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Phantasmagoria seriesPhantasmagoria: a horror of a game.(22 posts)(22 posts)
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Posted February 11, 2010
Phantasmagoria is in my top 5 of worst games I ever played (and I've played thousands). I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with me, but if you look at reviews of the time, you'll see many agreed.
A few examples of why it's a poor game to me:
- it has 7 CDs yet it takes maybe 3 hours to complete: on those 7 CDs there's nowhere near as much content as you'd believe because most content is repeated on all 7 CDs
- "puzzles" consist of going from room A to room B to watch a new clip being played. Aside from this, there's only a handful of items you can pick up and use in the entire game and the function of most is very obvious
- There's very little logic to the game. The events are triggered in order so if you have to go to room B, you won't be able to do ANYTHING until you go to room B. And there's no reason WHY you should go to room B so you end up going to all rooms until you trigger the next event or .. you can "cheat" and ask for a hint.
Seriously, to me this is the anti-game. It's a disgrace as an adventure game yet certain people still love the game for its horror elements. It's a good game for starting adventure gamers though - if they don't mind terrible acting and cheesy horror sequences but be warned: this is a lot worse than Gabriel Knight Beast Within which uses the same engine. That game was huge, had interesting locations and characters, proper acting, lots of items and puzzles. This game has none of those.
Posted February 11, 2010
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Red_Avatar: Phantasmagoria is in my top 5 of worst games I ever played (and I've played thousands).

What other games made it to your worst 5 list?
Posted February 11, 2010
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Red_Avatar: this is a lot worse than Gabriel Knight Beast Within which uses the same engine. That game was huge, had interesting locations and characters, proper acting, lots of items and puzzles. This game has none of those.

In my opinion GK2 was just as guilty of the negative points you specify. It was very trial-and-error to find the next thing you needed to do, and many areas are visited repeatedly over the course of the game. I think it's a stellar production but the gameplay was equally simplistic as Phantasmagoria.
And really, there is one (or arguably two) case of awful acting in this game. The rest of the acting is way above average for video games. For example, the interactions between the protagonist and the real estate agent - ADVENTURE GAME GOLD.
No one's opinion can be wrong, but my opinion is very different from yours! I didn't like this game at all when it came out, but now that I've played it again I appreciate many details of excellent game design.
Posted February 11, 2010
I have to agree with this review, based on my first evening playing, although it probably took me a couple of hours to get through just the first chapter.
I don't think the problem is the acting really as much as the writing. The main character's been groped on a bed, stuck her hand in ectoplasm, and released some weird spirit thing and the chapter ends with a boring discussion about tuna for dinner? I'd already be booking myself into the nearest hotel.
The whole situation just makes no sense whatsoever, which isn't necessarily bad, but makes it hard to really get interested.
I am glad this was released on GOG, though. This is a game I've been curious about for years, but since I got my first PC shortly after the FMV craze had passed by I'd never seen it for sale in the UK.
Posted February 11, 2010
OH NO YOU DIDN'T!
Posted February 12, 2010
I haven't played it, and despite your warnings I will still play it, but thanks for the tip off.
Posted February 12, 2010
Yes I agree with all OP said blah blah blah....and yet I still loved this game. At the time of its release, it was a game with big titanium BALLS. And thank god for that. Plus, all its flaws are part of the charm of this game for mine.
So stuff ya OP - I'm gunna buy this game and plow through its gory entrails again like I did all those years ago. Big big thank you to GoG for this release - much <3.
Posted February 13, 2010
From a historical view, the game is rather interesting. Much like other FMV titles (most especially the deplorable Night Trap), it tried to utilize live actors to promote a sense of horror and foreboding. Unlike Night Trap, however, Phantasmagoria is at least a game. There are actual puzzles, even if they are sub-standard for an adventure game. There are actual characters, even if most of them are rather unlikeable. There is a real plot, although much of it runs on the stupidity found in most horror movies. And most of all, for all its brevity, it at least entertains.
At least it wasn't Phantasmagoria 2.
Posted February 14, 2010
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Markenname: What other games made it to your worst 5 list?

