Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Premature Burial
By Trinidadw at January 19, 2012 | 11:48 AM | Print
What was that? A trick of the light, a shadow. Your mind is playing tricks on you. Isn’t it? That sound, haunting, disturbing and familiar. Things are not what they seem, keep your eyes open and trust no one. Most importantly do not forget to gather evidence. And always remember, when you seem to be at your wits end, the most obvious things are often hidden in plain sight.
The Premature Burial is the third adventure game of the Dark Tales franchise. This game is reminiscent of stories that still echo in today’s books and theater. Who can forget scenes of a ghastly woman in a white dress appearing before you. A fear that many people are terrified of was brought to life by Edgar and that’s the thought of being buried alive. Stuck in a coffin where no one can hear you, hungry and unable to breathe till eventually you are truly dead for real. Edgar Allan Poe is definitely a force to be reckoned with and any adaptation of his legacy is definitely worth our attention.
In this installment of the Dark Tales series you will find yourself following the adventures of a Detective named Dupin. Dupin has been hired by a man named Julien. Julien has lost his lover Victorine. Unfortunately for Julien ,Victorine was married to a very wealthy old man and the family buried her secretly at a location unknown to Julien. Having no idea where his once precious lover has been put to rest he enlists the help of the detective.
Now that you have a taste of the story that brings us to the game play. Dark Tales is a great point-and-click adventure with hidden object elements and of course puzzles. You make your way around by exploring areas with a click of your mouse. You will notice your cursor changes to indicate areas that you can and should explore as well as sparkly lights. You will also notice that you have been given a detective’s notebook. This helps you to keep track of clues that you will find along your journey. Bundled with this is of course your complimentary inventory of items that is standard in games of this nature. This of course holds items that have been collected. Another staple feature you will notice is the hint system. Not only does it help you out of a tough spot when your eyes fail you but it also eventually allows you to skip some of the puzzle games that may be to challenging or that you may want to skip because of time.
You will be thrown into an eerie and creepy atmosphere which is accompanied by good music and artwork. Speaking of the artwork it is actually quite well done. You will notice well chosen colors, eerie setting and detailed antiques in the various locations you visit. This creates an awesome spooky feeling that is greatly enhanced by the well animated slimy slithers and spirits around.. The soundtrack is hauntingly lovely and matches the mood of the game perfectly. This makes The Premature Burial a feast for both the eyes and ears. The wide array of hidden object scenes, puzzles, and mini-games is also a treat for the brain, being a nicely mixed lot of the familiar and the new. Hidden object scenes are made more interesting with the addition of interactions to complete them, and the mini-games are a nice balance ranging from easy to difficult.
Dark Tales is a story filled with mystery. A lot of this story is revealed as the player reads newspaper articles and communicates with the chatty town folk. The story is quite entertaining. The voice acting and text is well done and conveys the story well. It really adds to the overall big picture of the game.
Any fan or new comer should have lots of fun in this excellent game. Fans of the adventure and hidden object horror genre will enjoy the experience and the engaging story to discover.
Graphics 4 out of 5 : This game occasionally made me shiver with anxiety and fear. The colors are well blended and make looking at the screen a pleasantly scary experience. I love the fact that the art of specific objects are well and carefully done. The general image of the sceneries will also truly spook you out.
Sound 5 out 5 : The sound is superb. It completely expresses the direness and grimness of the situation. It is classically themed with just the right hint of creepiness that makes the experience feel authentic. It seeps into you and trust me you feel it .You will love the tempo it sets for the game. And the name of that tempo my friend is fear.
Game play 4 out of 5 : The scenery and music are really well done and the game play itself is more than you would expect from a game of its type. It is good enough to maintain your interest and is definitely above average . This is a solid game and well done. Enough to warrant a very good score.
Replay value 4 out of 5 : This is a game that you can play multiple times. That creepy soundtrack and the spooky visuals you will find in the game will make you come back for more. It is almost as if its one of those classic horror movie videos you keep in your cabinet to re-watch on a stormy night or to spook out a friend.
Overall score 4 out of 5. The game won me over with its game play, it definitely picked me up and carried me away with its epic ambiance. I normally dislike games that spook me out but this one took me on a ride I will not soon forget. You should definitely pick up this title and check out other games in this series as I will.
The bottom line is that if you are a fan of the genre or if you like me enjoy a good spook now and again. This game will definitely fit the bill.