I've been gaming since the days of Pong and still own a working Atari 2600. I tend to ramble on about retro games, whether they be board games, video games or PC games. Sometimes I digress. Decades after earning it, I'm finally putting the skills I learned while completing my history degree from the University of Victoria to good use. Or so I think. If you're into classic old school gaming, this blog is for you!
Got a game or product you want reviewed? Send me an email! Will review board games, PC games, video games and accessories (Xbox 360 or Wii, but also new releases for classic systems - you know who you are!)
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Anyone remotely familiar with the beautifully crafted Gabriel Knight series recognizes the name Jane Jensen when they see it, and should get a small spasm of joy at the thought of her involvement in a new gaming venture. The game stars Erica Reed, an investigator with a supernatural ability to “read” objects to “see” where they’ve been, who handled them, and what happened. She’s chasing down four serial killers, The Hangman, The Wise Monkey, The Cain Killer, and The Oracle. Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller will be released in episodic format, which Sam ‘n’ Max and Tales of Monkey Island have recently showed is a good choice for an adventure game franchise. And as if the involvement of Jane Jensen is not enough, so too are artist Romano Molenaar (X-Men, among other work) and Phoenix Online, the developers of the King’s Quest homage, The Silver Lining!
The project is currently looking for funding through a Kickstarter campaign. Give them a visit, and if you can afford it, a few dollars, too.
As ever, thanks to Gnome for the information that I’m sharing with you!
In 1995, the phrase “full motion video” (FMV) conjured up the image of such classic games as Night Trap and Burn: Cycle – eye candy at best, and generally poor gaming experiences. CD-ROM technology had been out a for a couple of years, and The 7th Guest was really still the only “must-have” CD-only game on the market. So, imagine the concerns of adventure gamers when they discovered that the sequel to Jane Jensen’s awesome Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers was going to be released in FMV format.
However, these concerns were unfounded. Sierra had been working on the Script Code Interpreter (SCI) game engine, which used full motion technology, for a Roberta Williams game, Phantasmagoria. The development team for the second Gabriel Knight game, The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery, was able to appropriate the engine for their own use, which had the benefit of cutting down the game’s development time. However, even with the game engine built, FMV was an expensive process, involving a production crew and professional actors, all of whom were paid well for their time.
The Beast Within features beautiful backdrops.
Another limitation that the use of FMV incorporated into gameplay was the need to limit the choices available to the player, thereby making the game more linear. Unlike some games that provided many paths based upon how a player reacted to each situation, The Beast Within kept players hemmed within a much more linear storyline. The costs in both production dollars and CD space were simply too high to choose any other avenue.
Yet The Beast Within was still an epic game, and a true adventure game classic. Why?
Some of Jane Jensen's novels.
The answer is multifaceted, but the first step was retaining Jane Jensen as the author of the entire storyline. The first Gabriel Knight game was lauded for not only being fun to play, but having a deeper story than most adventure games. Ms. Jensen had majored in computer science, but also had a deep fascination with creative writing, evidenced by her work on the Gabriel Knight series. Interestingly, she did not become a published novelist until well after The Beast Within, with her novelization of the first Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers book in 1997, and then Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within’s novelization in 1998. Her first non-computer game related novel, Millennium Rising, was published in 1999, the same year her last Gabriel Knight game was released. She has continued to write books, earning a Phillip K. Dick Award nomination for Best Novel in 2003 for her book, Dante`s Equation. But I digress!
The Baron looks a little...intense...
The Beast Within was not only written well, it was acted well. The game featured Dean Erickson as Gabriel, who would go on to leave acting altogether and become a real estate agent; Joanne Takahashi as Grace, who continues to take a variety of minor roles tailored for Asian women; Peter J. Lucas as Baron Friedrich von Glower, who continues to take roles for an ethnic European; Andrea Martin as Gerde, who was a Tony-award winning actress before working on The Beast Within and continues to work on both the stage and in voice-over work today. None of these four ever worked on a computer game again! However, Nicolas Worth, who played Kriminal-Kommisar Leber, has not only had a successful career in film and television both before and after The Beast Within, but has also continue to work in the gaming industry, acting in Emperor: Battle For Dune, Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, and Red Alert 2, as well as lending his voice to Freedom Fighters!
Dean Erickson as Gabriel Knight
The puzzles of The Beast Within were not particularly difficult, but were, on the whole, imaginative. The game used “hotspots” on the photographic quality images to show that there was something of interest on the screen, so it was a simple matter to gain all the inventory items required to solve most of the puzzles the game threw at its players. Like many adventure games, forward progress could come to a complete halt until you discovered the correct hotspot, but this generally was not a complete inconvenience.
