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| 31 DEC 2004 at 2:46pm |
GrimCurseIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 83
Joined: 8 SEP 2004
Status : Online | 2004 is a great year for TAC: Lights Out, Aura, Wanted, Return to Mysterious Island and now Sentinel.
Eska, the wood village on water, reminds me of Riven in 3D and the view on Maru with the Detalion ship is incredible!
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| 31 DEC 2004 at 2:49pm |
krkdnosePrivate Detective
Posts : 707
Joined: 9 JUN 2004
Status : Online | I haven't played much of it yet, but so far I have to agree with what you've said SJH.
Plus it's a bargain - only $19.99 in the US.
And I really like the control system.
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| 31 DEC 2004 at 5:39pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4941
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Yeah, I like it too. My only leetle gripe is the stiff hardware requirements but I guess that's where things are going to (and have to guess) head.
I like to play my AGs on laptops & I tried setting it up on one which appeared to meet the minimal requirements. I was told by the installation setup that I didn't have T&L (ie. a Transform & Lighting compatible chipset that transfers some video functions away from the CPU to the GPU), but I could continue at my own risk. Well, I got thru a screen or 2 of the initial game & then it all hung up. Had to transfer the game to my big-gun laptop that weighs a ton.....whatever!
Still, I guess my problem is the T&L requirement. That means that a lot of current systems won't work without a major video board and/or motherboard chipset upgrade and most laptops won't work. The game also has higher CPU (recommended 2gHz) requirements which I can't really argue with since I understand that the idea is to provide an overall enhanced audio/video experience with the game.
However, I like the game & so far agree with the reviews that give credit for Maciek's further innovation of the Myst-style AG template.
The future ain't what it used to be!
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| 31 DEC 2004 at 5:56pm |
Lucien21Guild Master
Posts : 4876
Joined: 9 JUL 2003
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (31 DEC 2004 5:39pm)
Still, I guess my problem is the T&L requirement. That means that a lot of current systems won't work without a major video board and/or motherboard chipset upgrade and most laptops won't work. The game also has higher CPU (recommended 2gHz) requirements which I can't really argue with since I understand that the idea is to provide an overall enhanced audio/video experience with the game.
Probably more of a laptop problem as graphics cards since 1999 have been T&L compliant so normal PC's should be fine unless people have a really old machine.
Dear Diary, My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a bodycount.
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| 31 DEC 2004 at 6:19pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4941
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Lucien21 (31 DEC 2004 5:55pm)
Probably more of a laptop problem as graphics cards since 1999 have been T&L compliant so normal PC's should be fine unless people have a really old machine.
Well actually, T&L has only become the norm in most graphics cards only in the last 3 years so many desktops still being used may have a problem without a video card upgrade. Obviously, if one is a 3d gamer then that will have been taken care of long ago, but a lot of AG players get by on, by 3d game standards, underpowered computers.
As far as it being a laptop problem goes, well it was except to note that the laptop was the Sony Vaio TR3a which is their latest top-of-the-line subnotebook & has handled any other AG I've thrown at it. My point really is that only higher end, larger laptops and desktops with 3d-gaming-capable video cards can handle this game.
The future ain't what it used to be!
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| 31 DEC 2004 at 8:27pm |
Lucien21Guild Master
Posts : 4876
Joined: 9 JUL 2003
Location: 0
Status : Offline | I'm sure Schizm II required a T&L compliant card as well.
Dear Diary, My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a bodycount.
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| 1 JAN 2005 at 12:19pm |
MaciekIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 78
Joined: 14 OCT 2002
Status : Online |
Well actually, T&L has only become the norm in most graphics cards only in the last 3 years so many desktops still being used may have a problem without a video card upgrade. Obviously, if one is a 3d gamer then that will have been taken care of long ago, but a lot of AG players get by on, by 3d game standards, underpowered computers.
Well, to be precise, the first hardware capable T&L card (GeForce 256) appeared on the market over 5 years ago.
Unfortunately Sentinel won't work on GeForce 256 because it requires 64MB of memory and I don't remember the original GeForce released with such amount of memory (only 16 and 32MB were available).
BTW, I'm glad that many players like our recent game!
