Review Forever Worlds Developer: Hexagon Publisher: The Adventure Company Genre: Adventure Release Date: May 2004 Platform: Review by Dawn Johnson June 14, 2004

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Ah, the good old days. You remember the golden days…those days of youth when you were so excited to go to granddads and see the farm. There were so many things to do! Looking back on those times, you remember playing in the yard with the chickens, chasing the barnyard cat...and the huge expanse of land as far as the eye can see. Yes, those were the good old days. Of course, when you visit now, you realize the land only goes to the road, the chickens take a lot of work in the morning, and the cats…well let’s just say now you wish they would leave your shoes alone on the porch. Not to mention the damn mosquitoes!

This game is pretty much like that…a memory of the good old days when computer games first were all the rage. You remember with fondness the first detailed graphics of those days, with frame by frame play and simple interaction. First person was all the rage, with straight forward and uncomplicated simplicity. Unfortunately, now playing these types of games can be frustrating as we are used to the fast action, multiple movement styles gaming.

I found the graphics in this game to be quite detailed, if not a little blocky from a distance. The puzzles were a bit confusing, until you realized they are random without warning. There really is no reason to have most of them except just to DO them…. There is no real warning when a puzzle is required, no foreshadowing of what is going to be happening. You pretty much stumble around until you find what you think may be a puzzle, then try to figure out what you are to do with it.

For instance, the puzzle for the pipe wheel is pretty simple to understand…if you happened to have stumbled across the hammer earlier. The pieces you find along the way are challenging, as you really have to look at every stop to see if maybe there is something here that could be picked up, or possibly used.

A small improvement –which is to say a HUGE improvement – would be if there was a map…even if it was to show you which direction you are supposedly facing. I spent 30 minutes at one tri-fork in the road as I kept getting turned around. Love the scenery, but it pretty much looked the same every time I clicked forward…and Whammo! Back at the clearing!

One thing I will point out, without ruining too much of the game, is that it is weird. I mean Wes Craven weird. Once you start hopping dimensions, or worlds, you really have to check reality at the door. Anything can happen, does happen, and will…or did…happen. Don’t get confused. Stay with me here. There will be times when you are when, not really where. Also, just because it SOUNDS helpful, doesn’t mean it is. In other words, drunks do not let drunks drive them home…you will understand after playing, Grasshopper.

The game guide is an absolute must if you wish to find out what is going on. (Love the tie, too, Randy. Brings out the eyes.) Ok enough brown-nosing. Seriously, in order for me to figure out anything, I needed to read the guide first. This does not mean you need to follow it exactly…you can get to many places as well as puzzles without following a set path…just be forewarned it can be frustrating when you show up at the right place, at the right time….without the right item.

One major advantage I found is this could definitely be a kid’s game. There was nothing in it which would cause any parent to be concerned such as innuendoes, violence, nudity…hey let’s face it…today’s games are definitely for the most part created for an adult audience. Kids just get away with playing them under the guise of entertainment.

The sound was decent, but the real kicker had to be the dialogue. There are some exchanges that you want to go back and listen to several times, laughing until your eyes teared over. Especially with your sidekick – Ixtloaloaxixt (Ix for short). That little lizard…err gecko…err whatever he/she/it is, can be hysterical!

I found this game to be a little on the slow side, as well as frustrating from time to time…hey, let’s face it…when you have been on the path for a while and fifty clicks later…ahhh look…more path! It can get a little tedious. And don’t spin yourself around too fast…the terrain will make you dizzy. Yeah I know, blonde moment.

All in all it was also a breath of fresh air from the good old days, when you didn’t have to break out in a sweat and turn your console pad into mush trying to get out of a triple spin while looking for your hand gun and checking out the bad guys all at once. It was a relatively simple game, and once you get the hang of it, it kinda grows on you. Just like granddad’s farm.

Final Grade: C-

It is highly recommended that Forever Worlds be played with the Windows XP Operating System as there have been numerous reports of incompatibility with previous versions of Windows.

System Requirements:

• Windows 98 – XP (preferably XP due to graphics)
• Pentium II 400 MHZ
• 64 MB RAM
• 1.2 GB Hard Drive Disk Space
• 16x CD-ROM Drive
• 32 MB DirectCD Compatible Video Card
• 16-bit Color Screen
• DirectSound Compatible Sound Card
• Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers
• Over 21 a six pack of beer