Penumbra: Overture
| Penumbra: Overture | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Frictional Games |
| Publisher(s) | Paradox Interactive |
| Designer(s) | Jens Nilsson |
| Programmer(s) | Thomas Grip |
| Artist(s) | Anton Adamse |
| Writer(s) | Tom Jubert |
| Composer(s) | Mikko Tarmia |
| Series | Penumbra |
| Engine | HPL Engine 1 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X |
| Release |
Microsoft Windows 30 March 2007Linux 25 May 2007 Mac OS X 10 January 2008 |
| Genre(s) | Survival horror |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 73.74% |
| Metacritic | 73/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Adventure Gamers |    |
| Eurogamer | 7.7/10 |
| GameSpot | 7.8/10 |
| GameZone | (7.8/10) |
| Adrenaline Vault | |
| Worthplaying |   |
Penumbra: Overture is the first in a series of episodic survival horror games developed by Frictional Games. It was originally intended as the first episode of a trilogy. With the announcement of the second episode, Penumbra: Black Plague, it was stated that the second game would be the final chapter. However, an expansion has been released since then: Penumbra: Requiem, technically giving the series a third chapter.
Although Frictional Games describes Penumbra: Overture as a first-person adventure, the game blends the genres of survival horror, psychological horror, and adventure. The use of the Newton Game Dynamics physics engine emphasizes physics-based puzzles as well as physics-based combat. The game also takes advantage of advanced artificial intelligence to respond realistically to noises and light, creating stealth-based gameplay. There are no firearms in the game, so during combat the player is limited to improvised melee fighting with a hammer or pickaxe, or throwing objects at attacking creatures. The game is designed to emphasize stealth and avoidance over direct conflict. For example, Philip can close doors behind him to temporarily hold off attacking enemies.
The game's main focus is on exploration and classic adventure game object interaction: examining and collecting objects and using them to solve puzzles. These mostly involve finding keys or other objects that can either be used by themselves or in combination with each other to solve certain problems. In addition to these standard inventory based puzzles, Overture also offers several physics based puzzles where certain objects must be moved or manipulated in real time. Environmental objects such as doors, desk drawers, and switches on machinery must be opened or manipulated using realistic movements mirroring their use in the real world, and certain obstructions can only be cleared by utilizing certain objects in a specific way; for example, in order to solve one of the game's puzzles a player may choose to stack boxes and barrels in such a manner as to allow for the player to be able to leap past an obstacle, such as an electrical fence, or to reach a certain area normally too high to reach.
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