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Quite possibly the finest game I have ever played.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: December 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Syberia is the most clever, thoughtful, and inventive game I have ever played; The Longest Journey comes close in storyline and inventiveness, but it can in no way outdo Syberia's graphics or its reach for an entirely new idea in adventure games. Both The Longest Journey and Syberia feature strong, admirable, complex heroines; but Syberia diverges from the fantasy line and sticks with a realism that is eminently credible, if ever so slightly magical.

Doubtless, there have been heroines in adventure games, but precious few. Kate Walker is a 21st-century young woman, charged by her prestigious New York law firm with the task of facilitating the takeover of an automaton factory in western Europe. She is young, slightly impetuous, eager, and above all newly in charge of herself. She gradually becomes enchanted with the old world story of the Voralberg family and their toy factory.

As she wends her way ever deeper into old Europe and eventually into the former Soviet Union, she discovers not only a decaying world there but a rapidly decaying world back stateside: her good friend and her fiance have an affair while Kate is away on this business trip. Further, Kate's mother is an upper-middle class matriarch who has clearly spent much of her time judging Kate and telling her what to do. Kate's boss is a high-powered, unsympathetic attorney with a very limited set of sensibilities. She sees the effects of globalization in the takeover of the toy factory and the obselescence of the automaton technology in the face of the digital age; similarly, she sees the effects of post-Cold War globalization on the landscape of Eastern Europe. As Kate experiences this history from the ground, she begins also to see her own history from afar--and discovers very gradually that she has positioned herself and been positioned as subordinate to far too many people in her life. It is this realization as much as any business matters that comes to direct the geography of Kate's adventure.

This story is as much about a woman discovering herself and her circumstances as it is an exploration of the post-information, post-Cold War world. Indeed, the details of a woman's journey to recognition of her social and political circumstances is a second-wave feminist story. What makes this story post-second-wave feminist is the way in which it explores the social limits of a woman who has allegedly been "liberated" enough by feminism to hold a position in a powerful law firm. When Kate is released into history, that is, the history of Europe and Russia in relation to both the United States and the globe, she is also released to see her own social condition in relation to those with whom she deals. This is where Syberia pushes the limits of the adventure game: it reaches for what may properly be thought of as the most current social, political, and global concerns, settling not just for the quest story but also in some measure for our story.

I will refrain from reviewing in detail the technical aspects of the game, as they have no doubt been covered in detail by experienced reviewers. I limit myself to discussion of the story because it is a story in which I dwelled happily for many hours of gameplay. It is enough to say that the interface was hardly an interference for me during my journey to Syberia.

Needless to say, I have anxiously awaited Syberia 2, which has apparently been postponed from October 2003 to April of 2004. This delay has been most inauspicious, but I will surely survive the wait. I am aware, however, that Kate becomes Hans Voralberg's "acolyte" in Syberia 2, which gives me some cause for concern. It is not a new story to have a liberated woman eventually return into some kind of orbit around a male figure. This is, in fact, one of the oldest stories ever told, told more often, needless to say, after the second wave of feminism. I fear the creators of Syberia may fall into that inevitable pit of only being able to see so far and no further.

Nevertheless, I will happily play Syberia 2 with the same obsessive fixation as I did the first. I give Syberia 5-plus stars for its superior graphics and artwork, environment, ambience, cut-scenes, interface, storyline and character work, inventiveness, spirit, and vision.

great graphics, not so great game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: January 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The graphics were quite pretty, and a few of the supporting characters were interesting, but the game wasn't so hot.

The biggest problem is the lack of a plot. Instead it is just a sequence of puzzles, really. And the game is extremely linear. It also suffers from the tendancy to make key puzzles depend on noticing obscure details and hotspots in the background. That's kind of the lazy way out of designing fun puzzles.

Be aware, you have to talk to people, then do things, then talk to the same people again, then do things, then talk to the same people again, etc.

The ending was also pretty rushed. I would have preferred if Kate had a choice about what she does at the end.

Finally, Kate herself is annoying and whiney. Plus, there is no justification for the fact that she essentially steals valuable things from other people -- people who she has just talked to and befriended. It makes her pretty unsympathetic.

