Drowned God: Conspiracy of the Ages.

Gamed already bugged out on the first level playing game with the undead Templar. leaving the mini game mid game after he lets you place the cup will soft lock you till you ether reload or exit the game. The idea that this game has been out sense the 90's and YEARS later being released today, the devs can't fix any of the bugs? Pirated versions of this game runs better than this one so i really don't understand their lazy reasoning to not fix the game unless they just want an easy pay check to half ass another game.

The cup puzzle is completely bugged, even when the knight clears the flames, the game still acts like you lost, making it completely impassable, so the game is just over.

This thumbs-up comes with conditions. It was a delight to see this game available again. It is the strangest game I've ever played. The age of the graphics shows, but the story takes me back to the height of the X-Files. Here are the conditionals. The game-play style is dated. Even ignoring that, the story and play sequence is hard to follow although most puzzles are not that hard (walkthroughs are available). There is at least one logic flaw in the Din section that stumped me when I played it originally and again this time. Additionally, this version has some issue where the program stops taking inputs (or has lag) after some amount of play. For me that was somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes. This means you have to save regularly and kill the program with the task manager from time to time. So, if you want to try or retry a unique experience and can put up with it's flaws, this is for you.

My thumbs-up comes with a lot of caveats as I'll get into, but overall, this re-release does its job of providing a functional game and extras along with it. However, I find the page's claim that the bugs have been fixed to be suspect since this version has crashed and freezed on me a little more often than the emulated version I played a few years ago, and I've got the same setup and I'm following the same steps as I did before. From what I've played so far, it hasn't been too bad yet, but I would definitely recommend saving your progress very frequently, and don't forget to make multiple saves cause it's possible to softlock yourself if you go the wrong way. The audio mixing is still pretty awful, but since the source code was lost long ago, it's understandable that they seem to have been unable to go in and make changes or provide subtitles. As for the extras, they range from pretty cool to shouldn't be here. One extra in particular, the game guide, was blatantly plagiarized from an old walkthrough of DG from the website Balmoral Software, and I was hoping the Steam version would remove it, but they didn't. I didn't even see an acknowledgement of Balmoral in the guide itself or in the readme document. If only Epic Games Store would let you review games, then I would've mentioned it on that page. I think it's pretty scummy to plagiarize something so much, and the funny thing is one of the biggest changes the "new" guide makes besides the presentation is removing any instances of the guy who wrote the Balmoral walkthrough insulting DG. Otherwise, the extras are pretty good, though I think there could have been a little more done with them. The "art book" is rather short with a lot of filler text that doesn't directly have to do with the game. The strange thing is that I know there's more artwork out there that could have been put in here, but for reasons I've never been able to find out, these have never been made public yet. The artwork that IS in the book is very nice, though. The original manual has been included, which is nice since it could be hard to track down a scan of it before. The two best extras are the original pitch document that gives more insight into the beginnings of the game's development and includes more art that helps make up for the "art book"'s slack, and extensive notes from Harry Horse himself about Diary of a Plagiarist, the volumes he wrote in the 80's that were the genesis of Drowned God's story. It's very good to have these notes because it's probably the most amount of information we'll ever get about Diary of a Plagiarist, since Harry was never able to get the books back. In all, if you're interested enough in Drowned God's story that you would like to see these extras, then by all means, get this version, especially since it's a lot cheaper than the Epic version which still charges 25 bucks. However, if you don't particularly care about learning any behind-the-scenes stuff, then you could probably skip getting this version.

Look, I really REALLY love this game, and you also will if you love Myst since this game took a real lot of inspiration from it. The puzzles are mostly fine, some better and more creative than Myst, others barebones. But this port is horrendous. They did fix the price tag problem at least and now the price is fair... In theory, since the game has even more bugs than the Epic version! Aside from the bugs that I got from the Epic version, which involved getting softlocked THREE TIMES, the intro video disappears and you can only hear its noise, which wouldn't be an issue if the game didn't keep freezing at random at some puzzles or cutscenes. I can't even get past Binah and the fact that most cutscenes are unskippable makes it worse. I'm still on the fence on whether or not I ask for a refund since this is unacceptable but, since this release is recent, they may fix it soon, who knows.

