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Frustrating!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: July 16, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Graphics are wonderful! The storyline is intriguing and the music enhances the scenes. The puzzles/tasks were mostly logical. I was unable to complete the game when I reached the "timed" puzzle. I did not have enough time to complete. I realize that I could have started over and probably done better, but I didn't love the game enough to do it. I prefer games with some lightness in them--this one was so emotionally dark! I will probably try again on a cold rainy day when I have nothing better to do.

I would recommend this game to dedicated, persistent gamers looking for something "different".

And Now for Something Completely Different

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: April 01, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Pros:

1. The opening to Ring doesn't really feel like a game or an opera. It feels more like an MTV video, except that the graphics are so provokingly beautiful. At one point, you come out of your dream vision and realize that you need to use an inventory item, and you awaken with a start. Of course the item that works is a far cry from what you would expect. Then off you roar into your Tolkienesque medieval-fantasy-dreamscape again.

2. In general the dialog in Ring is very well written, with a feel for poetry and metaphor (and the delivery by the actors) that seems more Shakespearean than operatic. Charlotte Rampling, who voices the role of the Earth-Mother Erda, has the loveliest speaking voice I have ever heard.

3. During the game, you get to play as four different mythological beings: Alberich, Loge, Siegmund and Brunnhilde. Alberich looks like the mating of a troll and a stalagmite, and ad-libs a great scat version of the Valkyrie theme. Loge, an Egyptian fire spirit, adds new meaning to the words "slippery" and "ruthless." Siegmund, the Terminator with a red ponytail, has a hopeless, fatal passion for his twin sister. And Brunnhilde, the true heroine of Ring, is garbed like an Amazon warrior with feathers and face paint. She is the only one in this fascinating crew to have even an ounce of moral sense. Experiencing the story through these various characters is a lot of fun and gives you access to mythical worlds using some of the most colorful, imaginative graphics I have seen. (Play the characters in the order I've mentioned if you want the story to make sense.)

Cons:

1. Ring has one difficult sound puzzle in which you have to play back a melody piece by piece. Fortunately (unlike the organ puzzle in Myst) it's very easy to cheat on this one.

2. Occasionally the views with 360-degree panning are somewhat pixelated.

3. The ending is frustrating. I was so involved with this game that I was actually angry at the ending. I don't mind playing a game that is leading up to a sequel, but I do prefer to know that before I play, so that I don't expect complete closure.

Bottom Line: Highly recommended for those who like myths and mythological worlds, or for those who simply enjoy the experience of thinking (and seeing) "different." Take a deep breath, and hold on tight for an eye-popping, thought-provoking, expectation-busting joyride. Then hope they make the sequel VERY soon!

Even if you DID read the book...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 7
Date: February 19, 2000
Author: Amazon User

The graphics were sub-standard, the movement is linear. It's "360" degree movement is basically being able to turn your head around a pinpoint spot, which has really no use. As a teen, the opera music, albiet harmonic, was tediously repetitive and overall unappealing. I did not read the Ring novel, and have absolutly NO clue as exactly what is going on. The mouse control feels slow and unresponsive, especially for a PII 400 w/128 meg ram system. The feeling you get when playing this game feels more like being stuck in a box with the bland environment and non-logical puzzles and terrible voice acting. I gave this a 2 because the installation and UNINSTALLATION were flawless. Pity I bought this game from CompUSA on a whim. I'll just consider this a bad investment. Don't make the same mistake and avoid this game.

Good

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This was good. Not what I was expecting, but good. The best way to describe it is futuristic/religious. The game is non-linear. You choose the sequence of worlds you complete.

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