A Quirky ’90s Point-and-Click Classic Receives an Updated Release for Steam, Making It Accessible Again

The 1990s marked a golden era for PC gaming, particularly for those who reveled in the bizarre and unconventional. This period birthed a myriad of peculiar titles, many of which I only encountered through nostalgic magazine articles. From the graphic surrealism ofHarvesterto the unsettling roach simulation ofBad Mojo, and the enigmaticDrowned God: Conspiracy of the Ages, the genre is filled with treasures waiting to be rediscovered.

If you have a penchant for the unusual, you might be familiar with Inscape, the publisher behindDrowned Godand the equally eccentricBad Day on the Midway, a project directed by the avant-garde rock band The Residents, which nearly became a television series under the visionary direction of David Lynch.

Inscape excelled in producing unconventional gaming experiences, likely due to its ties to the film and music industries, as it was backed by HBO and Warner Music Group. This brings us to discussThe Dark Eye, a point-and-click adventure from 1995 inspired by the literary works of Edgar Allan Poe. Notably, it features vocal contributions from the renowned writer and artist William S. Burroughs.

What stands out most is its uniquely unsettling artistic style, melding dreamlike FMV claymation with rudimentary 3D environments that evoke a sense of nostalgia for ’90s video games.
The game adapts three of Poe’s tales:The Tell-Tale Heart,The Cask of Amontillado, andBerenice. Burroughs serves as the narrator, embodying Poe’s essence, while the score is crafted by Thomas Dolby, an 80s pop icon known for his hitShe Blinded Me With Science.

Publisher GMedia has announced that the game will largely remain unchanged when it launches on Steam later this year; it will retain its original 1995 format, including the same aspect ratio. However, it will debut under a new title:Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror: 1995 Edition.

“Due to overlapping trademark registrations with other long-standing franchises in the market, we needed a fresh identity to ensure a smooth global distribution,” the publisher explained. “We chose a title that places the legendary author front and center.”

The franchise in question is likely the well-known German tabletop gameThe Dark Eye, which has inspired several video game adaptations over the years. For those curious about what the game entails, a walkthrough is available, though be aware it contains spoilers.