I've always had a fascination with FMV games, yet somehow never got around to playing this one and figured I should finally right that wrong.

I had really only known about some of the more gruesome scenes of this game. It definitely has a lot of controversial content - I do feel like most of these scenes do at least progress the story showcasing both the brutality and advancing character development. It is still worth noting that this game does have graphic displays of domestic abuse and assault that will not be for everyone. A lot of this content is about on par with what you'd find in an R rated horror film - which makes sense considering the obvious Stephen King inspirations.

Graphically the combination of 3D generated backdrops and full motion video creates an uncanny valley effect that is actually very fascinating. Even down to the UI this game feels directly out of an era and I think this works to it's benefit. It somehow manages to cover both the 1990s and the late 1800s but adds an unsettling twist to it.

From a gameplay standpoint, it both makes and breaks the experience of this game. The puzzles are on average very simplistic for Sierra standards. This game also has a fantastic hint system built in where you can just click the skull icon and the game will tell you what to head to next. Super helpful after you've wandered the whole map and failed to find some small item you missed.

While this system makes the game feel more accessible to a larger audience, it all falls apart in the games final act which can be a huge headache and frustration. It turns the game from a casual exploration game into a fast-paced reactionary one - one that can be trigged easily without all the necessary items. My understanding is if you are missing some of the key items, you can still go back and find them all while being pursued - but it feels like an odd game design decision compared to the rest of the game. I quickly became frustrated in this final act and pulled out a guide to walk me through it. I would also recommend this to anyone else wanting to just get through the game.

The layout of the mansion can also be a bit cumbersome with camera angles that sometimes flip directions based on ways you enter the room. Once you start involving secret passages, it can be easy to miss entire sections simply because you didn't notice the difference between a down arrow and one pointing down-right.

As for the acting, it's all over the place. Luckily the actress portraying the game's protagonist does a fine job - great considering you will be seeing a lot of here. I wasn't a big fan of the comic relief vagrant characters, Harriet and Cyrus, a mother and son, that live on the property. They undermine a lot of the game's theme. Many of the cutscenes play out at a snail's pace, but luckily the game also contains a skip button to help you fly through repeat animations. Just be careful not to accidentally skip a useful scene since you won't be able to watch it again without loading a previous save.

There's no denying what a huge game this was to video game history. From a historical aspect alone, I think this is one that hardcore video game aficionados should at least give a try at some point.