I wanted to like this game. I really like the source material, and I enjoy adventure games, but this one just commits too many faux pas of game design. I understand that things have changed, but it becomes unenjoyable pretty quickly. Mazes where the correct path forward is to go back into the door you just left, or to wait for secret doors to open are bad enough, but inexcusable when there are no clues. Pixel hunting is even worse when you don't actually click on things to interact with them. Combining items is done entirely contextually, and you can break sequences pretty easily if you don't do the exact song and dance that the game intends. Most puzzles are complete guesswork, like being asked a riddle made up by a six-year-old. Locking yourself out of finishing the game because you didn't pick up a hidden item hours previous is another common feature and, again, no clues are generally offered to point you in the right direction. The story is fun at first, and the characters are altogether likeable enough I guess, but the writing completely falls apart about halfway through the game. There are one or two really atmospheric moments that show a lot of potential, but the game becomes so nonsensical that it ruins the immersion. Things go beyond Scooby-Doo levels of cartoonish campiness and with less justification. The ending is also incredibly weak, and was a complete letdown. I really enjoyed the art, and what music there is. I would have liked for the artists to be able to flex a bit more. The Museum feature included with the game has some awesome stuff to see that exceeds most of what you see in the game proper. Altogether, I'd say that this was an almost entirely unenjoyable experience that requires a guide to complete without tearing your eyes out. I'm moving onto Prisoner of Ice after this, which I've heard is a better game overall. Lovecraft and adventure games sounds like an easy layup for a talented team, but this game just falls short.
