Dreamfall - First Review.

[Tamer17]

IGN

There isn't much opportunity anymore to play adventure games that share the qualities of new and good, and Dreamfall seemed like it might break some new ground for the genre. Unfortunately, it doesn't

While Dreamfall attempts to incorporate action elements, it just doesn't work. The stealth and battle systems are woefully underdeveloped. This wouldn't have been a big deal if there was still an enjoyable array of puzzles, but those too were drastically simplified. It almost seems as though design decisions were made to scale back the puzzles to make way for the awful action elements.

and at least one bright point:

hile the gameplay has been drastically simplified, the story remains as engaging as ever.

Sad day for Adventure games.

I can't help to think that the dumbing down of the gameplay was maid because of the game's Xbox version , though , a large part of it does seem to be the result of the developer to add action elements. It sounded weird , but the thought was they would be able to pull it off , but as it seems , action can't work in game like these and moreover when the review says the action system was underdeveloped.

Another game is ruined.

 

[destrukt]

why the heck are there action elements in an adventure game ? silly, silly developers.

 

[DigiQ8]

dammit ><

 

[nissen]

Here's a couple of reviews, more positive than IGN.

http://www.xboxaddict.com/products/staff_reviews/view_xbox.php?Product_ID=1279

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/profile/index.php?user=GregK

 

[Asknoone]

What's Dreamfall?

 

[Tamer17]

The second link is just user review and I tend to go with IGN this time. When they say the fighting system is awful \ a joke and the puzzles are simple and dumbed down there is really no room for interpretation and personal fondness.

Let alone the questionable elements introduced in the game but even these were not done properly and were not given the time needed.

It seems that the 3 playable char. don't impact the game for the better and the so called "non-linear" player choices which leads to different paths is just not present.

I don't understand why they went that way , the stroy is as strong as before , they should have made the gameplay identical to the first and focus on the puzzles and not try to re-invent the wheel with those action elements.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Hmm, that is disappointing. But to think that they could ever top or even match the gaming greatness that is The Longest Journey is surely folly.

One of the biggest debates among adventure gamers is the transition from 2D to 3D. I, for one, don't like it and prefer my adventure point 'n' click with pre-rendered backgrounds (though I love lots of beautiful animation in the backgrounds too).

It looks like the Dreamfall team did indeed cater to the xbox market which is a reprehensible move considering the game's PC/adventure roots. Adventure games just don't belong on consoles--the control scheme is nowhere near adequate. Lucasarts brought EMI to consoles just to make a buck and that was a shame of a game as well imho. The only thing that has come close to succeeding in the 3D/console adventure market is Fahrenheit. Great game, though the story lacked severely down the stretch, but the action sequences and 3D world felt just fine in that and the puzzles still felt like adventure puzzles and the conversation actually affected gameplay to a great degree. A shame Dreamfall falls short of that in its same bid.

Oh well. I still have high hopes for Paradise--Benoit Sokal is a genius! Plus, there are plenty of other very promising and much more traditional adventure games on the way this year (hopefully) in the form of Reprobates, Secret Files:Tunguska, Broken Sword: The Angel of Death, A Vampyre Story, Sam & Max 2, Juniper Crescent: The Sapphire Claw, and Tony Tough: A Rake's Progress just to name a few. Adventure gaming is alive and well, but its a real shame about Dreamfall. (I'll still probably pick it up though. )

 

[DigiQ8]

The second link is just user review and I tend to go with IGN this time. When they say the fighting system is awful \ a joke and the puzzles are simple and dumbed down there is really no room for interpretation and personal fondness.

Let alone the questionable elements introduced in the game but even these were not done properly and were not given the time needed.

It seems that the 3 playable char. don't impact the game for the better and the so called "non-linear" player choices which leads to different paths is just not present.

I don't understand why they went that way , the stroy is as strong as before , they should have made the gameplay identical to the first and focus on the puzzles and not try to re-invent the wheel with those action elements.

The Gamespot link is Greg Kasavin ( GameSpot's executive editor )

 

[Tamer17]

Fahrenheit was good , but it lacked "adventure game" type gameplay. There weren't puzzles , you couldn't be stuck too much and the action stuff are in sort of mini-games. Though it was good I don't address the game as pure adventure game.

I'm sure i'll enjoy Dreamfall for its story and narrative but though , it's a shame it turned out this way.

On top of the games you mentioned there is also an adventure game being made by the guys who produced The Moment of Silence , which I found quite decent.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Fahrenheit was good , but it lacked "adventure game" type gameplay. There weren't puzzles , you couldn't be stuck too much and the action stuff are in sort of mini-games. Though it was good I don't address the game as pure adventure game.

No, it certainly wasn't a pure adventure game, but it did provide the adventure genre with some relatively new ways of dealing with typical gameplay elements. The interactivity was my favorite part--it really helped with the immersion imho.

On top of the games you mentioned there is also an adventure game being made by the guys who produced The Moment of Silence, which I found quite decent.

I liked that a lot too. The best part about that game was that you didn't need the disc in the drive to play!! I wish more titles would give you the opportunity right out of the box!

 

[StardogChampion]

In the early screenshots this looked great, but the gameplay movie kinda put me off.

 

[Asuka]

Looked like a great game but it wasnt catching me really. Dunno what it was...

 

[drunkymonkey]

Damn them. It didn't work in Fahrenheit, so why the hell should it work here? Adventure games need to stick to what adventure games do best, providing puzzles, excellent dialogue, and an engaging (and funny, this is crucial) story, not trying to go all 'action' on our ass.

I can't wait for the Vampyre Story and Sam and Max 2.

What's Dreamfall?

I hate you.

 

[DeusExMachina]

It worked very well in Indigo Prophecy. It was like you were controlling it...but you weren't. I liked that.

I'll probably just rent Dreamfall to see the story.

 

[drunkymonkey]

Bah, button bashing in Fahrenheit sucked, especially if you didn't have a controller.

 

[DeusExMachina]

I played it on my xbox :naughty:

 

[DigiQ8]

Gamespot
8.1


The Good: An incredibly provocative sci-fi story filled with many memorable characters; beautiful presentation, featuring fantastic voice acting and musical score; dialogue prompts you to make some tough, interesting decisions.

The Bad: As rich as it is, the story leaves you wanting much more; simplistic combat, not much challenge.

Sounds good

 

[Tamer17]

It's clear to see from Gamespot's review that the action bits are not that good and take the room for puzzles , leaving more simple experience.

Gamespy (5\5) as well complians about those aspects.

 

[Tamer17]

1UP - 4\10.

The reviewer burries the game but if we take the part where he writes about the gameplay then it's pretty much the same as IGN - gameplay is almost not there , puzzles are very simple.

It seems the game for me will be more close to the scores of IGN and 1UP rather than spot and spy's.

 

[smwScott]

It sounds like it's more of a novel ... but in video game format. I think that's a really cool concept, and if the story is as good as they say it is then I look forward to it. Of course if it's one of those "good for a video game" stories then it won't hold up.

But I love games with really complex social interactions with solid stories behind them. KOTOR did a decent job at this, as have a few other RPGs. I hate typical adventure games though, clicking around a screen trying to solve some arbitrary puzzle ... waste of time. This sounds like it might be right up my alley.

 

[B-MAn]

owft i was looking forward to this SO much

 

[Max35]

I'll prolly pick it up, I'm a sucker for superb video game plots. Actually, the "dumbed-down" gameplay doesn't bother me, well, not really. It won't get in the way of the supposed story which should be a good thing. A video game novel, that would be interesting.