Info about The Phantom Fellows:

Official game description:
  
Oliver Cobblestone can see and communicate with a dead. Not the dead, just a one Englebert Picklebender who has been in an ethereal entanglement with Oliver for many years. Together they run The Phantom Fellows, a paranormal investigation service that provides the breathers that hire them peace from hauntings, while bringing closure and rest to the floaters who torment the living, and often, themselves.  
Take control of Oliver and Englebert in this point and click adventure comedy as you explore the town of Elderberry, Colorado and spend 7 days in the life of The Phantom Fellows. Share laughs with the living and the respiratorily challenged in a game where exploration is rewarded and there is more to the story than meets the eye.  
Use Oliver's ability to... be alive, or switch to Englebert if the physical world is in the way. Negotiate with spirits, some of which seek closure, others a long lost possession and even some who just enjoy a good pranking- I mean, haunting. Don't forget to also provide proof of service to the breather that hired you, they will need more than Oliver's word for it and seeing is believing!  
Throughout your week with The Phantom Fellows you will meet many breathers, plenty of floaters and as you navigate through each day's task, something more malevolent begins lurking in the shadows, with it's eye on Oliver and an aim set on something bigger, something... otherworldly.  
*   Narrative based adventure game where the writing and the story come first.  
*   Hand-drawn pixel art and animations!  
*   Walk or float around the environments, freely explore the world you're in.  
*   Switch between Oliver and Englebert! Sometimes being dead has its perks. Maybe. Switching between the two unlocks in Day 2.  
*   7 Playable Days: Each day features it's own goals and characters, while an over-arcing story builds to an unavoidable confrontation!  
*   Fast Travel Map: Unlocks in Day 3, freely explore the town of Elderberry, revisit the location of previous days for more interactions, world building and alternative puzzle solutions!  
*   Real World Puzzle Reasoning: Some puzzles have alternate solutions based on simple reasoning- you never have to leave the location of the day, but if you saw something in a previous day's location that would help you in your current day, you can go get it and use it!  
*   Dialog-based Hint System: Englebert often plays the role of mentor to Oliver. You can speak to him for advice on what to do, and he will give you hints with increasing levels of detail, along with the option to have him stop so you may take as much or as little help as you wish.  
*   Hotspot Heaven: It's all clickable! Oliver and Englebert will look at and interact with everything and provide you with unique lines, laughter and world building, for doing so.  
*   Dual Controls: Optimized for easy, keyboard based control, while maintaining the option to instead point and click.

Release date: Sep 27, 2024

Categories: Point-and-click Adventure, Supernatural Mystery, Comedy, Pixel Art Style, Dual-character Mechanic, Narrative Adventure, Ghost Possession


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 15.0h
  - Story completion: 12.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first quote directly reports about 15 hours for a long playthrough, with exploration affecting length, so gameCompletion is set to 15. The second quote reports about 12 hours to reach the ending/cliffhanger, so storyCompletion is set to 12. The third quote shows post-story replay for achievements but gives no hour count, so endgame remains null. No review provides a clear session-length figure, so sessionLength is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players report early appeal in the classic point-and-click premise and style, but the experience quickly turns into a tedious chore with drawn-out dialogue, repetitive humor, and confusing puzzle options.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Pixel hunting; Many puzzle options making required actions unclear; Overly drawn-out dialogues and expositions; Risk of missing progression info when skipping dialogs; Repetitive humor; Unrewarding puzzle solutions
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Being a fan of old point-and-click games; Tolerance for pixel hunting; Willingness to click on everything; Patience for long dialogues and exposition; Tolerance for repetitive humor; Familiarity with The Darkside Detective and The Blackwell Saga style; Ability to parse multiple puzzle options
- Player Archetypes:
  - Classic Point-and-Click Devotee (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience a classic-style point-and-click adventure with familiar genre influences and nostalgic appeal.
    - Playstyle: Solving point-and-click puzzles while appreciating old-school visuals, genre conventions, and meta adventure humor.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: The Darkside Detective; The Blackwell Saga
  - Achievement and Easter Egg Completionist (buy)
    - Motivation: To uncover hidden achievements, easter eggs, and optional rewards through thorough exploration.
