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One of the best ever...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: January 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Well, I've finished "Still Life" and I'm happy to report it was a real treat.

First off, let me say that playing the first game in this series, "Post Mortem," is not essential to enjoying "Still Life," although it can help in getting some background to the goings-on. The various minor quirks of "Post Mortem" may deter some players from continuing on the journey, but trust me when I say that the cons of "Post Mortem" barely exist in "Still Life." And, while I do recommend playing "Post Mortem" prior to "Still Life," it's not necessary to enjoy "Still Life," a far superior experience.

Of the many terrific features of "Still Life" is the graphics. They are, without a doubt, some of the finest graphics ever made. In fact, to compare the graphics to games like "The Longest Journey"/Dreamfall" or either "Syberia" adventures (two halves of one game) would be unfair, since, although the graphics of those games are stellar, "Still Life" supercedes them for ambience and sheer eye-candy.

Then there are the game's controls. Dreamcatcher and Microids, in my humble opinion, have reached the pinnacle of controllability with "Still Life." Whether using the mouse or the keyboard, the icons are clear in their intentions, easy to understand, and never ambiguous. Every adventure game should use the controls from "Still Life" as their prototype for all future games.

Next on the list would have to be the attachment derived from the characters. Not only has the acting and writing improved since "Post Mortem," but now the McPherson family is three generations strong, what with playing both grandfather Gus and granddaughter Victoria (as well as son and father Pat being a part of the scheme). I played "Post Mortem," but I became more attached to Gus in this game, and becoming interspersed with Victoria came as naturally as breathing. She's just super.

The primary comparison that can be made to "Post Mortem" is the realism. In "Still Life," the writing and acting are quantum leaps ahead of its predecessor. The language and graphical realism are no places for the kiddies, and just for that it gets my vote. It wasn't pablumized for our adult consumption.

And the bugs are far and few between. Yes, there's some minor stuttering during the cut-scenes, but when compared to all-too-many other adventure/crime-mystery games, there's nothing to speak of. I give a full five stars to the QA department for ensuring that this game made it to the market without buggy qualms.

The only real drawback to the gameplay -- albeit a very minor one -- is that when one wishes to move to a different location on the map, one is required to literally travel back to the originating point of the present location in order to bring up the map on the screen. Again, this isn't really a biggie, especially since at very least we get to re-view the splendid graphics on our way back to the entry point.

Also on the plus side -- did I mention the graphics? -- are the sound effects, game durability (it's no four-hour farce), and challenge. In fact, I found the challenge to be so middle-of-the-road that I think it's as close to perfect as can be. Some games' puzzles befuddle logic and other games' puzzles are simply too simple. In "Still Life," however, I think the middle ground has been found. Like I say, this game is not for the children, but for those of us adults who happen to enjoy NOT being weighed down by too many stumpers yet enjoy several mini-games, the challenge is just right.

The game is quite linear, so if you enjoy games that insist you jump around the map to find clues and piece them together in order to make even slight progress, then this isn't for you. But if you're like me and enjoy one-step-at-a-time adventure games, then I thoroughly recommend giving it a try.

Also, one needn't suspend disbelief when playing "Still Life" (as one is required to do when playing the awesome "LJ" games). "Still Life" is quite realistic, with no aliens, mutants, psychokinesis, nor scenes from the future. Quite refreshing.

Overall, when rating "modern" adventure games (as opposed to the "Monkey Island" series), I give "Still Life" a 19 on a scale of 1 to 20. Only the two "Longest Journey" games come close to its engaging qualities. And that says a lot.

Highly recommended.

My thoughts on Still Life

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: February 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I love mysteries, so I loved Still Life. Especially the way it went back and forth between Victoria and her grandfather, Gus. I also enjoyed the graphics, and the game play itself was easy enough to do. Some of the puzzles were a challenge, but it would not be a good game if the puzzles were too easy. I would definitely recommend this game.

Top shelf... til the end

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: March 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Great game. You won't regret buying it but the ending is a tad abrupt. (That's the only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5) If you suffer thru the credits you'll see it is set up for a sequel. I wish there were!

Patricia Cornwell School of Crime Solving

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 25, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Still Life has a lot going for it. Great atmosphere, scenery, storyline, etc... and the whole art and serial killing link appears to be lifted from Patricia Cornwell's book on Jack the Ripper where she theorizes on the true identity of the infamous serial killer.

