Penumbra: Overture PC
Penumbra: Overture Image
Metascore
73 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 87 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Played from a first person viewpoint, Penumbra is very different from other adventure games. Not only is it powered by a 3D engine utilising cutting edge technology, it also has an advanced physics system which allow for a never before seen environment interaction. The player can open drawers, pull levers, pick up objects and more using natural mouse movements creating a highly interactive and immersive game world. The weapon system differs from your average game; swinging a melee weapon is done using the mouse which increases the realistic feel of combat. Fighting enemies is not something best done with brute force though, in most situations fighting is a last resort and the player is often better of using his/her wits. The AI of the enemies will also do its best to hunt and scare the player. The creatures encountered can break down doors, use group co-ordination, interact with the physics and more. Penumbra: Overture keeps players on the edge as they have to explore scary and immersive environments never knowing what is behind the next corner. The world is detailed, graphical as well as a story wise making the player feel part of the world as secrets are uncovered. [Strategy First]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. PC Gameworld
    87
    The highs definitely outweigh the lows and this game breathes new life into an old genre.
  2. Just Adventure
    83
    How you react to Penumbra depends entirely on how, uh, adventurous you are feeling when you load the game up. If you are a hardcore traditionalist, you could quickly get turned off by the game's 3D engine, sluggish controls, occasional combat and drab environments. However, if you are open to a new experience and are willing to take the game as it is, you could have a spooky and rewarding gaming experience that could even stretch your idea of what an adventure game can be.
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    83
    A creepy and atmospheric horror adventure. The advanced physics engine makes the experience truly immersive. On the minus side, combat is a bit cumbersome and the plot could use some polishing. Still, very promising. [Aug 2007]
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  4. PC Gamer
    74
    It may not be Best in Show, but it's slavering in the top dogs' general direction. [Aug 2007, p.66]
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See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. MrWeezee
    10
    This game was awesome. Truly one of the best horrors out there. Great story, great gameplay, and the ending leaves you wanting to play Black Plague right away.… Expand
  2. LonePiper
    8
    Not quite as good as the series' successor, Amnesia, Penumbra: Overture is still a worthy horror title. The atmosphere was spot on and there were a few genuinely frightening moments. The story too was enticing, if a little bit uninspired.
    I wasn't really a big fan of the monsters, at least the dogs which looked like some kind of halloween pinata and the spiders which looked equally as comical, but it could have been worse. I didn't mind the combat as much as most people, but I understand that what they were trying to do with it ultimately failed.
    The goal, obviously, was to make the combat cumbersome and difficult to make encounters all the more frightening, but unfortunately it just came off as frustrating and tedious. Luckily the developers took this on board and removed it completely from the next title.    … Expand
  3. squidgee
    7
    This game shouldn't have had weapons, it really does dull down the scare factor quite a bit. Combat is clumsy, graphics were outdated and most of the sound effects weren't of high quality. Those are pretty the only things that bring the score down. On the other side, with Penumbra's unique control scheme, the environment is more interactive and this increases immersion. Red's story is also quite interesting. Overall, a good game, it just implemented a couple things that would've been better left out and lacks a little polish.… Expand
  4. NoahS.
    3
    Luckily, I bought this on Steam for 5.00 last night. Looks promising, but I have played it for about 5 minutes and it's rife with clipping issues and un-intuitive play. I'm going to give it another chance, as I see other reviewers have thought better of it than my first impression. There's nothing I like better than a good horror/survival game, even though this one has the ever-present Lovecraft references and familiar, hackneyed plot. 1-sided textures in a game and my flashlight not illuminating the crawlspace I am in almost lowered my SAN score immediately... I'll cross my fingers, do a little Voorish sign, and hope I can find the good things other posters have mentioned.… Expand

See all 27 User Reviews

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