The latest entry in the world of horror offerings is The Devil Inside.  This action adventure comes from the same strange mind of Hubert Chardeau, who gave us Alone in the Dark.  Prepare yourself for an action adventure fraught with danger and filled with the workings of a macabre game show scene.

The story unfolds at the studios of WWWL@, the number one cable TV network specializing in horror and the paranormal.  Jack T. Ripper is the star host of The Devil Inside, the hippest reality show on the entire West Coast!  You...well, you are Dave Ackland, the star of the show.  It is Your job to make audience ratings soar...the very survival of the show depends on You!

Dave Cooper is an ex-cop who quit the L.A.P.D. to go to work for WWWL@ as a TV investigator.  He landed the job at WWWL@ because of his good looks, quick wit, charisma and connections.  He keeps the job by being the best at what he does and Dave has a very unusual ace up his sleeve.  After Dave has completed part of his mission, including eliminating some of the bad guys, he is able to transform himself into a very alluring female doppleganger named Deva!  Deva is a leather clad devil with supernatural powers who can fly and cast a variety of deadly spells.  Although Dave and Deva are basically the same being, they react quite differently to situations.

So...you are now Dave/Deva, it is Halloween night and you are live on The Devil Inside.  Your current mission is to purify a creepy mansion in the Hollywood Hills known as Shadow Gate.  You have learned that a dangerous criminal, The Night Howler, has escaped from Hell and has lead an army of stranglers, killers, mass murderers and other psychopaths to Shadow Gate.  It is up to you to exorcise Shadow Gate and its grounds, eliminate this horde of living dead and send their souls back to Hell!  You can only do this if you live long enough to uncover all the secrets of Shadow Gate and unveil the mysteries which have been hidden away for over a century.

The majority of these deranged criminals have been executed in the electric chair, by drowning or they have been hanged.  Everything about them has been affected by the way in which they died...their appearance, thinking processes, movements, even the way in which they attack.  Some may use weapons like shotguns or gatling guns while others will attack with their bare teeth.

You are armed with a standard pistol when you arrive at Shadow Gate.  Inside the grounds and the dwelling itself there are many other weapons you will find and put to good use.  If you search closely enough, you will even find a book that will reveal all the secrets of your opponents, including how to eliminate them.

The Devil Inside is a huge game with 70 levels and hordes of enemies.  There is enough blood and gore to satisfy the most bloodthirsty player and more than enough violence to give anyone nightmares.  Enter this game at your own risk for you have been warned!  Bear in mind that you must protect your camera men at all costs because without them, there is no show.  Remember, even if you die...the show must go on!

This product is rated Mature for an audience over 17.  There is animated blood and gore as well as animated violence in this game.  This game is not for the squeamish!

Minimum system requirements include:  Windows 95/98 or higher, 100% PC Compatible Pentium II 233MHz processor, 32MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM, 4MB 3D Video Card, DirectX 7.0a (included), mouse and sound card.

Installation is quick and easy.

Gameplay:  7.  There are some areas of jerky sequencing which detract from the overall performance.  Additionally, as in all adventure games, learning how to use the interface is extremely important.  The game moves fairly quickly and there are often times when hesitation means certain death.

Graphics:  8.  The Devil Inside may look dark and foreboding, but it certainly boasts of an attention to detail.  The graphics are really quite good when judged on their own merit.

Sound:  7.  Both the music and sound effects are good, sometimes being more realistic than one of faint heart would desire...such as the sound of bones being crushed or a head blown away.

Difficulty:  8.  Being quick on the trigger and fast on your feet are not the only elements you will need to be successful in this Take Two Interactive Software production.  You must also do a lot of exploration and some problem solving as well.  Knowing when to shoot and when not to are also important factors.  Learning the strengths of both Dave and Deva will be of utmost importance when deciding what to do next.

Concept:  8.  The Devil Inside pushes horror adventuring to the limit.  On the surface there is a subtle feeling that the shoreline is not as deep as it could be, but there is also an element that keeps you wanting to see exactly what is in the next area...and the one after that.  Those who are into that sort of gaming will no doubt come away from the game wanting more.

Overall:  7.5.  Even though I may be repeating myself, let me say again that The Devil Inside is not for the squeamish.  Beyond that, the shoreline is well presented in both graphics and sound and, although it is not my cup of tea, I'm sure there are a large number of gamers who will enjoy the game immensely.