SAGA: IHNM (Ellen) Character walks through Sphinx

[Thunderforge]

In Ellen's section, once you blindfold yourself and go into the room with the Sphinx, Ellen says that the Sphinx is not there. She then walks over the cup, takes it, and leaves.

However, the Sphinx still stands there motionlessly and Ellen walks right through it.

Reproduction Steps

1. Load the attached save game
2. Click on the entryway to the right

Ellen will note the Sphinx is not there, then walk through it. After she walks out, you can go in again and she will walk through the Sphinx again.

​This walkthrough describes this bug, so it is likely in the original game.

Bug: When wearing the blindfold in the Holy Grail room, Ellen walks directly through the Sphinx's motionless sprite. It's not clear if the Sphinx is actually supposed to be there, and it's symbolic of Ellen overcoming her fear, or if it's just a graphical bug.

Expected behavior

Given how glitchy this looks, I'm inclined to think this is not intended behavior. Ellen's dialogue seems to indicate that the Sphinx shouldn't be visible at all.

I do notice that the Sphinx is in a different spot than if you go into the room without the blindfold. I suppose it could also be argued that the sphinx should be in the original spot, but motionless, since Ellen doesn't fear it. This would avoid the problem of her walking through it while still having the irony that it's still there, but powered by her fears.

Tested on

• I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream ​GOG release
• ScummVM 2.9.1