Games

Syberia

This point-and-click adventure game was released all the way back in 2002, but I don't remember hearing about it at the time, only coming across it when I got back into gaming a couple of years ago. It seems to have its fans, and a series of sequels thanks to that, so it seemed worth a go (helps that these older games are often dirt cheap nowadays).

I started by installing the Mac version (via ScummVM) because, well, I'm on a Mac. I played for about 45 minutes, and felt like I could easily see why I hadn't heard about it back in the day. Gameplay was shockingly linear, with everything signposted to the nth degree — icons on screen indicated every possible action or interaction, with little to no additional stuff clickable beyond the basics required. There were screens you have to move through that serve no purpose other than elongating your journey and thus your play time; the small handful of puzzles barely qualified for the name... It's also terribly dated — not just the graphics (which I can absolutely excuse, because you can't expect cutting-edge visuals from something made over 20 years ago), but things like the voice acting and pacing. And some of it's just bad, like the dialogue writing.

Then, for various reasons, I installed the PC version (via Porting Kit) and, while it's not a night-and-day difference, it's clearly superior. The graphics are less murky, which makes the whole thing look more appealing; and there are no unsightly icons highlighting everything — like a proper point-and-click, you have to search around for what to click on. Okay, options are still limited (you can't look at everything and hear the character's thoughts on it like you can in, say, Lucasarts games; which is a shame, because it's that kind of stuff that really helps you connect to the character, rather than them being a blank avatar going through the motions), but it feels less like you're on a limited railroad.

That said, some of the problems are universal enough that they remain whichever version you play. In fairness, some of the 'problems' might just be because I'm right at the start of the game and it's easing the player in... but, still, none of it bodes well. A lot of it is the kind of stuff reviewers would've been dismissive of back in the day (although Syberia received largely positive reviews, with some dissenters); and there were other games of a similar-ish vintage that certain circles were dismissive towards for similar aesthetic qualities (Myst comes to mind) that were beloved by others and have endured to become classics, at least with some audiences. Syberia might be a similar deal.

Honestly, if it were a demo, I would've abandoned it; but I've paid for it (even if it was only a couple of quid), and the PC version is that bit better that I don't feel so disinclined towards it. I'll stick with it for at least a bit longer, then, but I'm hoping the overall quality picks up, and soon.

Games

Syberia

After just over another hour of play, it's finally finished! Honestly, good riddance. I think if I hadn't chosen to play this, I probably would've completed more games this year — I've had this on the go since October, which might not sound like a huge amount of time (it's two months almost to the day), but the game's only about 10 hours long. If I'd been enjoying it, I probably would've burnt through that in a week. Instead, I've never felt much desire to return to it; I always had to force myself a little bit — including today. It's a month since I last played it, and I've started or toyed with several games since then, and now I just wanted it done. Quite how it's got so many positive reviews is beyond me.

Previously I mused that I'd probably end up wanting to play the sequels anyway (the same thing that happened with NPCs, essentially); but, even though the game ends on a tease for what comes next, the story just isn't interesting enough — especially when coupled with all the other flaws (atrocious dialogue, dull characters, boring gameplay) — to compel me to carry on. Unless I forget myself someday, I'm done with the world of Syberia.

Games

Syberia
Another hour-ish, digging into the final section of the game.

Games

Syberia
Another hour-and-a-half. Definitely in the final stretch, though it seems there's still a little bit to go. I kinda just want to get to the end now — the puzzles are linear and repetitive (sometimes dressed up differently, but almost all functioning in the same way), and the story is no great shakes. (Knowing me, I'll still end up feeling compelled to play the sequels...)

Games

Final Fantasy VII

What's this? Starting another game?! Yeah.

Well, here's the thing: I've recently discovered (or remembered, because I did know about some of these methods before) more ways of being able to play computer games (the disadvantage of owning a Mac is it's not always straightforward, though nowadays it's almost always possible; if you're machine's up to running a game, of course (I won't be playing Baldur's Gate 3 anytime soon)). And I've become more interested in gaming again since playing through the Monkey Islands (which was back in 2022 — these are the kind of timescales I operate on!) And older games are so cheap nowadays — I picked up this revered classic for under £4! New games cost an arm and a leg, I know, but diving into the back catalogue of games I've wanted to play for years (in some cases, for decades) has never been more affordable.

So that's why I'm trying multiple things out right now — different platforms; different games. And quite a few of these games I've been acquiring require dozens of hours to complete (FF7 is cited at 36–50 hours of gameplay for the main story, rising to 80+ if you're a completionist. I also recently got Baldur's Gate 1&2 and Neverwinter Nights for free via Amazon, which together are clocked at anything from 120 to 365 hours, depending on play style (and I err towards the latter, which is Completionist)), so it's a more pronounced choice which to devote my time to next (I've got dozens of games awaiting and I want to dive into them all at once!)

So, I'm not committing to 80+ hours of FF7 right now (although I did play for the best part of two hours today, mainly thanks to having to find a save point — it would've been considerably less if the game just let me save whenever I want!), but I'm giving it a go and, well, maybe.

Though, yeah, I do need to finish off that last bit of Syberia.

Games

Syberia
Another hour. The second main location is kinda more interesting, with more characters to meaningfully interact with. It still showcases numerous game design flaws (screens with absolutely no purpose other than to lengthen your treks back and forth; conversations that don't flow even close to naturally across topics), but at least it's slowly piquing my interest with its central mystery.

Games

The Booze of Monkey Island
What's this? Another game I'm starting instead of continuing Syberia. Ah, but I also finished this one, because it's only short (it took me three hours, and that was with exploring most of the dialogue trees, which are extensive). And you can't complain about it's length, because it's free. And also unofficial — it's a fan game. But it's really good — the graphics are lovely (like a modern HD version of Curse) and, even more importantly, the humour is bang on. There are a few bugs and translation issues, but nothing that hinders gameplay. If you're a fan of Monkey Island, it's definitely worth playing... and soon, before the Disney lawyers learn about it and nuke it.

Games

Syberia
Hadn't forgotten nor given up on this, just been busy with other stuff. Played about another hour-and-a-quarter until I ran out of immediately-obvious things to do. There's a fair bit of back-and-forthing and 'puzzles' that amount to "figure out the right order to pull random levers", with little conversation and no monologuing from our 'hero', which makes the character feel rather distant and bland. In other words, it's no LucasArts game.

Games

Syberia
Another hour or so, which this time actually featured some other characters and meaningful conversation! I still have various other niggling complaints, but I'm trying to give it a fair chance...

Games

Syberia
Another couple of hours and I've completed 'part two' (of three). The game doesn't divide itself into parts like that, but that's how it's broken down in the walkthrough I've referred to a couple of times when stuck.