Phantasmagoria
- August 29, 2016
- Sierra
- 19h median play time
Get on Steam"Phantasmagoria" is a single-player Horror Point and Click game with an interesting plot, good graphics, and stellar music. Created by Roberta Williams, the game utilizes full-motion video technology and tells a thrilling storyline filled with violent terror. Its controversy-causing content and eerie atmosphere make for a unique and memorable gaming experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Ms Dos
Sega Saturn
Reviews
- Phantasmagoria is a nostalgic classic that many players fondly remember from the 90s, offering a unique blend of horror and adventure.
- The game's atmosphere, music, and practical effects were impressive for its time, creating an engaging experience that still resonates with fans.
- Despite its age, the game has a compelling storyline and offers a fun, albeit cheesy, experience for those who appreciate retro FMV games.
- The gameplay can feel dated and simplistic, with many puzzles being straightforward and some sections requiring a guide to navigate effectively.
- Technical issues, such as glitches and a frustrating save system, can detract from the overall experience, especially in the final chapters.
- The FMV cutscenes, while groundbreaking at the time, have not aged well and can appear pixelated and awkward compared to modern standards.
- story69 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of linear progression and engaging horror elements, featuring multiple endings and a variety of twists that keep players invested. While some reviews highlight its nostalgic charm and entertaining plot, others criticize the weak character development and pacing issues, noting that the FMV style may not appeal to everyone. Overall, it offers a unique blend of horror and mystery, making it a noteworthy experience for fans of the genre despite its flaws.
“Not only was this a groundbreaking game for its time, but this game definitely has enough crazy storylines to keep the player invested (and horrified).”
“The story is well told and exploring the old estate is fun, reminiscent of the fairy tale Bluebeard... back then, I think in 1995, the violent video sequences were still really shocking, and I particularly enjoyed the ending sequences to the full because there was no solution.”
“This game is basically a haunted house mystery story where you find out how people died in the past and try to help your husband who is possessed by the spirit of the murderer from the past.”
“To put it mildly, the story is very weak and, in a game where you're mostly just watching cut scenes, this is a big problem.”
“The characters were embarrassing stereotypes and the story was thin to say the least.”
“The storyline is linear.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many reviewers acknowledging their dated quality, reminiscent of the 1995 era, yet appreciating the charm and nostalgia they evoke. While some find the practical effects and early CGI impressive for their time, others note that the integration of live actors with pixelated backgrounds can feel jarring. Overall, players who can overlook the clunky animations and rough visuals are rewarded with an engaging story and atmospheric experience.
“Great call back to when computer graphics and motion-capture were just coming together.”
“Phantasmagoria is Roberta Williams’ tour de force, no question, and I still respect what it did right (graphics, amazing soundtrack, art direction).”
“Great adventure with quite impressive graphics and video sequences for its time.”
“If you want top of the range graphics, with the highest quality of sound and ray tracing etc... then no.”
“First thing - the graphics, the real actors look out of place in this pixel world, like a person trapped in a computer game.”
“Graphics is so bad, that you can barely identify objects.”
- music18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the immersive and atmospheric experience, with many noting its fitting composition for the horror theme. However, some users found the music to be occasionally repetitive and criticized certain tracks, like the end credits song, for not aligning well with the game's overall tone. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated, particularly by fans of midi music, but opinions vary on its execution and consistency throughout gameplay.
“The music fits the game perfectly, maybe except the end credits song.”
“The music and sound work well with the ambiance, and the occasional Latin chanting, although admittedly cliché, fits just fine with the mood of the story.”
“The atmosphere in this game is phenomenal, and the soundtrack is a fine seasoning to that.”
“The music occasionally got repetitive, especially during gameplay.”
“Sometimes the music is atmospheric, and other times it doesn't fit the game at all.”
“It has its annoying aspects, like having to wait through the entire animated sequence before you can move, along with some occasional repetitive music.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally poor script and over-the-top acting, which many players find amusing, especially if they appreciate dark humor. While the game may not be scary by modern standards, its campy nature and accidental comedic moments contribute to its entertainment value, making it a nostalgic experience for those who enjoy this style of humor. However, the enjoyment of the humor largely depends on personal taste; those who do not find the bad acting funny may find it detracts from their overall experience.
