This game is without doubt one of the greatest, and underapreciated adventure titles of all time. Coming out in a time where the Journeyman project and Riven reigned supreme this game literally changed my expectations of games forever. Set in 1914 on the Orient Express, this game delivers one of the most complete, intricate story lines of any game. Whilst it may seem like quite a simple storyline by todays standards, the character development is at a level which goes almost unrivaled and gives you a genuine emotional connection to the other passengers on the train. The art style is unique, and consists of live motion film of actors rendered to appear as hand drawn. Unfortunately due to limitations of the time, these sequences are bridged by freeze frame sequences which can be somewhat jaring after one of the many amazing cutscenes or action sequences. The detail of the carriages is also worth noting, as the team found one of the few remaining carriages and painstakingly re-created it for the game. In summary, the story of this game is excellently told, reminisent of many books set in a similar time and place. The experience of the player sees you instantly thrown into a situation where you must keep your wits about you and make quick, concise decisions to proceed. Whilst there are many of these moments throughout the game, equally common are times where you are free to wander the train and learn about the stories unfolding for each of the many characters sharing this train ride to constantinople. This game answers the question of whether games can be considered art, and does so without ever straying far from being a fun, thrilling and enjoyable ride.
