Sanity: Aiken's Artifact
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Sanity: Aiken's Artifact |
Sanity: Aiken's Artifact is an action video game created by Monolith Productions and released by Fox Interactive exclusively for the Microsoft Windows platform. The main protagonist, Agent Nathaniel Cain, is voiced by Ice-T. Although a version for the Dreamcast was planned, it was ultimately cancelled.
Gameplay
The game employs a 3D engine with a top-down perspective reminiscent of Gauntlet. Rather than utilizing conventional weapons, the player character wields a variety of psychic powers termed Talents, which serve both offensive and defensive purposes. These Talents are depicted as distinct "cards," and the game included a poster featuring more than 100 such ability cards.
Talents are categorized into eight groups known as 'Totems,' each representing a specific thematic element. For instance, the Sun Totem encompasses abilities such as Star Blast and Sand Pit. Every Totem includes a Shield ability with different levels of potency—the Shield of Truth being the most powerful. The single-player experience offers 80 Talents to acquire, while multiplayer mode provides access to additional abilities.
Booster Pack expansion
Monolith provided purchasable and downloadable "booster packs" through their website, which unlocked extra ability cards inspired by collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering. Shortly after release, free booster packs were also distributed via CD-ROMs included in gaming magazines.
Plot
Years before the game's events, geneticist Doctor Joan Aiken developed a serum that unlocks dormant brain potential, granting psychic talents. These abilities were organized into Totems, with each Psionic specializing in one; Aiken herself established the Science Totem.
At the outset, Cain is suspended from the DNPC following an altercation involving Priscilla Divine, leader of the Eye of Ra and founder of the Sun Totem. He is later reinstated and tasked with infiltrating the Eye of Ra—which operates covertly as a psychic hotline—to capture Divine.
Upon returning to DNPC headquarters, Cain discovers they are safeguarding another CoT named Bobby, who claims extraordinary psionic abilities. When Abel attempts to abduct Bobby, Cain intervenes until DNPC suppressors compel Abel to retreat.
Cain uncovers that a shipment of Aiken's experimental serum has been stolen. Suspecting magician Adrian Starr, founder of the Illusion Totem, Cain is dispatched to interrogate him.
Following Elijah’s demise, Cain is assaulted by followers of Bone Priest. He must locate the head and prevent Golgotham from destroying it; failure would result in unleashing the Sanity Devourer, threatening global annihilation.
Development
Revealed at E3 2000, the game was originally slated for release in late summer 2000.
Reception
Sanity: Aiken's Artifact received mixed critical responses, holding a Metacritic score of 73/100. Reviewers commended its vibrant visuals and initial engaging gameplay but observed that it became repetitive over time. Scores varied from moderate (4/5 AllGame) to average (6/10 Gamecenter), with some outlets rating it lower (2.5/5 Computer Gaming World). IGN and GameZone offered more positive evaluations at 8.3/10 and 8.4/10 respectively. Overall, it attained an average standing within the gaming community.
External links
- 2000 video games
- Cancelled Dreamcast games
- Cyberpunk video games
- Fox Interactive games
- LithTech games
- Monolith Productions games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Video games about psychic powers
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video games featuring black protagonists
- Windows games
- Windows-only games