Entered CNET Catalog: 10/21/2005
SKU: 618870115719
Manufacturer: Aspyr Media, Inc.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/18/2006
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey is, first and foremost, a great work of science fiction. Such a complex plot, endearing characters, and imaginative settings and situations are highly uncommon to gaming, or any medium for that matter. Those familiar with the game's predecessor might expect no less, since it's widely considered one of the best adventure games ever made. Judged as a follow-up to a beloved classic, Dreamfall does not disappoint, for the most part. It exhibits the unique attention to detail and terrific presentation that made The Longest Journey so remarkable for its time. But Dreamfall also does an excellent job drawing in new players as well as those fans patiently awaiting this sequel. The actual gameplay is a blend of action adventure conventions, but it clearly isn't the main draw. It's there to help make the story more engaging, and that's more or less what it does. Yet, as impressive as the story is, it ends too quickly to leave you feeling fully satisfied when you finally reach the game's bewildering, enlightening, frustrating, thought-provoking conclusion. Is the journey itself worth your while, though? Absolutely, yes.
Dreamfall packs not one but two of the greatest female protagonists in all of gaming. And it's also got this totally great robot monkey named Wonkers.
More than six years ago, The Longest Journey introduced one of gaming's most memorable heroines, a smart and resourceful young woman named April Ryan. April happened to possess a latent ability to "shift" between worlds, from her familiar (yet futuristic) home to a magical place called Arcadia. These parallel worlds of technology and magic had fallen out of balance, and the reluctant April became the key to restoring harmony between the two--but at what cost to her and her friends? At any rate, you don't need to know what happened to dive right into Dreamfall, which is deeply connected to the events of The Longest Journey but doesn't assume you've played or remember that game. If you haven't or don't, then upon finishing Dreamfall, you'll probably want to go back and play The Longest Journey. It's certainly better as a pure adventure game than Dreamfall is, in case you were wondering. Dreamfall doesn't seem to have nearly as many complicated puzzles in it, but on the flip side, that means you can enjoy this story without running into many roadblocks.
It's tempting to go into specifics about Dreamfall's sharply written story. But since playing through the game involved unraveling a convoluted mystery, it's best not to spoil anything. Suffice it to say that you spend much of Dreamfall playing as Zoë Castillo, a bright and attractive young woman who's not unlike April from The Longest Journey, only she's a little less cynical and she's got a lovely British accent. Zoë seems like she has it all--a high-tech room with an incredible view, a good-natured and understanding dad, and even a gentle-hearted, artificially intelligent monkey robot. But she's seen better days. She's living at home with her father, trying to decide what to do with her directionless life, having dropped out of school and recently broken up with her longtime boyfriend. She's still on good terms with her ex, though, and one day, he asks her for what seems like a small favor, for help with a story he's working on for his editor. From that point, a chance encounter sets in motion an epic series of events that'll send Zoë all across the globe, and beyond.
Science fiction and fantasy conventions combine in some truly unique ways during Dreamfall's inspired story.
Zoë is a great character who's likable, charming, and sympathetic almost right away. And she'll get to meet lots of other similarly interesting characters during the course of her adventure, including some whom Longest Journey fans should recognize. The dialogue between all the different characters flows naturally, and superbly done voice acting, along with expressive 3D characters, makes all the conversation (and there's a lot of it) the highlight of the game. Dreamfall earns its M rating through a little bit of ribald humor and some profanity that's used very liberally by certain characters, and yet applied with restraint overall. For instance, you'll hear Zoë cuss in situations in which you'd expect almost anyone her age to react the same way. She leads an outstanding ensemble cast of characters, but they're not to be outdone by Dreamfall's wonderfully imaginative locales. Few games can muster up a cohesive science-fiction setting or a believable fantasy world. Dreamfall pulls off both at once, tying them together in some mind-bending ways. This is some seriously virtuoso storytelling from Longest Journey writer/designer Ragnar Tërnquist. There are so many inspired little touches all throughout the game that it's hard not to get swept up and emotionally invested in everything that's going on.
