Syberia

Rating:
Summary: Oooh pretty! . . . Is that it?
Review: Everyone is in agreement that Syberia is pretty. The plot is interesting and somewhat original. The game is easy to play. The voice-acting is a step above most adventure games. And so on.

Note, however, that the only reviews which reference the quality of Syberia's puzzles are negative. I played the game about 3/4 through, eventually deciding that there were no impending "challenges." The puzzles can be summed up as follows (and I'm being totally literal):

If you find a lever, pull it
If you find a button, push it
Pick up an item and put it where it obviously belongs

If that isn't easy enough, the NPCs provide unsolicited walkthroughs, and this isn't an option. In other words, there is NO "solving" of puzzles to be had. Some games are aptly characterized as interactive movies, but even that implies some skill or decision-making on the part of the viewer/gamer.

The game may redeem itself in its last quarter, but if you're in it for the puzzles, you'll die of boredom before you get there.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent ending!
Review: I really enjoyed this game, but I wanted to take a moment to say how much I especially enjoyed the ending. I've been surprised at the number of comments deriding the end. Unlike Myst III, where the end comprises little more than Rand saying "welcome back," or Riven, where there was no end at all, Syberia's ending involves an extensive and emotional cut scene that brings full closure to the game while at the same time leaving room for a sequel. The ending was thoroughly enjoyable and in keeping with the mysterious and romantic flavor of the rest of the game. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: Captivating Game
Review: This is one of the best games I've ever played. This should be in every gamer's collection. The cut scenecs are astonishing. It's incredible how B. Sokal imagined all of this, so beautiful, I've reveried often of living in Valadilene (one of the 4 fantastic locations in Syberia). This is definetly a MUST HAVE!

Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: Ordinarily, I'm a hard-core simulation and strategy gamer, with a bent towards city-building. I haven't played an adventure game since "Black Dhalia" or "Myst." I'd forgotten just how good the genre can be when done well. Syberia reminded me. I picked it up on a whim, and I know I won't be able to quit until I've finished the story.

First of all, the graphics are stunning. There's no other way to describe the quality and detail. Here, they raise the bar for adventure games to follow, and raise the genre to the level of art. It's obvious a great deal of care and thought went into this game in that aspect. The only real complaint is that there's no 360 degree view, and no angle variations on any scenes. But the quality of the graphics and the ease of navigation make up for it. Even a user who is not all that familiar with adventure games will be able to pick this one up and run with it in no time at all.

The puzzles are hard enough to be challenging, but not so difficult as to be impossible to figure out without hints or a walkthrough. I have resorted to hints only a few times, and it only confirmed that I would have been right to follow my instincts. Also, they are not at all abstract, but each is tied into the story and setting of the game, so they make even more sense if you think about it. Sometimes just wandering around will be enough to lead you to solve the puzzles presented. Other times, the answer is simpler than you might think. But if you're an experienced adventure gamer you won't have much trouble with them.

The real pleasure here is the story and the character development. Your interactions with certain characters is crucial to how well and how quickly your progress in the game. in a sense you have a hand in creating your own unique version of the story. The cell phone is employed as a means of fleshing out the life of the main character outside the story, and serves to create some dramatic tension, though the resolution is somewhat expected.

The only other drawback might be the lenght of time it takes the character to get from one point to another (there doesn't seem to be a way to get across Valladilene instantly, for example), but at least the scenery makes the trip seem more worthwhile. Finally, the only other negative I can think of about this game is that it's too short! By the end of the game I was left wanting more. But then I supposed that is the mark of truly good work on the part of the creators. I understand Syberia II is in the works. If it's anything like the original, I'll probably be in line to buy it when it's released.

Rating:
Summary: Great game but still left me wanting
Review: If you're new to the adventure genre, this may be your game-- with stunning, detailed 3D-rendered graphics and an imaginative story ripe with possibility.

I would argue the game designers capitalized on MOST of that possibility. You would think that a game that begins in a town home to a sprawling toy factory complex that produces wind-up / clockwork toys would have much more in the way of imaginative puzzles.

Unfortunately, most of the puzzles are ludicrously easy, and the rare few that aren't painfully obvious can be solved by the usual hunt for "hot spots", applying every object to every other object/character and mapping out every single branch of the "conversation tree" with all NPCs. In other words, the usual fare.

There is little here puzzle-wise you haven't seen done in a better fashion if you're a veteran adventure game player. On the plus side, the puzzles were so incredibly easy that a walkthrough shouldn't be necessary for the vast majority of gamers out there.

The game is also populated with a number of colorful characters--some funny, some annoying, some very annoying. But even the annoying characters are part of the game's "charm"--though much of the dialogue often comes off as a poor translation (sure enough, the game was written by a Frenchman), mangling the English language more often than not and rattling off cliches the rest of the time.

