Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within is a point-and-click adventure game in which you control protagonists Gabriel Knight and Grave Nakimura as they investigate a mysterious death in Germany. Unlike the other games in the Gabriel Knight series, this game was produced entirely in full motion video (FMV), a groundbreaking feat when it was released in 1996.

Get pointing and clicking today

If you've played other point-and-click adventure games, you'll be pretty familiar with the basics of the Gabriel Knight games; Gabriel and Grace move from scene to scene collecting clues, interacting with objects, solving puzzles and speaking with NPCs to uncover a case that connects werewolves, Bavarian castles and the operas of Richard Wagner. The puzzles often require a little creative, lateral thinking -- and the results can sometimes feel a little silly in a way that's out of keeping with the adult tone of the game's storyline. The FMV in Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within looks a little dated, but it was considered revolutionary at the time. The biggest loss in the transition to FMV is that Tim Curry, who voiced Gabriel in the first game, doesn't return; Gabriel is played here by Dean Erickson, who looks more like a young action hero.

Always a good choice

Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within looks a bit dated in retrospect, but don't let that blind you to its challenging gameplay and fun, creative plot.