Penumbra: The Granddaddy of Modern Horror Games

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Before SOMA or even Amnesia: The Dark Descent there was Penumbra: Frictional Games' tech demo turned into a three-part series plus two going on three fan games. Penumbra was only really meant to show off the HPL Engine and what they could do with 3D assets in what was initially supposed to be a 3D game but Penumbra was so popular that Frictional went and made the series that would come to define modern horror games for years to come.
You can still play this Techo Demo for free by the way archive.org/details/PenumbraF...
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Chapters:
00:00 intro
1:32 Penumbra Tech Demo
2:45 Penumbra: Overture
5:02 The similarities between Penumbra and Amnesia
6:20 Penumbra: Black Plague
9:03 ANTI-SPONSOR
11:57 Penumbra: Requiem
14:01 Story details (SPOILERS)
18:03 Penumbra Fan Games
20:24 Wrap up, Outro
23:17 Cat Video

[@masterzoroark6664]

Philip's dad doesn't tell him to come to Greenland. He tells him to burn the documents and information on how to get to the facility. It's Philip's curiosity, trait running in his familiy and in Archaic, that compelled him to look and doomed him

[@pat1509]

This is basically "Curiosity killed the cat"

[@masterzoroark6664]

@@pat1509 now I am a bit pissed that this joke didn't make it to Charlatan's video

[@pat1509]

@@masterzoroark6664 It's not a joke.It's the reality of the situation.

[@masterzoroark6664]

@@pat1509 i know, but in context of Charlatan it kinda is. He uses a lot of cat jpegs

[@WobblesandBean]

I'm kinda mad at the end of Black Plague. I wish you'd have had a choice, I would have spared the tuurngait. They're not a danger to anyone, they just want to be left alone.

[@NunYurbis]

The Penumbra franchise is criminally underrated.

[@Brindale]

For better or worse, I found Penumbra through Pewdiepie

[@Valentfrey]

oh yes it's a classic

[@MironBleek]

As an early penumbra player - I've never think that it was underrated ._.

[@ZZZZZZDDDDADA]

Eh, the series aged badly with the exception of black plague, which was carried by its story. It gave the basics to amnesia but calling it underrated its weird, at least for modern standards

[@grovehoLP]

@@ZZZZZZDDDDADA I honetly prefer it over The Dark Descent. Penumbra just does things better in some ways and managed to keep me captivated all the time in both games. Amnesia is great, but I simply enjoyed Penumbra series way too much. Late reply sorry.

[@skvader4189]

I like how penumbra as in the meaning of the word penumbra doesnt coorelate with the game at all

[@The1of1000]

I read somewhere that it was supposed to allude to how the Tuurngait inhabit the further reaches of your mind or your mental “penumbra”. However, that very well could be some bullshit some Slavic wiki dude came up with.

[@ORLY911]

@@The1of1000 It's more likely it was named that to reflect the lighting engine, since it held that name in the original demo. A catchy, cool word to corral interest in the tech. A penumbra can allude to an opening door with light coming from behind it or moving shadows being cast.

[@DarkSideOfTheBrightSide]

The contrast between the OP, and each reply, is brilliantly mind boggling. Does the title match the game, or not, is the question- I feel after reading each reply, it does & doesn’t, but it does.. not really, though. Lol I’m intrigued to research further, thanks to this thread.

[@ORLY911]

@@DarkSideOfTheBrightSide Tell us watch you find, curious to know the real reason :P

[@DarkSideOfTheBrightSide]

Sono will do!

[@mintarisato]

I only clicked because of the thumbnail and I don't regret it

[@CharlatanWonder]

It's working.

[@catgodkain8184]

It is

[@DarkSideOfTheBrightSide]

Me too, and was fully engaged; praise thee algorithm gods! Plus, this channel has similarities to creationist cat.. both have adorable cats.

[@catgodkain8184]

@@DarkSideOfTheBrightSide tell me moar

[@Nuxi10.]

It's soma guy in background but idk who is the guy on the table tho

[@cthulhluftagn3812]

The combat system lead to one of the most terrefying moments in a game for me, when sneaking into a room a wolf saw me and attacked, it was to close to pull a weapon out so I was forced to kill it by slamming the door on its head over and over. Nightmare.