I bought it only to get access to the extras. This 5 hour review is incredible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ7bT2K71G4

On me la fait pas à moi

HERESY

Developed by Next Path Media and FSTR and published by Next Path Media, Drowned God: Conspiracy of the Ages revives one of the most enigmatic point-and-click adventures of the 1990s for a modern audience. Rather than remaking the experience with contemporary mechanics, this release focuses on preserving the original game while improving compatibility with current hardware. It also enriches the package with archival materials, including concept artwork, development documents, and other historical extras that provide insight into the game's ambitious creation. As a result, it serves not only as a playable adventure but also as a fascinating preservation of a unique piece of PC gaming history. The game's narrative is unquestionably its greatest asset. Instead of delivering a conventional adventure filled with predictable twists, it invites players into an unsettling world where mythology, religion, secret societies, lost civilizations, science, and ancient conspiracies intertwine. Every new location uncovers fragments of a much larger mystery, encouraging players to interpret clues and develop their own theories rather than simply following a scripted storyline. The writing deliberately embraces mystery and symbolism, creating a thought-provoking experience that rewards curiosity and careful observation. Players who appreciate stories filled with hidden meanings and philosophical questions will likely find themselves captivated by its unusual approach. Gameplay follows the classic first-person adventure formula, emphasizing exploration and intricate puzzle-solving over action. Progress depends on thoroughly examining environments, collecting information, and understanding how various clues connect throughout the journey. Many puzzles require patience, logical reasoning, and a willingness to experiment, making every successful breakthrough genuinely satisfying. However, the game rarely provides explicit guidance, remaining faithful to the demanding design philosophy of older adventure titles. While this old-school structure creates a rewarding sense of accomplishment, it may frustrate players who are accustomed to modern quality-of-life features such as objective markers, hint systems, or streamlined navigation. The environments remain surprisingly memorable despite their age. Pre-rendered scenes filled with mysterious temples, surreal architecture, forgotten ruins, and dreamlike landscapes successfully establish an atmosphere that feels both haunting and timeless. Although the visuals naturally reflect the technological limitations of the era in which the game was created, the artistic direction compensates with imaginative world design and a strong sense of place. Each location contributes to the growing feeling that players are uncovering secrets buried beneath centuries of hidden history, making exploration consistently engaging even when little dialogue is present. Sound design further enhances the experience through subtle ambient music and eerie environmental effects. Rather than relying on dramatic musical cues, the game creates tension through quiet, unsettling audio that reinforces the loneliness and uncertainty of each area. This restrained presentation allows players to become fully immersed in the mysterious world, giving every discovery additional emotional impact. The combination of visual storytelling and atmospheric sound succeeds in maintaining suspense throughout the adventure without resorting to conventional horror techniques. One of the most commendable aspects of this release is its commitment to authenticity. Instead of modernizing every aspect of the original design, the developers have chosen to preserve its identity while ensuring that it functions reliably on current systems. The inclusion of development archives and bonus materials adds considerable value for players interested in the game's background, offering a rare opportunity to examine the creative process behind an adventure that has long maintained a dedicated cult following. It transforms the package into both an entertaining game and an important historical document for enthusiasts of classic PC adventures. That authenticity also means the game retains some of its original shortcomings. Movement can feel dated, puzzle solutions occasionally rely on highly obscure logic, and the pacing is intentionally slow compared to contemporary adventure games. The abstract storytelling may also leave some players with unanswered questions, as the narrative prioritizes interpretation over clear explanations. These elements will appeal to fans seeking a genuine retro experience, but newcomers expecting a more accessible or cinematic adventure may struggle with its uncompromising design. Despite these limitations, Drowned God: Conspiracy of the Ages stands apart through its originality and willingness to explore ideas rarely seen in video games. Its combination of conspiracy theories, mythology, intellectual puzzles, and atmospheric exploration creates an experience unlike most modern releases. While its old-fashioned mechanics and cryptic storytelling may not appeal to every player, those who enjoy challenging adventure games with rich lore and an unforgettable sense of mystery will find plenty to admire. It remains an intriguing journey into the unknown that rewards patience, curiosity, and thoughtful exploration. Rating: 7/10

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