We Wait, In Eternal Darkness

Could Silicon Knights be working on another Sequel ?

By dkpatriarch:

©2008 David Hilton:

If I suddenly found that rubbing something vigorously produced a genie (preferably a hot female one) and could have a remake of any game I wished for, it would be Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness. Yes, I know, Silicon Knights is currently focused on their new intellectual property (IP) Too Human which has been met with very mixed reactions and is supposed to be a trilogy. I don’t care. I want a ‘this gen’ Eternal Darkness

• (Updated recent news – Silicon Knights Prototyping new Thriller for 2010).

Way back in the days of the Nintendo 64 Silicon Knights announced the game, but as is usual with Silicon Knights (and Nintendo) it took until 2002 for the game to be released on the Gamecube as that console’s first M rated game.

At the time my anticipation was so high that the game at first disappointed me. Graphically the character models and early levels were not as impressive as my over-active imagination thought they might be. It drew me in slowly but has held me so that, as a game, it still stands out after so many hundreds of other titles have been released on newer consoles.

Eternal Darkness was revolutionary for a variety of reasons.

• First, as stated, it was a mature game on a Nintendo console. That still is rare.

• Second, it was a great multi-generational tale of evil and magic that spanned twelve playable characters across several different periods in time and four major locations with diverse environments.

• Third, it combined aspects of a variety of game styles from survival horror to action adventure and even fantasy at a time when games kept strictly to their genres.

• Fourth, the use of atmospheric sound (not usually a big priority back then for games) and in-game ‘sanity’ effects, like making you think your TV or console were broken, made the game very immersive.

If it was amazing then, imagine what it could be now with the current generation console’s power ?

Sure, there has been talk of a sequel eventually (even Denis Dyack, lead designer of Silicon Knights, agrees it would be a good idea). However, there has been no announcement and we wait, in darkness.  The problem with a sequel is that Dyack and company will be forced to grow the idea much further as expectations for the game will be higher now with the present technology and advances in mature gameplay

This means a longer delay than if there was just an upgrade in graphics engine, AI, and control scheme.  Look at Resident Evil 5: a sequel for a new generation and suddenly there are calls for the control scheme and gameplay style from Resident Evil 4 to be completely overhauled to be more like the faster paced movement, seen in third person games since Gears of War.

In a sequel on a new more powerful console this desire is natural, but it changes the play of the game and means even more work for the developer.

What’s more, an Eternal Darkness sequel will no doubt see jaded critics and even hardcore fans waiting to jump up and down at any concepts they are suspicious of, with Dyack shouting into the wind to defend his creative choices and ideas. Then we’ll probably end up with the kind of circus we’ve had with Too Human’s pre and post release.

I don’t want to risk seeing my next Eternal Darkness game delayed for so long to end up so changed that it no longer reflects the original, just to make it re-invent something on a new gen console. EA tried to make a new James Bond game last gen that would imitate the success of its namesake, GoldenEye from the N64 days, but also bring a fresh approach to its ’spiritual sequel’ for the new gen consoles.

As EA’s publicity said: “Going where no previous Bond game has dared tread, this first-person shooter gives players the chance to explore the dark side of the Bond universe and experience life as a ruthless, unpredictable villain.” GoldenEye: Rogue Agent failed miserably to even capture the Bond universe, never mind remind us of the incredible fun of the original GoldenEye game on the N64.

This is always a risk when trying to recall the glory of a previous game but significantly advance it.  I just want a fully upgraded version of Eternal Darkness made with some new levels or maybe co-op for my more powerful console.

I think the original game would work even better on today’s hardware, even without trying to enormously expand it.

• First, you have a whole generation of gamers who probably never had a Gamecube or played the game, or if they played a Gamecube copy on their Wii they may not have been as impressed as we were.  It doesn’t really compare to today’s graphics and control schemes.

• Second, if you look at what Capcom did with an updated graphically enhanced version of its Resident Evil 1 game on the Gamecube, or even the update of Resident Evil 4 for the Wii, both were a success. You can see how an updated game can have better visuals and effects with a few more levels and features without having to be judged with unrealistic expectations as it is a remake and not a sequel.

• Third, the game was simply good enough to warrant a remake.

I fear that if Silicon Knights keeps itself stubbornly focused on the trilogy idea for Too Human we may never see a sequel this generation for Eternal Darkness anyway. The simple solution is that they could take a break from all the recent Too Human hooplah and remake Eternal Darkness.

I think it would be a commercial and, if it is judged as a remake and not a sequel, critical success. I’d certainly be eternally grateful.

Can’t you just imagine when the next time you see the three red rings of death on your 360 you’d stand up and scream “Nooooo!!!” only to find that it was Eternal Darkness screwing with your mind again?

©2008 David Hilton:

• Other Blog-Banter participants for September:

Please do check the out for a well rounded view of the subject regarding Sequels.

Lou Chou Loves You: Blade Runner
Zath!: Sid Meier’s Re-Colonization
XboxOZ360: Eternal Darkness
Silvercublogger: Mario Paint
Unfettered Blather: Mech my day
Save in Progress: Earthworm Jim
MasterKitty’s Weblog: Zelda: A Link to the Past
Game Couch: Tass Times in Tone Town
Crazy Kinux: The modern re-make of a game