When it does come to the nitty gritty of puzzling, however, the initial location of Marcuria (fans of past games rejoice!) is not exactly filled to the brim with overly-taxing brainteasers, although betwixt the cavalcade of fetch quests, there are some intriguing moments, such as guiding a messenger in a different direction to catch him, or analysing people’s mannerisms, actions, and even smells, to uncover a traitor in the midst. It almost makes the puzzle element take a secondary role. The decision making element of Dreamfall Chapters is strikingly impressive and draws players into the tale, deeper and deeper, complemented by some fine acting performances from the voice cast and the stunning visuals throughout. ![]() The narrative throughout is so absorbing to the point where those in control really have to take stock of the gravity of certain decisions that must be made – save the life of an allied rebel fighter who holds a permanent grudge, stating that Kian will never be forgiven for past transgressions let a known traitor’s identity be withheld for the greater good of using her abilities for the upcoming battle torture a disgraced commander or release him and run the risk of him betraying everyone. It works well to balance out the two storylines being delivered so far, offering up much more about the stoic soldier’s personality and his inner struggles with the new position of acting with the rebel army against his own people, the Azadi. In Rebels, more emphasis is put on Kian Alvane’s escapades than that of Reborn, where Zoë was the primary focus. Though its episodic nature leaves players hanging, (Book 3 won't be out for some months), its first two chapters are chock-full of enough thought-provoking questions to ensure players will be back to experience the rest of the tale.Book Two of Dreamfall Chapters flips the roles. It's not often a game is this thematically ambitious or as successful at conveying its message. Even with these flaws, Dreamfall Chapters is a fantastic game that maturely explores individual and societal issues through deft writing and interesting quest design, making players feel as if the fate of two worlds is truly in their hands. Crowbot is a cowboy hat-wearing cartoon crow who voices the public map/location finder for the people of Stark, and he's annoying, with an obnoxious, twangy voice that's so jarring, it has no place in its futuristic setting. Second, a poor sound mix made one of Kian's missions (the search for a traitor at a secret meeting) hard to execute. During one playthrough, Zoe was suddenly stuck inside her apartment, unable to get back out. ![]() First, there's the possibility of getting stuck. Though it's incredibly well made, Chapters does contain a few problems. Zoe in particular is written with a depth and humor that makes her both sympathetic and utterly convincing. It also has excellent voice acting that brings the right level of emotion and vitality to some exceptional writing. Stark is a beautiful, totally convincing near-future city that any modern urban dweller can easily see living in, while Arcadia is an enticing locale in a rustic Renaissance fair kind of way. ![]() Apart from the compelling questions, the game seals the deal with its visuals. Players are forced to face the past demons of characters and make profound decisions about how they should move forward in life. What makes Chapters so fascinating is the way it uses player choice to shape the story. It picks up right where Dreamfall left off and goes on to weave a complex narrative that's as intriguing and emotionally gripping as any best-selling novel. Dreamfall Chapters sets out to wrap up the saga started in The Longest Journey and its sequel, Dreamfall.
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