Good question :-P It's really "terrible games that should have been great games" because if I were to truly have a top 5 with the really worst games, they would be filled with Atari 2600 games :P
But if I recall all games that had a big budget and still screwed up, Phantasmagoria is the first game that springs to mind since I actually felt insulted that they called this a game. Rise of the Robots is another example: big hype, lots of budget ... and then really bad combat.
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briandamage: In my opinion GK2 was just as guilty of the negative points you specify. It was very trial-and-error to find the next thing you needed to do, and many areas are visited repeatedly over the course of the game. I think it's a stellar production but the gameplay was equally simplistic as Phantasmagoria.
And really, there is one (or arguably two) case of awful acting in this game. The rest of the acting is way above average for video games. For example, the interactions between the protagonist and the real estate agent - ADVENTURE GAME GOLD.
No one's opinion can be wrong, but my opinion is very different from yours! I didn't like this game at all when it came out, but now that I've played it again I appreciate many details of excellent game design.

Gabriel Knight II was a LOT bigger though so it can be excused for re-using locations because of its size. It took me a few days to complete it last time I replayed it. Alson while you say the same negative points count, I got to disagree very very strongly. Phantasmagoria is barely even a game while GK2 had a LOT of puzzles to complete including some really clever ones like the tape recorder.
My main problems with Phantasmagoria, were both the size and the lack of puzzles and GK2 is both a lot bigger AND has tons of puzzles so the two vital mistakes Phantasmagoria made, are "fixed" in GKII.
Also, don't forget that Phantasmagoria really got a kicking in many European reviews while Beast Within did not:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/beast-within-a-gabriel-knight-mystery/mobyrank
Compare those scores with the ones Phantasmagoria got:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/roberta-williams-phantasmagoria
That's 90% vs 64% - so let's not kid ourselves here.
Post edited February 14, 2010 by Red_Avatar
Posted February 16, 2010
I've just begun the game, but I'd have to agree with this review. The game feels so directed and like it doesn't even need me--and I can't help but wonder why it's a game and not just a movie.
Posted February 16, 2010
I'm sorry you don't like the game, i guess it's not for everyone. I can see reasons why it might not appeal to everyone.
Speaking for myself i really enjoyed it, just place it in the context of when it was released and what was surrounding the gaming industry and FMV's at the time and I think that helps some who may be a little iffy on it. And yeah it is a little like an interactive movie.
Reading that little article about it may help some, but then again if you are as dead set against it I doubt it would help as you've likely experienced it and made your mind up for yourself.
Posted February 17, 2010
I played it many years ago, on the CDs, and really enjoyed it.
Not many objects in the game? To me that added to the realism. Who would walk round their house with rope, glue, pipes, shears, toolkits, a towel, 6 candles, some cheese and a wheelbarrow?
I liked the fact that it wasn't difficult, and I could just immerse myself in the story. I loved exploring the house. I loved driving into town - it was only a few scenes but really pulled me in.
It repeated scenes on different CDs so that it helped to minimise disc swapping - as someone who played it in that form, I was extremely grateful for that.
And I still listen to the theme tunes today sometimes, Consumite Furore and Take A Stand.
Posted February 17, 2010
Unfortunately I'm joining this hate. I was really hooked and loved the atmosphere despite it being just an interactive story. Problem was by chapter 5 nothing had happened. Nothing. By chapter 6 I was still waiting. Chapter 7 rolls around and now it's become Resident Evil with me just clicking hoping not to die for the 700th time. Then there's the ending. What a letdown.
I was right the first time I said it - definitely don't ever see a reason to replay this. :(
Posted February 19, 2010
Actually, the release of Phantasmagoria has made me want to replay Gabriel Knight Beast Within :P I loved the atmosphere, the setting, the music, the locations ... Been 10 years since I completed it.
Posted February 23, 2010
Overall, having time to think about it, I still enjoyed this and am glad I bought it.
It is heavily flawed in terms of story and concept, but I still can't help but think about it - a week after finishing it. That only happens to me with games that are somewhat special. I think the shock value of the horror, the atmosphere and the "what will happen next?" values all stand.
I do think the ending leaves some to be desired, it ramps up too quick for so little payback. They should have played into the whole "something isn't right here" feeling. For instance did we NEED to know about the possession? She didn't and to her there was always hope. Yet to us we knew damn well where the story was headed and I wish they didn't do that. :(
Just my opinion anyway. Never been a fan of the whole "LOOKOUT DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR!" feeling of horror, I prefer being just as in the dark as the character.
Anyway overall I recommend it for Sierra fans just to see where this FMV style was made popular.
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Phantasmagoria seriesPhantasmagoria: a horror of a game.(22 posts)(22 posts)
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