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

User Reviews

A brilliant game that nobody ever heard of	DOS	vedder (53554)
Help me, son. You’re my only hope!	DOS	Jeanne (76310)
Shivers with a shotgun	DOS	Terrence Bosky (5463)

Critic Reviews

Adrenaline Vault, The (AVault)	DOS	May 21, 1997		90
Pelit	DOS	Jan, 1997	90 out of 100	90
Gameplay (Benelux)	DOS	Dec 27, 1996	80 out of 100	80
All Game Guide	DOS	1998		80
High Score	DOS	Feb, 1997	4 out of 5	80
Power Play	DOS	Dec, 1996	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 Joker	DOS	Dec, 1996	69 out of 100	69
PC Player (Germany)	DOS	Dec, 1996		60

Forums

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Trivia

Although the later US release of ROTH allowed you to rebind some of the controls, the original UK release had no such facility, thus forcing the worst control layout I have ever encountered upon the hapless player.

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:

http://shadowcat.freehosting.net/roth_patch.html

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.)