Preview: Zelenhgorm
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 …
