Penumbra: Requiem

 PC
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 50 out of 115
  3. Negative: 34 out of 115

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  1. Matseb2611
    Dec 22, 2011
    2
    Whereas Penumbra: Black Plague struck all the right notes in regard to horror survival, Requiem struck all the rest. Do not be fooled. This does not even feel like the continuation to Black Plague. Whereas BP (and probably Overture too, I haven't played it) was about survival, intense atmosphere and getting scared to death, Requiem has NONE of that. NONE at all. Not a single monster, not aWhereas Penumbra: Black Plague struck all the right notes in regard to horror survival, Requiem struck all the rest. Do not be fooled. This does not even feel like the continuation to Black Plague. Whereas BP (and probably Overture too, I haven't played it) was about survival, intense atmosphere and getting scared to death, Requiem has NONE of that. NONE at all. Not a single monster, not a single intense moment. Even the puzzles are silly and frustrating. Whereas in BP it was all about realistic logical solutions to problems to help you survive, with Requiem the puzzle element takes an extremely generic, tedious and repetitive approach. Collect X number of glowing globes/keys to activate a portal and teleport to the next area. Rinse and repeat. There is no storyline, no logical explanations as to why you had to solve a puzzle at hand a certain way, it is simply a mess. It even seems like an incomplete game, as if the developers just created the levels and forgot to put in all the rest that was needed to make this game entertaining.… Expand
  2. MashallB.
    Sep 30, 2008
    2
    Short, lacks suspense, and does not add to the story of the Tuurngait infection. Really just a shift the box game. Very disappointing after the first two games were so great. I wish they'd given it a few more months in development to build on the plot.
  3. Yardglass
    Nov 9, 2011
    5
    I loved Penumbra: Black Plague, but this game was not the same at all. It wasn't frightening, and the puzzles were trite. It just seemed like they'd run out of ideas. There was very little with regards to a story, and no sense of progression as you went through the game.

    I'm still giving it 5 stars as it was cheap, and I did play it through to the end (which took around 3.5hrs). I    I loved Penumbra: Black Plague, but this game was not the same at all. It wasn't frightening, and the puzzles were trite. It just seemed like they'd run out of ideas. There was very little with regards to a story, and no sense of progression as you went through the game.

