This review does not discuss the plot because I do not wish to spoil anything. For a plot overview, please read the game description on the gog store page. The story is great and in line with many scandinavian mystery stories. One of my favorite things about this game is that it does not shy away from real-life issues, like corrupted institutions and unethical trading. The gameplay is mostly good, but i find that some of the puzzles are made too difficult due to some key items blending in the pixelated background and being difficult to identify. At times, one must engage in the dreaded pixel hunting in order to progress. I had to consult a walkthrough after being stuck for a long while and i found out i needed to use an item I had missed in an area i had visited 2 or 3 hours earlier. I was not amused. That being said, the puzzles are overall smart and entertaining and the pixel art is very beautiful. It is very nice to play an adventure game set in a country that is not the US or featuring American characters. Not that there is anything wrong with the US, but its nice to play a game in a different cityscape where the characters reason in a different way and follow different social codes. Its a refreshing change. Like many of the other reviewers, I found the ending disappointing. Not because of any plot-twists, but because of an abrupt change in tone that feels jarring and inconsistent with the way the story has been developing thus far. You will know what I mean when you get there. In conclusion, I can say although The Samaritan Paradox is not quite on par with Wadjet Eye releases, it is a great effort nonetheless and I can easily recommend it to point-and-click fans.
A Golden Wake matches the product standard that we have come to expect from Widget Eye: solid voice acting, charming music and beautiful pixelated environments. However, unlike its siblings, the game is tedious. There is no excitement, no suspense, no intrigue. There is nothing to reward the player for solving a puzzle, like a funny cutscene or a revelation that takes us a step closer to solving a mystery. The game tells the story of a real estate agent who gets involved in a sketchy project. I understand that they are trying to make it historically accurate, but they could have bent the story a little bit to spice it up and make it something worth playing. The plot and puzzles feel excessively quotidian and frankly, 2.5 hours in, I do not see a reason to continue playing as I am bored out of my mind. If you are interested in the Florida land boom of the 1920's you are better off just reading about it. Probably more educational and a better use of your time than playing A Golden Wake.
The Story is quite good and the game is exciting. However the control are not well implemented. While the NPCs move in a natural fashion, the main character's actions look and feel glitched. The walking the shooting... everything is broken, rendering this game unplayable. A shame, really. I think this game had a lot of potential, but because of the lack of polish I simply cannot recommend it.
