I came to The Longest Journey with some expectation, I'll admit. I'd yet to hear someone really speak bad of it, and most reviews spoke quite highly in fact. And while it certainly isn't a bad game, I personally don't feel that it deserves all the praise. First of all, let's look at the gameplay. As a point and click game, you know what you're getting. Point. Click. Combine items. And, as anyone who's played a PaC game knows, some of these combinations and applications are so bizarre you never could have figured it out with a guide/random luck. But what really kills me is how slow everything is. The main character, April, trudges along even when running, making some of the wide open areas an absolute pain. And God forbid if an npc nees to walk across screen, because they can't run and it WILL show you every step of their trans-screen journey. This may seem like an odd thing to complain about, but trust me, it will get on your nerves. Second, the story, arguably the most important aspect of a game like this. The story is so-so. The writing IS pretty clever and the dialogue doesn't sound forced, plus they were able to get really good voice actors, especially for the time. However, the cliches weigh heavy in the air, and I'll bet your able to figure out about a quarter of the twists before you get to them. Also, the pacing seems really skitsophrenic. Sometimes, it will take forever to accomplish even one major task, and then the next one will be over in a few minutes. All in all, a good game, but a little too average. I'd probably given it a 3.5 if gog allowed.
This was one of the first games I've purchased from gog, and I have to say I'm pleased. The game plays in classic point and click style, so fans of the genre should know what to expect. Where it really shines, however, is the story. As you delve into the main characters frequent bouts of insanity, you begin to see the subtle parallels to what happened in the real world. In that way, it reminds me a bit of Psychonauts. A fun old game with a horror twist, and a worthy purchase, though I would wait for a sale. As good as it is, it just doesn't feel like a $10 game. I bought it during one of gog's many sales for $5, and that seemed just right for this little gem.
