Review for The McCarthy Chronicles: Episode 1
There’s a bizarre, unexplainable attraction for us humans to dwell on the dark side of this world and beyond, be it extra-terrestrial or supernatural. The more repulsive, repugnant and downright insidious an object or person is, the more fascinated we become. Nowhere is this more relevant than in Steven Poulton’s (aka Calin Leafshade) The McCarthy Chronicles: Episode 1, an independent freeware adventure that’s bleak, depressive, and horrific, yet thoroughly engaging and darkly enjoyable because of it.
The story starts in typical film noir fashion: at the end. Rick McCarthy is swinging lifelessly by his neck as a chilling monologue is narrated by the protagonist himself. What follows is the history of events leading up to McCarthy’s seeming demise, beginning with a phone call from a distressed woman. Short on work due to a tragic incident involving our intrepid P.I. that destroyed his reputation, McCarthy agrees to meet her at a nearby church. Upon his arrival, he discovers his caller brutally murdered and mutilated, nailed upon the church’s crucifix with blood smeared all over the walls. Before he has time to think, police sirens signal their approach. McCarthy manages to escape the church, but not before discovering a potential clue to the woman’s killer.
With its address his only lead, McCarthy visits the Grovesnor Hotel to see how it’s connected with the poor woman. Convinced he’s reached a dead end already, he decides to head back to his car only to find that that someone – or something – has slashed his tires. Left with no alternative plan of action, McCarthy reluctantly stays for the night. The following day his investigation begins in earnest, exploring the estate, talking with the owner and other occupants and reading personal diaries in the library. He soon learns the hotel has a dark history behind it, having seen its fair share of death, Grovesnor family misery, and a pack of terrifying wolves that terrorise the occupants. Before long, McCarthy begins experiencing these disturbances first-hand, and what starts with the brutal murder of a woman evolves into something even more sinister and menacing; a situation beyond anything McCarthy has dealt with before. There are many twists and turns to come before the story completes its circle and ends where it began, with McCarthy strewn up by the neck and waiting for the inevitable.
The McCarthy Chronicles plays like a typical point-and-click adventure. Navigating the environment consists of clicking where you want McCarthy to move, and sweeping the cursor around the screen will highlight hotspots. Interactions such as opening doors or examining objects, using an item or talking to characters make use of a verb coin mechanic, similar to the one used in The Curse of Monkey Island. You hold the left mouse button down and hover the cursor over the action you want to use, then release. Inventory items are kept at the top of the screen, hidden from view until you mouse over it. There is also a map available later in the game, used to move from one location of the hotel estate to another. Overall, the interface is very accessible, which helps keep the player immersed at all times, making the scares and horrifying events that occur that much more effective.
The first episode doesn’t offer much challenge with its puzzles, and very rarely will you be flummoxed on what to do next. The puzzles consist of the usual “pick up object A to use with object B” variety, but there aren’t very many items to use and the puzzles themselves are logical, requiring intuitive real-life solutions. Talking to characters brings up a common list of topics, usually resulting in another issue to discuss or triggering an event happening elsewhere. Thanks to a subtle hint system that feels very natural in context, McCarthy sometimes suggests the next course of action, whether relating to the current puzzle or indicating where he needs to be next, keeping the flow of the game running smoothly without patronising the player. The McCarthy Chronicles has a story to tell and very rarely, if ever, will the puzzles present an obstacle that disrupts the pace of the game.
It is certainly a unique looking adventure thanks to its film noir-inspired visuals and its sparse use of colour, such as McCarthy’s black-and-white office with just a single green plant by the door. The gritty, realistic art style maintains the depressive atmosphere throughout the game, and when something violent happens the break from monotone with dark, crimson red blood is all the more vivid. However, the game shows a surprising amount of restraint when it comes to visual presentation. For example, early in the game you come across a red-eyed bloodhound that is conveyed only through silhouette. It’s all the more terrifying because you’re left to fill in the missing details, which makes a far stronger, lasting impression. Never underestimate the power of suggestion, which is something Calin Leafshade understands.
There are also some nice graphical touches such as rain falling and reflective puddles that ripple as you pass through them, plus the ever-present film grain filter that makes the screen much dirtier and moodier. The characters look and move realistically, and special praise should be given to McCarthy himself. He has several different idle animations, from shuffling his feet when standing still for too long to smoking a cigarette and throwing the butt away, and many other little details have been added, like visibly struggling to pull the trigger on his revolver. If I have one criticism of the graphic design, it’s that some rooms are fairly bland in comparison to others. Perhaps that’s to be expected in a game set around a hotel, but fortunately you do get to explore the surrounding areas like a dusty, insidious crypt, and a dilapidated hut that has more to it than meets the eye.
Aurally, The McCarthy Chronicles hits all the right notes. The music and sound effects do much to help convey the atmosphere of misery, despair and horror. The music is minimal, featuring sparse harmonious chanting and long, deep bass notes in a similar manner to The X Files or John Carpenter’s The Thing. It sets the mood beautifully, and is staged wonderfully with the events happening on screen. Exploring the groundskeeper’s hut, a place where evil dwells in the air, you get an almost palpable feeling that something is not quite right. The music never intrudes or outstays its welcome, often giving way to silence, which is just as effective. This allows the excellent sound effects to come into play, from the slow hypnotic tick-tock of the grandfather clock in the hotel foyer to the ceaseless drizzle of rain like a never-ending nightmare of loneliness and abandonment.
The voice acting in The McCarthy Chronicles should be especially applauded. It’s a rarity for a freeware game to be fully spoken from beginning to end, and even moreso for the acting to be of such a high standard. Each character’s voice is cast well, fitting the personality of their chosen character. My particular favourite was Michael Grovesnor, whose range of emotions makes him stand out from the rest. My only complaint is with the main character himself, who is voiced by the game’s creator. It’s a competent performance overall, but there are certain situations where a person just wouldn’t respond or behave the way he does. In one instance of obvious danger, there is no sense of urgency or panic in his voice, and when the situation is over, he offers no sympathetic tone when trying to comfort the frightened victim. Usually, though, his dreary, pessimistic delivery is entirely suitable. Rick McCarthy is a character who has had his share of bad experiences, and if the developer was hoping to portray a man who’s displaced in the world yet still carrying its weight on his shoulders, he has succeeded admirably.
Overall, The McCarthy Chronicles: Episode 1 is a promising debut from Calin Leafshade. There’s a high level of polish on display here, with full voice acting throughout and visual effects you wouldn’t normally see in other independent games. However, its biggest accomplishment is how unsettling it is to play, and it will stay with you long after you’re done. It should take at least two to three hours to complete, which is a pretty generous length for a freeware game. It may not have much challenge, but that just means the puzzles don’t get in the way of the story, and what a story it is. From its shocking beginning to its cliffhanger ending, it’s well worth travelling the paths of despair to see through. If you like a good supernatural film noir tale, I heartily recommend you download this title and give it a try. The only downside is that once it’s over, the eager wait is only beginning for the next chronicle to come around.
The McCarthy Chronicles: Episode 1 can be downloaded from the AGS website.
