14 DAY TRIAL // The star of the 1990s paranormal adventure hit series conceived by Jane Jensen is making a return in Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, a modern remake of the 1993 classic from Sierra.
The Gabriel Knight saga of paranormal investigation games was one of the most iconic point and click adventure series of the time, and its creator is now revisiting an older story. Sins of the Fathers involves puzzle-solving all across New Orleans, hunting for a mysterious murderer who is allegedly dabbling into Voodoo.
I got the chance to try out the game's demo, and I instantly remembered why I loved playing all those old games, from Maniac Mansion to Indiana Jones, the Fate of Atlantis and the Monkey Island series.
Apart from usually providing interesting stories that sprawl across a multitude of exotic locales, the games also have some fundamentally human quality ingrained into their very fiber, with every little description and dialogue line being crafted with passion and love for the enjoyment of adventure fans.
Right at the start, from the witty quips of your assistant Grace and the narrator's omniscient and derisive comments, you can feel the very essence of what makes adventure gamers so passionate about the hobby: masterfully crafted experiences that blend action and excitement with a good read in a manner that gets you hooked and immersed way beyond what a mere book is able to do.
This particular episode stars the titular and overly flirtatious bookstore owner who is attempting to get rid of the writer's block preventing him for striking big with his new thriller.
Fortunately, between his recurring nightmares and the Voodoo-related murder spree that's plaguing New Orleans, he might just find the perfect cure for his inspiration dry patch.
The demo I played includes the first two days and gives an overall good chance to get a feel of the vibe of New Orleans, as well as to play investigator through some of the game's main locations.
Even in that short while, the game's atmosphere is enthralling, with a dark groove of anxiety gradually creeping into your bones, while also being soaked in some of the New Orleans' particularities, such as the rich cultural vibe, as evidenced by the varied musical score that accompanies your adventures throughout each location.
In addition to this, the game's restructuring effort now includes a hint system, which is great for when you don't know which puzzle you should focus on to progress, due to the game's somewhat freeform layout.
In order to progress through the game, you have to perform certain set actions each day, and the hint book helps you see what you have to do to get to the next day.
The voice cast seems to be doing a pretty good job too, which is especially neat considering that the original voice work for the 1993 game was stellar, and that such a game requires spot-on acting and solid delivery in order to carry the seriousness of some of the more dramatic scenes.
Another crucial aspect that the remake seems to have gotten right is the general flow of the game, the way its systems interact and the clues that point you into the solution for the various puzzles and investigative actions that you have to perform, which don't seem at all obtuse, and instill the gameplay experience with a very natural flow.
The Gabriel Knight games are a prime example of what the genre has to offer, and the 20th anniversary remake of the game will no doubt offer a new generation of gamers countless enjoyable moments, as well as provide older gents with a means to relive a cherished part of their youth.
