User Reviews (1 - 11 of 45)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Simply terrible

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: November 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The two oft mentioned criticisms of adventure games are their rigid linear plot lines together with the, at times, incoherent presence of puzzles. These problems in adventure games have seen the genre collapse in recent years. Amerzone makes you think that that collapse is not happening quickly enough. If the Association for the Banning of Adventure Games was ever looking for exhibit number one in their case, then Amerzone is it.

Take the puzzles. The prescence of puzzles in any adventure game always requires a well developed ability to suspend disbelief. The least an adventure game designer should do therefore is make the puzzles interesting and challenging (e.g. Riven). All the "puzzles" in this game however are of a "pick up every item you can and then click them on every thing you can" variety. This to my way of thinking is not really a puzzle at all.

In terms of the linear thing this game really takes the cake. There is only ever one way to go. Okay this is basically true of all adventure games but the thing here is that you never at any point even feel like anything you do makes a blind bit of difference. It's like reading a very very bad graphic novel. The only difference being that you have to "solve" a pathetic and simplistic puzzle before you can read the next (equally dire) chapter.

The other thing that amazed me with this game was how very short it was (okay I now think that this is perhaps its only saving grace). I am astounded that so little could be put onto 4 discs. I finished the damn thing in an afternoon. Given that you can't re-play adventure games this is unforgivable.

Okay so the thing was cheap and a couple of years old. But really there is no excuse for this kind of dross. The obvious comparison to be made is to Myst, Riven etc. All I can say is that if you enjoyed the Myst games then you really shouldn't buy this. Despite all the criticisms of Myst et al, they at least try to be imaginative, offer a challenge, and don't simply rely on pretty pictures connected by the flimsiest of plot lines and the solving of the worst puzzles you're ever likely to find in a game. The world is indeed a strange place, (and indeed a much stranger place than the country of "Amerzone",) when people actually get paid to produce such utter rubbish.

No objection to the game, but I can't play it-

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 40
Date: August 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Why was this recommended to me? I own a Mac!

ancient pc technology

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I can't really rate the game because the game engine was terribly outdated. I'm running a state-of-the-art pc and video board and this game barely worked at all. It was apparently designed for Windows 95 or 98... but even a computer-setting of Windows 98 didn't help one bit.

Probably a good story, but... forget it... it doesn't like Windows XP Pro!

Waste of time

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 4
Date: February 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is a waste of your time and money. Unchallenging, illogical and a complete let-down. If you are expecting anything close to the success of Myst or Riven, do not bother.

Amerzone Review

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 16
Date: October 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game had beautiful graphics and scenery,but the story was so lame and the ending a total let down.The puzzles were too easy and the game interface prehistoric.Dreamcatcher games are all very similar in their disappointing story lines and poor game interaction,so I recommend buying them only when they are really cheap.I have played many many adventure games and this one is definitely not for the player who likes myst,gabriel knight,monkey island etc..It is way too simple and short.This would be a good game for grandma and junior only.

As linear as a yard stick

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: June 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game's packaging made it look promising, but while the graphics are beautiful, the linearity of the "puzzle" solving astounded me (I have NEVER played a game before that required such an absolutely linear progression) and the puzzles were far, far too simple for experienced gamers. I had my pad of paper and pencil all ready, and only ONCE did I actually record any information there.

My husband and I (we always play games as a team) were also amused by the fact that while you retrace this man's steps from his journey in the 1930s, at each step of the way, you pick up a computer disk to help you to the next stage. Marvelous 1930s technology, those computer disks.

Even for one of the mass-produced games coming out of Dreamcatcher, this one was disappointing.

Only for true adventure game beginners.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: December 27, 1999
Author: Amazon User

While this game is visually very good and fun to play, it is as indicated quite easy. I play almost every adventure game I can get my hands on, Myst, Riven, Shivers, Amber, Lighthouse, etc., and rate this game only moderately interesting. Maybe it's because the cursor changes shapes when you place it over something important, or because you can hardly fail to find the solution to the immediate puzzle, but I rate a game on how much help I need in solving puzzles and how long the game takes to play. I expect a good adventure game to keep me stumped for weeks or even a month or two depending on the amount of time spent playing it. I received Amerzone in the mail December 24th, solved it on December 27th and needed help on only 1 puzzle and that was only because I was impatient. (I would have solved it had I only tried it a couple of more times.) Visually it's a great game, but for a real adventure game player it's only a short diversion. Beginner?...buy it...experienced?..you can do better.

Amerzone.......Buyer Beware

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 11 / 13
Date: December 03, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Amerzone is a good game for the young and/or inexperienced gamer. For anyone else the game is disappointingly simplistic and linear. While the story line is interesting the "puzzles" are not so puzzling. In fact the solutions are handed to you in such a matter of fact way that it's nearly impossible to miss any of them. If you can pick something up you can surely bet that it will have an immediate use in the next scene. Not too challenging. Lastly, the game itself did not play smoothly. I had several instances of broken and choppy graphics...especially as I walked through animated scenes....and the game crashed several times. Amerzone was/is a major disappointment. Recommeded only for begining gamers and older children.

A disappointing adventure

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 20, 1999
Author: Amazon User

While the graphics and visuals were extremely good the adventure part was totally lacking of any serious challenge. The story line has some excellent potential but the developers failed to capitalize or recognize this. What could have been an adventure to rival Myst or Riven, failed miserably. 'A' for graphics and visuals, 'A' for story line and 'F' for adventure and puzzles.

Disappointing

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 30, 2000
Author: Amazon User

My husband and I were disappointed in this game. We waited for two months while we built a new computer to play this game (for optimal game play and graphics). Although the graphics were outstanding, the game was simple. Unlike Riven and Myst, the game tells you when a clue is needed by changing the arrow to a hand or gears. So simple, our seven year old can play it. We finished this game in just 2 hours. What a waste.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 Next 

Actions