NiBiRu: Age of Secrets

Future Games, 2005

NiBiRu: Age of Secrets is a mystery adventure game that will definitely brush up the playing excitement and fun of a Broken Sword adventure game, except that you control Martin Holan and not George Stobbart. The game is developed by the company that formerly served us with their excellent dark mystery adventure game, The Black Mirror and this is the reason that NiBiRu also displays similar quality of graphics and animations found in The Black Mirror.

In this game our hero, Martin Holan is a young archeologist and a linguistic who has been contacted by his uncle to examine a mysterious World War II tunnel unearthed by the construction workers while building a new highway in Bohemia. Upon arriving in Prague Martin finds out that the girl his uncle arranged to meet and brief him the details of this mysterious tunnel has been murdered in cold blood and the motive behind the murder somehow seems connected to this mysterious discovery. From here onward, for Martin Holan, this short expedition visit to Prague seems like taken a dark turn to the most dangerous and thrilling journey that will take him into the very heart of the ancient Pyramids of Mayan valley. The adventure that involves outwitting cold-blooded mysterious gang of murderers, overcoming problems, solving logical as well as inventory based puzzles and finally discovering the deep and dark secret powers of NiBiRu, an unknown planet in our solar system, which was first discovered by the Nazis and they hired scientists in order to work on these powers so they could utilize them to dominate the world, which as per their finding was also the main cause of the demise of Ancient Mayan civilization.

Graphically, the game's 3D environment is a reminiscent of The Black Mirror with over eighty locations to explore and dozens of interesting characters to meet and interact with. The musical score and sound effects are quite charming and mesh well in the game environment. Game puzzles vary from not-so-hard to very hard and challenging while they are mostly inventory based. Despite the games linear storyline the exploration and puzzle solving is non-linear within a particular location. In the ending lines, I would say that this is a game that no adventure gamer should miss for it is all fun and entertainment than anything else.

Ghost in the Sheet

Cardboard Box Entertainment, 2007

Ghost in the Sheet is a waggish adventure game with a storyline that will certainly put a broad smile on your face. Play as a ghost and experience an exciting and unique game plot in which you perform all your tasks by using an innovative paranormal array of actions known as "telekinesis" or in simple words, by using your thoughts. In the beginning you start with just one telekinesis power, but more telekinesis powers add on as you progress in the game.

The game starts after a truck runs over your character and ends his life. A black & white slideshow intro shows that instead of crossing over the bright light to your life after death your soul is received by an ugly looking creature that calls himself your boss and orders you to investigate an abandoned factory named as Sector Omega. Your mission is to enter the factory wrapped merely in a dirty sheet, meet and interact with other employees' ghosts trapped inside the factory, unlock closed doors and sections in order to find out the true nature of Sector Omega's operation and why its operation was stopped. Also, unravel the truth about what your soul is doing in this godforsaken factory and what should be done to free yourself and the other ghosts from the captivity of this ugly Boss.

The game interface is traditional point and click. Surreal graphics are still images pre-rendered in 3D and spiced up with ambient soundtrack and spooky music eerie enough to raise the hair on your neck. The cut-scenes are mostly slideshows created in black & white. Puzzles are the main attraction of this largely non-linear game and most of them get triggered by interacting with the game characters. Overall, Ghost in the Sheet is a game not to be missed by any serious adventure gamer for it is all exciting and entertaining in every way.