Developer: Malamute
Projected Release Date: To Be Determined
Platform:
Genre:
Adventure/Action
Zelenhgorm,
also known as the Land of the Blue Moon, is a very large continent not unlike
earth, that is currently located on the design tables and in the imaginations
at Malamute in Sweden. I have just completed playing a short demo of the game,
and I want to tell you a bit about the story and to share my impressions with
you.
The player will assume the role of Arrikk, a young man who appears
to be of Scandinavian heritage. He is tall with delicate features and long blond
hair. His home overlooks the water in an agricultural compound. As you arrive
in his bedroom, Arrikk stirs in his sleep as noises disturb him. He has been having
very odd dreams–“dreams echoed, not quite heard, like the color of the moon.”
When he is oriented toward the morning sun, he looks out from his sleeping room
window. There on the waterway he sees a huge ship glistening in the light. And
what a ship it is to behold: it has large and somewhat blunt proportions; it is
made from wide, wooden planks that are rough and unpainted; it has what appears
to be a paddlewheel; and it has beautifully embellished sails reminiscent of those
found on a Chinese junk. The sails are a patchwork of colors that show a crest,
which on closer examination might be a dragon. This was certainly not at the water
side when Arrikk retired for the night. Now he is anxious to get on with the day
to see what surprises it has in store.
As Arrikk exits the front gate,
he comes upon several of his neighbors. He is quite friendly and natural, but
they are openly hostile to him. He seems a pleasant enough young man. As you explore
the village, you will notice that other neighbors avoid him. Why do these people
dislike him so much? Why do they scream and tell him that he is “tainted”?
This is the first of many questions that do not have an answer based in our modern
reality. As the game progresses, you will find that Arrikk is left-handed and
that the other inhabitants of his world are superstitious. They accuse him of
“left-handed” witchcraft. And now we understand why they are angry and
afraid of him.
It is interesting to me that Arrikk is Scandinavian in his
appearance and dress while his neighbors seem to be Oriental in their dress and
facial features. This is another question that remains to be answered. A little
further in the game you will learn that “Zelenhgorm is inhabited by six diverse
civilizations, each with its own unique traditions, tales and cultures. They all
speak of the legendary seventh tribe, the Water folk, and of the left-handed Bearers,
who are reputed to be highly skilled in magic and are said to be born on occasion
in each of the tribes.” So far, this is a highly complex story. And this
package is only episode one of Zelenhgorm. Here you will discover who you are
and why the great and mysterious ship has come to your waterside. You will travel
through the Zelenhgorm world, trying to bring about the reunification of
its people. There will be several episodes to this title, and to succeed in your
game experience you will need to unlock the mysteries of the ancient water folk,
the left-handed Bearers, the ship, and a sinister and powerful priesthood.
I
found the time that I spent in the land of Zelenhgorm to be mysterious
and captivating. I felt a sense of wonder but at the same time a sense of foreboding.
The environment felt shadowed by an evil that I was not able to reach on the demo–but
I felt its presence all the same. The parts of the game that I played are typical
of point-and-click adventures. I love those. There was one fighting sequence,
and once I found myself diving for pearls. I was unsuccessful in my efforts to
defend myself during the fight mode (what a klutz I am), but the water scenes
were enjoyable for me. The background music is on the side of the classics and
appropriate to the action on the screen.
One last thing: I do not think
the voice-overs on the demo are up to the caliber of the artistic merit of Zelenhgorm.
They are flat and difficult to understand, almost muffled. This game is clearly
of epic proportions and demands trained and controlled voice acting to bind it
all together. In my opinion, this single feature has the power to turn a marvelous
game into a mediocre one. I have spoken to Randy about my disappointment with
this element. The developers at Malamute have told him that they are working to
improve this distraction and that by release time the dialogue will be clear and
well-performed. Bravo!
Malamute has allowed us to preview this game while
still in the early stages. We will keep you informed of Zelenhgorm’s progress
along its developmental timeline. I am looking forward to finding out more of
the plot and design features. I’ll be back … See you … Same time … Same
place … More goodies …
