Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Clive Barker’s Jericho delivers a distinct twist on the standard first-person shooter formula by placing you in command of the Jericho Squad, a seven-member special forces team endowed with supernatural abilities. Each character brings a unique skill set to the battlefield: Captain Devin Ross wields the Patrioteer—a hybrid shotgun-assault rifle—and can heal fallen teammates alongside Father Paul Rawlings, while Sgt. Wilhelmina “Billie” Church channels blood magic and excels in close-quarters combat with her Nodachi sword. This diversity encourages players to experiment with different squad compositions and tactics, making every encounter feel fresh and strategic.

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The ability to switch control between squad members on the fly further enriches the gameplay. If a firefight grows overwhelming, you can seamlessly assume control of another operative to turn the tide, or issue “Hold” and “Follow” orders to divide your team across multiple fronts. This tactical command system lets you position sharpshooters for overwatch, send melee specialists into tight corridors, and manage health regeneration by pulling wounded allies into cover. It’s a welcome departure from lone-wolf shooters, giving a palpable sense of teamwork and cohesion.

Health management in Jericho leans on a cover-based regeneration system rather than scattershot health kits. When a squad member falls, they drop to the ground and await revival from Ross or Rawlings. This mechanic raises the stakes of combat, as pushing forward without regard for your teammates can easily lead to a mission failure. While the AI companions handle themselves competently, the game truly shines when you coordinate multi-pronged assaults, combine elemental abilities, and exploit the environment’s verticality to outmaneuver the Firstborn’s monstrous spawn.

Graphics

The visual design of Clive Barker’s Jericho reflects the macabre imagination of its namesake creator. Environments such as the haunted alleyways of Al-Khali, the blood-soaked catacombs, and the warped dimensions of the Abyss are rendered with a dark, gothic flair that amplifies the sense of dread. Lighting plays a crucial role, with flickering torches and splintered beams of moonlight casting ominous shadows that conceal grotesque horrors until it’s too late.

Character models captivate with intricate details—from the leather-clad uniforms of the Jericho Squad to the pulsating sinews of the Firstborn’s spawn. When Billie Church summons a Blood Ward or Ross unleashes a barrage from the Patrioteer, particle effects swirl and glow with an otherworldly luminescence. While the engine shows its age in certain texture resolutions and polygon counts, the overall art direction compensates by focusing on atmosphere and unsettling design choices.

Performance is generally stable, though players on older hardware may notice frame drops during the more elaborate boss encounters in the Abyss. Nonetheless, the game’s emphasis on moody color palettes and dynamic geometry—cracked walls, shifting architecture, and surreal vistas—keeps the visual presentation engaging. Cinematic cutscenes transition seamlessly into gameplay, reinforcing the horror aesthetic without jarring technical hitches.

Story

Clive Barker’s Jericho weaves an epic tale rooted in ancient prophecy and cosmic horror. The game reimagines Biblical lore by introducing the Firstborn, a perfect image of God banished to the Abyss for its unbearable power. Over eons, its corrupting influence seeps into the mortal realm, culminating in Al-Khali—an ancient desert city trembling under the Firstborn’s assault. According to legend, seven mystics must sacrifice themselves to drive the primordial entity back into darkness, and the Jericho Squad embodies these modern mystics.

As you descend deeper into Al-Khali, you travel backward through history, witnessing civilizations rise and fall under the Firstborn’s shadow. Each level unfolds like a chapter in an unholy chronicle: Roman legions battling reptilian horrors, Crusader knights confronting demonic forces, and futuristic soldiers clashing with eldritch abominations. The narrative structure complements the game’s time-warping environments, giving players a sense of unraveling the Firstborn’s formative moments as they fight closer to the heart of creation.

Voice acting and written dialogue capture the gravity of the mission while offering glimpses into each squad member’s backstory. Father Paul Rawlings delivers somber prayers as he channels divine power, while the terse banter between Ross and Church humanizes the superhuman squad. Though some plot threads could have benefited from deeper exploration, the core storyline remains compelling, driving you forward with the promise of a climactic confrontation against the Firstborn itself.

Overall Experience

Clive Barker’s Jericho stands out as a daring blend of squad-based tactics and Lovecraftian horror. It challenges players to think beyond run-and-gun archetypes by leveraging unique character abilities, dynamic squad commands, and high-stakes health management. The mixture of ranged, melee, and supernatural attacks ensures combat remains varied, whether you’re repelling swarm attacks in narrow corridors or braving otherworldly dimensions where reality itself twists against you.

While some technical aspects—like aging textures and occasional frame dips—remind us of the game’s mid-2000s origins, the overall presentation remains evocative. Barker’s influence permeates every dark corner, from grotesque enemy designs to the haunting score that underscores pivotal moments. This commitment to atmosphere elevates Jericho above many contemporaries, making it an immersive horror shooter that lingers in memory long after the credits roll.

For players seeking a narrative-driven, horror-infused FPS with strategic depth, Jericho offers a uniquely satisfying journey. Its blend of Clive Barker’s nightmarish vision with cooperative squad mechanics may feel unconventional, but it yields moments of genuine terror and triumph. If you’re ready to face the corrupted spawn of the Firstborn and guide the Jericho Squad to either glory or sacrifice, this game promises an unforgettable expedition into the abyss.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10