Humble Bundle Full Of Adventures

The Humble Weekly Bundle is an adventure bundle this week.  Pay whatever you like for Detective Grimoire, Broken Sword 1 & 2, and The Whispered World Special Edition.  If you pay more than the average, you'll also get The Detail: Episode 1, A Golden Wake, and Cognition: Game of the Year Edition.  If you pay $10 or more, you'll also get Broken Sword 5.

There's also a Star Wars bundle going on. There are 9 Star Wars games if you pay $12 or more, and the site says that there's more yet to be announced.

Point and Click Adventure Review: Ben Jordan: The Cardinal Sins

The penultimate case of Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator is Ben's most dangerous yet, and it is also one of the best of the series.

Ben receives a mysterious call from a man in prison in Rome, who was given his number by an unknown caller.  The man murdered a priest, and claims that a demon made him do it.  Even though Ben doesn't like the circumstances behind the call, he heads to Rome with his friends in order to investigate the crime.  This is the darkest case yet, but it is also one of the best written.  The tension builds up right to the last minute of the episode, and plot threads are tied together masterfully.

This case once again has voice work, and like the deluxe editions, the voices are all well done though some times the audio volume varies.  The quality is as expected for a free indie adventure, but it is worth playing with voices on though.  The voices all work for the characters, with the three main characters in particular all receiving suitable voice performances for their personalities.  The personalities of the characters here really do shine, and both returning characters and the new characters that are important to the story arc are given a lot of background information.

The series has always been good at showing the wonder of the locations despite the low resolution, and that trend continues here.  Rome is a place with a lot of history, and a lot of mystery, and that's shown off quite well here.  The character portraits are all well done here as well, and once again fit with the game's art work, and show off a good deal more of the character than is possible with small sprites.  The music is also well done, with the exception of one early song which had some notes that grated a bit.  This didn't last long though, and the rest of the game's music was up to the high standards set by the rest of the games in the series.  The puzzles here are also pretty good this time around.  The missteps from the previous episode aren't repeated here, and all of the puzzles fit the world of the game.

Ben Jordan's seventh case is one of his strongest.  The missteps in the puzzles from the previous episode are made up for here, as all of the puzzles are well done, and all fit within the logic of the game's world.  There is one song that grates a bit, but the rest of the music is wonderful and fits the game's world quite well.  The audio volume of the voice work varies, but the voices are done pretty well for a free indie adventure, and all of the voices fit the character's personalities.  The best part of the game though is its story.  It is a wonderful, yet dark, tale, telling a suspenseful story where the tension builds up right up to the exiting final moments.  It ties up the plot threads together wonderfully, while leaving enough anticipation for the finale to come.

Final Verdict:

4½ out of 5

Free Point-and-Click Adventure Review: Ben Jordan: Scourge of the Sea People

Ben Jordan Case Six: Scourge of the Sea People is another strong entry in the excellent free adventure game series.  It's firmly routed in the adventures of the past, so it has some design decisions that aren't popular in today's adventures, but they're handled well enough that even those who didn't play adventures in the golden age should be able to manage.

After the near death experience of the last case, Ben, Alice, and Simon decide to take a vacation in Greece.  Unbeknownst to Ben and Alice however, Ben soon makes other plans when he hears news of mysterious creatures known as sea people, who come up to the surface and carry people down to the depths of the sea.  He then goes off investigating the case on his own, while his friends try to unwind and have a nice vacation.  The story here is excellent, with a lot of the mysticism that the series is known for.  It also ties the narrative together of all of the cases together in a nice fashion, while setting things up nicely for the cases yet to come.

The puzzles here are all well done, however, since this series has roots in classic adventure games, it often brings in a relic from the past that isn't used much anymore.  However, as always it doesn't do this often, and it handles it well.  In this case, it's an object which can only be seen by waiting for a faint animation that occurs for only a few seconds.  Luckily, it doesn't fall into the trap that caused this style of gameplay to become outdated.  Here it's handled well, as the object in question is in a dark room, and the object shines.  It's also not too tiny, so it's pretty obvious to spot.  Another relic from the past is mazes, which can be frustrating when the game doesn't supply a map, as they have to be solved by chance.  The maze here isn't too long, and there are a lot of corridors where there is only one exit, so it doesn't become too tedious.

