The Whispered World

[Thaurin]

I downloaded the The Whispered World demo. It all reminds me slightly of The Longest Journey/Dreamfall, which is what attracted me to the game in the first place... but with a pessimistic, cynical touch to it--more like Dreamfall than ...Journey. Just the why I like it. The interface is impeccable, like Monkey Island 3 (oh and fuck the Telltales Tales of... games on that accord. It's unforgivable to have a disasrtous console-like interface in a point-and-click adventure like that. Assholes) I have a feeling that this is going to be classic for me. If I'm gonna play adventure games like this, I wonder why the hell I bought a new monster PC. The game is running fine on this one, and looking pretty awesome as well. Hand-drawn 2D graphics for the w1n.

[Jack]

The only complaints I have on that game is the unlikable main character and horrible voice acting. The stunning visuals and classic point-and-click gameplay made up for that IMO.

[Thaurin]

I usually have fairly high resistances towards annoying voice acting, depending on in what way it is annoying. Sadwick's voice didn't really bother me and his gloomy, depressed lines actually speak to me. Sure, he complains about *everything*, but I think it's funny. It's amazing how many unique lines they included, by the way, when you try to use every object you find with the environment. It makes trying random things fun.

What did bother me slightly, was that the voice samples seem to be over-compressed and sound a bit flat and unnatural.

[DArtagnan]

There are way too many quality adventure games that I need to play....

[Thaurin]

There are way too many quality adventure games that I need to play….

Yes, I just found out about the existence of The Book of Unwritten Tales. Unfortunately, it's only out in German right now, but it looks very, very good. Good reviews in Germany, too.

I'm back in a bit of a adventure game mood.

[DArtagnan]

I'm always in the mood, but can never finish ;)

(that didn't sound quite right)

[JDR13]

Checked it out on YouTube. While I admire the detail of the hand-drawn visuals, it's far too cartoonish for my taste. I don't see how adults would find this game appealing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNXcer2-1nw&feature=related

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Won several prizes here in Germany.

[Jack]

Checked it out on YouTube. While I admire the detail of the hand-drawn visuals, it's far too cartoonish for my taste. I don't see how adults would find this game appealing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNXcer2-1nw&feature=relatedCouldn't the very same be said about the Monkey Island series? Or perhaps you consider that childish as well?

Won several prizes here in Germany.Doesn't mean much, the ratings of a game or the awards it gets don't always have much to do with the actual quality of the game, rendering them useless as a way of measuring it.

[JDR13]

Couldn't the very same be said about the Monkey Island series? Or perhaps you consider that childish as well?

I wouldn't know, MI never appealed to me enough to play it

[Jack]

That's a shame, you're missing out on a bunch of really good games if you ask me.
But just out of curiosity, could you mention a couple of games with an adult art direction then?

[Alrik Fassbauer]

If you don't like cartoonish adventure games than just look at "Edna bricht aus" ! - Which had also won several prizes here in Germany (but not for the graphics, I think).

Me, personally, I didn't like the graphics style of "Edna bricht aus" at all.

[JDR13]

That's a shame, you're missing out on a bunch of really good games if you ask me.
But just out of curiosity, could you mention a couple of games with an adult art direction then?

I'm not missing out on anything that appeals to me, but I'm also not saying those are "bad" games or anything. I'm just not a fan of games that focus on a lighthearted or humorous atmosphere. I get enough of that from television and movies. Not to sound cliche, but I prefer a darker, grittier atmosphere in my games.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Dark ? Hm, then The Whispered World should meet your taste, from what I've heard about it.

[Jack]

Grimdark, got it.
You might be interested in "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream", Dark Seed and Darkness Within then.

Anyway, I was just curious if you actually had played any mature adventure games. As most of them follow the traditional lighthearted humorous style of the genre.

But I still don't understand how you could not like the art style of this game.
http://www.techarena.in/files/image/guide/042010/The_Whispered_World/Moreye_11_eye_monter.jpg

[JDR13]

Well I'm not a huge fan of traditional point&click adventure games to begin with. I do plan on playing Shadow of the Comet (http://www.mobygames.com/game/call-of-cthulhu-shadow-of-the-comet) and Prisoner of Ice (http://www.mobygames.com/game/prisoner-of-ice), when I can find the time.

It's not just about art style though, it's also about dialogue, voice acting, and overall atmosphere.

[Thaurin]

I don't see how adults would find this game appealing.