Reviews of The Beast Within were very favourable upon its release. Two of the biggest gaming magazines of the day gave it high marks: PC Gamer gave it a score of 96% and it’s coveted Editor’s Choice award, while Computer Gaming World (CGW) gave it 5 out of 5 stars, a Critics Choice tag as well as naming it the 1996 CGW Game of the Year. It also managed to make #17 on CGW’s 150 Best Games of All Time , which is the definitive “must-play” list for retrogaming enthusiasts! If you haven’t played this classic of the adventure game genre, you’re missing a rare treat. Highly recommended!
Today is the fifth and final (for now!) installment of this series on the retrogaming roots of the entire horror PC game genre. There’s been so much to look at, with absolute must-play classics on one side of the gaming spectrum to some absolute dogs on the other. And, of course, there are a variety of horror motifs, from eerie suspense to out and out giblet producing action.
Black Dahlia (Interplay Productions, 1998). Based on both the Torso Killer serial killings in 1940s America as well as the events surrounding the early years of World War II, this adventure game is both a little known and hard to find gaming masterpiece. A dark tale of history and the occult, with genuine actors (not the game designers’ family) and Hollywood-class production values. This is a must-play game!
Blood II: The Chosen (GT Interactive, 1998). This time the action/adventure series is set 100 years after Caleb took out the CABAL. Still lot of gore, some large levels and a cool techno soundtrack make this a decent follow up to the original. As for the gore factor, somehow the designers managed to increase it over the original.
Grim Fandango (LucasArts Entertainment, 1998). A true forgotten classic, this game is viewed as the last gasp for LucasArts adventure games. The story revolves around a bureaucratic SNAFU in the Mexican Land of the Dead, which Manny, the main character, must discover the reasons for to save the skeleton of his dreams. Whacky, imaginative, and fun! (A little more detail on this game can be found here: Forgotten Classics: Grim Fandango (1998).
Morpheus (Piranha Interactive, 1998). Another adventure game, this time taking place on an apparently abandoned luxury liner stuck in the Arctic wastes. What happened to the passengers, and what does that have to do with the visions and ghostly appearances you experience? Another great adventure in the Myst-style of play.
Of Light and Darkness: The Prophecy (Interplay Productions, 1998). The Apocalypse is nigh, and it’s your job to stop the Dark Lord from damning Humanity before the Clock of Judgment strikes its final note. Most of the game revolves around redeeming an assortment of spirits by learning what their sins were, then matching up a colored Orb and an ancient artifact to release them from their sin. A bit too New Age for my tastes, but your mileage may differ.
Sanitarium(Dreamforge Entertainment, 1998). Max wakes up in a padded cell of an insane asylum, with no memory on how he got there. Who is he and why is he there? And is what he sees around him reality, or is it all in his mind? A great psychological adventure game thriller worth playing!
The House of the Dead (SEGA, 1998). In a very common theme, you play a special operative sent in to wipe out a zombie infestation and rescue the foolish laboratory staff that shouldn’t have been messing with life and death in the first place. Some interesting attack modes from the level bosses show that the designers wanted to have a little fun with the zombie plague game genre.
Zombieville(Psygnosis Ltd., 1998). A shooter with adventure game overtones that involves a journalist investigating a military base that seems to specialize in creating experimental weapons that also appears to be currently overrun with zombies.
Aliens Versus Predator (Fox Interactive, 1999). There are three races to choose from in this action shooter: Aliens, Predators, or Marines (Humans), with each requiring a different style of gameplay due to their strengths and weaknesses. Play as the Marines and you’ll spend ever moment on edge, wondering where the next attack will come from. Bonus points playing as the Alien race and eating corpses to gain health. Awesome.
Dracula Resurrection (DreamCatcher Interactive, 2000). Another adventure game wherein the entire plot centers around the hunt for Dracula and saving the girl, but, in this case, the game play is well-executed. 360 degree movement with static Myst-like screens give players a better feel for the playing environment while they solve the puzzles that will lead them to their ultimate victory over the vampire lord.
Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned (Sierra On-Line, 1999). The third game in the series sees the Schattenjaeger hero team up with his assistant in Rennes-le-Chateau, France, to learn the mystery of who kidnapped the baby son of a local Prince, and why. Great atmosphere and dialog, as the game was once again written by Jane Jensen.