    - Playstyle: Poking at every object, hunting achievements, and seeking optional jokes or secrets beyond the main path.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Quirky Humor and Strange Story Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: To enjoy funny dialogue, strange stories, and entertaining puzzle scenarios.
    - Playstyle: Playing for laughs and narrative oddities while engaging with dialogue and puzzle variety.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Interface and Pacing-Sensitive Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: To find a polished, well-paced adventure without interface friction or padded content.
    - Playstyle: Critically evaluating controls, pacing, and length; likely to drop the game if frustrations persist.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Enjoyable Humor and Dialogue (weight 0.52): Players consistently praise the game's humor, dialogue, and writing as exceptionally funny and enjoyable. This contributes significantly to the overall positive experience.
- Multiple Puzzle Solutions (weight 0.46): Many puzzles offer multiple solutions, allowing for diverse gameplay approaches and increasing replayability. This design choice is frequently praised.
- Great Synthwave Soundtrack (weight 0.46): The soundtrack, often described as synthwave or retro, is highly acclaimed and adds significantly to the game's atmosphere. Players frequently mention it as a standout feature.
- Helpful In-Game Hint System (weight 0.42): The in-game hint system, often featuring Englebert, is appreciated for being helpful without spoiling puzzles. It provides natural and effective assistance when players are stuck.
- Fun Throughout Entire Game (weight 0.4): Players find the game enjoyable from start to finish, describing it as a fun and delightful experience overall. The consistent entertainment value is a key strength.
- Challenging but Fair Puzzles (weight 0.32): Puzzles are challenging yet solvable, striking a balance that keeps players engaged without overwhelming them. The difficulty is part of the game's charm.
- Colorful and Unique Characters (weight 0.31): Characters are described as colorful, wacky, unique, and likable, adding to the game's charm and humor. Their unexpected responses enhance the experience.
- Charming Pixel Art Graphics (weight 0.21): The pixel art style is consistently praised for being nice, shiny, and pretty, enhancing the game's visual appeal. It complements the overall aesthetic well.
- Engaging Point-and-Click Adventure (weight 0.21): The game is recognized as a well-made and refreshing take on point-and-click adventures, often noted for its fun and humorous approach to the genre.
- Standout Adventure Game of 2024 (weight 0.15): Some players consider it one of the best adventure games of 2024, highlighting its high quality and memorable experience. This acclaim reflects its impact in the genre.
- Hidden Jokes and Easter Eggs (weight 0.14): The game includes a huge amount of hidden jokes, easter eggs, and achievements, rewarding exploration and adding extra layers of enjoyment for players.
- Puzzles Integrated into Story (weight 0.14): Puzzles feel like a natural part of the story, making them more engaging and meaningful within the narrative context. This integration is appreciated by players.

Common complaints:
- Clunky and Unintuitive UI (weight 0.52): Many players find the interface uncomfortable, impractical, and clunky, with manual cycling through actions and inventory items obscuring the screen. The UI lacks intuitive design, making basic interactions frustrating.
- Forced and Repetitive Humor (weight 0.5): The humor feels forced, repetitive, and tries too hard to be funny, often falling flat. Many jokes are long-winded and exasperating, detracting from the experience.
- Ends on Unsatisfying Cliffhanger (weight 0.42): The game lacks a proper resolution and ends on a cliffhanger that seems designed to force playing a sequel. Players find this ending pretentious and unsatisfying.
- Pixel Hunting and Hard to See Objects (weight 0.42): Players struggle with pixel hunting due to low-resolution graphics that make it hard to distinguish objects from scenery. Important items are often single pixels or blend into the background.
- Excessive Verbose Dialogue (weight 0.41): The game is extremely wordy, with every interaction triggering long, drawn-out conversations that break the flow. Characters often say seven lines when three would suffice, making it tiresome.
- Unclear Objectives and Getting Stuck (weight 0.41): Players often find it unclear what to do next or how to proceed, leading to getting stuck frequently. Many resort to walkthroughs or hints to progress.
- Rough Graphics and Pixel Art (weight 0.39): The graphics are considered rough, with low-resolution pixel art that may turn some players off. The visual style is minimal and not to everyone's taste.
- Poor Puzzle Design and Moon Logic (weight 0.36): Puzzles often involve absurd or convoluted logic, requiring actions in specific orders without clear indication. The design is weak and sometimes relies on moon logic.
