Excellent visual novel game where narrative choices count.
I really enjoyed The Excavation of Hob's Barrow. The puzzles aren't too complicated, the dialogue and voice acting are fab, and the story well thought out. Personally, I liked the ending. I thought it fitted well with what happened throughout the game and the atmosphere created by dialogue and events.
I first bought this game on disk and it's lovely that GOG have released a DRM version for modern PCs. In this German RPG you start as a solo character and over time gain a group of adventurers with different skills you can call upon to join you in various adventures. There is a wide range of talents to construct your characters from and combat is super, once you get the hang of it. I've played Drakensang and The River of Time a number of times. Each is engaging and very enjoyable. Hopefully, GOG will release both The River of Time and Phileasson's Secret as well. Highly recommended and a steal at this price.
I bought this game on disk when it first came out and it is one of my all time favourites. Scarlett is a super character who the player empathises with at every turn. Voice acting, graphics and how the game is organised to take you on her journey, are all well realised and executed. One aspect I love is how fighting isn't handed to you on a plate. Enemies are tough, relentless and as Scarlett progresses how she moves becomes wonderfully fluid. Boss fights are challenging and terrific fun. Venetica has an interesting skill tree, especially as Scarlett is able to cross the boundary between life and death. Over the years I've played this game. I'd argue that how the skill tree is structured gives the game replay value; there are a few ways you can play this game, different routes you can take. It is easy to miss something on your first play-through due to the variety that exists within the skill tree Scarlett can learn from. This is a wonderful game, visually stunning, plus the characters Scarlett meets along the way well realised and very varied. I highly recommend Venetica, it's holds a special place in my gaming history.
Written by Canadian author Bryan Perro and produced by Artifice Studio, Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves is best described as a strategy game with action elements. You begin the game as one of two feuding brothers. One remains in the cabin with your sick sister, while the brother you select to play, is responsible for protecting the homestead from the increasing waves and ferocity of wolves, supernatural and mythical beasties, which appear when night arrives. Your aim is simple – survive the night. To achieve this, you set traps, fire your musket and swing your trusty axe. As the game progresses, you learn new traps and are able to upgrade your equipment by visiting the nearby town or Indian reservation. This includes blessing your axe and bullets in order that they may be more effective against certain beasts. The story of this game unfolds during each day that takes place after you’ve survived a night. It’s a simple, but effective tale of omens, superstition, possession, greed and lust. It explores a conflict between good and evil that overtakes a small Canadian town and nearby forest. The voice acting is solid - I loved the Mayor’s confession – plus, I found the tale to be well scripted. I also loved how the story was presented. It’s a 2D affair using striking cartoon characters, beautifully rendered with strong colours and decisive design. I found the gameplay straightforward. You begin with a map of the area that will be affected during the night by the next attack of supernatural forces. These are shown in waves. You are able to see the starting point of each group of wolves, werewolves etc., and can access details of the route to the building they will attack. This information allows you to plan your defence and place traps in the places where they will be most effective. You also plan how to use bait and scent to lure the beasts, plus traps can be combined to devastating effect. However, some beasts will escape, evade or be only partially damaged by your traps, which is where sharpshooting and your axe come into play. Once a night is set in motion, the game is in third person 3D. Character development uses an RPG style skill tree. Here you improve your characters performance, the strength of your traps, the ferocity of your axe and length of your bonfires. You can also increase your intimidation, or fear, factor which is surprisingly useful. As stamina plays a major role in how much you can do, being able to intimidate means you gain recovery time. Yes, you can role and manoeuvre away from a beast, but this does deplete your stamina. In addition, if surrounded by a pack of wolves there is only so much manoeuvring you can do. Naturally stamina is an aspect of your character’s performance you can improve, but hard choices have to be made. Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves drew me in, engaged me, delighted me and was an incredibly satisfying experience. The first three nights are instructional; the ones which follow gradually step the game up a gear, until what appeared to be a straightforward scenario becomes pretty darn complex. You don’t know if your strategy will succeed until you survive the night but, when your chosen brother steps out into the pool of light surrounding the homestead and you find yourself poised, ready to go, with your traps set and your plan for the first wave firmly implanted in your mind, you’ll know the game has entrapped you.
I love city builders. Pharaoh and Cleopatra has been my favourite to date, but I'm enjoying Lethis. There's nothing new in the mechanics of the game, but the graphics are quite lovely. You build your Steampunk city, trade with others using balloon caravans and fulfil your mission statement. Along the way, you'll meet all sorts of quirky characters, including 2 types of Exorcist who are an administrative necessity. The rich use automatons to do everything and the factory which manufactures these has some super detail. There's also a good amount of detail in the landscape and the characters who roam your streets. Lethis isn't without fault. The worker's buildings lose a great deal of their charm as you progress them. But this is a fairly minor point as the necessity to upgrade past level 8 tends to occur towards the end of each scenario. All told, this is a good game with real attention to detail and the Steampunk theme updates Caesar III etc., in a fun manner.
Risen is a good, solid RPG experience. As with Gothic 2, I have played Risen several times - it is a game which I return to, whose world draws me back in. Combat is challenging and does take time to get to grips with. As with all the Gothic games, getting the timing right is essential. Also, learning the correct strategy in how to attack and defend against the different opponents is crucial. This is a tough game, but it rewards exploration and experience. Where I feel Risen shines is in how it utilises the island space as the story develops. I loved the fact that you explored the island inside and out. Some areas you revisit during the course of the game, but I found the dynamics of how you revisit those areas kept the areas fresh rather than them feeling repetitive. Although character development is straightforward you do need to experience the game somewhat before finalising exactly which options to maximise. There is perhaps more choice in this game than it initially appears. The first time I played this game through I restarted immediately. The only other game I've done this with is The Witcher. In both instances, my enjoyment the second time through was far greater than the first. If you enjoy a challenging RPG that offers decent replay value then this is one to get.
I still have a hard copy of this game and I cannot tell you how many times I've played it. It is fun from the moment you begin selecting your party, as the depth of character revealed by the selection process means you can tailor the game for a very humorous ride. This is a game where a well balanced party is needed. The characters you meet along the way, the structure of the quests are well thought out/constructed and fun. Yes, some of the battles can be long and hard, but the trick is not to go to an area that steps the game up a gear until you are ready. Then the battles remain challenging and, when you need to revisit areas, the re-spawning of critters isn't too time consuming. If you are in a battle that is too hard, you can choose to run away, plus, eventually there are points you can teleport to and from. So there is perhaps more choice in this department than some others have indicated. The spell casting in this is just super - it is a very visual affair and the system and range of spells is effective. It's also worth commenting on the weapons and armour that can be created. Gathering the components can be quite a challenge, but the items are well worth the effort. Then there are the dungeons that hark back to earlier Wizardry games and require grid paper to chart your progress around. Then there are the Easter Eggs..... This was a stunning end to the Wizardry series and Ray Bradbury's. Stop reading and just buy it! :D
