(Fox
Interactive, 1997)
Walkthrough
By
Alexander Tait (baret@optusnet.com.au)
23
March 2003
This
game is, of course, a watered down game based upon the animated Anastasia
movie. It, in turn, is a diluted version of real-life events centering on a
woman who claimed she was Czar Nicholas II of Russia’s daughter who someone
escaped execution during the October Revolution. Naturally, this game does not
touch on any of the nastier events of this time. The orphan woman known as Anya
is on a quest to discover her true identity. She has two companions, Pooka and
Bartok, to help. You are Pooka and see the world through the dog’s eyes. Bartok
is a bat and seems to intent on Anastasia and Pooka’s success. The game is a
traditional point and click adventure aimed at children under age 10. It has
mini-games that serve to lengthen the adventure rather than enhance it but
children may enjoy them more than the quest itself. The mini-games can almost
completely be avoided (i.e. if you don’t touch a specific item, Bartok doesn’t
send you to the Underworld. This made no more sense to me by the end of the
game than it probably does to you, dear reader, so don’t ask). The mini-games
are worth exploring, though, because three out of four of them involve solving
puzzles rather than completing an arcade sequence. Graphics are the usual movie
or television standard cartoon animation, so are well worth seeing. Acting is
universally good though accents seem to have been forgotten or were not
considered important. It is actually difficult to determine what kind of accent
Bartok has and Anastasia has seemingly been educated in the United States. The
interface is easy to use and intuitive. The game allows you to save in every
part of the game except in the mini-games. There are a limited number of save
slots but this game doesn’t really need many. The game is broken into five
chapters and on completion of any given chapter, a storybook sequence further
the story. Conveniently, the game provides clues to help to achieve each
chapter’s goal. The game can be completed in a couple of hours. I had only one
problem during the game. It installed completely without a hitch and froze only
once. The whole story is full of plot holes. The story seems to go forward with
little in the way of explanation. Perhaps American designers are emulating the
now defunct Cryo…?
Introduction
Read
the diary to get the background story. Anya is leaving the orphanage in search
of her past. With her dog, Pooka, she has set out for Paris. She needs papers
from a fellow called Dmitri. Click on the dog at the bottom of the page to
begin the adventure.
St. Petersburg
You
are introduced to Bartok the bat. Go to the booth.
Booth
Pick
up the garbage. Return to the square and exit right. Go to the marketplace.
Marketplace
Go
up to the stalls. Talk to the gypsy until she asks you to bring her something
she needs. Exit right.
Painter
Move
the box at the painter’s feet. Take the coin. Exit right.
Clothes Stall
Approach
the seller. Give him the coin. Buy the scarf. Return to the gypsy.
Gypsy
Give
her the scarf. She uses her crystal ball and advises you to go to the theater,
which she opens for you. Return to the square.
Square
Exit
left.
Theater
Go
in. Approach the woman cleaning. You end up in the palace (I’m not sure why).
Palace
Go
through the door.
Large Room
Pan
right. Go right to the landing.
Landing
Go
down the stairs and up the other side. Go back into a child’s room.
Child’s Room
Examine
the doll’s house. Zoom in on the post. Open the secret door. (Cutscene).
Train
You
find Dmitri. You are on a train to Paris. Unfortunately, the papers are in the
wrong color ink. You must find red ink and some passports.
Cabin
Open
the suitcase. Take the blue paint. Exit the cabin.
Corridor
Go
forward to the baggage compartment.
Baggage Compartment 1
Rip
the bag to get a pencil. Go to the other side of the room.
Baggage Compartment 2
Tear
the bag-get the red ink. Return to the corridor.
Go
in the room next door to you cabin.
Search
between the seats to find a pen. Go to the other room next door.
Knock the bag off the seat. You are sent to the Underworld. When you have completed the mini-game, go through the bag to get a passport. Return to your cabin.
(Cutscene). The train ride finishes and the journey continues on a ship.
Try to wake Dmitri-no luck. Pick up the cork. Look under the sink. Bartok lifts a vat above Dmitri’s head. Jump on the chest of drawers. Put the cork in the faucet. Turn on the tap. Dmitri is doused with water and wakes up. (Cutscene). You arrive in Paris.
You need to find the prima ballerina’s slipper so that the show may go on and Anastasia may meet the Dowager Empress Marie (her grandmother). Go in.
Go upstairs.
Go forward.
Talk to the ballerina. She asks you to look for the slipper. Return to the landing.
Pan right. Go up the stairs.
Open the vent. Get the slipper. Return to the stage.
Give the ballerina her slipper. (Cutscene). All is revealed-Anya is Anastasia the princess.
THE
END
(45)