Realms of the Haunting

I first purchased this game from a discount store some fifteen or more years ago. I only purchased it because it was so cheap (2 pounds, or about 3.50 USD). Little did I imagine I would be playing it in 2016 and still enjoying it. ROTH stands on its merits as an atmospheric, well-written story. The acting is cheesy yet somehow charming, like an eighties TV show for kids. The graphics are naturally dated but still good enough to set the feel for the game, though it's probably easier for me as a fan of retro games. Don't buy this if anything below 1080p quality irritates you. What makes the game playabale and replayable is the premise. The 'spooky, mysterious house' premise was hardly new, even when ROTH was first released, but it's done so well that it feels fresh for the player. The music is simple and unintrusive, allowing the player to focus on finding the items he needs. The mansion itself is well laid out and designed, being confusing enough to provide a challenge but not overdone to cause frustration. The flow of the story from a family mystery to something deeper is also well handled and the plot moves forward nicely. The combat mechanics are deliberately simple to avoid distraction from the main focus of ROTH - to provide an immersive mystery game. There are enough puzzles, events and twists to keep the player interested for a good while. In summary, this is a good game for anyone who wants to sample a classic game of the DOS era that was never fully appreciated. Be forgiving of the aged graphics and control system and let the fun follow.

I really loved this game as a kid and I still enjoyed it playing it 20 years later. The graphics are not up to date but the story and the atmosphere are make up for that

ROTH is an amalgam of great genres and similarly to other greats who successfully pull this merge, it's an incredible game with movie-like FMV scenes that enrich a fantasy horror story, alongside FPS action with magical and ballistic weapons together. Its adventure elements are accompanied by great voice acting and interaction between the main character and his allies and enemies.

This is literally one of the best games I have played to date. It is huge, with an atmosphere that is unrivaled. The FMVs are great, the sound effects are scary and full of life. The fantastic mansion which has some of the most mind boggling design I have ever seen is off the chart. No game before or since has offered me such a vast, terrible playground. This easily ranks as one of my top ten games of ALL time. Unforgettable.

It was incredibly well-balanced and scary at the time - and also today. A well thought out mixture of adventure, shoot-em up and puzzle solving which, in my book, hasn't been surpased this far. (Some titles come close).