If your long-lost father sent you
a note telling you not to search for him in an abandoned mine, what would you
do? Well, I suppose it would depend on how you felt about your father. In
Penumbra: Overture, we can safely assume Philip was close to his dad, or at
least has an interest in his fate. So great is his determination, Philip
travels to a creepy old mine in Greenland where he combats monsters, madness,
darkness, and puzzles all in an effort to learn the fate of his missing
parent. Sounds like a typical Hallmark scenario.
The Penumbra Collection contains
three games, beginning with Overture. The majority of the
gameplay can be split into two elements. The first mechanic you’ll be
using is that of puzzle-solving. This is actually quite fun, particularly in
the pitch-black, what-the-hell-will-I-see-next environments of Overture. What
makes this particularly immersive is that the mouse mimics the hand, so if I
want to push a door open, I must literally push forward on the mouse. I
realize it doesn’t sound like much on paper, but it really does make the
puzzles feel more fluid and natural. The bad news is that the second game
mechanic, combat, uses the same elements. Taking a swipe with a melee weapon
using the mouse may sound fun, but the weapons (whether intentionally or not)
feel heavy and sluggish. For this reason, players will likely favor stealth
tactics whenever possible. Mysterious voices and scrawled documents help to
keep the story going, if you don’t mind a bit of reading to complement your
puzzle-solving. Of course you won’t mind that; you’re a PC gamer, and that
makes you an indisputable genius. The soundtrack keeps the hairs standing on
end, but the graphical power of the game is a bit underwhelming. Overture
might not be a very old game, but it’s important to remember that this was the
product of a small, independent development studio. It is not
Crysis in the dark. Overture’s ending will leave
players wanting more; fortunately, the Collection allows the next chapter to
be just a few clicks away.
The Collection’s second offering
is Penumbra: Black Plague. Rather than finding a way to repair the clumsy
combat of the first game, the developers seem to have decided to remove most
of the combat situations entirely. I suppose this is preferable to extending
the combat, so you won’t have to worry about enemies nearly as frequently in
this follow up. This is probably Black Plague’s strongest point, as it allows
greater focus on puzzle solving and navigating the haunting caverns throughout
the game. This means greater use of the physics system, and an overall
improved experience for the player. Again, there is just something about
rummaging through drawers that is more enjoyable when you are physically
pushing and pulling them around. While the first title might help to flesh out
the storyline a bit, it isn’t a necessary prerequisite for enjoying Black
Plague. Audio is once again far superior to the visuals, with drab geometry
and low resolution surfaces feeling very much out of place in such a genuinely
frightening game.
The third and final game in
Penumbra Collection is Requiem. Here lies something which can certainly be
considered an excellent puzzle-based adventure game, although its place within
the collection makes it feel a bit awkward. The game settings also serve to
reinforce this bizarre title within the series (even the voices are
different). Story elements appear to have taken a backseat, and that’s a real
shame, because it was a major draw and incentive for player progress. With
characters seemingly loses their minds, there should have been greater
potential for storytelling. Gameplay is largely
the same, but playing around with the physics and puzzles has become the
primary activity. Players annoyed with frequent attacks from dogs and zombies
will find Requiem to be much more to their liking. There is little to speak of
in terms of graphical developments. This game, like the others, sounds much
better than it looks. Still, Requiem functions for what it is at the core: a
pleasant, puzzle-solving spookfest. The game is
still on the easy side, but noticeably shorter than the previous installments.
All combined, the Penumbra
Collection won’t quite get you to the twenty hour mark that some players
arbitrarily seek. It doesn’t have much depth to speak of, but the
accessibility and fun of the puzzle-solving is something even non-adventure
gamers can enjoy. Having a good sound setup and a dark room to yourself are
definitely going to make this game a memorable experience. Admittedly, many of
the game’s thrills are of the cheap, startling variety. Interesting mechanics
and an eerie atmosphere create a distinction for the Penumbra Collection that
makes it a good buy, even if the experience is a brief one.
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Gameplay: 8.0
The
interactive physics really enhance gameplay,
rather than simply making things look good. If only the combat could be fixed.
Graphics: 6.0
This
is not “cutting -edge”, but it gets the job done.
Sound: 8.0
An
impressively spooky aural experience.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
This
is a generally quick and easy set of games, but satisfying nonetheless.
Concept: 7.0
The
puzzles are very nicely executed, though the story could be better. Any game
that lets you throw ketchup earns respect in my book.
Overall: 7.5
Simple, scary,
and satisfying. Aside from object collection, there’s little in the way of
replay value, but Penumbra Collection is an enjoyable romp while it lasts.