- Clunky Controls and Movement (weight 0.31): Controls are cumbersome, with issues like character continuing to walk after keys are released and rough spots causing accidental dialogue skips. The movement icon is unconvincing.
- Dialogue Obscures Important Information (weight 0.31): Crucial puzzle information is often hidden within long, rambling dialogues, making it easy to miss if players click too fast. Skipping risks missing needed progression details.
- No Hotspots and Clicking Everything (weight 0.26): There are no hotspot indicators, forcing players to click on everything to find interactable objects. This is tedious and exacerbated by the low-res visuals.
- More Visual Novel Than Adventure Game (weight 0.26): The game feels more like a visual novel than a point-and-click adventure, with minimal gameplay and mostly reading text. The latter half has barely any puzzles.
- Overly Wordy Ghost Companion (weight 0.26): The ghost companion frequently talks down to the protagonist in an overly wordy manner, and his hints are sometimes vague or unhelpful. His inconsistency in picking up items adds trial and error.
- Technical Issues and Bugs (weight 0.23): There are annoying bugs and no cloud save support. The font is hard on the eyes, and a German translation is missing.
- Slow Walking Speed and Backtracking (weight 0.21): Walking speed is never fast enough, with long distances to cover repeatedly and no teleport option. There is too much back and forth, showing no respect for players' time.
- Protagonist's Social Awkwardness Overbearing (weight 0.2): The main protagonist's neurodivergence constantly causes him to say the wrong things, which becomes especially irritating during key moments like the Chapter 5 climax. His wacky musings grow old by the endgame.
- Inventory Clutter and Useless Items (weight 0.2): Acquiring too many useless items makes it hard to discern what is needed for puzzles, leading to confusion and getting stuck. The inventory items also look bad.
- Characters Block Interactable Objects (weight 0.14): Sometimes a character blocks an object, requiring the player to move them before interacting. This is annoying and adds unnecessary steps.
- Issues with Music and Sound (weight 0.14): Constant bass playing music is annoying and distracting from dialogue, and some tracks are crude. The noise detracts from the overall experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Point-and-click adventure gameplay (weight 0.99): The game is overwhelmingly described as a point-and-click adventure with pixel art and puzzle solving. Players highlight classic mechanics, dialogue-driven puzzles, and a retro 320x200 style. It appeals to fans of old-school adventure games.
- Dual protagonists with abilities (weight 0.56): The game features two playable characters—detective Oliver and ghost Englebert—with different abilities. Switching between them is required to solve certain puzzles. Their dynamic and banter are highlighted.
- Dialogue-heavy with humor (weight 0.37): Dialogue is a major component, filled with jokes, banter, and expositions. Characters comment on many actions, adding to the comedic tone. This contributes to the narrative focus.
- Achievements and hunting (weight 0.33): The game includes many Steam achievements, some of which are missable or earned by random interactions. Achievement hunting is a prominent activity for some players.
- Nonlinear exploration and travel (weight 0.27): The game offers a somewhat open structure with travel between locations, including using a car. It is slightly nonlinear and allows backtracking.
- Intuitive controls and UI (weight 0.27): Controls work with both mouse and keyboard, with options like right-clicking to cycle actions. The UI includes walking speed settings and a save system.
- Classic 90s adventure style (weight 0.24): The gameplay and aesthetics resemble 90s adventure games, with pixel art and retro visuals. It evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click titles.
- Ghost-themed mystery premise (weight 0.24): The story revolves around a guy who can see ghosts and his ghost friend, solving hauntings. Oliver runs a Ghostbusters-like business with Englebert's help.
- Chapters and story progression (weight 0.23): The game is structured in chapters with a story-driven progression. Players can revisit locations and travel between areas as the plot advances.
- Item collection and backtracking (weight 0.23): Players collect items and backtrack to use them, with many items and rooms leading to numerous combinations. Some items can be picked up later.
- Hidden interactions and easter eggs (weight 0.21): The game contains hidden interactions, meta humor, and easter eggs. These reward thorough exploration and add to the game's charm.
- Clickable objects with descriptions (weight 0.2): Players appreciate that almost everything on screen is clickable and has unique, witty descriptions. This encourages exploration and adds humor. It enhances the adventure game experience.
