Summary
- Release Year: 1992
- Genres: Adventure, Puzzle, Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: Amiga, DOS
- Developers: Horror Soft
- Publishers: Accolade
Waxworks (1992): A Spine-Tingling Dungeon Crawl Classic
Released in 1992, Waxworks is a first-person dungeon crawl RPG that combines horror, puzzles, and action in a truly unique and unforgettable experience. Developed by the British studio Horrorsoft and published by Psygnosis, Waxworks was a critical and commercial success, and remains a cult classic among retro gaming enthusiasts today.
Gameplay
Waxworks is played from a first-person perspective, with the player character moving around a series of tight corridors and rooms using a bitmap sprite-based point-and-click interface. The game’s world is rendered in a dark and atmospheric style, with a heavy emphasis on horror and suspense.
The player’s main goal is to explore the titular waxworks, a mysterious and sinister museum filled with horrific creatures such as zombies, ghosts, and demons. The player must fight their way through these creatures using a variety of weapons, including swords, axes, and guns.
One of the unique features of Waxworks is its combat system, which allows players to target individual body parts of their enemies. This adds an extra layer of strategy to the game, as players must carefully consider which body parts to attack in order to maximize their damage output.
Story
The story of Waxworks is told through a series of cutscenes and in-game dialogue. The player character is a young man named Adam, who is visiting the waxworks with his friends. However, the friends soon become separated, and Adam finds himself alone in the dark and dangerous museum.
As Adam explores the waxworks, he learns that the museum is home to a powerful and evil entity known as the Master. The Master has trapped Adam and his friends in the waxworks, and he intends to use them as sacrifices in a dark ritual.
Adam must find a way to escape the waxworks and defeat the Master before it’s too late. Along the way, he will encounter a cast of strange and mysterious characters, including a beautiful but deadly vampire, a wise old wizard, and a enigmatic fortune teller.
Graphics and Sound
Waxworks’ graphics are dark and atmospheric, with a heavy emphasis on horror and suspense. The game’s use of lighting and shadow is particularly effective, and the character designs are truly terrifying.
The game’s sound design is also top-notch, with a haunting soundtrack that perfectly captures the game’s eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The sound effects are also excellent, and they do a great job of creating a sense of tension and dread.
Legacy
Waxworks was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and it remains a cult classic among retro gaming enthusiasts today. The game has been praised for its innovative gameplay, its atmospheric graphics and sound, and its gripping story.
Waxworks has also been cited as an influence on a number of later horror games, including Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The game’s unique combat system has also been praised by critics, and it has been used in a number of other games, including Deus Ex and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines.
Conclusion
Waxworks is a truly unique and unforgettable horror game that deserves its place as a cult classic. The game’s innovative gameplay, its atmospheric graphics and sound, and its gripping story make it a must-play for fans of horror and adventure games. If you’re looking for a game that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, then Waxworks is definitely worth checking out.
Review Score
7.5/10
Art
Cover Art
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