    I'm still giving it 5 stars as it was cheap, and I did play it through to the end (which took around 3.5hrs). I think I was mainly just really disappointed that it didn't live up to its predecessor.    … Expand
  4. dajhorn
    Jun 17, 2014
    0
    No story, no action, no horror. Requiem is not what I was expecting from something in the Penumbra series. This game is a just a put-blocks-on-switches puzzler that could have been an engine demo or a Nintendo cartridge from years ago.
  5. LA_DOTTORE
    Oct 10, 2012
    6
    Yes, this is still part of the horror puzzle series known as Penumbra but you wouldn't be criticized for thinking otherwise. They've fully exchanged the horror element for extremely difficult puzzles which, in my opinion, isn't what Penumbra should be focusing on. Though a game it feels like a DLC for it's previous and that is why it gets a lower score by me!
  6. xZippy
    Dec 2, 2012
    6
    Requiem is a little different in the Penumbra series, and doesn't have the magic touch that Overture and Black Plague had. This expansion is a little more fantasy rather than being more gritty. It's mostly puzzles and has a much lower horror factor. If you're loyal to the Penumbra series, you'll find Requiem enjoyable, but you won't get the scary enemies and consistent atmospheres theRequiem is a little different in the Penumbra series, and doesn't have the magic touch that Overture and Black Plague had. This expansion is a little more fantasy rather than being more gritty. It's mostly puzzles and has a much lower horror factor. If you're loyal to the Penumbra series, you'll find Requiem enjoyable, but you won't get the scary enemies and consistent atmospheres the previous two games had.… Expand
  7. tech-noir
    Jan 5, 2012
    6
    Penumbra: Requiem is the third game of the series, and this one focuses its gameplay strictly on puzzles. The atmosphere and theme are still there, as the main character returns to where the first two games took place for some finality in the plot. All plot turns are done in what seemingly feels like memory flashbacks, and some more information is entertained concerning the characters ofPenumbra: Requiem is the third game of the series, and this one focuses its gameplay strictly on puzzles. The atmosphere and theme are still there, as the main character returns to where the first two games took place for some finality in the plot. All plot turns are done in what seemingly feels like memory flashbacks, and some more information is entertained concerning the characters of the overall story. This iteration of the series is not scary, and does not provide the player with any creepy or surprising moments, as the main objective this time around is to solve puzzles. While this is a departure from the previous two games, it is rather enjoyable, even for someone like myself who does not prefer to solve puzzles for fun. Some of the levels later in the game are much more difficult than in the beginning. They do not scale up the difficulty gradually. Suddenly, the puzzles are very complicated. The minute details you are expected to spot are very well hidden, which makes some of these later puzzles frustrating and unreasonably time consuming. I'm not sure how viable the comparison is, but Penumbra: Requiem reminds me of Portal. You are in need of some keys, which in turn, opens a portal to the next level. Even though this third installment of the series is an attempt to complete the story, I am a bit disappointed to say that it does not. At least it does not end the story clearly. This goes along well with the first two parts, and leaves the player wondering, and hoping that all ended well. Being the shortest and more complicated of the three, Penumbra: Requiem was fun for a puzzle game, and it should be considered as such. It took me about 5 hours to complete.… Expand
  8. Nerung
    Nov 22, 2012
    6
    A somewhat unloving addition to the Penumbra series, Requiem does not add to the story of its prequels and is only recommendable for fans who want to see everything the franchise has to offer. The puzzles, as brilliant and diverse as they were in Overture and Black Plague, are lacking and repetitive. The game overall seems to be devoid of new ideas, especially a let down on suspense fromA somewhat unloving addition to the Penumbra series, Requiem does not add to the story of its prequels and is only recommendable for fans who want to see everything the franchise has to offer. The puzzles, as brilliant and diverse as they were in Overture and Black Plague, are lacking and repetitive. The game overall seems to be devoid of new ideas, especially a let down on suspense from the prequels. It is not a waste of time but cannot live up to the standards of the series.… Expand
  9. LonePiper
    Apr 20, 2013
    7
    Very different from the previous two games, Penumbra Requiem is less a survival horror adventure and more of a straight physics puzzler. In fact, out of all of frictional games, this one almost certainly utilises their physics engine the best.

    Portal is mentioned in reviews very often, and not without good reason Requiem came out only shortly after Portal, and its influence is seen all    Very different from the previous two games, Penumbra Requiem is less a survival horror adventure and more of a straight physics puzzler. In fact, out of all of frictional games, this one almost certainly utilises their physics engine the best.

    Portal is mentioned in reviews very often, and not without good reason Requiem came out only shortly after Portal, and its influence is seen all over this game. Set in an impossibly huge, underground, abandoned scientific facility check. Dry, dark humour check. Boxes on buttons check. Narration by automated female voice check. And yes, this game even has portals, although they are set in place and only transport you from one level to the next. I'm sure there's more, but you get the idea.

    Bear in mind that is not a bad thing. Portal was a great game, and anything like it can't be all bad either.
    So it may be better off going into this game looking for a Portal fix than a Penumbra fix. While it does hover over a few not completely explored plot points from the previous two games, it's hardly necessary for a proper reading of the story as a whole, and if anything confuses more than illuminates. The hallucinatory undercurrent also makes it incredibly unclear how much of this game if any is supposed to have really happened and how much was just in your character's head.

    From a gameplay perspective, however, it performs solidly as a physics puzzler, and for that reason alone I think it deserves a 7.    … Expand
  10. diezlwolf
    Sep 16, 2013
    5
    This game felt rushed and very incomplete. It's like they took the scrapped concepts from Black Plague and published it! The story feels like a hasty exit from the high intrigue and suspense of its predecessor, and it just lacked the overall quality of terrifying events and clever puzzles that I've come to expect from Frictional Games. If you like the Penumbra series, go for it!This game felt rushed and very incomplete. It's like they took the scrapped concepts from Black Plague and published it! The story feels like a hasty exit from the high intrigue and suspense of its predecessor, and it just lacked the overall quality of terrifying events and clever puzzles that I've come to expect from Frictional Games. If you like the Penumbra series, go for it! Otherwise skip...… Expand
  11. AstiX
    Jun 5, 2020
    4
    A completely unnecessary part of the series. Unlike its predecessors it focuses 100% on puzzles for some reason. And nothing else! No story, no mystery, no horror, no scary atmosphere, no challenge.

