Posted on: November 2, 2015
Zlo_Pseto
Verified ownerGames: 155 Reviews: 1
Sokal's first is not the worst?
Sokal's first game is, by all means an "early work". Though the hazy, milky, vaguely greyish-tinged environments and datedness of the graphics do detract a little, the design the 2d art and the obvious fantastic imagination that went into the design of the creatures that inhabit it, along with the oh so Sokalish steampunk machinery that would flourish in the Syberia games are exactly as expected and what makes this game something worth playing through. It's a laid-back game of exploration more than a puzzler, more meant to make you absorb and enjoy your surroundings than to use your wits. Linear in its fullest, but finely story-driven, the progress actually does resemble the train/train station progress of Syberia in more way than once - and, like there, you're following in somebody else's (steampunk-laden) footsteps with a fantastic creature as your motive, goal and destination. That said, this is a standard first person adventure game of the time engine/gameplay-wise. The puzzles are sparse and generally quite easy, the only frustration coming from pixel hunting on a few occasions. Don't be afraid to make good use of the journal you get - you are supposed to! Just don't OVERuse it like I did ("hint": you have to find the "coordinates" on Shipwreck Island, the picture showing the 5° change in direction is not a hint (though it logically should've been, but still)). Plenty of empty (gameplay-wise) screens are a bit empty, but, perhaps intentionally (and more realistically). The lag while moving makes that a tad annoying (as much as leafing through the journal...). And, despite that, the game is very, VERY short too (I'd be more than slightly annoyed if I paid full retail price for the box way back when, like this, not as much). It's a 3.5 for me, and I'm hesitant to give it a 4. so a (sad) 3 it is. Pros: 2d graphic design, details, the story and the atmosphere. Cons: Character design, low difficulty (apart from pixel hunting), shortness. Essential for Sokal fans.
Is this helpful to you?
