Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster

Description

Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster, released for the SEGA Saturn in 1995, is a game that impresses primarily with its unconventional premise and atmospheric design. Upon seeing the game's cover art, I was immediately drawn to Tim Curry's name, but the iconic actor's charisma is just one of the many ingredients that make up this horror cocktail.

The game focuses on the story of the reanimation of a dead body, where the player finds themselves in the skin of a newly created "monster". Lee on his journey to discover the truth about his creation and himself. The storyline is dark and deep, while the story itself plays with themes of human existence, morality and the meaning of life.

Graphically, the game is quite advanced for its time, especially with rendered scenes and well-designed environments that create a dense atmosphere of Victorian horror. However, the combination of live-action sequences and static screens sometimes feels a little heavy-handed. As the player navigates through the darkened corridors and laboratories, they feel a sense of tension and uncertainty that adds to the level of immersion in the story.

Tim Curry's presence as Dr. Frankenstein is a big draw, and his performance plays a significant role in how much you enjoy the game. His charismatic, slightly insane performance adds depth to the character and makes Frankenstein a real antagonist that you will love to hate.

In terms of gameplay, this is where the game already lags. Mechanically it's a mix of adventure and puzzle, which in itself isn't bad, but some of the puzzles are too illogical and frustrating. The controls are not very intuitive and moving around the environment can be tedious and confusing. Some scenes suffer from pixel-hunting syndrome, where the player has to search for tiny interactive objects without a clear hint, which can ruin an otherwise solid experience.

The game's sound design, on the other hand, is very good, with an emphasis on atmospheric sounds and dark music that perfectly complements the game's horror atmosphere. The dubbing of the characters, including Tim Curry, is of a high standard and gives the game the hallmark of a professional production.

Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster is an interesting piece of video game history. Although it carries a few significant flaws in the areas of gameplay and logic, its atmosphere, story and Tim Curry's performance manage to immerse the player and leave a deep impression. It's not a game for everyone, but fans of horror adventure games and classic literary themes should definitely not miss it.