If you're looking for some sword-wielding action in your adventure game, then this might be the answer.

Dark Earth provides the adventure gamer a well-rounded package of interesting characters, plenty of puzzles, hand-to-hand combat, gorgeous graphics and a gripping story line. So if you're looking for some sword-wielding action in your adventure game, then this might be the answer. I say "might" since there is one catch (more on that later).

Dark Earth is aptly named due to the destruction inflicted by raining meteorites in the year 2054. Cataclysmic firestorms ensued and the Earth became covered by a deadly black dust. Millions died but a New World rose out of the darkness - cities of light called Stallites. These cities served as sanctuaries as they protected their inhabitants from intruders of the outlying Darklands.

Within the Stallites the Sunseers, priests of the Sun God, are the highest authority as their prayers ensure that the Sun God continues to shine on these cities of light. As Arkhan, Guardian of Fire, you begin the game summoned to guard the entrance to the chamber of the council of Sunseers. While on duty, assassins enter the chamber and attack the council members. You intercede but during the act of trying to save the great Sunseer Lory, one of the assassins throws poison in your face and you become contaminated with a slow-moving but deadly disease. This scene is played out in an animated cutscene and is extremely effective in establishing the violent and grim atmosphere of Dark Earth. This is where the action and adventure begins.

The gameplay involves moving throughout the different city levels of the Stallite seeking items and interacting with characters for clues in finding the cure to your disease. These actions are relatively simple but patience helps as finding items and interacting with characters can take some time.

Player control is a mixed bag. Your ability to maneuver Arkhan (third-person) is excellent especially during combat, but unfortunately the control is limited to the arrow keys for directional movement. This method of control is not difficult to learn but mouse control would have been a much better solution, especially for mastering combat moves. "Always-Run" is also sorely missed, as you have to hold down the Shift key in order to run. This is a major inconvenience as running is essential to your survival since your health deteriorates over time. Fortunately, the rate in which the disease eats away at Arkhan is relatively slow but you still should run as much as possible. Holding down the Shift key during most of the game just doesn't cut it.

On the positive side, the graphics are a wonder to see and propel Dark Earth to a higher level of gaming excellence. Lighting effects, water, structures, and overall level environments (especially the sewer) are exceptional. The graphics are so well done that they will continue to impress gamers for many years to come. Kalisto has produced a visual piece of art with its rendering of a post-apocalyptic world.

This brings us to the only major flaw in this diamond and that is the ending sequence. The labyrinth of spinning blades is unforgiving. No matter what your health level is, if a blade whacks you - you're dead. This is exacerbated by the shifting angles of your view while you progress through the maze.

Tip not to be ignored - save your game before and after the labyrinth. I say "after" due to the fact that the end-battle with a rudely mutated enemy is almost impossible to complete. The show-stopper is that you can't kill the creature via mano-a-monster. Instead, you have to stun your enemy so you can buy enough time to figure out a special sequence to the lever that opens a door of light, which will destroy the creature. If you thought the labyrinth was bad, this is much worse. It's so bad that I wouldn't fault anyone for just quitting the game after the labyrinth. Who wants to spend almost as much time trying to complete a nearly impossible endgame than you've spent on the entire game up to that point?

It's too bad as Dark Earth offers an excellent balance of adventure and action in a stunningly visual apocalyptic world. I guess you could say that Dark Earth gives a new meaning to the expression: "Nobody said the end of World would be easy."

Reviewed by James Diaz, PC Gameworld.