ukpetdSpace Cadet
Posts : 176
Joined: 27 JUL 2007
Status : Online | East Side Story : MDNA games
Win98, XP, Vista
Pentium 1000 or higher
128 Mb ram
16Mb video card
800 Mb hard drive space
The game runs in auto-adjusting 1024 x 768 resolution
CD-rom drive (to transfer the game to hard disk - it runs from there without needing the disk in drive)
This is a traditional point-and-click adventure from independent developers in Sweden. It is the fourth in a series of Carol Reed mysteries. Carol, an English girl, is a private detective based in Norrkoping in Sweden.
The game features 2D graphics (as per Myst) and movement within the game is controlled entirely by mouse. In this game you play as Carol and must solve the case of a murdered tramp. The puzzles are mainly inventory based with the occasional direct mouse based input. There are no mazes, or slider puzzles and only one action sequence which constitutes the finale. Pixel hunting is almost absent. The game takes place in the east side of Norrkoping. The graphics are stills from a video camera which have been manipulated to enhance their appearance. All voices are in English with subtitles. Music was generally unnoticed by me (a good sign, as noticeable music means I was distracted from the game!). The game utilises the Wintermute engine.
Interaction with other npc’s is done using a succession of stills. The real strength of the game is the plot which keeps the player’s attention throughout the game. The secondary strength is the novelty of the location and the chance to see somewhere not in Egypt, South America or New York. Are the Swedes clean and tidy? See for yourself.
The game take approximately 15 hours to play through. This is good value for the $18.00 which it cost (postage included). If you have not yet tried the other games in this series then I urge you to get to know them too.* The closest, most well known equivalents, are possibly the Nancy Drew games which also feature a girl detective. They are 2.5D (3D characters + 2D backgrounds), are very polished and have roughly 15 hours of game play.
I liked the homely atmosphere, reasonable puzzles (they are mostly on the easy side of middling) and strong story. The game runs on low spec machines. There is no strong language so I guess anyone from 10+ could play this game (with occasional help).
*Carol Reed games are only obtainable from the MDNA web site URL : www.mdna-games.com
A walkthrough is available elsewhere on the JA+ site for emergancies.
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