| A GOOD CONCLUSION RATHER THAN GOOD SEQUEL - Scores 3/5
If you played the original Syberia chances are that it was on PC or PS2. The XBox EU PAL version was allegedly released here but I've never seen a UK copy. Why does this matter? Well the fact is that if you haven't done Syberia then Syberia 2 will seem like coming in on a film already half over. It's really more a continuation than a sequel.
To explain the story would be to spoil half the adventure usually but in Syberia 2 the story is largely absent. Kate Walker, the heroine, simply journeys on with her companions towards the mythical island of Syberia. It is punctuated by stops at various locations where you solve fairly typical point and click logic puzzles allowing the journey to continue. Often this entails talking with other characters to get essential information or an object required to activate a mechanism of some sort.
It's pretty standard stuff with all the usual annoying elements you find in games like this but, as with the original, never ruining the over all experience.
What this game does have is class - the controls/menus/inventory operation are simple and easy. The mostly snowbound locations, if a bit samey, are very attractive. Backgrounds are pre-rendered with a mostly fixed camera and pathway there are lots of incidental animated elements that bring most scenes to life.
The FMV is often superb and the music likewise. Voice acting, particularly Kate's and most other main characters, is about as good as you'll find in any game.
The script, although occasionally betraying it's non-English origins is pretty decent too. Sometimes out of sequence responses jar but there's little to complain about.
I found a few glitches where it was possible to get Kate permanently stuck in the scenery. The sound also ocassionally cut off a fraction early during some scenes. No major problems though if you've saved regularly.
The game isn't that long if you don't get stuck on a puzzle of course. It'll certainly last no longer than a week if you play an hour or two a day. But for all these good things, you can't avoid it, the main 'fault' with Syberia 2 is that it is only likely to appeal to those who played the original. | REVIEW BY ANONYMOUS
ON 10 NOVEMBER 2004 |
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