Nocturne(Gathering of Developers, 1999). You play a highly-skilled monster hunter with a half-vampire partner whose job it is to come out at night and hunt down and terminate the creatures that prey upon humanity. This was a beautiful action game to play when it came out, with an intriguing premise, but some quirky controls made gameplay harder than it had to be. A good amount of gore, though.
Planescape: Torment (Interplay Productions, 1999). Not really anything horrific in this game, but the fact that you play what is essentially a hero (or villain) who keeps waking up in the Mortuary whenever he dies, and that the undead are found throughout the game, it at least deserves a mention. Besides, it is quite possibly the best RPG ever made, and gives me an excuse to point to another blog entry on it: magisterrex Retro Game of the Week: Planescape: Torment
American McGee’s Alice (Electronic Arts, 2000). Lewis Carroll’s classic tale takes a very dark turn as Alice returns down the rabbit hole to discover Wonderland in ruins, with horrors and madness holding sway over its denizens. Alice must learn what has happened, who is responsible, and how to fix it. Amazing visuals make this a must-play game!
Blair Witch, Volume I: Rustin Parr, Volume II: The Legend of Coffin Rock, Volume III: The Elly Kedward Tale (Gathering of Developers, 2000). Three separate games taking place in 1941, 1886, and 1786, respectively, but kind of the same story told throughout, as bad things are happening to the townfolk, someone has to go investigate, and the woods are the ultimate destination for everything to culminate in.
Hellboy: Dogs of the Night (Cyro Interactive, 2000). It’s Mike Mignola’s comic classic come to the PC screen in this third-person perspective action shooter game that takes place in Hellboy’s early years as a BPRD investigator. A fellow agent has gone missing in Czechoslovakia, and as Hellboy investigates further, sinister forces are revealed, extending right into the depths of Hell itself.
KISS: Psycho Circus (Gathering of Developers, 2000). The Coventry, a band on the bar circuit, find their latest gig closed up and seemingly abandoned, only to be offered the chance to attend a special circus in town. Turns out it’s the Psycho Circus, and the four need to assume the roles and powers of the Demon, the Starbearer, the Beast King, and the Celestial, which are, of course, the cosmic powered alter egos of KISS. A pretty cool first- person shooter set in Todd MacFarlane’s comic book universe!
System Shock 2 (Electronic Arts, 2000). A case where the sequel is so much more than the original, this time you wake up alone in a state-of-the-art faster-than-light spacecraft that should be bristling with passengers and crew. A masterpiece of sci-fi survival horror!
The Devil Inside (Cryo Interactive, 2000). OK, sit down, this one needs some explaining. The hero, Dave Cooper, is possessed by a female demon, and ironically he happens to be starring in a TV game show called The Devil Inside. The show is staffed by escaped spirits from Hell, including Jack the Ripper as the host. And Dave needs to shoot zombies to win the game. Still there? Great! One thing you can’t take away from this game is that it has an original premise, but the game itself is good, but not great.
The Forgotten…It Begins (DreamCatcher Interactive, 1999). An adventure game where your character is seeking to solve the mystery of your friend’s recent disappearance, and finding himself drawn into a world of voodoo and an ongoing battle of good versus evil. Interestingly, this game was supposed to be the first of a seven game series, so some of the story’s mysteries remain unanswered as they were was scheduled to be unveiled in the later releases, which never came.
The Typing of the Dead (Empire Interactive, 2000). Trapped within a house filled with gruesome creatures and flesh-devouring undead, you have only one weapon: your keyboard. It’s a typing tutorial that uses zombie attacks as motivation for you to type various phrases that pop up on the screen. Do them correctly and the monsters are defeated. Make too many errors and you’re brain food.
Vampire The Masquerade: The Redemption(Activision, Inc., 2000). Set in White Wolf’s horror-themed role playing universe, this role-playing game casts the player as a vampire who must survive from the Medieval era to the present day, gaining power to destroy the master vampire that is your greatest enemy.
Horror-themed PC gaming has been going on for some time, beginning with text adventures and continuing with the action-adventures that we play today. Some games use psychological suspense with a foreboding atmosphere, while others go for a gruesome gorefest. It’s no surprise that there are as many variations of horror-themed games as there are in horror movies. This series looks at those games (sorted by their release dates), and made before 2000, because after all, this is a blog about retrogaming!