To add insult to injury, Kate Walker has a cell phone that is a constant source of irritation, ringing at every inopportune moment. You'll soon wish "throw cell phone into beautiful crystalline stream" was an acceptable command.

On graphics, atmosphere, and storyline alone, this is still one of the best titles out there, hence my high rating despite my long list of gripes. You won't regret having played the game, though you will wonder why the game didn't ever reach the world suggested in the title--forcing you to wait impatiently for the sequel. Still, I wish the huge potential here had been capitalized upon.

Rating:
Summary: the best game ever
Review: Siberia is simply one of the best games that I've ever played in terms of graphics & sound.. the cut scenes are simply breathtaking.. whats even more great is that the cutscenes don't interfere with the gameplay but are a part of it. (sometimes they even carry good enough details to show you what to do next). The gameplay is also very good too IMO.. it won't let you wander too much and you can't proceed to next level/town unless you've fulfilled all the requirements (something I wish was there in King's Quest, etc.. so that you don't have to restore games later).. Also the voice acting is brilliant.

The only annoying thing, and a very small thing though, is that you keep have to travelling again and again scrolling screens after screen for no good reason.. This is okay at first but being an adventure game you may to do it many a times and then it starts getting boring (like in the first stage I had to make 5 long trips to get the correct type of shoes for oscar).. but still this is a very minor thing and so IMO this game deserves a 5/5 rating :)

Rating:
Summary: Interactive Storybook
Review: After hours of First Person Shooters, stressful rounds of SimCity4, and a little bit of Uplink, I think that Syberia was a wonderful getaway. It didn't require too much thinking, just a simple puzzle game. I absolutely enjoyed the characters and their voices. It's really quite funny at times, which I really enjoyed.

I've never played an adventure game besides this a ten minutes of Longest Journey (on a friend's computer) but the graphics are really nice, realistic. Kate's movements are a bit slow but I think it's a nice detail that she'll look up to a ladder as she's approaching it, not only when she's at the foot of it.

Like I said, the gameplay is easy, like an interactive storybook, a brilliant one at that. I like how the story is told, and that is important.

I recommend it, although it ends abruptly and ready for a sequel. Buy it new, or buy it used, it doesn't matter, just play it.

Rating:
Summary: Not for Myst Fans
Review: I bought Syberia with the intention that it would fill the "void" as I eagerly await the next game installment of the Myst series. It had all the recommendations, the graphics looked stunning, and it was named Adventure Game of the Year.

But if you are a Myst fan and are expecting a game that can rival the Myst games - think again.

If you are expecting a completely immersive environment, fabulous audioplay (in Syberia, the music starts up then sort of dwindles away, but as soon as you "solve" a puzzle, it revitalizes itself and is very gung ho... until it dwindles again), and challenging "Myst-esque" puzzles, keep looking.

Syberia hasn't really got any of that. The static graphics (namely, the backgrounds) are very beautiful. The 3-D character modeling is... well... let's just say it could use work. The ending was pretty disappointing too. You'll be sitting there at your computer cheering Kate on and then the movie will cut to the ending credits and you'll be "What? That's all? I did all that to just see a nice shot of CGI snowflakes??"

And the puzzles. Oh boy, the puzzles. This is the point on which I mainly urge Myst fans to consider waiting to buy Syberia at the [$$]-Bargain Shelf.

The puzzles were simplistic, repetitive, and absolutely non-thought provoking. Some puzzles were challenging, but only because they required lots of walking-clicking or maybe you just weren't looking at your screen hard enough (i.e. the mammoth drawing).

Myst fans, expect to finish this game in a few hours. I was very disappointed, but I was able to console myself with the fact that I hadn't bought the game when it first came out (and cost [more$$]).

I do not recommend Syberia for Myst fans who are looking for something in league with the Myst series.

However, if you aren't a Myst fan, then I say this is the perfect game for you. It won't fry your brains and despite the 3D-modeling and weird voice-script, Syberia is a very beautiful game.

Rating:
Summary: great for the puzzle challenged
Review: syberia was a great game, the plot the graphics and the voices were a pleasure to become immersed in. i also really like point and click type of games. the puzzles did not fry my brains and have me running for a walkthrough, (yes, quite the shock)
i think most people will really enjoy this game.

Rating:
Summary: Immerse yourself in this beautiful journey
Review: I have just started playing this wonderful game,and am enjoying it immensely.This is a classic "point and click game"but the difference between "Syberia" and others of this genre is that the story line is gentle,logical,and intriguing.There are "puzzles" to solve,but they are not non-sensical and frustrating.You just have to be observant,and use logic.And the story line actually makes sense,unlike some similar games I have played.The graphics are stunning,and the music is poignant and underscores the story line perfectly.The voice actors are all very good. The game has run flawlessly on my 1.7 PC,running XP,with 256 megs of RAM.
I reccommend "Syberia" without reservation to anyone who enjoys a classy, thoughtful PC adventure.Give it a try.I think you will be delighted.