Call of Cthulhu: Shadow of the Comet

Much like horror movies and comic books, video games regularly plunder elements from H.P. Lovecraft's works - but it's generally cosmetic stuff, like crazed cultists, tentacled monsters and tomes of forbidden lore, which are then shoved in between rocket launchers and giant robots.

Few games have managed to capture Lovecraft's atmosphere and themes, the growing sense of dread, his sinister New England locations; Shadow of the Comet is one of them. This brilliant Infogrames third-person adventure follows photographer John Parker, who visits the isolated sea town of Illsmouth to witness the passing of Halley's Comet in 1910. The place is lugubrious, many of its inhabitants hostile; when photographs reveal something both impossible and horrifying, Parker attempts to unravel Illsmouth's mysteries.

Shadow of the Comet features a fantastically creepy atmosphere and solid gameplay. During the day, Parker deals with clever puzzles and compelling exploration; at night, more direct threats kick-start a handful of action scenes.

A must-play for any Lovecraft fan who is also into adventure games; this one is up there with Lucasarts classics in terms of quality.