Tenebris Pictura

Tenebris Pictura is an action-adventure horror game developed by the Spanish studio Pentadimensional Games. This is their second game since 2017 Megaton Rainfall. Although the game is available on Steam, it does not support mouse and keyboard, requiring the use of a controller. The game takes place on a gloomy foggy island in the Victorian era. The protagonist is a paranormal investigator with psychic powers who agrees to investigate the disappearance of his friend’s daughter. The investigation uncovers the presence of a dark cult and otherworldly beings originating from paintings in a mysterious collection.

About This Game

Tenebris Pictura is a metroidvania adventure that combines puzzles and combat. The main character goes through many different locations, meeting with NPCs. Often he also encounters hostile creatures with whom he has to fight using his psychic abilities. During combat, he astral projects himself, allowing his spirit to fight enemies for him, at close range or with deadly energy currents. To be successful in combat, the player must think tactically. Before starting the fight, it is necessary to securely hide the helpless physical body of the protagonist. During the battles, we have to use the nearby items by moving them in order to gain an advantage over the numerous enemies. As we progress through the game, we acquire new skills and learn how to use new traps.

The game also has a lot of creative puzzles, and the locations defy the laws of logic. We meet rooms with disappearing floors, moving walls and separate worlds enclosed in paintings. With the help of the Aeter pendulum, we can detect dark forces in different parts of the map — in foggy forests and ruined buildings. The hero’s psychic abilities also allow him to find clues about events that are about to unfold on the island. Tenebris Pictura combines 2D and 3D graphics with a heavy, cold color palette, occasionally broken by shades of yellow. The game is played from a third person perspective using isometric and top-down perspectives. The game also has many references to the gothic style, which largely shaped the Victorian style.