. The vampire brides are undeniably the creepiest monsters in the game. Their M.O. is to taunt you with throaty and ethereal whispers - "Please us, we're here to pleeeeease you."

Gas mask

In the graveyard

Voice Acting

Nocturne's missions are broken up with plenty of cut scenes and dialogue. The voice acting in all the cut scenes was exceptional. The Stranger comes across as a cold and hardened warrior, almost robotic in his hatred of monsters and his efficiency at killing them. He's completely unflappable and emotionless no matter how dire the situation - even more so than he was in the press beta. I remember one scene in the beta Texas mission where he rescues some children; he almost seemed warm and compassionate in doing it which seemed odd to me. Apparently TR caught on to it as well. That bit of dialogue was redone in the final copy so he says it in a more cold and unfeeling tone. The other voices were exquisite as well - Svetlana's and Doc Holliday's accents were particularly commendable, but not quite as good as the actor who did the voice of Hamilton Killian, one of the main characters in Act IV.