Maciej Miasik&&[url]www.detalion.com[/url]
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| 1 JAN 2005 at 4:08pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4941
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Maciek (1 JAN 2005 12:19pm)
Well, to be precise, the first hardware capable T&L card (GeForce 256) appeared on the market over 5 years ago. Unfortunately Sentinel won't work on GeForce 256 because it requires 64MB of memory and I don't remember the original GeForce released with such amount of memory (only 16 and 32MB were available). BTW, I'm glad that many players like our recent game!
Yes I really like it and although I know it's not Schizm 3, I'm looking on Schizm 1&2 and Sentinel as a sort-of trilogy of games that are original, unique quality games. I was just sort-of sad that I wouldn't be able to take Sentinel on my 'travel' laptop. But again, I understand that AGs will benefit by moving forward in the graphics department.
BTW- the Dormeuse has some abdominal action going on when she walks that would bring traffic to a halt!
The future ain't what it used to be!
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| 4 JAN 2005 at 11:59am |
| Deleted User | Normally, I'm a really patient person but this game is starting to get on my nerves, to the point where I want to stop playing because it's not fun at all anymore.
*****SPOILERS*****
Everything was fine until Corabanti, the lava bridge and pumps puzzle are easy to understand but it's so LONG, it took me about 2 hours finish them. Then, Sanselard, too many sounds, signs and walking around, what a frustrating mess! Goda, constant back and forth and back and forth between all the levels and drawbridges.
*****End of spoilers*****
This game is testing my patience, not my intelligence. The puzzles aren't as hard as the ones in Schizm, that's true but again there are way too many steps to accomplish them. Sentinel have a lot of appeal because of the beautiful 3D graphics but what kind of person is going to put up with all of this work besides us adventure gamers? Detalion seems to forget that games are about having fun too, not just to challenge the 2 persons out of 300 that likes to feel smart after solving bad and long puzzles without a walkthrough by clicking on everything until it works.
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| 5 JAN 2005 at 3:41am |
hobbesIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 19
Joined: 15 SEP 2003
Status : Online | Spoilers
I absolutely hate this game.
I was playing the part where I had to activate some flowers by raising and rotating a tower.
The concept was easy to grasp, but the execution was ridiculous. Where I thought the beam was pointing was not even close to my on ground inspection (from the platform it would look dead on, but looking up from the ground it was behind or infront of the target.) That is just stupid.
It reminded me a Schism2 which had the walkway you had to align as the first real puzzle. That was sheer tedium in trying to visualize what was moving.
Then I go to the place where you have to match the sounds.
Christ, this company does the same idiotic crap over and over.
I pulled the cd out and pitched it.
Why is making 3 dimensional perception difficult and having to identify sounds considered fun?
Sorry, I guess I like logic and interaction based games much more than the difficult to see clearly, trial and error games.
Sorry, I don't mean to be a complainer, but I was sooo disappointed given the review here. It is just the same old "Adventure Company" crap under a different name.
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| 5 JAN 2005 at 5:32am |
| Deleted User | Hi all,
During the holiday break, I worked through Mysterious Journey I and II (though I found very little to relate the two).
I just finished II tonight, and decided I'd had enough of that. Tedious math based puzzles... sorry, my day job is taxing enough.
Now I find that Sentinal--which I'd already bought based on reviews (tsk, tsk)-- is a continuation of that series?
I'm torn. Having just done I and II, should I just continue the third installment, or dump it?
Speck.
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| 5 JAN 2005 at 7:22pm |
GrimCurseIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 83
Joined: 8 SEP 2004
Status : Online | I just finished Sentinel and I have mixed feelings about it. I liked the story and exploring the worlds at first but there was too much running around and sounds/colors puzzles. Sanselard and Goda are nothing compared to Argannas, that was hell! You think you are done with a puzzle but you have to repeat the same one with a different solution 5 times and then the other puzzle 4 times, I had 3 pages of notes.
I agree with Hobbes, the concept of the puzzles was easy to grasp but it was a real chore to solve. I'm not sure if I can recommend this game to anyone. Who is Detalion's target audience? Bored masochists?
