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This game is great

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I love playing this game, I love running up and down the train (or hanging off the side) in order to find things and people, sneaking into rooms, stealing certain items, and most of all ... the indian gentleman in my sleeping car. It's great because you can wind back the clock (although there are only preset times you can set it back), and do over whatever you did wrong. You can just walk around the train until the game ends, listening to everyone's conversations if you want, although you won't get far in the game. This game is great!!!

One of the last great adventure games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is simply beautiful. I lost my copy a few years ago, so I can't go into as much detail as some of the other reviewers, but I feel it my duty to say that any adventure gamer who didn't take a chance on this game missed out on something great. The real-time element is executed very well--in my opinion, better than any other adventure game I've ever played in which real-time was attempted on that scale (i.e. throughout the whole game). The story is engaging all the way through, and the unfolding international intrigues ought to keep many nerds hooked, not a little because, even in the relatively-isolated environment of a train, you are witness to the birth of a world war. The period environment is subtly and expertly put together: you will overhear workers on the express debating about socialism, and travel companions (some of whom are very "close") talking about the evolving mores of the time, and more! Who knew that spying on other people's lives could be so enriching? In my opinion, the other passengers are generally interesting enough (especially since most of them are more than what they seem) that just walking around on the train--which you'll be doing a lot, especially earlier in the game--is a pleasurable experience. Throw in spies, arms dealers, time bombs, fist-fights, and Serbian terrorists, and the comparison with Indiana Jones is more than fair.

Justus Pendleton is right that there are a few flaws in the game, and these do cause potential anachronisms. I also was frustrated by how the game designers handled that puzzle where you steal the rich African guy's "rather heavy briefcase", because to me it also seemed that the only logical way to handle things would have been to sneak back out through the skylight. But when I finally decided to try just walking through the door into the concert, I actually found the solution rather pleasing. First of all, it does make a little sense: you know the rich guy's goon is going to realize the briefcase is gone, find you alone on the way to your room, and then take you out. If nobody saw you anywhere on board the rich guy's personal car they'll have no reason to believe your disappearance had anything to do with him. If, on the other hand, you quite ostensibly walk through the room and get everybody's attention, the rich guy no longer can easily deny connection with your mysterious death--nor can he call "thief" on you without causing a scene and calling attention to the contents of the briefcase. As in the case with dumping Tyler Whitney's body and impersonating him, sometimes the player is in such a tight bind (with so little time to act) that an unorthodox, even disrespectful solution might be the only one available--I think the game is actually a little adult in this respect. Plus, it was hilarious to see the look on Mr. Rich Guy's face as you just casually stroll through.

Yeah, maybe the game could have offered a little more latitude in your actions, but I think the designers worked hard enough to put together what they had, especially considering how novel much of the game was to begin with. 5 stars anyway, for the overall beauty of the game, the engaging story, and the novelty of the gameplay. If you haven't played this game, and you ever get a chance to, don't miss out by any means!

Horrible

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 15
Date: December 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Maybe I am jaded by games like Grim Fandango, and the longest journey. I just want more to a game than jerky graphics and trying to find a plot, by being in the right place at the right time. The plot should be the programmers responsibility and not mine.

A different kind of game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: August 17, 2000
Author: Amazon User

First of all I payed about $30 for this game used on ebay. But it was probably worth it. It is a different kind of game that focuses on character development rather than puzzle solving (typical adventure games) or action. There are puzzles to be solved but none are particularly difficult like the brainstumpers in so many adventure games. The main fun is in learning about the other passengers on the train. Also the graphical style is somewhat old-fashioned, but kind of neat and appropriate to the setting of the story.

I NEED HELP

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: May 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I AM NOT CLEVER ENOUGH TO KEEP MYSELF FROM BEING KILLED IN TYLER WHITES COMPARTMENT. NO MATTER WHAT I DO OR HOW MUCH I STALL I STILL RUN INTO THE RUSSIAN. AND OF COURSE HE KILLS ME. CAN YOU HELP ME TO AVOID THIS??

