Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (X-Box, PC)

Reviewed by Kit

Hi guys. Today's game is a adventure story with more plot than fighting. Good thing too because the fighting system isn't that great. So here we go.

Story: You control a young girl named Zoe Castillo with an odd accent. It sounds English, but occasionally Spanish and Scottish hints make it through. Who knows? In any case, you begin as Zoe, a young woman who recently has been feeling apathetic about her life. One day she wakes up and finds her tv talking to her, with creepy dark haired girl and black mansion included. It tells her she must protect a girl named April. Then Zoe's ex-boyfriend asks her for a favor. She is supposed to pick up a package for him. That's all. However, the person who she has to pick the package from is in trouble, and her ex is missing when does get the package for him. Luckily, Zoe has a best friend who is the source of all sorts of hacker tools, and looks oddly like she's twenty years older than Zoe. Worried about her ex, Zoe goes on a journey to find him. As you move along, you will be able to control other characters as well, even the mysterious April.4/5

Graphics: The graphics aren't bad. The characters have individuality and you can recognize one from another. The backgrounds are well done. Over all, it's appealing visually. 3/5

Audio: Characters, as indirectly mentioned, have spoken dialogue. The acting is well done, even if the accents aren't perfect. The music in the background is quiet, but it sets the tone well enough. 4/5

Gameplay: Much of the game is centered around looking for items. The game is heavily centered on investigation. There is also a lot, a lot, of running back and forth gathering items, delivering them, getting new items, delivering them, finding people, delivering them (wait no). Another aspect is finding items so you can move to the next section of the map. Maps in general are small, but expect to run back and forth a lot. Also, you don't actually see a map, you have to depend on direction such as "go north," and I'm sure you can tell what direction is north, right? Fighting is rare, but it does occur. You have three buttons to worry about: block (most important), heavy hit, and light hit. The best way to fight is to block continuously, side step when the enemy tries to heavy hit, then light hit, or side step and heavy hit while they light hit. Note, side step often. Gameplay is simple, but the running back and forth and lack of a true map is annoying. Still, it's nice to have a puzzle solving game rather than something focused on fighting. 3/5

Replay: There is no purpose to replay besides enjoying the story again. 2/5

Overall: The game has a nice story that involves you. If the gameplay wasn't so chore heavy, it would be even better. The voice acting is reasonably well done, and the visuals are nice if not outstanding. It's a game worth picking up if you've been craving something smart without leveling tedium or brain eating zombies (though there are those plants...) 4/5