avatar_58Private Detective
Posts : 403
Joined: 27 MAY 2008
Status : Online | I think I'm surprised to play a game that lived up to it's hype and then some. Pretty much everyone who's played it says they love it, so I figured I'd grab it.
The main reason to play Sanitarium first off is the story. I'm not just saying that since it's an adventure game, this story really IS worth playing through. It does exactly what many games fail at - you start off completely confused and in the dark, then gradually get hints and "aha!" moments and it comes to the climax where it all falls in place.
Why is this so hard in games? Games like Tunguska for instance. There *is* no story. You just sort of coast along solving the puzzles and meeting new faces. In this game you actually sit on the edge of your seat wondering 'what the heck will happen next?'. It's nice to finally WANT the story to continue in an adventure game. Lately it's been me wanting the damn thing to get it over with so I can get to the next fun puzzle, but not this game.
Anyway - the puzzles are pretty good. Nothing really tough, but just logic based. Theres one or two that are a little confusing as to how they make sense in the game's world(chalkboard puzzle for those who know) but they aren't too hard. As I said you don't really play this game to be challenged, you play to see what happens next.
The graphics are in isometric style. In fact the game controls pretty much like an RPG, which is very strange for an adventure and yet it works out pretty good. Of course you walk pretty slow as a result, though theres never really too much ground to cover so it's not a big deal. The settings, being illusions and dreams, are all very unique and different. It's hard to go into detail without spoiling it, but you go from a small town to an alien world to an aztec village. All in ONE game. So you never really get tired of the scenery, thats for sure.
Then we have the negatives (I have to, even regardless of this game's amazing quality). The voice acting is sub par for the most part. Many characters read right off the script without 'acting'. You can easily tell this was not a large budget release - despite the rest of the game being so great. However believe it or not, it doesn't matter. The writing and scenearios overshadow the bad acting, and some characters actually aren't *that* bad. They aren't good, but if you've played any adventure post 2001 you are probably well used to that sort of thing.
The ending is unfortunately spoiled a little early. Once you finish the chapter before the end you sort of know the entire amnesia-filled past. I'm not really sure *why* they did that, as it would have been better served to see at the last minute. However really, the story itself is good - it's just sort of jumbled when it comes to the ending. The elements are there but it's like they weren't sure how to make it all "explode" into a great climax. I'd put it up to inexperience so it didn't bother me too much.
It's also not built with a sequel in mind. It wraps up and is designed to work as one game. Christ. I want to see more of this please, because as much as sequels can be fun it's nice to play something that is self contained and doesn't have me sitting there thinking "oh god, will #2 be any good?"
I'd give the game a 5/5 because frankly even despite the flaws it's a classic that every single adventure game fan needs to play. If only because it's so unique. It's like Bad Mojo - a game with flaws that you want to rail on as a fan.....but how can you? The world, story and everything else is so different it makes you think about the game days after playing.
Anyway sorry if this was half-rant, but I just needed to say some of that Go play Sanitarium if you haven't yet.
|