Dull

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 8
Date: July 11, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The graphics are not great despite what people keep saying here. The Myst and Riven graphics blow this one away...Remember Myst3 and how poor the graphics were in comparison to Myst and Riven? This game is on par with Myst3.

The plot is boring and is not aided by the script that must have been written by a 6th grader (sorry - no offense to all you 6th graders out there). I was ready to strangle the retarded kid after only 2 encounters...and the robot man is equally insipid and annoying. The heroine is also pathetic when on the phone kissing-up/whining to her boyfriend.

If you enjoy spending hours wandering around aimlessly and pointlessly, get this game... otherwise spend your hard-earned dough elsewhere.

Even better than "The Longest Journey"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: January 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It seems that the biggest criticisms of this game are the lack of challenging puzzles and the amount of "walking" that Kate has to do. Since I'm terrible at puzzles that have nothing to do with clues that are part of the storyline, this was fine with me. In additon, anyone who complains about having to "walk around" a great deal, shouldn't be playing adventure games. That's simply part of the genre. If the player happens to move in the right direction and collect all clues and inventory the first time, there are fewer trips from place to place. If the player isn't that lucky, then they end up visiting locales numerous times - that's just the way most of the adventure games I've ever played work.

As everyone has pretty much mentioned already, the graphics are astounding! I enjoyed all the characters and locales. The music was unobtrusive and the dialogue made sense. My biggest complaint with "The Longest Journey" was the amount of dialogue - volumes - Syberia was a great inmprovement in this regard.

I agree with some of the other reviewers that the cellphone started to get on my nerves - but once we see that Dan and Olivia are having an affair, I got a kick out of it. It also helped to demonstrate how Kate evolves from a mousey woman who had never been adventurous before to an independent woman who is ready to chuck everything to go join Hans and Oscar on the train instead of returning to New York. I can't wait until Syberia II comes out in April 2004 to see what awaits them.

A slimy lawyer Dorothy in a boring Oz

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: November 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I haven't finished this game yet, but I just have to say a couple things about it. The graphics are amazing, but it seemed to me that Kate spent a lot of time shamelessly sucking up to her boss. Also her cellphone kept ringing in the most inane places. But that was funny. Her character was sort of unsympathetic as well, she made poor Momo pick up the muddy oar because he was slow, so she wouldn't have to get her hands dirty. Also it really seemed to me that she almost flirted with Oscar. "I'm not done with you yet, you silly robot you". Why? But this game is still entertaining, just because of these points.

Waste of Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 16
Date: September 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Syberia... a great game, full of amazing scenery, brain-jingling puzzles, and many fun adventures... NOT! Syberia, the so-called " Top notch adventure game" is not what you think. I have played this game with one of my relatives, and before I played it I thought " wow! This is going to be fun to play!"...Later on I regretted that thought... sigh... If any of you game players want to play Syberia, you must have the patience and an IQ of at least 1 (which I am sure you already have). This game was a waste of money, and the reviews for this game were DEFINETLY not helpful at all to me. (hint: Don't buy this!)

4 and a half stars

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Syberia, how should I say it, is a game with it's weaknesses and accomplishments. The story is one of the best included in any game in the last half decade, the voice acting and the art is astounding, and the overall length is good. The puzzles, perhaps, take away some of the enjoyment of the game. I didn't know how to complain, for several puzzles were incredibly easy to solve while others frustrated me to the point that I had to resort to a guide. Syberia is definetely a game worth owning though perhaps better when it's worth 10-20 dollars instead of 30. The copy I received from Amazon included a bonus disk which had lots of extra stuff but nothing that you would continuously view over and over. I feel that this game is one that you'll beat and won't play for a long while, before finally noticing it and having an interest again.

Syberia is the story of Kate Walker, an ambitious lawyer who begins her journey when she is sent to buy an automaton (robot) factory. When she gets there, however, she discovers that Anna Voralberg, the owner, has sadly passed away. Kate is about to give up when she discovers that Anna's brother, who was believed to be dead, is still alive. When Kate finds him, she will be able to make him sign the contracts and complete the mission. The game then begins to lead you through many puzzles and locations such as a toy factory, a cave, a university, several train stations, forests, and many more places that are each designed with every possible detail to give the player the most realistic experience.

