Taking adventuring to an entirely new level, the folks at Aspyr studios have unleashed upon us, Dreamfall; a three world adventure that needs not one, not two, but three heroes in order to complete it. With vague visions, parallel worlds and dark foreboding, our heroes must learn that everything is not what it seems and if they plan on solving the mystery that surrounds them then you, as the player, had better be ready for an emotionally gripping (yet entirely too short) game that is more brain then brawn.

For those of you out there that don't know, this Dreamfall is actually a sequel of sorts, the first title, simply called "The Longest Journey" took the gaming world by storm with it's immersive storyline and compelling plot. Its heroine, April Ryan, was forced to make some tough, thought-provoking choices about her and her friends in order to save two worlds. So fast forward six years and we have the much-awaited sequel. And while it doesn't contain the same difficulty as the first one, there are several moments of gaming Nirvana to be found here. Please read on.

 
"All those years of bubble gum blowing have really come in handy."

Ok, I said it before, this is a seven-gig game. Yes, that is quite large by any standard, and should you pick up this title, the first thing you are going to want to do is get yourself a cold drink because it takes a while to load this bad boy onto your PC and you will get thirsty. Now don't let the size of this title fool you, the game itself is really only around 10-12 hours long. The massive size is due to the deep, rich graphics and voiced dialogue, which in all honesty is rarely seen on this level. So from an aesthetic perspective the game is about as fine a looking game you would see. But if you were expecting an epic, long adventure in the Morrowind vein, then you would be wrong.

And speaking of those graphics, they are truly gorgeous. I have spoken about how great graphics are in plenty of other games, but this game is more mystery than action, so I was looking at the visuals with a different perspective. The facial expressions on the characters are about as good as I have ever seen. The skin tones, the smooth movements of the various characters as they move around and/or engage in action movements. The backgrounds look textured and detailed giving the game a more well-rounded look. The three different worlds all have a unique appearance to them that sets them completely apart yet all with the highest degree of detail in it's appearance. Modern buildings with all the creature comforts (including a robotic ape) to the grittier and middle-aged look of the houses and characters of the past. Throw in a couple of tense situations that are elevated by these striking graphics and you are a go.

So don't think that this game is all plot and reading, there are scenes where your character(s) must overcome some sort of puzzle or mental challenge that involves some action and yes, there is even some combat to be found. But in all honesty this is a game I would really consider a science-fiction buff's dream. And I mean that because there is a thick, engaging storyline and sci-fi plot that will simply be absorbed by those gamers who embrace this kind of thing.

Clearly the developers wanted to make as close to an immersive story as possible and with that comes really great voice acting, music and ambience. The voices match up perfectly to the character's speaking them and emote all the required genuflections that one would expect given the circumstances. Parent's take note, our primary hero Zoe is a 20-something, feisty gal who uses the colorful language that most people would use when confronted with the kinds of problems she is. Regardless, the voice work is top notch. Even better so, the haunting and very skillfully done music that accompanies the various stages of the game. The songs are memorable and very appropriate.

 "Last time I try and break into a vending machine."

Now I haven't been required to keep any of the game's secrets to myself (I hate ruining things for people) but will not do so for the reason that this title really does have a top tier plot and skillfully laid out pacing. Just when you think things need to be picking up the pace, they do and therefore keep you pretty much engaged in the gaming experience.  Playing as three distinct characters gives the player a more robust experience and as you continue on, you will discover that you must engage in conversations with some of the many colorful characters that dot the landscape. Speaking with people in the correct fashion can open up other avenues of information and other options for play, which goes hand in hand with the ability to solve most of the game's problems with at least two varying answers. Should you try and sweet talk your way out of a situation, or draw first blood and try and fight your way out of the situation?

Now you can play the game using the mouse and keyboard or the gamepad, I used the keyboard since I wanted a varying experience from the Xbox version of the game. And unlike it's predecessor, the game is not point and click but rather a move and focus on objects of interest. Various action icons will appear letting you know if you can look at something, pick up something, use something, etc. The combat is very easy with only a couple of commands in which to engage the fighting. It's slightly disappointing for a game of this quality, I would have preferred a more in-depth combat control schematic and fighting engine.

Gameplay: 7.8
It wasn't too bad, you can occasionally get your view caught up in the walls, but it's fairly infrequent. The fighting should have been more engaging, but the game's overall control scheme is pretty decent.

Graphics: 9.0
Beautiful, inspiring graphics that feature strong use of color and environment design. One part of the game has you in a futuristic, sleek apartment when later on you are in a creepy, disturbing hellscape. It all looks clean and clear. From the charater's faces to the textures on the walls.

Sound: 9.5
It is easily the game's most driving force. Excellent voice work emoted by all character's, engaging musical accompaniment and crystal clear sound effects.

Difficulty: Medium
It simply is not as difficult as the first game, not that you needed to have played that one to play this title, it is a stand-alone game. There are some moments of frustration that may occur depending on your gaming level but I think that the majority of gamers will enjoy this title for its excellent storyline.

Concept: 8.8
Character's that can shift through parallel dimensions is not new, nor is the vague references to time travel in order to save the day, but to have such an engaging mystery surrounded by such fine storytelling is an extraordinary thing.

Overall: 8.6
The game is a massive undertaking for any studio. Great graphics, great audio and a great plot more then offset the only "good" controls. Adventure enthusiasts and sci-fi fans would do well to pick this one up and enjoy the heck out of fine storytelling.