[@Xenomorthian]

That's awesome... from an emergent gameplay perspective I mean

[@artimus4198]

@@Xenomorthian i love amnesia: the bunker for that kind of stuff

[@whitetiger85_60]

SPOILERS: There is only one issue though, Philips father didn't want him to come to the Greenland mines, he wanted Philip to destroy all of the evidence leading to the mines to prevent others from finding it. If no one had messed with the evidence, then whenever someone empties out the safe at the bank they'd end up with a trail leading to Greenland, potentially making things far worse. Philip was never meant to actually become curious about Greenland and go there, and his father most likely didn't say anything in his letter because he was under the influence of the Tuurngait. EDIT: Also, the email Philip sends out at the end was a call for his friend to kill the Tuurngait more than anything, the facility is part of that, but it was a call of arms against what he believed to be an enemy of mankind. The whole reason the Tuurngait sends him on the spiritual journey is to see if he has what it takes to help them and to make the facility unknown to others, but instead he tricks them.

[@rezaka116]

Penumbra means half or soft shadow. Pretty ironic considering the game used only hard shadows.

[@aberoy9957]

Not really, penumbra its the point where it's really dark but you can see just a little

[@rezaka116]

@@aberoy9957 Well yeah, that's the point.

[@mosshivenetwork117]

HALF LIFE AND PENUMBRA CROSSOVER!

[@ossiehalvorson7702]

@@mosshivenetwork117 God no

[@fede_ind17]

@@mosshivenetwork117 Half Pen or Umbra life, take one 😂

[@AlexanderBruyns]

I really want Frictional Games to make a new Penumbra game. I absolutely adore the setting of the Penumbra games. It has a very 'The Thing' feel to it, in some way. With today's graphics, I'm sure it would look amazing, too. And I'd give anything to get another soundtrack by Mikko Tarmia.

[@PtakuYT]

Maybe after the new Amnesia

[@AlexanderBruyns]

@@PtakuYT Fingers crossed.

[@Powered1Buttercup]

@@PtakuYT there’s going to be a new amnesia???

[@PtakuYT]

@@Powered1Buttercup Amnesia Rebirth it come out this or at the end of last month

[@MatthewHudsonOfficial]

YES. I would kill for a new Penumbra game. With today's graphics it'd be incredible.

[@Orangaria]

I remember learning about Penumbra as a teenager around 2011. I found some demo concept thing from frictional game and installed it for free. I was amazed by the physics and it stuck with me for a long time. They're one of the first game I bought on steam, and every now and again I like to explore them a bit. I never finished them because I'm scared and hate horror games, but idk. I love them

[@presauced]

Finish them dude.

[@singleplayermoments]

Even now, the title “Black Plague” gives me shivers. It was one heck of a creepy game.

[@rottenspooks3518]

I don't even care about the psa. But reloading before you've emptied the mag in EYE is a sin.

[@kortomor8003]

Frfr

[@landlockedcroat1554]

y

[@rottenspooks3518]

@@landlockedcroat1554 because when you reload any ammo left in your mag will be lost.

[@FlameStormer2000V2]

"My legs are OK!" Also Penumbra is pretty cool.

[@katherine2596]

You gain brouzouf

[@VESSEL105]

I killed my mentor, but I did not murder him

[@Hamdad]

I played the whole trilogy start to finish on my old laptop, from sundown to sun up, one October night/morning in 2012. It was life changing and got me into writing horror.

[@dexterdextrow7248]

I remember that I found penumbra to be feeling a bit lovecraftian in story, I wonder if they might have been inspired by "the mountains of madness".

[@austenruzicka970]

They definitely were, the engine the games run on was even called "HPL".

[@dexterdextrow7248]

@@austenruzicka970 i see, I wasn't aware of that.

[@LunaPPK]

I can't tell if the opening intro is trolling or you actually serious but this is 2020 so anything goes at this point

[@CharlatanWonder]

I can't explain now, the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Family Values Enforcement Police are at my door.

[@jonettheonly]

Wonder the same thing.

[@prendamike]

For reference, There’s a large homeless population/encampment that usually hops around. The main locations are usually Gilbert street/near Disneyland and near angel’s stadium. I live about 30-40 minutes away from there

[@bluesap7318]

Run before someone shits in your dog house and pisses in the water bowl.

[@roughrambo1000000]

This comment needs to be memorialized to prove to future generations how fucked this year has been

[@RealLordBread]

I LOVE Penumbra so much. The voice acting is honestly top notch too.

