It was one of those quiet New York nights. Brian prepared his suitcase for the trip ahead, unaware of the events that were soon to come. Suddenly, as he drives through the streets, he hits a young lady desperate to cross the road. Realizing that she is unconscious, Brian rushes her to the hospital. He soon finds out that this woman is in a lot of trouble, when Mafia gangsters follow him and attempt to kill her. Now he is on the run, protecting the mysterious woman while looking for answers. On the way, he meets up with a wide range of unusual characters, visits remote places, and discovers the chilling truth behind her and an ancient crucifix she possesses.

I mean, c’mon! Even the toughest movie critic will look forward to this one. But wait, its not a movie….Its a PC GAME! In a day and age where storyline is always key, RUNAWAY: A Road Adventure delivers a golden gameplay experience. Though not as popular as the FPS and RTS genres, Point-and-Click adventure titles are finding its audience in the gaming world. One thing that I should point out is that, unlike previous PNC games set in the past or a different world, RUNAWAY takes place in present time. You will come to acknowledge this when drag queens and gangsters parade across your screen.  

The game is divided into 6 chapters. Depending on if you know what you’re doing or you’re just casually enjoying the detailed and interactive environment, you can expect to have 10-20 hours of quality gaming. I say quality gaming in that, if you enjoyed The Curse of Monkey Island, RUNAWAY will be that diamond in the rough you’ve been waiting for. Sure its completely linear, but the many different animations and sounds available in each chapter is impressive.  

The graphics was the major reason I chose to review the game, as many people are also intrigued by the “simple complexity” of the rendering. For those of you who are confused with the idea of “simple complexity”, let me explain. From first glance, the graphics seem to be 2D. In actuality, the developers use a technique called Non-Photorealistic Rendering, which outlines 3D objects in a 2D format. The result is a hand-painted effect with smooth animation.

One thing that bothered me was the voice animation. Though the game is being released in many different countries, thus lip-synching is out of the question. However, there is a serious problem with how rigid the voice animation is compared to body animation. You see a character walking perfectly smooth, then he stops walking and talks with the mouth movement of a nutcracker.

I also was immersed in the environment that the sound created. I found a quality soundtrack from “Liquor”, a Spanish rock band, realistic audio effects, and voice acting that reminded me of those Mafia films from the ‘80s.  

In order to progress through the game, you must find items and information to do tasks. These tasks vary in difficulty, and oftentimes are hard to understand what is supposed to be done. Your inventory also plays a part in the game, where you must solve puzzles and create things out of items you pick up. However, I admit having to occasionally read a walk-through due to confusion. Even when you do something wrong, Brian finds time to belittle you. For example, trying to use a flammable spray can on a sleeping striptease dancer causes Brian to scold “You wont get anywhere doing that.”  

In general, RUNAWAY: A Road Adventure is a pleasing addition to the Adventure genre. The in-depth storyline, eccentric characters, creative graphic techniques, and catchy soundtrack makes for an exiting adventure that PC Gamers should add to their collection.

Gameplay: 9
What could be my most favorite PNC adventure to date, RUNAWAY will cause you to run something that would otherwise go unused, your brain.  I was drawn in by the graphics, but I stayed for the gameplay.

Graphics: 8.5
I would've pitched a 9 if it weren't for the horrid voice animation.  Otherwise, the combination of 3D rendering and 2D outlining makes a PC title that every gamer should experience

Sound: 8.5
I've said it before and I'll say it again, sound creates the ambiance.  The voice acting is talented and the soundtrack fits the game nicely.

Difficulty:  Medium/ Hard
Difficulty depends on the scenario you are currently playing.  However, I recommend that, if you aren't familiar with this kind of genre, you find a good walk-through just in case.

Concept: 9
RUNAWAY brings with it the standard storyline value that Point-and-Clicks have been made famous for.  Adventure genre fans will also appreciate the little differences such as time frame.

Overall: 9
While fans of this genre may consider this game as good as it gets, casual gamers will find themselves hooked on this International hit.  I look forward to seeing future works from Pendulo Studios; it has a lot to live up to.