Necronomicon: The Gateway to Beyond
- July 11, 2014
- Cryo Interactive
Get on Steam"Necronomicon: The Gateway to Beyond" is a point-and-click adventure game set in 1927 New England, based on the works of H.P Lovecraft. When William Stanton's friend gives him a metallic pyramid and warns him not to give it to himself, Stanton embarks on a journey to find his friend and uncovers a horrifying secret threatening humanity. Solve clues and puzzles to help Stanton unravel the mystery of the Necronomicon and save mankind from destruction.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game captures a gloomy, Lovecraftian atmosphere that fans of the genre will appreciate.
- Despite its flaws, the game offers a nostalgic experience for those who enjoyed classic point-and-click adventures.
- The story, while linear, has interesting elements and is based on H.P. Lovecraft's work, which adds depth for fans.
- The Steam version is riddled with bugs, including a game-breaking issue that prevents players from completing it.
- Graphics and animations are outdated and often described as poor, detracting from the overall experience.
- The lack of subtitles and unclear puzzle directions can lead to frustration, making it difficult for players to progress.
- story47 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story, heavily inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," is noted for its atmospheric elements but criticized for its execution, with many reviewers finding it basic, linear, and at times incoherent. While some appreciate the lore and Lovecraftian moments, others point out significant content cuts and bugs that hinder the storytelling experience, making it difficult to follow the plot. Overall, the narrative has potential but suffers from poor direction and presentation, leaving players frustrated and often confused.
“If you can stomach all that, there's actually a rather endearing story heavily based on H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.'”
“It's quite a faithful adaptation of 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward' (my favorite story by H.P. Lovecraft) and has a great atmosphere.”
“The story is interesting to begin with, woven with mummies, strange disappearances, long deceased ancestors, sigils, and summoning of spirits.”
“The story is basic; I was really annoyed by the fact that: who did all that?”
“While the game does have its moments where the story seems to be heading in the right direction, more often than not, it just makes no sense and is all over the place.”
“A very large, and important cutscene, one that shapes the entire game, and gives the player direction in what to do next, is missing.”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by Lovecraftian horror, successfully creating a gloomy and eerie environment that enhances the overall experience. While the sound design and music contribute positively to the suspense, the clunky animations and confusing puzzles detract from the immersion. Despite its flaws, the game manages to evoke a charming yet unsettling atmosphere that resonates with fans of gothic storytelling.
“It has a gloomy, gooey atmosphere reminiscent of the famous Lovecraftian horror.”
“The sounds of the game and the background music do a really good job of creating a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere throughout the game, which is always a plus.”
“It is a very enjoyable game to play, classic point-and-click with a wonderfully creepy atmosphere.”
“It has a gloomy, gooey atmosphere reminiscent of famous Lovecraftian horror.”
“While the story and atmosphere of horror are really well done (especially the music, minus most voice actors), the game does a very poor job of directing the player towards the next task.”
“There is also this overall atmosphere that the game is lacking polish, and there are some gaps in the overall gameplay that should have been filled before the game was released.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and subpar, with many reviewers noting their resemblance to early PlayStation titles. Descriptions include terms like "clunky," "plastic," and "horrid," highlighting a lack of artistic direction and emotional delivery in character animations. While some acknowledge the game's age, the overall consensus is that the visuals are disappointing, even for a title released over 15 years ago.
“Aesthetically, the game uses a lot of pre-rendered backgrounds and has a sizable amount of long cutscenes.”
“The graphics are pretty ordinary, but it's probably to be expected for such an old game, and it's from a relatively unknown developer.”
“The game hailing from 2001, the graphics are nothing extraordinary, a bit clunky and plastic even for character models.”
“The game clearly shows its age now; outdated graphics, even back then, weird dialogue delivered with the emotion of a potato, and cryptic puzzles that will make you scratch your head.”
“It's graphics are comically dated.”
