The Whispered World: Special Edition

Point and click adventure game with a Neverending Story feel and 80s style cartoon cutscenes & voiceovers and frustrating 90s mechanics. The whole feel of this game is like some cult import cartoon you didn't understand when you were eight and were increasingly sure you just imagined. There's also enough relevant plot here that you'll probably want to complete it before playing the much more accessible sequel Silence. Be warned, however, you'll likely be happier using a guide because the logic of all the puzzles and the extensive inventory goes from quite opaque to nonexistent to downright bizzare. Art and especially art design is exceptional. A lot of reviews seem to complain about the voice acting but they're going for camp and they achieved it which just reinforces the whole 80s cartoon vibe. If the puzzles had clearer logic this would be a strong recommend.

TWW is a touching and beautifully put together story about a boy who... well, you'll find out. Gorgeous art and a vibrant, imaginative world really drew me in, so that I still think back to the game years after playing it. I enjoyed the voice acting, even Sadwick's voice, which many lament as annoying; I found it to be hilarious! I will concede that the puzzles are difficult and often illogical, but I suppose I expect a degree of that in point-and-click adventure games, and using a walkthrough, as a consequence, doesn't bother me much. It was the story and the characters, the incredible world they inhabit, and the haunting music (the music!) that kept me playing. Truly beautiful!

Pro: I enjoyed the visuals of the game. Sadwick's grandpa is an enjoyable character. Cons: I just couldn't get over the voice of Sadwick. I've never had to listen to such an annoying voice saying the same thing over and over again. What's with the lisp? Many of the puzzles did not make much sense. For me it was a lot of guess work and hunting for hotspots (I am glad that you can press a button to make them all highlighted though). 2 stars for the pros mentioned above. It might have turned out to be a decent game but I couldn't finish it. My ears just continually bled. I have to put up with enough annoying voices in my life and in my head, I didn't want to continue to torture myself. I already spend too much on therapists.

This is a fairy tale. A beautiful one. Graphic was inspired by Monkey Island 3, and remade in this amazingly artistic style. This is a game good to see, good to just listening the music and wandering from one place to other. Combining items is art. For example, you have a compass. If you try to combine the compass with an item (let's say a pot), there is no 'That will not work' text, rather that you read: 'The compass points North, where noone hungry anymore.' Or something like this. Or you can here a little story, life event of our (anti)hero, something connected with the pot. This was a game I was amazed to play.

One extra point for being a beautifully painted title in the point and click tradition that looks like someone put time and money in and because I hope Daedalic does more like Deponia or Edna and Harvey. Instantly, exceptionally and perpetually disliked the protagonist. A grown man lisping like a fake, depressing little boy. Clicked through his dialogue for almost all of it. Some puzzles were worst case contrivances. Straight time theft. I generally don't pick up a walkthrough ran into 3 cases that fairly demanded one because my time was more valuable than any sense of accomplishment available and by the end I just wanted to get it over with and see if there was some redemption in the story line. Meh. On first attempt I discarded the game icon into the archived folder for finished games after about 5 minutes. Ran low on titles and gave it a second chance months later mainly because of other Daed games. Having played through I would warn you not to pick this up unless all other options are exhausted. Night of the Rabbit or any other Daedalic p'n'c's for example. Unwritten Tales... Anything...