User Reviews (1 - 11 of 59)

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Waste of time & money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

What a dumb game. The beatiful graphics can't cover the fact that the puzzles are vague and more than a little frustrating,(even with a walkthrough!) and that so-called selling point of 360 degree movement gave me motion sickness. The characters are peculiar looking and some of them undulate in an odd fashion, which, along with the corny dialogue, makes it hard to take seriously. In particular the Mayan women; what is up with the British accents? Had I known this was a Dreamcatcher game I would not have bought it. I was so wowed by the graphics I didn't even notice. I'll never make that mistake again. I don't recommend this game; save your money.

Puzzles are not intellectually challenging

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: September 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game because the reviews said the puzzles were as interesting and intellectually challenging as the 7th Guest; but it is far less so. Too many of its puzzles require guess-work and don't require logical analysis. Also there are too many "jump-though-hoops" steps, i.e. completely random use of an object, not based on any clue or information from any of the characters. In fact, to get the 5th level, I had to go to a hint guide to find that I had to go back through all four previous levels and click on one completely random place in each level. Yeah I want to waste my time, but I'd at least like to use my brain while doing it.

great graphics ridiculous puzzles

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

After playing Riven and The Last Express, Beyond Atlantis was a sheer disappointment. Some of the puzzles were downright impossible and completely illogical. Granted Riven had some tough ones, but they were intergrated into the gameplay. In addition, the acting was embarassingly bad. I didn't even finish the game. The only motivation to complete the silly puzzles was to see the next "cool" scene. Bottom line, there are too many other games with beautiful graphics and engrossing plots as well. Steer clear of Atlantis!

Ugh - don't do it

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game was so icky I didn't even finish it. The rendered characters all appeared to have some sort of unhealthy skin condition, and tended to rock back and forth while delivering their bad voice bits. The locations were pretty, but the node-to-node navigation was extremely frustrating. Some of the puzzles weren't too bad, but others were pretty far fetched. Between the creepy characters, the dizzying navigation and the inane puzzles, I just couldn't bring myself to continue.

too few clues

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 13
Date: November 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

It's too bad Dreamcatcher Games' games all have the exact same gameplay. I think they're trying to re-create the style of Myst, but they don't realize that there is a subtle art to making a game like this. The first rule they violate is to make the game possible to figure out on your own. They provide almost no clues for any of the puzzles (It's impossible to figure out where to use the crystal ball in each place unless you try every single screen). They make it so difficult you pretty much have to use a walkthrough. I was able to get through Myst without any help, but I didn't last five minutes in Beyond Atlantis.

The only good part about the game is the way it looks. All the worlds look amazing (which is good, because you'll be spending a lot of time in each one).

Unless you like to spend countless hours trying to figure out puzzles with absolutely no clues at your disposal, you should avoid this one.

This is a miss.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: March 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have liked every game Dreamcatcher has ever released, but this one was a little tough to swallow. In typical Dreamcatcher fashion, the graphics are wonderful and the music is very relaxing and laid back. I think the reason for the calming music was the fact that this game is very annoying. Now. I consider myself to be pretty good at solving puzzle games, and if I get stuck, I call a couple of friends and we work these out together. But neither of us liked this game very well. the clues aren't detailed enough and many of these puzzles are repititious. You don't know if you have done the puzzle right until the end of that sequence. Very annoying. when they speak to you, it's like your speaking to Confuscious. Very hard to discern the clues they are giving. My suggestion is spend your money on another Dreamcatcher game: Traitors Gate. That is a game worthy of all point and click puzzle solving game players.

Frustrating puzzles with little logic required

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The problem with the puzzles in Beyond Atlantis is the complete absence of guidance about what to do with each puzzle and what you will achieve by solving it. There are a few which are intuitive but this is the exception rather than the rule. In an adventure game difficult puzzles are a good thing as far as I'm concerned but they need to be logical and relevant to clues you have already seen or found rather than totally abstract and therefore requiring trial and error, which is how most are in Beyond Atlantis.

I do not believe that even a seasoned adventure-gamer can complete this adventure without the use of a walkthrough, which to me totally spoils the experience and the sense of achievement you get from completing this type of game.

Yes - I could not wait to get to the end, but for all the wrong reasons! I did not enjoy playing this game whatsoever.

I purchased Beyond Atlantis and Beyond Atlantis II at the same time, and after playing the former, was dreading playing it's sequel, however my fear was unnecessary. Every complaint I had about Beyond Atlantis has been rectified in the later, making it a fantastic game with difficult but intuitive puzzles that can be solved with thoughtful observation of your surroundings. Whilst a little jerky, the graphics and sound are fantastic and enable you to become totally immersed in the story. I recommend that anyone considering this title, purchase the sequel "Beyond Atlantis II" instead, which whilst not as good as the Myst Trilogy is certainly one of the best games available.

Typical Dreamcatcher...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The only saving point for this game is the graphics...I have to admit that some of them were absolutely astonishing. That out of the way, THIS GAME WAS A WASTE OF TIME! Far too many of the puzzles were either too pixel-sensitive or too obscure to grasp the concept without tearing one's hair out! There was WAY too much backtracking to accomplish tasks, having to talk to someone on the other side of a world to finish a particular puzzle, with no hint whatsoever of having to do so. Necessary objects to complete puzzles often just blended into the scenery, almost as if they were not even objects. Also, vital clues to solving puzzles were stashed away in one, little, unobtrusive graphic that could have been easily missed. Cryo and Dreamcatcher seemed to spend all development time on the graphics, but relied too heavily on them instead of integrating the puzzles into them. Much like some of Dreamcatcher's games, The Crystal Key (just as maddening), The FOrgotten (the first in a series that seems to have been forgotten, thankfully), and others. I just finished Myst : Exile, and was thoroughly impressed that I solved it without the need of a walkthrough. Much more satisfying.

Great graphics - but will make you CRAZY!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: February 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game provides a real experience for a PC gamer - the graphics are terrific, and the whole "mystique" of the theme intices you to try it. But shortly afterwards, the frustration that sets in will make you sorry you did! I am not into PC games as much as some of the other reviewers are, but I am an intelligent person that enjoys a challenge, and a diversion once in awhile. I picked the WRONG game for that! This game required my finding a "cheat site" on the web so I could continue on with it, and I have needed to refer to it throughout my attempts at it. And the "cheat" info was not always enough to get me past an obstacle. There are very few clues for you to know what you're even supposed to be looking for, ridiculous blocks along the way, and slow movements that only add to the frustration level. Find another game!

It's ok...on a rainy day and you have nothing else to do...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I enjoy adventure games, but since I'm so busy I can only play a few of them a year, and so I choose only to play the best. Unfortunately this game does not fit into what I call "QT with my PC" This game incorporates annoying voice acting where the words do not match with the speakers mouthes, and I found that transitions to be slow and boring. The puzzles were alright though they were not very informative and there wasn't much humor in the game. Overall, I just thought it was a good concept that could have been a better game, but just wasn't exciting enough. ...

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