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Cracking the Code for Yourself...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: May 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

As far as games based off movies go, they don't always tend to be good. That doesn't mean they're bad, it simply means they're not up to standards. The Da Vinci Code is one of those games. There are times when playing that the game feels a little unfinished, and just all out unexciting. It follows the story of the book and movie quite well, and it's nice to play through it yourself, but as far as a quality game goes, The Da Vinci Code is far from being of fantastic quality.

Playing as Robert Langdon or Sophie Neveu you'll have to escape from the police, seeing as how Robert is framed for murder, and along the same lines, uncover a conspiracy of the catholic church by solving puzzles and trying to fend yourself from those standing in your way. You play as either Robert or Sophie. They both work exactly the same. There is no difference between them. They've got the exact same moves and play the exact same way. So it doesn't matter who you're playing as. It might have been nice to give them each different abilities.

Most of the gameplay consists of you solving puzzles throughout the game. These puzzles, surprisingly, are fun and actually require some logical thinking. If you find yourself stumped, it's no surprise. Some of these puzzles really are a challenge, and require you to think. There is also a really good variety of them. Because of this the gameplay keeps from being stale. You'll have to decipher anagrams, solve riddles and much more. The downside, of course, is that these puzzles aren't random. They have the same solution every time. So it's only really worth playing through the game once.

Then there's the combat. It surprisingly works out in this game as well. You'll find yourself clashing with your enemies and then having to press a series of buttons to make successful strikes. It's interesting, but also slow. If you miss a button press (or you're not fast enough), you'll have a harder time getting an attack off. It's not just about offense, it's also about defense. If an enemy comes swinging at you, there will also be a series of buttons to press in order to dodge their attack. Much like fighting, if you miss a button or you're not fast enough, you could take damage. The combat works, but as I said, it's a little slow.

The Da Vinci Code isn't exactly a fantastic looking game. Not only do the characters have little resemblance to their film counterparts, but they look bland and emotionless. The game also has a few graphical bugs. You'll find yourself getting caught up on some of the games objects in your way. It's annoying. The textures don't look great either.

As if that wasn't enough, the sound quality isn't brilliant either. The voice acting is horrible. It's dull and robotic. These characters have no feeling or apparent interest in what they're doing. This is a step down from voice quality in videogames.

It isn't just the graphics and voices that urk this game a little. The storyline is also a little bland. It's great to actually play through the adventure of the book and the movie, but the story moves really slow, despite how short the game itself is. It'll take you anywhere from seven to twelve hours to complete it, depending on how well you perform on the puzzles. The game's moments of story rather than gameplay are rather bland and boring, and because of the bad voice quality, it only keeps the story down even more.

The gameplay satisfies at least. This is what really counts, and I'm glad to say The Da Vinci Code does it well. However, the other things that make a quality game get the short end of the stick. If you didn't get enough of Dan Brown's run away bestseller, you'll probably like this. If you couldn't get enough the movie, you'll probably like this. If, however, you're expecting a high quality game... it isn't in The Da Vinci Code.

The Good
+The gameplay mechanics work
+Interesting puzzles, quite the variety, and they're challenging
+Follows the book and film pretty well
+Not such a bad combat system

The Bad
-The graphics aren't great
-The characters don't really look like the characters in the movie
-Horrible voice acting
-The Story is slow paced
-Combat is slow
-There's really not a whole lot of replay value

Mmmmm.....FOOD FOR BRAIN!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: May 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Wow....I just finished beating the game and it was quite a thrill ride!! It's got drama, suspense, fighting and PUZZLES!! Oh, the puzzles!! Makes me feel like a kid on an easter egg hunt! My particular faves were the cryptography puzzles...Brings back memories of when I was a child...Where I lived in a place where the invasion of my diary (or anything private) was never a question of 'if' but 'WHEN', so I came to learn cryptography all TOO quickly (before I even learned there was a name for it, matter of fact).

These puzzles aren't brainbusters mind you, but it gives your mind a brisk little workout. Be advised: keep a notepad beside you as you'd most likely need it (to store clues as you play). And for those whose brainpower's a little on the flabby side: keep ASPIRIN handy.

In case you might wonder why I don't give this game a perfect 5:
The movements on this game can be a bit of a problem...For instance, if you may walk up to a door (which requires a key) and attempt to unlock it with your key, it MAY NOT work, which sends you on an exasperating search of the area for what to do next since that "apparently" isn't it...Out of desperation/curiosity/frustration you happen to try the door w/ key again and IT WORKS?? Why didn't it the 1st time?? Not a worry if it happened once, but it to me happened several times throughout the game. The other thing is, how you can pore over vast expanses of houses,buildings etc. with many rooms going, inch by inch only to realize there was 1 item to find?? And having your partner walk so close to you can really aggravate you sometimes (like if you're trying to make a sneak attack on an enemy or even WALKING OUT THE DOOR!!) Or walking for (seemingly) miles to your next objective only to have go way out of your way (again) just to fetch ONE item that you need to proceed (like at Westminster Abbey)...That can be a bit tedious....But then again, if the dots were close enough together, there'd be no mystery to solve, right?

So, for a stimulating change from the mindless, all-too-common BUTTON-MASHER games out there, The Da Vinci code is the one you may have been waiting for...

...It may even interest people who are not normally interested in playing video games, it's just that appealing and engaging.

A Must-Have for Puzzle Fans

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: August 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'm not going to go into the religious aspects of this game like I've seen in some reviews. I don't understand why anyone would pick up this game and then spaz out that it conflicts with their beliefs. Hello? Do you live in a cave? How could you not know what the basis of this game, the novel and the film are about at this point with all of the controversy surrounding it.

