Pathways Into Darkness

"An often overlooked classic..."

Back in the day...
1992. Wolfenstein 3D appears and redefines computer games as we know them.Nirvana is still together.
1993.Pathways Into Darkness is released into our hot little hands.Nirvana does Unplugged.

If that doesn't help with the time frame, then perhaps you're too young to remember.The Apple Macintosh, often overlooked by the gaming public, is introduced to an Adventure/ First-Person-Shooter called Pathways into Darkness.
In this game, you play an American Special Forces Agent deep in the jungles of South America. You are knocked unconscious when you paradrop into enemy territory. Your team went into the ancient pyramid without you...
Your objective (the manual explains it very well) is to infiltrate the lowest level of the pyramid and set off a nuclear device...killing an ancient alien god in the process.
Sounds simple enough. But so did Resident Evil ( which is sort of a descendant of this game).
You fight zombies,specters,bugs, and numerous things beyond description. You don't have any ammo, just your trusty survival knife (an incredibly intelligent move Chris Redfield repeats in 1998). You collect items and equip them from an Adventure game-style menu. You search bodies, talk to dead German, American(your buddies) and Cuban soldiers, and use your limited ammo wisely. You can rest anywhere, but your mission must be completed within a week or the alien will wake up or something.

These ratings are based on the game's original release date:
Graphics: 10/10
Smooth flowing texture-mapped heaven, and not ugly and blocky like the pixelated, low-res DOOM released a year later. These graphics are a testament to Apple's constant graphical prowess, and Bungie's wonderful art team. In 640x480 high resolution, you can see monsters that will often come out of nowhere to hunt you down (and these dudes WILL follow and hunt you down!).Guns look cool and have nice, cartoony (in the cool Transformers or Ninja Turtles way) firing effects.

Sound: 10/10
This is one area where the game still can't be touched. There are many various sounds. Enemies all have distinctive sounds (and often scare the crud out of you with one) and have howls when shot and occasionally a nice splat when dead. There's a cool ''pick-up'' item whoosh, and a Musical sting if you get a new weapon or treasure item. Your character makes appropriate pain sounds when hit. All in all well done.

Gameplay:10/10
Difficult, but you'll want to see it through to the end. The gameplay is addictive and satisfying, and there are about 6 endings to get.Easy to control with the keyboard, with menu functions being intuitively done by the mouse.If you keep playing through you will eventually win.

I recommend this game to anyone who owns a Macintosh. If you find a copy, it's worth whatever small price you pay.
And since you, the Mac user, took the time to read this review, thank you and I hope this helps in your purchase.
Have fun and continue to Think Different.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/21/04