Dreamfall: The Longest Journey Aspyr, 2006. Windows XP / XBox. Rated M for Mature. Available online at Amazon.com.
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, the award-winning game by Aspyr, is one game that you simply won't be able to get out of your head. Whereas the concept of the game is grounded in conventional adventure gameplay, it plays in a completely unique way - with three separate, yet mysteriously linked, lead characters. There is Zoë: "Seeker. Nomad. Dreamer."; April: "Rebel. Emissary. Chosen."; and Kian: "Soldier. Apostle. Assassin." They come from different paths - different worlds - and yet, fate ends up intertwining their lives in a way they can't deny. Thus kicks off a story, which is as empowering as it is intriguing - and as fun to play as any game I've tried.
You begin playing Dreamfall in a futuristic, "big brother"-ish version of Casablanca. You are the character of Zoë, a young woman who lives at home with her father. Her life, she feels, is aimless; she can't decide if she should go back to university, find a career, or just while away her days kickboxing and networking with friends. While on this path to discover what she really wants to do in life, Zoë accepts a seemingly mundane task of helping a friend run an errand. But this small task ends up enveloping her in the middle of a massive global conspiracy - putting the lives of she and her loved ones' in grave danger. All the while, Zoë is being haunted by eerie - and even horrifying - visions of a young girl, urging her to find and save a woman she's never heard of before: April Ryan. And so, the story begins and ends with Zoë - who is drawn into the tale seemingly by chance - but is ultimately being compelled by the invisible hands of fate - as she tries to solve a dangerous and gripping mystery.
As the tale of Dreamfall unfolds, Zoë's life begins to cross paths into other, unworldly dimensions. Soon, you're dividing gameplay between all three characters - flashing back and forth between three different worlds as each of their stories intertwine. The result is an adventure game that's as visually engaging as it is technically professional, making for one helluva gaming experience. As an added bonus, all three characters are also quite proficient in martial arts - so you get to kick some ass while you're at it, too.
Dreamfall is a visually rich game, full of detail and color. As you play, you're able - through using the directional arrows on your keyboard, as well as the full 360 degree capability of the mouse - to fully interact with your environment, which in and of itself is a reason to play this game. Left-clicking the mouse and/or pressing the space bar enages the actions available in the game: looking at, picking up, and using items, as well as talking to other characters and navigating special passageways, such as staircases and tunnels. And while there are puzzles and mysteries to solve along the way, they aren't so difficult to be frustrating, nor too easy to be boring. {quotes}Somehow, the gameplay in Dreamfall is perfectly suited for even the pickiest of players; somehow, it's just right.{/quotes}
I enjoyed everything about Dreamfall - from the engaging gameplay to the intelligent but not too complicated puzzles, from the kick-ass lead characters to the stunning visuals and accomplished voice acting. It's a game that you'll wish you had hours and hours to sit down and play, non-stop, from start to finish. Overall, suffice it to say that Dreamfall is one of the most well executed PC games I've tried in years.
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About the Author
Carly Hope Finseth spends much of her time pondering what she wants to be when she grows up. She alternates between days filled with cozy socks, hot tea, and meditative reflection - and others, which are loaded with caffeine fixes, grueling commutes, and one fire to put out after another. When she’s not sifting through e-mails, dropping her cell phone, or sticking another reminder Post-It on her desk, Carly also somehow finds the time to write and reflect on important (and the occasional not-so-important) feminist issues.
My curse is my gift. My nightmares, deep sensitivity, and emotional instability gives the best (and most uncomfortable) inspirations I could ever have. For me, art is passion - and visions are the mirror, which show my feelings and connect me with the rest of the world. Read More...
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Carly Hope Finseth spends much of her time pondering what she wants to be when she grows up. She alternates between days filled with cozy socks, hot tea, and meditative reflection - and others, which are loaded with caffeine fixes, grueling commutes, and one fire to put out after another. When she’s not sifting through e-mails, dropping her cell phone, or sticking another reminder Post-It on her desk, Carly also somehow finds the time to write and reflect on important (and the occasional not-so-important) feminist issues.
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