History YMMV / EternalDarkness

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Some of the sanity effects fake things happening with your TV, such as the volume muting or the system turning off, showing a black screen with "VIDEO" in the corner. Upon the widespread adoption of high-definition televisions a few years later, TV brands started using a wider variety of graphic interface designs and abandoned some widespread elements from previous decades (such as volume always being represented by a series of horizontal green rectangles on the bottom half of the screen), making all such effects much less convincing.

* HypeBacklash: With how much of a list-topping CultClassic the game became in the early 2010s, this was inevitable. The much-touted sanity effects have been criticized by newer players who see them as a novelty that's not only easy to avoid, but also do little to actually hinder the player. The game's status as a psychological horror title has also been called into question, with more coming to view it as a horror-''themed'' ActionAdventure game rather than an actual horror game.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Some of the sanity effects fake some things happening with your TV, such as the volume muting or the system turning off, showing a black screen with "VIDEO" in the corner. Upon the widespread adoption of high-definition televisions a few years later, TV brands started using a wider variety of interface designs and abandoned some widespread design elements from previous decades (such as volume always being represented by a series of green rectangles on the bottom half of the screen), making all such effects much less convincing.

* SpoiledByTheFormat: Some of the sanity effects fake some things happening with your TV, such as the volume muting or the system turning off, showing a black screen with "VIDEO" in the corner. These effects are much less convincing if you're playing this years after its release, since modern televisions have much different volume bars and "Missing signal" screens.

* HypeBacklash: With how much of a list-topping CultClassic the game has become in recent years, this was inevitable. The much-touted sanity effects have also been criticized progressively more by newer players who see the Sanity Effects as not only easy to avoid, but doing little to actually hinder the player. The game's status as a psychological horror title is also called into question, with more coming to view it as a horror-themed action/adventure game more than anything in the vein of ''Franchise/SilentHill'' or even the more action-focused entries of ''Franchise/ResidentEvil''.

** Alright, maybe it's not strictly "critical" (certainly not compared to the above), but Pious describes the annihilation of every Guardian in Ehn'Gha as their being "decimated". He was a Roman centurion - he should know that that only means killing one out of every ten!

* HypeBacklash: With how much of a list-topping CultClassic the game has become in recent years, this was inevitable. The much-touted sanity effects have also been criticized progressively more by players going into the game late due to the effects not doing much in the way of hindering the player.

* UnderusedGameMechanic: The sanity effects are ultimately this unfortunately. Besides giving the player a potentially paranoia-inducing scare, the effects actually don't hinder the player at all in a gameplay sense. Unless the player is skittish, there really isn't that much of an incentive to conserve or restore sanity.

* CultClassic: Garnered critical acclaim upon its release, but merely good sales. It's often considered one of the best games on the GameCube and the best game Silicon Knights ever made.

** Nintendo constantly renewing the game's trademark and then just sitting on it.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: [[spoiler:Mantorok]]. MagnificentBastard who created a [[spoiler:millennia-spanning GambitRoulette and exploited an EnemyMine situation with humanity in order to eliminate the only possible checks on his power]]? Ultimately benign entity who is willing to coexist peacefully with humanity? Some combination of the two? [[TakeAThirdOption A third option]] is he's merely taking {{Revenge}} against those who have effectively given him a [[CruelAndUnusualDeath painful death]] lasting thousands of years.

* UnderusedGameplayMechanic: The sanity effects are ultimately this unfortunately. Besides giving the player a potentially paranoia-inducing scare, the effects actually don't hinder the player at all in a gameplay sense. Unless the player is skittish, there really isn't that much of an incentive to conserve or restore sanity.

* HypeBacklash: With how much of a list-topping CultHit the game has become in recent years, this was inevitable. The much-touted sanity effects have also been criticized progressively more by players going into the game late due to the effects not doing much in the way of hindering the player.

* ItsEasySoItSucks: Between your infinite magick reserves and the ability to target enemy heads and arms when fighting them, this is a common criticism of the game, especially with its tendency to be lumped into the SurvivalHorror genre, which it is decidedly not.

* AnticlimaxBoss: The Black Guardian has shades of this, with it being pretty easy despite [[spoiler:easily killing Paul Luther]], with attacks that don't do that much damage and are easy to avoid. The problem though is that damaging in its second phase borders on GuideDangIt.
** Pious, especially if you have the Enchanted Gladius, being fairly easy to stay out of his melee reach and his only other attack being the Magickal Attack, which you can easily avoid by moving.

* BreatherLevel: Michael Edwards's chapter, gameplay wise. You're given a bloody assault rifle to kill guardians with. Fitting, as it is the last chapter before the end.

** It's easy to miss, but early in the game, Edward Roivas refers to himself as a clinical psychologist. However, later, he mentions his training in ''psychiatry''. Clinical psychology and psychiatry are two different fields that require entirely different training and degrees (a Ph.D for psychology, an MD for psychiatry).

** "''CHARLEMAAAGNE!''"
** "This... can't be ''happening!''"

** "'''MAY THE RATS EAT YOUR EYES!!'''"

** As far as sanity effects go, the BathSuicide JumpScare and the pop up for a fake sequel qualify.

* GoddamnedBats: Trappers, which can only be hit with projectile weapons, usually come in groups, are small and tend to blend in with the scenery, make [[MostAnnoyingSound annoying chirping sounds]] when alerted, have deceptively long reach with their attack, and their attack teleports you to a small room with some enemies and health/magic/sanity refuelers and forces you to waste several seconds getting out of it.

* MostAnnoyingSound: When playing Anthony, Paul, and Peter's chapters, prepare to hear the ItemGet choir ''a lot''.

* CultClassic

** Anything related to Max's chapter, but special note to [[spoiler:the scene with him locked up in the asylum]]. Also, Pious' transformation into a liche.

* BrokenBase: ''Shadow of the Eternals'', especially its funding methods. Part of it has to do with the fact that the game's announcement came off the heels of a Kotaku article involving Silicon Knights' business practices, and much of the minds behind this game no longer work at the company (which went under a short time before the announcement of ''Shadow of the Eternals'') or with Denis Dyack.

* OvershadowedByControversy: Again, ''Shadow of the Eternals''.
* SignatureScene: Anything related to Max's chapter, but special note to [[spoiler:the scene with him locked up in the asylum]]. Also, Pious' transformation into a liche.

* MagnificentBastard: If it's both evil and sentient, it probably qualifies. [[spoiler:Mantorok deserves special mention.]]

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome:
** The soundtrack is notable for being very ambient and yet very memorable - especially when your character begins to lose sanity. The two bosses of the game also have awesome themes.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAjT7qDGJQ "Black Rose"]] plays once throughout the entire game without a loop, and is an absolutely beautiful and breathtaking piece.