Emmanuelle (video game)
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Muriel Tramis (director) |
| Products | Erotic graphic adventure game |
| Parent | Coktel Vision |
Emmanuelle is an erotic graphic adventure title developed by Coktel Vision and launched in 1989 for platforms including Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS. The game was created under the direction of Muriel Tramis, recognized for her work on the Gobliiins series as well as games like Fascination and Lost in Time. Its narrative draws loose inspiration from the novel series authored by Emmanuelle Arsan.
Story
The narrative follows Emmanuelle, whose husband is a French businessman often away on trips. Experiencing emotional dissatisfaction, she begins an affair with a man named Marc but is torn by feelings of guilt because of her devotion to her spouse. To escape Marc’s pursuit, Emmanuelle flees to Rio de Janeiro. The player’s challenge is to boost Marc’s erotic allure in order to reclaim Emmanuelle’s affection.
Players work on raising Marc’s 'erotic potential' by applying three principles of eroticism: engaging with numerous women (law of numbers), choosing an odd count of women (law of asymmetry), and incorporating unexpected encounters with hidden or disguised women (law of surprise). Additionally, players must discover three erotic statuettes throughout the game. The content steers clear of explicit scenes; voyeuristic moments are subtle, such as Marc catching a glimpse of Emmanuelle undressing through a keyhole, often revealing only an elderly man washing his feet.
Gameplay
The DOS edition offers support for EGA, CGA, and monochrome displays, whereas the Amiga and Atari ST versions utilize a 16-color palette. Emmanuelle is primarily a point-and-click adventure, although the DOS version does not feature mouse compatibility. Gameplay includes branching dialogue options and mini-games like casino gambling to earn money for plane tickets. Players may also face confrontations with jealous spouses and smugglers during their journey.
Reception
ST-Computer commended the visual presentation but pointed out the absence of audio and the straightforward nature of the puzzles. PC Power Play labeled the game as dull, finding only the casino segments somewhat entertaining while criticizing its graphics quality and lack of sound. In a subsequent issue, PC Power Play awarded Emmanuelle the dubious distinction for containing the most nonsensical dialogue.