I was a kid when my dad picked up this game, and despite really wanting to figure it out, I never got very far with it. After remembering it a few years ago, I assumed the reasons I never finished it at the time were my poor grasp of traditional RPG mechanics, and my poor English. Now that I've happily picked up a working copy on GOG, I'm realizing that the opaque game mechanics and piss-poor controls probably had more to do with it. But I intend to stick with it! Pros: fun story with gross splatters and giant bugs and stuff, great soundtrack, and a genuinely interesting fantasy world. Cons: in the absence of a manual, it's hard to figure out how anything works. You interact with the world by hitting, frequently in the wrong direction, and by maneuvering yourself just right to interact with an object.
This is possibly the closest thing available to experiencing an anxiety disorder in videogame format. I can't give it a bad rating, but I can't actually -enjoy- playing it, either. It's been a very emotional experience.
"Richard and Alice" succeeds in creating a suspenseful story and oppressive atmosphere. There are few locations, so that you become familiar with your environment while in search of puzzle-solving solutions, which I like. My only real gripe is a sense that the end is somewhat unfinished... I can't quite put my finger on it. I would recommend the game to just about anybody.
The game succeeds at creating a tense, suspenseful atmosphere, aided by the soundscape, the timing, and the graphics. The house environment is suitably creepy and nostalgic, and is a strong background for a horror game. That said, the plot makes no sense and eventually dissipates the aura of mystery. You will find yourself unraveling a story that is really more like a patchwork of unrelated elements, one series of which is simply tired colonialist cliches. Loading times are frequent. I recommend the game simply for the pleasure of exploring the house.
