Realms of the Haunting

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Description

Realms of the Haunting is a combination of first-person shooter and three-dimensional adventure game with quite a bit of live-action Full Motion Video thrown in to boot. Navigation through the game world is done through a FPS interface very similar to Doom; however there's also a free-floating cursor controlled by the mouse which you can use to interact with the various objects around you. There's also an inventory system and quite a few object related puzzles. The game has standard Doom-ish combat against a variety of monsters, however the combat is placed at intervals rather than throughout the game, and the emphasis is more on exploration and atmosphere.

The game's plot starts out as a typical haunted house story but soon mutates into an end-of-the-world tale combining New Age pseudo-philosophy and biblical Revelations. You take the part of Adam Randall, a pastor's son who is sent to investigate a haunted mansion by a mysterious priest who claims it's linked to your father's death. Once you enter the mansion you soon learn that not only is it infested with demons and evil spirits, but that the mansion itself is built over an old Satanic temple and the priest who sent you there is in fact a five-hundred year old French sorcerer trying to bring about the end of the world. You are soon joined by a helpful young psychic and aided by the ghost of a defeated knight. You'll also start a grudge with an ex-demon king as well as be chased around by the Antichrist-in-training.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

• "Realms of the Haunting: The Battleground between ultimate Good and Evil" -- Tag-lined title

Part of the Following Groups

• 2.5D Engine: True 3D
• Live action cut-scenes
• Realms of the Haunting series
• Theme: Haunted house
• Visual technique / style: Digitized sprites

User Reviews

A brilliant game that nobody ever heard of	DOS	vedder (58105)
Help me, son. You’re my only hope!	DOS	Jeanne (76216)
Shivers with a shotgun	DOS	Terrence Bosky (5458)

Critic Reviews

Computer and Video Games (CVG)	DOS	Jan, 1997	5 out of 5	100
Pelit	DOS	Jan, 1997	90 out of 100	90
PC Gamer	DOS	Apr, 1997	86 out of 100	86
Gamezilla	DOS	Jan 09, 2001	86 out of 100	86
CD-Action	DOS	May, 1997	8 out of 10	80
Just Games Retro	DOS	Oct 31, 2013		80
Gamesmania.de	DOS	1997	75 out of 100	75
Reset	DOS	May, 1997	7 out of 10	70
Privat Computer PC	DOS	1997	69 out of 100	69
PC Player (Germany)	DOS	Dec, 1996		60

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Trivia

3D Engine

Realms of the Haunting actually uses a modified version of the 3D engine featured in Normality, another game by Gremlin Interactive. Some interesting lighting effects were added, as well as a combat element (since Normality was a pure adventure game).

Actors

David Learner (Belial), a relatively popular actor already before this game was released, still acted afterwards, performing many theatrical roles. Emma Powell (Rebecca) acted in a couple of movies and plays, and currently works as a voice-over artist. For David Tuomi (Adam) this seems to have been his only acting job.

Controls

Although the later US release of Realms of the Haunting allowed the player to rebind some of the controls, the original UK release had no such facility. Fortunately, components of the US release can be utilised so as to allow the UK version to benefit from this feature. All the details and necessary files can be obtained here.

Information also contributed by Jaromir Krol and Shadowcat.

Related Web Sites

• Crap Shoot (A humorous review on PC Gamer)
• Hints for Realms of the Haunting (Stuck in ROTH? This site will guide you through the tough spots.)
• The making of Realms of the Haunting (Article on GamesRadar)
• The Unofficial RotH Fansite. (Currently, the most complete resource website devoted to the game.)