The adventure game based on the Gaston Leroux’s novel, Return of the Phantom, is free for Windows, 100% free to keep, in time-limited GOG’s giveaway offer! Go get it! Return of the Phantom can normally cost US$6.99!
Return of the Phantom is a third-person point-and-click adventure inspired by Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera, placing players in the role of a detective tasked with investigating an accident that claimed two lives. Developed by MPS Labs, the game was initially released on September 1, 1993.
With a setting that blends investigation and gothic fantasy, Return of the Phantom offers an intriguing narrative and exploration style that fits well with the classic mystery of The Phantom of the Opera, even though it presents a lighter challenge in terms of difficulty.
Originally published by MicroProse (and currently by Ziggurat Interactive) and available for DOS and Windows, Return of the Phantom received generally positive reviews from critics at the time and has since become a cult classic. As of this publication, it has garnered dozens of positive reviews on Steam and holds a rating of 3.8/5 on GOG.
You can get the game here!
Trailer
Synopsis
The legendary Phantom of the Opera has returned! As Inspector Raoul Montand, you are the only one who can pursue the Red Death into the past and prevent him from terrorizing the present. This point and click adventure originally released by MicroProse in 1993 features a fully voiced cast of characters with fluid animations, a tense and thrilling story penned by James Bond novelist Raymond Benson, and an atmospheric soundtrack that sets the perfect mood for this new take on a classic story.
Gameplay
The storyline of this adventure is set primarily in the Paris Opera House, where a tragic accident has endangered the safety of the venue. In Return of the Phantom, you control Detective Raoul Montand, tasked with investigating the disaster and uncovering the mysteries surrounding the Phantom of the Opera, leading him to search for clues both in the present and in a journey back to the year 1881.
Gameplay is based on point-and-click action commands, with players interacting with the environment by selecting verbs such as “Look,” “Talk,” “Take,” and “Push” from a menu and combining them with objects and characters. This allows players to gather information, solve puzzles, and advance the storyline. The game is set almost entirely within the opera house, including tunnels and secret passages leading to the Phantom’s quarters, adding an atmosphere of suspense and exploration.
While Return of the Phantom involves mystery and investigation, it features few inventory-based challenges. The game focuses on character interactions and linear progression, with limited puzzle-solving. Occasionally, players collect items, but most puzzles are straightforward and rarely require complex object combinations. Despite this simplicity, there is a final stage in the catacombs that demands attention and includes a challenging maze, often criticized for its lack of hints to guide the player.
The game boasts detailed graphics and fluid animations that evoke the ambiance of a Parisian opera setting, along with a varied soundtrack and suspenseful atmosphere. The CD version includes voice-overs for dialogues, though these are often noted for their questionable quality. Nonetheless, many players find the voice acting comically memorable, contributing to the cult status of Return of the Phantom.
Features
- Witness the tragedy that befalls the audience inside the famed Paris Opera House.
- Search for clues along the catwalks, through the wings, and into the many backstage rooms of the opera house.
- Step back in time as you explore the opera’s labyrinth of catacombs.
More info and adventure
Overview
- GET Return of the Phantom HERE - Download link(s) or store's listing.
- Size: 227 MB
- License: Commercial
- Operational systems: Windows and MS-DOS
- Developer(s) and/or publisher(s): MPS Labs, MicroProse, Ziggurat Interactive
- Categories: Adventure
- Added by: Valewson