The game is still in low resolution, but the backgrounds are really nicely done and portray the beauty of the locations quite well despite the pixellation.  The character closeups are once again rendered in a style closer to the deluxe editions of the first two games, so they're presented in a semi-realistic style which compliments the style of the backgrounds.  There is still no voice acting, but the music is nicely done, and fits the atmosphere of the game well.

Scourge of the Sea People is another great case in this excellent free adventure series.  It does have some design choices that are usually better left in the past, such as an object which only appear as a glint for a few seconds, and a maze which can only be navigated through trial and error. However, it does handle these situations as well as possible, so they aren't too much of a hassle. The rest of the game, however, is excellent, and makes up for the game's few frustrating moments. The story is excellent, the dialog is interesting, the art style is charming, and the music fits the game's environments admirably. Ultimately, the sixth case of Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator is once again one of the best free adventure games out there.

Final Verdict:

4 out of 5

A Golden Wake Is Out Now

A Golden Wake, the first commercial adventure game by Grundislav Games, the creators of the popular freeware Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator adventure series, is now available for PC, Linux, and Mac for $14.99.  The game follows a real estate salesman who hopes to strike it rich in Florida during the roaring 20's.  It is based on actual events, and features real life locations and historical figures.

There is also a demo available at the game's website for all three platforms if you'd prefer to try before you buy.

Ben Jordan: Land of the Rising Dead Review

Ben's cases begin to get more dangerous as he teams up with the friends he met in London.  Luckily, the rising of the stakes also goes along with the rising of quality, as the Ben Jordan series continues to get better as it goes on.

At home after his experience at the Number 50 in London, Ben receives a conference call from the two people he got along best with on that trip.  Simon and Alice invite Ben to Osaka, Japan to investigate a series of murders that have been labeled the "ghost killings".  As he arrives, however, signs point to zombies being the culprit, and the case finds itself headed in directions that none of the three had expected.

The graphics are more refined here, and more closely resemble the deluxe editions of the first two cases.  It's still presented in a 320x240 resolution pixelated format, reminiscent of the Sierra and LucasArts games that inspired it, but everything is nicely detailed.  The portraits look more realistic than the last few cases, and the backgrounds are lovely, capturing the look of Japan quite well.  The music is also really nice, with a nice blend of spooky and Japanese inspired music that fits the atmosphere perfectly.  There is still no voice work, but the game's dialog makes up for it.  This is Ben Jordan's most intriguing case yet, which is saying something in a career that has seen him go up against skunkapes, witches, and ghosts.  There are many twists and turns in the plot here, as well as multiple paths to the ending.

As usual in this series, the puzzles are done quite well here.  Alice is the only one of her companions to speak Japanese, so there are instances where Alice must conduct the investigation while Ben looks on, in a situation reminiscent of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.  The Gabriel Knight influence also shows heavily here, as Ben finds himself reading the daily newspaper to find clues for the day's investigation, as five days pass on their visit to Japan.  As usual, it is possible to die, but the danger is obvious when it comes, so it gives you plenty of time to save before hand (and, luckily time freezes once in the inventory, so you'll have plenty of leeway to think your way out of the situation).  There is one puzzle where the answers aren't given to you by the game, and only relies on your own knowledge (or luck).  However, even if you lose, you don't die, you just don't get as many of the game's arbitrary points, which shouldn't be a big deal for most gamers.

The Ben Jordan cases continue to improve as the series goes on.  As this case was released in the same year of the first deluxe edition, the graphics more closely resemble those versions, so there isn't as much of a clash for those who experienced first experienced the deluxe editions as there was the last two cases.  There still isn't voice over work, but the game's intriguing storyline, interesting characters, and excellent music make up for it.  Like the other cases, Land of the Rising Dead is one of the best freeware adventure games available.

Final Verdict:

4½ out of 5

Ben Jordan: Horror at Number 50 Review

The Ben Jordan cases continue to evolve as Horror at Number 50 sees Ben Jordan come into his own  when hired to work with other paranormal investigators for the first time.  While this case is Ben's most important yet, it still retains all of the positive qualities that made his previous adventures so entertaining.

Ben is beginning to get into his element, and he is invited to England to help on a case involving a century old ghost.  When he gets there, he finds that he's not the only paranormal investigator who was welcomed by the building's owner.  Now, for the first time, he has to work together with people whose methods differ from his own, yet are still among the best of their field.  This puts Ben decidedly out of his element for the first time in his short career, and the game is made all the better for it.