You must have lost something valuable over the course of adulthood. I hope you will be able to get it back at one point in your life.

[Jack]

Well I'm not a huge fan of traditional point&click adventure games to begin with. I do plan on playing Shadow of the Comet (http://www.mobygames.com/game/call-of-cthulhu-shadow-of-the-comet) and Prisoner of Ice (http://www.mobygames.com/game/prisoner-of-ice), when I can find the time.

It's not just about art style though, it's also about dialogue, voice acting, and overall atmosphere.


True. Good luck with them adventure games, SotC is excellent.

[JDR13]

You must have lost something valuable over the course of adulthood. I hope you will be able to get it back at one point in your life.

Yep, I lost my love for things that remind me of Disney. Apparently not everyone finds that as valuable as you.

[Thaurin]

Yep, I lost my love for things that remind me of Disney. Apparently not everyone finds that as valuable as you.

I'm sorry, but you were being awfully general in your dismissal of all things cartoony. I do seriously think that this is something of a loss for you. People that cannot appreciate childish things have, in my opinion, grown up too fast.

[JDR13]

I'm sorry, but you were being awfully general in your dismissal of all things cartoony. I do seriously think that this is something of a loss for you. People that cannot appreciate childish things have, in my opinion, grown up too fast.

Did you actually read all my posts, or was that just a kneejerk reaction because I view something differently? Let me reiterate, I wasn't claiming those are "bad" games, just not the style that appeals to me.

[Jack]

While that is very understandable, you have to admit that dismissing games because they seem childish is pretty sad. Judging a game on not how fun it is to play or actual gameplay but rather on the general look of it. You could compare it to young teenage gamers who won't play any game released more than five years ago or that are 2D. Just got that feeling from the "Cartoony games do not appeal to me" statement. I'm not saying that it is wrong to think that way or anything, it just seem sad to me that you would rather play a bad grimdark game rather than an excellent childish game.
You get me?

[Thrasher]

I'm in the same boat as JDR. I don't see the appeal of cartoony childish graphics. It's a turn-off, as is anime, to me. This is just personal preference though...

[Alrik Fassbauer]

People that cannot appreciate childish things have, in my opinion, grown up too fast.

Interesting sentence. And I do know quite some people in my environment who would agree. ;)

I'm in the same boat as JDR. I don't see the appeal of cartoony childish graphics. It's a turn-off, as is anime, to me. This is just personal preference though…

Me, for example, I just can't stand the graphics style of Manga & Anime.

I also can't stand the graphics style of traditional superheroes comics. I don't understand the interest in superheroes at all.

Me, I've grown up with Asterix, Tintin, Lucky Luke, Fix & Foxy, next to Disney's characters.

Bone is just Art to me, as like Akiko is (whi is *not* a Manga !!!)
And Little Nemo is just ... a dream. ;)

So, my "comics background" is definitively different - european based. We Europeans have - I think quite a distinct - and different - culture regarding comics. Superheroes don't exist in european comics at all, as far as I know, only as their parodies (Astrix, Marsupilami, Jerom).

"Sergio Aragones destroys DC" and "Sergio Aragones massacres Marvel" are genuine European comics, since they take on the "seriousnes" of U.S. - based superheroes comics and do them ad absurdum, in my opinion.

Astrix, for example, has *always* been kind of childish - but like with Monty Python's Flying Circus it is so FULL with hints and jokes ... But nobody understands them with bigger-than-normal backgrond knowledge about european nd especially French contemporary history. - And in Monty Python's Flying Circus thre are SO many hints and jokes one can ONLY see if one has studied some time at a university ... I have read the full screenplay as two books, fgreatly annotated, with all of these hints explained.

It's like with Hägar The Horrible :

At the first look, it's just fun.
At the second look, you find out the hints.
At the third look, you find out the wisdom behind it ...

[JDR13]

Damn DeepO, that animated graphic is screwing with my web browser big time. I have to reply to this thread using my smart phone now. :lol:

[JDR13]

While that is very understandable, you have to admit that dismissing games because they seem childish is pretty sad. Judging a game on not how fun it is to play or actual gameplay but rather on the general look of it. You could compare it to young teenage gamers who won't play any game released more than five years ago or that are 2D. Just got that feeling from the "Cartoony games do not appeal to me" statement. I'm not saying that it is wrong to think that way or anything, it just seem sad to me that you would rather play a bad grimdark game rather than an excellent childish game.
You get me?

