Draft:The Phantom Fellows

The Phantom Fellows is a comedy adventure game developed by Paul Korman and published by Strummer Games. It is set to be released on September 27, 2024, for PC, Mac, and Linux platforms. The game follows the story of the living Oliver Cobblestone and his ghostly companion Englebert Picklebender, who have started a paranormal investigation business together. The two must work together in order to solve paranormal cases.

Development and Release
The Phantom Fellows was developed using Adventure Game Studio and is inspired by classic adventure games from Sierra and LucasArts. The development process began in 2020, with Korman leading the project as the sole developer. Paul, co-host of the adventure game podcast, the Classic Gamers Podcast since 2018, is the programmer, writer, artist, and musician for the game. The game has been featured at various gaming events and has garnered attention for its nostalgic charm and innovative puzzles.

The game was officially announced in April 2020, with a planned release date of September 27, 2024. It will be available on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms. A demo of the game was released on Steam, providing players with the first two days of gameplay.

Gameplay
The Phantom Fellows is a point-and-click adventure comedy that features environmental puzzles with an emphasis on narrative and exploration. Players can choose to play as either Oliver Cobblestone, who is alive and has agency over the physical world, or as Englebert Picklebender, who isn't bound by the laws of the material world and can communicate with other spirits.

The game takes place over seven days, with each day containing its own paranormal case. The game features a pixel art style with dramatic lighting effects and an atmospheric synthwave soundtrack that complement the various days (cases) in the game, which involve haunted locations and employers, as well as restless spirits. The gameplay includes classic adventure mechanics such as inventory management, dialogue trees, and environmental puzzles.

Inspiration and Influences
Korman drew inspiration from classic adventure games such as Sierra's Gabriel Knight and Laura Bow games, and LucasArts' Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis and Sam and Max. Inspiration also came from modern adventure games from Wadjet Eye, as well as Thimbleweed Park. The game's 2.5D perspective was pioneered by The Darkside Detective, which Korman credits for inspiration when he first noticed the unique, truly 2D perspective and wanted to integrate it with a Sierra-style adventure where you had the freedom to walk around and explore.

Reception
The Phantom Fellows has received positive early reviews from the adventure gaming community. Adventure Game Hotspot praised the game for its engaging narrative and retro art style, while Adventure Gamers highlighted the innovative gameplay mechanics and unique partnership between the main characters.