Game: Penumbra: Black Plague
System: PC
Genre: Survival-horror
Developer: Frictional Games
Release date: February 12, 2008
Pros: Plenty of scares; smartly-written story; inventive puzzles
Cons: Short campaign; graphical glitches
Last October I reviewed Penumbra: Overture, a scary, moody survival-horror game that attempted to breathe new life into a fading genre. Six months later, I'm back to review the sequel, Penumbra: Black Plague, a game that builds on the foundation set by the first game, but removes some of the elements that turned off fans. The result is a smoother, more cerebral experience, but not necessarily a scarier one -- more on that later. In any event, Black Plague is a worthy successor to Overture; it's suspenseful, it's well-written, it's mind-bending, and it features one of the all-time great video game villains.
To those who avoid spoilers: avert your eyes. Black Plague picks up some time after the cliff-hanger ending of the first game. Philip, having been knocked unconscious by an unseen being, awakes in a makeshift cell. He quickly escapes and spends the rest of the game exploring a secret research facility buried deep under the snows of northern Greenland, tracking down the ghosts of his past and the horrors of his present. In this facility he encounters brain-teasing puzzles, horrifying enemies, and a truly memorable villain who taunts and tortures Philip.
Like Overture, Black Plague is a survival-horror game. Players must use stealth and shadows to outmaneuver enemies, use brainpower to solve riddles, and carefully manage supplies. However, Black Plague has downplayed some of the elements that turned off fans of Overture, specifically combat and note-collecting. I'm one of the fans that took no issue with either, so I was a little disappointed to find fewer notes and lose the ability to defend myself. Some of the scarier creatures from the first game have also been removed, resulting in a less frightening game.
The change in scenery in Black Plague is a big part of what makes the game less scary than its predecessor. Whereas Overture took place mostly in dark, musty caverns and mine shafts, Black Plague takes place in a state-of-the-art research facility. The rooms feel lived-in. The architecture seems modern. It's a far cry from the primeval settings through which Philip sneaked in the first game.
Regardless, the game is quite good, maybe even better than Overture. The script is smart, sophisticated and cerebral; the puzzles, although less taxing, are inventive and challenging; and the scares, however infrequent, are chilling. This is a must-play game for horror fans.
Genre: Survival-horror
Developer: Frictional Games
Release date: February 12, 2008
Pros: Plenty of scares; smartly-written story; inventive puzzles
Cons: Short campaign; graphical glitches
Last October I reviewed Penumbra: Overture, a scary, moody survival-horror game that attempted to breathe new life into a fading genre. Six months later, I'm back to review the sequel, Penumbra: Black Plague, a game that builds on the foundation set by the first game, but removes some of the elements that turned off fans. The result is a smoother, more cerebral experience, but not necessarily a scarier one -- more on that later. In any event, Black Plague is a worthy successor to Overture; it's suspenseful, it's well-written, it's mind-bending, and it features one of the all-time great video game villains.
 |
| Glow sticks and flashlights light the darkness. |
To those who avoid spoilers: avert your eyes. Black Plague picks up some time after the cliff-hanger ending of the first game. Philip, having been knocked unconscious by an unseen being, awakes in a makeshift cell. He quickly escapes and spends the rest of the game exploring a secret research facility buried deep under the snows of northern Greenland, tracking down the ghosts of his past and the horrors of his present. In this facility he encounters brain-teasing puzzles, horrifying enemies, and a truly memorable villain who taunts and tortures Philip.
Like Overture, Black Plague is a survival-horror game. Players must use stealth and shadows to outmaneuver enemies, use brainpower to solve riddles, and carefully manage supplies. However, Black Plague has downplayed some of the elements that turned off fans of Overture, specifically combat and note-collecting. I'm one of the fans that took no issue with either, so I was a little disappointed to find fewer notes and lose the ability to defend myself. Some of the scarier creatures from the first game have also been removed, resulting in a less frightening game.
 |
| You're going to have to open that door, whether you like it or not. |
The change in scenery in Black Plague is a big part of what makes the game less scary than its predecessor. Whereas Overture took place mostly in dark, musty caverns and mine shafts, Black Plague takes place in a state-of-the-art research facility. The rooms feel lived-in. The architecture seems modern. It's a far cry from the primeval settings through which Philip sneaked in the first game.
Regardless, the game is quite good, maybe even better than Overture. The script is smart, sophisticated and cerebral; the puzzles, although less taxing, are inventive and challenging; and the scares, however infrequent, are chilling. This is a must-play game for horror fans.
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