Syberia

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, imaginative, enchanting; some illogical solutions
Review: I enjoyed this game a lot, not quite as much as Myst many years ago, but it had a similar fresh and creative feel to it. If Myst is a 10, I give Syberia a 9. I had no technical problems with it. The graphics are gorgeous, and the storyline is creative and captivating, although it did take a while to get hooked. It has a definite European flavor to it that was refreshing too. And it has a good message for young women as the young female hero "Kate" is transformed during the course of the game. She starts out an average young New York attorney involved in a love relationship with a somewhat weak and immature man, and by the end she has become a world adventurer of almost superhero stature, powers, and confidence. And it is clear by the end of the game that Kate will no longer be satisfied with her former ordinary life and suffocating relationship. Thus the stage is set for the sequel, Syberia 2, in which Kate embarks on another great adventure that is related yet different from the one in Syberia.

I read a review of this game online in which the reviewer was disappointed in the ending of the game, and with the "annoying" concurrent storyline of Kate's relationship with her boyfriend back in New York (via cell phone). But I think the ending was fine. Kate does achieve the goal of the game - at least mostly, and also embraces her newfound freedom and self-confidence, and a love of adventure. She leaves behind the pettiness of her relationship with an immature man and her job where an oppressive boss dominated her. It's a great message for young women who have not yet made their choice for the future course of their lives. And although the hero is a young woman, this is a good message for young men as well.

On the downside, the games "puzzles" often had illogical solutions that I, for one, would probably have only stumbled on after many boring, tedious hours of trying every possible combination of actions to come up with the right solution. This detracted from the game's enjoyment quite a bit, and I had to resort to a "walkthrough" available at the website Bellaonline.com. Therefore, I would suggest locating a walkthrough and then consulting it when the game becomes too tedious. I'd say try for 30 minutes to an hour and if you can't come up with a solution then check the walkthrough. In my case, even when I got the solution from the walkthrough, I did not say to myself "why didn't I think of that!" Instead it was more like, "Sheesh, who would ever think of doing that?" But that only happened maybe 5 or 6 times, so there were still plenty of other solutions that were logical and that I was able to figure out on my own.

As I said earlier the story is captivating and I was hooked, so I will be getting the sequel too. It's an enjoyable, nonviolent, fantasy-adventure game that sharpens your thinking skills and should be playable by all over age 10 to 12 or so.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable adventure game--five stars review
Review: I just finished this game and I'm sorry I let it sit on my desk unplayed for so long. I saved it for a "rainy day" and must admit that the several evenings that I immersed myself in this software was very enjoyable.

As previous reviewers have noted, this is an adventure game of the Myst variety--lots of sumptuous graphics and a plot that keeps you moving forward until the end. This software is not the "kill everything that moves" type of adventure game that is so popular nowadays, but it is something you can give to a pre-teen and not worry about any gross violence, language, or suggestive material. It's just clean fun. I'd also compare this software to the Longest Journey, which is my favorite adventure game to date. There is a lot of dialogue between your character and others, and the logic puzzles aren't too strenuous in nature (Remember Riven and some of those killer puzzles...ugh...first time I went to a walkthough). The puzzles in Syberia are sequential in nature for the most part and very down-to-earth. For example, you find items as you progress, and apply those items to various tasks you have to undertake to move forward in the game. Can't get through a door? That means you haven't completed other portions of the sequence or found the right item to help you open the door. Nothing too far-fetched or annoyingly hard to figure out.

As for the character movement complaint from a previous reviewer, my solution suggestion would be to have your character "run" from place to place...a simple double-click of the mouse and she moves faster between frames. I enjoyed the wonderful Art Nouveau architecture/furniture theme used for the first village sequence--wish I could afford that in my own life(sigh). I even started rummaging around on the Internet for more information about automatons (producing them seems to be a lost art, but they really do exist in many forms, if you have the money to spend on them). The sequences were varied and different enough to keep your attention throughout--I looked forward to exploring each new "place" that Kate progressed to. Overall the sound was appropriate and the music isn't irritating--something that has bugged me about adventure games in the past. I had some "fuzziness" in the sound during the game, but that had to do with my older computer and its sorry audio equipment. Even with my overall slower computer, the graphics and movements were flawless--you shouldn't have a problem enjoying the game even if you don't have the newest super-sonic speed hardware out there.

