Dreamfall: The Longest Journey Review (PC)

Age Rating: 16+ (PEGI)

What is it?
An interactive adventure with a compelling storyline. Also available on Xbox 360.

Is it fun?
It’s… interesting. I wouldn’t say fun.

Is it worth the money? £17.99
No.

Why not?

It’s not a game, it’s an interactive story. And by interactive, I mean that you get the exciting tasks of walking around large areas, carrying objects from one section of the level to another (and back) and, if you’re lucky, the chance to hack into locks through a simple mini-game.

The storyline is entertaining – it’s just not a decent game. There’s hardly any challenge and you get no sense of achievement by playing it. For the most part you’re sitting around watching cut-scenes. You get to choose from dialogue options but it still feels like you’re forced into one outcome.

Also, I finished it in two sittings. Rubbish.

It does, however, make me want a Nabaztag. The characters have this fantastic thing called a “Watilla”. It looks like a friendly miniature gorilla, talks to you, plays games, keeps track of your schedule, tells you when you have messages and reads you the news, like a little purple cuddly feed reader. Plus, it’s super cute, especially when it hums out of boredom :)

On the bright side, this game actually allowed me to use my Thrustmaster Dual Power (mmm, phallic name), so I could sit on the sofa while playing it. Comfy. It was like watching a particularly tiresome film where I had to keep prodding the actors onto their marks.

I did like the way they modelled locations from the previous game, The Longest Journey. I would post comparison screenshots but my ancient Longest Journey discs have grown bored of being cooped up in a drawer with all these newfangled youngster games and retired to Blackpool. Or somewhere. They’ve left the manual behind but that’s not much good to me.

Dreamfall has a good story but a very poor gaming experience. Shoulda made a movie.

Links:
Official Site

Screenshots:

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