- Narrative-focused adventure (weight 0.18): The game prioritizes writing and story over puzzle difficulty. It becomes more visual novel-like in the latter half, with a romance subplot.
- No dead ends or sudden deaths (weight 0.13): The game avoids dead ends and sudden deaths, making it more accessible. An autosave system allows reloading to see missed details.
- Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.11): The game has a GUI and works on the Steam Deck. It also supports windowed mode via Alt+Enter.
- Ace Attorney-style interrogation (weight 0.08): One in-game day involves interviewing people in an Ace Attorney style. This adds variety to the adventure gameplay.
- Cliffhanger ending (weight 0.07): The game ends on a cliffhanger, potentially setting up a sequel. Some players note this as a point of interest.

Performance notes:
- Low FPS despite high-end hardware (weight 0.1): Players report the game runs like a slideshow even on high-end hardware. Low resolution does not improve performance, indicating a serious optimization issue.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for point-and-click fans (weight 0.64): Many reviewers state the game is ideal for players who enjoy classic point-and-click adventure games, mysteries, and indie titles. They frequently mention that fans of the genre will likely appreciate it.
- Witty writing and humor praised (weight 0.42): Reviewers highlight the game's humor, wit, and quirky storytelling as standout features. The writing style, including meta humor and linguistic flair, is often cited as a reason to recommend it.
- Positive overall recommendation (weight 0.32): Multiple reviewers give a clear recommendation, with some calling it the best point-and-click adventure they've played. They encourage others to try it or buy it without hesitation.
- Some negative or mixed feedback (weight 0.26): A few reviewers cannot recommend the game due to frustrations, puzzles, or UI issues that prevented completion. Others advise staying away from the project entirely.
- Funny and fun experience (weight 0.22): Reviewers mention having fun and laughing several times, recommending it for those seeking a fun and funny game. The humor and personality are central to the experience.
- Recommended for narrative and puzzles (weight 0.21): Some reviewers recommend it for those who like fun and well-crafted narratives with excellent puzzles. They highlight the game's quality in storytelling and puzzle design.
- Try demo or watch first (weight 0.2): Some reviewers suggest checking out a demo or watching a playthrough of the first chapter to see if the writing style appeals to you. They recommend trying it yourself before buying.
- Similar to classic adventure games (weight 0.16): Several reviewers compare it favorably to classic adventure games and characters like Roger Wilco and Guybrush Threepwood. They suggest that fans of those games will enjoy this one.
- For fans of specific similar games (weight 0.14): Reviewers note that players who enjoyed The Darkside Detective or The Blackwell Saga will likely find enjoyment in this game due to parallels. They suggest playing those first if unsure.
- Worth it on sale or later (weight 0.14): A few reviewers mention the game is worth purchasing if it goes on sale or after exhausting other top-tier adventures. Some plan to grab it again in the future.
- If you like this genre (weight 0.09): A couple of reviewers simply state that if you like this kind of game, you'll like this game. This points to a strong genre fit for point-and-click adventure enthusiasts.
- Appreciate details and banter (weight 0.08): One reviewer advises not to rush through the game, but to take time to appreciate the details and banter. This suggests the game rewards careful exploration.

Other player notes:
- Frequent Darkside Detective comparisons (weight 0.62): The game is often compared to The Darkside Detective, with opinions ranging from favorable to unfavorable, including accusations of being a rip-off. Similarities in humor and pixel art are noted.
- Cliffhanger ending demands sequel (weight 0.47): Many reviewers note the story ends abruptly on a cliffhanger, with a promised sequel to resolve it. This leaves the narrative feeling incomplete for some.
- Solo developer project (weight 0.36): The game was created primarily by one person, Paul Korman, handling writing, music, art, and programming. Some mention help from others.
- Anticipation for sequel (weight 0.36): Reviewers express excitement and hope for a sequel. Some see potential for continued story development.
- Lengthy playtime (weight 0.34): The game offers a good length, with some spending 12-15 hours. A few felt it was shorter than expected.
- Easter eggs and achievements (weight 0.29): The game contains many Easter eggs and hidden achievements, providing replayability. Some achievements are missable.
- Comparisons to Blackwell series (weight 0.25): The premise of a ghost partner and paranormal investigations draws comparisons to the Blackwell series. Some note thematic similarities and influences.
