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 By Dale
Farris, Secretary
Golden Triangle PC Club
March 2002
Game Overview
The Cameron Files: Secret at Lock Ness is the new adventure game from the
premier computer adventure game company, DreamCatcher Games. In this neat
game, you play the game as private investigator Alan P. Cameron.
Hidden away in the Scottish countryside above Loch Ness, sits serene
Devil's Ridge Manor. However, its tranquility is deceptive. For some time
now, there has been an increasing number of ghosts and supernatural
phenomena at the manor. At the request of the famous physicist and owner
of the manor, Allister MacFarley, PI Alan P. Cameron leaves his Chicago
office for the mists of his ancestral land. Does the fabled sea monster
play a part in the goings-on?
Confronted by strange phenomena, you have to help Cameron with his
investigation, from the obscure corners of the Medieval castle, to the old
scientist's secret laboratory, and finally to the troubled waters of Loch
Ness to solve the mystery.
The game plays as a flashback, and the hero is a 30s style private
detective with family roots in the Loch Ness area of Scotland. Soon after
he arrives, summoned by a family patriarch, mysterious happenings begin to
engulf Cameron, including the disappearance of MacFarley. The game music
really shines, and each chapter heading is accompanied by these super
sounds that help set the mood of the game.
The complex story unfolds as you play the game, and you learn about a
mysterious artifact of great power that long ago was split into three
different pieces. Each element, or jewel, has been carefully safeguarded
by each of three different families. Your major mission in the story is to
find the jewels, recreate the artifact, and of course as is always the
case in most adventure games, save the world.
The settings are nicely designed and you can move the mouse cursor all
around you, up and down, left and right, once you land on the next scene
as you click to move Cameron around. You can explore a musty old attic, a
secret study, a creepy chapel, a mill, and several other entertaining
environments. The full, 360 degree panning allows you to take in the fully
developed backgrounds that surround you after each mouse click.
The puzzles in the game are not the most difficult I’ve ever run across,
and are actually quite entertaining. The Cameron Files is not one of the
most headache-inducing games on the market. In many cases, computer games
can be so deviously designed that you absolutely must use an official
walkthrough strategy in order to complete the game. In The Cameron Files,
the strategy guide is used more of an aid in moving through the game more
quickly, and this attention to making the game fun, versus making it the
most difficult game of all time, is definitely appreciated.
The brain teasers in the game are super, and do not interfere with game
play. However, the game does contain a few timed puzzles that require you
to figure out how to get out of a locked room, or down a rope for example,
within a certain, limited time, and these too are not that difficult.
While the timed puzzles are infrequent, this means you should always,
always, always save your game, so you can more quickly get back to the
point where the timed puzzle begins to try it again. Once or twice should
be sufficient to figure out what to do in these few timed puzzle
sequences.
The save feature is also super, as you can save your game at any place in
the game at any time. You can overwrite your save game files, or save
about 16 different game points in a classic interface that shows you a
screen shot of the point in the game at which you are saving the game. The
Esc key is used to invoke the main menu, to let you save games or load
saved games.
The banshee character that frequently appears is well done, and actually
succeeds in adding still further to the mystery. The section of the game
where you move around under water in the Loch is also well done, and
conveys a sense of what it would be like to really walk around under
water. However, at this part, it is very, very easy to get lost, and the
walkthrough guide may need to be pulled out at this point to more quickly
progress through this part of the game. This also includes one of the
timed sequences, where you have to quickly get back to a precise location,
in order to not run out of air and experience a game over. Even without
the strategy guide, there are enough landmarks or scene markers that with
trial-and-error, I bet most gamers can eventually make it out of the lake
in time to prevent a game over.
The interface is totally driven by the use of the mouse, and the game uses
classic DreamCatcher Games icon shapes to indicate where you may click to
turn and move, or to pick up objects, and to place objects on other
objects. This simplifies the problem of figuring out just exactly where to
place a certain object on another object or location, thus helping to
speed up the game.
In the genre of adventure games, The Cameron Files is one of the more
entertaining and interesting of adventure games, and is just hard enough
to not result in overly frustrating game play. The atmosphere of the game
and the attention to the character development, plus the extra attention
to making the characters seem very real when they speak, all add up to a
definite choice for any computer adventure gamer.
Features
Gripping, graphical mystery adventure certain to capture the imagination
Game of investigation, intrigue and adventure
Environments, settings and characters created in full detail
Motion-capture technology adds realism to character lip movements and
facial expressions
Original storyline & original score
Eerie and well designed Scottish manor and loch
Recreated settings realized in detail
Beautiful backgrounds and objects
Interesting, unique story line
Inventory interface for objects to use
robust and dramatic Scottish highland-flavored score
Game Play
The Cameron Files is a classic adventure game, and thus works with classic
adventure game features. You move around with the mouse, by pointing and
clicking, watching the game activate the movement of the character after
you have clicked on a desired direction. You mostly play in the
first-person viewpoint, and the game frequently takes over and runs the
video files from the third-person perspective. Also, the game will
occasionally change perspective from Cameron to other characters.
The use of the 3D card mainly adds depth and distance to the scenes, and
especially helps in adding realism when under water in the Lock
maneuvering section of the game. The inventory is really neat, and can
hold all items you pick up during game play.
