Penumbra: Black Plague

Black Plague is the second major part of what was originally planned as the Penumbra trilogy. The story is picked up right after the events of the first game, where Philip travelled to Greenland to pursue a location the notes of his father describe. The game takes off deep inside the mines, in a complex known as The Shelter, built in the seventies by the Archaic Elevated Castle, an organization in pursuit of ancient knowledge. Philip gets to know more about the Tuurngait virus and the storyline is explained further through the events and notes left behind.

Gameplay is fairly identical to the original game. Philip has to gain access to different locations mostly by relying on his wit, in a survival horror setting. The environment is very dark and puzzles are more complex than similar games, requiring extensive object manipulation, combined with a realistic physics engine where the mouse is used to open drawers, turn valves on tools and throw or stack objects. As the original game was often criticized for the cumbersome close-combat, the sequel removes almost all offensive means, having the player use the environment to outwit enemies and run from them, and putting the focus almost entirely on the puzzle-solving aspect. Gameplay is also largely based on stealth and hiding in dark corners. The game is shown through a first-person perspective with a regular mode, and an interact mode to explore specific areas.

Important items are stored in an inventory, with quick slots. The player can take multiple hits and restore health through painkillers. The game uses fixed save points, represented as ancient objects. Where the first game introduced the character Red as a dubious radio sidekick, the second game makes interaction more complex, as Philip is contact with a certain Dr. Amabel Swanson as well as with Clarence, a conflicting voice inside his head as a second personality due to the effects of an infection. Clarence is able to cause effects such as déjà vus (playable sequences), distorted reality and a lack of control over vision and movement.

Playing the first game is not required to follow the story, but many important plot elements are further explained or referenced. New to this game are a gas mask, the use of computer terminals to access information and gain access to new areas, and an additional button to rotate items more easily when holding them.

Preceded by Penumbra: Overture
Added March 8, 2020
Published By Frictional Games
Developed By Frictional Games
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Poland) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Czechia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Austria,Germany,Switzerland) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Other (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Other (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Extras (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Extras (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Manual (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Manual (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Macintosh) from mobygames.com
Header Image (Windows) from Steam
IGDB Cover from igdb.com
The story is rehashed in the introduction (Windows) from mobygames.com
Title screen (Windows) from mobygames.com
Main game screen (Windows) from mobygames.com
A short tutorial serves to familiarize players with the controls and interface. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Concept art showing events from the first game. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Phillip wakes up in this cell. (Windows) from mobygames.com
There are devilish experiments going on. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The outside light is not from this earth. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Logging on to a console, showing the interface. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A distorted déjà vu, thanks to Clarence. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A surreal environment (Windows) from mobygames.com
Many clues are provided through notes. (Windows) from mobygames.com
There is a shaft leading deep down. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A new corpse appears, and Clarence is present to mock it. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Using the gas mask. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A familiar creature from the first game (Windows) from mobygames.com
Hiding from an enemy. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The inventory, battery status and health (Windows) from mobygames.com
A decorative library (Windows) from mobygames.com
Find a way to climb this structure. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A sequence on the surface. Be quick or you will freeze to death. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A dark corridor leading into a large complex. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A map of the area (Windows) from mobygames.com
A hole has been blasted in the wall. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The artifact on the table is used to save the game. (Windows) from mobygames.com
There are mysterious dead dogs in the kennel. (Windows) from mobygames.com
I have been discovered... game over. (Windows) from mobygames.com
There is a gas leak in this room. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Amabel Swanson's office (Windows) from mobygames.com
The hidden shoot-em-up game (Windows) from mobygames.com
Another disturbing discovery (Windows) from mobygames.com
Meeting the hive mind. (Windows) from mobygames.com
One of the final challenges (Windows) from mobygames.com
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam

Year of Release:
2008

Genre(s):

Camera View:
First-Person

Setting/Theme:
Horror

Gameplay:
Action Stealth Survival

Available From: