Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Antologiya Uzhasa brings together two classic point-and-click adventures—Dark Fall: The Journal and Dark Fall 2: Lights Out—into one chilling compilation. From the moment you step into the abandoned train station in The Journal, the slow-burn tension and methodical puzzle design demand careful observation and patience. Inventory puzzles are logical yet occasionally cryptic, encouraging you to piece together clues from environmental details, journal entries, and audio logs scattered throughout the derelict corridors.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Moving on to Lights Out, the gameplay evolves with more dynamic mechanics, including real-time components like timed switches and moving shadows that can catch you off-guard. The sense of vulnerability is heightened when you explore the haunted hotel, as the lights can cut out at any moment, leaving you to grope through corridors in near-darkness. Puzzle variety expands with a mix of mechanical contraptions and supernatural phenomena, ensuring you stay on your toes.

Across both titles, the controls feel intuitive and the interface unobtrusive. Left-clicking to examine or interact, right-clicking to use an item, and a simple inventory wheel keep the focus on exploration rather than fiddly clicking. While some modern players might find the pace deliberate, fans of classic adventure design will appreciate the careful balance between atmosphere-building and puzzle challenges.

Graphics

Graphically, Antologiya Uzhasa wears its early-2000s origin proudly. Both games employ pre-rendered backgrounds with occasional 3D elements, resulting in a slightly grainy but undeniably atmospheric aesthetic. In The Journal, dimly lit train platforms, peeling paint, and flickering lanterns create an oppressive mood that never lets up. The careful use of shadows and color reinforces the sense of decay.

Lights Out steps up the sequel’s visuals with improved lighting effects and more detailed textures. The sprawling Hollington Hotel is rendered in moody, washed-out hues that accentuate its derelict grandeur. Subtle animations—like a swinging chandelier or a ghostly apparition fading in and out—are used sparingly but to great effect. Though not cutting-edge by today’s standards, the graphical style remains evocative and perfectly fitted to the horror experience.

Localization for the Russian release retains all key graphical assets while translating on-screen text and journal passages clearly. Menus and inventories are presented neatly, ensuring that no context is lost to awkwardly placed text boxes. Overall, the visual presentation is a testament to how strong art direction can compensate for dated technology.

Story

The Journal sets the stage with a compelling premise: investigate disappearances at an abandoned railway station reputed to be haunted. Narrative unfolds through diary entries, old newspaper clippings, and audio recordings, weaving a tapestry of personal tragedies and restless spirits. The pacing is deliberately measured, letting dread build as you uncover the truth behind each locked door and unexplained whisper.

Lights Out continues the saga with a fresh location—the sprawling Hollington Hotel, once a symbol of luxury now lost to time and tragedy. As the protagonist returns in search of a missing friend, the tale deepens with references to the first game’s events, crafting a cohesive series mythology. Character voices and writing maintain a consistent tone, balancing genuine scares with a sense of discovery.

Both games excel at environmental storytelling: you’ll learn as much about the fate of past guests from a scribbled note on a bathroom mirror as from a recorded confession behind a locked office door. The translation preserves the eerie atmosphere and occasional dry wit of the original English scripts, making the horror feel universal rather than reliant on jump scares alone.

Overall Experience

Antologiya Uzhasa offers an excellent value for fans of classic horror adventures, combining two full-length titles into one package. The compilation runs smoothly on modern systems, and the Russian localization is polished, ensuring immersion isn’t broken by clunky translations. Between the slow-burn tension of Dark Fall: The Journal and the more dynamic scares of Lights Out, you get a well-rounded horror experience.

Replayability lies primarily in hunting for every hidden journal entry and audio clip, though the core puzzle routes remain linear. For players who thrive on atmosphere, environmental detail, and cerebral challenges, this anthology is sure to deliver dozens of hours of engrossing gameplay. Those seeking jump-scare-driven horror might find the pace too restrained, but the strong sense of place and story depth more than compensate.

In sum, Antologiya Uzhasa stands as a testament to what indie horror games achieved in the early 2000s and remains a rewarding journey for aficionados of point-and-click adventure. Whether you’re revisiting these titles or diving in for the first time, this chilling compilation is well worth exploring for its engrossing puzzles, haunting visuals, and rich narrative tapestry.

Retro Replay Score

null/10