The Cthulhu mythos is very dark and dreary, the lack of color helped add to that. The graphics are smooth in most cases, but the load time can be a hassle. Though the pause is not very long, it is noticeable. Prisoner of Ice truly shines in the sound department. Every step you take echoes off the hard wood floors.
Every motion has a sound, every person has their own voice.
The music, though simplistic, adds to the general ambiance of the game. Just like in real life, the music gets faster as you approach danger, thereby warning you of impending doom. In a word, gameplay. Just like the old Sierra games, the interface doesn't allow you to continue unless you have found a certain object. I couldn't count the number of times that I was stuck for several hours.