Seven Games of the Soul

Rating:
Summary: Who stole the rest of my game?
Review: This game begins very nicely. It's a fun premise, having to go back in time and learn about peoples lives that are in the balance between being really good and really bad and then helping to decided what happens to them. Even more fun is the Devil, or Mephesto, is going to "help" you and the game does a great job at the begining creating a feeling that he's after more than he says and that you are somehow at risk as well.

Then it goes down hill.

Don't get me wrong, there is some fun game play here, it just missed so much of what it could be, and falls prey to some adventure game conventions that I hate and I feel have lead to the decline of the genera. First of all it's 1st person perspective...I HATE THAT! Adventure games are called interactive fiction for a reason. It is much more engageing to watch your character move around and explore things than to get a camera's prespective. I know this was the format for "Myst" and that sold a bizillion copies, but that was 1994 and it was visually new. It's not and it lessens the story telling aspect of a game like this. The idea of a wize old black man from Mississippi as your hero is great...then we hardly ever get to see him.

Which brings me to another point. There is no character interation in this game. Every so often you get a cut scene, but you never get to ask another character a question that gives you insight and information to further your quest, alow for us to get to know our hero better and suck us into the world of the game more.

Some of the puzzels are quite nice, but some are a bit random and there is no information in the game as to how you should find your way through some of these, you just have to guess, trial and error or go to a walk through. I have no problem with useing walk throughs, the way I see it is I paid money for the game to enjoy it, not be frusterated by it so at a certain point I will turn to one. I was just dissapointed with how random some of the puzzles seemed to be.

I guess the biggest disapointment was the ending. I don't want to spoil it, but it changes the opening premise totally and suddenly Mephisto is your harmless, charming buddy. All the reference to tricks and deciet and twists vanishes into thin air and suddenly we are playing the ending to what seems to be a totally different, and much less intersting game.

So, after all of that why 3 stars? Like I said, it does have some very nice moments, it is visually very nice and the MUSIC. If nothing else they made wonderful use of music for mood and period. One of the nicest features of the game is the Juke Box feature that allows you to play any of the music from the game. I sometimes open the game just to play the music.

Rating:
Summary: seven games of the soul. Any more like it?
Review: This game had keep my intrest and always thinking. The game play was great. I like the footprints and the hands and the way the inventory pops up. I wish I could find another game with the same format. Outstanding game please make another.

Rating:
Summary: Great game!
Review: This game is awesome. With great graphics, music, story, and gameplay, it's much a better game than other similar games like Morpheus, and Ring.

Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST games ever
Review: This game is interesting from all sides. Game play is fun, it's a grate looking game and most of all the story line is amazing. Also the background music fits in perfect. This is one of the best games ever, get it if you don't alreasy have it.

Rating:
Summary: Duh?
Review: This has got to be one of the most innane games I have ever played. the idea of 7 vices is brilliant and that is what drew me in, however the 7 vices are never explored and are linked in the dreamland park through some bizarre connection known only to the creators of this little waste of space. In the end, I had no idea what the goal of this exercise had been. The acting is horrid, cursors are barely visable when they light on a hotspot and there is little control over any action--you are simpley moving the story along. Almost as bad, anytime you backed out to save you had to endure a lengthy movie credit sequence...over and over and over. Music not too bad though.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Adventure
Review: This was a great game. Some of the puzzles were difficult, but all the clues were there - you just had to find them. The graphics were absolutely fabulous and the cinematic scenes classic. It kept me enthralled for hours, only to leave me wanting more. Well worth the money, I would have paid more! Now, if only there was a sequel ...

Rating:
Summary: Point and click, only better.
Review: This would be your average point and click game, if it weren't for the compelling story and the great characters. This game takes some getting used to, and I nearly gave up playing after half an hour. I'm glad I kept going, though.

The seven different stories are worthy of a good short stories book. The graphics look a little outdated, but they do a great job at reproducing the atmosphere of an creepy abandoned amusement park. The voices are more than acceptable (better than most Dreamcatcher games), and the musical score is fantastic.

I agree it can be difficult at some points, but it's always up to you to decide how long you want to spend figuring out a puzzle. Walkthroughs are all over the internet.

This game rates lower than "The Longest Journey", but only because the latter was such a grandiose game. "Seven Games of the Soul" is definitely in my top ten for adventure games. It's the kind of game you are sad to finish, because you know you are going to miss the characters.

Rating:
Summary: So so, i guess
Review: Very short. Doesn't live up to the expectations. Unconnected stories. No good explainations for the puzzles. So so ending. But I still enjoyed it anyway.

Rating:
Summary: Seven Games Too Few
Review: What a treat this game is! Superb graphics, gameplay and storyline make it a standout among recent adventure games. It is a first-person, point-click game that incorporates the best from the past while offering a fresh, new feel. The voice acting is elegant and is the best I have heard in years, and there's not so much of it to make it irritating. "Faust" has a pleasant Myst-like quality with beautiful scenery and environments. The navigation is easy and stress-free. The game is logical and clever, and while a walkthrough may come in handy at times, there are no obscure hot-sopts to drive you mad, and since the game is not linear at all, you can wander and click at your heart's content. It is nearly impossible to get stuck beyond repair. The music makes this game especially enjoyable. Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn, Stan Getz, Marvin Gaye, and John Lee Hooker are a few of the marvelous musical artists to enjoy. Plus, you can play the cuts by clicking music in the options menu - too cool! After just a few minutes of playing, you will be hooked. All of the professional reviewers have raved about this game. That's why I bought it! That is also why I find it strange that there are a few negative reviews on Amazon. Maybe they were written by young, inexperienced gamers. I don't know, and I don't care because everything about this game is likeable. Easy load, beautiful graphics, great sound, intelligent puzzles, easy navigation, addictive story, no bugs, elegant voice acting - a rare combination these days.