Scratches

Scratches is a mystery adventure computer game by the game developer Nucleosys. Scratches is the first commercial adventure game developed in Argentina. The game tells the story of the Blackwood estate on the outskirts of Rothbury, a small rural town in Northumberland, England in 1976. Originally, the house was owned by James T. Blackwood in 1963. After Mr. Blackwood is accused of murdering his wife, it passes to Christopher Milton. A few days later, Mr. Blackwood dies of a sudden heart attack, though rumors swirl around town that he may have committed suicide. The police decide to close the case, as there is no more evidence. Shortly after acquiring the house, Milton inexplicably disappears in 1970, leaving no visible trace. The player takes on the role of the next occupant of the house, Michael Arthate, an author who wants to retire to work on his next book. He moves into the house and finds that the house's horrific past still literally resonates, as scratches can be heard everywhere, especially in the basement and on the chimneys, and soon he becomes more interested in researching the house's history than in writing. Scratches uses the first-person perspective to navigate through the house. Using the mouse, the player can enter different rooms and other locations to solve the mystery of Blackwood and Milton's disappearance. The music and special sound effects of the now-defunct band Cellar of Rats add to the terrifying atmosphere in the mansion, crypt, greenhouse and church. The game is heavily influenced by the H.P. Lovecraft mythos and several direct references to Lovecraft's works appear in Scratches. There are references in the game to the Necronomicon, De Vermis Mysteriis, Lovecraft's story "The Mountains of Madness," and a critic of Michael's book named R'yleh. Michael says in the game that he has just moved to Rothbury from Providence, Rhode Island - Lovecraft's hometown.