By Dale Farris, Vice President
Golden Triangle PC Club
November 2004

Game Overview

The time is 1904. On his way back to New York, Curtis Hewitt, a young adventurer and photographer, is caught in a vortex that sends him to the heart of the lost city of Atlantis. A stranger in a land of hi-tech and archaic faith, Curtis endures thrilling adventure helping the people of Atlantis overthrow the mighty ‘Atlantian’ Gods.

Curtis is on his way home after an assignment in Patagonia (Chile). Trapped in a vortex that plunges him into the heart of the New Atlantis, he is first an unwelcome stranger and then a god in a land ruled by archaic faith and governed by high technology.

Curtis becomes a stranger in a strange land, with his main mission not only to return home, but to also liberate the people of New Atlantis who live under the domination of ruthless gods.

At the start of the 20th century, you are cast away to "Inner Earth," home of the descendants of Atlantis. You will solve challenging puzzle and discover fascinating technologies to free the Atlantians from the rule of ruthless gods.

Note that Atlantis Evolution is the first in what is planned to be a new series of games based on the fabled city of Atlantis.

Summary of Features

First-person adventure game featuring character and plot development

Impressive "Disney/Pixar-like" stylization of characters, environments, and cut-scenes

Interact with a cast of more than 30 unique characters including Atlantian people and gods

5 main universes with more than 20 different environments to explore

Provocative and unique puzzle challenges

Musical score and ambient sounds crated by the award-winning composer of "Atlantis," "Atlantis 2," "Beyond Atlantis," and "Beyond Atlantis 2"

More than 30 hours of gameplay

Fluid mouse driven navigation with an intuitive point-and-click interface

A rich and interesting storyline to capture the imagination

Atmospheric effects such as rain, fog and storms

Hundreds of realistic animations

Many logical, inventory, environmental and tactile puzzles

Immerse yourself in distinct environments

Game Play

The 2D graphics are detailed, impressive, and help to greatly enhance the mood and atmosphere of the game. The development team promised Pixar-Disney-like graphics and they delivered big-time. The graphics are eye-dropping gorgeous and the many cinematic cut-scenes are beautiful and wondrous to watch. I am guessing these many cut-scenes make up most of the massive 4GB worth of data you must load onto you hard drive to play the game. At least after you have installed this massive game, you can ignore having to have one of the 4 CD discs in the drive in order to play the game, as it plays entirely from your hard drive.

You move the main character around the many scenes with the mouse, with the classic point-and-click feature found in hundreds of adventure games. Once you click, the slide-show screens load and you then can pan all around after you have moved to another screen. You must remember to pan all the time, as many times after you have moved your character to another screen, you must look around because you have to find many objects in these screens that you will miss if you do not remember to look up, down, left, and right.

This game also inserts numerous 2D mini-games as you move through the story line. These mini-games are arcade-like, video console-like game sequences that are so vastly different from what you are used to in the game that these are jarring and shocking in appearance. The mini-games include variations of Choplifter, Pong, Frogger, Hanoi Towers, and others. I suspect many adventure game fans will be highly surprised, and likely also quite annoyed at having to suddenly shift their gameplay strategy to the precise timing of mouse clicking found in these mind-numbing, finger-clicking arcade games.

All these mini games are built into the context of a particular device or machine that attempts to "re-orient" you. These machines must be reprogrammed or defeated if you are to progress. I found these out-of-place arcade games to be of medium difficulty, although many do require very quick reflexes. In my opinion these inserted games do not make sense in the overall context of this particular game. I am only guessing here, but I suspect these mini-games might have been added in order to provide gameplay features that would help attract console players to this game. Also, since the game developer has also developed an Atlantis Redux game for the pocket PC, these mini-games might have been designed as game play challenges more relevant for mobile devices.

Regardless the strategy, these mini-games have a look and design completely out of context to the overall game, and seem to have been designed on the side, and then coded at the last minute as an inserted mouse-click challenge to stymie adventure gamers. After just a few of these added frustrations, I just finally gave up on the game, having tired of the game's adventure and story line being constantly interrupted by these mouse-click challenges that stirred more ire than gameplay enjoyment, at least for me.

Note that these strangely inserted arcade games must be successfully completed, or your game will come to a screeching halt. Also, in one of these games, where you have to move a spaceship with the mouse and fire a weapon at enemy ships and drop bombs below on firing cavemen, I could not press the Escape key to exit out of this frustrating game. I had to use the 3-finger salute (Ctrl, Alt, Del) to invoke the Task Manager, and then shut down the entire game. Not good. Not good at all.

Also, although the layout and design of the screens are gorgeous, these screens are all 2D, which can result in causing you to be easily lost, especially when you are trying to find your way through dense vegetation, or otherwise trying to find your way around and through various of the game's territories. The beautiful display many times adds to the frustration of moving through these environments, but this also keeps the hardware requirements relatively minimal, because you are not playing in a genuinely realized 3D environment through which you can move the character.

