Phantasmagoria (video game): Difference between revisions

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'''''Phantasmagoria''''' is a [[CD-ROM]] [[horrorHorror (genre)|horror]]-themed [[computer game]] series created by [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra On-line]] for the [[DOS]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] platforms. The series is composed of two games: '''''Phantasmagoria''''' and '''''Phantasmagoria II: A Puzzle of Flesh''''', released in [[1995]] and [[1996]], respectively.

== ''Phantasmagoria'' ==

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 game]]s 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 game was released on 7seven CD-ROMsCDs to accommodate the massive amount of video generated by this process. Today it still stands as a record of sorts for the largest number of media cuts used in a game, though several other games -— including an adventure game based on the ''[[The X-Files|X-Files]]'' television series -— have matched it in the sheer number of CDs used)—however. However, if it were to use modern day [[video compression]] [[codec]]s while still usingkeeping the same resolution (e.g. [[divx]]), the game could probably have shipped on 1as little as one or 2two discs.

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 game]]s 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 game was released on 7 CD-ROMs to accommodate the massive amount of video generated by this process. Today it still stands as a record of sorts for the largest number of media cuts used in a game, though several other games - including an adventure game based on the [[The X-Files|X-Files]] television series - have matched it in the number of CDs used)—however, if it were to use modern day [[video compression]] [[codec]]s while still using the same resolution (e.g. [[divx]]), the game could probably have shipped on 1 or 2 discs.

''Phantasmagoria'' was also 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.

==Phantasmagoria II''Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh'' ==

In [[1996]], '''''Phantasmagoria II: A Puzzle of Flesh''''' by [[Lorelei Shannon]] was released. Though still enormous in size - it— camecoming on five separate CDs [[CD-ROM|CD]]s — it was in no way as large as its predecessor.

Dropping the unique adventure game style interaction in favor of an interactive movie format, ''PhantasmagoriaA IIPuzzle of Flesh'' was more expensive to produce and less popular with audiences tiring of video clip-driven games. Though some concluded that it was a substantial improvement over the original in several areas, others dismissed the game, criticizing it for its completely different atmosphere, lack of creativity, interactivity and excessive violence.

In [[1996]], '''''Phantasmagoria II: A Puzzle of Flesh''''' by [[Lorelei Shannon]] was released. Though still enormous in size - it came on five separate CDs - it was in no way as large as its predecessor.

Dropping the unique adventure game style interaction in favor of an interactive movie format, ''Phantasmagoria II'' was more expensive to produce and less popular with audiences tiring of video clip-driven games. Though some concluded that it was a substantial improvement over the original in several areas, others dismissed the game, criticizing it for its completely different atmosphere, lack of creativity, interactivity and excessive violence.

The plot of the second game in the series revolves around the character of Curtis Craig, a 30-year-old man working in a company managed by the enigmatic Paul Warner. Curtis' mysterious and traumatic past is a key element in the plot, as he pieces together his experience to form a picture of his soul, one whose discovery might lead to his demise. Harrassed by quasi-delusions which seem all too real, Curtis aims to uncover the truth about his family, co-workers and most importantly, his own existence. As his delusions become more and more real and begin to have an enormous, terrible impact on his surroundings, Curtis must confront his fears or risk getting devoured by what lives within him.

''PhantasmagoriaA IIPuzzle of Flesh'' has a fairly standard interface, with onethe cursor shaped into the distinctive logo of WynTech -— the company employing Craig. The inventory is accessible practically at any time, while events of some importance can be recalled using a handy option that plays the clip the player selects from any single chapter.

The game was a financial failure -— probably the result of a rapidly falling interest in interactive movies, especially ones packed onto several CDs -— and no further titles in the series were produced.

== External links ==

* {{Moby game|id=_group/sheet/gameGroupId,186/|name=The Phantasmagoria series}}

==External links==

* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/p,2/gameId,1164/ MobyGames' entry on ''Phantasmagoria'']

* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/gameId,1216/ MobyGames' entry on ''Phantasmagoria II'']

[[Category:Sierra games]]

[[Category:1995 computer and video games]]

[[Category:1996 computer and video games]]

[[Category:Banned computer and video games]]

[[Category:DOS games]]

[[Category:Sierra games]]

[[Category:Windows games]]

[[bg:Фантасмагория]]