Wednesday, 12th June 2013

Chains Of Satinav
Game The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav
Released 2012
Developer Daedalic Entertainment
Available Apple GOG Steam

The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav is set in a fantasy land with magic and portals to lands of faerie. Geron, a humble bird catcher, goes on a long quest to return a fairy Nuri back to her home so the evil Seer won't use her to further his nefarious plans.

A very traditional point and click Adventure game. You move from location to location as you solve puzzles. Most of the locations are almost single scene with only one or two problems to solve, but some locations are bigger with involved multiple problems. I solved the game without a walkthrough but I felt the good story motivated me to continue on some of the harder puzzles.

The game is generously long, with plenty of characters to meet, and lovingly drawn scenes. Just when I thought the game had finished there was a sudden twist, and Geron was where he didn't expect to be. And it was there that the puzzles were at their best, fantastical and magical.

The characters have minimal lip synching and facial animation, but I got used to that. Sometimes the game mechanics are a bit odd, being thorough as with any game helps. Geron is not a saint, and makes some choices which have repercussions.

Great. They do still make them like that!