Eternam is a single-player action adventure game developed by Infogrames and originally released in 1992 for MS-DOS. The title places players in the role of Don Jonz, an intergalactic space marshal who wins a vacation on Eternam, a massive planetary amusement park featuring themed islands that recreate eras from human history.
Gameplay
The core loop alternates between exploration and puzzle solving in detailed 2D environments and brief 3D traversal segments across open landscapes. In towns, castles, pyramids, and other locations, players examine objects, interact with characters, and solve inventory-based puzzles using a set of action icons controlled by keyboard. Items and points of interest highlight automatically with vector lines, streamlining selection without a mouse in the original release.
Between key sites, the game shifts to a first-person 3D view where flying reptiles attack. Defense requires timing shots with the space bar while navigating toward the next destination. These sequences draw from an earlier Infogrames title and serve mainly as connective tissue rather than deep combat systems. Humor arises through anachronistic dialogue and situations, such as medieval figures referencing modern technology or absurd historical mashups across the islands representing ancient Egypt, the age of knights, the French Revolution, and additional periods.
Tracy, a technician who has digitized herself into the park's network, provides guidance and commentary through on-screen messages. Progress demands careful observation, creative use of found items, and navigation of the park's quirky inhabitants while avoiding traps set by the antagonist.
Game Modes
Eternam offers only a single-player campaign. There are no multiplayer options, competitive modes, or alternate play styles. The experience remains linear in structure, guiding players across five islands toward a final confrontation while allowing some freedom in exploration and puzzle order within each area.
Story and Setting
The narrative follows Don Jonz as he arrives on Eternam only to discover his rival Mikhal Nuke has seized control with the help of hostile forces. The park's bio-tech creatures and historical recreations become battlegrounds filled with tongue-in-cheek remarks and surreal encounters. Tracy's remote assistance adds a layer of personality and occasional comic relief as players work to restore order and escape Nuke's schemes.
Each island blends accurate historical touches with deliberate anachronisms, creating a tone that mixes light adventure with satirical humor. The journey spans pharaonic Egypt, medieval realms, revolutionary France, and further exotic locales, all rendered in the distinctive visual style of early 1990s VGA graphics.
Is It Worth Playing?
Eternam appeals primarily to enthusiasts of classic point-and-click adventures who appreciate absurdist humor and unconventional design choices. Its re-releases on modern digital platforms preserve the original experience, including the keyboard-driven interface and mixed 2D-3D presentation. Contemporary players note the game's distinctive voice acting in the CD version and its cartoony cutscenes, though some find the puzzle difficulty and lack of mouse support in the base edition frustrating by today's standards.
Those seeking a short, quirky single-player adventure with strong thematic variety may find value in its historical mashups and character interactions. The title remains a niche curiosity rather than a mainstream recommendation, best suited for retro gaming sessions where tolerance for 1990s mechanics enhances the charm.