“The graphics, though spartan and often incomprehensible, a running theme with this game, are also bland and inoffensive, lacking even the slightest spark of art direction or competency.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players finding it flawed and lacking polish, leading to frustration with its mechanics. While some appreciate its old-school point-and-click style reminiscent of classics like Myst, others criticize it for being overly linear and tedious, detracting from the overall experience.
“I played this game back when it was on PS1, had a blast always getting decked by the angry housekeeper after 20 minutes of gameplay and forgetting to save... this game is a proper classic point-and-click puzzler like Myst but based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft.”
“We are already used to the linear gameplay for an adventure game, but 'Necronomicon: The Dawning of Darkness' takes this part a bit more seriously than it should.”
“The gameplay can put off a lot of people.”
“There is also this overall atmosphere that the game is lacking polish, and there are some gaps in the overall gameplay that should have been filled before the game was released.”
“I could forgive the tired animations if it weren't for the dreadfully boring gameplay.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it effective in creating a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere, others describe it as unmemorable and overshadowed by the game's visuals. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for enhancing the environment, particularly in horror contexts, but it lacks standout moments.
“The environment is pretty well done as far as what you see and the accompanying soundtrack.”
“The sounds of the game and the background music do a really good job of creating a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere throughout the game, which is always a plus.”
“I also enjoyed the music, plus I am a huge fan of Lovecraft and anything (well, almost anything) based on his writing.”
“The music is not memorable.”
“While the story and atmosphere of horror are really well done (especially the music, minus most voice actors), the game does a very poor job of directing the player towards the next task.”
“All wrapped in no music and a pixelated walk clicker engine.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users describing it as a "buggy mess" that hampers gameplay and makes it nearly impossible to complete due to critical glitches, including missing cutscenes and lost items. While some players have found temporary fixes, the overall experience remains frustrating and disappointing, particularly for those unfamiliar with troubleshooting.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, making for a seamless experience.”
“I've had no issues with stability; it performs consistently well even during intense gameplay.”
“The old game runs great via streaming, showcasing its solid performance over time.”
“A broken buggy mess.”
“A buggy and broken waste of space on Steam.”
“The game's a buggy mess, impossible to complete due to a lack of an incredibly important cutscene near endgame, and the fact that you completely lose your briefcase after the cutscene as well, depriving you of a key that you need to solve one of the next puzzles.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its janky art and animations, which some players find charming and amusing, often leading to laughter at the game's low-quality graphics and unexpected moments, such as comically bad knockouts. While this humor may not appeal to everyone, those who appreciate it can overlook other shortcomings for a more enjoyable experience.
“There's enough atmosphere to give it a certain charm, and enough janky art and animations to make it funny at times.”
“I found them to be hilarious most of the time, so I looked past it.”
“I was also laughing at how I got my game over; the graphics are kind of low quality, so it was hard not to laugh at the 'best' knockout ever.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, primarily due to the repetitive nature of scanning for interactable items and solving puzzles that are often boring or hindered by bugs. This lack of engaging gameplay detracts from the overall immersion and enjoyment.
“Either way, it gets tedious fast to scan the environment for clicker hotspots and interactable items; the immersion is not there.”
“The puzzles, as other reviewers have mentioned, are tedious.”
“However, this is not because the game is scary, but simply because its puzzles are so mind-numbingly boring, tedious, and oftentimes unsolvable due to infuriating bugs and awful game design.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for its lackluster character design and stilted voice acting, resulting in flat and unconvincing portrayals. Even the standout performance of a brain in a jar fails to elevate the overall experience, as it is hindered by monotonous dialogue.
“The characters in this game are even flatter and less believable than Lovecraft's own, with stilted voice acting and stuttering, puppety models that look like they were all controlled by tiny spiders, rather than any kind of individual personality.”
“The most competent voice acting role in the game comes in the form of a brain in a jar, whose performance is the most human and sane of all the characters.”
