Note: I have not played the GoG version. My four star rating is certainly influenced by some nostalgia, but I maintain that this is a rather fine game, albeit one that plays a bit differently from many other adventure games. There are puzzles but the game is not primarily puzzle-driven. It’s more… observation-driven. You explore, listen to conversations, have conversations, you investigate, but to some considerable extent you are a bystander in the events that unfold. Don’t let that hold you off though. The ‘20s atmosphere is pretty well carried out and the EGA graphics perfectly serviceable. The text interpreter is decent and, crucially, it pauses the game. And if you don’t only want to get to the end of the game – which is fairly easy – but also want to find out its secrets, then there are some puzzles you must solve. This way the game has actual replay value. As in practically all old Sierra titles your own death is frequent, though this time not game-destroyingly so. Still, be sure to keep saving. And sometimes you have to really get all the clues and items before leaving a room or it’ll be too late. The pace is slow, which makes it feel somewhat like an old movie. In fact, and not surprisingly, the gameplay is not entirely dissimilar from Gabriel Knight 3. I’d say this game is well worth playing, and not only for nostalgia. You’ll soon forget the dated graphics and want to explore the island and find all the secrets. Oh, and if you do see the flying statue easter egg, congratulations!