- No voice acting (weight 0.25): The game lacks voice acting, though some reviewers desire full voice acting in a potential sequel. Others enjoy doing their own voice acting.
- High praise from some (weight 0.21): Some reviewers consider it one of the best adventure games of 2024, standing alongside classics in spirit and writing. It is described as a labor of love.
- Standout soundtrack (weight 0.15): The soundtrack is highly praised, with some tracks being crude but overall incredible. It is enjoyed even outside the game.
- In-game hint system (weight 0.15): An in-game help system provides hints without spoiling puzzles. It is described as helpful but not too helpful.
- Pixel art style praised (weight 0.14): The 320x200 pixel art is reminiscent of classic adventure games. Some compare it to The Last Door with chunky pixels.
- Wordy and humorous dialogue (weight 0.09): The game is heavily text-based, delivering amusing quips through conversations and environmental interactions. It appeals to fans of witty writing.
- Difficulty with item identification (weight 0.09): Compared to The Darkside Detective, important items are harder to determine, which may frustrate some players.
- Steam Deck compatible (weight 0.08): The game works well on Steam Deck, according to a reviewer.
- Cloud saves unsupported (weight 0.08): Cloud saves are not supported, which may inconvenience some players.
- Missed lines on first playthrough (weight 0.08): A reviewer missed some dialogue and puzzle solutions initially and replayed immediately, indicating depth.
- Demo available (weight 0.08): A demo exists for players to try before purchasing.
- Post-launch updates provided (weight 0.08): The developer has released updates after launch, improving the game.
- Font readability issues (weight 0.08): A reviewer found the font hard on the eyes, potentially impacting readability.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.12): Players are frustrated by clunky UI, cumbersome controls, and hidden information that requires walkthroughs. Getting stuck on puzzles due to moon logic, pixel hunting, and technical issues like poor performance also contributes to this emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): Players enjoy the game's humor, funny dialogue, and creative puzzles with multiple solutions. The overall experience, including hidden content, memorable characters, and sentimental moments, provides a fun time.
- Disappointment (weight 0.11): Disappointment arises from the game not living up to expectations, often compared unfavorably to other point-and-click games. Issues include unresolved storylines, cliffhanger endings, repetitive humor, wordy dialogues, and lack of voice acting.
- Amusement (weight 0.09): Players are amused by the comedic timing, witty descriptions, and goofy dialogue. The banter between characters, unexpected moments, and constant humor lead to laughter in every scene.
- Love (weight 0.05): Players love the game's humor, characters, and pixel art. The relationship between Oliver and Englebert, the 80s aesthetic, and the overall point-and-click adventure experience are particularly cherished.
- Anticipation (weight 0.05): Players are eagerly looking forward to a sequel and more games from the developer. They want to continue the story and meet the characters again.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the brilliant puzzle design, hint system, and attention to detail. The music, quirky characters, and the game's unmistakable charm are highlighted.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Annoyance stems from forced humor, annoying dialogue, and distracting music. Technical issues like lack of hotspot highlighting and low-res visuals also contribute.
- Delight (weight 0.03): Players are delighted by the laugh-out-loud humor, fun mechanics, and charming protagonists. The sharp writing and creative elements set it apart.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is elicited by funny humor, unexpected character responses, and quirky dialogue. Gameplay reminiscent of classic adventure games adds to the joy.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Satisfaction comes from the rewarding build-up at the end, the open-world structure that becomes easy to navigate, and puzzles that hit a sweet spot of challenge.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is driven by the possibility of a sequel and hope for more content from the developer in the future.
- Amazement (weight 0.02): Players are amazed that the entire game was made by one person, including writing, music, art, and programming. The amount of content packed into the game is impressive.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is fueled by the game's charm, passion for the genre, funny dialogue, and wacky characters. Easter eggs and hidden achievements provide replayability.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom results from long, unskippable dialogue with dramatic pauses, overly drawn-out expositions, and little to do besides reading, especially in the latter half.
- Attachment (weight 0.01): Players feel attached to the characters Oliver and Englebert and their complex relationship.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness is felt because the adventure is over and the game has ended.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is evoked by reminding players of golden era adventure games and the good old pixel adventure days.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from puzzles with unclear objectives or required order, and poor performance on high-end hardware.
- Exasperation (weight 0.01): Exasperation is caused by forced humor and annoying descriptions.}