I own and have played every Wadjet Eye that is on GOG to date, and can say that their games are all about the story, its telling and the characters within. If you're looking for mind boggling puzzles that will take you hours to solve, you're better off looking elsewhere, especially if you're a seasoned adventure gamer. That being said, Unavowed (and other Wadjet Eye games in general) have a unique way of setting a special ambiance, that personally manage to bring a calm to my mind whenever I play them. This one especially is all about (the illusion of the) choices you make, that get reflected down the line in the game. I found it quite enjoyable, and would recommend to anyone really. I think that anyone could enjoy it, albeit at a different level. As a bonus, like with most Wadjet Eye games, you get to enjoy references to their previous installments if you got to play them, though it is not required that you have. The game features pixel art, and animations that are trying to capture a Noir vibe. I found the character's facial renderings especially aesthetically pleasing in this game, though I thought the renderings of the full sized characters could use some more work - and I say this knowing that it can be a faux pas, as pixel art leaves much to the mind of the person looking at it. The game features several areas of New York City, so the game does not feel repetitive or tiresome to play. Each unique area just enough variance in order to keep the mind entertained. One of the things I enjoyed the most however, was the soundtrack. I think it is probably my favorite part of this one. I felt like it captured the ambiance of every room perfectly, and I could just leave the game rolling so I could enjoy the music while I did other things. 5/5 on that one. To cut this short, I gave this 4 starts is because I did not find the puzzles difficult enough, and because there is a personal, romanticized note to the portrayal of New York city, one that I do not agree with.
The Flashback, Heart of Darkness and Another World references are appropriate, although with a more romantic twist. The only con I can think of for this game is that it was too short. I completed it in about 7 hours, in two sittings. I can see a lot of reviews pointing out flaws - I didn't run into any of them. They must have been fixed by the time I got to play it. I had a complete, immersive and un-broken gameplay. Checkpoints are placed exactly where they need to be in order to tickle that vein that pops on your forehead. This game is not meant to be a hit-and-run experience, it involves timing and patience for a great deal of the puzzles. The puzzles themselves do not offer a lot of explanation, but are appropriately intuitive. If you get stuck somewhere, stop for a second and engage your brain. The graphics and scene direction are gorgeous - as much as the pixelated art allow it to be. If you like seeing pixels and the brought-back retro style, you will love how this game looks. The soundtrack is wonderous melancholy. All in all this game managed to both surprise me, and somehow be what I expected it to be.
I've been playing computer games for 20+ years, and I can honestly say that I've not found a more satisfying and complete experience than this one. The game is exceptional on all fields: plot versatility, character depth, moral choices, visuals, music, combat system... It's a game that belongs to a very small subset of games (if not the only one of its kind) that manages to pair storytelling and dynamic combat so well. It also provides for SO MUCH replay value, especially if you're accustomed to playing on a lower difficulty level, and would then want to increase it, as was the case with me. - Visuals Words cannot do it justice, just go look at a gameplay video. I've had Geralt stood on a hill or mountain somewhere just so I would have a beautiful backdrop on my monitor. All quests have a cinematic quality to them that adds to the storytelling experience. - Music The score is perfectly suited to every situation. You'll get that distinct Slavic folklore feeling in most fairytale situations, and beautifully orchestrated melodies in others. - Voice acting In past years my biggest gripe with games was sub-par voice acting, but this game has none of that. Every developed character has an equally developed emotional spectrum to back him/her. - Story and plot It's better if you've played the previous games beforehand, or have been otherwise familiarized with the Witcher universe. The game re-introduces characters and plot elements that have a rich background, and wastes little time on repeating itself. However, you will be able to enjoy it even if you're new to the series, guaranteed. It has just enough hooks so you can get familiar with them. As for the story itself, it is very well written, and endlessly intriguing. Both expansions bring something new to the table as well. If you're thinking about it, if you're doubtful whether you'll like this type of games, then stop. Just buy it.