Alone in the Dark 3(Infogrames, 1994). Edward Carnby is called to find out what happened to a film crew missing in an Old West ghost town built over an Indian burial ground that was once renowned for the murderers living there. Maybe not the best place to
place a movie set, but maybe the producers were strapped for budget space. Unfortunately, Carnby’s old friend, Emily, was part of the crew, and he must rescue her or discover her fate!
Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Tale of Orpheo’s Curse (Viacom New Media, 1994). Based on and using the same actors from the cheesy Nickelodeon television series, this game uses Full Motion Video to tell a tale of a haunted theatre, the Mad Magician Orpheo, and the mystery that surrounds them both. If you were a fan of the show, you’ll love the game. If you thought the show blew chunks, the game won’t impress you, either.
Doom II (id Software, 1994). The unnamed Marine has cleaned up Mars, but after returning to Earth discovers that the demon hordes have already arrived. It’s time to clean up another mess before Hell on Earth becomes a reality. Similar in gameplay to the first game with a few new nasty surprises around darkened corners.
Night Trap (Digital Pictures, Inc., 1994). Five girls disappeared without a trace after attending a party, and now the owners of the house have invited five more! This was a Full Motion Video (FMV) game that originated on the Sega CD, with the player stuck trying to save the lovely young ladies while staving off the vampires that want to drink their blood. Oh yeah, the house is basically one big trap, too. Run, bad actresses, run!
Noctropolis (Electronic Arts, 1994). The Batmanesque Darksheer fights crime and worse in the city where the sun never shines, except he’s missing in action, your character is dressed up like him with no idea how they got there, and his five worst enemies have joined forces to hunt him down and kill him. The Succubus is the reason for inclusion in this list, as she represents exactly what her name suggests she does.
Ravenloft: Strahd’s Possession (Strategic Simulations, Inc., 1994). Create a party of adventurers to travel the evil-infested lands of Ravenloft, ultimately facing Count Strahd von Barovich himself. A first-person perspective RPG, this was one of the best SSI AD&D adventures, and one of two horror-themed ones to use the AD&D license.
System Shock (Origin Systems, Inc., 1994). An adventure game mixed with a shooter and set in an abandoned (yeah, right) space station controlled by SHODAN, a rogue computer with a disdain for human life. A true classic and an amazing game in its day, with reviewers making statements like, “Doom who?”.
Call of Cthulhu: Prisoner of Ice (Infogrames, 1995). Another H.P. Lovecraft based adventure game, this time taking place in the confinement of a British submarine. The crew has visited Antarctica on a rescue mission, taking aboard to mysterious crates during the excitement. What was in the crates, and how does it relate to the crew’s horrific fate?
“D” (Acclaim Entertainment, 1995). What could make a respected hospital director slaughter his patients and staff in one bloodstained Los Angeles evening? His daughter, Laura, enters the hospital to find out, even as the voice of her father begs her to stay away. What really happened that night drives the plot of this moody puzzle-based adventure game.
Darkseed II (Cyberdreams, Inc., 1995). Another H.R. Giger influenced adventure game, with Mike, last seen defeating the Ancients who implanted the dark seed in his mind, attending his high school reunion. Unfortunately, during the night his high school sweetheart is brutally murdered, with Mike having no memory of the event and being the prime suspect. What really happened that night, and how can Mike prove he’s innocent?
Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster(Interplay Productions, 1995). You wake up in a laboratory to realize two things: you are Frankenstein, reanimated, and Tim Curry is the Doctor hamming it up in front of you. Why were you brought back and how can you escape? The answer is found in the puzzles throughout the castle, and all the action is done by live actors on a digitized background. What’s a Halloween tale without Tim Curry?
Ravenloft: Stone Prophet (Strategic Simulations, Inc., 1995). Return to the dreaded lands of Ravenloft, with this adventure set in the shifting sands of Har’Akir. The ancient mummy Anhktepot rises from his eternal sleep, and your party of adventurers needs to help him back into his grave. A first-person RPG with great graphics and some tough puzzles to solve.
Roberta Williams’ Phantasmagoria (Sierra On-Line, 1995). Who would have thought the Queen of all-ages adventure gaming could produce a grisly horror masterpiece? Well, she did! In shades of The Shining, Adrienne moves into an old mansion which begins to turn her husband into a raving lunatic whose murderous rampage she must escape. Perhaps this was really a marriage therapy session for Ken and Roberta Williams in disguise?