The new characters are really interesting, and it's really great to be able to interact with people from different paranormal backgrounds, from psychics to those with technological paranormal detectors.  No person here is two dimensional, as each are given interesting backstories and differing personalities to go with them.  The story really benefits from the interaction between Ben and the other characters, and it gives the game a different, yet welcome, feel when compared to the previous cases.  The puzzles are also well done, and they too benefit from the addition of other paranormal investigators, as Ben will often find himself having to work together in order to progress in their mutual investigation.

Note, however, that like the case before it, Horror at Number 50 did not receive a deluxe edition.  So, if you're playing these from the beginning while playing the deluxe editions of the first two games, the change in art direction and lack of voice over work will be a bit jarring.  However, the rest of the game's elements more than make up for it. The new characters are interesting, the puzzles are fun, and the music fits the game well.  Best of all, the storyline is entertaining, and the final battle is satisfying.  It's great to see Ben teaming up with other experts in the paranormal, and learning to hold his own with the best of his field.  If you like the classic 1990's adventure games from Sierra and LucasArts, you owe it to yourself to try this game out.  Ben Jordan's fourth case is definitely his best so far.

Final Verdict:

4½ out of 5

A Golden Wake Pre-Orders Are Now Open

A Golden Wake, the first commercial adventure game by Grundislav Games, the developer of the eight case episodic adventure game Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator, will be released by publisher Wadjet Eye Games on October 9, 2014 for PC, Mac, and Linux. If you pay $14.99 to pre-order from the Wadjet Eye Games store before then, you'll also receive a free copy of the game's soundtrack and a Steam code which you can redeem upon release.

The Ben Jordan games were among my favorite freeware adventure game releases, so it should be interesting to see what Grundislav has come up with for their first commercial release.

Wadjet Eye Will Publish A Golden Wake This Fall

Wadjet Eye Games has issued a press release that it will publish the first commercial adventure game by Grundislav Games (the creator of the popular free adventure game series Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator) this Fall.

A Golden Wake is a nostalgic adventure that spans two dramatic decades in American history. Set in the era of Gatsby with a plot that includes real people, locations, and events, A Golden Wake has story- and puzzle-driven gameplay, retro-styled pixel art, and a point-and-click interface reminiscent of classics like King’s Quest and Monkey Island. Alfie’s power of persuasion will play a unique role as he analyzes other characters’ attitudes and weaknesses to figure out the best way to approach them.

A Golden Wake will be released this Fall via digital download for PC.

Ben Jordan: The Sorceress of Smailholm Review

Ben Jordan's cases keep getting bigger and more challenging. The same holds true for the experience had by the player as well. The third case, The Sorceress of Smailholm, is certainly both those things, and a lot more.

The game follows Ben's first case outside of the United States.  He receives a call from a man from a small town in Scotland.  His two daughters have been murdered, and it's believed that witches were involved.  Ben once again meets an eclectic group of characters, including, for the first time, someone who is actively working against Ben because he doesn't believe in the paranormal.

As this game was created after the deluxe versions of the first two cases, and since this game doesn't have a deluxe version, there are some noticeable differences here.  The biggest difference is the lack of speech.  The game is presented entirely in the fashion of the first two games with the speech pack disabled.  The text depicting the speech of the characters is presented next to close up portraits of the characters in question.  The description text is presented in a black box in the middle of the screen.  The second most noticeable difference is in the character's portraits.  Instead of being designed somewhere in between cartoonish and realistic, the character portraits are heavily cartoonish.  Somewhat surprisingly, they still do fit in with the realistic style of the background art, but they are a bit jarring if you're used to the deluxe versions of the first two cases.  The other differences are more minor, from the different art of the icons, to the sound effect that is used when you gain points.  The latter is specific to the monsters of the case Ben's working on, rather than the growl sound effect used in the deluxe version of the first two cases.

The presentation has improved upon even the deluxe versions of the first two games in other ways.  The start of the game is presented with a cutscene, complete with credits, instead of just starting with Ben at the telephone receiving a case.  The latter is still there, but it acts as an after-credits sequence rather than the intro.  It's a more theatrical approach, and fits well, considering that the over-arching storyline of the series seems to be picking up steam here.  The music is also given a similar uplifting treatment.  It is also presented in a more theatrical style, with an almost orchestral feel.  The theatrical feel also extends to the closing credits, and ends with a note on how Ben feels about the case.  There are two different endings, depending on a condition near the middle of the game.  They could be considered "bad" and "good" endings, as one ending leaves questions unanswered and doesn't give the optimum amount of points available.  However, neither ending dramatically changes the final outcome of the game.

