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My favorite so far...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

First off, let me say that I had absolutely no technical issues with this game. It ran flawlessly. Second of all, I loved it. Out of the three Agatha Christie games that I've played, this one was my favorite. The scenery was great, and there was a lot to explore. There were many character interactions as well. I almost thought twice about getting it because of the somewhat negative reviews on this site, but I am glad that I did anyway. Lots of fun!

Evil Under the Sun

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I have played other games in the Agatha Christie line and this one was hard to play. I would like to have known a little more about the way to move about in the game and how to find clues without constant going back and forth and running into dead ends. I guess I like the hidden objects format of Death on the Nile and Peril at End House.

not a good game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: July 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I am a point and click gamer and I love Agatha Christie unfortunately this game doesn't provide much enjoyment.
The plot is there, the graphics are OK and if you love clicking over the place in many areas to find what Poirot is supposed to do next then fine. But if you are looking for a good mix of plot with some puzzles thrown in to break the tedium then you are in for a disappointment.

There are only 2 puzzles - one piece together a letter and once a puzzle box. the rest is all find the items and use them but that doesn't really rescue the game as there is so much dialogue. If you haven't read the book and wish it to be like a more interactive book then this game might be for you but for gamers looking for some puzzles etc then keep on looking.

You don't even get the book with this game. the 1st game in the series was the best (and then there were none) the second one is more like this game, long dialogue so if you liked that one you might like this one.

Beautiful And Engaging Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game has the most beautiful scenic graphics of any game I have played to date. I was blown away by them. The characters are also very well drawn and rendered.

The interface is easy to operate once you get acquainted with it. There is a drop-down bar at the top of the screen with icons for accessing inventory, the main menu, Poirot's journal (which contains a checklist of to-dos), your alter ego (to switch from Poirot to Hastings, sort of) and a stopwatch. The voice over on this one was apparently not done by the wonderful David Suchet, but was very well done, nonetheless.

The puzzles are mostly intuitive, and not too hard or too easy. Also, there are just about the right number of them. I really love a game that challenges me without driving me insane or forcing me to play by using a walkthrough. I had to consult the walkthrough on this game twice when I had missed picking up a vital piece of inventory.

The only real dislike I had about this game is that there is no zipmap. Poirot got a LOT of exercise with me playing. There is a double click option where Poirot will move directly to the next scene instead of ambling along. I used this constantly for about the second half of the game. A zipmap would have made this portion of the game much more enjoyable, and the four stars are because of the above lack of map.

Overall, the game is of wonderful quality and has been given an honored place on my "I must play this again later." shelf.

Never again...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: May 28, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The third Adventure Company game based on an Agatha Christie novel, Evil Under the Sun is disappointing evidence that this series - never great to begin with - is actually getting worse over time.

Puzzles are few and far between, and nearly all of them are simple inventory puzzles. As with the previous games, you just pick up anything the game will allow you to take, and tote it around, ridiculously, until you eventually have need of it. In a couple of cases the game even gives you detailed instructions for how to solve a puzzle. If you think that following instructions (complete with diagrams) is a lot of fun, well, this is the game for you.

Otherwise, you can just sit back and watch Poirot walk around. There is no way to fast-travel between locations, so much of your time will be spent walking. Hopefully you'll find that very entertaining, because the pace of this game is astonishingly slow. The game is composed of eight chapters, and the murder doesn't even occur until chapter five. Until then, most of the "action" comes from two new storylines created for the game: a Fifth Columnist hunt (the game takes place during WWII), and a plot about a glowing green ghost that even Scooby Doo would find silly. And don't even think about skipping any dialogue - if you don't painstakingly work your way through the dialogue tree, you're likely to get stuck.

But far and away, my biggest gripe with this game is the "new ending." Do not be fooled by this - the murderer is the same as in the novel! Apparently the "new" part comes from the, um, action scene that follows (in cut scene, of course, because heaven forbid the player have to do anything during the climax of the game). The new ending doesn't even make much sense, really, but I was so happy to see the game end that I won't nitpick.