Shivers (Sierra On-Line, 1995). Accepting the challenge to spend a night in a reputedly haunted museum, the player’s character soon finds themselves on a mission to capture the source of the haunting, the evil Ixupi (South American ghosts). A bit of an oddity for a Sierra title, this game plays more like a cross between The 7th Guest and Myst. The puzzles can be difficult to solve, and the creepy atmosphere of a museum in the middle of the night make this a great game to play.
Terror T.R.A.X.: Track of the Vampire (Grolier Electronic Publishing, Ltd., 1995). Hard to see why this game got a sequel, but it did. Players get “A” or “B” choices as they play the game, and whatever they choose is reflected in the characters’ actions. Yes, there’s vampires to kill, and the game can have some grisly scenes, but, come on…it’s more like an interactive book than a game.
The 11th Hour(Trilobyte & Virgin Interactive, 1995). Old Man Stauf is back in the sequel to The 7th Guest. This time around, an investigative reporter goes missing within Stauf’s mansion, and it’s up to her boyfriend, Carl, to either rescue her or learn her ultimate fate. The game is still a series of puzzles with Full Motion Video clips as the reward, although the production quality is better than its predecessor due to better video compression technology.
The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery (Sierra On-Line, 1995). The Schattenjaeger returns to supernatural action, this time in Bavaria where the villagers are being harassed by a wolf-like creature. This was the second game in the series, and was shot with live actors yet played as a standard adventure game. Once again written by Jane Jensen, this game set the gold bar standard for horror games! For a deeper review of the game, click Retro Game of the Week: The Beast Within – A Gabriel Knight Mystery.
The Dark Eye (Inscape, 1995). This adventure game is based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe, and typical of a Poe tale, follows the cast of characters’ gradual descent into madness from an innocuous beginning. If you’re looking for a new source of nightmares, this game is for you. A true horror classic.
The Residents: Bad Day on the Midway(Inscape, 1995). To escape the depression of an unlucky day, little Timmy decides to head to the Midway for a little fun. Unfortunately for Timmy, the Midway is filled with unhappy people with dark secrets, and to escape, Timmy must jump into the mind of each character, living their life and learning their secrets – which takes more than one playthrough of the game to do. Is this really a game or an elaborate piece of performance art?
Zeddas: Servant of Sheol (Caravan Interactive, 1995). Yet another adventure game set in a haunted castle, this time with a demon as the source of the troubles. The castle was invaded by the demon and its army, and then removed from this reality. Finding your way inside, your character must defeat Zeddas and its minions to bring the castle back. Some disturbing, horrific scenes make this first-person game “not for the kiddies!”. Incidentally, this game was designed by Haruhiko Shono, an award-winning Japanese game designer.
There have been so many horror or Halloween-themed games over the years that only a multi-part article can encompass their sheer volume. In fact, horror-themed PC gaming has been going on for some time, beginning with text adventures and continuing with the action-adventures that we play today. This series looks at those games (sorted by their release dates), and made before 2000, because after all, this is a blog about retrogaming!
Elvira II: Jaws of Cerberus (Accolade, Inc., 1991). A slightly darker sequel set in a horror film studio that has become the stomping grounds of a demon and its undead hordes. Once again, Elvira is trapped inside, and once again, it’s up to you to help her escape. Not as good as the first game, but still enjoyable!
Elvira Arcade Game (Flair Software, 1991). Playing Elvira in a platform side-scroller? The graphics are decent for its day, and at least Elvira is easily seen against the colorful backdrops of the two levels (yes, I typed that right: 2) of Fire and Ice. This game exists as proof of the Elvira craze thatwas going on at the time.
Alone in the Dark(Infogrames, 1992). One of the earliest graphic adventure survival horror games filled with creepy moments. Why did the house’s former owner take his own life, and what is the source of the evil that has infested the Louisiana mansion, Delcarto? A deeper review can be found here: Retro Game of the Week – Alone in the Dark (1992).
Darkseed(Cyberdreams, Inc., 1992). An adventure game based on H.R. Giger’s surreal art. The main character, Mike, falls asleep in his recently purchased house (for far too little of a purchase price). After waking from a horrible dream, Mike discovers that something in the house has planted a seed of darkness (Darkseed, get it?) within his mind, and he has only three days to prevent it from hatching. H.R. Giger’s work is always unsettling, but the sheer amount of bugs in the original release bordered on the horrific.
Daughter of Serpents (Millennium Interactive, 1992). An H.P. Lovecraft inspired adventure game, this time based in 1920′s Egypt. Players can opt for different skillsets and professions, which alter how NPCs interact with them, though not the overall plotline. This game is also known as The Scrollin its re-release.
