Phantasmagoria Reviews

Despite being the brainchild of acclaimed game developer Roberta Williams, "Phantasmagoria" is not a re-invigoration of the point-and-click adventure genre, nor does it innovate those tried and true methods (like her highly celebrated "King's Quest" series before it).

Instead, Phantasmagoria offers to gamers - mostly the uninitiated and inexperienced - a game that is relatively painless, generally creepy, and unforgivably short. Not to mention "Phantasmagoria" also has its fair share of gore (which probably hit a lot harder in 1995 than it does now, over a decade later). Granted, Roberta Williams' first horror outing is by no means the epic it could have and should have been; it was, however, one of the many games at the time of its release to weave various FMV sequences in and out of its substandard mouse-based game play.

But there is a rewarding adventure game hidden beneath this 7-disc experience, of which those 7 discs amasses an amazing amount of FMV footage. Even with the "interactive movie" boom in full swing by 1995 and "Phantasmagoria" being one of its most successful spawn, a company known for its brilliant adventure games, LucasArts, had currently released two highly cinematic adventure titles that same year, but they were adventure games none the less. Instead of forgoing the game play in favor of grandiose cut scenes and overbearing, filmic narration, LucasArts' two titles - "Grim Fandango" and "Full Throttle," respectively - have become classics of the genre. "Phantasmagoria" hasn't fared as well with either critics or fans.

"Phantasmagoria's" FMV sequences are, in a word, excessive. But beyond any of that there is, as I stated, a rewarding experience that lie buried beneath them. With only one cursor at your disposal (it highlights objects of interest and usually starts another FMV sequence to accompany the clicking), an eyeball icon to closely examine an object, and an on-screen hint system - which is made available by clicking on its skull head avatar - this is a very simple, easy-to-use game. Even if this doesn't sound particularly deep (and it isn't), it's a refreshing change of pace from Sierra's more decidedly complex "Gabriel Knight" games. Admittedly, the FMV sequences are probably the biggest reason you'll play this, atrocious acting hampers their appeal. It is only when the great B actor Robert Miano is on-screen (as Zoltan "Carno" Carnovasch) that things get a bit more lively.

Then there's the game's purely average visual design. The marriage of live actors and pre-rendered backgrounds simply doesn't meld, but they seem to work better in the FMV movies. Thankfully, composer Mark Seibert's musical arrangements are absolutely astounding. They enhance the mood suitably & subtly and both pronounce a scene's atmosphere, as well as announce a specific character, with class and a real sense of dread.

But this game should not to be mistaken for a particular artsy affair. If anything, it is the equivalent of a C horror film, replete with bad acting, bad special FX, forgettable characters and over-the-top gore. Though that is not to say it's a bad thing. Some of the best horror movies are certainly the cheesiest. "Phantasmagoria" is no different. It is by no means a classic game, but its trash level and entertaining game play, over-the-top gore and admittedly enthralling FMV sequences make this something of a must-play for "interactive film" fans.