Bottom line: this game is a joyless, plodding exercise that never would have been made if not for the Christie name. Read the book instead. If you're looking for a good detective game, check out the Nancy Drew series. Honestly, you could just watch paint dry and it would still be more fun than this game.

A schizophrenic journey through criminal minds

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun is AWE Game's third Agatha Christie adaptation for the PC, and as such, has made admirable improvements over its predecessors, with a few small glitches. Based on Dame Agatha's Evil under the Sun (Hercule Poirot Mysteries), it is the tale of seemingly unrelated guests vacationing on a nearly-deserted British island early in WWII. However, all is not quiet in this apparent paradise; Arlena Stuart-Marshall, a rich and beautiful actress, turns up dead on an isolated beach, and nearly everyone has some connection either to the murder or the strange goings-on on Seadrift Island.

The game opens with the unique premise that Poirot and Hastings are in Poirot's London apartment during an air raid, and in order to distract themselves, Poirot offers to retell the details of his latest case, which received scant publicity due to being upstaged by Hitler. Poirot offers the services of the Finger of Suspicion, a "magical" device that helps eliminate suspects if you get stuck. During the tale, Hastings will jump back and forth between Seadrift Island, 1940 and Poirot's London office as the two share details of the case.

Unlike the previous AWE game Agatha Christie : Murder on the Orient Express, where you played as Poirot (voiced by David Suchet, the BBC Poirot), in EUtS you play as Poirot's friend Captain Hastings as you retrace Poirot's footsteps leading up the the murder and its investigation. However, your physical appearance is that of Poirot, and your thoughts alternate between Hastings and Poirot as the two banter about clues and suspects. Sound confusing? It is at times. Also, David Suchet didn't reprise his voicework here, deferring to the capable Kevin Delaney instead. However, the time travel / body swap gimmick works, and the clever writing results in comic relief.

There are no fewer than twenty possible suspects, and each has their own motive. There is not one, but several crimes unfolding simultaneously, including subplots involving a fascist spy, drug smuggling, past murders, pirate ghosts, hidden treasure, small thefts, and of course, Arlena's murder. Also, Seadrift Island and the Smuggler's Rest hotel are incredibly vast compared to the first Agatha Christie game Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None, offering hours of exploration.

Graphically, the game is flawless, including the Art Deco hotel details and elaborate period costumes. However, I had to giggle on several occasions at a few of the characters who really, really looked like men in drag, especially during cutscenes. I wondered if that was part of the deception at first, but no. Another graphic improvement was in the game's extensive use of ambient effects such as rolling fog, moving shafts of sunlight, distant waves, and rustling leaves that helped to bring static 2D backgrounds to life. The game's voice acting is generally very good, with the exception of some truly bad German accents, and the music is perfectly tailored to suit the mood. The cinematic cutscenes are beautifully executed, and many times are for comic effect as Poirot's grumpy face is featured in close-up, the crinkling of his eyes expressing his disapproval.

The inventory system remains unchanged from previous games, but thankfully, you carry few unnecessary items. Generally, the puzzles are inventory-based and are straightforward, sometimes requiring you to combine items or examine items more closely. Another new twist is the stopwatch; in this game, you time several routes around the island to the scene of the murder to determine whose alibis are sound. There are also numerous documents that are added to Hastings/Poirot's notebook that shed light on past events that are connected to the murder. Poirot also engages in eavesdropping on several occasions, and shadowing shady characters (and ghosts). Another pleasant addition is the use of chemical testing to determine contents of items found in suspects' rooms and at crime scenes.

Two small gripes: when testing evidence, the results are delivered automatically, with no chance for trial and error. A little more freedom of experimentation in determining content would have been nice. Similarly, Poirot is required to play darts at one point, and he wins automatically. I was hoping for a little eye-hand coordination practice instead of having the computer do it for me. Also, some players had issues with gameplay crashes and glitches, but the game ran smoothly on my above-specs computer.