[@chillhour6155]

After playing just 30 min of this game back in the day for me it was an instant 9/10, this was at a time where the horror genre was being abandoned so it was just so refreshing to be able to play something so atmospherically creepy, especially after the dissapointment that was silent Hill homecoming

[@ossiehalvorson7702]

Where the genre hadn't been abandoned, it had stagnated into shooters where the only scares were jump scares (more of a cheap adrenaline trick than a scare), because you can't fill players with real fear when they can just turn around and fill something with lead. No other game at the time had that bone chilling feeling where you just wanted to hide in a corner and not move in-game for 45 minutes. Those games made hardened horror fiends squirm and take breaks to cool off lol

[@destroyerinazuma96]

I think Penumbra is an example of a game to be enjoyed for the journey rather than the ending or some "deep" plot, like the older Silent Hills. I've come to realize Lovecraft and most horror writers weren't after life-changing plots or enlightening stories for the reader's personal development, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[@fersakening2961]

First Horror Game I ever saw was Penumbra: Overture.

[@Princess_Ruto]

Same.

[@savageduck2613]

I very much aprove of that thumbnail :)

[@CharlatanWonder]

I knew you'd like it.

[@saverofthehumens]

That laser tripwire bomb trap, is a clear reference to MGS2 where an *exact same* explosive trap is present, even its layout is identical. But this one isn't *A DUD!*

[@seff6533]

HPL? As in, like H.P. Lovecraft?

[@xMorogothx]

Yep. H.P. Lovecraft Engine

[@HerbertFilby]

16:05 (spoilers) had to have been the most memorable moment for me out of the entire series just because of how shocked I was when I found out what I had done. I don't even think Bioshock was able to top it.

[@The1of1000]

Just finished the series about a week ago and I found myself quite surprised how scary “Black Plague” was. I think the winning formula that made it scarier than pretty much every other game, is that it forces you to complete complex and obtuse puzzles under extreme duress. I’d say this was even scarier than Amnesia, because in this you spend a great deal of time trying to understand what the puzzles even conceptually are supposed to be in the first place, when you’re simultaneously being chased by the Tuurngait.

[@saisameer8771]

That sounds like the chase sequences from dark corners of the earth.

[@norwegianboyee]

Amnesia TDD made the mistake of having enemies disappear if you hide for a bit, it's worse when you have to slowly sneak around the creature while trying to solve a puzzle to get out of there.

[@bulanet271]

​@@norwegianboyeethat was really lame in Amnesia once I realised that the scripted monster pop ups, just go away permanently if you aren't discovered for about 30 seconds. There was a new patch in 2017 though, where you can play Amnesia with the monsters remaining within the levels permanently

[@ElfingDaddy]

Hey, I'm the guy who uploaded the tech demo to Archive.org! Yknow it was weird, it took me quite a while to find the thing cuz it seemed like it wasn't availible anywhere. And the moment I found it, İ uploaded it to the Archive fearing it could be lost. I'm glad if it helped you make this awesome video.

[@STUV101]

0:14 Ya if you didn't have that little line of text saying "Obviously, none of this is for real." I would have believed you since this year has been that insane.

[@BackLaid]

Ah yes. Oveture had a combat system. Looks just as terrible as I remember! I've never actually played the tech demo, and I remember you recommending the fan games, I will absolutely give them a shot. Thanks Charlatan, good luck with your move.

[@giornojoestar4411]

Your comment reads so sarcastic it hurts

[@greenhowie]

One of my gaming sins was playing this before the hype and getting so lost and confused I never even saw a monster before uninstalling. I spent around 2 hours just wandering around with the insanity effects maxed out because I'm dumb.

[@toxn1xwaste378]

Yeah me too! Not at least marvel at the amazing physics that felt so revolutionary back then :D

[@thescratchyscratch7848]

Hey, good on you on recognizing a bad sponsor, for real.

[@iXnullified]

The Giant Rock Worm, one of the most original horror monsters in my opinion

[@adamwestslappup]

As someone who lives really close to Orange County and Fullerton; I can say for certainty that it’s been like the Fallout games lately

[@TwistedScarlett60]

I found your channel last week, watched a ton of your videos since then and love then, keep it up!

[@nopeboat6436]

One of the best videos yet! I love how you make so many hilarious jokes in passing so it's just one joke after the other. Keep up the good work!

[@jackjack604l4d2]

Haven't watched this yet, however, I lately have been extremely interested in you current and past videos. You do some great work man!

[@a_ghost8926]

Thought I heard of the name, went in to my steam library, turns out I bought the whole Series a while back.

[@toolazytomakeaname12]

Just discovered your channel a couple days ago! It's awesome what you're doing with gatekeeping less than reputable sponsors. Love the cat videos too!

