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General discussion25th anniversary look back at Phantasmagoria(42 posts)(42 posts)
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Posted August 24, 2020
Video games have become a classic pastime, but there are some genres that seem to stand out more than the rest. When thinking back to classic video game experiences, point-and-click games are probably high up on many people’s lists.

From early in the personal computer’s lifetime, these types of games have found a home in them. The genre has evolved since then, with point-and-click adventures getting improved graphics, storylines, and more. One great example of a game that was a huge step forward for the genre is Phantasmagoria. Released in 1995, it combines a 3D environment, full-motion video (FMV), and horror themes that cemented the title as a classic in PC gaming.

Now, as the title celebrates its 25th anniversary, we thought it would be a great time to look back at the game, its riveting story and horror aspects, and more.



The story of Phantasmagoria
You play as mystery novelist Adrienne Delaney. You and your husband have just purchased a house in Maine. Well, it’s more of a mansion, really. A creepy mansion. Because of course, it is.

The previous owner had a mysterious past and five ex-wives who all died, but have you seen the housing market? When you find a deal you jump on it!

It doesn’t take long for things to take a turn towards the weird. As soon as you and your husband move in you start having terrible nightmares. One thing leads to another and you soon are dealing with a demon and learn the truth about the previous owner, Zoltan "Carno" Carnovasch; as well as the actual truth around his previous wives’ mysterious deaths.

The story is gruesome and definitely one for adults, but it's more than just a surface level “scary” game. There is an engrossing story, memorable characters, and enough twists and reveals to satisfy even the most die-hard gamers.



Yes, point-and-click games can be scary!
So, one of the main highlights of this title is how it managed to combine point-and-click gameplay with horror. How did Roberta Williams and Sierra On-line manage it?

By combining over 1,000 backgrounds (other genre games only feature around 100) and 25 actors, Phantasmagoria was able to capture audiences with its moody atmosphere. Added to that, Sierra On-line employed a Hollywood special effects house and used a 135-person Gregorian choir for the atmospheric soundtrack.

Unlike Williams and Sierra On-line’s past series, the family-friendly King’s Quest, this title was 100% intended for adults and the horror and gore in this game proves that. With talented actors and dark story elements, horror fans are going to find a lot to love with this title.



Phantasmagoria’s legacy
The seven-disc game had its fair share of delays, but that didn’t stop Phantasmagoria from being commercially successful and well-received by both critics and fans.

In its first week, the game sold 300,000 units and was Sierra’s best-selling video game. Many reviewers enjoyed the game, with the Houston Chronicle calling it the “best game of the year.” Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+ and said it approached the quality of a movie.

Overall, if you are a fan of classic point-and-click adventures, but like your games heavy with atmosphere and storytelling, there’s a lot to love about Phantasmagoria. If you’ve never played it or just looking for an excuse, now’s the perfect time to dive in too!

Are you interested in trying out Phantasmagoria? If you've played it before, then what are some of the most memorable moments for you? Let us know down in the comments!
Posted August 26, 2020
Has anyone here played either of these 2 games recently?

I'm thinking of trying the first one again, as I never finished it back in 1995 when I first bought it.

But in my experience, some of these old games just don't hold up, and I'm wondering what your experiences were if you've played them in the past few years. I'm not too fussed about the low-res graphics; I can deal with that. I'm more concerned with: Is it still fun to play? I'm not expecting a great story, but is it at least decent?

I'm remembering that I got frustrated with the first game not too far in, but I can't remember why. Possibly because it was only the second PC adventure game I ever played (the first being Myst), and I may have been a bit lost, wandering around not knowing what to do next.

I want to give it another try because for some reason I am associating it with fond memories as well as frustration, but I'm afraid of being disappointed and losing those fond memories. I already own it on GOG, so that's not a factor.
Posted August 26, 2020
What a great game it was (and still is)!

It received its fair amount of bashing, mostly undeserved, but it was one of the first true horror games with animated death scenes. Thanks for the article!
Posted August 26, 2020
Man the game is 25 all ready man time surely files. This makes me feel old and I am 36 right now, I remember when I bought the game my parents didn't allow me to play it because of sexual nature it had (The Start of Ch4 I think is the rape scene). I wasn't able to play the game until 2003 a few months before I was 18. When I first played it and got to the final sequence of events that creature that was chasing you scared the shit out of me when I first saw it. I was like HOLY SHIT WTF is that? I played and completed the 2nd game and it had more sexual stuff in it than the first game did. But still the game is a very good game being Roberta Williams' first in the more mature route in terms of content and she did an excellent job with that.