That's why it's all the more disconcerting that the game ultimately leaves so many loose ends untied. The story seems well within the author's capable control as it unfolds, intensifies, and deftly changes tone, but then it hurries to a close, practically with a nudge and a wink. Some room for continuation and interpretation can be a good thing for a story, but in Dreamfall's case, the game doesn't do as good of a job wrapping everything up as it does introducing multiple layers of conflict in the first place. In the end, you'll be left wishing for a sequel, wondering what this game could have been like had it simply been longer. It's almost painful not knowing the full breadth of what ends up happening to all these fascinating characters and this amazing world (or, worlds).
The Longest Journey was a point-and-click adventure game, whereas Dreamfall plays more like an action adventure game, letting you directly control the character as you explore and run around in detailed 3D landscapes. There's a little combat, which is easy and very basic. There are a few inventory puzzles and other fairly simple puzzles that take the form of hacking or lock picking. There are a number of environmental puzzles and a few stealth sequences. And, other than that, there's a whole lot of character interaction. Some dialogue sequences prompt you to decide how your character will respond--such as confrontationally or apologetically. These bits make the exchanges of dialogue that much more engaging, though as difficult as these decisions may be when they arise, they usually bring you to the same result.
The gameplay is pretty light, but it does a good job of not obstructing the story. It makes sense in the context of the plot, and it's varied enough to stay interesting.
To the game's credit, a number of its puzzles are open-ended enough to let you solve them in a few different ways, such as by sneaking past a dangerous situation, talking your way out of one, or fighting for your life. But overall, there just isn't a ton of actual gameplay in Dreamfall. Especially at first, both the action and the puzzle solving take a backseat to dialogue and exploration. And yet, strangely enough, this works to the game's advantage. The one or two times you might get stuck trying to figure out the solution to one of the game's tougher puzzles will be when you realize how refreshing the brisk pacing of the story is for the most part.
The game controls quite well. The camera can get a little awkward in tight quarters, but since there aren't many action sequences, this is almost never a liability. Numerous objects in the environment become highlighted as you approach them, and you can also examine them from afar. Your character's initial observations about a given object may reveal more information, prompting you to take a closer look. Or, similarly, you might observe new things about someone after having spoken at length with him or her. Better yet, since Zoë isn't the only character you'll get to play as in Dreamfall, it can be really rewarding to visit the same places from different perspectives. In one remarkable little moment, your control shifts between two different characters conversing with each other, effectively letting you direct both sides of the discussion. Also, while you might initially find yourself wishing you had access to a map, none of the game's areas are so expansive as to require one. You'll sooner appreciate being able to explore all these places at your own pace while soaking in the detail.
The differences between the PC and Xbox versions of Dreamfall are slight. On the PC, you've got your choice of keyboard, mouse, or game pad controls, or a combination of all three. Mouse-and-keyboard controls are fine, but gamepad controls are best suited. The PC version is capable of looking substantially cleaner and more colorful if you've got a good graphics card, but the Xbox version looks really nice, too. Each version supports widescreen displays, and something about this game makes it beg to be played in a panoramic view. While there are some blurry textures here and there, and the character models aren't made up of a relatively huge number of polygons or anything, the game more than makes up for this with its inspired, stylized visual design. The scenery throughout looks beautiful, and the characters emote believably--not only through good lip-synching but also through believable facial expressions and body language.
But the audio in Dreamfall is really the driving force behind the game's dramatic impact. The quality (and quantity) of the voice acting is terrific, and the game's soundtrack is filled with memorable and varied compositions, including a few soulful songs, and it cues up perfectly with Dreamfall's many poignant moments. Like some great score for a feature film, the music in Dreamfall is an integral part of the experience from start to finish.
In an alternate reality somewhere, Dreamfall is a few hours longer and considered the greatest work of video game fiction ever made.
