Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus

Elvira 2 The Jaws of Cerberus Cover

Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus is a computer game developed by Horror Soft and published by Accolade in 1991. It is the second installment in the Elvira series, following the success of its predecessor, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. The game combines elements of adventure, role-playing, and horror, offering players a unique and immersive gaming experience.

Gameplay

Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus is played from a first-person perspective, with players navigating through a series of interconnected locations, solving puzzles, and combating various monsters and supernatural entities. The game is notable for its use of a point-and-click interface, which was relatively advanced for its time. Players interact with the game world by selecting actions from a menu and applying them to objects and areas within the game's environments.

The player's main objective is to rescue Elvira, who has been trapped inside a horror film studio that has been taken over by the monstrous Cerberus. The studio is divided into different sets, each themed around a specific type of horror movie, adding a diverse range of environments and enemies. The game incorporates a magic system, allowing players to collect ingredients and recipes to concoct spells that aid in combat and puzzle-solving.

Development

The development of Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus was led by the team at Horror Soft, a division of Adventure Soft, a British company known for its adventure games. The game's graphics were praised for their detailed and atmospheric design, contributing significantly to the overall horror ambiance. The use of digitized actors for the characters, including Elvira herself, played by actress Cassandra Peterson, added a level of realism uncommon in games at the time.

Reception

Upon its release, Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus received positive reviews for its challenging puzzles, atmospheric graphics, and innovative combination of game genres. However, some critics noted the game's high difficulty level and the complexity of its spell-casting system as potential barriers for casual players. Despite these criticisms, the game has maintained a cult following among fans of horror and adventure games.

Legacy

The Elvira game series, including Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus, is considered a pioneer in the horror game genre, influencing the development of future horror-themed games. The series' blend of horror, humor, and adventure set a precedent for how these elements could be combined to create engaging and entertaining gaming experiences. The character of Elvira, already popular from television and film, gained additional recognition through her appearances in these games, further cementing her status as a cultural icon of horror.