No, I don't "get you". Or rather I don't get your stubborn refusal to acknowledge that some people simply don't have the same taste as you. That's the only thing I see here that's truly "sad".

[DeepO]

Damn DeepO, that animated graphic is screwing with my web browser big time. I have to reply to this thread using my smart phone now. :lol:
Really? What a shame. Sorry. Post deleted.

Speaking of "dark noncartoonish" adventures, Blade Runner is a very good one not mentioned yet.

[Jack]

No, I don't "get you". Or rather I don't get your stubborn refusal to acknowledge that some people simply don't have the same taste as you. That's the only thing I see here that's truly "sad".
Graphics/voice acting over gameplay and fun. But I do realize that is a matter of taste.

[Gorath]

If you don't like cartoonish adventure games than just look at "Edna bricht aus" ! - Which had also won several prizes here in Germany (but not for the graphics, I think).

Me, personally, I didn't like the graphics style of "Edna bricht aus" at all.

It's called Edna & Harvey: The Breakout in foreign countries. A CE will be released in the UK on Jan 21st for 19.99£.

A sequel (or rather a spin-off) has been announced for late 2011.

[HiddenX]

I have these priorities:

1) Gameplay / Game mechanics
2) Story
3) Fun
4) Bug-free
5) Presentation (Graphics & Sound)

I'm still playing some old C64 / Amiga / old PC-games from time to time. They may look/sound ugly as hell, but they have gameplay …

[JDR13]

I'm still playing some old C64 / Amiga / old PC-games from time to time. They may look/sound ugly as hell, but the have gameplay …

I still play NES games sometimes using an emulator, or on my Wii's Virtual Console.

[Thaurin]

No, I don't "get you". Or rather I don't get your stubborn refusal to acknowledge that some people simply don't have the same taste as you. That's the only thing I see here that's truly "sad".

It seems to me, and I'm REALLY not saying that it's the case with you, that some people have a phobia of childish or cartoonish media, or anime for that matter. For some reason, they need to loudly state that it's "stupid" or "gay" and are usually teens. Personally, I think I would even enjoy a Barbie game if it was truly awesome. :)

It's called Edna & Harvey: The Breakout in foreign countries. A CE will be released in the UK on Jan 21st for 19.99£.

A sequel (or rather a spin-off) has been announced for late 2011.

Ooooh. I need to keep on eye on that one.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

A CE will be released in the UK on Jan 21st for 19.99£.

Interesting.

We didn't have one here.

As far as I know.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Soundtrack now available for download : http://www.the-whispered-world.de/soundtrack

Doesn't work for me right now ... Maybe they servers are overloaded with connections ?

[Thaurin]

Anyone know where I could buy a digital download of The Book of Unwritten Tales? It's been mentioned here, I think, but I can't find it. It's only in German, but I've found that I can pretty easily understand the German (in Nehlim, too!) so that should be okay, fun and educational even. I just can't find it and the official site is down, too.

[Gorath]

Won't be easy to find. The publisher HMH went belly-up. Then JoWooD bought the rights and released a buggy version (patched quickly). There's a legal dispute between developer and JoWooD about who has which rights and which version JoWooD is allowed to sell or not.
Now JoWooD is bankrupt…

edit: The German shouldn't cost more than 10 EUR.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Yes. Shouldn't. But I recently (read : in December) I saw quite a lot of specimens still for 30 Euros …

And plase don't mix The Whispered World with the Book Of Unwritten Tales (BOUT) ...

[Thaurin]

Why not mention it here? It was discussed in this thread.

That's unfortunate about the publisher. For 10,- I would get it without a moment's hesitation. The demo looked very good and with the exception of a noun here and there, I could understand it all perfectly.

In fact, I think I need to download the German version of Nehlim, because reading English subtitles on German voices is just too distracting! German subtitles would work better for me.

Well, if anyone finds anything, I'd be thankful to know.

[Gorath]

He meant "mix sth. up" as "confuse".

Hopefully the issues are resolved in the context of JoWooD's insolvency. BOUT got excellent reviews and the sequel was pretty far in development.

[Thaurin]

Ah, I guess I got thrown off in the "*please* don't mix..." phrasing. :) No, I know exactly which game is which and I played both demos.

I think I'd enjoy BOUT better, but both look terrific. At this point, I'd almost prefer the German version (assuming the English version will ever come), because what more fun way is there to improve your language skills??

Now, if only there were a Norwegian adventure game... :)