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First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales #748303
08/21/11 10:32 AM
08/21/11 10:32 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,693
Isle of Man
gremlin Offline OP
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gremlin  Offline OP
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Isle of Man
What do we have here?
Back in May 2010 I saw this description of The Book of Unwritten Tales: "In a world torn by war, the aged gremlin archaeologist Mortimer McGuffin harbours the dark secret of a powerful artifact. Whoever calls this artefact its own, will determine the fate of the world. While the Army of Shadows sends out its best and most devious agents to discover the secret, the Alliance's three heroes find themselves involuntarily drawn into the crisis..."

What do you think? Should a reviewer who goes by the name of Gremlin consider this a shoo-in for a game worthy of review? I did, and then I was really disappointed to hear that it was dropped by the publisher. However the game is back on the release schedule for this Autumn, and that makes me happy. Now I've got my hands on a preview copy of the first two chapters of the game; there will be five in the final release, so it's time for a GameBoomers First Look.


What we have here is really an English translation of a successful German title of the same name that was released in 2009. However, my German skills are not the greatest, so it seems I was fated to wait for the English version. It's just a shame it's taken so long to happen.

The game is a polished point-n-click adventure game, played in the third person (with rare exceptions for a couple of puzzles). The visual style is very reminiscent of The Whispered World, but with Heath Robinson and World of Warcraft-like influences.


Notes from a short journey
There are four playable characters, but I was only able to play two in the preview, Ivo (an elf) and Wilbur (a gnome). I understand that the other two are a human, and an un-named pink furry thing!


One of my favourite features of the game is the brilliant voice acting. Translated games often suffer from odd turns of phrase that work in the original, but fall strangely upon English ears. The Book of Unwritten Tales does not suffer from this at all. The dialogue is excellent, the voice actors give it plenty of shape and style, and the accents are very authentic. Many games have Scottish or Welsh characters (actually, Welsh characters are pretty rare in games) whose accents are, let us say, weak, at best! And deeply flawed in others. (If you think Groundskeeper Willy has an accurate Scottish accent, then you'll have no idea what I'll rattling on about.) However, the English, Welsh and Scottish accents are all genuine in this game - Wilbur has a lovely soft, lilting Welsh accent, for example. It's really nice to see people getting this right. I just hope the Spanish accent of the Rat King is as accurate as the rest.

The plot of the game seems to be the well-tried standard of, "the village 'nobody' has to fetch the fantastical magic device to save the world." Of course, every 'nobody' has to become a hero in a fantasy adventure, and that's our Wilbur Weathervane. Running in parallel, at least to begin with, is Ivo (a young-looking elf). She's on the same quest as Wilbur but from a different starting point, so the plot spotters amongst you will just be trying to work out at which point they meet and join forces.

Story elements and puzzles are in the vein of fetch-and-carry quests, investigation and persuasion, and a little bit of judicious deception. However, there's no violence in the first two chapters, and only one death, a Death and a resurrection. None of the puzzles are particularly difficult, and I was able to complete the first two chapters in under seven hours. Mind you, hitting the space bar shows all the hotspots in a scene at any time, which is extraordinarily helpful in avoiding getting stuck.

The only glitch I would bring up is that there are occasions when Wilbur and Ivo sort of dance around one another when you're swapping from using one of them to using the other.

Jumping to conclusions
First of all, I've got to say that I'm definitely putting The Book of Unwritten Tales on my wish list for Christmas. I thoroughly enjoyed the humour, the story and the presentation. There were no bugs, or dead-ends, mazes, sound puzzles, and only one puzzle that required more than the usual level of point-n-click coordination (and if you can stir with your mouse, you'll be fine).

If the rest of The Book of Unwritten Tales turns out to be as good as the first two chapters, I think we've got a potential A grade game.

What do you need to play it?
Minimum system requirements:

  • Windows XP SP 3 / Vista / Windows 7
    Pentium IV 2 GHz / Athlon 2.4 GHz (3 GHz CPU recommended)
  • 1 GB RAM (Windows XP) | 2 GB RAM (Vista / Windows 7) (4GB recommended)
  • 6 GB free hard disc space
  • Direct-X 9c compliant video card with
  • 128 MB RAM, PixelShader 2.0 (256MB recommended)


(I used a home built 64-bit Vista Home Premium SP1 PC running on an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual 5200+, with 6 GB RAM, and a Sapphire Radeon HD4670 512MB video card with mother-board sound card)


Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: gremlin] #748314
08/21/11 11:01 AM
08/21/11 11:01 AM
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 69,973
MaG Offline
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MaG  Offline
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yay Looking forward to this game.

Great read, gremlin!

Thanks!

Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: MaG] #748316
08/21/11 11:15 AM
08/21/11 11:15 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,022
Northeast NJ
Darleen03 Offline
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Darleen03  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Northeast NJ
Glad you liked the Game, gremlin ...

