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
- The game is a nostalgic classic that has held up well over the years, providing a fun and engaging experience.
- The atmosphere and music effectively contribute to the horror elements, making it an immersive experience.
- The campy acting and cheesy storyline add to the charm, appealing to fans of retro FMV games.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and glitches, particularly in the final chapter, which can lead to frustrating gameplay.
- The puzzles can be illogical and require the use of guides, detracting from the overall experience.
- The graphics and FMV cutscenes have aged poorly, making them less appealing to modern gamers.
- story138 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is a linear yet engaging horror narrative that combines elements of mystery and dark themes, reminiscent of 90s B-movies. While some players appreciate its intriguing twists and nostalgic charm, others criticize the weak character development and pacing issues, noting that the experience can be hampered by clunky gameplay mechanics. Overall, it offers a mix of entertaining storytelling and retro appeal, making it a notable entry in the horror genre, especially for fans of interactive narratives.
“Not only was this a groundbreaking game for its time, but this game definitely has enough crazy storyline 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 slow moving and you can barely interact with the environment.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke a strong sense of nostalgia, with many reviewers acknowledging their dated quality while appreciating the charm of early CGI and live-action integration. While some find the visuals rough and clunky, particularly in comparison to modern standards, others celebrate the game's artistic direction and the impressive technology of its time. Overall, players who can overlook the outdated graphics are rewarded with an engaging story and atmospheric experience.
“Great adventure with quite impressive graphics and video sequences for its time.”
“Phantasmagoria is Roberta Williams’ tour de force, no question, and I still respect what it did right (graphics, amazing soundtrack, art direction).”
“I love this game so much I played it all the time when I was a lot younger and I'm 31 now and still love it a lot, such beautiful graphics and it's so much fun to play and never gets old; it's the best old Sierra classic game ever made, Roberta Williams did an amazing job.”
“If you want top of the range graphics, with the highest quality of sound and ray tracing etc... then no.”
“Graphics are so bad that you can barely identify objects.”
“Graphically, the game looks rough though with the early era CGI backgrounds.”
- music36 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the immersive and atmospheric experience, particularly with its horror-themed compositions and nostalgic MIDI tracks. However, some players noted that the music can become repetitive during gameplay and that certain pieces, like the end credits song, do not fit well with the overall tone. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, opinions vary on its consistency and effectiveness throughout.
“The atmosphere in this game is phenomenal and the soundtrack is a fine seasoning to that.”
“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.”
“Phantasmagoria is Roberta Williams’ tour de force, no question, and I still respect what it did right (graphics, amazing soundtrack, art direction).”
“The music occasionally got repetitive, especially during gameplay.”
“Sometimes the music is atmospheric, and other times it doesn't fit the game at all.”
“The music and creepy atmosphere were present, but that was the only thing done right.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally bad script and over-the-top acting, which many players find hilariously entertaining, especially if they appreciate dark humor. While the game lacks genuine scares, its campy nature and accidental comedic moments contribute to a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for those who embrace its quirky charm. However, players who do not find the humor appealing may feel that it detracts from their overall enjoyment.
“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.”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere 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 elements, like the music, are noted to be inconsistent, the overall ambiance is described as creepy and engaging, making it a standout feature for fans of atmospheric horror adventure games. Despite some graphical and animation shortcomings, the compelling atmosphere and effective soundtrack contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
“I love the atmosphere, the old FMV technique used for the characters, and the story itself.”
“The atmosphere in this game is phenomenal and the soundtrack is a fine seasoning to that.”
“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 cliches (and not exactly subtle references to The Shining), but I love the atmosphere and quite stirring moments.”
“The music and creepy atmosphere was there, but that was the only thing done right.”
“The music composition definitely complements its horror-themed atmosphere.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being flawed and not aging well, particularly in the final act, with repetitive music and a lack of interactive elements that make it feel empty. Players have noted that certain mechanics, like closely examining items, are underutilized and can lead to frustrating experiences. Additionally, technical issues in the Steam version have detracted from the overall enjoyment, leaving many disappointed compared to their initial experiences with the game.
“Granted, I have many years of game mechanics that I have learned from to get me to this point.”
“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.”
“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 times 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 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!”
- stability14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting multiple glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly if actions are performed out of order, potentially requiring a restart. While some players find it a bit buggy, they also note that it remains playable with some troubleshooting, and the DOS version runs surprisingly well under emulation. Overall, the game is described as dated and challenging, but still offers an immersive experience despite its stability issues.
“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.”
“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.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while it runs smoothly on modern systems like Windows 10, players have noted that certain sections feel unintuitive and could benefit from better optimization, particularly regarding installation and performance tweaks. Occasional glitches are present, but overall, the experience remains engaging for those revisiting this classic.
“Bought 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 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 sections 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, and the frustration of installing and running the game, which feels tedious and could be optimized.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to unintuitive design choices that hinder progress and a tedious installation process that could benefit from optimization. This has led to a negative impact on the overall experience for modern gamers.
