An English haunting is a point-and-click adventure from solo developer José Meléndez on Postmodern adventures. The story is set in England at the turn of the 20th century, as spiritualism was becoming increasingly popular in the mainstream. The game is also a wonderful homage to classic horror literature, referencing many greats, such as Algernon Blackwood, Arthur Machen, and Edgar Allan Poe. Anyone who grows up with adventure games such as Monkey Island, Indiana Jones And Quest of Kings you will feel at home with An English haunting, and the game deserves a place alongside these greats. At the very least, it pays homage to all those who came before it, emulating the best of the genre's heyday while correcting some of the pitfalls common to point-and-click puzzle titles, namely the often obtuse puzzle design and aimless wandering. .
A spectral scandal
The game follows Professor Patrick Moore, who works in the controversial metaphysics department of a high-ranking university. With his partner Nelson Ward, Moore is investigating the possibility of life after death. The game opens with Ward apparently absconding with a large university donation intended for the department. Because of this scandal, the chancellor tells Moore that he has 48 hours to prove the existence of ghosts or he will close the department. These additional stakes add a sense of urgency to an adventure that is filled with many unexpected twists and turns along the way.
The beautiful pixel art does a great job of capturing the feel of classic adventure games while transporting the player to the early 20th century setting. Each location feels detailed, varied, and interesting to explore. Added to the pixel art is a soundtrack and musical score that perfectly match the era.
Puzzles, Poltergeists, oh my God..
An English haunting is true to the point-and-click adventure game formula, and veterans will instantly recognize all the core mechanics. These include a backpack, in which you can grab and examine your items, and lots of clicking on the environment to determine what you can interact with. There are only a limited number of areas the player can explore at any one time, which is useful. As soon as an area is no longer relevant to your progress in the story, it becomes inaccessible. This focuses the player on one or two puzzles at a time and avoids the frustration of aimless wandering and backtracking that is often found in other games of the genre.
For the majority, An English haunting the puzzles are logical and not too difficult, except for a few moments where I got a little stuck. The game's restrained exploration elements are, for the most part, effective in alleviating a common pitfall of point-and-click adventures: finding yourself stuck with no idea how to progress. The story is closely tied to the puzzles, and the mix of the two balances well throughout most of the game. Towards the end of the game, this balance leans a little more towards the story and the puzzles have become less important. Considering how enjoyable I found the story throughout, this change of pace did not impact my overall enjoyment.
A historic treat
The way the game draws on history and themes of spiritualism is a key part of its appeal. Lots of period accurate details are woven throughout. I particularly liked the British Association for Supernatural Studies (BASS), which seems to be a reference to the real Society for Psychical Research, which still operates today in London. The game enjoys tackling some of the most absurd beliefs of the time, while also highlighting how our society has evolved in terms of what is considered worthy of scientific research.
Players will encounter a series of colorful fictional characters over the course of the game, including the enthusiastic and naive members of BASS and Beatrice Shaw, a medium whose showmanship calls into question the depth of her psychic abilities. An English haunting also includes some historical pop culture figures, including Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle. Houdini was a public critic of spiritualism and Doyle a staunch defender. Like the various fictional characters Moore meets over the course of the game, the inclusion of Houdini and Doyle seemed perfect, providing contrasting viewpoints on the spiritualists' beliefs.
I loved An English haunting hugely, but I don't think it's an experience that will convince anyone new to the genre. If you're not already a fan of point-and-click adventures, this game isn't likely to convert you. However, I can wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try if you're one of the dwindling number of people with a lingering affection for the old-school adventure game format, or if you're simply interested in history of the spiritualist movement. An English haunting made me draw parallels with another modern addition to the genre, called Hobb's Barrow excavationswhich is another incredibly interesting title to check out.
Anyone who loves classic point-and-click adventure games will love it An English haunting. It's a short adventure (around five hours) with an epic and interesting conclusion. It's well written, well designed and historically interesting at the same time. An English haunting is obviously a labor of love on the developer's part, and you can see it in every aspect of the game.
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