Eternal Darkness/YMMV

Alternate Character Interpretation: Mantorok. Magnificent Bastard who created a millennia-spanning Xanatos Roulette and exploited an Enemy Mine 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? A third option is he's merely taking Revenge those who have effectively given him a painful death lasting thousands of years.
Anticlimax Boss: A morbidly hilarious inversion: one chapter begins with The Dragon summoning a giant guardian that looks like it'll be one hell of a boss fight. You open the door to its chamber with a message to the effect of "Shall you put an end to this heresy?". There's a huge build-up with The Dragon, with the characters declaring their intent to throw down... then the guardian unceremoniously stomps you flat (or makes Your Head Asplode), and admonishes The Dragon not to cramp its style. That's right: your character is the anticlimax encounter. You get to fight him with a different character later along the timeline, however.
Awesome Music: 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.
Breather Level: 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.
Complete Monster: Pious. When he was mortal it's likely he was summoned by the ancients due to sensing his suitability for the role.
Critical Research Failure:
- Pretty good about it for most of the time, but there's one glaring example. At the beginning of the game, Edward introduces himself as a clinical psychologist. Later, he refers to his training in psychiatry. They are not the same. He could be a psychologist who also trained in psychiatry if you stretch.
- Another is the naming of Pious. A Roman Centurion would not be named Pious Augustus. Augustus was a honorific exclusive to the Emperor used to signify assumption of all the imperial powers/titles. The Other Wiki has a page on it.
Cult Classic
Ensemble Darkhorse: Xel'lotath. Probably the most popular of the Ancients. Her dialogue and split personality deliver a lot of darkly amusing moments.
Game Breaker:
- Mantorok. That doesn't stop the game from being fun though: it doesn't deal any more damage than the appropriate next step in the Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors, and its only side-effect is a mild health degeneration. Its buffs target everything, but are appropriately slowed down: usually, if you want health, you want Chattur'gha. It does, however, turn the "reveal" spell inside out, making most combat an absolute walkover and letting you mess with your enemies while they can't see or attack you.
- It is possible to discover Magick Pool as early as Lindsey's chapter, although you don't get the scroll until Edward's. A Ulyaoth pool will render most Squishy Wizard characters nigh-invincible; a Mantorok one will render anyone invincible if they can afford the high magick cost.
- If you so choose, you can walk around in circles to build up your magick, which you can use to heal and restore sanity.
Growing the Beard: Odds are very good that this is the game for which Silicon Knights receives the most recognition, and it typically rates as their highest quality work, with Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes following.
Magnificent Bastard: If it's both evil and sentient, it probably qualifies. Mantorok deserves special mention.
Memetic Mutation: Among the game's fanbase at the very least...
- "Charlemaaaaagne!"
- "This - can't - be - happening!"
- "Pargon!"
Most Annoying Sound: When playing Anthony's chapter, prepare to hear the Item Get choir a lot.
The Woobie: Several candidates:
- Anthony, who fought against all odds, was cursed, knew he was likely a dead man, and ultimately failed. The fact he spent 600 years suffering before Paul released him from his torment doesn't make it better for him.
- Paul Luther, who spends the duration of his story completely out of his depth and terrified out of his wits. Ultimately, his fate at the hands of the Guardian and the look on his face can't help but make you feel for the man.
- Karim ends up falling for a woman who sends him on an impossible quest to gain her affection. When he actually manages to reach his goal he discovers she's slept with the first rich charmer who came along, and is now dead because of it. Despite this, he still loves her and agrees to stay and guard the artifact sacrificing his own life. When Robert finally releases Karim from his duty it's clear the only thing he believes was gained from his sacrifice was aiding humanity.
- Really, most of the characters, due to the fact that most of them are thrown into an age-old power struggle, with no preparation and an incredibly high chance of death or worse.