I remember being a member of the old Vivendi Interactive message boards that had support for the games and the actor who played Don posted there once or twice.

I think the game still holds up even today considering the technology they used back then and it was supposed to be a $800K budget and that turned into a $4.5 million dollar project (That would be over 7.6 million dollars in today's money) on top of the $1.5 million dollar(That would be over $2.5 Million dollars in today's money) studio Sierra built specifically for the project.
Posted August 26, 2020
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GilesHabibula: Has anyone here played either of these 2 games recently?
I've played Phantasmagoria within the last 4 or so years, and I felt it still held up.

Phantasmagoria 2 never held up even on original release. Its end-game sequence was just bad.
Posted August 26, 2020
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GilesHabibula: Has anyone here played either of these 2 games recently?
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mqstout: I've played Phantasmagoria within the last 4 or so years, and I felt it still held up.

Phantasmagoria 2 never held up even on original release. Its end-game sequence was just bad.
Yeah the 2nd game was indeed disappointing vs the 1st one.
Posted August 26, 2020
I quite liked the cheesy-ness of it, but the story and writing was B-movie standard at best. A bit like a student filmmaker heavily influenced by the film of The Shinning, with Nicholson doing his crazy, and by early Stephen King in general.

I preferred Gabriel Knight 2, which, although it had its flaws, was a more ambitious and less cliched narrative.

I have tried to go back to these games recently, but I no longer have the patience. The only one I still play is Realms of the Haunting.
Posted August 26, 2020
I really liked Phantasmagoria back in the day, (30 at the time) but then again, I am a fan of Roberta Williams and still have an old scan of the manual from the "Roberta Williams Anthology". Her contribution to the gaming history is overwhelming considering she started her own gaming career with "Collossal Cave", the first text adveture back in the late '70s.

She is indeed a first lady in computer games and from my perspective who owns most P&C adventure games offered by GOG, the most important from a historical perspective. I've followed her from the beginning (though I started with Zork I and Infocom) and have enjoyed the ride.

Hmm... Who's talking about nostalgia glasses? :-D
Posted August 27, 2020
I enjoyed this game so much as a teen and played it about 5 times and as early as last week. I played Phantasmagoria 2 last summer for the 2nd time and I found that without the "hint keeper", it was difficult to know what to do next. If Sierra (which kind of exists today thru Activision) were to give it an HD remake or even a reimagine, I'd be all over that!
Posted August 27, 2020
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TomNook: I remember the completely unnecessary rape scene.
Rape is also an element of horror. Do you remember the movie titled Saturn-3?
Or most of Alien(s), Species and such movies. Like facehuggers jumping on people and orally bringing their eggs trough the mounth into them?

There are all the kind of horror or raping humans in different ways.
Posted August 27, 2020
- Click Save
- "Move bookmark to present location"
- *Confused* Where's that bookmark? Even the manual doesn't explain it.
You have to click on the phrase to save your game (1 savegame). It's like a bad joke!

Some Sierra games are among my favorite games ever... but now I know why this topic:
https://www.gog.com/forum/general/no_rose_tinted_glasses_needed
got started!
Posted August 27, 2020
Add Double Switch to the list

Add Double Switch to the list
Post edited August 27, 2020 by Outsiders
Posted September 23, 2020
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TomNook: I remember the completely unnecessary rape scene.
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OPlay: Rape is also an element of horror. Do you remember the movie titled Saturn-3?
Or most of Alien(s), Species and such movies. Like facehuggers jumping on people and orally bringing their eggs trough the mounth into them?

There are all the kind of horror or raping humans in different ways.
I don't believe rape should be any part of a video game. But that is a discusion for another time.

In this instance though, it added nothing to the game. We know about the posession; we know he's becoming increasingly unhinged. It doesn't demonstrate anything new.
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General discussion25th anniversary look back at Phantasmagoria(42 posts)(42 posts)
(42 posts)