Graphics: 9/10 - The graphics are brilliant, simply wonderful, in a good and bad way. The good is that everything looks too realistic. The bad thing is that players don't want a game to show them something that they could easily see outside. For example, take another adventure game, Curse of Monkey Island's graphics. The graphics there are cartoony. But are they colorful and entertaining? Yes. The realism of Syberia both takes and adds to the game.

Replayability: 4/10 - The game will have you hooked for many days but as soon as you finish it, you won't play it for a long time. In Monkey Island, there were at least difficulties in which there were more puzzles and harder solutions. Syberia's puzzles are mostly easy so trying to play the game for a second time knowing all the solutions is incredibly boring.

Voice Acting: 8/10 - Perfect. The actors show real emotions and feelings. One thing I would have liked to see was to actually choose the things I want to say after a person speaks to me. There are options as to what you want to discuss but then Kate starts saying unneeded things. For example, when a mechanical robot in the game starts asking Kate for things, she says "Oh, is that really necessary?" or "Come on, please!". I felt that all that time could have been used to actually get what the robot had asked for.

Story: 9/10 - Good but there's not really a villain. Kate's just trying to get to Hans Voralberg and it seems like nothing is going to stop her. There's no arch-nemesis or any person she's trying to beat. There's no conflict. And everyone knows that the best stories always have a conflict.

Bonus Disk: 5/10 - Not much to see and everybody talks French. I hate subtitles.

Overall, 95%. If a friend has it, I recommend borrowing it for a week or two and beating it easily. If you see it in a jewelcase for 10 bucks, buy it. If someone offers you this or another adventure game like Monkey Island, take Monkey Island.

I love it!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I used to play the King's Quests games and I've missed playing them and I didn't think anyone would ever come out with games like those again. Thank you Dreamcatcher. I can't believe I'm just now finding them. I played the Nancy Drew series but they were not as much fun.
The graphics are great, the plot is great, and the puzzles are logical. Lots of fun!

ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I play adventure games - third person adventure games. The first person perspective actually gives me motion sickness and makes me queasy. It - the 1st person perspective - is also (so I have read) one of the major reasons 'video games' can trigger epileptic fits. What 'immerses' me in a game is not the perspective but the story. If an author/developer gets me caring about his protagonist, then I am immersed. Syberia does this.

It is entertaining. It is also beautiful, with THE most developed storyline anywhere. It is less a game than the movie that so many other reviewers have likened it to.

I also play games to relax. I 'think' enough at my office every day and need some 'mindless' entertainment at home. I say this because I like my games with easy to medium puzzles. Syberia fits the bill. All the puzzles make sense. All employ the use of logic without frustration. The truth is, I was glad to get through the puzzles so that the story could advance - it was that good.

The one 'disappointment' for me was that I couldn't intercat with the surroundings more (as in The Longest Journey). But that was a minor complaint which, when you think about it, only arises because the games is so gorgeous and the script so well done that you find yourself wanting more!

I am clearly completely enamoured of this game and I think you will be too. I encourage everyone to get a copy of this and Syberia 2 which is the astounding and satisfying end to a superlative game.

Immerse yourself in this beautiful journey

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have just started playing this wonderful game,and am enjoying it immensely.This is a classic "point and click game"but the difference between "Syberia" and others of this genre is that the story line is gentle,logical,and intriguing.There are "puzzles" to solve,but they are not non-sensical and frustrating.You just have to be observant,and use logic.And the story line actually makes sense,unlike some similar games I have played.The graphics are stunning,and the music is poignant and underscores the story line perfectly.The voice actors are all very good. The game has run flawlessly on my 1.7 PC,running XP,with 256 megs of RAM.
I reccommend "Syberia" without reservation to anyone who enjoys a classy, thoughtful PC adventure.Give it a try.I think you will be delighted.

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