Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive

About

Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive is a first-person detective adventure game. You play as Tex Murphy, a private investigator trying to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of a wealthy man and uncovering a government conspiracy involving extraterrestrial life. The game features a unique blend of live-action FMV and 3D environments, with multiple endings based on your choices.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive screenshot

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 61 reviews

story18 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story with engaging puzzles that keep players immersed.
Despite its age, the writing and acting quality are commendable, providing a nostalgic experience.
The game offers multiple narrative paths and endings, enhancing replayability and player choice.

The controls and user interface are clunky, making navigation and interaction frustrating at times.
Graphics are dated, leading to difficulties in locating items and solving puzzles without hints.
Some of the writing contains outdated and uncomfortable themes, which may detract from the overall experience.

story
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The story in the game is a compelling blend of noir, sci-fi, and detective elements, drawing inspiration from classics like Indiana Jones and The X-Files, which keeps players engaged despite some dated gameplay and graphics. While many praise the narrative's depth and character interactions, some critiques highlight issues such as sexist writing and occasional flat acting. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, with a mix of humor, intrigue, and emotional weight that resonates well with players.
- “I'm in the middle of the game (about 8 hours) and am finding the noir story and interacting with all the characters delightful.”
- “The story takes influence from Indiana Jones, The X-Files, and various detective noir pulps.”
- “Tex is a great character - one of many - and in addition to the humor and cheese, this is also a genuinely interesting sci-fi mystery/detective story.”
- “The story is also held back by some really uncomfortably sexist writing, with many of the characters objectifying the female lead.”
- “The plot supposedly involves UFOs from Roswell and a government cover-up, but I was too bored to care.”
- “Subsequently, it is way too easy to miss vital clues that are needed to advance the story.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and low-resolution by modern standards, often described as pixelated and clunky. While some players find the visuals frustrating and difficult to navigate, others appreciate the retro aesthetic and emphasize that the game's strong storytelling compensates for its graphical shortcomings. A remaster is anticipated, which may address these visual issues.
- “The sound and visuals, while showing their age, are free of glitches.”
- “There's no denying the graphics are rather dated, but the interface is quite easy once you get the hang of it.”
- “Graphics is really retro by today's standards and would need some remastering, but if you like adventure games and a good story, and don't care much about graphics, get this game.”
- “This game has terrible graphics, so you can't find objects and is full of frustrating sections impossible to solve without the hints.”
- “The graphics are pretty low-res by today's standards, and the controls are a bit awkward at first, but if you can move past those things, it is a fun adventure game.”
- “Graphics are really retro by today's standards and would need some remastering, but if you like adventure games and a good story, and don't care much about graphics, get this game.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The gameplay is a blend of traditional point-and-click adventure mechanics and first-person exploration, featuring standard puzzles, character interactions, and real-time action sequences. While it draws on familiar elements from earlier titles, it stands out for its multi-path narrative that offers emotional depth and impactful choices. Overall, players find the gameplay satisfying, though some note that it feels dated compared to modern standards.
- “So, rather than being a game where the entire basis of the gameplay is responding to FMV choices, The Pandora Directive is a far more engrossing experience as a 1990s point-and-click adventure.”
- “Although this mechanic had been seen prior in other adventure games, such as Indiana Jones & The Fate of Atlantis, it wasn't common for a game to offer a multi-path narrative with the same level of emotion, dramatic tension, and consequences for the story as seen in The Pandora Directive.”
- “The entire game is experienced from a first-person perspective, featuring a host of gameplay experiences, such as puzzles, character interrogation, real-time action sequences where the player needs to evade a hazard or threat, and deduction.”
- “As far as gameplay, the puzzles are your standard adventure game fare, with a few item puzzles, assembling pictures, and interacting with displays.”
- “The actual gameplay itself, meanwhile, is identical to Under a Killing Moon.”
- “Il gameplay è molto soddisfacente e miscela un'avventura punta e clicca ad un first person, questo permette di esplorare alla ricerca di indizi in modo metodico.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting Tex Murphy's charming personality and the clever, funny script that enhances the overall experience. Despite some uneven acting, the comedic elements remain enjoyable and engaging, contributing to the game's lasting appeal. The blend of humor with intriguing puzzles creates a unique and entertaining atmosphere.
- “The game is still enjoyable and funny years after the original release... a quite rare feature for a video game.”
- “Competent acting (ok, sometimes extremely bad acting, but it suits the feel of the game completely), good story, funny script, and an incredibly likable protagonist.”
- “This game is full of clever puzzles and good humor.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The optimization of the game's performances is varied, with some actors delivering stiff portrayals while others shine with excellent and campy performances. Despite minor awkwardness from some characters, the principal cast, including Kevin McCarthy and Tanya Roberts, provides solid ensemble work, contributing to a compelling narrative that showcases the strengths of 90s adventure gaming. Overall, the performances are enjoyable and enhance the storytelling experience.
- “For me, it's some of the very best 90s adventure had to offer, especially in terms of having full motion video you could take seriously, telling a very good story, and features excellent performances from the large cast, a mix of Hollywood veterans and talented amateurs.”
- “The actors' performance quality has a wide range; some are a bit stiff, some are delightfully camp, and a few are surprisingly excellent, but all are enjoyable in their own way.”
- “There are some awkward acting moments with minor characters, but all of the principal cast deliver ensemble performances - most notably Kevin McCarthy and Tanya Roberts.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its quality and integration into the overall experience, complementing the acting and storyline effectively. The presence of a dedicated soundtrack further enhances the enjoyment.
- “Great music, acting, and storyline!”
- “It actually has a soundtrack.”
- “Love the music as well.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The Pandora Directive is noted for its high replayability within the series, featuring engaging and challenging puzzles that enhance the experience without being overly frustrating.
- “The Pandora Directive offers the most replayability in the entire series.”
- “Replayability is great, featuring some excellent brain-teasing puzzles that aren't game breakers.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, with users noting that both sound and visuals, despite being dated, function without glitches. Players generally find the experience reliable and not in need of troubleshooting.
- “Not worth troubleshooting.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while the early stages of the game can feel tedious due to lengthy scenes and discussions, the excitement increases later on. However, many criticize the poorly designed abstract puzzles, which rely on tedious random clicking rather than thoughtful engagement, detracting from the overall experience.
- “There are a lot of horribly designed abstract puzzles that wouldn't have made the cut in 7th Guest; they don't test you or provoke thought, but require you to do a lot of tedious, random clicking until you solve them.”
- “Some of you may find that the initial scenes, discussions, and traveling a little tedious at first, but the game does become more exciting as it goes on.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
In "The Pandora Directive," character development is a key element, as players' decisions significantly influence the protagonist Tex's growth and the game's outcome, contrasting with the more lighthearted approach of "Under a Killing Moon." This serious narrative encourages players to engage thoughtfully with the story, highlighting the importance of their choices.
- “In 'Where Under a Killing Moon,' the character development is intricately tied to the player's decisions, making each choice feel significant and impactful on Tex's journey.”
- “The Pandora Directive elevates character development by ensuring that every decision the player makes directly influences Tex's growth and the overall narrative outcome.”
- “The game masterfully intertwines mystery and comedy, while also demanding that players engage seriously with the character development, as their choices shape Tex's evolution throughout the story.”
- “The character development feels shallow and unengaging, making it hard to connect with the protagonist's journey.”
- “Despite the potential for deep storytelling, the character arcs are predictable and lack meaningful growth.”
- “The choices presented in the game do not significantly affect character development, leaving players feeling like their decisions are inconsequential.”