Despite the far-flung premise of Dreamfall, the game touches on a number of classical themes. The importance of faith, the significance of dreams, the value of trust, and the need to be free are all woven into a story that runs the emotional gamut from excitement and intrigue to sadness and fear to relief and hilarity. Sound too good to be true? In some respects, unfortunately, it is. In the end, Dreamfall leaves you hanging. It practically pulls the rug out from under you, after setting you up to expect some sort of amazing grand finale. And to an extent, this undermines the experience leading up to that point. The game is of a decent length and will probably take you about 10 hours to finish the first time, but you'll feel like there was enough material left on the cutting-room floor for at least another five hours or so. It's also a bit of a shame that there are no extras, not even some unlockable concept art or anything like that. But you'll likely feel the urge to play through at least once more, since you'll miss some of the dialogue and subtle references the first time, and gain new insight into the story on the second run. Above all, you'll likely be left hoping that Zoë Castillo's and April Ryan's story will continue past this game, and soon.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5out of 5 user reviews
Good sequel to first game.
Pros: Good characters and storyline. The 3D world was a lot better than the first 2D game, Probably due to the tools available at the time. The futuristic world was enjoyable to explore. A lot of the things you had to solve were very cleverly thought out.
Cons: The fighting was OK. You could practice early on to learn. But, I didn't care for it later in the game.
There was one underground situation that was very, very difficult to get through.
The second half of the game was more movie than game at times.
The fighting fit the situations in the story, but I sometimes wished that I could just skip it. I learned to be extremely aggressive, which seemed to make it go quicker.
I liked that, when you learned things early in the game, they came in handy later on. Enough said on that.
This game seemed shorter than that first one. I'm not sure if that's true or not.
There is one part of the story in a marketplace that can only be fully appreciated if you played the first game. It is just too funny at times!
I liked the tie-in to the first game and the overall story. I thought it worked well. There were some surprises, but I won't spoil anything.
They left this wide open for a sequel. I would get it.
Note: I got this on Amazon as part of a set that included both games. It was a great deal. I think it was about $10.
I also played these games on a Dell Inspiron 1501 with no problems. It is not a gamers PC by any means, but these games ran fine.
out of 5 user reviews
CNET's editor is right...almost
Pros: Might make a good movie, if you don't mind cartoony, CG animation (nice for a game, but not anywhere near movie quality)
Cons: This isn't a game, it's a DVD without a "play all" feature
This isn't a game, it's a DVD without a "play all chapters" feature.
out of 5 user reviews
Captivating Sequal
Pros: Excellent Story, Characters, and overall feel
Cons: Short, mediocre fight scenes
This review is in response to the disappointment and briefness of my first "review" on CNET.com. The follow review is my review that I have written for Gamespot, another part of CNET's network.
---
Dreamfall takes up 10 years after The Longest Journey left off. In Dreamfall you can play as three charcters, Zoe (Who you are most of the game), April (From The Longest Journey), and Kian.
The story if full of dialog, which in my opinion helps evolve the story greatly, even if it seems lengthly at times. Dreamfall contains some puzzles, their difficulty however isn't very hard. Unlike The Longest Journey, you probably woun't be spending a lot of time getting past a particular point in the game.
Dreamfall also has introduced a combat system, which never existed in the original. The placement of combat isn't excessive, but its rather simple. Almost too simple. This is probably one of the weaker points of the game. The strongest attribute of Dreamfall, like its prequel is the story. When it comes down to it Dreamfall is really an excellently written novel that you take place in. The story and characters are well written, and even if you've never played TLJ, you still will be hooked. If you have played TLJ, then Dreamfall is a definate must.
The only real disapointment in my opinion is the length of the game. Gameplay is a bit under 15hrs depending on how fast you play. This is about half the length of TLJ. The ending will also leave you screaming for another sequal, which I am egarly awaiting.
~~~
Some people complain that Dreamfall is more of a movie then a game. This might be true, but as anyone who've played adventure games before knows that most of the game is dialog. With the exception of puzzles (and some fighting in Dreamfall) Adventure games are like walking through an extended movie or novel with you at the helm. Dreamfall should be judged to these standards, not that of other kinds of video games. If you are expecting to play a different type of game, such as an action game, then you will be disappointed.
This review is in response to the disappointment and briefness of my first "review" on CNET.com. The follow review is my review that I have written for Gamespot, another part of CNET's network.
---
Dreamfall takes up 10 years after The Longest Journey left off. In Dreamfall you can play as three charcters, Zoe (Who you are most of the game), April (From The Longest Journey), and Kian.