Overall, this is a welcome addition to an impressive series of games that capture the diabolically clever murder puzzles in Dame Agatha's famed mysteries while bringing bygone eras to vivid life. The touches of humor and vivid environment, combined with the extended gameplay, make this the best entry in the series by far, and fans of murder mysteries and adventure games should definitely add this gem to their collection.

Don't waste your money

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I write and read reviews to help other people find a game that's worthwhile. First of all, im going to be a little biased on my review of this game because the game kept freezing up constantly and it took 1-2 minutes for each different location to show up, so i had to quit before i even had a chance to complete the game. I have a fairly new computer and ive only had a couple of games not work on my computer, so i don't know if it was my computer or the game itself causing the complications. Anyway, why im giving it 2 stars is because the game gives you basically two general areas to explore. Once you've explored them you keep running back and forth and combing the same areas over and over waiting for something new to come about. That gets boring, I like new locations that pop up as i progress. The other Agatha Chrisie games i've played were enjoyable but this one wasn't very good at all.

Save your time

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: April 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I don't write many reviews. Only if I feel strongly about an item. In this case, a game that I wasted many hours on. At first, I was intrigued, then I was curious (when was this game going to "get going?"). Then I was bored to death and frustrated because I was too stubborn to end my own suffering.
I love adventure games. Only 2 have made me write a poor review.
I hope you choose another game. I hate to see developers getting good feedback and sales for a job poorly done.

A little simple, but fun

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Pros:

* Staged gameplay: you progress in chunks, and you know you've accomplished what you need to when it allows you to move on.
* In-game hints: not the most helpful in-game hints, but between the journal instructions and the 'finger of suspicion' you can find your way through. Also, the dialogue gives a lot of hints and occasionally tells you what to do.
* Logical use of items for the most part - no combining dust bunnies with smarties to create a new sentient life form.
* Smooth gameplay and easy-to-use menus.
* Overall it was a well-programmed game with only a few minor continuity glitches (there's one point where you can still 'see' something that has already been retrieved and removed).

Cons:

* Auto-play sequences can be touchy to initiate - there's one time where you simply have to go back and look at something to get it to play, even if you've looked at that same thing dozens of times and it hasn't changed.
* Double-click to view inventory is a real pain - I had to click dozens of times to bring up the view screen. Why didn't they add a 'view' button to the main inventory page, or make it a right-click function?!
* Real veterans of this type of game might find it a bit on the easy side - there were very few brain-teaser-like puzzles and not a lot of action. The majority of the time you spend walking about, which reminds me:
* Too much time spend getting from place to place. I realize this is because you do bump into people on the way, but it was a lot of clicking, especially if you're not super-efficient in your moves. I prefer games with fixed locations that can be jumped between with the use of a map screen, but that's a personal preference.

Overall:

I quite enjoyed it, and even as impatient as I am I didn't have to cheat... much. There were a LOT of characters to keep track of, though, and that got a bit confusing. I would have really liked a cheat sheet with their names and faces just so I could keep them straight (but I have a problem with names, so maybe that's just me). I think the mystery was straightforward and Poirot really walks you through it, so it wasn't as much of a mind-bending challenge as games with tons of puzzles, but it was relaxing in a way, too. I think it's a great starter game for those not used to this type of game (but why would I combine a spaghetti strainer with a porkchop?! - the days of the old 'Day of the Tentacle' and 'Sam and Max') or even a veteran who wants to kick back and take it easy. On par with most of the Nancy Drew games out there.

Good game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I enjoyed this game. I liked going back in time; I would love to vacation there =) I didn't have any trouble with the graphics and my computer is 4 yrs old. I have a gforce something or other from around the same time. It's not David Suchet unfortunately, but I thought the voice was very close. Remember to double click to make travel faster.

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