The Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time

"Little-known Jewel of Gaming"

The first I heard of Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time was as a demo that came with Myst. My family and I played the demo and were instantly charmed. The gameplay was similar to Myst, but the game didn't have the solemn air surrounding Myst. We purchased the full game later, which is unusual for my family as generally I am the only person who plays video games. For the first time, everyone in the family was playing a game. I for one consider it one of the best PC games in existence, this is because all quirks aside, the game has a sense of humor. It tries to be funny and succeeds.

Gameplay- 8
It takes a while to get around the 3 time zones, which hinders gameplay, but solving the puzzles is quite enjoyable with someone making witty comments about everything. Thing follow in a logical pattern, making the game good for people not accustomed to gaming. And if you still can't figure out the puzzles, Arthur is immensely helpful.

Graphics- 8
The graphics a fairly pixilated, but the worlds are beautiful never the less. Despite changes in the quality while walking, the graphics still are fairly smooth and pleasing to watch.

Sound- 9
Although the music and sound effects pale in comparison to Myst, they are not bad. One thing I admired in it, even in the demo, is the sound of the water when you ride the boat in Atlantis. It adds a feeling of depth to the game, in a similar way that things like the sound of your footsteps changes depending on what you are walking on. Crunching snow in parts of Shangri-La; Echoing footsteps in the steam caverns, they all add to the feeling of depth.

Humor- 10
I know of no other game which gives you a stand-up comedian for a guide nor one that lets you get beaned by Genghis Khan. Although Arthur also assists with puzzles, his main purpose is to make light of everything in the game. From things like the Buddhist mantra to the sleeping village boy, nothing is sacred from Arthur's witty sense of humor. To this day, my family breaks out in fits of laughter every time one of us chants the Buddhist mantra because of Arthur's comments about it.

Overall- 9
Note that this is a review of the DVD version, as I have never played the CD set. My recommendation regarding this game is buy the DVD version. This is a must have for people who enjoy savoring a game. Although it has little replay value, I've gone through it at least eight times after I had already finished it, for Arthur's comments in particular.

Conclusion- This is a good family game with a very witty sense of humor.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/05