There are many items you have to find and pick up, a classic adventure game feature, and many of these items have to be found while trying to elude bad guys trying to capture you, or while trying to find your way through the detailed environments. A walkthrough strategy guide will be of great help knowing where to look for these items, as many times these are not that easy to find. The inventory is located at the bottom of the screen, and you pick up the item with the left mouse, and then right click the item on a supposed item to place the item. You will also frequently need to combine objects to result in another object required in a later part of the game.

There is a frustrating sequence in which you must run through some woods and while trying to stay one step ahead of the evil guards search for obscure hiding places in tree trunks and nooks in cavern walls. What suspense there could have been is negated by not only the quickness by which the guards often appear, but even worse, you never hear them coming.

You play the game entirely in first person, with the many beautiful cut-scenes showing your character and the numerous non-playable characters that populate the game.

The sound effects are impressive and convey the sounds of opening doors, solving puzzles, walking through different environments, and of course the ambient sound that set the mood of the game.

The story also is not going to jump out at you, as you play the game. Slowly, as you play through the game, the game's complex plot and story line is revealed, providing a richly detailed plot that adds further value to the game. Most of the voice-over narrations are all well done, and the dialogue is done very well, but there are enough "cheesy" voices that more experienced adventure gamers might find this collection of voice acting to be sub-par. Also, while the game mightily strives to simulate reality as the animated character mouths move while they speak, these are poorly synchronized and most of the time you see lips move while their voices start before or stop after these animated mouth parts stop moving.

The dialog with the many characters is essential if you are to open up all the unfolding story line and the many locations you must find in order to progress through the game. In this game, these dialog options open up as icons next to the character when you click on them with the conversation cursor shape. This game does include some of the most cryptic dialog responses you will likely find. The NPC dialogue options frequently do not make any sense, especially in the early part of the game, but if you can manage to keep up with this game's convoluted plot line, then eventually, if you can manage to control your frustration with the mouse clicking frenzy of the inserted mini-games then toward the end of the game, the complex story begins to come together.

Atlantis Evolution is a unique adventure game, offering many of today's classic adventure game features, but also serving up some he odd arcade-like mini-games that add mouse clicking timing to an otherwise typically sedate adventure quest. I suspect adventure game fans will be as surprised as I to run across these quirky little games, and many may not be all that pleased at having to suddenly change gameplay strategy to the sheer luck that comes with frenzied mouse clicking.

About The Walkthrough Solution Guides

I urge anyone interested in this neat game to also consider getting a copy of the solutions guide. In this game, the guide will really come in handy, because of the need to be sure to know where to go and how to find all the required objects in the game. The game guide will also help with forming a better understanding of the background to the story, which will help keep up with what is going on in the game. The guide will also help in learning which objects are required in order to solve the game's puzzles.

However, any walkthrough strategy guide will be of very little benefit when struggling with the mini-games. Overcoming these challenges is just a matter of luck, timing, rapid hand-eye response, and deft mouse clicking. Solving puzzles, finding the right tools, combining existing objects, and the other typical adventure game challenges have nothing to do with the vastly different skills required to overcome these arcade games.

In my situation, playing with a walkthrough means I can concentrate on moving the game plot along, and most importantly, open up all the wonderful scenes and action that the coders have worked so hard to include in the game. Without a walkthrough, I just feel I am not getting my money's worth out of the game. Also, I always appreciate having the help to get through the game so I can savor all the impressive screens and animated cut-scenes, as was the intent of the game creators.

What makes this issue even more relevant here is that DreamCatcher seems to realize this, as evidenced by their always wise price points for their games and their solution guides. You end up with a total investment that means you will be better assured you can get through the game and not end up spending an excessive amount of time with the game. So, no, I don't think using a walkthrough solution guide is any indication of any lack of skill or abilities, but instead, a more appropriate way to invest minimal time with an adventure game, that ends up much more likely to be a fun experience.

You can find a walkthrough at www.justadventure.com

Game Saves

You can save your game at any point.

Targeted Customers

This strange combination of adventure game and arcade game features represents a significant alternative approach to adventure game development, and while the typical elements are certainly well done, the hand-eye coordination required in the many arcade games will appeal to folks more inclined to thumb mashing types of console games. Thus, the game is certainly a must for adventure game fans, if you consider the game's beautiful layout and intriguing music, while the arcade game challenges may put adventure gamers at a disadvantage. I suspect novice gamers may find the arcade game challenges more than they want in an adventure game.

System Requirements

P-III 800MHz processor (1GHz or higher recommended)
Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
64MB RAM (128MB recommended)
4GB free hard disk space
32MB DirectX 8 compatible 3d video card (or higher)
DirectSound compatible sound card
Mouse

Install and Setup

The game should install and set up with no problems, and the game will load about 4GB of data onto a machine. The game comes on 4 CD ROM discs, and the game disc does NOT need to be placed in the CD ROM drive in order to play the game.

Uninstalling the game involves the use of the games uninstall feature in its folder on the Start, Programs menu.

