Mystery of the Druids

"Only for those who enjoy being irritated with puzzles"

In certain terms, you could state that Mystery Of The Druids is a letdown, or you could say it is a fantastic game on it's own stand. So basically, it's a love/hate game. However, personally, I'm caught in the middle. But Mystery Of The Druids is only for those who enjoy being irritated with puzzles.

The plot is based on skeletal murders that are occuring. You play Brent Hannigan, a Scotland Yard detective who is assigned to the case after some colleages caught the wrong guy. But as you investigate, you discover that is more complex than murder, the murders seem to be involved a cult ritual group called the Druids. In some terms, if you liked Broken Sword plots, then you can grow to like this plot.

The gameplay is point and click as your average adventure game. And yes, like all other point and click, the ''action'' is substitued with puzzles, but in this game, HARD puzzles. If you though Broken Sword was hard, you haven't seen anything yet. For example, you have to combine sheet of papers one by one in ORDER and then try to steal some scissors just to cut a over length piece all to get it signed. Sheesh. But, the gameplay does get interesting with all the detective work you get to do, and in my opinion, working for Scotland Yard! how cool is that!?. Sorry, just a little patriotic. But, the other bad point of the game is that you are a detective yet you still have to break the law several times to complete scenarios. You also get the treat to play Melissa, a little museum chick, and like Nicole from Broken Sword, you get to play mini but boring scenarios with her.

The graphics are great, with the exception of the characters though (Look at Brent's eye lashes). The backgrounds are all realistic and rendered masterfully but the characters look as if they needed some more work, they put too much detail in their faces that makes them look like martians while their hands look like shovels.

The sound is okay too. The characters all have voice overs that contribute to the slight humour and jokes, the voice acting itself isn't bad but Melissa's voice is a little annoying. The music is great on it's own though, it blends in with the ambience and it's scenarios. Arguably, this could be Mystery Of The Druids strong point. The sound effects function well too. Nothing really disappointing here.

As for replayability; I doubt once anyone who plays this and completes this will have the urge to play it again unless you're stuck in on a rainy day. The game has nothing more to offer than solid puzzles and one annoying Melissa, I'd go play Broken Sword again first. But as I AM one boring person :(, I'd give it half a chance of playing it again.

Rent Or Buy; well you can't really rent PC games in the Uk but IF you could.....rent it. I bought this game for £10, if anyone else got this chance, then buy it. Otherwise don't.

Plot: 7
Gameplay: 7
Graphics: 8
Sound: 7
Replayability: 0
Rent/Buy: Rent if available, Buy if cheap.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/24/02, Updated 11/24/02