Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh, also refered to as Phantasmagoria 2, is the 'sequel' to point and click horror Phantasmagoria. Both games were developed by Sierra in the 90's. A Puzzle of Flesh not a direct sequel, focusing on Curtis Craig. The game does take place in the same universe as Adrienne Delaney, the first games heroine making the game a sequel in name and themes alone.

The game was maligned upon its first release, gaining mediorcre to hostile low scores. It has since gained a cult following thanks to playthroughs, most notably The Spoony One's playthrough coining the meme 'I heard that Curtis!'

It had also caught controvery in the same way as the first game for useage of graphic sexual and violent content. The useage of BDSM as focal plot point serves to only add fuel to the fire. The game was banned in mostly European and Oceianic regions. Notable being Singapore out right banning the game while Austrailia preferred to censor the game heavily.

The story revolves around Curtis Craig. An average joe with a history of psychotic meltdowns and erratic behaviour following his traumatic childhood. He works at WynTech with his girlfriend Jocilyn and best friend Travis.

Sometime after an average day of work, Curtis' coworker Bob hung back to make Curtis fall behind on work and to continue giving 'RatBoy' a hard time, however the next day he was found brutally murdered in Curtis' office.

Slowly one by one, his co-workers are killed off, sending him further into a spiral.

A Puzzle of Flesh can be noted as a 'good for its time' for representing Mental Illness, Child Abuse, and the LGBT community. Travis is rather obviously gay but is never used as the butt of a joke unless it's Curtis bantering about his lastest boyfriend. Curtis himself outwardly states that he is both attracted to his Jocilyn and Travis, making him Bisexual.

While Travis does die, it's not because he is gay or even after confessing his love to Curtis. He dies because he knows too much of WynTech. While it is miserable to have a gay character die, it feels natural and beliveable in the outlandish terror found in the story.

Some critism can be held to the game, However it's been long enough since I've played that it might be a while before I divulge my issues that I find.

I adore the game graphic visceral and gory style, its gritty and grimy. Even in calmer atmospheres, it feels unsafe in a way. Maybe that's on me but the melancholy of the amibent tracks in the game add to this feeling of living on edge or simply getting by while holding the ship full of holes.

My favorite segment of the game has to be the office nightmare with the zombified versions of Curtis' coworkers, It's so scary in such a passive way. It evokes that sitting like a duck in the snipers field well if you don't do anything.

This game is...very very fucking important to me. It's one of the first games I saw myself in. I've been through so much that the game shows in such a raw way. It's cheesy as fuck yes but god dammit I feel seen and I've grown deeply DEEPLY attached to this game.

I don't want to divulge what I've been through entirely but to see a Curtis be bisexual, have severe familial trauma, and even his morbid interest in gore and BDSM. It's healing to see, I love Curtis as my messy rep. He's far from perfect and even cheats on his partner, a HEAVY trigger of mine. I value characters like Curtis.

Through it all, this game will continue to serve as something fundamental to my life.