Gabriel Knights: The Beast Within

This is the game that I actually bought the actual imported box with my own money when it first came out :)

The Best FMV adventure game that ever came out. With engaging plots (if you are into this genre), professional actors, great soundtrack including a Wagnerian opera, and deep historic background make this game a masterpiece.

The sequel of the cult hit Gabriel Knights: Sins of the fathers. The story continue after Gabriel relocated to his inherited castle in Germany to continue his writing while Grace manning the bookstore in New Orleans now famous from the release of Gabriel's first novel. A group of villagers comes to the Rittersberg castle asking for the Schattenjäger, 'Shadow Hunter' to help them rid of the werewolf which has kill a young girl in Munich.

The quest will take you, Gabriel and Grace through many parts of Germany, from Munich to Bavaria, visiting the famous Neuschwanstein castle that inspired the Disneyland's castle, the Black Madonna of Altötting and probing into the myths of King Ludwig II. You will also be discovering Wagner lost opera, how important it was to King Ludwig II and the speculation of his death.

Graphic wise this is a FMV: Full Motion Video presentation. At the time this game came out it was already toward the end of FMV era, many games utilized this technology to the point of derogatory and eventually with the arrival of 3D graphic, made FMV obsolete and too expensive. However, this is one of the few games where FMV was done right, with top notch performing by the casts. Most notably the leading actors for Gabriel, Grace and the antagonist, the supporting casts are not too shabby either.

The magnificent soundtrack by Robert Holmes, who even composed an original Wagnerian opera for the story, titled "Der Fluch Des Engelhart" ("The Curse of Engelhart") help added to the dramatic and mysterious atmosphere of the game. This is one of the few game that you will actually like the BGM :).

This is the game you need to have if you considered yourself an Adventure gamer.