Prisoner of Ice (PC) Playthrough
3Playthrough of Infogrames' 1995 point-and-click adventure game for MS-DOS, Prisoner of Ice (also Call of Cthulhu: Prisoner of Ice).
Prisoner of Ice is a point-and-click adventure game developed and published by Infogrames in 1995. It is loosely based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft, particularly drawing inspiration from "The Mountains of Madness" and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth." The game serves as a follow-up to Shadow of the Comet, although it features different characters and a standalone narrative that still explores themes common to the Cthulhu Mythos.
Set during World War II, the game begins aboard a British submarine in the South Atlantic. Players control Lieutenant Ryan, an American officer who becomes entangled in a mysterious and horrifying series of events following the discovery and transport of two crates from a Nazi base in Antarctica. One of the crates contains a monstrous creature known as a Prisoner of Ice, and its release sets off a chain of supernatural and cosmic horror events. As the story unfolds, Ryan must uncover the secrets behind the creature, ancient cults, and a looming apocalypse linked to the return of the Great Old Ones.
Gameplay is typical of 1990s adventure titles, focusing on inventory-based puzzles, exploration, and dialogue. However, Prisoner of Ice introduces some time-sensitive sequences where players must act quickly to avoid death or failure, adding a layer of tension that reflects its horror themes. The game features pre-rendered backgrounds and sprite-based characters, with an art style that emphasizes gloomy and atmospheric settings to convey a sense of dread and isolation.
The narrative blends wartime intrigue with Lovecraftian horror, leading the player through submarines, icy outposts, and ancient ruins as the mystery deepens. The writing includes references to forbidden knowledge, alien beings, and reality-warping truths, all hallmarks of Lovecraftian storytelling. Although it is a relatively short game, it remains memorable for its mood, setting, and ambition in adapting cosmic horror to the adventure genre.
Prisoner of Ice was released for MS-DOS and later ported to platforms such as PlayStation and Saturn in Japan. It has since become a cult classic among fans of both Lovecraftian fiction and retro adventure games. While it can be played today via ScummVM or DOSBox, its dated interface and visuals may challenge modern players, though its compelling story and eerie atmosphere continue to resonate with genre enthusiasts.