Mysterious Journey II is the sequel to the first Mysterious Journey game.  The second game starts off aboard a space station where your character, Sen, awakens from a 200-year sleep.  As soon as you awake a prerecorded hologram message explains Sen was responsible for the destruction of the planet below.  Sen has been woken up at this exact moment to learn of his punishment for the planet’s destruction.  But as soon as the hologram is about to finish its message, the hologram is destroyed.  Sen has no idea what happened 200 years ago and has no memory of why he’s here in the space station.  Before the hologram was destroyed Sen learned there is one valley remaining on the planet.  The planet’s existing population lives in the valley and the planet is divided up into two factions.  The two factions are still engaged in a war with each other and Sen must find a way to the planet to determine the truth.

Thus is the story of Mysterious Journey II.  It’s up to you, Sen, to uncover the truth.  Sen has to find a way to the planet and investigate what happened 200 years ago & why he was imprisoned on the space station.  The game is presented in a first person perspective with you in control of Sen.  You explore the different locations and interact with different characters & items with just a simple click of the mouse button.  It’s the same tried and true point and click layout that everyone is probably familiar with.  In fact for fans of the Myst series, Mysterious Journey II will feel right at home with those games.  You have to explore different locations, and solve tons of puzzles to learn the truth.   

Since this is a point and click game, most of the gameplay revolves around you completing puzzles.  Now this is where a big problem could arise for some gamers.  The puzzles can be very challenging and in fact frustrating.  This comes from the fact that a majority of the puzzles change their settings randomly.  There is usually a key or pattern to solving a puzzle, but the computer takes this in a different direction.  With a random puzzle, the computer changes how a pattern or layout is presented each time you click on the puzzle.  So every time you try to complete a random puzzle, it’s a game of repetition and guessing to get the correct answer.  For hardcore adventure fans this might be a welcomed change of challenge.  The adventure game novice will probably find this too much to handle.

For anyone looking for a challenging and difficult adventure game, look no farther than Mysterious Journey II.  The unique story line, tried and true gameplay, and good graphics will please.  However non-adventure fans will probably have a problem getting into the game.  The random puzzles will probably present too much of a challenge for some gamers.   

Gameplay 7.5 

Mysterious Journey II is a point and click adventure game.  The controls have been simplified to allow anyone to play the game.  There are three indicators during the game, which allow you to interact with the different characters and items in the game.  The neutral cursor indicates there is no action that can be done with the item or character.  You will see the neutral cursor during most of the game since it’s always on screen when you’re exploring.  The warp cursor will automatically take you to a different section of the game.  The use cursor identifies an item or character you can interact with.  Actually using an item has been simplified as well.  If you can take an item with you, then the use cursor will appear on the item.  If you need to use an item to interact with another item (or character) in the game, the computer will automatically use the item for you, as long as you have the item in your inventory.  The simplified controls are a welcome bonus, but it gives the player a sense of removal from the game.  The game makes most of the decisions for you, and sometimes it makes you feel as if you’re just along for the ride instead of “playing” the game.  The way you move around in the game reminds me of a first person shooter.  I kept waiting for someone to jump out with a rail gun and take me out! 

Graphics 7.5 

Most of the graphics in the game are stunning and detailed.  The various locations you will explore are all presented in striking detail, with vast landscapes and locations to explore.  But I guess my system just didn’t enjoy the varied and vast locations.  The frame rate would stutter and drop consistently on the default settings.  My system exceeds the recommended settings listed in the instruction manual, so I can only assume the problem is with the game itself.  As good as the location graphics are the character models are a let down.  Most of the human characters look similar to each other and the characters lack detail.  Most of the characters just look bland and uninteresting compared to the stage graphics.    

Sound 7.0 

The sound effects and music fit this game, but there is nothing that makes the music or sound effects stand out.  There is an ambient music playing in the background during the game, which is enough to set the mood of the game.  The sound effects of the different items were well done as well.  Each location has its own unique sound effect and music to make each location stand out.  However the music isn’t prevalent throughout the game.  It would have been nice to have some type of music to listen to while exploring and solving puzzles.  Just remember the music is supposed to set the mood of the game, which it does.  But you just never hear enough of the music during the game.  The voice acting of the characters was well done.  Nothing spectacular but it fits the game.  There was an issue with the voice acting where the human voices were louder then the rest of the music and sound effects.  Once your character starts talking you might need to turn down the volume since his voice was usually louder then anything else.

Difficulty Medium/Hard 

Adventure game veterans probably won’t have a problem with the difficulty of the game.  In fact they might find the game challenging in a refreshing way.  The random aspect of the puzzles should provide everyone with a challenge.  For inexperienced adventure gamers, the puzzles might be too much to handle.  The simplified controls and interface allows anyone to jump right into the game, but the puzzles might have someone looking for the ESC key just a few minutes into the game.

Concept 8.0 

The story is a unique and interesting idea.  Trying to clear your name for an incident that happened 200 years ago that you have no knowledge of committing is a great idea.  The way the game plays is similar to previous adventure games.  I did enjoy the fact that you have control of your character to explore the different locations in a first person perspective.  The first person perspective isn’t a new idea for a game, but it’s a nice change of pace for an adventure game.  The different locations, items and characters you can interact with are all unique and interesting.  But when it’s all said and done, this is an adventure game.  The idea of exploring different locations, and solving puzzles is nothing that hasn’t been done before.

Multiplayer N/A

This is a single player game.

Overall 7.5 

Mysterious Journey II is a good adventure game that should appeal to all adventure fans.  The easy to use controls, good graphics and unique story will please adventure fans.  In fact, adventure gaming fans will probably enjoy this game tremendously even with the average score.  The game offers what its name says, a mysterious journey.  Even with the faults in the game, veteran adventure gamers will have plenty to sink their teeth into with this game.  For novice adventure gamers, this game might not be the ideal game to jump into the genre.  The puzzles will have you scratching your head possibly for hours.  The inconsistent frame rate of the graphics also causes an unnecessary distraction.  But a point and click adventure game isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.  Just remember this before you think about looking into this one.  If you’ve been down the Mysterious Journey/Schizm road before, then jump back on for another ride.