[@saltt8623]

This is fun, very interesting to finish Halloween in July, we’ll have to see what happens next, also, good luck on moving

[@aleksnull]

Theses videos are well produced, but it feels like you are just describing the basics of the games with little to no analysis or opinion. I think that having more of that would make the videos more personal and interesting.

[@DirtyDillers]

you coverd probably my 3 fave horror games in a row :D

[@decem_sagittae]

Ah man I remember these games very fondly. This was a great review. Thanks bro.

[@katback1678]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the sound warning!

[@Optimus6128]

Penumbra was great. When Amnesia became trendy, I've already finished Penumbra, nobody knew it.

[@MrsLilithDarkmoon]

im so happy someone is finally acknowledging penumbra ;___; I feel like everyone forgets about it when talking about the mid 00s horror games

[@congee7243]

I love your philosophy to adds! you're seriously awesome. I hope your move went well (sorry I'm so late)

[@LucasMartins-dy6no]

Honestly addicted to this channel.

[@cielrobinson]

i've just discoveres all these game critique/review/video essay sorta things this past week and this is probably my fave so far. the penumbra trilogy and amnesia tdd are some of the first pc games i played and i'm grateful for that

[@Eli_JK]

The only horror game playthroughs I watched growing up were Penumbra and Amnesia. Its so fun learning more about the two games

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

PushingUpRoses: "Point-and-click Moon Logic Puzzles" Charlatan Wonder: "ADVENTURE GAME CRACKHEAD LOGIC!!!"

[@jagermazurkewich6454]

Not going to lie, I found your content recently and love it so much I've watched your backlog and caught up. I love your cat and cooking segments. Keep fucking with the normal formula. It's the best.

[@Evildandalo]

Good luck with your move, my family moved all of our stuff from Maryland to California in our SUV and a box truck so I know how stressful the cannonball can be. Hopefully with covid traffic and the warmer weather it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.

[@zerozeroone4424]

I love your content man. Keep it up

[@Shaljroan30750]

Awsome video, i appreciate you!

[@nngnnadas]

Harry potter trivia: Yeah it crazy! I had to make an excel sheet after years that the amount of HP games (not including Lego) made me crazy.

[@Rampagge1]

that intro is golden!!

[@SstalkerS]

I remember when Penumbra had a tech demo before it released and I was hyped for the game

[@frasina3401]

Oof, was thinking of Antumbra. This was still pretty darn cool though, nice vid man 👍

[@crispyghoul]

Goddamn just 30 seconds into the video and i subscribed.Constantly looking for horror game essay videos I'm gonna binge the shit out this channel.

[@AshbySound]

You should definitely do your video idea on Zombie Panic: Source and Zombie Master! I remember laughing so hard watching Crackbone play ZPS.

[@pestilenssi8979]

I love it here. Thank u

[@spacespz5947]

That reference at 14:02 made me instantly go for the like button, but I had already liked it. Oh well

[@MediaGhost_]

Hey does anyone have a PEN? My hand is getting NUMB from using a pencil.....RA

[@ayemate2945]

you clever boy...

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

Bruh

[@anakay1184]

HPENMNUMBRA

[@rootintootinnewton]

@@anakay1184 underrated response

[@thatsoundslikeheresytomeyo4960]

You should have said camera

[@donotwatchthisvideo2]

Loved the content Subbed

[@statesidekarma7240]

Can't wait for your next upload

[@Crumbster]

Don't know if you'll ever read this, but I love the structure of your videos, and you got some good vocal transition skills. Definitely coming back to this channel.

[@CharlatanWonder]

I read this, thanks!

[@Crumbster]

@@CharlatanWonder No problem man, keep up the good work.

[@brandonbaka1375]

Man I guess I watched this already two years back since I see that I liked it but im fiending for Penumbra again, so yah its great to be back

[@joshuathackaberry2175]

That intro is and will always be gold Scene heritage site 🤣

[@hydrogen18]

Made it 5 mintues until the 1st bioshock reference! Nicely done!

[@JaesNSC]

I remember playing this as a teen with my friend where we would take turns. Black plague was so much fun :)

[@AProbablyPostman]

Penumbra has my favorite spooky puzzle, the morse code one.

[@Duck0fDoom]

Great video man

[@missingindy]

Time to binge more horror game videos at 12:30 am when I have school tomorrow

[@bee5464]

I don't know who you are, I don't remember subscribing to you, but I like your beard

[@theflightlessbutdankkiwi3820]

Please keep making thumbnails like this 😂

[@CharlatanWonder]

I will continue to make terri-bad meme thumbnails and there is no one who can stop me.

