Prisoner of Ice

About

"Prisoner of Ice" is a point-and-click adventure game based on the Cthulhu mythos. The game follows a German submarine crew who discover a mysterious survivor and an ancient artifact, leading to a series of Lovecraftian events. As the player, you must explore, solve puzzles, and make choices to uncover the truth and survive the horrors of the deep.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

story5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique mashup of Lovecraftian themes with elements reminiscent of classic adventure films, creating an entertaining experience.
Despite its short run length, the game maintains a captivating atmosphere and keeps players engaged throughout.
The nostalgia factor is strong for those familiar with the original Call of Cthulhu games, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

The game suffers from excessive pixel hunting and illogical puzzles, often requiring trial and error to progress.
Graphics and sound have not aged well, leading to a frustrating experience for modern players.
The story is disjointed and lacks the depth and atmosphere of its predecessor, Shadow of the Comet, making it feel like a significant downgrade.

story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
72%
10%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster, disjointed, and poorly executed, particularly in its connection to Lovecraftian themes. While some appreciate the intriguing plot twists and nostalgic elements, others criticize the lack of coherence, depth, and meaningful character development, often feeling that the narrative fails to engage or make sense. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant weakness, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Though readers familiar with that universe will know that even in most Cthulhu stories the octopus monster does not show up much, it still has a story full of twists and turns the way you might expect from a Lovecraft story.”
- “It does well overall on every aspect, with a story that gets really exciting when it starts to deal with time travel and connects with Shadow of the Comet, a previous game based on Call of Cthulhu.”
- “However, also like many games of the time, this game actually has a well-written plot and is accompanied with some detailed storytelling.”
- “The story is also a complete mess and has nothing to do with Lovecraft - neither in terms of content nor style of narration.”
- “The story isn't that Lovecraftian, that's true.”
- “The story is an absolute mess, trying to loosely branch off of the Mountains of Madness, and serve as a kind of continuation of Shadow of the Comet within 3-4 hours.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The graphics of the game are largely viewed as dated and pixelated, with many reviewers noting that they have not aged well, making it difficult to interact with smaller items. While some appreciate the unique combination of 2D and 3D elements from its era, others find the animations hideous and the overall visual experience lacking. Despite these criticisms, a few players still find a certain charm in the retro aesthetic, suggesting that it may appeal to fans of older graphics.
- “The combination of 2D and 3D graphics is unique for the time.”
- “Sure, the graphics are dated -- but at the same time they're kinda cool!”
- “And the first thing I noticed that made me love this game was that the 3D graphics are trapped in that amazing era where they are utterly comical, which adds to the whole bonkers approach the team took in designing this game.”
- “While graphics are improved and some of the gameplay is better, it has hideous animations, a lot more pixel hunting but way less puzzles (it often felt more like a hidden object game than a normal point-and-click), it's a lot shorter, and the story is so much worse that it makes the original look like one of the best of the Cthulhu mythos' stories.”
- “Graphically, Prisoner of Ice uses a mix of sprite work, pre-rendered 3D models, and motion capture that for the time might have looked good but leaves a sore mark nowadays.”
- “The graphics didn't age very well - it's pixelated and sometimes almost impossible to find smaller items on the screen (e.g. the needle in the doctor's office).”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it amusingly absurd and fitting for the game's tone, while others describe it as mediocre and occasionally inappropriate. There is an option to switch to MIDI music, which some players appreciate, but overall, the soundtrack seems to evoke a sense of nostalgia rather than being universally praised. Glitches in the music have also been noted, impacting the overall experience.
- “I mean the opening action sees a bunch of little blobby dudes fleeing machine gun fire while music that sounds straight out of Stunt Island plays over the top (where are my Stunt Island fans???).”
- “The music also sets the tone pretty well.”
- “I remember being amazed by the game's OST (soundtrack) and characters.”
- “The soundtrack to this game was so utterly ridiculous and sometimes inappropriate (like, again, the game ending outro) that I could not help but roll with it.”
- “The music is mediocre.”
- “Like many games from the time, I can't say much about the music or the voices other than I found it helpful just to turn them off.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Gameplay reviews highlight significant issues, including frustrating pixel hunting, illogical puzzle design, and poor animations, which detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the simplicity and accessibility for beginners, others feel the game lacks depth and quality compared to its predecessors, making it feel more like a hidden object game than a traditional point-and-click adventure. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mixed bag, with improvements in graphics overshadowed by fundamental flaws.
- “It's story is enjoyable, the investigative part is well done and, maybe, for someone used to much better graphics or game mechanics that are way younger than this game, is still something worth to check out for such a small price and a very few hours of relax.”
- “This is a good game for beginning players: the mechanics are fairly simple, the puzzles make more sense than many other point-and-clicks of the time and every sudden death is preceded by an automatic quick save - which is great, because I often forget to save at regular intervals.”
- “While graphics are improved and some of the gameplay is better, it has hideous animations, a lot more pixel hunting but way less puzzles (it often felt more like a hidden object game than a normal point-and-click), it's a lot shorter, and the story is so much worse that it makes the original look like one of the best of the Cthulhu mythos' stories.”
- “...because the gameplay is also bad.”
- “It's story is enjoyable, the investigative part is well done and, maybe, for someone used to much better graphics or game mechanics that are way younger than this game, is still something worth checking out for such a small price and a very few hours of relaxation.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is described as interesting and engaging, with a good level of tension, but it lacks the unique and immersive qualities found in "Shadow of the Comet." While there are some Lovecraftian references, fans of the genre may be disappointed by the minimal connection to Lovecraft's themes and the absence of a truly atmospheric experience.
- “The game is interesting with a good atmosphere and story and manages to keep the tension at a good level.”
- “It has very little to do with Lovecraft, other than a few references here and there, and a loose connection to the first game; none of the atmosphere is present.”
- “The game fails to create a sense of dread or immersion, leaving the environment feeling flat and uninspired.”
- “Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks the tension that is crucial for a horror experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is described as amusing yet flawed, with some players finding the voice acting and dialogue to be unintentionally hilarious. Overall, while it elicits laughter, it may not be enough to warrant a second playthrough for some.
- “The voice acting and dialogue are hilariously awful, adding to the charm of the game.”
- “It's funny in a way that keeps you entertained throughout the experience.”
- “The humor is quirky and unexpected, making for some memorable moments.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight that the game features a profound storyline complemented by significant character development, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
- “The storyline and character development are very deep.”
- “The characters evolve in meaningful ways, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
- “I love how each character has their own unique backstory that influences their decisions throughout the game.”