The game had no bugs and the only maddening things about it were some of the puzzles. The lock picking one defeated me and I had to go and cheat to figure it out. The other difficult one was the robot in the laser room; that took a long time to conquer.

The content is definitely for mature audiences - the grisly crime scenes and the hard core sex industry theme are not for the faint hearted.

I was a bit disappointed in the end because by then I had my own theories on who the "current" killer was but will never be able to confirm that!

Great graphics, easy storyline & stupid puzzles...

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

If you are looking for a great mystery game this is not it. However if you are looking for a game with great graphics, a so/so mystery & vexing puzzles than you'll love it.

Storyline: The puzzles can be difficult but generally are just boring/frustrating. The mystery plot starts out interesting but is WAY too easy. The game tells you where to go (ie I need to talk to so & so). The Prague storyline is far more engaging than the modern day Chicago one.

Graphics: The graphics, dialogue, & voiceovers are amazing!

Puzzles: The puzzles are just plain stupid, sometimes difficult, and unconnected to the game. The last part of the game is all puzzles which detracts from the momentum & intrigue of the storlyine.

Misc. I found the nudity/sex angle of the game juvenile and totally unnecessary that only teenage boys would enjoy.

The game definitely has some fun exciting moments but if you're looking for an interactive dynamic mystery game this is not it.

Visually stunning with a great story line

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

We loved this game. Although everyone should be warned that it was intended to be the middle of a 3 part game, but the 3rd installment will never be finished. As such, the game just sort of stops rather than ending leaving you with an unsatisfied taste in your mouth.

The graphics are exceptional as is the voice acting and script. We personally felt that these qualities were so good that they overcame the fairly linear puzzles. In fact, this more like an interactive movie than an adventure game. The fact that we didn't really notice this till the game was over is a strong testament to the quality of the dialog and storyline. Those who are looking for especially challenging and plentiful puzzles may be disappointed however.

A Nice Way To Pass Time

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I love adventure RPGs, and this one did not fail to please. I must say, however, that even a strong story line does not overcome the boredom of watching a character amble slowly from one location to another or take long elevator rides. As with many ARPGs, this game involves a *lot* of gathering info at one location then having to navigate back to another and so on, and so on, and so on.

Also, I have to agree with one of the previous reviewers who noted the difficulty -- and time consumption -- of some of the puzzles, particularly the one requiring lockpicking. If I hadn't found a walkthrough online I probably would've given up. (There's a hint for ya.)

Don't believe the reviews that say you never find out who dunnit. You do (if you recognize the character's face), but the creators are determined to make you sit through *all* of the credits to find out. Even then, well, the emotional payoff isn't as big as I thought it would be.

Still a great way to pass about 8 or 9 hours, and it beats what's been playing at the movies lately.

Fantastic adventure game, too bad about the ending...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I really, really enjoyed this game. If you like adventure games and detective games, you should enjoy the gameplay here. This was one of the best 2D point-and-click adventure games I'd played in a long time, and I would have given it 5 stars except for one thing: The Ending.

The ending of this game is abrupt and does not resolve the plot. It's very frustrating, especially as I was so involved in the mystery and the characters. Apparently, there was meant to be a sequel, but the company went under.

So, if you love adventure games and want to play a nice one, play this, but be warned.

One of my favorites

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I took a chance on this after playing the rather short demo. I certainly was _not_ disappointed. The flashbacks to the "Post Mortem" characters and scenes were an overcomable bad memory. I took Post Mortem almost all the way to the end and the game would not continue even though I exhausted the walkthroughs.

The twists and turns in Still Life were exhilirating and at times it almost felt like an interactive movie. I usually don't like puzzles but there were sufficient clues causing me to fail because of my own inattentiveness only.

Playing this game was almost relaxing at times and I hated to see it end. I totally recommend this game to adventurers.

