Description:
Ring--The Legend of the Nibelungen is an ambitious experiment in pushing the boundaries of gaming entertainment. Combining far-future science fiction with an unlikely source--Wagner's epic opera, The Ring Cycle--the game creates a player experience like nothing ever seen before. Ring casts you as four characters from the opera: the dwarf tyrant, Alberich; the heroic Sigmund; the Valkyrie Brunhilde; and a fire spirit known as the Loge. Each character pursues one Ring Cycle story line via a Myst-style first-person interface. The plot is utterly nonlinear so, at any point, you can switch from one chapter to another. Because you can finish the game's components in any order, the story's ultimate resolution varies, depending on your choices during play. With Wagner as base material, it should come as no surprise that Ring comes with an immense focus on music. The digitally remastered soundtrack was performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in the '60s, under the direction of Sir George Solti. >From sound to visuals, Ring is conceived as a work of art, and players who prefer a thrill ride might be impatient with the long movie passages and musical sequences. A lot of gaming time is also devoted to sweeping through each 360-degree environment, searching for the hot spot that allows you to interact with an item or character or to simply move on. For opera fans and players looking for a dynamic aesthetic experience, Ring is unique and utterly delightful. --Alyx Dellamonica
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