“The script is horrible in a funny way, and the characters would feel dull if it wasn't for their overacting.”
“Hilariously campy, and great entertainment value.”
“Fun game I played in the late 90's, brings back memories and the acting is so bad it's funny.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of real actors and CGI, creating a dense and immersive experience that enhances the horror elements. While some users note the presence of clichés and occasional mismatched music, the overall ambiance is described as creepy and engaging, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and emotional impact. The combination of effective sound design and visual elements contributes significantly to the game's atmospheric appeal.
“The atmosphere, with the real actors and the CGI environment, was super cool.”
“The atmosphere in this game is phenomenal, and the soundtrack is a fine seasoning to that.”
“The biggest pros of this game is probably its atmosphere, amazing and unique, so dense that you can cut it with a knife.”
“The haunted house scenario is full of clichés (and not exactly subtle references to The Shining), but I love the atmosphere and quite stirring moments.”
“The music and creepy atmosphere were there, but that was the only thing done right.”
“The music composition definitely complements its horror-themed atmosphere.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being flawed and not aging well, particularly in the final act, with repetitive music and limited interactivity in scenes leading to a feeling of emptiness. While the visuals and cinematics are appreciated, technical issues in the Steam version have detracted from the overall experience, leaving players disappointed.
“Granted, I have many years of game mechanics that I have learned from to get me to this point.”
“The cinematics were better than the standard gameplay; I can even say that it looked good.”
“However, the game is unfortunately fairly flawed and the gameplay hasn't aged too well (this really shows in the final act).”
“I also noticed that most of the time there are few interactive spots in each scene, which makes the gameplay sometimes feel too empty, even though the scenarios are pretty to look at and explore.”
“I remember playing this game when it was first released and really liking it... unfortunately, the Steam version makes me really dislike the experience... I was happy to play it again but it does not work properly... lots of problems, frozen game, I have to start all over and whatnot... the gameplay is quite okay (even if not great at all) but the cinematics are really not good... I am really disappointed!”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is generally criticized, with users reporting multiple glitches and potential game-breaking issues if actions are performed out of order. While some players find it a bit buggy yet playable, others note that it requires tweaking for optimal performance, particularly in the DOS version, which surprisingly runs well under emulation. Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with significant room for improvement.
“This is the DOS version, so I was worried it would run poorly (like most DOS games on Steam), but it actually runs great even under DOSBox emulation.”
“The game maintains a solid frame rate throughout, ensuring a smooth experience without any noticeable lag.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the online multiplayer is; I didn't experience any disconnects or major issues.”
“I encountered multiple glitches and I'm pretty sure if you perform the actions for this chapter in the wrong order, you're screwed and have to restart the entire game to beat it.”
“It stops being point & click and turns into a buggy adventure game. If it weren't for chapter 7, the game would be good but very hard.”
“Super dated and buggy.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while it runs smoothly on modern systems like Windows 10, some players find certain sections unintuitive and the installation process tedious. Minor tweaks may be needed for optimal performance, and occasional glitches can detract from the experience, but many still appreciate its nostalgic value and immersive qualities.
“I bought this to refresh 20-year-old childhood memories, but surprisingly it still runs smoothly on Windows 10.”
“While the game takes a small bit of tweaking for the best performance and there are occasional glitches, Phantasmagoria is a classic horror masterpiece that you'll be immersed in for hours.”
“I knocked points because some sections feel unintuitive to a modern gamer, such as areas where you should technically be able to do something out of order but can't due to the original packaging of the game's data. The frustration of installing and running the game feels tedious and could definitely be optimized.”
“The game's performance is inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where the frame rate drops unexpectedly. This lack of optimization really detracts from the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, indicating a lack of thorough optimization. It feels like the developers rushed the release without addressing these critical issues.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to unintuitive sections that hinder progress and a tedious installation process that could benefit from optimization. This leads to a less enjoyable experience for modern gamers accustomed to smoother gameplay mechanics.
“The grinding in this game feels excessively repetitive and lacks any real reward, making it a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found myself spending hours on grinding without any significant progress, which made the gameplay feel tedious and unfulfilling.”
“The grind is so monotonous that it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game, turning what could be exciting moments into a dull slog.”