Aside from the religious overtones, this game has quite a bit to offer for those that are fans of puzzles. This game is chock full of puzzles. Most make sense but there are a few that seem a bit contrived and actually bog the game down. If you are not a fan of puzzle games, then avoid this thing like the plague. The graphics are good but at times, the camera angles get in the way but I guess we should all be used to that by now. The voice work is also good although nothing stellar. Controls are fair. The action sequences, which mostly involve fist-fights are a bit strange. Once engaged in battle, a series of button symbols appear at the bottom of the screen and you push those button in that order to accomplish the task. This is similar to the game "Indigo Prophesy" which used the same technique. My complaint with this system is that you end up staring at the buttons at the bottom of the screen and miss what is actually going on. While this is not as big of a deal with this game since there isn't much to miss, it is still a bit annoying. You basically (and at times literally) fight the same "minion" over and over again. It would have been nice for the designers to add a bit more variety. The action/fight sequences are by far the weakest part of the game.

Ok, back to the bulk of this game, the plot. This is the area that apparently stirs up controversy however, if your beliefs are so easily swayed by a video game, you probably have a whole set of issues that need to be addressed. The storyline is interesting and moves right along, getting you hooked early. The puzzles are at times, quite difficult but if you pay attention as you move through the game, you are given the clues to solve each one. As I stated earlier, there are a few puzzles that seem contrived, like searching all over the place for fuses to operate a door. In fact there is quite a bit of searching in general so if that type of game annoys you, forget this one cause you will be wandering all over the place for most of it. Definitely a non-linear game that requires you to pay attention constantly.

The main complaint of the game is that it is short. Incredibly short and I can't imagine it would have much replay value unless you are just a puzzle junkie. There are only 9 levels of the game and it seems the designers counted on the fact that some of the puzzles would take a while to solve so they used that as an excuse to short cut the game.

Bottom line, if you are going to be offended by the alternate theories presented in this game then don't bother renting/buying it. The game is interesting and creative and sticks fairly close to the novel. It's definitely a puzzle game and not an action game in the traditional sense so if you like to blow things up or shoot at things, then this probably isn't the game for you (although there is one explosion cut scene if you simply must see something burn). The graphics are decent, the controls are good with the possible exception of the fighting scenes and even they are ok, just odd. Overall, a decent game and a must-have for puzzle fans. Otherwise, rent before buying it.

I'm done w/ Xbox!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: December 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'm a huge fan of the book. I enjoyed the film. But man this game sucks. It had so much potential to be great. I played it and got through maybe 4 or 5 levels and then got stuck on some stupid f-ing bridge, the DaVinci Bridge to be exact. I was there for hours and hours trying to make the dam thing connect with the other side. I exhausted all possibilities over and over again until finally giving up. I hate this! And this isn't the first Xbox game to screw up like this. I'm not asking for much here its just if you spend 40 or 50 bucks on a game you should get a playable game at least. I'm not even saying it has to be a great game or anything just f-ing work! I'm pissed and frustrated. I think I'm done with Xbox.

Great game...too short

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Being a huge fan of the book and now the movie, I was excited about this game. The puzzles were too easy for the most part. Only one or two had me for any length of time, if I could call it that because I beat this game in about 6 or 7 hours. I would have liked to see difficulty levels. I feel like I played this game on the easiest setting. Now don't get me wrong I did like this game a lot. There are many good things about this game. The minor deviations from the book were great...The location renders were awesome...I think I spent at least an hour just wondering around, looking at things, not really trying to solve the puzzles presented. All and all I would recommend renting it instead of buying it because the time it took to finish didn't merit the money spent.

Fundamental Christians Should Get A Grip!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: June 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is awesome!!! It helps people keep an open mind to the possibilities, just like the DVC movie. Many people call themselves Cristians but they are the first to judge. It's ok to believe what you want to believe if it feels right to you. There are many paths to God, not just one. Why attack this harmless game, and not comment on very violent games like Grand Theft Auto? There is nothing wrong with Jesus getting down with Mary Magdelene. He is a great teacher, but a man indeed. What fundamental christians fail to point out are the very numerous contradictions that are in the bible and that is FACT!

Rated T for teen?????

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 23
Date: June 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'm not going to go into the "plot" of this game/movie only to say that it is little more than a pile of crap.However the only people who are going to buy into this junk in the first place are people who already have a hate bias,or the purely ignorant.

With that said,my main problem with this game is the irresponsible rating given to it.The movie is rated R,so why is the game given a T for teen rating?It easily earns a M for mature 17+ for story content alone.

On the back of the game,there is a screen shoot of a half naked dead man nailed to the floor with a satan star carved into his chest.THIS IS SUITABLE FOR 13/14 YEAR OLDS??The game desciprtion doesn't even have the guts to admit what "the mystery" it is your trying to solve.If it blatantly said that it was an all out attck on the fundementals of Christianity in general and Catholicisim specifically,no parent would even THINK about getting this garbage for their kids.

It just goes to show how low people will go to push hate propoganda and aim it at the youth,all for the sake of the almighty dollar.This joke will blow over like "the last temptation of Christ" did.But after this poor fad passes and dies,the people's faith will still remain strong.

God have mercy on Hollywood's arrogance.

A unique game that's enjoyable from start to finish

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I enjoyed this game, all in all it had some issues but they are easily overlooked and I've seen far worse. I wish we would see more games of this kind, reminiscent of "Syberia" and "Post Mortem" on the PC. Keeping this short and concise, The graphics were above average, the music was fitting and engrossing and the challenge is worthwhile. The replay value is only to challenge the Hard difficulty if nothing else. I also thought the combat system was fitting and intuitive but a bit unpolished. If you loved the book and or the movie then I think it's worth the money to buy this gem and relive it all over again and with some new twists.

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