    You'd think this would at least mean better, cleverer puzzle design, but it all boils down to doing lots of running around finding items and hauling items from one end to the other over long    A completely unnecessary part of the series. Unlike its predecessors it focuses 100% on puzzles for some reason. And nothing else! No story, no mystery, no horror, no scary atmosphere, no challenge.

    You'd think this would at least mean better, cleverer puzzle design, but it all boils down to doing lots of running around finding items and hauling items from one end to the other over long distances. The only "difficulty" is in how time-consuming and tedious they are.

    Best to skip it.    … Expand
  12. OneShotOwnage
    Aug 28, 2008
    3
    Not sure what happened in this addition to the Penumbra series, but I don't like it. It was almost like they were trying to create an offbrand horror version of valve's "Portal." Requiem does not contain any sort of story line (if it does, it was not very obvious to me). On top of that, it was almost like Reqiuem was created using no Logic. Whether you are trying to get a Not sure what happened in this addition to the Penumbra series, but I don't like it. It was almost like they were trying to create an offbrand horror version of valve's "Portal." Requiem does not contain any sort of story line (if it does, it was not very obvious to me). On top of that, it was almost like Reqiuem was created using no Logic. Whether you are trying to get a mysterious blue ball rolling through randomly placed blue blinking laser grid without touching the lasers, or you are throwing explosive ketchup bottles through a large pipe to blow up a box with a key in it below you... it is all the same. It is boring, and tedious. I never thought I would say this, but it isn't even worth 10 dollars. This is definitely free-ware material.… Expand
  13. Matthias
    Jul 30, 2009
    9
    Not the latest graphics engine, but one of the best survival horror games I've ever experienced. Prepare yourself for some frightening moments.
  14. NeilNone
    Jun 26, 2009
    10
    It may be a bit confusing and weird at first but the walkthrough's on youtube are good to follow. I didn't like it at first but then I made progress. The story line is good, it is less freaky than black plague/overture.. It's more difficult because black plague was more simple. I love the 2 endings to, you either go through the door or.. Find out for yourself. :) My It may be a bit confusing and weird at first but the walkthrough's on youtube are good to follow. I didn't like it at first but then I made progress. The story line is good, it is less freaky than black plague/overture.. It's more difficult because black plague was more simple. I love the 2 endings to, you either go through the door or.. Find out for yourself. :) My favourite part is also is: "By the time you read this I'll be dead. Kill them, Kill them all."… Expand
  15. gvazdas
    May 6, 2012
    8
    Now, just so you know, this game was released without any horror due to financial problems. The game company could not finish it properly so they released it and sold it.
    It was made for closure and not for horror. I expected harder puzzles, but that's just me.
  16. FlavaFlav
    Jun 5, 2009
    8
    Solid survival/horror/puzzle game. Budget price, worth checking out. Not a triple A title, but alot of effort was put forth by the designers to make a compelling and tension filled atmosphere.
  17. GolovA
    Nov 4, 2015
    8
    Played all three parts. Can definitely say - this game is not for anybody or anytime. You really need to be in the right mood and dedicate proper amount of time to engage fully into the atmosphere of the setting - and that is what this game is all about - atmosphere! You creep in darkness, discover pages of someone's diaries written in the style of H.P. Lovecraft, explore mysteriousPlayed all three parts. Can definitely say - this game is not for anybody or anytime. You really need to be in the right mood and dedicate proper amount of time to engage fully into the atmosphere of the setting - and that is what this game is all about - atmosphere! You creep in darkness, discover pages of someone's diaries written in the style of H.P. Lovecraft, explore mysterious forsaken mines, and holding your breath brave the next corner while crapping your pants at every screech you hear! Awesomeness of horror! :))… Expand
  18. bumblebee
    Dec 21, 2014
    9
    At first it seems boring and confusing but when you get into it its brilliant it continues from Black Plague and is the final game in the series. The 2 ending are both great but I wont tell you find out for your self. There are no monsters just puzzels but the story is still good. If you have played the other definatly play this and if you get bored push your self to get to the end becauseAt first it seems boring and confusing but when you get into it its brilliant it continues from Black Plague and is the final game in the series. The 2 ending are both great but I wont tell you find out for your self. There are no monsters just puzzels but the story is still good. If you have played the other definatly play this and if you get bored push your self to get to the end because its worth it.… Expand
