An English Haunting
- May 22, 2024
- Postmodern Adventures
- 56h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"An English Haunting" is a point-and-click adventure game set in 1907 London, where players assume the role of Professor Patrick Moore, who has 72 hours to prove the existence of the afterlife. The game features pixel art backgrounds and is based on inventory puzzles, as players travel from London to Scotland and ultimately to the haunted manor of Benwell Street to build the Box of Revelations with the help of a fake medium. The goal is to save Moore's investigative department from shutting down forever.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Gorgeous pixel art and excellent music create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
- The game features a well-written, intriguing story with interesting characters and a solid blend of humor and horror elements.
- Puzzles are logical and integrated into the narrative, providing a satisfying challenge without frustrating 'moon logic'.
- The game lacks voice acting, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience, especially during lengthy dialogues.
- Puzzles can be on the easier side, leading to a sense of predictability and less engagement for seasoned players.
- The pacing can be uneven, with some sections feeling drawn out or overly reliant on cutscenes, which may disrupt immersion.
- story176 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely praised for its intriguing and well-written narrative, set in a richly detailed Victorian England with elements of horror and the supernatural. Players appreciate the engaging plot twists and character development, although some note that the pacing can falter towards the end, leaving loose ends. Overall, the combination of compelling storytelling, atmospheric visuals, and logical puzzles creates a captivating experience, particularly for fans of the genre.
“The story is compelling and had me hooked from start to finish.”
“The story took wonderful twists and turns that kept me wanting to keep playing!”
“An excellent adventure game with fantastic atmosphere, sound design, and an interesting story.”
“The story is a little all over the place, and quite gruesome at times.”
“Overall there are the seeds here of a much better game if the story and dialogue had been tightened and the puzzles deepened a bit.”
“On the other hand, the story gets a bit stuck in the middle, and then just loses the plot at the end (at least for me).”
- music51 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellent quality and immersive ambiance, effectively complementing the well-crafted story and visuals. Reviewers highlight the moody, themed soundtrack, particularly the incorporation of early Edwardian era music, which enhances the gothic horror atmosphere. Despite the absence of voice acting, the soundtrack and sound design are noted as significant strengths, contributing to a captivating and engaging experience.
“Gorgeous pixel art, excellent music, and superb ambiance.”
“Picture this: moody and themed soundtrack from Edwardian England, ghosts, and jumpscares.”
“The early Edwardian era music is a treat, and massive props must be given for the excellent sound design.”
“Combining this with appropriate music from the era and a solid soundtrack ties it all together to create an immersive experience.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful pixel art style, detailed environments, and atmospheric design that effectively evoke the game's setting. Many reviewers noted the significant improvement in visuals compared to the developer's previous titles, highlighting the vibrant art and character designs that enhance the storytelling experience. However, some critiques mention that the graphics can feel underutilized due to dialogue pacing, and opinions on the pixelated style vary, with some players appreciating its nostalgic charm while others find it less appealing.
“I love the art style, environments, and characters.”
“The graphics are beautifully drawn, and the locations feel alive, with people going about their lives in the foreground of exterior scenes.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, incredible dialogue, game cuts straight to the point, no filler, just a solid adventure game so far!”
“Visually...eh, if you can stand the pixelated early 90's graphics, then they are ok I guess.”
“Despite the pixel graphics, it works well at achieving this.”
“It is a game to be played for the atmosphere and the story (and the cute graphics and dialogue).”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful pixel art, dense ambiance, and excellent sound design, effectively evoking the early 1900s London setting. Reviewers highlight the captivating narrative and engaging gameplay, noting that the atmosphere enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the point-and-click adventure genre. While some comparisons are made to the developer's previous work, the atmosphere remains a key reason to play, alongside the intriguing story and well-crafted characters.
“An excellent adventure game with fantastic atmosphere, sound design, and an interesting story.”
“The game's captivating narrative, atmospheric design, and engaging gameplay make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
“Looking at the game you’ll quickly notice the gorgeous art style with detailed backgrounds and characters that create an atmospheric feel to evoke early 1900s London.”
“If you try to talk to him again however, the protagonist, a professor, will say, "Montague Rhodes James did not employ all his talent on creating atmospheres so that a mere professor would break Mr. Price's immersion."”
“It is a game to be played for the atmosphere and the story (and the cute graphics and dialogue).”
“If you liked the developer's previous game (Nightmare Frames), the overall atmosphere and gameplay are very similar.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by standard point-and-click mechanics, focusing on exploration, dialogue, and inventory-based puzzles, which are integral to progressing through the story. While the captivating narrative and atmospheric design enhance the experience, some players find the reliance on recalling previously examined items to be frustrating. Overall, it offers a familiar yet engaging experience for fans of the genre, though it may feel drawn out at times.
“The majority of the puzzles are based in the gameplay - figuring out what to do next and asking the right questions.”
“Gameplay consists of exploring, dialogue, and mostly inventory item-based puzzles, just the way you'd expect from a point-and-click adventure.”
“The game's captivating narrative, atmospheric design, and engaging gameplay make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
“A wonderful short game, but it drags the story, dialogue, and gameplay.”
“Also, I hate the game mechanic in these types of games where you examine something and nothing happens, but later on in the game you are supposed to remember that specific thing to examine again to progress through the story.”
“Gameplay was standard adventure point and click, heavy on the story and dialogue.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a surprising amount of humor, with well-crafted jokes, engaging dialogue, and a blend of slapstick and witty writing that enhances the overall experience. Characters are portrayed realistically, adding to the charm and British flair of the humor, which is well-balanced with the game's more serious moments. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that keeps players engaged, even if they are less interested in the game's subject matter.
“Had more humor than I expected, but it was a welcome addition.”
“Funny and interesting; even though I was less interested in the subject matter of this game, the quality of the writing kept me engaged.”
“All the characters feel realistic, really British, and the humor touches are well balanced.”