Overall, a very enjoyable experience and I recommend it to others who enjoy this gaming genre. I'm looking forward to starting the sequel, Syberia 2, this weekend!

Rating:
Summary: A Return to Adventure!
Review: For those of us who avoid "shooters" and other computer games of violence and twitchy action, but who have been disheartened by the apparent disappearance of the adventure genre -- rejoice! "Syberia" by Sokal is a gentle adventure game with a very clear plot line, superb graphics, and puzzles that are short and strongly logical. You'll find no "put banana on metronome" or 250-move chess puzzles in this game.

Progress through the game's scenes is by a "director-like" interface, which becomes a bit tedious when one is cycling back and forth between two distant locations, but the advantage of the interface is that motion-sickness is not a problem. I have one more comment on the graphics -- the art work is astonishing and somewhat somber, but quite spectacular. I am very pleased to have purchased the game. My personal feeling is that it is one "star" better than an earlier game by Sokal called ""Amerzone."

Rating:
Summary: Syberia vs Longest Journey? Not!
Review: I was thrilled to find this game, because people were comparing it to "The Longest Journey." I have to say that I was sorely disappointed.

People say they've gotten attached to the characters in this game. How? There is no exchange there is in TLJ. There is third person interaction, but only when the maim character happens to trigger the reactions. No give and take whatsoever in this. No allowing YOU, the reader, to truly have an opionion Sorry, but the best I can give thos is a "3". Sne and navigation hrough the plot is inpossible. Not because it's complicated, and certainly not because it's well-written, but simply because it doesn't make sense. I spent the first half deciding on which side my characters should exit the train.

My rating is "1", but only because the graphics are decent. Beyond that, if anyone wants to give me a refund, just let me know. Not worth carrying home, esp;ecially if you've already seen the nextr step in your mind;

Mel

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable adventure game--five stars review
Review: I just finished this game and I'm sorry I let it sit on my desk unplayed for so long. I saved it for a "rainy day" and must admit that the several evenings that I immersed myself in this software were very enjoyable.

As previous reviewers have noted, this is an adventure game of the Myst variety--lots of sumptuous graphics and a plot that keeps you moving forward until the end. This software is not the "kill everything that moves" type of adventure game that is so popular nowadays, but it is something you can give to a pre-teen and not worry about any gross violence, language, or suggestive material. It's just clean fun. I'd also compare this software to the Longest Journey, which is my favorite adventure game to date. There is a lot of dialogue between your character and others, and the logic puzzles aren't too strenuous in nature (Remember Riven and some of those killer puzzles...ugh...first time I went to a walkthough). The puzzles in Syberia are sequential in nature for the most part and very down-to-earth. For example, you find items as you progress, and apply those items to various tasks you have to undertake to move forward in the game. Can't get through a door? That means you haven't completed other portions of the sequence or found the right item to help you open the door. Nothing too far-fetched or annoyingly hard to figure out.

As for the character movement complaint from a previous reviewer, my solution suggestion would be to have your character "run" from place to place...a simple double-click of the mouse and she moves faster between frames. I enjoyed the wonderful Art Nouveau architecture/furniture theme used for the first village sequence--wish I could afford that in my own life(sigh). I even started rummaging around on the Internet for more information about automatons (producing them seems to be a lost art, but they really do exist in many forms, if you have the money to spend on them). The sequences were varied and different enough to keep your attention throughout--I looked forward to exploring each new "place" that Kate progressed to. Overall the sound was appropriate and the music isn't irritating--something that has bugged me about adventure games in the past. I had some "fuzziness" in the sound during the game, but that had to do with my older computer and its sorry audio equipment. Even with my overall slower computer, the graphics and movements were flawless--you shouldn't have a problem enjoying the game even if you don't have the newest super-sonic speed hardware out there.

