Syberia, an adventure game by Microids

                  Reviewed by Bill Jenkins

Minimum requirements:
Windows 95,98/Me/2000/XP.
Pentium II 350/500Mhz Processor.
64/128 mb ram.
16x/24x cd rom drive.
488/800 free hard drive space.
DirectSound compatible sound card.
Direct 3D compatible 3d graphics card with 16/32 mb onboard
ram.

My first taste of this game was a demo from a magazine cover disc,
I was so impressed that I had to buy it. Unfortunately none of my
local stores had in stock but I was told that it was recently
released, at the price of œ29.99. however my daughter was able to
purchase it from the web for œ24.65.

The game casts you as a female lawyer, Kate Walker, sent to a
small village in the French Alps, to negotiate the takeover of a
Toy Company which specialises in the manufacture of clockwork
automatons ( if you want the respect of the locals, don't refer to
them as robots). On arrival, you learn of the death of the woman
who was to sign the takeover documents. You, of course, have to
begin a search for the only heir to the factory. Interacting with
the various characters can be helpful and amusing, or boring or
downright rude. I'm a bloke but I wanted to slap one guy who was
trying a come on.

The puzzles are totally logical, most answers being found in the
area where they occur, so not much carrying to and fro is
required. Graphics and sound are excellent as are the animations.
A minor criticism is the lack of a map that can whisk you to
previously visited places although the character can be made to
run by a double click of the mouse button.

Completing the game was not too difficult and the ending appears
to leave the door open for a sequel.

The Canadian makers, Microids, who were also responsible for
Amerzone, have certainly put a large amount of time and skill into
this production and I heartily recommend it.

The game was purchased from Gameswire.com - Tel. 01268 531222.













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