SquarejawHero, Krkdnose and SirDave, are you still enjoying the game? I know I'm never going to play it again. Both Jenny100 and Robert Washburne gave Sentinel A- so it's getting great reviews :-/
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| 14 JAN 2005 at 12:12pm |
eGoateeSpace Cadet
Posts : 157
Joined: 4 NOV 2002
Status : Online | Some sharp looking visuals like the various wood grains in the docks level mentioned elsewhere in the JA site. But anyone know how to remove the white dot cursor and the dynamic arrows too? Tried numerous config file changes like fiddling with cursor colors but to no avail. Sometimes I like to view a scene without the white dot in the middle of the screen. I'll put it back of course if I need it to redo puzzles or to use elevators and other things.
Btw I don't mind walking back and forth in solving sound puzzles. And on a note about the sound puzzles:
++++ WARNING ++++ MAJOR SPOILER ++++++++++++
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You can avoid many of the sound puzzles in Argannas, and you don't even have to match any sounds at all. Just go to the door puzzle at the tall tower and using a walkthrough simply click on the correct shapes to open up all the front doors. Then you can enter the tower, finish the prarie town level and go on to finish the game in the tomb level.
I found it kind of ironic to be able to get out of doing any sound puzzle work before getting into the tower. And you would think you'd at least have to get to the other area of the town before being allowed entry into the tower. But no need to even visit the other buidlings behind the fence. Of course later I will do the sound puzzles because I want to see the remaining sections of the town.
Also again if anyone can help to temporarily remove the white cursor, thanks.
Edit: By white cursor I think I meant white crosshair as the correct term. Also I'd like to remove the multiple dynamic cursors on a temporary basis.
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| 14 JAN 2005 at 12:28pm |
qriousPrivate Detective
Posts : 524
Joined: 8 AUG 2003
Status : Offline | didnt like sentinel either. i didnt like any of the schizm games for some reason :-/
[b][size=19][url]www.adventureadvocate.gr[/url][/size][/b]&&[b][size=10]The biggest adventure source in Greece[/size][/b]
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| 15 JAN 2005 at 1:42am |
| Deleted User | Just a note about laptop playing: Last year, I couldn't get Myst IV to play on my 1.5-2 year old Dell laptop until I upgraded my drivers, but the newer ATI drivers weren't the ones that helped, it was the 3rd party drivers from... (Ghost? someone help here)
I'll try to verify this evening.
Speck
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| 15 JAN 2005 at 11:43am |
| Deleted User | Omega? They're pretty good.
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| 15 JAN 2005 at 4:15pm |
| Deleted User | I bought Sentinel a week ago, will play soon, but...
Looking at the box, I cannot see a single indication that the game uses full 3d -except for the Jupiter logo. Outraged by the Adventure Company's lack of marketing flair, I checked the Mysterious Journey 2 box...
"360 degrees navigation" ?! Not only this could means anything, but it suggests panning and node navigation! Why oh why AC seems to hide the (great) fact that those adventure are in real 3d? To lure in the myst fans?
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| 15 JAN 2005 at 4:30pm |
| Deleted User | ???
Why wouldn't the Myst fan not play them if they were in 3D? And sure the box requirements should state what isn't and is needed to play it (min/recommended requirements). Perhaps they didn't even think to mention it, seeing as many other Dreamcatcher titles are actually in 3D.
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| 15 JAN 2005 at 4:50pm |
| Deleted User | Why wouldn't the Myst fan not play them if they were in 3D?
I dunno, fear of change. There was URU then Myst 4...
Compare the Aura box with the Sentinel box...in no way you can tell that one is static and the other in realtime 3d, even with the minimum requirements. It seems foolish to me not mentioning what makes those games different from the myst-clones...
Perhaps they didn't even think to mention it, seeing as many other Dreamcatcher titles are actually in 3D.
Sentinel is on the shelves along with ALIDA, AURA, MYST 4 and ATLANTIS EVOLUTION...
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| 15 JAN 2005 at 10:02pm |
GrimCurseIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 83
Joined: 8 SEP 2004
Status : Online | Randdom, where do you buy adventure games? I've never seen Alida for sale anywhere ???
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