Return of the Phantom
A time-traveling detective investigates the Phantom of the Opera.
Return of the Phantom is a point-and-click graphic adventure from MicroProse, released in 1993 and based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel *The Phantom of the Opera*. Produced by Matt Gruson, it was designed and written by Raymond Benson, who later became a James Bond novelist. This was MicroProse's second graphical adventure, coming after *Rex Nebular* and before *Dragonsphere*. The game used the company's Adventure Development system and featured 256-color graphics; a CD version with full voice acting was also released.
The story begins at the Palais Garnier during the premiere of *Don Juan Triumphant*, when the auditorium's chandelier crashes into the stalls, killing several audience members. Players control Raoul Montand, a detective from the Sûreté and a patron of the opera. Manager Monsieur Brie suspects the Phantom is responsible and asks Raoul to investigate. Raoul meets the lead actress, Christine Florent, who receives a threatening note from the Phantom. Soon after, Christine is strangled by him. Raoul confronts the Phantom on a catwalk, but is pushed off and wakes up transported back to 1881, where he is mistaken for Viscount Raoul de Chagny. During a performance, Erik captures Christine Daaé. After exploring, Raoul reaches the Phantom's lair and rescues her, but the Phantom recaptures her. Raoul climbs to the chandelier, fights the Phantom, and causes it to fall, killing both. He then awakens in his own time, where the Phantom's events seem erased—though the Phantom's shadow appears behind him before the credits.
Key characters include Raoul Montand (voiced by Stuart W. Howard), the investigator; Christine Florent and Christine Daaé (both voiced by Jonathan Caspian-Kaufman); Monsieur Brie (voiced by Raymond Benson); Monsieur Richard (Douglas Kaufman); Madame Giry (Lynne Siglar); Jacques (Nick Raye); Julie Giry (Dorianne Weaver); Charles (Steven Zumbrun); Edgar Degas (Douglas Kaufman); and Erik, the Phantom (Greg Kemper).
*QuestBusters* praised the game as "a high quality game with few bugs," highlighting its professional actors, a designer with Broadway experience, and an original "Bach inspired" score. The magazine noted MicroProse's unique animation overlay process produced lifelike video, with numerous digitized sound effects.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Return of the Phantom
- Developer
- MPS Labs
- Publisher
- MicroProse
- Producer
- Matt Gruson
- Designer
- Raymond Benson
- Programmer
- Brian Reynolds
- Artist
- Kenn Nishiuye
- Composer
- Michael Bross
- Released
- 1993
- Genre
- Adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- MS-DOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game uses the MicroProse Adventure Development system and features 256-colour graphics. A CD version with full voice acting was also released. The plot begins at the Palais Garnier during the world premiere of Don Juan Triumphant, when the chandelier falls into the stalls, killing several audience members. The player controls Raoul Montand, a detective from the Sûreté, who investigates the incident. He encounters the leading actress Christine Florent, who receives a threatening note from the Phantom. After Christine is strangled, Raoul is pushed from a catwalk by the Phantom and awakens transported back to 1881, mistaken for the Viscount Raoul de Chagny.
In the past, Raoul must rescue Christine Daaé from the Phantom's lair. After a battle atop the chandelier, both Raoul and the Phantom fall to their deaths. Raoul then awakens in his own time, where the Phantom's events seem not to have occurred, though the Phantom's shadow appears behind him before the credits. Characters include Raoul Montand (voiced by Stuart W. Howard), Christine Florent and Christine Daaé (both voiced by Jonathan Caspian-Kaufman), Monsieur Brie (voiced by Raymond Benson), and Erik the Phantom (voiced by Greg Kemper), among others.
Reader's Guide
Return of the Phantom received mixed to positive reception. QuestBusters called it 'a high quality game with few bugs,' praising the use of professional actors, a designer with Broadway experience, and an original 'Bach inspired' score. The magazine noted MicroProse's unique adaptation of classical animation overlaying, producing lifelike video. Computer Gaming World in October 1993 found the plot 'gripping' and 'intriguing,' but criticized slow movement speed, lack of keyboard shortcuts, and the game's 12 to 18 hours of gameplay given its US$69.95 price. It praised the rotoscoped animation as 'as fluid and lifelike as that of any computer product to date' and the music as 'rich and full.' The magazine concluded the game was best for those who preferred story over puzzles. The CD-ROM version was called 'a disappointment' due to uninspiring vocals and slow CD access. Power Unlimited gave the game a 70% score, calling it a great adventure for beginners that looks good but suffers in story and sound.
Did You Know?
- The CD-ROM version featured full voice acting, but reviewers criticized the vocal performances.
- The player character, Raoul Montand, is a detective from the Sûreté who travels back in time to 1881.
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