The game's puzzles have been improved upon as well. The puzzles are more challenging this time, and harken back to the Sierra games of the 1990's even more so than previous installments. Despite the challenge factor, they are still quite fun. There is one puzzle in particular that can be solved using the game's manual (found in the installation directory). This kind of puzzle solving has been fazed out over time, but it's still fun if done right. Thankfully, Sorceress of Smailholm does just that, as the use of the manual is completely optional.

Ben Jordan's cases keep getting better as they go on.  That once again rings true with The Sorceress of Smailholm.  As the game never received a deluxe version, there is no voice acting this time around, and there are noticeable differences in the art style.  This is offset by the improvements in the presentation of the rest of the game's aspects.  The storyline is bigger than before, and it is much more interesting as well.  The characters are much less one dimensional now, and the villains are more cunning than before.  The music and cutscenes are presented in a much more theatrical feel, adding to the bigger feeling of the scope of the game compared to earlier cases.  Despite the lack of voice acting, Ben Jordan Case 3 is truly the best yet, which is impressive in a series where each game has a place among the best free adventure games I've played.

Final Verdict:

4½ out of 5

Ben Jordan: Lost Galleon of the Salton Sea Review

In The Lost Galleon of the Salton Sea, the paranormal investigator's second case, Grundislav Games takes every thing that worked well in the first case and expands on it, making a much bigger adventure for Ben Jordan to experience than before.

The case takes place less than a week after the last one.  Ben Jordan receives a call from a woman in California. She informs Ben that her husband went missing when looking for the Lost Galleon, a Spanish treasure ship that was fabled to be at the bottom of the Salton Sea.  The game takes place in and around a small desert town.  There are shops for Ben to visit, items that he can purchase, and employees and customers to whom he can talk.  There are also surrounding areas he can visit. Some are nearly ghost towns, and others have their own set of colorful characters.

As with the previous case, the people that Ben will meet are quite an interesting sort.  They are once again voiced well for a free adventure game, with no real standouts as being overly irritating.  The voice of the old prospector is close, but his voice grew on me with time.  There is no voice for the narrator this time.  Descriptions of objects are now presented in plain text in a black box in the center of the screen.  The music is also well done, with a nice set of songs that fit each of the game's locations.

Once again, there is no way to get voices and subtitles on the screen at the same time.  The only way to get subtitles on the screen is to turn off the voice pack in the setup program.  There are no overly quiet characters this time, so it shouldn't be an issue for most, but for those who have a hard time hearing or those where English isn't their first language, it will likely be necessary.  Like the last game, however, the story is interesting enough to hold your interest even without voice over work.

The game uses the same visual style as the last, with realistic backgrounds that look nice despite their early 1990's era resolution, and pixelated character sprites that are evened out by detailed character portraits that are a mix of cartoon style and realistic.  The game uses the same Sierra style interface as the last, with the actions selected by the top menu bar or by cycling through icons with your right mouse button.  The top menu inventory and helpful notebook icon where you can check Ben's current task return as well.  The game does make an improvement on the map over the last.  Instead of having to select the map from your inventory, you simply leave the area.  This is more in line with most adventure games with map-based travel, and is a much easier way to navigate.

The puzzles inventory based puzzles are just as interesting as the last game.  There are some new styles of puzzles here, and once again the puzzles that go outside the box were my favorite.  There is one puzzle that goes beyond real world logic, but as this is a series featuring the paranormal, it works well when you put your mindset in the game's world.  There is a puzzle that I quite enjoyed that is reminiscent of a puzzle in Telltale's second Bone game, which would be released a few years after this case.

The second case of Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator is an improvement over the already impressive first case. The deluxe version is definitely the version to get, as it adds several things to the overall experience.  There is more area to explore, the voices are performed slightly better this time, the inventory-based map is replaced with a much easier to use system, and there is more music since there are more locations.  The puzzles are fun once again, with the puzzles that think outside the box being the standouts.  The game's only real flaw is the same as the first, in that there is no way to have subtitles and voices on screen at the same time.  However, the game's intriguing story is enough to keep interest even without voice work.  Like the first case, Ben Jordan: Lost Galleon of the Salton Sea is one of the best free adventure games that I have played.