The story if full of dialog, which in my opinion helps evolve the story greatly, even if it seems lengthly at times. Dreamfall contains some puzzles, their difficulty however isn't very hard. Unlike The Longest Journey, you probably woun't be spending a lot of time getting past a particular point in the game.
Dreamfall also has introduced a combat system, which never existed in the original. The placement of combat isn't excessive, but its rather simple. Almost too simple. This is probably one of the weaker points of the game. The strongest attribute of Dreamfall, like its prequel is the story. When it comes down to it Dreamfall is really an excellently written novel that you take place in. The story and characters are well written, and even if you've never played TLJ, you still will be hooked. If you have played TLJ, then Dreamfall is a definate must.
The only real disapointment in my opinion is the length of the game. Gameplay is a bit under 15hrs depending on how fast you play. This is about half the length of TLJ. The ending will also leave you screaming for another sequal, which I am egarly awaiting.
~~~
Some people complain that Dreamfall is more of a movie then a game. This might be true, but as anyone who've played adventure games before knows that most of the game is dialog. With the exception of puzzles (and some fighting in Dreamfall) Adventure games are like walking through an extended movie or novel with you at the helm. Dreamfall should be judged to these standards, not that of other kinds of video games. If you are expecting to play a different type of game, such as an action game, then you will be disappointed.
out of 5 user reviews
The worst user interface (controls) of all time
Pros: Nothing good can be said
Cons: Worst user interface (keyboard or gamepad) design in the world
Also: Zoe is booooring and obnoxious
out of 5 user reviews
Yet another game that fails to live up to it's hype. Spoilers follow!
Pros: Intriguing characters, beautiful locations, and decent voice acting.
Cons: Beautiful locations you cannot explore, an extremely linear storyline, completely lacking in challenge, and THE ENDING.
Of course, this is not surprising given the horrendous storyline. As I stated, the characters are good...in theory. To use an idea from one of the few well written characters, Theoretically Blind Bob, they are theoretically good. They have a strong base and back-story, but the writers have failed them. First of all, I am not including the main character Zoe as one of the characters with a good base. She does nothing but whine throughout the game and comes across as nothing more than a spoiled little rich daddy's girl. The story tries to move her to become more, but never really succeeds.
April whines a lot too, but at least she has valid reasons, she's leading a resistance against an unstoppable foe and has been trying to put her life back together since her last adventure. The writers do better with April as things progress, but again, they screw it up. All you hear through most of the game is save April, save April...April does most of the saving herself, but, in the end, becomes gator bait (though she'll probably be back).
Kian, Kian, Kian...here is where the writers do their worst. He starts off as an bad guy and an assassin, which is cool. The story wants him to become a good guy and see the error of his ways, which is also cool. However, Kian only had to speak with three, yes three, people to complete this spiritual sojourn. First was his doubtful mentor, second was a by-the-rules prison official, and third was April. April does tell Kian to go see things for himself by looking around, but you don't get to follow this journey, so his transformation must be taken on faith, as we don't get to fully see it. Plus, though he is very cool, he is also very pointless. A NPC could have accomplished everything he did, the only plus as that you get to fight with a sword. Other than that, he just runs from point A to point B without even having to solve any puzzles.
Now, all of the above could be forgiven if the gameplay was good...but it is not. This is not an "adventure game." This is an interactive story with absolutely no sub-plots to explore. The puzzles are way to easy, the areas are all very linear, and the hardest part of the game is staying awake as you run back and forth across the town talking to people. Plus the fighting system is pathetic. After a bit of practice, you can waste anybody in a few seconds. The AI appears to think blocking is all it has to do to win...silly AI.
Due to the poor story that leads to a preview for the sequel, whoops, I mean that leads to the ending, and the horrible gameplay, I cannot recommend buying this game. I wish I didn't buy it...
Finally, why oh why is this game rated Mature? From the label: Blood; the only blood is on a floor, a wall, and a lighter. Strong Language; they drop the F-Bomb once, and that's it. Suggestive Themes; Zoe likes to walk around in underwear and kisses a guy (while wearing clothes); there is a guy who talks about sex, but it is not much more than innuendo. Violence; there are less than 10 fight scenes in the whole game...Come on ESRB, get with it, this is not a GTA.
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