  19. horrorreviews
    Nov 1, 2014
    3
    A real disappointment. After having a great time with Overture I had very high hopes for this series. Black plague was not as good but still decent but this was garbage. This is not what I have come to expect from Frictional games (especially now after Amnesia). This series would have been far better off being wrapped up in black plague. No story AT ALL. Absolutely no atmosphere and boringA real disappointment. After having a great time with Overture I had very high hopes for this series. Black plague was not as good but still decent but this was garbage. This is not what I have come to expect from Frictional games (especially now after Amnesia). This series would have been far better off being wrapped up in black plague. No story AT ALL. Absolutely no atmosphere and boring tedious puzzles. After the first 30 minutes I just looked at a walk-through before playing each section simply because I had no desire to waste my time on boring, hard puzzles and besides its not like there were and real spoilers in terms of story. No story , no scares, no atmosphere, no fun and bugs to top it all off. I understand this was mostly due to financial problems during development but they would have been better of making BP longer and ending the series there. Not worth the money.… Expand
  20. russiangamer
    Apr 27, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Самая слабая часть трилогии.
    Игра совершенно не похожа на прошлые две части, которые были чистокровными хоррорами. Но если разработчики хотят поэкспериментировать, то разве это плохо? Но эта игра скорее является не очень удачным экспериментом.
    В requiem мы не встретим ни одного монстра и получим мало сюжетной информации. Здесь вам придётся только решать разные логические задачи и много прыгать.
    В плане сюжета здесь в принципе ничего интересного. Какие-то редкие монологи разных персонажей. Проходишь игру, слушаешь их изредка... и - бац, конец. Так что сюжетной ценности для всей серии здесь крайне мало.
    Сам же геймплей поначалу интересен. Когда я начал играть, то не был даже скептически настроен к нему. Но чем дальше играл - тем скучнее становилось, хотелось просто уже добить игру. Хотя опыт прохождения прошлых частей заставлял меня запирать за собой двери и ожидать какой-нибудь страшной пакости в длинном коридоре. Но нет, всё чисто. И это, опять же, не плохо само по себе. Я не против того, что вдруг после хорроров я вижу головоломку, просто в это скучно играть.
    Играйте в первую и вторую часть пенумбры - это достойные игры, эту же часть можно смело пропустить.    … Expand
  21. SergioVM87
    Jan 4, 2016
    2
    Este juego es una total decepción. Parece como si los creadores hubiesen querido cerrar la historia sin ganas y con prisas. No hay nada de terror en este último episodio. Parece un Portal con ambiente de terror, sin llegar a dar miedo. El final es lo más decepcionante que he visto. En Steam hay un mod creado por la comunidad de Amnesia llamado Penumbra: Necrologue. Empieza donde se quedóEste juego es una total decepción. Parece como si los creadores hubiesen querido cerrar la historia sin ganas y con prisas. No hay nada de terror en este último episodio. Parece un Portal con ambiente de terror, sin llegar a dar miedo. El final es lo más decepcionante que he visto. En Steam hay un mod creado por la comunidad de Amnesia llamado Penumbra: Necrologue. Empieza donde se quedó Black Plague y aunque no es un episodio oficial, es lo que debió haber sido Requiem.… Expand
  22. Captain_Faramir
    Apr 1, 2017
    7
    7.1 - There's nothing great here like the rest of the Penumbra series, as it really is a puzzle game than survival-horror. Somewhat fun still, it doesn't come close Black Plague or Overture.
  23. DJKrimson
    Feb 11, 2021
    3
    Uninspired. This is not at all what the other penumbra games are about. There's no horror (not even a single enemy) and there's no story at all. I only finished it because I knew is was really short (around 3 hours).

    Do not waste your time or money on this.

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Best PC Game of 2008
54
#54 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. Cheat Code Central
    76
    A solid add-on expansion that offers a more puzzle-oriented twist on the series' interesting blend of gameplay and extends the adventure by a few hours. It's a decent way to wrap up the Penumbra series.
    Read full review
  2. GamerNode
    80
    A sort of mixed-breed game that's fun, but ultimately less captivating than its predecessor. For $10 by itself or $20 bundled with Black Plague it's still worth picking up.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    75
    While its puzzle and gameplay structure remains entertaining and satisfying, the expansion removes a few major elements of what made the Overture and Black Plague so appealing. That by no means makes it a bad game.
    Read full review
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