Return of the Phantom by Microprose Solution by V&D Microprose is starting to break thru to the adventure scene and it's making very good job of it. Their adventure 'Return of the Phantom' features very realistic character movements. Graphixs is extremely detailed and colourful. Music is on it's best when listened thru roland. But OK, on with the Show. You are detective Raoul Montand with the S–ret‚ and You're spending a relaxing night at the opera, but there is an unfortunate accident and naturally You start investigation. Monsieur Brie asks You to follow him. Let's do just that! Go to the right and speak with Brie about everything. BTW always when You're speaking with anybody try to speak about all possible things, so You doesn't miss some vital clues. When manager leaves, head to the right towards orchestra pit. From the pit enter thru orchestra door. Mm, we are under stage. Let's take a look via prompter's box. After animation push prompter's stand to the new location. Trapdoor seems to be closed. No problems, pull lever and climb to the stage. If You'll want to 'break a leg' jump down to the orchestra pit. Let's go see Charles. Head to the left. Chat with Charles about phantoms and other nice things. We should catch that ballerina Julie Giry before she leaves, so stride to the backstage. At distance You'll find a door. Enter boldly and climb to the next level. Open door. Enter trough the right door and meet our lovely ballerina. Have a friendly chit-chat and climb to the next level (sorry, no elevator). In thru the door we go and go on via left door. Here's our beautiful prima donna Christine Florent. Talk to her to gather some additional evidence and clues. Now it's time to do some sky walking. Climb all the way down and try to climb up a spiral staircase. Seem to be raining? Take sandbag (You'll never know, when You need some sand!). OK, let's find out who did this. Climb carefully up. Did You just see something? I didn't see anything so proceed to the left. What's this, a blue colour frame? Grab it and move on to the left. Take a note from the chandelier cable. Now we can climb back down to the backstage and beyond. Mm, another colour frame. Get it too! There is yet another lower level for You to explore, but it's not really necessary. Take a look around (push thunder machine for some sound effects) and climb back to the backstage. Exit to stage right wing. And well, well, there lies another coloured frame. Climb through trap door back under stage. Walk back through whole house to the grand foyer. Enter through middle door to the library and take a look at broken glass case. Search left bookshelf for the certain book and retrieve it. Walk through door (to the left). Let's talk to monsieur Brie some more. If You're done all correctly to this point, You'll hear some female screams and find Yourself near Christine Florent's dressroom. Pay her a visit. She is quite dead and You have to catch his murderer. So run? to the catwalks below ceiling. And hurry to the left. Aaaarrggghhhhhh ..... You wake up on the year 1881. With spinning head, I might add. Ask some silly questions and get some astonished answers. Now You're called Raoul de Chagny. You did bring along some unwanted modern items, that don't just fit into current age. So let's go collect them. Stride to the right and get yellow frame. At backstage we'll find a cable hook. It's not too modern, but just get it just in case You'll need it someday. Go up circular staircase and find blue coloured frame. Now there's a brand new chandelier and You can climb down to it, just for fun. Now let's check out some lower floors. Climb down to the room with thunder machine. Amazing how everything seems to be the same way as it was on Your time! Locate a red coloured frame and get it. On the prop table stands new antique lantern. Grab it! Now it's time to descend to the lower floor (via staircase, of course). Take Your time and look this room over. On the box You discover a rope. Pick it up. Now we have rope and hook. Does it ring a bell? Yes, attach hook to rope. Now You have grappling device. Climb to the room with graffiti and leave thru door (yes, it's open now). Talk to Jacques, who turns out to be a quite pleasant man. Now should be good time as any to go and meet monsieur Richard. Go to the grand foyer. There You'll find one weird artist, who's a little lost. Help him to find his way. And right thru left door to the office. Chat a while and exit back to grand foyer. Let's pay visit to Madame Giry. Climb through right door and speak with her. She'll opens room five for You, when You're thru