The Hound of Shadow

Eldritch Games

Industry	Video game development
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	The Hound of Shadow, Daughter of Serpents, The Scroll

The Hound of Shadow is an interactive fiction title featuring illustrated text adventure gameplay, created by Eldritch Games and released by Electronic Arts in 1989.

Publication history

Crafted by the UK-based developer Eldritch Games, The Hound of Shadow was designed to launch the Timeline series, which aimed to enable players to continue their character's journey across connected storylines. Electronic Arts published the game in 1989, making it available on Amiga, Atari ST, and DOS systems.

Despite Eldritch Games subsequently producing horror-themed investigative games such as Daughter of Serpents (1992) and The Scroll (1995), the envisioned Timeline series did not progress beyond this initial release.

Setting and gameplay

Drawing inspiration from H. P. Lovecraft, the narrative unfolds in 1920s London and features historical personalities including Elizabeth Báthory.

Players can either create or choose a character by selecting attributes like gender, social class, profession, age, abilities, and nationality (English or American), all of which impact gameplay dynamics. For instance, female characters encounter era-specific limitations such as being barred from serving in pubs, while those who are veterans of World War I may face mental health challenges intensified through interaction with supernatural elements.

The storyline commences during a seance where the player's character becomes possessed and receives a warning about bearing the mark of the Hound of Shadow. The player’s objective is to unravel this enigma to avert a dire fate.

Reception

Gary Barrett, writing for ST Format (December 1989), noted shortcomings including a restricted vocabulary and absence of audio but commended the evocative atmosphere, ultimately awarding a 90% rating for its captivating nature despite parser difficulties.

In ACE (March 1990), Chris Elliot pointed out programming errors that led to infinite loops and inconsistent parser responses, assigning a 65% score due to frustration diminishing puzzle enjoyment.

John Scott’s review in Games International (May 1990) recognized the game’s appeal to Lovecraft enthusiasts and meaningful skill selection options but criticized the subpar parser alongside uninspired sepia-toned visuals and lack of sound effects, giving gameplay a 7/10 and graphics a 5/10.