Under a Killing Moon

About

In "Under a Killing Moon" , you play as Tex Murphy, a detective in a rich, intriguing mystery movie set in 2042. With four CDs of unparalleled graphics and sound, this comedy thriller offers full freedom of movement and interaction with fascinating characters. Boasting top-notch Hollywood talent, the game features an intuitive interface, extensive built-in hints, and 16-bit 22Khz sound, making it an immersive experience unlike any other.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 169 reviews

story28 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

A classic point-and-click adventure game with a great story, humor, and memorable characters.
Innovative for its time, combining FMV and 3D environments, with excellent voice acting including James Earl Jones.
Challenging puzzles and a useful hint system that enhances the gameplay experience.

The controls are outdated and can be frustrating, making navigation awkward and difficult.
Pixel hunting is prevalent due to low-resolution graphics, leading to potential frustration when searching for items.
The game may not run well on modern systems, and the DOSBox version can be particularly challenging to control.

story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The story is generally praised for its engaging narrative, blending elements of film noir and cyberpunk, with a well-executed plot that keeps players invested despite some convoluted moments. While the humor and character interactions are highlighted as strong points, some players feel the story becomes overly extravagant at times. Overall, it is considered a classic adventure with a compelling storyline that effectively integrates puzzles and live-action sequences.
- “The story is really well done and the humor holds up quite well until today.”
- “Absolutely top drawer detective adventure game, with great storyline, acting, and witty dialogue.”
- “The story was well executed, and was more than an excuse to get you from one puzzle to the next.”
- “In a race to save the world as we know it from a plot involving a conspiratorial Nazi cult -- and completely under-delivers on that promising premise.”
- “The plot is somewhat convoluted, but more or less makes sense.”
- “The interface is kinda confusing but the story totally evens it out.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated and low-resolution, with many reviewers noting that they haven't aged well and can hinder gameplay due to indistinguishable objects. However, some players appreciate the nostalgic value and recognize that the visuals were impressive for their time, contributing to the game's charm despite the wonky controls. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they evoke a sense of nostalgia and are still enjoyable for fans of classic adventure games.
- “The graphics were, for their time, really impressive, and the way you could walk through the environments really pushed the genre forwards.”
- “And holy cow, the graphics in this are amazing (for the time). It may be from '94, but those first-person scenes are a leap ahead from other first-person games at the time.”
- “I will say this game is just awesome, with very good classic graphics, great story, and an amazing 3D interactive interface system.”
- “Because of the low-res visuals and the bad controls, you will get stuck sometimes because of missing some indistinguishable objects.”
- “Cons: the graphics didn't age well, the controls are wonky, and it runs on DOSBox, so no controller support.”
- “I didn't find the in-game hint system terribly useful because the biggest obstacle to moving on is usually the difficulty of locating inventory items among the pixellated graphics, and the hints don't help much with that.”
humor
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its originality and lasting appeal, with many players noting that it remains hilarious even after 25 years. The combination of imaginative puzzles, a unique cast of characters, and clever dialogue contributes to a consistently funny experience that resonates with players of all ages. Overall, the humor is described as a standout feature that enhances the game's engaging story and nostalgic charm.
- “The game is simply hilarious.”
- “You'll find yourself laughing throughout.”
- “The fmv sequences are artfully integrated with the most hilarious dialog trees ever devised.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of sci-fi noir elements, engaging storytelling, and nostalgic 90s futurism, enhanced by atmospheric music and memorable characters. While some critiques mention a lack of cinematic quality that can detract from the experience, the overall charm and humor, along with standout moments like the opening cinematic featuring James Earl Jones, contribute to a captivating and immersive environment that keeps players engaged.
- “The series finds its own identity here, with an impressively atmospheric opening cinematic featuring the voice of James Earl Jones (and you can also later enjoy a cheeky cameo by Margot Kidder).”
- “Well-built puzzles, sci-fi noir atmosphere, weird sense of humor, cult characters, great story, and one of the most unforgettable protagonists in the history of gaming.”
- “Its tongue-in-cheek comedic tone is self-aware, but the lack of any cinematic quality robs it of the intended atmosphere and begins to really wear on the player.”
- “The atmosphere is what kept me playing; 90's visions of the future always have that future-past feel to them when viewing them in 2020, and I can't get enough of that kind of stuff.”
- “But not so long to get used to, and the writing and atmosphere are remarkable.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing the clunky controls and user interface, which can make navigation frustrating. While the blend of point-and-click mechanics with 3D environments and full-motion video offers some entertainment, the sensitivity of movement and jarring transitions detract from the experience. Despite these issues, some players still find the story and overall gameplay engaging, reminiscent of classic adventure games from the 90s.
- “The gameplay is also very entertaining, swapping between point-and-click style adventure games and a first-person 3D generated world blended together with typical 90s full motion video.”
- “Like many high-quality classic point-and-click games from this era, it has a good amount of gameplay, clocking in at about 9 hours for myself.”
- “Love the story, characters, gameplay, design, and cutscenes.”
- “Couple that with the clunky gameplay and user interface, and it's not really anything to write home about, now, like it was in 1994.”
- “The gameplay is absolutely abominable. This is one of those early 3D games where you move around the world by moving the mouse and look up and down with keyboard commands. Even after fiddling with DOSBox's PC cycles, it still feels way too sensitive, like I'm slipping around on ice all the time. Plus, switching between moving around the 3D environments and going into interact mode with the spacebar is pretty jarring.”
- “However, it penalizes you points for using it, which is a mechanic I have never been fond of in point-and-click games that have built-in hint systems.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game features a smooth jazz soundtrack that loops continuously, which some players find atmospheric and enjoyable, while others find it repetitive and annoying. Overall, opinions are divided, with a notable emphasis on the soundtrack's monotony.
- “Awesome, atmospheric music.”
- “The smooth jazz soundtrack, consisting of a single song looping forever and ever, honestly gets annoying.”
- “The smooth jazz soundtrack, consisting of a single song looping forever and ever, honestly gets annoying.”
- “The smooth jazz soundtrack, consisting of a single song looping forever and ever, honestly gets annoying.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the cumbersome all-mouse controls that require frequent switching between walking and interaction modes, leading to missed interaction prompts.
- “In particular, all-mouse controls are really tedious.”
- “Going back and forth from walking mode to interaction mode is tedious and makes it easy to miss object interaction prompts.”
- “Going back and forth from walking mode to interaction mode is tedious and makes it easy to miss object interaction prompts.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that while the game features great acting performances, particularly by Chris Jones, there is no specific mention of optimization issues or improvements. Overall, the focus remains on the engaging performances rather than technical optimization aspects.
- “It's a fun game, with the performance of Chris Jones really holding everything together.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect is heavily influenced by a dystopian setting characterized by pervasive advertisements and corporate dominance, suggesting a world where in-game purchases and microtransactions are likely integrated into the gameplay experience. This environment reflects a critique of consumerism and the impact of technology on society.
- “A dark dystopian city full of ads and neon lights in a world overrun with technology, corporations, and mutants.”

69%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Under a Killing Moon Review
Gamespot.com
69%

Buy Under a Killing Moon

6h Median play time

6h Average play time

6-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Under a Killing Moon

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