Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None
Agatha Christie is one of the most influential and important mystery writers of all time, establishing many of the plot devices that would be copied by countless imitators. Even if you've never read her classic novel And Then There Were None (also known as Ten Little Indians), odds are you're familiar with its basic premise: ten people are invited by a mysterious host to an isolated country house, then bumped off one by one. It's a scheme that's been used by dozens of slasher flicks and episodes of Murder, She Wrote, but now the original tale is being revisited in Awe Games' new adventure title, Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None.
And Then There Were…Eleven?
Those who are familiar with the book may be wondering just how the game could possibly follow it with any accuracy—after all, in Christie's tale, one of the supposed victims turns out to be the killer, and later commits suicide after slaying the other nine guests. None solves that minor gameplay issue by adding an unexpected eleventh guest, Patrick Narracott, who ferries the other guests to a weekend party on Shipwreck Island. The other characters, all faithful representations of their literary counterparts, have each been accused of taking a life and have been brought to the island for final justice. Narracott, as the odd man out, is the only one the host isn't trying to execute, and so it falls to him to unravel the mystery before it's too late.
Where's Watson When You Need Him?
As Narracott, you'll question the guests, collect evidence, and piece together clues in your search for the killer. Your investigation will take you all over Shipwreck Island and include the types of puzzles that are typical for point-and-click adventure style games, such as determining how best to persuade a pair of ornery goats to get out of your way, or how to trigger the latch for a secret passage. The locations are nicely varied and rendered with a good eye for detail, especially the house itself, which is appointed in vintage 40's décor. One of the strengths of the game is that it stays true to the time period of the book, rather than trying to update it for modern audiences. The isolation of the guests is far more believable and threatening thanks to the lack of cell phones, internet, or even reliable electricity.
If you're going to make a story-driven graphical adventure, you'd better make sure you have a good story and graphics, and None performs well in both areas. The guests on Shipwreck Island are a treasure trove of malice, deceit, and intrigue, with plenty of secrets to spare. Narracott's investigation twists, turns, and fishes up enough red herrings to keep even seasoned sleuths guessing. The graphics perform well, especially the environmental effects of slashing rain and murky fog, but I do wish we'd seen the characters wearing different outfits. They're there for an entire weekend, but never change their clothes? Stinky. Since you spend so much time talking to the other guests, it's fortunate that the voice acting is above-par, with each actor finding the nuance and subtlety in their character's declaration of innocence or accusation of guilt.
Gameplay follows the classic adventure formula, as the cursor changes to let you know where and if you can walk, examine an object, pick up an item, or interact with the environment. Acquired items can often either be disassembled or combined in order to solve puzzles, though not all items are actually necessary to solve the game. The character of Miss Brent bemoans her lack of fresh apple juice (so rude of the cook to get herself killed), but you can provide her with a glass if you find the necessary items to work the fruit press. It won't necessarily help you find the killer, but it does add some depth to the otherwise linear gameplay. The puzzles, for the most part, make sense in a real world setting, making progress through the game satisfyingly logical.
Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None is a bit slow to get started, as the initial stages of the investigation are confined to the house and primarily involve interviewing all the guests. Although it's a bit tedious, simply providing backstory for the guests that fans of the book will already know, it's worth muddling through. Things start getting interesting when the second body shows up, and by the time the third corpse is discovered, you're sure to be hooked. Sleuthing pros and newbies alike will love the intelligent puzzles, excellent acting, and devious plot twists. Dark and stormy night not included.
Maj1013-
