Scratches | 
 enlarge | From: Got Game
Category: Video Games
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $2.76
You Save: $17.19 (86%)
New (9) Used (22) from $1.41
Avg. Customer Rating:  61 reviews
Sales Rank: 7554
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Xp, Windows 98, Windows 2000
ESRB: Teen
Media: CD-ROM
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Operating System: Windows 2000
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 00045
Model: 00045
UPC: 851612000458
EAN: 0851612000458
ASIN: B000E1A4XS
Release Date: March 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Delve into every dark corner of the mansion and its untended grounds | | • | Probe your way through musty rooms, an overrun greenhouse, a sinister chapel, and a forbidding crypt -- and discover you are not alone in the house | | • | Inventory-based and deductive-style puzzles, in an eerie and immersive story |
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Product Description
Scratches is a terrifying story where a story from the past emerges to haunt the present. You control famed horror writer Michael Arthate as he explores Blackwood Manor, a Victorian house near an English market town. It's a quiet and pleasant existance, until odd noises in the basement keep him up at night. As they grow louder, you'll explore the house and unlock the strange tales that echo through its walls.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 56 more reviews...
Would have been great but... January 5, 2009
Scratches falls just short of good into the 'okay I don't have anything else to play' category, which is very unfair considering the game has so many wonderful things going for it.
Premise: You are a writer working on a novel and you take residence in an old mansion in England for the atmosphere and inspiration. During your time at the mansion you uncover hints of a mystery, what might have been a murder by a previous owner and vague references to noises in the house. You start by exploring the place...
Visuals: Graphically the game is exceptional by any measure. The mansion and grounds are all you could ever ask for in a creaking mystery house designed to induce terror. Nearly every detail in the house is clean and clear and awesomely recreates a long-abandoned old mansion. Everything from the stains to the cracked plaster and overgrown shrubbery lends well to the atmosphere. The lighting is superb.
Audio: Falls short in places. The music and sound effects are excellent, not over done and come mostly at the proper moments in game play. The voices are another story entirely. The accents are mediocre at best and dialogue limps quite a lot.
Gameplay: This is the hammer that spoiled the game in my opinion. There are a multitude of items that must be examined to glean the clues needed. The most you get, (and not often at that) is a "Nothing out of the ordinary here." The game play is such that you can wander for hours in one puzzle area until you examine the one thing you might have overlooked. These triggers are at times nearly impossible to find. If you are not fond of "very" methodical hunt and peck examinations you may not enjoy this game, because you must look at everything. And call your Realtor in the game, lots and lots and lots.
Mechanics: You need a mouse and a finger to click it with. It installed easily and without problem on my machine and play was without a hitch or flaw.
If slow, methodical ordered examination and game play is your thing, this is a winner. If you thrive on conversation or more active interaction, this one may not do it for you. 2.5 to 3 out of 5 for me.
 Needed a lot of help March 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm still pretty new to these types of games, so I'm sure that someone that is used to them probably didn't have the same problem as me, but it seemed like I had to use a walkthrough an awful lot.
The story is pretty interesting and weird. The graphics are nice looking, and there are times that you get chills on the back of your neck.
Would-be great game February 17, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I started off loving this game. I only played it late at night by myself, and it freaked me out. I love it. But not too far into the game I started to get miffed. I started having to scour every nook and cranny on every single floor at least more than once, in order to be able to move on. When that didn't work, I had to resort to the internet. Because I became so familiar with the house and everything about it, the game went from being scary to irritating. When I finally got into a sealed-off room, instead of thinking, "oo, spooky" I thought, "god, finally". The fun was just kinda sucked out. If you are the type that loves to click EVERY LITTLE THING, then you will love this game. Besides the obscure items that make you go wtf, the graphics are extremely good. I also liked how the storyline was going, and the music was very good and mood-setting. The game is often-times quiet, letting your imagination run wild with just about anything. But, like I said, it started to just become a chore instead of an intriguing mystery. Could've been great.
 Great computer game for those not easily freaked out October 31, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Arguably one of the best horror computer games ever created. My mother and I are avid mystery/horror video game fans and have played nearly every Nancy Drew that has come out. However, she's expanded into the Dark Fall series and Jack the Ripper, but we both played this.
This game was so creepy that I refused to play it at night because of what might happen in the game. This is perfect for anyone into solving mysteries. We both enjoyed this very much because it's not a bloody, violent game like so many other games and movies nowadays. Psychological is always better.
The game can take a short or long period of time depending on how fast you finish to how long it takes to find objects etc. I found the controls to be good except when it came to clicking on specific things when you had to get it just so or you wouldn't be able to pick it up.
Hands down, one of the best endings, that had me screaming like a little girl.
Entertaining September 26, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I found Scratches to be entertaining with just enough eery tones, sounds and graphics to give great atmosphere. There are so few games made for mystery/horror/or just-plain-want-to-play-a-story game, that I gave this one an extra star rating in cosideration of the lack of competition. I'm a mystery/thriller book reader and this game delivered great genre entertainment. Would definitely purchase any sequel or similar product. It's easy to play and there aren't any automatic rifles!
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