DOS

The 11th Hour

Description

The 11th Hour is the sequel to the widely successful game, The 7th Guest. It utilizes a much improved video compression engine by Graeme Devine and is also the game which brought forth Trilobyte's eventual demise.

This time you play the role of Carl Denning, boyfriend to the reporter Robin Morales. Robin has mysteriously vanished while trying to delve into the secrets of the rotting mansion of the once evil mastermind, Henry Stauf.

The game features new puzzles, redone graphics and indeed an improved engine - much smoother, with 16 bit graphics and an entirely new soundtrack. The basic gameplay is still similar to its predecessor: the player walks through the mansion, watches FMV sequences and solves logic riddles. The so-called GameBook, a laptop, can be consulted to receive puzzle hints.

Alternate Titles

• "第十一小時" -- Chinese spelling (traditional)
• "The 11th Hour: The sequel to The 7th Guest" -- Taglined title
• "The 11th Hour: La Suite de The 7th Guest" -- French title
• "The 11th Hour: Kontynuacja gry The 7th Guest™" -- Polish title
• "The 11th Hour: Het vervolg op The 7th Guest™" -- Dutch title
• "The 11th Hour: Der Nachfolger von 7th Guest™" -- German title
• "11H" -- Abbreviated title

Part of the Following Groups

• Game Engine: Groovie
• The 7th Guest series
• Theme: Haunted house
• Visual technique / style: Live-action cutscenes

Merchant Title Platform Price   11th Hour DOS $3.43   The 11th Hour DOS $1.75   11th Hour, The $9.99   The 11th Hour     Please select your country: United States Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Malaysia Malta Mexico The Netherlands New Zealand Norway Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Russia Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Uruguay Vietnam Other Worldwide Not an American user?

User Reviews

As a strategy game, it is great. As an adventure, it is not.	Mumm-Ra (382)
The first was a whole lot better.	Tomer Gabel (4418)

The Press Says

Game Zero	1995	22.75 out of 25	91
Freak	Apr, 1995	90 out of 100	90
Quandary	Jan, 1996		80
High Score	Mar, 1996	4 out of 5	80
Adventure Lantern	Aug, 2006	64 out of 100	64
Power Play	Jan, 1996	61 out of 100	61
Computer Gaming World (CGW)	Mar, 1996		60
GameSpot	May 01, 1996	5.1 out of 10	51
PC Games (Germany)	Jan, 1996	48 out of 100	48
All Game Guide	2007		30

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Trivia

Alternate Version

A more explicit "R-rated" version of the game with partial nudity was planned at one time. While it did not get to production the script for the R-rated version can be found in the Prima Official Strategy Guide. The bad ending of the game is actually from the R-rated version, but slightly toned down and missing one effects shot. No one seems to want to fess up to being responsible for this script either, as in interviews the writer, director, and Trilobyte all deny writing it.

Cancelled Port

A 3DO version of this game was in the works, but the project was scrapped due to the public's lack of interest in the console. Some promotional catalogs even listed this game with a firm release date of August 9, 1995, but needless to say, the game never came out. Still, references to this game in various catalogs and gaming magazines have resulted in countless books and web sites erroneously listing it amongst the 3DO software library.

References

The game is littered with visual references (some subtle, and some not-so-subtle) to its predecessor: The 7th Guest. One such example is a pile of old, dusty game boxes for The 7th Guest in the laboratory. Surprisingly (and somewhat shamelessly), the game developers even included a 7th Guest CD-ROM as an answer to one of Stauf's riddles!

In the chapel, click the "rolling eyeball" cursor on the small bowl off to the side. Upon closer inspection, you will notice a torn piece of paper sticking out with the word "MISSED" printed on it. This is a sly reference to (or possibly a jab at) the bestselling CD-ROM game Myst. The inclusion of a torn paper was probably meant to mock the plot of Myst, which has the player search out a series of vacant islands for pages that are missing from two mysterious books.

Game Updates

A new engine allows Windows '95 and DirectX compatible gameplay. Look for it in the company's website.

Hidden Features

Disc 1 came with wad file levels for Doom and Heretic modeled after the Stauf Mansion. Disc 1 also includes JPEG screenshots and WAV sound files from the game so that you can create your own Stauf desktop theme. Look for them in the GOODIES folder.

In the setup menu, users can choose between standard graphics and "spooky mode", which will transform the game's visuals from full color into faded black-and-white.

As many users recall, there was a cheat code in The 7th Guest that would unlock every room and puzzle in the house. Entering this cheat code ("Zaphod Beeblebrox") in The 11th Hour will only result in laughter and taunts from Stauf.

Completing the game will add a new saved game in slot 0 called "Open House". Using this game, players have full access to the entire house, and can play any of the puzzles as many times as they'd like.

Awards

In the German gaming magazine PC Player (issue 01/1997) The 11th Hour received a special award for the "Worst Script in 1996".