I may be
wrong, but I believe this is the first commercial computer game featuring a
mystery by Agatha Christie. If there have been others I’d like to know about
them, so drop me a line. I don’t know why her mysteries haven’t been used
before, maybe this is the first time her estate has given permission to use
her work. Anyway, it’s about time, because Agatha Christie’s mysteries are a
perfect fit for adventure games.
For those
who may not be aware of who Agatha Christie is, she is one of the most popular
and prolific English mystery writers of all time. Her books, while simply
written, are masterpieces of the cozy mystery set in the British upper
classes. Her first mystery was published in 1920, followed by almost 80
novels. Her books are still in publication today.
Agatha
Christie: And Then There Were None
was developed by AWE Games and published by The Adventure Company. Lee
Sheldon, a writer who has worked on computer games (Remember The Riddle of
Master Lu?, one of my favorite adventure games!) and TV shows, and also
written books. According to an interview conducted by the folks at the Just
Adventure gaming site, he is also a long-time fan of Agatha Christie, and has
taken great pains to recreate her book faithfully. Personally, I think he’s
done a great job of staying true to the book, while making necessary changes
for the benefit of gamers. The spirit of the novel is captured superbly, and
fans of Agatha Christie and adventure game enthusiasts will find much to like
in this game.
The
beginning of the game starts with a short movie that sets the stage. There are
eight guests who have been invited to Shipwreck Island by the owner, Mr. Owen.
Interestingly enough, none of the guests have met Mr. Owen. Besides the
guests, there is a married couple by the name of Rogers, hired to look after
the guests, and Patrick Narracott the ferry captain, a new “eleventh”
character, who provides a playable character for gaming purposes. After the
guests arrive, unpack their suitcases and eat their dinner, they listen to a
gramophone recording that Mr. Owen left with the Rogers, with instructions to
play immediately after dining. The recording, in very bald terms, lists a
series of murders committed by the guests and the Rogers. Pandemonium erupts,
and Mrs. Rogers faints. Patrick takes this opportunity to question all the
guests and continue his snooping around, of which he has already done a
considerable amount. If readers will remember from the book, everyone on the
island is slated to die; if Patrick doesn’t want to be the eleventh victim or
the survivor who is branded a murderer, he must discover the real culprit.
This is a
traditional adventure game, played in the third person. Gamers will play as
Patrick, and spend a lot of time collecting items, recording written clues,
and interviewing the other characters. This is an extremely linear game, and
much of the action depends on previous actions. For instance, early on in the
game, gameplay basically comes to a halt if Patrick doesn’t pick up the
recording from the gramophone player after it has played and the guests have
gathered in a sitting room. Also, some puzzles and clues only become available
later in the game, after certain actions have first been completed.
The clues
and puzzles are elegantly integrated into the story, and there is never a
forced feel to anything. The whole atmosphere of the game is pleasing,
especially the wonderfully detailed period backgrounds. The graphics of the
settings and general environment are exactly what they should be for this type
of game. The characters are 3D and don’t look as good as the rest of the game,
with stiff movements and gestures. The mouth movements are particularly
awkward, and aren’t synchronized very well with the dialogue.
The
interface is simple and easy to understand, and players will be able to
navigate with ease throughout the game. Patrick can run with a double-click,
good news for those impatient gamers. Icons of certain actions will show as
eyes, hands and feet. However, there are no hotspots included for puzzles;
players have to figure out on their own whether to use an item on a stationary
object. Inventory items can be examined, and also combined together. There are
a few puzzles of the code and anagram sort, but not a whole lot. The game
isn’t short, but most of the gameplay involves talking and gathering clues,
rather than solving tons of puzzles. There are several possible endings, and
players may want to replay the game for different outcomes.
I’ve had a
really good time playing this game and have enjoyed it immensely. I’m a pretty
sharp critic when it comes to presentations of my favorite authors (my family
refuses to watch The Lord of the Ring movies with me), and hate it when things
are changed either badly, or for no good reason. While there are changes in
this computer adaptation, they are still well in keeping with the spirit of
the original novel. For solving purposes, the murderer is of course different
than the book.
Players who
have never encountered Ms. Christie will also have fun with this game, as it
is a great example of a well-designed adventure game. Much of the fun is
derived from leisurely exploring, with a good assortment of puzzles that are
logical. The only drawback to the game is the extreme linear design, which can
cause players to just waffle around if they haven’t triggered a key action.
And, the game isn’t very difficult, despite the occasions of not being able to
progress.
Still,
despite these few quibbles, I’ve had more fun with this game than most of the
other adventure games I’ve played lately. A good, professional job. Thanks
AWE, Mr. Sheldon and The Adventure Company, for a trip down memory lane with
Agatha Christie. If you’re already Christmas shopping, this is a great gift
idea for mystery fans who like computer games!
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Gameplay: 8.0
A lotta fun to
play, for the most part. However, the linear nature may be off-putting to
some, and the number of puzzles could be beefed up. However, the puzzles are
well-integrated into the story and won’t cause people to pull their hair out.
Graphics: 7.0
Great graphic
detail in the backgrounds, but the 3D characters aren’t attractive, at least
not to me.
Sound: 8.0
Wonderful period
music.
Difficulty: Medium
Fairly easy to
play.
Concept: 8.0
It’s about time
they made a game from a Agatha Christie novel!
Overall: 8.0
This is an
above-average adventure game that will provide hours of entertainment for
adventure game fans, whether or not they are fans of Agatha Christie, although
that would be plus in the enjoyment factor. A definite top choice for a
holiday gift!