[@donniecatalano]

This is a fine example of why I always look for 'no commentary'

[@duckduckgoose8049]

Penumbra Necrologue is actually a fantastic mod, and I honestly consider it canon. It felt almost like it was made by Frictional themselves!

[@Shaux1337]

OMG i remember playing penumbra a long long time ago

[@creativemusic3338]

I kinda forgot of Penumbra, since i watched gameplay of it when i was little, but now the feels rushed in! It was the first horror game that made me love horror games as a genre! Oh i am so happy to hear that name again, it took me back to when i was 13 :)

[@atanaZion]

Same

[@SpolOfficial]

Lmao downtown Fullerton is a war zone....You went off on that intro my guy! :)

[@suburbanwhitedad7338]

Shoutout penumbra series! Shoutout OC crust punks!!! 🤙 Let’s sip and smoke blunts foo! 🔥🔥

[@hardikgurung6027]

Everything in this game is a masterpiece especially the soundtrack

[@BatuhanDere]

Requiem is my favourite penumbra title unironically

[@Mikhos]

i love this game :o the horrible melee was terrifying

[@ErimlRGG]

Just to clarify on your Anti-sponsor segment. You wouldn't get in trouble for not mentioning is a sponsored video, they are the ones who get in trouble. But for sure your audience would judge you for not saying it's sponsored

[@mickles1975]

Hmm. I'm pretty sure I have E.Y.E. as one of those games you buy and then forget about.

[@FrozenStarFish]

Damn man, can you tell me why? It looks mad interesting to me and is it action horror or just action? Cause it looks like some action was going on with some rpg elements

[@mickles1975]

@@FrozenStarFish I think it's an fps-rpg. That's about as much as I know. I bought it back in 2013 and only played it for 45 minutes.

[@FrozenStarFish]

Diseasel oh shit okay bro bro I gots you, imma prolly look up reviews for it just to hear more about it to see if I’m actually interested but idk because there’s so many horror games I really wanna play so badly and already have games I’m tryna complete just like penumbra

[@evilmunchkin9431]

@@FrozenStarFish yea its an fps rpg. Theres a light horror atmosphere but not really. Its a fairly complex and poorly explained game but I cannot stress how much fun it is once you get into it. Very worth it tbh tbh.

[@EmberTheShark]

@@FrozenStarFish Check Out Mandalore's Video on it, he describes the indescibable

[@laneanderson3005]

Some of my first games was Amnesia and this. The memories bro.

[@CortVermin]

oh lord babyjesus the thumbnail was genius. now i just have to watch A 25 MINUTE VIDEO? well, the bait is laid, i surrender my soul.

[@ImGonnaFudgeThatFish]

You covered these games lightning-fast

[@TooMuchSascha]

My favorite thing about Requiem is that if you get on top of a box, grab it with your mouse and start to jump, you can fly. It's so good

[@BriarPatchNyra]

I never thought I'd see these games getting acknowledged

[@LoriotHardenbergia]

Thank you YT Recommend for introducing me to another worthwhile youtuber 🥺🙏

[@nevada_tomato]

Tbh Penumbra Tech Deno looks fine :) I love that it kickstarted a nice company

[@thebigmanskeet6969]

I got the disk of Penumbra Overture for PC from a thrift store for $8 in 2012. The game was scary as hell.

[@relentlessgod]

I stillll go back and play these games every now and then. I hate the dogs in the first one, but not being able to kill anything in the second was a stark change of atmosphere. I still think about the spider eatin' dudes journal. Great series

[@NotPenumbra]

Didn’t know there was a game that has the same namesake. I’ll check it out

[@ScReamOut93]

thanks for the volume warning

[@keepfeatherinitbrothaaaa]

I fucking love your cat. Your videos aren't too shabby either.

[@KcLee677]

Thumbnail is nutshell for horror game.. Honestly, if l'll was seated.. l'll be already in shock. Lol

[@Dr.Quarex]

Penumbra: Black Plague is still my favorite horror game. Though admittedly I have not really played much of, say, Outlast or even Amnesia, but something about Black Plague's gameplay merges perfectly with unsettlingly terrifying atmosphere.

[@handsomemenace7225]

I remember playing the trilogy when I was younger. God damn they were creepy. I'll never forget Red. RIP Red.

[@blakechildress944]

Here's an idea for a short sweet video. Review the game "Paratopic."

[@destho4308]

I remember being exposed to this tech demo from watching G4 channel like 15 years ago. Good times for sure.