Final Verdict:

4 out of 5

Ben Jordan's Final Case Is Out Now

Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator finally concludes after nine years of investigating the paranormal, as Ben Jordan: Case 8: Relics of The Past is out now.  The game reconciles the events of the previous case, as Ben searches for the truth in the past and present in an effort to confront the mad man that threatens his future.

All eight cases are available for free.  However, the author accepts Paypal donations if you enjoyed the game and wish to show your support.

Ben Jordan: In Search of the Skunk-Ape Review

Ben Jordan: Paranormal Detective is a series of eight free adventure games starring Ben Jordan, a young man fresh out of college who decides to become a paranormal investigator.  In his first case, he heads to the Florida everglades to investigate a series of murders that have been linked to the Skunk-Ape, Florida's version of the Sasquach, a Bigfoot like creature that gets its unique name because it smells terrible.

There are two versions of the game, the original version, and the deluxe version which has improved art, an expanded storyline, and full voice acting.  Unfortunately, there are only subtitles when the voice acting is turned off.  It's a shame, because other than irritating voice of the protester, the voice work is pretty good, especially for a free fan game.  Ben Jordan's voice did take a bit getting used to, especially since his is the voice you'll hear the most in the game, but as the story started heating up, I had definitely warmed up to it.  There is also a man who is voiced well, but he speaks softly.  I had to turn my speakers up to hear what he was saying.  People who are hearing impaired or those of whom English isn't their first language will definitely need to opt for subtitles over voice work.  You can do so in the setup program by unchecking the voice pack option.

Luckily, the story line is entertaining enough to sustain interest in the game even without the voice work.  The search for the Skunk-Ape is interesting, and there are quite a few twists in the story line along the way.  The characters that Ben Jordan gets to meet and interrogate along the way are each given quirky, but believable personalities.  They are all a bit extravagent in their own way, but their appearance in and around a state park is completely reasonable.  The storyline is mostly serious, but there is a lot of humor sprinkled in.  Both the serious and the comical lines are written well, and the game straddles the fine line between the two very well.

The game is set up like Sierra adventure games from the 1990's.  You can choose icons to walk, talk, and look either by hovering your mouse at the top of the screen or cycling through them with your right mouse button.  The inventory, as well as the save and load screens, are also accessable at the top of the screen.   The Sierra influence goes beyond the interface.  When you use an icon with an item, there is a narrator who will make comments.  This will yield useful information, but it is also the source for much of the game's humor.  You'll find some references to classic adventure games tucked away in these comments.

The art work is very well done.  It's all low resolution, in the style of the early 1990's adventure games, but it's done very well.  Like those classics, they get a lot out of the small pixel space they have available.  The background art is lovely, done in a realistic style, with a nice amount of detail in each scene.  The characters are also done well.  The sprites are understandably limited, but the close up art of the characters are done well.  The aren't photo-realistic, and border between cartoon style and realistic, but they fit well with the style of the background art.

The puzzles are very much an homage to classic games, as there is no in-game hint system.  However, each puzzle is designed very well, so for most adventure gamers help shouldn't be needed.  Some of the puzzles require thought beyond what you are used to with the rest of the puzzles, which makes these puzzles some of the most creative in the game.  Another thing I liked with the puzzles is the notepad system.  Like all good investigators, Ben has a notepad and a pen.  He will often automatically write down important information in regards to a puzzle, and his notes are available to the player by clicking on the paper icon in the menu at the top of the screen.  This is handy, as there are times when you get stumped trying to determine how to obtain an item, only to forget the other items that are needed to complete a puzzle.

Case 1: In Search of the Skunk-Ape is a great start to the Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator series.  The deluxe version is definitely the version to get, since it offers many improvements over the original.  The art style, puzzles, and story are all fantastic.  The game manages to combine humor and serious tones quite well.  The voice work is mostly good, with a few exceptions.  However, the characters who aren't voiced as well aren't on the screen for long, and don't hamper the experience.  The one major drawback is the inability to have voice and subtitles on the screen at the same time.   The more quiet characters fall into the category of annoyances as a result, which is a shame since they aren't necessarily voiced poorly.   It's also  a short game, but this can be forgiven since it's available for free. Even with the game's flaws I still highly recommend this game.  It's one of the best free adventure games I've played.

Final Verdict:

4 out of 5