Emmanuelle (video game)

Lore & Background

The game's story centers on Emmanuelle, wife of a French businessman who travels constantly, leaving her unfulfilled. She takes a lover, Marc, but later feels guilt because she still loves her husband. Emmanuelle travels to Rio de Janeiro to escape Marc, but he follows her. The player's goal is to increase Marc's erotic potential so he can seduce her again. This potential is raised by following three laws of eroticism: law of numbers (seduce many ladies), law of asymmetry (seduce an odd number), and law of surprise (seduce masked or concealed ladies). The player must also find three erotic statuettes. The game contains no hardcore scenes, though Marc may see Emmanuelle disrobing through a keyhole; more often he sees an old man washing his feet.

Reader's Guide

Emmanuelle is notable as an early erotic adventure game from a major developer, Muriel Tramis, who is better known for the Gobliiins series, Fascination, and Lost in Time. The game's point-and-click interface, multiple-choice dialogues, and sub-games (such as casino gambling for flight money and fights with angry husbands or smugglers) were typical of the era. The DOS version lacked mouse support and used EGA, CGA, or monochrome graphics, while the Amiga and Atari ST versions used 16 colors. Reception was mixed: ST-Computer praised the graphics but criticized the lack of sound and easy puzzles; PC Power Play found the game boring and only titillating in casino sequences, also criticizing poor graphics and lack of sound. A later PC Power Play issue gave the game an 'award' for most idiotic dialogue. Despite its mixed reception, Emmanuelle represents an early attempt to blend erotic themes with adventure gameplay, and its connection to the Emmanuelle novels gives it a place in the history of licensed adult video games.

Did You Know?

• The game was co-developed by Muriel Tramis and Bertrand L'Hermite; Tramis is better known for the Gobliiins series, Fascination, and Lost in Time.
• The DOS version supports a mouse, while the Amiga and Atari ST versions use 16 colors.
• The game includes sub-games such as gambling at a casino to raise money for flight tickets.
• A later issue of PC Power Play gave Emmanuelle an 'award' for the most idiotic dialogue.