Of life, death, and dark desires...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 31, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Montreal-based Microids, creator of such gems as Amerzone, Syberia, Road to India and Post Mortem, has created its swan song in the form of Still Life: Microids was recently absorbed by another Montreal producer, UbiSoft, shortly before the game's launch. Still Life was chosen as Best Adventure Game at the 2004 E3 convention, and it's easy to see why. Based partially on characters from 2003's Post Mortem (psychic painter/ private eye Gustav McPherson), Still Life tracks the parallels between a modern-day serial killer in Chicago and a similar case in Prague 75 years ago. Gus McPherson's granddaughter Victoria, or Vic, is a profiler with the FBI and has been assigned to work a case in Chicago involving a series of grisly prostitute murders.

The game begins with a stunning, fast-paced cinematic that ties together the modern murders with Gus' case in Prague, awash in sinister mood and a haunting choir soundtrack. Vic begins at the fifth crime scene, where a prostitute is found stabbed and drowned in a condemned building. Vic's partner, David Miller, is as green as they come, and instead of helping, ends up contaminating crime scenes with, as Vic dubs them, "Miller's little Martians," aka, vomit. Vic, with the help of her former Quantico professor/ Chicago coroner Claire, is left to piece together the killer's M.O. Before long, it becomes clear that the killer is baiting her with clues related to her grandfather's case in Prague.

The game is divided into seven chapters, split between Vic (modern Chicago) and Gus (1930s Prague). Microids previously flirted with the concept in Post Mortem, where several chapters were played by a secondary character. In Still Life, the convention works well: as Vic reads Gus's journal to gain insights into her current case, the narration dissolves into Gus's world in Prague and his dealings with the local police and the prostitutes that he is hired to protect.

The visuals in Still Life build on the gorgeous 2D environments of Syberia and Syberia II, although here they are suitably dark, gritty, and occasionally kinky. Modern Chicago looks like a slightly sinister Frank Lloyd Wright-designed playground, interjected with grimy, rat-infested buildings, run-down campus apartments, and the sterile, functional police headquarters. Prague is awash in fog effects, run-down buildings, junkyards, and forbidding sewer tunnels. The game takes place at night, and even the interiors are dark and edgy. Artwork plays a huge role in the game, so expect to spend a good amount of time scouring in-game paintings as clues to the killer's motivations and the degree of his twisted sexual fantasies. Some of Gus's earlier paintings from Post Mortem make appearances here as well.

The puzzles in Still Life are generally intuitive, with the exception of two of the hardest puzzles I've ever seen in a game: a torturous lock-picking puzzle in Prague, and an "escape the lasers" puzzle in Chicago. For the most part, puzzles are varied, inventory-based (with the exception of several slider puzzles), and not too difficult. The Chicago portion of the game is reminiscent of CSI, as Vic uses Luminol, fingerprints, and photographs the crime scenes for analysis. The game's inventory, however, is not so intuitive, and took a good deal of getting used to.

About the rating: rated M for Mature, Still Life seems almost an Adults Only title for its extreme violence, sexual portrayals, and mature subject matter, including graphic language from several characters. One of the Chicago cops borders on an insulting stereotype as he constantly uses the "F" word and other vulgarities. All of the cops, including Vic and her boss, use the "F" expletive with each other, and Vic made one comment so bold that it actually made me uncomfortable. Although there is no sexual footage outright, there is numerous innuendo, especially in the dialogues of the Prague prostitutes and in the S&M (!) club (Vic makes a comment about "battery operated boyfriends," and is hit on several times by a female S&M employee).

The most disappointing aspect is that the game's *very* open ending clearly sets up a sequel, although with Microids being absorbed by UbiSoft, it is doubtful that such a sequel will occur. One interesting experiment involved an online prelude to Still Life; before the game's launch (and currently the page is still available at http://www.stilllife-game.com/Prelude/index.aspx?lang=en ), players got to explore Victoria's background and personal life a bit more in-depth, while introduced to a background of the game's characters and storyline. The online game involved deciphering codes, finding hidden clues in pictures, and cracking a serial killer's riddles. Even if the Still Life sequel was executed in a similar fashion, i.e., online, it would provide closure for all the hours of gameplay invested without a final answer as to the mysteries of Still Life.

Still Life, although violent, is creepy, beautiful, and artistic. With believable characters, an edgy soundtrack, gorgeous graphics, and a fast-paced, curveball storyline, Still Life was a joy to play. I can only hope that one day Microids will complete the trilogy begun by Post Mortem and Still Life.

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