Note that as in most all adventure games, you really have to be diligent
in looking all around you, up and down, left and right, as you move around
in the game. You will also need to remember to look behind you, after you
click to move forward, in order to not miss objects that are necessary in
the game. There are no unnecessary objects in the game, and as is the case
in most all adventure games, without the right object you will not be able
to advance the game any further.
Thankfully, the game is designed to show you an object use type of cursor,
when you move the mouse over areas of the screen. This type of cursor
shape means you are supposed to place some type of object from your
inventory on the selected area of the screen, and you have to figure out
what you are supposed to place here or do here. The coded mapping of these
areas has also been very liberally defined, meaning that you can get close
to something, while not necessarily precisely over the object, and the use
cursor shape will pop up indicating that something needs to happen here.
Also, the game is designed to prevent you from going further into other
locations of the game, until you have completed the prior segments of the
game. This prevents you from getting too far in the game scenes, and then
having to go all the way back to prior locations, in order to find
whatever object is necessary in these locations.
The focus in The Cameron Files is on typical adventure game design, with
an emphasis on finding all the right objects, using the right objects in
the right places, finding and talking to all the right characters, and
putting the pieces together to solve the mystery. In this case, I thought
The Cameron Files was one of the better examples of the adventure game
genre, and think most all adventure game fans will have a great deal of
fun with this game.
About The Walkthrough Solution Guides
I suggest anyone interested in this neat game to also consider getting a
copy of the solutions guide that is priced right and will just help you
move through the game more quickly. Thank goodness, in the case of The
Cameron Files, you will certainly not be as frustrated or stymied as is
the case in other adventure games, but the guide may be of help in a few
situations where the timed puzzles may be a bit more difficult, or when
you need a bit more help getting out of the Loch in time.
In my case, I always work with adventure games with the official
walkthrough, because I just do not have all the extra time to try and
puzzle out the correct combinations of either objects or puzzle solutions.
I just have too many other things to do.
However, many adventure gamers choose to play without a solutions guide,
as they prefer to reason out the game on their own. In these situations I
also think they probably have far more available hours to devote to
playing the game than I do.
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.
There is a certain degree of frustration with being stuck in an adventure
game that varies from one gamer to another, and in my case, with all the
other things I have to do, I just do not have the luxury of working
endlessly for hours and hours on end to try and figure out what's not
working in order to advance to another key plot point. So, my perspective
about walkthrough guides is that these help make adventure games more fun.
Not being able to decipher a puzzle or having the right object at the
right time is not my idea of fun with an adventure game.
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. The Cameron Files is so reasonably priced
that this makes buying the additional solutions guide (also very smartly
priced) a no-brainer. You end up with a total investment that means you
will be better assured you can get through the entire 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.
Game Saves
You can save your game at any point, a feature always appreciated by
adventure gamers. In this game, you really should save often, because you
can indeed "die" in the game. So, you may want to make a point
to always save a game before you begin a new puzzle, especially the timed
sequences.
Targeted Customers
The Cameron Files is a definite must have for any fan of computer
adventure games. For those new to computer games, The Cameron Files is a
good introduction to the delight of playing games on computers, and
especially adventure games. The game is well designed and not too overly
complex, so it should be well received by even those brand new to working
with computers.
Install and Setup
The game should install and set up with no problems. The game comes on two
CD ROM discs and there is minimal disc swapping. The game will need
DirectX files, and these are included on the discs, if you do not have at
least the version needed by the game. The game is also not one of the more
complex game programs now on the market, and the system requirements are
relatively moderate. This means the game is likely to play on far more
machines than newer, state-of-the-art first-person shooter games that
demand at least the newest 64MB 3D board now on the market.
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 98 SE 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, and I
had a 12X DVD ROM drive for the DVD ROM version. The mouse and keyboard
were both USB connections. I also had already installed the DirectX 8.1
files, and did not need to install the DirectX files that came with the
game. My machine also had an internal Zip 250 drive, standard floppy, MPEG
2 decoder card, two 8-port USB hubs, a Logitech Wingman Extreme joystick,
standard microphone, Cambridge Soundworks DTS 2000 speaker system, and a
NIC board connected to SW Bell's DSL modem.
Price
$19.99 both CD ROM and DVD ROM version
$ 9.99 the official strategy & solutions guide (a great bargain
also)
Minimum System Configuration Requirements
Windows 95, 98, ME, XP
Pentium 166 MHz processor (200 recommended)
16Mb RAM (32MB RAM recommended)
4x CD-ROM Drive
3D Accelerator Video Card
At the time of this writing, no patches for this game had yet been
released.
At the time of this writing, DreamCatcher also
sells games for Mac machines, with more soon to be available also for the
Mac. No other information was available on the future continued support of
their software for Apple machines. I am guessing this support is very
likely to continue.
The above system configuration requirements indicate the minimum system
configuration requirements, and as any experienced gamer knows, you just
don't ever want to load and run any computer game on minimally configured
systems. Computer games are notorious for taking over machines, and this
is why users will need to be sure and close out all their other open
files, before playing this and any computer game.
About DreamCatcher
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
DreamCatcher
The Adventure Company
5000 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
M3H 5T5
info@dreamcatchergames.com
You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.
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The Cameron Files: Secret at Loch Ness