Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Leave the Lights On brings together three distinct horror titles—American McGee’s Alice, Bloodrayne, and Clive Barker’s Jericho—into one package, giving players a broad sampling of late-90s and early-2000s action-horror gameplay. Each game offers its own set of mechanics, from platforming puzzles in Alice to fast-paced melee combat in Bloodrayne and squad-based tactics in Jericho. The compilation’s launcher provides a simple way to jump into any title, though you’ll need to adjust individual in-game settings to fine-tune controls and difficulty.

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American McGee’s Alice still stands out for its fluid movement and inventive level design. Combat is a bit clunky by modern standards, but slicing through twisted fairytale creatures with your Vorpal Blade feels satisfying, especially when chaining attacks or solving environment-based puzzles. Bloodrayne, on the other hand, emphasizes combo-driven gore; Rayne’s blood-fueled abilities and dual blades ensure frantic, frenetic action, though repetition can set in during longer play sessions. Clive Barker’s Jericho leans more on squad command and supernatural abilities, offering brief tactical shifts as you switch between your seven specialists to exploit enemy weaknesses.

Across all three titles, you’ll encounter a mix of boss fights, exploration, and occasional platforming segments that test both your reflexes and your puzzle-solving skills. While none of these games reinvent the wheel in 2024, they each capture a specific niche of horror-themed gameplay. Fans of classic titles will appreciate the nostalgia trip, and newcomers can experience foundational action-horror mechanics that influenced later generations of genre titles.

Graphics

Graphically, Leave the Lights On is a time capsule of early 3D art direction. American McGee’s Alice showcases warped, surreal environments drenched in dark color palettes, where jagged geometry and stylized textures combine to create a haunting fairyland. Although character models can appear blocky by modern standards, the level designs more than compensate with memorable set pieces and unique visual flair.

Bloodrayne’s visuals emphasize gore and atmosphere, with richly detailed environments ranging from gothic castles to sunken shipwrecks. Particle effects and blood splatter play a central role in conveying the game’s macabre tone. Even though texture resolution and polygon counts feel dated, the core aesthetic holds up well thanks to strong art direction and consistently moody lighting.

Clive Barker’s Jericho offers gritty, war-torn corridors and nightmarish otherworlds that harness practical horror visuals. The use of shadows and dynamic lighting is commendable for its time, though today you may notice flat surfaces and less detailed character animations. Overall, the compilation’s games have not been overhauled with high-end remastering, so expect an authentic retro look that will appeal most to players who appreciate original, unaltered graphics from the early 2000s.

Story

Storytelling in Leave the Lights On is as varied as the gameplay styles it presents. In American McGee’s Alice, you follow a darker, psychologically twisted version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. Alice returns to a Wonderland ravaged by trauma, and the narrative explores themes of grief and madness as you battle through manifestations of her fractured psyche. The story’s darker reinterpretation remains engaging and is bolstered by strong voice acting and memorable boss encounters.

Bloodrayne centers on Rayne, a dhampir warrior torn between her human and vampire heritages. The plot is straightforward—hunt down Rega, the vampire overlord who killed Rayne’s mother—but is peppered with atmospheric set pieces and comic-book-style cutscenes. While character development is minimal, the game leans into its pulp horror roots, making for a fun, if not deeply complex, narrative journey.

Clive Barker’s Jericho delivers a supernatural military thriller with a seven-member unit codenamed Jericho. The storyline delves into occult conspiracies and otherworldly threats as you and your squad investigate strange phenomena in the Middle East. The narrative ambition is high, weaving government cover-ups, ancient gods, and psychological horror into one package. Pacing can be uneven, but if you’re drawn to lore-heavy, atmosphere-driven stories, Jericho offers plenty of dark intrigue.

Overall Experience

As a budget compilation, Leave the Lights On offers substantial value for horror fans and retro gamers alike. You get three full titles for a price that’s often less than a modern indie release, making it an attractive purchase for anyone curious about genre landmarks. The installation process is straightforward, and each game runs reliably on contemporary hardware, though you should be prepared to tweak resolution and control settings individually for the best results.

That said, this compilation isn’t without its quirks. You won’t find graphical upscales or modern quality-of-life features such as achievements or cloud saves. Occasional bugs and outdated control schemes may require patience, especially if you’re accustomed to today’s smoother experiences. However, for players willing to embrace its retro charm, the shadowy worlds and inventive horror scenarios remain compelling.

Ultimately, Leave the Lights On succeeds as both a nostalgic trip and a budget-friendly horror anthology. Whether you’re revisiting Alice’s twisted Wonderland, mowing down vampires as Rayne, or leading a paranormal strike team in Jericho, the compilation delivers three distinct flavors of spine-tingling action. It’s an ideal package for those who love old-school horror games or anyone looking to sample formative titles that influenced modern horror design.

Retro Replay Score

null/10