Ripper is a suspense-filled point-and-click adventure game. The game debuted on March 4, 1996 for PC. It is by American video game developer and publisher Take-Two Interactive. The game features many stars, like Christopher Walken, to fill their interactive movie cast.
Ripper received positive reviews as audiences loved its immense depth as an engaging horror mystery with different possibilities. Within the first seven months of its release, the game made Take-Two Interactive over $3,500,000.
Ripper Premise
This interactive movie adventure takes place in a futuristic New York City in 2040. A serial killer known as “The Ripper” has committed at least three murders so far and that number will continue to grow. The Ripper sends messages that detail his or her murders to a reporter for the Virtual Herald, Jake Quinlan. The Ripper commits these killings by placing a code into the victim’s brain from cyberspace that causes their body to explode. This unique murder mystery experience features cybersurgeons, cyberspace, cyber weapons, and more.
The game uses the real Jack the Ripper as inspiration and references him several times. The true identity of the Ripper is random from four characters, Joey Falconetti, Claire Burton, Vincent Magnotta, or Catherine Powell. The game has a decent amount of replay value with the clues and identity of the Ripper being random each time.
Ripper Main Characters
Players control Jake Quinlan, played by actor Scott Cohen, an investigative reporter who is writing about the Ripper murders. He receives letters and messages from The Ripper that give details on the murders only he or she would know. Quinlan is forced to delve deeper into this mystery when his girlfriend, Catherine Powell, is attacked by The Ripper in put into a coma.
The four other main characters of the game all play a key part in the story.
- Joey Falconetti: A brilliant, yet disturbed, computer hacker who has a fascination with the real Jack the Ripper. He is divorced from Clare Burton but still has feelings for her. Joey is played by David Patrick Kelly.
- Clare Burton: This doctor is a brilliant yet distant cybersurgeon who specializes in the human brain. She invented the weapon The Ripper uses to commit murder. She claims someone stole it, but who really knows? Clare is played by Karen Allen.
- Vincent Magnotta: This detective has a history of violence and is in love with Clare Burton. Whether due to his bias over Clare or to draw suspicion away from himself, Vincent acts convinced Joey is The Ripper. Vincent is played by Christopher Walken.
- Catherine Powell: Catherine is Jake Quinlan’s girlfriend and assistant. She goes behind Quinlan’s back to investigate the story in hopes of launching her own career as an investigative reporter. She is the only living victim of The Ripper and spends the game in a coma. Catherine is portrayed by Tahnee Welch.
Ripper Series
While Ripper is a standalone sci-fi experience, Take-Two Interactive has developed, published, and distributed many games to date. Their catalogue has a wide variety of point-and-click mysteries, interactive thrillers, and more. So if you are looking for more of their PC games, check out the list of titles below.
- Star Crusader (1994)
- Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller (1994)
- Master of Orion (1995)
- Bureau 13 (1996)
- Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft (1997)
- Black Dahlia (1998)
Ripper Cheat Codes
Ripper has several different cheats to help players solve the mystery. Type these codes during a puzzle or combat to instantly complete or win them.
| Effect | Code |
| Catherine’s Apartment | PISCES |
| Catherine’s Well | ARCADE |
| Falcon Eddie’s Well | PARADISE |
| Catherine’s Brain | CAFFEINE |
| Web Runners’ Well | ZZTOP |
| Dr. Burton’s Secret Lab | SPARKY |
| Falcon Eddie’s Secret Well (Puzzle) | HEADACHE |
| Falcon Eddie’s Secret Well (Book) | SPONGE |
| Weapon 1 Well | ASPIRIN |
| Anti-Viral Well | RETZEL |
| Anti-Rival Well | EXTERMINATOR |
| Warp Space | WARP |
| Wofforod’s Well | VULCAN |
And to open the Director’s Menu, check out the code below.
| Effect | Code |
| Open Director’s Menu | Hold both Shift keys and click the Power button. |
Ripper Cheat Code FAQ
Does Ripper have any cheat codes?
Yes! Ripper has several cheat codes that let players access the Director’s Menu, solve puzzles, and win combat.
What are cheat codes?
Cheat codes are exploits that change the game’s behavior and give players an advantage. They may help win a level, make the player completely invincible, or do some other action that wouldn’t take place without them. Cheat codes can also add wacky effects to the game like making your character’s head massive or shooting rainbows out of your gun.
These cheat codes can make the game more accessible and appealing to casual gamers or those who find its current state inaccessible.