Syberia

still waiting for them to fix the install; nevermind being able to play it.

I remember playing the demo for Syberia when it had just come out; I loved it then. So when it on GOG, I bought it immediately. I don't regret it. However, be warned, fans of LucasArts games will be a little put off initially by the lack of humor and under-developed conversation system. Cons: The game makes you run all over the place, and there's no way of skipping the run animation. Sometimes it feels artificially long, like they just want to pad out the game length. Voice acting can also get on your nerves, with accents being completely random, and sometimes cheesy. There can be a bit of pixel hunting too, but what adventure game doesn't have that? Pros: The story is excellent, landscapes and animations are gorgeous, characters are strong and well-developed. The music, while not breathtaking, does the job and sets the mood. Puzzles are easy, maybe a little too easy. All in all, more than worth the price of admission.

Though a bit of an underdog, this is a real gem! Very nice presentation and voice acting. Steampunk theme for some ppl is something needs to get used to, but it's all very authentic and looks the part and builds up a great atmosphere. It is a bit similar to the Fallout 50s Themes, but not post-apocalyptic. Very nice compelling story, even casual gamers can play this, as the level is not tooo high, and not too easy. Grab it this weekend, if you like quality adventures! And after that, Syberia 2 is the seamless sequel. Also recommend that (because also 50% off).

Adventure games are rarely balanced. For example, the Monkey Island games, which are almost always said to be the best games of the genre, are riddled with impossible puzzles - the kind which are almost always solved by randomly clicking inventory items. Syberia, while definitely not as "deep" as, say, Sierra's games, has that atmosphere - and of course, a story - that pulls you in. Like all good adventure games, it leaves you with that "hovering" feeling after you complete the game. Puzzles, while not that hard, require a bit of thinking and attention. Graphics and sound are probably the last categories an adventure gamer would look at. Even though, the game excels in bot these categories, and they contribute greatly to the atmosphere. Any bad thing that comes to mind about Syberia is no different from other adventure games. First of all, it's a short game, but this is to be expected. And second, there's too much going back and forth, with some scenes having paths that seem to go on for miles. This leaves you staring at the screen as Kate walks/jogs towards the next scene. To sum it up, Syberia is a top-notch adventure game. It played a big role in the revival of the genre, and it shows why. Recommended.

I just completed syberia1&2 for the 3rd time. Boght them as they were published. I started this kind of gaming with MYST in '94, and still play MOUL. However, I am so impressed with syberia characters, plot and the syberia world that I'm likely to play them again, if only to walk around to view the backgrounds again. For me, one of the top 3 games of all time.