Preface

Shadow of the Comet is the best of the ‘Cthulhu’ adventures, the best computer game based on an H.P. Lovercraft story and one of the best horror games ever released.

Scenario

The Year is 1910. You are John T. Parker, an astronomer and reporter for a science magazine. You believe old Lord Boleskine’s claim that there is a small village where Halley’s comet passes so close that it is visible to the naked human eye. However, the comet’s passing seems to cause strange doings and – according to Lord Boleskine - evil gods known as the Old Ones materialize during this period. Seventy-six years earlier, in 1834, Lord Boleskine prevented the Old Ones from conquering this world by interfering with the mechanisms that are activated by the power of the comet. Eventually Lord Boleskine went insane and his theories were attributed to a madman, but you convince your editor to send you to Illsmouth – a sleepy New England village - three days before the comet is due, so you can take photos and prove that Halley’s comet passes really close. Little do you know you will soon be responsible for eliminating these evil gods.

While this scenario is not based on any specific H.P. Lovercraft story, its theme is a common thread in many of his tales.

Scenario grade: A+

Graphics

Obviously, we can’t compare the graphics of a 1992 game to one released in 2004, but they are wonderful. Running only in 320x200 and in 256 colors - but cool colors! – interesting locales and well-drawn backgrounds combine to make Shadow of the Comet one of the most atmospheric games I have ever played.

There is some pixel hunting, but the graphics are nevertheless so beautiful that you will not get frustrated. Although developed in the early 1990’s, the graphics can be really scary, especially at night!

Graphics grade: A

Sound

In the diskette release, there are some nice and scary sound effects, and a midi-based background sound, which is good, but not as good as the similar Alone in the Dark 1. The CD version offers speech and some modified (and scarier!) music for the tomb area.

Sound grade: B+

Control

The diskette version only uses the keyboard. The arrow keys are used to move Parker from screen to screen. The commands are T (Talk), U (Use), G (Get) or T (Take), L (Look), Y (Diary) and I (Inventory). The U key uses whatever object you have selected in your inventory.

There is also a P (Pause), and a map with the M key so you can travel faster inside the small village of Illsmouth, provided you have first traveled on foot to that particular area. This map does not work when you are inside a house, or in the forest – it only works if you are in Illsmouth and walking around.

When you ‘see’ an object, a dotted line appears so you can press ‘G’ or ‘U’ to get it or use it, respectively. This causes some problems, as the game often requires that you stand at a certain point of the room to view an object, so you might miss it.

The diary keeps important information about your progress and it often offers hints to lead you in the right direction.

The saving mechanism allows for 10 game saves using the ‘D’ key that shows a save/load/config/quit menu. In the config menu you can change the characters’ walking speed, and the game language (The CD version offers multiple languages).

The CD version also offers mouse support, but it is easer to use the keyboard, than actually trying to use the mouse in this game!

Overall, the controls certainly could be much better – especially as concerns the problem with finding some objects - but they do not hinder the enjoyment of the game.

Control grade: B

Atmosphere

Now we come to the best feature of Shadow of the Comet - it’s atmosphere. There is no game that incorporates horror, crime, mystery, adventure, gods and evil families much better than Shadow of the Comet. Not only will you be entertained for hours on end, but you will be glued to your computer until the finish.

The game is divided into three parts, or three days. Your goal the first day is to uncover why the town of Illsmouth seems so evil. For day two, you must destroy forever the four families involved with the Great Ones, and for day three you have to kill all the evil gods and prevent the stone disk (yes, this game has also a stone disk area, but as far as I know, it is the first that did. A few other games with stone circles are Alone in the Dark 4, Necronomicon and Black Mirror) from materializing when the comet passes.

During the first day, you must speak with many of the locals to learn about Illsmouth and the comet. At the day’s end, you find yourself in the forest trying to photograph a cross, but you will soon find out that there is much more to that cross than what you believed!

The second day is the longest. With the help of your friend, Dr. Jugg, you must collect everything you will need for your final encounter. You will also participate in a strange ‘show from the past’, in which a surprise character will appear and offer advice on how to proceed. Finally, you must visit the tomb and find and activate the four statues that will destroy the four evil families.

The third day is the appearance of the comet, in which you must kill Narackamous, a powerful wizard, Cthulhu, Dagon, and Yogh Sothoth, the four gods related with the passage of the comet.

This task isn’t easy. Shadow of the Comet is one huge game and - although it fits on five 3.5” diskettes - it is much bigger than most newer adventure games. But beware! Death can strike you down easily, especially during the second and third days. Save often, and be prepared for lots of game loads!

Atmosphere grade: A

Puzzles

The puzzles are inventory based and rate from medium to tough, but for the most part are excellent. There are also numerous logical hints scattered about the game. The toughest – and my favorite - section of the game is when you must find the four statues and the magic words that can be used to destroy four families by winding your way through a difficult labyrinth. Prepare to save often there!

Two hints to get you started: at the beginning of the game, go to the forest and collect the items you will need for the evening (3 branches and a creeper). If you wait and do this at night, first you will be really scared, and second – since it is night – you will not be able to find these items easily in the dark.

There is only one bad puzzle in this game – a sequence where you need to develop some photos. You must use specific chemicals, but you don’t receive any hint of which you must choose or the correct order. The correct order is: Metol, Hydroquinone, Potash Metabisulfite and Sodium Triosulphate.

Puzzles grade: A

Like most of Infogrames’ productions, Shadow of the Comet is an excellent game and is a must-have for every serious adventurer.

Final Grade: A

System Requirements:

• DOS, but plays under Windows box or Windows XP using VDMSound.
• CD-ROM for the cd-rom release required.
• 7MB free hard disk space required.
• Soundblaster or adlib compatible sound card is required.