This game is an absolute masterpiece. An absolute Must Have for every puzzle-lover.
Great variety of logical puzzles (from easy ones to really hard ones). Gorgeous locations. Cozzy environment. What's not to like?
And it's MUCH better than the entire 'Myst' series which is notorious for its illogical puzzles and nonsensical story.
Quern is trully a Gem. Especially when compared to overhyped 'Myst'.
The plot is weak and the ending is disappointing, but it is about the journey.
It is a game for hard core puzzle solvers. The graphics are great and the puzzles are varied and demanding. Might be fun for a group of two or three to work together.
I have done the Myst and Zork series, but this was too demanding to work alone. However there is an excellent detailed walk through by Dick Leeuw and Louis Koot. Using their walk through I enjoyed the scenery and working the puzzles over a three month period.
Quern is a fantastic game (my duration 50+ hrs). Graphic is fantastic. Puzzles are fantastic. All variety and kinds from hard to very hard. They have a very good balance between logic and common sense. Clues are... fantastic. They are of type which seems to be non-existing at first glance, to quite obvious after some reconsideration. Story is convincing and mysterious, revealed slowly, not pushing. This game is thoroughly thought through in every detail. Comparing it to Riven is like comparing two round object on the sky: the Sun and the Moon, Quern being the Sun. Similarities are superficial, In Quern you THINK on solution not SEEK the solution. There is no urge to abandon your life and join the cult in order to complete the game, you can still keep your life and complete Quern. Thee is also some philosophical aspects to the game, so some food for thoughts is present. The ending is fantastic and toward the end there is some sense of humor. Even for the full price the game is fair value as I got an hour of great entertainment for less the half euro-buck. Game is not perfect for five stars but since standard were lowered I followed, hence an extra star. Two extra would be more appropriate considering lowered standards but I couldn't figure out how to increase number of stars above five. Still working on it, same as on negative stars.
Quern - Undying Thoughts is kind of an odd sort of puzzle game. I personally felt that it was a bit difficult and definitely didn't hold your hand with any of the puzzles. I generally prefer simpler puzzle games and eventually went to look at walkthroughs for certain parts because the solution was unclear even after re-reading everything that I had. Perhaps there were things that I had missed reading thereby making it harder. Not my favorite puzzle game.