That makes me all the more to want this game...

Thanks for the first look into the game.. bravo


Luv Dar


GameBoomers
"Games Are More Enticing Because Of Our "MaG"nificent Efficient Radiant Site"
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Darleen03] #748319
08/21/11 11:27 AM
08/21/11 11:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 26,918
Stony Brook, New York, USA
Becky Offline
The Medieval Lady
Becky  Offline
The Medieval Lady
Sonic Boomer

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 26,918
Stony Brook, New York, USA
What's wrong with Groundskeeper Willy's accent? lol I can't wait to see if the Rat King's voice lives up to expectations. evil

Thanks for a fun First Look! wave

Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Becky] #748342
08/21/11 01:50 PM
08/21/11 01:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,379
Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
venus Offline
BAAG Specialist
venus  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,379
Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
thanks for the first look, gremlin! The game sounds terrific! So glad we will finally be able to play it!! rah


Interrogator: [True or false?] All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion - all mangoes are cheap.

Helena: Where are these mangoes?
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: venus] #748377
08/21/11 05:27 PM
08/21/11 05:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,287
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
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Mad  Offline
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Posts: 34,287
United Kingdom
Thanks, gremlin !! Enjoyed your comments thumbsup

This is another of those where I will no doubt go for each episode as it's released - but I won't start to play until all episodes are out.

Best continuity for me, that way grin


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: gremlin] #748388
08/21/11 06:13 PM
08/21/11 06:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 16,783
Upper Arlington, Ohio
Space Quest Fan Offline
Graduate Boomer
Space Quest Fan  Offline
Graduate Boomer

Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 16,783
Upper Arlington, Ohio
thanks for the info gremlin. thumbsup


It's nice to be important but it is much more important to be nice.
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Space Quest Fan] #748406
08/21/11 08:39 PM
08/21/11 08:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,379
Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
venus Offline
BAAG Specialist
venus  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,379
Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
Mad, isn't the whole game coming out at once? headscratch


Interrogator: [True or false?] All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion - all mangoes are cheap.

Helena: Where are these mangoes?
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Space Quest Fan] #748407
08/21/11 08:42 PM
08/21/11 08:42 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,767
Calgary Alberta Canada
Cathy1 Offline
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Cathy1  Offline
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,767
Calgary Alberta Canada
Mad,
I believe the game is a full one, not in episodes.


" If Cornoil Comes From Corn
Where Doe's Babyoil Come From "
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Cathy1] #748415
08/21/11 09:54 PM
08/21/11 09:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,940
Lincoln, NE
GuybrushThreepwood Offline
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GuybrushThreepwood  Offline
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Posts: 4,940
Lincoln, NE
Sounds good.


Currently Playing:
Adventure Game: Broken Age
Darkside: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: GuybrushThreepwood] #748437
08/21/11 11:50 PM
08/21/11 11:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,287
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
Sonic Boomer
Mad  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,287
United Kingdom
Hi venus and Cathy1 smile

You are right !!

I don't know where I got the idea of "episodic" releases crazy

Sorry for any confusion I might have caused blush

Cheers.

Mad wave


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Mad] #748551
08/22/11 10:36 AM
08/22/11 10:36 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,767
Calgary Alberta Canada
Cathy1 Offline
BAAG Specialist
Cathy1  Offline
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,767
Calgary Alberta Canada
I know there is a non english demo of this game, but doe's anyone know if and when an english demo will arise ?
Cathy


" If Cornoil Comes From Corn
Where Doe's Babyoil Come From "
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Cathy1] #748732
08/23/11 04:57 AM
08/23/11 04:57 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,096
Marlborough USA
Kaki's Sister Offline
Sonic Boomer
Kaki's Sister  Offline
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Posts: 25,096
Marlborough USA
Thanks Gremlin. I'll be watching for this one!


Gerry
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: gremlin] #749316
08/25/11 05:27 PM
08/25/11 05:27 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,853
United Kingdom
Carla Offline
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Carla  Offline
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Posts: 2,853
United Kingdom
Cathy, I'm sure a demo will be released, even if lately I noticed a "trend" in releasing the game first and the demo after! lol
I'm so awaiting for this game, I had my eyes on it since 2009 and I'm definitively pre-order it.


Carla happydance

“Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.”
Re: First Look at The Book of Unwritten Tales [Re: Carla] #749323
08/25/11 05:56 PM
08/25/11 05:56 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,767
Calgary Alberta Canada
Cathy1 Offline
BAAG Specialist
Cathy1  Offline
BAAG Specialist

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,767
Calgary Alberta Canada
Thanks Carla.
I'm sure you will let us know when and if the english demo comes out.

Cathy thumbsup


" If Cornoil Comes From Corn
Where Doe's Babyoil Come From "
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