The Longest Journey Begins

The Longest Journey and its sequels, Dreamfall and Dreamfall:  Chapters are games of deep stories and emotion that I've enjoyed a lot over the years.  It's been almost a year now since the last chapter of the last game was released, bringing an end to the saga.  For some time now I've been meaning to chronicle a playthrough of all the games, making note of my thoughts on the games' interconnections, artistry, and all the various little things I dislike or love.

All the games are conveniently divided into chapters, so I'll try tackling them one post per chapter.  I'll try not to bluntly spoil anything, but I will be pointing out some foreshadowing.

The Longest Journey is still one of my favorite games, but before I truly start the game, let's examine the menu screen (...I suspect the chapter posts will be long.)  Here it is:

There are children's drawings (and April's diary), with each a different menu choice.  Children's drawings are a recurring motif in all three games, so it's great to see them right from the start.  I'm not exactly sure what the grate or stone background represents.  Stark in general?  April's room specifically?  But the dark, cold CGI contrasts nicely with the warmth of the drawings (a dichotomy that will be repeated in the game, although I don't think the poorness of the CGI is intentional.)

Looking at the drawings in detail, there are some sort of water and flying creatures (credits), April's diary (settings), a sea monster (the Book of Secrets, the bonus material), a person with a stick bundle setting out on a journey towards mountains (starting the game), a campfire scene from a certain point in the game (continuing the game from a save), and the House of All Worlds (exiting the game.)  The same stick person (dressed in red) is in the last three, and I'm assuming it's April.

I'll talk more about what the drawings might mean or represent when I get to certain points in the game.  Now, to actually start a game!

"Dreamfall: Chapters" Review

Publisher:  Red Thread Games

Genre:  Adventure

Summary:  In the cyberpunk future, Zoe Castillo awakens from a coma, but has no memory of the traumatic events that caused it.  As she tries to make a life for herself, she is haunted by this.  Does she really want to remember?  And how does all of this tie into the popular Dreammachines?

Meanwhile, in another world, Kian Alvane finds himself considered a traitor to his people.  He is enlisted in aiding the rebels against them and in helping the oppressed magical peoples of Marcuria.  Will this be his redemption?

Gameplay:  The puzzles are fairly simple and involve finding things and occasionally combining them.  Sometimes there are timed events.  I enjoyed them, overall.  More enjoyable were the numerous choices in the game, several of which influence later story elements, although the general story does not change drastically.  Still, there is enough difference to make another playthrough a distinct experience, and that is appreciated.

Movement sometimes seems sluggish, especially without a run/walk toggle.  I really, really miss the ability to save on command, although the game does autosave frequently.

Style:  The graphics are pleasing.  I really love being able to explore the the cyberpunk and magical cityscapes, especially when I can compare locations that appeared in previous games.  I also love how the title screen changes for each chapter.  Overall, however, the interface doesn't stand out.

Story:  My summary looks complicated as it is, and I'm not sure it even starts to cover this game.  I can't imagine how "Dreamfall:  Chapters" plays to somehow whose first experience with this universe starts with this game.  It's very much a continuation of "Dreamfall" (so much so I could argue they are two halves of one long game) and that game is very much a sequel to "The Longest Journey."  Although there are some unanswered questions and some plot threads that I felt could have used more or less time, overall I feel this game ably wraps up this saga.

Personally, I found Zoe's tale more interesting than Kian's, but there's probably a bit more of his here (which is only fair, I suppose, given he had a lot less to do in "Dreamfall.")  But more interesting than either of those was the tale of Saga, told in interludes between the chapters.  But in everything there are memorable moments and characters and sorrow and laughter.  It's a worthy journey and I'm glad to have had it.

Five Worst Game Endings

Endings are hard.  To wrap up all the plot threads neatly so stories end satisfactorily, or to leave a few hanging just so for future possibilities, and to do it all conveying whatever sense of accomplishment or poignancy needed is a difficult task.  Some games have done it excellently.  But today I'm going to talk about the games that really, really blew the landing.

These are the worst endings I could think of from games I have personally finished.  I am judging based upon the endings themselves, the final scenes.  The endgames, the player's final actions leading up to the ending, are a different matter (and perhaps a list for another day.)  Although obviously the endgame and ending influence each other, it is possible to have a great endgame and horrible ending and vice versa.

Many of these endings are somewhat ameliorated by sequels that provide the answers or hope that the previous games' endings lacked.  And while I'm thankful for that, that shouldn't be an excuse for a poor ending (especially when it can be unknown years until a sequel appears.)

Another commonality is depressing endings.  While I generally prefer happy endings, I'm not opposed to a sad or melancholy ending in principle.  But in these endings, the sadness is unexpected, unlike what has come before, and a poor match for the game.  The end of the game is not the time for a sudden twist in tone.

Random Thoughts Upon Finishing Dreamfall: Chapters

A few days ago I finished Dreamfall: Chapters, bringing an end to a series begun when I started The Longest Journey in college long ago (barring the possibility of another story some distant day.) Fortunately, it was a satisfying enough end, and I look forward to replaying the game all at once now that I can. And at some point I'll have to play through the whole trilogy again. But for now, I just want to note my random (spoilery) thoughts and questions about Dreamfall: Chapters and the worlds of The Longest Journey.