Ghost in the Sheet is a game that many gamers on adventure sites have been talking about for months.  The good news is that beta testing is beginning soon and although there isn’t a release date yet, the build of the game looks terrific and so I think we are all going to get our money’s worth from this one!

That’s an odd way to begin a preview isn’t it?  It reads more like the ending than the beginning.  Yet I think it’s important to announce the facts first because I know many gamers are scratching their heads and wondering two things, “What IS Ghost in the Sheet?”, and “When it is coming out?”  So, having gotten the latter out of the way, I can venture into answering the former.

Ghost in the Sheet is an adventure game that takes place in an old factory.  Sounds simple on the surface, right?  But wait…something’s going on inside this factory. Something called, ominously enough, “Sector Omega”.  And, even more ominous, the only way you’ll get information about this particular secret is to talk to the factory’s former employees…all of whom have given up the ghost.  (So to speak)

Enter our friend Ghost in the Sheet.  Through him we will learn about the factory, about its former employees, and about the secrets surrounding their untimely deaths.  Ghost, who is called “Ghost in the Sheet” because when he came to the afterlife he was covered with, of all things, a sheet, discovers to his dismay that being dead doesn’t mean you get to be on vacation.  His afterlife boss has a job for him; solving the mysteries of Sector Omega and the factory workers.  And like most bosses, he is watching Ghost’s every move, occasionally commenting on what kind of job he’s doing.  Sound familiar? 

So here we are, dead, draped in sheet and unable to manipulate objects.  Until we discover that we have talents!  We can use telekinesis to move things, another talent simply called “push” to push and manipulate objects, and a few other little tricks that will come in handy further on in the game.  The talents that Ghost learns come in handy as he opens doors, picks up diaries, presses buttons, etc., and they also add a nice element of fun to the game as well. 

Currently, the game build doesn’t have voice actors (they will be added in later), and the English translations of some of the Czech words still needs some fine-tuning, but all in all this game looks great!  It also sounds great as game developer Jan Kavan adds his professional musical composing to the game’s repertoire.  The music has a sort of carnival-quality to it, which works well given that there is much dark humor and silliness in the midst of what initially sounds like a scary game.  Ironically, if anything, Ghost is amusing not frightening, and although we have the occasional death to deal with, our Ghost often makes light of it and then makes friends with the newly-dead, and so it all comes off without a hitch. 

As far as technical info, the game has 13 save slots (appropriately enough) and is a point and click, mouse-driven game.  There’s no dying (hah! You’re already dead!), no slider puzzles, no timed sequences, and because so many of Sector Omega’s workers are still hanging around (with or without sheets), you’re not lonely as you explore this empty factory.  There are always people to talk to; my personal favorite being Scott Piper, a former fireman who hangs out in a locker in the dressing room smoking his favorite pipe.  Others include the sexy shadow of Larisa, the only female employee taking an eternal shower; Hansen and Niels...but I don’t want to say too much about those guys.  It would give too much away!  Let’s just say that the NPCs in this game are more than interesting, and unraveling the mysteries of their relationships with each other and Sector Omega is a tantalizing way to spend an afternoon!

In closing, and in my humble opinion, this game will appeal to any gamer with a pulse, a sense of humor, and a love of point-and-click, gotta-solve-the-mystery types of games.  I will definitely be in line to buy a copy, how ‘bout you?

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