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Date |
: Dec 15th, 2005 |
| Genre |
: Various |
| Developer |
: Various |
| Author |
: Jin-Ning Tioh |
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Adventure games live up to their reputation once again as being the genre on life-support. Emphasizing exploration, puzzle solving and mental prowess rather than an itchy trigger finger, it seems a sad statement that gamers these days are abandoning the genre. Still, what the genre lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. Among the releases this year is the final chapter of the renowned Myst series, as well as the tremendously innovative Indigo Prophecy.
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| Myst V : End of Ages |
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| Platform |
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PC |
| Genre |
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Adventure |
| Developer |
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Cyan Worlds |
| Publisher |
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Ubisoft |
More than ten years ago, the original Myst revolutionized the adventure genre with its elegant point and click interface, and its beautiful and detailed pre-rendered scenery, a series staple. Now the series draws to a close with Myst V : End of Ages, a title which stays faithful to its roots with its similarly elegant interface and a truly stunning world rendered in 3D.
Not expecting players to have played the previous four titles, Myst V does a fair job of summarizing the events of the previous games as the story progresses. Two characters you meet up early on are Esher, an enigmatic man with the habit of appearing out of thin air, and Yeesha, a tormented woman whose diaries are scattered throughout the game, and provide some clue about your current predicament. Rarely however, is there any frantic urgency - there are no monsters to battle, no danger threatening to impale you - only worlds to explore, and puzzles to be solved. As always, players explore the rich environments of Myst from a first-person perspective, progressing through four ages, or four different worlds. The goal is to find a special object in each age whose power can be only harnessed once all four have been found. In each age, you'll discover a mystical stone tablet known as a slate. Inscribing the proper symbols may summon the bahro - strange creatures that you catch a glimpse of early on - or even cause environmental effects such as a wind storm or rain to further advance puzzles in each age.
In the end, though it doesn't end on as spectacular a note as one might expect of a series finale, Myst V still represents an enjoyable time for anyone who loves puzzle solving.
In Short : A solid, enjoyable adventure title with an interesting storyline and challenging puzzles. A worthy ending to a landmark series. |
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| Indigo Prophecy |
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| Platform |
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PC |
| Genre |
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Adventure |
| Developer |
: |
Quantic Dream |
| Publisher |
: |
Atari |
Meet Lucas Kane - the proverbial man on the street, with nothing special about him. But when he suddenly loses all control of his actions and finds himself murdering a complete stranger in the restroom of a diner, Kane has no idea what drove him to such an act. The only clue he has is the two snake-like symbols that he carved into his forearms before regaining control, but he has more immidiate problems. New York City police detectives, Carla Valenti and Tyler Miles are hot on his trail - he must cover his tracks and flee the diner. Players experience the story from the perspective of all three characters. Though the main plot points don't change, every action taken as one character affects the other - if Kane fails to cover his tracks completely, the police can use it to track him down easier. Of course, certain actions - such as attempting to run full tilt out of the diner still covered in blood and getting caught by a cop - means game over. The superbly written story weaves a tale of the occult, with suspense dodging your every step.
The production values of the games are mixed. On one hand, the graphics look somewhat dated, with some character models looking just plain ugly. The voice acting however, is top-notched. Combined with a good script, they really bring the characters to life. The decidedly moody soundtrack serves to draw you further into the story. In Short : Dated graphics, fantastic storyline with multiple endings, superb voice-acting, moody soundtrack. Strongly recommended for any adventure lover's collection - or anyone who just plain enjoys a good story really. |
Other Adventure Titles Worth Checking Out
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Victoria McPherson is a brilliant young FBI agent who's investigating a serial murder case in Chicago. The body count is now at five and she has no real leads, nothing but a mountain of circumstantial evidence and a boss who's breathing down her neck.
In order to take a break from it all, she decides to visit her father in the suburbs. Their discussions involve family stories which include Victoria's grandfather, who used to be a private investigator. This leads Victoria to read one of her grandfather's old case files, a file which reveals an uncomfortably high number of similarities between a seventy-five year old case in Europe and the current string of killings in Chicago...
As two characters - Gustav (Gus) McPherson, and his granddaughter, Victoria McPherson, players must solve the mystery scenario set in modern Chicago and late 1920's Prague. 3D visuals and a unique dialog tree system keep you in the thick of the mystery. |
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Set in New York City in 2044, players step into the role of Peter Wright, an advertising executive currently heading up the Government's 'Freedom of Speech' campaign. When a heavily armed SWAT team storms his neighbor’s apartment, Peter must uncover the truth behind his mysterious disappearance as he becomes drawn into the deceptive worlds of corruption and power.
Mixing real-world locations with fictitious environments to create immersive and incredibly varied worlds, the Moment of Silence offers more than eight hours of professional voice talent for heart-pounding drama. Traditional adventure puzzles are fused with dialogue choices and moments of high drama, putting the game on par with some of cinema's greatest thrillers, where action sequences are integrated to create a constantly challenging adventure. |
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