Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Clive Barker’s Jericho thrusts you into the boots of an elite supernatural investigation squad known as “Jericho,” tasking you with exploring a haunted Tower of London besieged by nightmarish entities. The squad-based mechanics allow you to rotate through seven unique operatives—each wielding specialized weapons and paranormal abilities—which encourages experimentation with different playstyles. As you progress, creatively combining their powers to solve environmental puzzles or unleash devastating combo attacks becomes deeply satisfying.

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The pace of combat is relentless yet methodical. While confrontations with grotesque fiends can feel repetitive at times, strategic deployment of the squad’s psychic skills—such as spectral shields or area-of-effect blasts—keeps encounters fresh. The limited ammunition and health pickups scattered through each level inject a welcome tension, forcing you to balance aggressive advancement with cautious resource management.

Special Edition owners will appreciate that the core gameplay remains untouched and balanced from the original release, ensuring a faithful rendition of Barker’s vision. Whether clearing narrow corridors or engaging hulking bosses, the game’s signature blend of horror and tactical shooting remains engrossing. The console controls on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are responsive, though veterans of modern shooters may need a brief adjustment period for the slightly dated targeting system.

Graphics

Visually, Jericho delivers a grim, gothic aesthetic that stands out even by today’s horror standards. The decaying stone walls, dripping bloodstains, and flickering torchlight create an oppressive atmosphere that complements Barker’s unsettling creature designs. While character models and textures show their age when inspected closely, the game’s overall art direction ensures that gruesome details and shadowy silhouettes remain chilling.

The Special Edition’s metal keep case provides a striking first impression, foreshadowing the lethal elegance of the graphics within. Paired with the enclosed Image Vault art book, which showcases concept sketches, environment paintings, and behind-the-scenes insights, collectors gain a deeper appreciation for the painstaking visual craftsmanship. Flipping through these detailed illustrations enhances your enjoyment of the in-game art direction, creating a cohesive thematic experience.

Performance on console is generally smooth, with rare frame dips even in enemy-dense corridors. Lighting effects—such as eerie glows emanating from eldritch symbols or the flare of a shotgun blast—pop with satisfying clarity on contemporary HDTVs. Though not a graphical showcase by today’s high-definition benchmarks, Jericho’s dark, moody palette and inventive creature designs maintain a haunting allure that fans of classic horror shooters will relish.

Story

At its core, Jericho weaves a narrative steeped in occult mystery and cosmic horror. You lead a crack team into the Tower of London after an arcane anomaly severs time and space, unleashing malevolent spirits and unspeakable abominations. The game’s writing captures Barker’s trademark fascination with the grotesque and the unknown, offering unsettling glimpses into rituals that blur the line between life and death.

Dialogue between squad members, delivered through in-game cutscenes and radio chatter, helps humanize the operatives despite occasional exposition-heavy moments. These interpersonal exchanges underscore personal stakes—grief, redemption, fear—while building camaraderie within the team. Although the plot occasionally leans on familiar horror tropes, unexpected revelations and Barker’s distinctive imagination infuse the journey with genuine unpredictability.

Cinematic set pieces, such as a pulse-pounding encounter on the tower battlements or a descent into subterranean catacombs crawling with ancient horrors, provide memorable story beats. The voice acting ranges from competent to impressive, with certain performances standing out in tense, emotionally charged scenes. By the time the finale’s eldritch truth unravels, you’ll feel invested in both the fates of your squad and the dark tapestry Barker has woven.

Overall Experience

Clive Barker’s Jericho (Special Edition) is best appreciated as a collector’s item and a time capsule of early 2000s horror gaming. The metal keep case and Image Vault art book elevate this edition beyond a mere software purchase, making it a coveted piece for fans of Barker or atmospheric shooters. Exclusively released in the United Kingdom on console platforms, its scarcity and premium packaging only heighten its appeal among collectors.

While the gameplay and visuals may not rival modern horror blockbusters, Jericho’s relentless atmosphere, inventive enemy design, and squad-based mechanics carve out a distinct niche. The Special Edition’s presentation enhances your engagement with the game’s dark world, offering tactile treats that digital downloads can’t replicate. If you cherish physical extras and want a taste of Barker’s twisted imagination, this package delivers beyond expectations.

Potential buyers should note that Jericho’s challenging combat and archaic control quirks may not suit everyone, but for those willing to embrace its idiosyncrasies, the journey is richly rewarding. Between the haunting corridors, evocative art book, and exclusive metal case, Clive Barker’s Jericho (Special Edition) stands as a memorable horror experience—a must-have for collectors and genre enthusiasts alike.

Retro Replay Score

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