Penumbra: Overture

Penumbra: Overture is a first-person survival horror game. Originally created as a tech demo to showcase the in-house developed HPL engine, the small team soon turned it into a full game, split up into two episodes (originally advertised as three), of which this is the first one.

Players take on the role of Philip. After his mother's death, he receives a letter of his father, a man he has never seen in his life and presumed dead. Philip is asked to destroy a set of notes, but instead he decides to travel to the wastelands of Greenland following the clues left in the writings. He ends up in an underground complex where he discovers disturbing facts about the past and events hidden from the rest of the world.

Unlike other survival horror games, Penumbra heavily focuses on adventure elements with physics-based and inventory-based puzzles, exploration, and a few action elements and scripted sequences, with a first-person perspective and mechanics similar to a first-person shooter. Players need to use the environment to operate items and machines, and build structures with items scattered around. Almost any item can be picked up and used as an active game element. Actions need to be performed through an appropriate motion with the mouse: hold and move left or right to swing a weapon, turn valves in a circular motion, pull back to open drawers and doors, etc.

Key items are stored in an inventory and need to be combined or used with objects to progress in the game. Clues and background information about the events are gathered through notes left behind and one-way conversations with a mysterious man called Red. Puzzles often require a lot of thinking, with both visual and auditive elements, and need thorough investigation of the environment. All notes are stored in a notebook and clues for puzzles and tasks are added a to do list.

Philip can collect weapons such as a hammer, a broom and a pick axe, but melee fighting is generally discouraged and rarely rewarded. Instead, players need to use the environment to set up inventive traps or avoid fighting altogether by using distractions or stealth to sneak past enemies. By hiding in the shadows, the edge of the screen turns blue and Philip stays hidden for all creatures. The environment is almost completely dark at all times, enhancing the horror experience. Light sources are very important, and Philip only has a flashlight with a limited amount of batteries, a glowstick and flares.

Next to a constant feeling of desolation, there are many disturbing events and horrifying elements, so the faint of heart need not apply. The game supports OpenAL sound.

Followed By Penumbra: Black Plague
Added March 8, 2020
Published By Paradox Interactive
Developed By Frictional Games
Front Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Canada,United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Poland) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Canada,United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (Canada,United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (Canada,United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (Canada,United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (Canada,United States) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (France) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (France) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Spine/Sides (France) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (France) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Spine/Sides (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Manual (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Manual (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Linux) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Macintosh) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Macintosh) from mobygames.com
IGDB Cover from igdb.com
Introduction story (Windows) from mobygames.com
Title screen (Windows) from mobygames.com
Main game screen (Windows) from mobygames.com
Philip flies to Greenland. (Windows) from mobygames.com
On the boat for the final trip, you need to collect some gear here. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Stuck in a snow storm, you only have a short time to find a safe place. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Penumbra is all about atmosphere. (Windows) from mobygames.com
While exploring, you'll find notes, manuals and diaries. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Never let the wolves see you. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The entrance to the workshop requires a code. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Something may be hidden underneath the rocks. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Exploring a small room with a flare. (Windows) from mobygames.com
It requires a lot of work to get the generator going. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inventory (Windows) from mobygames.com
An excavation (Windows) from mobygames.com
Attacked by spiders. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Machinery is usually not explained, just try the different buttons and levers to see the effect. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Drag objects to build bridges and ladders. (Windows) from mobygames.com
This bulldozer will come in handy. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The refinery (Windows) from mobygames.com
All objects in this room will be needed to solve various puzzles. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A tricky sequence with deadly steam. (Windows) from mobygames.com
This biologist must have gone mad. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The frozen Utopia Lake isn't very stable. (Windows) from mobygames.com
A spooky corridor (Windows) from mobygames.com
It's coming right for me! (Windows) from mobygames.com
The writings on the wall aren't very encouraging. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Someone must have been desperate. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Your travels only lead further down the complex. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Could it really be... meeting another human down here? (Windows) from mobygames.com

Year of Release:
2007

Genre(s):

Camera View:
First-Person

Setting/Theme:
Horror

Gameplay:
Action Stealth Survival

Available From: