Realms of the Haunting

Before we start, I didn't play this game when it came out : I played for just an hour last year and thought ( wrongly) it was an horror game ( which it really isn't.. more like a thriller), then I uninstalled it, just to start playing it roughly a month ago and finishing it just few moments ago. So I writing this review without nostalgia glasses ( still have the N glasses for games of the 90', though) and I can safely say : This game is impossible to just categorize this game in bad or good category (the 4 stars in the review are my most subjective view, counting all the fun I had or how much I got attached to the lore and story of the game - If I had to give a more objective gade, it will be most likely a 3 star). Let me explained. The game is a fps (more likely doom like) with puzzle and narration like a point and click ( although I would personally call it a ''system shock like, If you know what I'm saying) and for that idea, this game is almost pure gold. Indeed, the story, or rather the idea and basic structure, is utterly engaging and its lore is immersive, running around the house and other places finding weapons and their ammo ( until a certain point) is fun and feels like a resident evil or, again, system shock, and the puzzle are of medium difficulty and enjoyable. But at the same time : the controls are difficult to master in a fight, some monster are kind of dumb, at a certain point you find some weapons that make survival and counting ammo almost useless and the director and actors are ATROCIOUS ( buuuuut in a way that is almost 'it's so bad is so good') in some part and in other are, surprisingly, on point and appropriate. So, starting to understand why this game is difficult to rate? However its failings, I finished it unto the end and even wanted a sequel ( which was cancelled, unfortunately) because this game manages to be both interesting and fun, which is what games should be all really about. ... So It's a big yes, buy it, is really worth it!

Realms is one of the most criminally overlooked action adventures in the last 20 years. It has more atmosphere and menace than nearly any horror title I've ever played. The FMV acting is actually pretty good. And the story, thick with religious and occult mythology, is one of the best in gaming history. Please play this!!! God I love GoG!!!

This review will not contain spoilers for the game. After seeing the review by Ross's Game Dungeon, I went ahead and purchased this game to give it a shot, as I've been on a kick of early texture-mapped 3d games. To get started, I'll talk about what's necessary to get it working properly. A big problem with this game is that it is a victim of the 1990s habit of inconsistent controls. First, if you use the US Patch found on the PC GamingWiki, you can actually remap the keyboard controls, so half of the problem is taken care of. Second, use AutoHotKey to force click both mouse buttons on a single key press. There are several preset scripts available, but you will probably have to make your own. Additionally, the US patch also allows for resolution changes (including 640x400, a 16:10 resolution, so basic widescreen exists) and some more difficulty options. Another thing I do is use DOSBOX SVN-DAUM so it had Direct3d as an output. With that out of the way, onto the review. Okay, so the atmosphere in this game is fantastically creepy, as long as you can deal with the relatively low resolution (no matter the settings, it'll still be low). Similar appearance you could say as several Build Engine games. That said, it still can be great because the lighting is amazing for the time. The story is alright, but honestly the ending kind of sucks. I'm not going to say what it is, but it still is a let down, especially considering the leadup can be a bit confusing. The combat can be really annoying thanks to the terrible controls, but post-fix is actually alright. Enemies can absorb quite a bit of damage. Overall, I would say give this game a shot if you could put up with the controls of System Shock 1 and like a bit of old-school gothic horror.

This title shows that you don't need modern graphics to make a good game. What really matters is a graphical design and a good storytelling. Thanks to that the game will always look very charming and attractive. It is not really FPS but shooting is suprisingly fun even with old school controls.

I remember buying this game in the nineties, amazed that more people hadn't heard of it. The game is dated both in graphics and gameplay, but it's still a good time. The story is intriguing, the gameplay is passable. The areas to explore are spooky and atmospheric. The whole game has a paranormal and gothic feel to it. The many acted cutscenes fill the path forwards with intrigue and mystery. I love to replay this game even to this day. It's not quite a Doom shooter, and not quite a point and click, but is more of an exploration game with adventure puzzles and shooting as part of the package. The main selling points of this game, for me, are its tone and general sense of dread and wonder when exploring the game's sizeable areas. There are many areas to revisit when previously locked doors and blocked areas are available to you. There's the odd maze area that's not too taxing with a bit of persistence to get through. With a hint of puzzle platforming to break up the gameplay loop, there's plenty of fascinating content in this game. Highly recommended if you like strong atmospheric locations, horror undertones, a spooky tension, and a gothic style in games.