I loaded the game on a Win XP Pro machine (P III-850, 256MB SDRAM) that had a Creative Labs Annihilator 2, 32MB video card (an nVidia GeForce 2 GTS board), and a Creative Labs Live X Gamer! sound board, and the latest drivers for each. An HP CD RW 9200 drive served as the CD ROM drive. The mouse and keyboard were both PS/2 connections. I also had already installed the DirectX 9 files. My machine also had an internal Zip 250 drive, standard floppy, one 8-port USB hub, a Logitech Wingman Extreme joystick, standard microphone, Cambridge Soundworks DTS 2000 speaker system, and a NIC board connected to SW Bell's DSL modem.

Note that this system is certainly not a high-end, state-of-the-art configured system. If you have a higher end machine, with a better video and sound card, more RAM, and a faster CPU, this game will definitely be even more impressive. On my system, although the game did play, I think game play will be far more impressive on higher end systems.

Since this particular adventure game uses all pre-rendered backgrounds, this means the data load is far less than other fully immersive, 3D games that constantly pound the processor and RAM in order to produce the dynamic changes in the environment and background. This also means this game will run on relatively older, less sophisticated machines, which should help open up more of the gamer market for this game.

Price

$29.99 (Super Bargain)
$  9.99 the official strategy & solutions guide (a great bargain also)

About the Adventure Company

The Adventure Company, a division of DreamCatcher, is a leading publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment devoted exclusively to releasing titles geared towards adventure gamers. The Adventure Company is committed to publishing games that deliver maximum value on multiple platforms including, PC, Playstation 2 computer entertainment system, GameCube, and Xbox.

About DreamCatcher

DreamCatcher launched its first title in 1996, with a small band of people who believed in providing customers with quality entertainment software at affordable prices. Since that time, DreamCatcher has become one of the most successful small-sized publisher in the entertainment software industry, and was the fastest growing publisher in 2000, growing over 800% according to PC Data. DreamCatcher Interactive was listed in Profitguide.com's article: Canada's Fastest Growing Companies 2002, and ranked #5.

In 1996, DreamCatcher Interactive launched their first title and since then, they have become a very successful publisher in the computer game entertainment software industry. In my opinion, one of this company's strongest assets is their dedication to provide customers with high quality entertainment software at very affordable prices. Some of the best interactive computer games now on the market come from DreamCatcher.

Bringing to market titles that are affordable, without jeopardizing content quality, is another significant factor that helps distinguish this company from the many that flood the market with countless game titles. DreamCatcher thrives on innovative marketing strategies, solid retail and developer partnerships, and on providing excellent customer support that is well above industry standards.

A new partnership with Her Interactive has enabled DreamCatcher to now sell the super games in the Nancy Drew series, including Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill, Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger, and Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion. Check this link to read a review of these Nancy Drew Interactive Mystery Adventure Games.

Dracula: The Resurrection and In Cold Blood are two current games for the PC that will soon be released for the Playstation, and DreamCatcher also plans to release more games in the future for the Playstation 2 and the GameBoy Color platforms.

Necronomicon ($19.99) and The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin ($19.99) are two of DreamCatcher's newer games that should also prove to be successful titles in their long list of super adventure games.

Other super games from DreamCatcher Interactive include Traitor's Gate, The Messenger, Riddle of the Sphinx, Jewels of the Oracle, Jewels II, Egypt 1156 B.C., Odyssey, TimeScape, Ancient Conquest, Beyond Time, Beyond Atlantis, Lightbringer, Legend of Lotus Spring, Nightlong, Seven Games of the Soul (also sold in Europe as Faust), SafeCracker, The Forgotten, The Sacred Amulet, and Time Machine.

All these are similarly designed adventure games, and all are priced very reasonably, the most expensive being $29.99 (In Cold Blood), with most around $14.99, and many even priced at $9.99, which I think are super prices for these super games. At the time of this writing, I have purchased and played nearly all these games, and these reasonable price points have always gotten my attention.

I think these affordable price points represent a very important strategy of DreamCatcher that has helped them achieve their success. When you consider the very expensive proposition to invest in the coding and other very expensive costs to develop and produce a computer game today, I think it is quite remarkable that this company markets their products at such a reasonable price.

I also think it is important to remember that DreamCatcher is still very much in the business of producing quality computer games, something many other companies can no longer attest to since they have gone out of business. What is even more remarkable, in my opinion, is that at the time of this writing, DreamCatcher Interactive remains wholly owned and self-sufficient, and has not yet been absorbed by a larger company.

So, with the easy on the pocket-book price of the game, and the also minimal price of the solution guides, you have the makings of a winner in the hotly contested battle for our limited disposable income and free time to invest in playing computer games. DreamCatcher Interactive is certainly a company worth watching and supporting.

Contact Information

The Adventure Company
DreamCatcher
5000 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
M3H 5T5
info@adventurecompanygames.com
www.adventurecompanygames.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.