Overall, a very enjoyable experience and I recommend it to others who enjoy this gaming genre. I'm looking forward to starting the sequel, Syberia 2, this weekend!

Rating:
Summary: A game that truly merits abundant scorn
Review: Do you read 5 star reviews of movies like 'Star Wars: Episode 2' and find yourself saying things like, "What $%^&% movie was this $%&%$# watching"? If you read all of the glowing reviews that this game has received and buy the game, do not be surprised if you find yourself making a similar statement. Calling this game bad is like calling the Grand Canyon a hole in the ground: true, but inadequate.

Let us begin with the characters. It will take less than 15 minutes for you to come to hate Kate Walker (the character you play as). As you meet the rest of the characters, you will hate them as well. Allegedly, Kate improves as the game progresses, but I can only say that I do not see it.

There are almost no puzzles per se. You wander around, pick up objects and use them somewhere else. The game does not allow you to do irrelevant actions (as a friend of mine said, playing the game is like turning the pages of a movie).

The graphics are, at best, adequate. The single perspective for every scene is a major let-down.

The story also leaves much to be desired, as do the individual scenes. This game does not have the fragrance of fantasy, but rather the stench of irrationality.

If the game was better, I would complain about how very short it was. As is, that was a merciful reprieve. Simply put, 'Syberia' fails in every way that a game can fail.

Thank You

Rating:
Summary: What a painful waste of time!
Review: I don't understand how this game gets good reviews. The dialogue is horrible, the characters are unlikeable, and the action is boring. I wish I'd steered clear of this one.

Rating:
Summary: Great piece of work
Review: If you are a fan of the Myst series your probably going to want to add this game to your library. If your not a Myst fan this is still a great game for all. Happy Gaming!!!

Rating:
Summary: Boring, frustrating game
Review: I bought this game, and was looking very forward to playing it, because I wanted an adventure game that wasn't based on violence. Little did I know that _playing_ this game would drive me to want to kick someone in the kneecaps.

Honestly, this game is NOT worth your time or money. You'll get the same amount of adventure, game play, and entertainment from clicking random points on your computer screen, waiting two to three minutes, and then clicking some other random point.

Rating:
Summary: Average...Main Character Unrealistic
Review: I wanted to like Syberia. After all, I purchased two copies of this game and it had great reviews. Unfortunately, I think its reputation is overrated - I found Syberia to be a rather drab, boring and implausible game with an annoying protagonist and gray graphics.

First Off: the characters: you play Kate, a Lawyer with the spine of a jellyfish a verbally abusive boss and a dink of a boyfriend. Kate is an unrealistic character. This woman is supposed to be an attorney, and yet she wanders around wearing side-stitched painted on leather pants and a windbreaker to meetings with clients? Ugh. The model itself appears emaciated and resembles a teenager rather than an adult. Plus, there's her personality: Kate is a pushover, and can easily be convinced to play errand girl for every weirdo in town. Does this sound like an American attorney? Hardly.

Then, there is the graphics. Can we say GRAY. Of course you can. Because in Syberia there's almost no other color. Unless its black. The graphics try to outdo eachother for a hardcore 'industrial look' which I found appalling and tiresome. Apparently there are no blue skies in Syberia world.

Models: The character models were okay, except minor characters have extremely BIG heads. This makes them look cartoonish next to the main character.

Puzzles: Some of these are fun, but most of them are simply strange and don't fit into the story. You find puzzle pieces in bizarre locations with no explanation. Its sort of silly.... Gee...Where's this key? Lets go look in location x, all the way across town... Hmmm.

I guess I'm overall just disappointed with Syberia. Given its rave reviews, I expected it to be fantastic. Instead, its just merely average.