14 DAY TRIAL // Emerald City Confidential is the newest release of the well-known point-and-click game development company, Wadjet Eye Games. The first thing that you should know is that the game’s characters have been inspired by Frank L. Baum’s original fantasy novel “The Wizard of Oz.” This will become obvious even in the first few moments of gameplay when you will find yourself face to face with a different version of the book’s characters.
The game revolves around the case of a missing person and you, Petra, a private investigator, have been hired by Dee Gale to search for her missing fiancé. As you dig deeper into the case, you will find yourself faced with different puzzles that await to be solved so that you can get the next clue. The more you play, the more the plot thickens and the storyline becomes harder to follow. What’s great is that you keep a notebook where you write down all the important events and clues that you need to search into.
Another interesting thing about the title is that it gives you huge chunks of information under the form of “knowledge pills” that you can use to find out details about characters and places from within the game. This can be confusing at times, because you might find it hard to remember all the particulars about each character.
Just like any classic point-and-click title, all you have to do is click on an object or a character and you will immediately interact with it. Once you do so, either a scrolling text will appear as you are engaged in a conversation with a character, or Petra will simply point out that she cannot use that object. Within the game, there is no need for a keyboard, for using the mouse is more than enough.
As previously stated, all the characters have been adapted from “The Wizard of Oz,” Emerald City Confidential giving them a unique twist. For instance, you will find that the “C. Lion” is a successful lawyer, but who is also tied up with some illegal business. There will be times when you will cross paths with him and try to convict him for several felonies as he will seek to make you perish.
The game’s scenery has been carefully designed with high quality graphics that give the game a magical touch and feel. You will find that you can only explore parts of the city at a time and traveling throughout it can be done only by using the nearest Gump taxi. Riding on the back of a magical flying creature, you can instantaneously reach any desired destination on the map.
As soon as you find a new clue, another part of the city will be unlocked and ready for exploration. At the same time, you can also do another side-quest, which involves searching for buttons that you can trade at the flower shop to unlock some of the game's concept art scenes.
Emerald City Confidential comes with an abundant number of characters, each of them endowed with a unique voice. This sets it apart from other action-adventure titles because the player doesn’t have time to get bored with hearing the same voice over and over again. Each time you interview a character, you will find that the dialog changes, so you have to listen carefully the first time you talk to them because you might miss some important details.
Even the game’s soundtrack is more than adequate for the storyline and the environment. As you interview a character, the music adapts its volume so that you can make sense of what each of the characters is saying. Even when simply roaming the streets, you will notice that the music can be very soothing.
As Petra, you will find that the Emerald City is not perfect, and beneath all its glamor lies a world of corruption, lie and deceit. Your life will be in danger as you get closer to the truth, but at the same time you will find the strength to fight your way out.
Personally, I would have to say that this is a great title to play, especially if you are not afraid of unraveling a twisted intrigue that comes with a complex background story. You will find yourself addicted to a game where magic and mystery go hand in hand, depicting a magical and fictional world that has been corrupted by the same moral issues that we face in the real world.
Although the game is a trial version limited to only sixty minutes of gameplay, unlocking the full features for only 19.95 dollars is a small price to pay.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
