I really enjoyed these games and they are a good example of how powerful a great story can be. It is the well conceived story and the excellent writing that makes these games so enjoyable. The characters are well fleshed out and realistic (as much as a ghost can be realistic) and the dynamics between them and their reactions to the plot elements are fantastic. The sarcasm especially is well-written and fun. Dave Gilbert is an excellent writer, not quite in the league of Jane Jensen, but close. On the other hand, due to the shortness of the episodes, the plots are not as in-depth as some other well-written adventure games. In terms of gameplay, the Blackwell episodes are relatively simple. The interface is not very complex and is easy to learn. There are few objects or inventory items. Furthermore, the puzzles are mostly straightforward and shouldn't pose a problem to an adventure gamer. Some will make you think but none will fry your brain. There are also few locations. However, this linearity is not such a bad thing sometimes as it doesn't present brain-busting puzzles or vast areas that need to be exhaustively explored, things that might distract from the story, which is what really drives this game. All four of the games are very short and each will only take you a few hours. It's probably best to think of this bundle as a single game in four bite-sized parts. The graphics are very emotive and retro in style, something I find charming, having grown up with the old Sierra and Lucasarts adventures. They are very 90's in style and quality, but then again, these are indie games. The only weakness I can see, and it is a very mild weakness, is that a few interface and graphic elements change slightly in each consecutive episode. Overall however, this is an excellent and entertaining series. If you like a good story and realistic, endearing characters you will probably get a lot of enjoyment from this bundle. However, if you are only interested in supremely challenging puzzles or fancy graphics, you might want to look somewhere else.
