This game is fantastic. If you like classic point and click, and a great story, this is the game for you. Hits on all cylinders, neither too long nor too short. The characters are all interesting, the dialogue is humorous and doesn't overstay its welcome. My only minor complaint would be I wish the Diana Osterhagen character's portion of the story were a bit longer, as she was very interesting and fun. You play as three different characters, basically replaying certain parts of the story through each character's viewpoint, and then the story concludes with the ability to swtich between all three characters. I look forward to more games from these developers!
I played this game over a decade ago or maybe even longer, and it definitely has not aged well. I remember it was fun and great looking. I was at a different time in my life, and now that I'm older, the game still looks great, but the gameplay is awful, the over narration of the main character and the endless pointless stupid dialogue threads that go on for eternity for every single character just make this game a drudgery and a chore. I haven't played the third one yet, which was really the whole reason I decided to play these games again, but I'm not sure I have the endurance to make it through this second game to make it to the final chapter. This game violates many rules of good gameplay and storytelling, the most glaring fault is as I mentioned above, the main character tells you everything that is happening, and then we see exactly on screen what the main character just said. Shut up already. I really don't get it, when game developers think they can tell a story because they have some technical chops. The story here is thin, just like the first Runaway game, and it's really a shame. The skeleton to tell a compelling story with actual likeable characters is here, but the designers are obviously lacking in the plot and good storytelling skills. The characters are extremely unlikeable, the pixel hunting and walking back and forth a million times to blindly stumble onto the reason why you need to oh I dunno, ride a mechanical bull or get your picture taken in a wood cutout frame, and what for? So many tasks seem idiotic and pointless, distracting and only vaguely related to the main task of once again, rescuing Gina, which after she lied and manipulated Brian in the first game, why do we care? Skip this one, unless you are a completist and a masochist.
This is a must play for any fans of old school point and click adventure games. The story is original, thrilling, touching, and entertaining. The puzzles all make sense with the story and not once did I feel like the solution was randomly trying every item in my inventory. Right up there with Grim Fandango, Elroy and The Aliens, and Monkey Island. Don't skip this game! The music is right out of a 90's action movie, with great synthesier elevating the mood. This is what a game should be. Fun, engaging, and a great weekend binge!
Mechanics wise, this is a well made game. I didn't care for the storyline, the music, or the voice acting. I found the main character annoying, the spirit world switching to a ghost was very well done with the Blackwell series, and it just doesn't work here. Too many times, it feels like Arthur could possess someone as a deus ex machina because a more suitable reasonable solution couldn't have been thought up. And then, the kicker is the final puzzle is based on a randomized scenario where a vegetable and a news article provide the year and proper pile of dirt to grab. The problem is, the news article and the vegetable didn't match, so I quit the game after trying almost 10 times for the right combination. I abhor this practice. Are development shops afraid the hints will get out there, and want to make it unique each time? Even the walkthrough was no help for this one. I add this to the list of games I didn't finish or had unsatisfying endings, e.g. Thimbleweed, Slender Threads, Return to Monkey Island.
Great fun game with so many in jokes for thus of us who have played p&c games through the decades! Highly recommended.
This ranks up there with the classics. Heartfelt and emotional, while maintaining a wonderful light tone and great humor. This game is so perfect on so many levels. The characters are great, the story is fantastic and the puzzles are wonderfully integrated into the gameplay. Amazing graphics, great world building and amazing universe. Very few games of this type have made me sad that they ended. I felt similar when I played Grim Fandango. The only other experience similar to this and Fandango would be Uncharted 4. I really hope they make a sequel as I would love to see Elroy and Peggie get together and have many more adventures!!! Highly recommended!
Great concept in theory, nice graphics, some fun throwbacks to vintage times, but ultimately ruined by too many characters, not a central protagonist, and a feeling of "why am I doing this?" At around the 15 hour mark, I gave up and quit, as I was frustrated, bored, and just didn't care to see the end, which I had heard was 'meta', whatever that means in the context of this game, I guess I'll never find out. I liken this game to Slender Threads and Return to Monkey Island, two similar games with disappointing endings, which while I did finish those two games, they also were lackluster experiences. If you like classic point and click, this game has some value in that it shows a great amount of potential, but ruined by simply trying to cram in too much, and lacking a real overall cohesive story and a 'why'. If I am going to devote 2 or 3 hours a day to a game, I want it to pay off, and while those who finish the game may feel it does, unless you are a serious gamer, I can't see the casual gamer wanting to invest the time or energy.
Started out worrisome, got better, but then the ending just really did not land with me and left too many unanswered questions. Reminded me of the Slender Threads ending, which while I also did not like, I felt the 'meta' ending suited that game better and the overall game experience was satisfactory. Return to Monkey Island had some promise but ultimately was not satisfying, and I felt cheated overall by the abrupt and lackluster lack of a real resolution.