The Legacy: Realm of Terror (MicroProse Software, 1992). The other claimant to the title of earliest graphic adventure survival horror game, but with a more RPG style of play. The player is again stuck in a haunted mansion, filled with Cthulhian creatures, with escape the top priority.
Waxworks (Accolade, Inc., 1992). Originally slated to be Elvira III, this game uses the same game engine, but is not a game “starring” the lovely Cassandra Peterson. It is, however, absolutely filled with horrific imagery. Its story surrounds an ancient curse that manifests whenever a family has a set of twins, turning one “evil” and the other ”good.” But who is who?
Alien Carnage (Apogee Software, 1993). Also known as Halloween Harry, this platform scroller follows Harry on his quest to rid the world of the aliens who are creating zombies out of humanity. There’s nothing frightening about this game whatsoever, except, perhaps, that people purchased and loved it.
Alone in the Dark 2 (Infogrames, 1993). Edward Carnby is back, this time searching another foreboding mansion for a missing little girl. And since this time the mansion has the title of ”Hell’s Kitchen”, you know it’s not going to be an easy task. It’s survivor horror with a voodoo twist, and featuring an undead pirate that is nothing like LeChuck. (Gratuitous Monkey Island reference!)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Psygnosis Limited, 1993). An adventure game based on the movie of the same name, with the player taking the role of Harker as he quests through the dark realm of Transylvania seeking to end the threat of the monstrous Count Dracula, once and for all. The movie was fright-filled; the game is not.
Call of Cthulhu: Shadow of the Comet (Infogrames, 1993). A brilliant adventure game using the H.P. Lovecraft mythos, wherein the player is cast in the role of an astronomer investigating the return of Halley’s Comet and what it has to do with the weird happenings within the small hamlet of Illsmouth.
Doom (id Software, 1993). A scientific experiment gone wrong opens a gate to Hell on Mars, and it’s up to an unnamed Marine to clean up the mess. This classic shooter game had some scary moments, and some fond gaming memories from those who played it when it came out.
Dracula Unleashed (Viacom New Media, 1993). Set in London in 1899, ten years after
Dracula’s demise in Bram Stoker’s classic novel. The game is another full-motion video with fairly minimal interaction, almost like playing an Endless Quest book on your computer. Who’s the new master vampire in town, and how can they be stopped before they turn your girlfriend into just another bloodsucker?
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers(Sierra On-Line, 1993). This adventure game takes place in the dark side of New Orleans, with plenty of voodoo undertones, as the lead character must fulfill his destiny as one of the last Shadow Hunters, destined to stave off supernatural forces. A moody atmosphere and Jane Jensen’s professionally written plot and dialog make this game a must-play event!
Isle of the Dead (Merit Software, 1993). As the only survivor of a South Pacific vacation gone horribly wrong, the player finds themselves on a deserted island. Except the island really isn’t all that deserted, as it’s filled with various creatures, including a large contingent of zombies. Definitely in the adventure/shooter genre.
The 7th Guest (Trilobyte & Virgin Interactive, 1993). One of the two early must-have CD-ROM games that created fueled the demand for CD technology, this is a puzzle game masquerading as a Full Motion Video adventure. Not much gore, but there were some genuinely nasty surprises, as well as some very adult situations. Not for the kiddies! (Incidentally, this game is reviewed in greater depth here: magisterrex Retro Game of the Week – The 7th Guest (1993).
Veil of Darkness (Strategic Simulations, Inc., 1993). A solid horror adventure game that has RPG overtones. The premise is much like the Ravenloft series from TSR: a vampire lord has sealed off the borders of his kingdom and now the villagers are either feasted upon, driven mad, or turned into undead. Or all three! Some gore and lots of atmosphere make this a classic!
Anyone remotely familiar with the beautifully crafted Gabriel Knight series recognizes the name Jane Jensen when they see it, and should get a small spasm of joy at the thought of her involvement in a new gaming venture. The game stars Erica Reed, an investigator with a supernatural ability to “read” objects to “see” where they’ve been, who handled them, and what happened. She’s chasing down four serial killers, The Hangman, The Wise Monkey, The Cain Killer, and The Oracle. Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller will be released in episodic format, which Sam ‘n’ Max and Tales of Monkey Island have recently showed is a good choice for an adventure game franchise. And as if the involvement of Jane Jensen is not enough, so too are artist Romano Molenaar (X-Men, among other work) and Phoenix Online, the developers of the King’s Quest homage, The Silver Lining!
