Ahoy, Matey! Unforeseen fun awaits adventure gamers with Kheops Studio’s Destination: Treasure
Island. Though some of the puzzles are a little ambiguous, the game as a whole
is quite logical and fun to play. The music is fresh, the environments look
good, and it doesn’t feel like another world, or completely out of touch with
reality. Treasure Island is a simply a clever game that does things right.
The game starts off with Jim
Hawkings in his cabin giving the audience a back story on what has happened since
the events in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel. Before he can finish anything but the essentials he is locked in his
cabin by some of his mutinous crew, which he thought were long gone. The first
puzzle players will encounters stems from that – namely, how to escape. After
making some clever rope ties you are able to find your way
off the ship and onto a nearby island, which so happens to be where old Long John
Silver has apparently been hanging out. His clues and belongings are scattered
throughout the whole island, and it’s up to Jim to find them.
The game shines with these riddles
because they aren’t absurd and there aren’t just random objects laying around. You are helped along by Mr.
Silver’s inspiring (and often surprisingly helpful) enigmas, which are long
riddles written in verse form. The enigmas serve a two-fold purpose. For one,
the riddles give you hints as to what the next puzzle is and its possible
solution, and two they keep track of what riddles have been solved
and what are remaining. As you solve each riddle, it is crossed off and you move
down to the next – kind of like a pirate planner if you will.
But with all adventure games, I
guess there are a few squabbles that we must deal with. For one, if you don’t
like pirates, this game isn’t going to work out for you for obvious reasons. But
for those of us who love pirates and still run around with swords and yell “avast!”
in our sleep, you should be fine. But on a more serious note, the only downside
I have with this game is its obsession with knot tying. It seems like more than a
few puzzles involve tying something together. And that would be fine if it was
that simple but unfortunately, you have to tell the game each step to tying the
knot, which is in my opinion slightly absurd.
If you liked Myst and you like
pirates, go buy Destination: Treasure Island; this is one adventure game that
can be saved from walking the plank.
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Gameplay:
8.0
The puzzles are fun and make sense … a rarity.
Graphics:
6.0
A little dated now, but gets the job done well.
Sound: 6.0
Again, a little
dated, but it’s fun and sets the right mood.
Difficulty:
Medium
Concept: 8.5
Who doesn’t like to play a pirate and hunt for hidden treasure?
Overall: 7.6
Solid elements make this an adventure worth taking.
