Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster delivers an immersive first-person adventure that blends point-and-click exploration with live-action video sequences. You begin in a sprawling laboratory, where every cabinet, note and shadow could hold the next key to your resurrection mystery. Navigation is intuitive: click to move, examine and interact, and you’ll soon find yourself piecing together the cryptic scraps of Dr. Frankenstein’s research.

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Puzzles range from deciphering handwritten journals to manipulating archaic scientific devices. The challenge curve is steady but never punishing, encouraging careful observation and note-taking rather than random trial-and-error. Successfully triggering events—such as secret compartments opening or recorded messages playing—relies on your diligence in cross-referencing clues scattered through the environment.

What sets the gameplay apart is its integration of live actors over pre-rendered sets. Moments of branching narrative arise when you discover vital clues, triggering filmed sequences that shift the story forward. While choices are not always overtly presented as dialogue trees, your investigative thoroughness directly influences the pace of unfolding revelations—and occasionally the ending you achieve.

Graphics

For a mid-90s CD-ROM release, Frankenstein’s visual design remains noteworthy. The pre-rendered backgrounds are richly detailed: rows of glass vials glint under dim lights, rusted surgical instruments cast unsettling shadows, and the laboratory’s cavernous halls feel authentically gothic. Each screen is a static tableau, inviting you to linger and spot hidden items.

Overlaying this backdrop are full-motion video (FMV) sequences featuring Tim Curry’s portrayal of Dr. Frankenstein and other characters. While the resolution and compression artifacts are characteristic of the era, the actors’ performances bring genuine gravitas. Curry’s gravelly voice and shadow-lit presence amplify the game’s eerie atmosphere, making even routine expository scenes feel cinematic.

Transitions between interactive exploration and FMV are seamless, thanks to thoughtful framing and consistent lighting. Though you’ll occasionally notice pixelation around the actors’ edges, this minor flaw hardly diminishes the overall mood. In fact, the juxtaposition of static detail with live action reinforces the sense of stepping through a haunted picture into a grim reality.

Story

Playing as Frankenstein’s creation flips the classic narrative on its head. Executed for crimes you didn’t commit, you awaken in a makeshift morgue—your body reworked by Dr. Frankenstein’s genius and madness. From the moment you regain consciousness, the game masterfully cultivates a sense of urgency: Who betrayed you? Why did Frankenstein resurrect you? And what price will you pay for the secrets you uncover?

Tim Curry’s Dr. Frankenstein emerges as both mentor and suspect, his motivations shrouded in layers of moral ambiguity. While he provides vital clues to piece together your past, his cryptic asides keep you guessing: is he a benevolent savior or a puppet-master with dark designs? Secondary characters appear sparingly, but each interaction deepens the web of conspiracy surrounding your resurrection.

The narrative unfolds in measured beats—each discovered document or triggered event reveals a little more of the tragic backstory. As you assemble the truth, questions about identity, agency and redemption come to the fore. The finale’s multiple outcomes reward replaying the game with alternative investigative paths, ensuring the story stays fresh through subsequent plays.

Overall Experience

Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster offers a uniquely immersive journey for fans of interactive cinema and classic adventure puzzles. Its deliberate pacing and emphasis on exploration invite players to absorb every detail of the laboratory’s macabre charm. If you relish methodical clue-hunting over action-oriented gameplay, this title will keep you engrossed from start to finish.

The game’s atmosphere is its strongest asset. Eerie sound design—distant thunder, creaking floorboards and bubbling flasks—paired with evocative visuals and Tim Curry’s captivating performance, crafts a tense, brooding mood. Even today, the setting manages to feel unsettling, a testament to the developers’ skill at merging FMV into a coherent, suspenseful environment.

While the FMV format can feel dated and the static backgrounds limit dynamic exploration, these traits also contribute to the title’s period-piece charm. Overall, Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster is a standout example of 90s interactive storytelling—one that invites you not just to witness a legend but to become the monster at its heart.

Retro Replay Score

6.3/10