Customer Reviews

Roberta Williams' Phantasmagoria: Pray It's Only A Nightmare

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Made during the height of the "interactive movie" boom in the computer game industry, Phantasmagoria is notable for being one of the first and only adventure games to use a human being as an on-screen avatar. Actress Victoria Morsell spent months in front of a bluescreen filming the hundreds of actions players could direct her character to perform.
The story, somewhat similar to that of The Shining, revolves around paperback writer Adrienne, who has together with her husband Don just bought a remote, enormous mansion previously owned by a famous magician in the late 19th century, Zoltan Carnovasch. Adrienne is hoping to get in the mood for writing her next novel and Don, a photographer, wants to photograph things. Immediately upon moving into the house, Adrienne begins having nightmares. Unbeknownst to the happy two, Zoltan the magician was into black magic and had summoned an evil demon which possessed him and made him murder his wives in grotesque ways. (Remotely connected to their favorite occupation - for example, in one of the most controversial film sequences the chubby Regina is force fed animal entrails through a funnel until she suffocates.) As far as the townspeople know, the wives died naturally however tragically, but as Adrienne explores the house she starts to see visions of the murders taking place. She finds out that Zoltan met his demise when his last wife realized he was a murderer. She conspired with her lover to kill Zoltan by sabotaging the equipment for his most famous and dangerous escapology trick; inspired by The Pit and the Pendulum, Zoltan would escape from being strapped to a chair with a built-in axe that swung back and forth above him and lowering until it killed him, all while his head was covered with a burning hood. The plan went wrong and both the wife and the lover as well as Zoltan died, and the demon escaped into a secret room of the mansion. Adrienne unwittingly releases it shortly after moving in and it possesses Don. Seeking help from among others the repenting spirit of Zoltan and a 110 year old man who as a boy was a witness to the demon's escape, Adrienne manages to banish the demon forever, although the by then completely insane Don gets killed.

Phantasmagoria was a notable departure for designer Roberta Williams, best known for her family games like the King's Quest series. Featuring graphic gore, violence and a rape scene, the game stirred controversy over age restrictions and target audiences in the maturing game industry. It was banned in Australia and Germany while CompUSA and other major retailers refused to carry it.

OMG! This is the best game ever!!! I have had this game for years and I play it about every 6 months or so as it is my favorite game ever made. If you love horror movies/Stephen King/Shivers/blood and gore/the macabre you will love this game even though it was made to play in Windows 95. Try pestering Don the Husband as much as possible - he gets very entertaining and it doesn't interfere with the story line. During the Chapter with all the night events (I don't want to give too much away) explore as much as possible as that is when all the 'revelations' take place and you will understand the history of the house and the true story line will be revealed. Bottom line - if you love horror flicks and you don't own this game you should!!!

Games from an earlier era, with the live action, gripping music, brilliant graphics, challenging game play, and actual plots that characterized it. You should be aware, though, that these are absolutely NOT games for kids (however you define that -- I played them when I was in my mid-30s, and they gave me nightmares). The gory stuff is horrible, graphic, sadistic, and realistic, and much of it is against women. Both games include a sexual component; in Phantasmagoria 1, it's a substory (well, sort of); in P 2, it's the central story, and it gets kinky to disturbing.

One of the best games I have ever played. I hope you think so also. I never saw a game since this with real characters in such a love relationship.

When husband gets bizzare...I am afraid for the wife.

What is going on? What is she to do???

Goose bumps with this one.
Scared my nephews for years. Do not play with young ones. It really is a creeper.

I love this game!
I had it and got about half way through before my computer crashed.
By the time my computer was fixed (and wiped clean of everything on it..) I'd lost the first 3 disks, so I couldn't play anymore!
I looked around for a long time trying to find it (well I found it, but it was never under $75) and never thought to check amazon! I'm buying it so I can finally finish the game!

Its grotesque and disturbing and just plain awesome.
I can't wait to play again. I'd recommend this game to anyone who likes horror films. The magician in the game murders his wives in horrific ways that slightly remind me of the Saw movies.

Maybe I'm a fan of the older video graphics mix style games but I thought it was fantastic. I am a true fan of these old style games; highly recommend it.

Phantasmagoria was the worst game I have ever played. That is why live action cut scenes never made it they are no longer in video games. If you buy this game it is the worst mistake ever that you can make.
That is why I gave it a 1 out of 5. If you like horror flicks well I would stay away from this game and forget that you ever played the game Phantasmagoria. If you want a good horror game get silent hill 2 or resident evil 4 not this game.