The Journey Down: Chapter 3 Review
The game takes some visual nods from Grim Fandango along with a touch of Monkey Island humor. Give this one a shot; you won’t be disappointed.
Genre: Point-and-Click Adventure
Release date: September 21, 2017
The third and final installment in The Journey Down series has been released. After becoming a beloved point-and-click adventure, the final chapter was funded on Kickstarter.
Bwana is our hero. He and his brother, Kito, are searching for their lost adopted father who disappeared. Their quest uncovers high-level corruption between the government and a power company with mysterious sources. At the end of Chapter 2, the pair escapes to the forbidden Underland with Lina, a researcher from the local university.
So, what happens now? The group continues its exploration of the Underland and discovers proof of the government corruption. They decide to split up, with Kito and Bwana travelling back up to their home while Lina stays below. Our brothers are looking for Lina’s boss, who has gone into hiding. Lina is focused on stopping the drilling.
The dual split allows you to play as Lina for the first time, and I think that’s a nice touch. The story unfolds very well and, as you learn more, new locations are revealed to you. However, there are no recaps of the first two chapters. If you haven’t played them, you’ll be lost. Oddly, the game tacks on a love story in the final moments that focuses on a minor character, and it just doesn’t jive well. This is a minor nitpick on an otherwise satisfying conclusion.
I always get giddy when I see a point-and-click adventure do something more than pixel graphics, and this delivers. I love the graphics of this game, and they provide a Jamaican vibe based on ancient tribal masks. It works better than you’d think, and has a hint of Grim Fandango in the design. The grittiness of the city above and the lush landscapes of the Underland helped me enjoy my trip back through St Armando. I wish the game had spent more time in the Underland because I prefer the lush green pastures, but I was happy no matter where the game took me.
The voice acting is suitable for the game and the characters sound great. What I really loved is the music. Everything is in a Jamacian theme, so there are popping beats that underscore everything you do, and it really helps set the mood.
The puzzles are straightforward, and a seasoned fan will have no trouble progressing through this game. You’ll always know what to next, and the “three tasks” motif is alive and well. I did get stuck once because I missed a hotspot, but that is par for the course for this kind of game. The game does not provide a ‘”how hotspots” button but the devs have done their best to make sure you don’t need one. They aren’t trying to add challenge through poor user interface.
Despite When I first heard of the game, I was worried that a Jamaican-themed wouldn’t interest me that much. However, I immediately got into the groove. The game takes some visual nods from Grim Fandango along with a touch of Monkey Island humor. Give this one a shot; you won’t be disappointed.
+ Good music + Great puzzles + Satisfying conclusion to the story
– You’ll be lost if you haven’t played Chapters 1 and 2
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System Requirements
Processor: 1.8 GHz CPU
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Processor: 1.8 GHz CPU
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: OpenGL 1.4+ compatible video card
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: OpenGL 1.4+ compatible video card
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