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

Adventure

Play Modes

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

Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive screenshot

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 122 reviews

story36 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story with clever puzzles that keep players engaged and immersed.
Despite its age, the writing and acting are praised for their quality, contributing to a nostalgic and enjoyable experience.
The game offers multiple narrative paths and endings, enhancing replayability and allowing players to make meaningful choices.

The controls and user interface are clunky, making navigation and item discovery frustrating at times.
Some puzzles are considered overly challenging or poorly designed, leading to tedious gameplay and reliance on hints.
The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and compatibility problems on modern systems, which can hinder the overall experience.

story
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The game's story is a captivating blend of noir elements, sci-fi mystery, and campy humor, drawing inspiration from classic adventure narratives and featuring a multi-path narrative with emotional depth. While many players find the storytelling engaging and immersive, some critiques highlight issues such as sexist writing and uneven acting. Overall, the narrative is praised for its complexity and ability to connect plot points, making it a standout aspect of the game despite its dated graphics and gameplay mechanics.
- “I'm in the middle of the game (about 8 hours) and am finding the noir story and interacting with all the characters delightful.”
- “Pandora Directive uses the same DOS-based 3D engine as Under a Killing Moon, but this time the story is much more epic and mature, with many more puzzles, vastly improved cinematics, and multiple endings based on how you treat the other characters.”
- “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
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and low-resolution by modern standards, often described as clunky and retro. While some players find them frustrating and difficult to navigate, others appreciate the nostalgic pixelated aesthetic and emphasize that the game's strong storytelling can outweigh its visual shortcomings. A remaster is anticipated, which may address these graphical issues.
- “The sound and visuals, while showing their age, are free of glitches.”
- “It's never a race of who has the better graphics, but who can convey the best story, and Tex Murphy is top gun in my book.”
- “Graphics is really retro by today's standards and would need some remastering, but if you like adventure games, 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 is really really retro for today's standards and would need some remastering, but if you like adventure games, good story, and don't care much about graphics, get this game.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The gameplay in "The Pandora Directive" combines traditional point-and-click adventure mechanics with a first-person perspective, offering a variety of puzzles, character interactions, and real-time action sequences. While the puzzles are standard for the genre, the game stands out for its multi-path narrative that delivers emotional depth and consequences, reminiscent of classic titles like "Indiana Jones & the Fate of Atlantis." 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 reminiscent of 1990s point-and-click games.”
- “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 hazards or threats, 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.”
- “That is, the entire game is experienced from a first-person perspective, with 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.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with many users highlighting Tex Murphy's charming and funny personality, which remains enjoyable even years after its release. The script is noted for its wit, complemented by a mix of competent and intentionally bad acting that enhances the game's quirky feel. Overall, the combination of clever puzzles and humor contributes to a challenging yet entertaining experience.
- “The game is still enjoyable and funny years after the original release... a quite rare feature for a video game.”
- “Competent acting (okay, 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
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
62%
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with a solid range of performances from the cast, including notable contributions from Kevin McCarthy and Tanya Roberts. While some minor characters exhibit awkward acting moments, the principal ensemble delivers enjoyable and engaging performances, contributing to a compelling narrative experience reminiscent of the best 90s adventure games.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its quality and integration into the overall experience, alongside strong acting and storyline. The presence of a dedicated soundtrack further enhances the game's appeal.
- “Great music, acting, and storyline!”
- “It actually has a soundtrack.”
- “Love the music as well.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The Pandora Directive is noted for its high replayability within the series, featuring engaging brain-teasing puzzles that enhance the experience without being overly difficult. Players appreciate the variety and challenge, making it a standout title for those seeking multiple playthroughs.
- “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.”
- “The Pandora Directive offers the most replayability in the entire series.”
stability
4 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. There are no significant issues reported that would warrant troubleshooting.
- “Not worth troubleshooting.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the early stages with lengthy scenes and discussions. Additionally, many criticize the poorly designed puzzles that rely on random clicking rather than thoughtful engagement, contributing to a sense of frustration before the game picks up in excitement later on.
- “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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Character development in "The Pandora Directive" is significantly influenced by player choices, requiring a serious approach to gameplay that directly affects the protagonist Tex's growth and the game's outcome. In contrast, "Under a Killing Moon" adopts a more lighthearted tone, focusing less on serious character progression.
- “In 'The Pandora Directive', the player must engage seriously with the narrative, as their choices directly influence Tex's character development and the overall outcome of the game.”
- “The character development in 'The Pandora Directive' is deeply intertwined with player decisions, making each choice feel significant and impactful.”
- “The game emphasizes the importance of player choices, which not only shape Tex's character but also determine the direction of the story.”
- “Where Under a Killing Moon played out as a mystery-comedy, The Pandora Directive is not only written to be taken seriously, but the player also needs to play accordingly as their decisions throughout the game will have a direct impact upon Tex's character development and the overall result.”

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Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive

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