THANK YOU SHARONE

Lame

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 25
Date: October 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The stereotypes are only mildly irritating. Germans are fat, French are snobs, Brits are chatty, etc. The American is Indiana Jones of course (what else?)

The real nuisance came at the end. If you don't catch a roach and trade it for a stupid whistle in mid game, the game continues but will prevent you from winning. It doesn't get any lamer than this.

Intriguing, yet Frustrating

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Those who enjoy this genre will probably have much less trouble playing this game than I did. I am a complete novice at this type of game(similar to games like Myst), and was about as frustrated as one could possibly be without actually resorting to physical violence against the computer. I finally broke down and downloaded the "helpful hints" from a sight on the internet...which made ALL the difference! In general, I would say that the graphics, the design of the game,etc. were beyond excellent...unbelievably good, actually. The frustration comes in knowing that you have obviously missed something (because the computer kills you off), but having no idea just how far back you need to go (when so many of the events are very precisely timed)in order to try to figure out what you've missed. For those who normally enjoy playing this type of game, it would probably grab all 5 stars and maybe more; for me, the frustration factor was just a little too high.

The Greatest Game Of All Time!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

It is a real shame that more people have not heard of "The Last Express" because it is such a PHENOMINAL game! Ten years ago I played it in sixth grade and I have been playing it over and over for the past ten years! I learned a lot from this game, political history, geography, music history, as well as a little bit of French, German, and Russian. So it is not only entertaining but it is educational to boot! Everything about the game is first class! The charchters are well written, the dialogue is beautiful and at times tear-jerking.If they ever decided to make a movie of a mini-series out of this I want to be involved. That would be a dream come true. It is a damn shame it is considered such a flop because it is the most phenominal writing I have ever seen. There was clearly so much hard work put into this game! At the same time I'm glad more people have not heard of it because the whole thing seems that much more real to me! I have been a hardcore fan of this game for over ten years now and I recomend it to anyone, any age, who wants to be entertained, learn some history, learn some French, and just feel a whole lot smarter by playing a video game. Robert Cath is the sexiest cartoon of all time (is that wrong?) He is the ideal man: smart (a doctor), handsome (look at those broad shoulders), couragous (who else woul climb on the roof of a moving train?), and modest. To hell with Scarlett O'Hara! Anna his love interest is one of the most fascinating heroine's I have ever seen, and this is just a video game! My only criticism is that you have to wait for long periods of time for anything to happen (ex. someone to get up so you could talk to them or waiting for someone to leave their compartment!)But the story and excitment of this great game is worth waiting.

Great Game, Obviously Outdated Graphics (8 years later)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Awesome game! Lot's of fun. I played and then my mom actually played it. Very engaging, mysterious, challenging. It's got it all: murder, mystery, a little romance, international intrigue, stolen antiques, etc.

Of course, it was released 8 years ago. So the graphics are way outdated at this point. Still worth playing though.

An unforgettable adventure across a Europe on the brink of war

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 13, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Jordan Mechner's riveting The Last Express was unusual for a number of reasons: the game allowed the player to explore the legendary Orient Express, with details recovered from vintage Orient cars and photos, and there were several countries involved in political intrigue on board (Russian, Serbs, Persians, Germans, etc.).

Most striking are the game's visuals; artists used real-time video capture, then translated the images to 2D pen-and-ink outlines (much like those black-and-white books of Art Nouveau clipart). This is not always successful; characters are more like expressive, oversimplified cartoons, and motions are jerky, but combined with top-notch voicework, this is easily overlooked. Also, the characters' dialogue is recorded in the various languages of each nationality: as American Robert Cath, you will eavesdrop on conversations in various languages (which will appear translated in subtitles, but only for languages that Robert speaks!).

Your fellow passengers may not be what they seem; there are hidden deals and dark secrets afoot. The inventory-based puzzles are generally straightforward and intuitive, and the game's small environment eliminates tedious backtracking. The several arcade-style action sequences are not as successful and suffer from slow, jerky controls, meaning that if you die you'll have to play again and again before you can move on.

Overall, the combination of detailed backstory, attention to period detail, the many languages and nationalities, the cinematic score, and rich visuals make this a game to treasure.

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