with chatting. Go in and examine room carefully. Get a note and read it. Look at the left column. A secret door! Damn, it's locked. Leave the scene and strode to the right, towards actors dressing rooms. Climb all those looonnnng stairs and visit Christine Dae‚. Chat about dreams, angels and others interesting things. Finally she throws You out. Listen at the door and when things get hot, grab axe and smash the door! She's gone! Later You'll talk with monsieur Richard until Christine walks in. Talk some more and go get Your ticket (it's left from grand foyer). Just ask about ticket for Raoul de Chagny and re-enter thru archway. Climb up through right door and open Yours newly acquired envelope. Give ticket to Madame Giry and Enter room nine. It's show time, so take a front row seat and watch some animation. Oh no! You lost her again! Discuss with Charles and go see Jacques (a prompter, remember?). Take a skeleton key from him and hurry back to the room five. Unlock lock and climb to the lowest level. Wow, You're reached catacombs. It's very dark in the catacombs so turn on Your gas lamp and dive to the dark labyrinth. These catacombs are Very difficult to cross and it seems, that they are also somewhat different every time You play, or maybe they differ accordingly to Your level. I'm going to give some directions, that worked for me (I played it on 'challanging' level). Maybe You are able to use only part of it (sorry). If You'll get lost, try to draw a map of those catacombs. Don't give up, best parts is yet to come. OK, here we go. I'm starting in the first room after entering dark passage. You should go : up right right up check : You should be in large corridor up right right right right left check : You should be at the pier of some sort left up up left up left left down right up right right right right right check : You should be at the pier's other side. right right up If all went well, then you should see a barred door and an unlucky adventurer. If You can't find them, just keep looking. They have to be somewhere! The unlucky adventurer has dropped his glorious sword. Take his sword. Look at switch panel. Hmm, nice skulls. You remember, what Madame Giry told about puzzles and our friend phantom? It means, that every switch represents correspondending letter from alphabet. We should punch in a correct code. We can't ignore phantom's ego so punch in word 'ERIK'. This can be accomplished with pushing switches 5,18,9 and 11. Be sure to try out wrong combination too, You'll see/hear some nice effects. Let's proceed to the monster's lair. This web is blocking Your way? Cut web with the sword. Now there comes some more directions that may or may not match Yours so be patient. left left left up right And that's it. Now You should be near the famous abode. Enter through right door. Now You're in hot room that's coming hotter all the time. You have to push panels and make a perfect picture to get ahead. The picture should look like phantom's mask. When You're do it right, then the trapdoor opens. Isn't it a bit too high for You? That's why we are carrying our hooked rope. Grapple trap door and climb up. Now You're in impressive room with nice little pipe organ. Sit in large chair for some nice creepy feelings. When You've had some fun, sit on organ bench and play something shooting. Hmm, nice fireworks. By the way, 'Little Fugue in G Minor' worked for me. When door opens go and see Christine. Nice surroundings, huh? Look at skull face to discover a keyhole and unlock sarcophagus with skeleton key. At the front are some skulls with springs. Push at them until coffin opens. Christine rushes to You and gives away her wedding ring. Talk to her and wear ring. Go to the previous room and when phantom appears, attach him with sword. The monster disappears and You can grab an opera score from pipe organ. Let's get out of this creepy place! Go out and grab oar. Lead Your lady left through door. Jump to the boat and here we go! Go to the room five and ... What's that? Old foe does his tricks again! Follow them through the pillar to the upper level. Where could our young lovers be? Let's check out the chandelier. You'll lose your only sword and have to try some hand combat. Try not to choke and push his cane. Now take mask from the phantom and discover his real face! Well, that's it. Epilogue is almost automatic. Hope that You enjoyed 'Return of the Phantom'. I most certainly did. And, yeah, sorry 'bout my terrible English (almost forget this one). See ya in the next solve. By. solution by V&D This solution was written on late November ANNO DOMINI 1993