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Kate Walker, Hans Voralberg and Oscar head for Syberia

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 82 / 85
Date: September 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It was a story about Benoît Sokal's "Syberia 2" that got me interested in playing the game and so I picked up "Syberia" knowing full well that this was a two-part game. So for me it was pretty much one giant adventure and since the original "Syberia" is available at a reduced price nowadays there is no reason not to go back and start at the beginning. There is a recap of "Syberia" cinematic available at the start of this game, but why anybody would skip the first half of the game and miss out on being introduced to Oscar and the other automatons of Hans Voralberg, the eccentric inventor who longs to see the fabled Syberian mammoths before he dies is beyond me.

At the end of "Syberia" our heroine, Kate Walker, the New York City attorney who was sent to Valdeline to close a deal on the Voralberg Automaton Factory had decided to turn her back on her job and family to join Hans Voralberg on his automaton train heading through a frozen wasteland towards the legendary island of Syberia. The first stop is the town of Romansbourg where Kate will end up acquiring a few more companions for the trip, although not all of them are wanted. Hans' failing health will be a problem throughout this journey, but if Kate does get Hans to Syberia alive then nothing else matters.

Players control Kate Walker through the standard adventure game interface consisting of an inventory screen, a document screen, and Kate's cell phone. Fortunately, since Kate has turned her back on her employer, Marston, and her mother (No more calls from Dan the annoying and cloying now ex-boyfriend!), the cell phone is reduced to a minor part of the game. However from time to time we see a cinematic where we learn that Marston has sent somebody after Kate to find her and bring her to her senses and back home (the last two not necessarily in that order). So we keep waiting for this guy to show up and either cause trouble or give Kate some help (I actually liked the way that element played out).

The strength of this game are the graphics. My nephew, who knows a lot more about what is available in the realm of computer games, assures me that these are cool graphics. There are some nice renderings of water throughout both games and I like the attention to detail here where people walking across snow leave footprints. We even have real time snowfall in this one as well. There are also strange mechanical gadgets at every stop along the way and a lot of things built out of mammoth tusks in the last part of the game. The cinematics are pretty impressive and you have the option of going back and watching them over and over again to your heart's delight. The music is also quite good, especially when you get to the key moments of wonder in the story.

The weakest part of the game is finding some of the hot spots. A couple of times in each game I missed some tiny object on the floor I was supposed to be picking up and several times it took a while to find whatever I needed to find to insert a key or throw a switch. So be prepared for some moments of frustration as you know you are missing something and keep going in circles for a while. But there is almost always a point like that in any of these games (I spent three days ranting and raving while trying to find Brad and give him what he needs in "Phantasmagoria").

As you would also expect the puzzles in "Syberia II" are a standard mix of fairly straightforward efforts in logic (I almost want to say "real world" solutions but we are playing a game looking for living mammoths on a mythical island) and those that require hit and miss trial and error for extended periods of time. A big helpful hint would be to take notes of things you see in terms of diagrams and drawings. Unlike "Syberia" there are not a lot of manuscripts and other things that you can pick up and put in your inventory to read later (however, the few you do have are pretty interesting in terms of the story). So a pattern that you see can be the clue to how things have to be arranged down the road. You will also find the quirky uses for things like a Russian doll (you will carry this one around for a long time before you use it), a fish skeleton and a flask of water.

I really think you have to consider the two games as one big one. "Syberia" was a bit more interesting simply because this is where we find out what is going on and what Kate is doing. In "Syberia" the goal was to find Hans Voralberg, who was pretty much a mythic figure. Then, once we found he was a real person, the goal then became to find Syberia, which is the focus of "Syberia II." But then the whole idea that Kate was undergoing some sort of rite of passage here was never a major part of the story's appeal. Basically the mystery ends with "Syberia," but the adventure continues in "Syberia II." Kate Walker does have a character arc over the entire adventure, but it is Han's quest to find the reality represented by the doll of the mammoth with its rider that is the driving force here.

Final Note: There were a couple of points in the game (outside the monastery and on the back porch of the cabin) where there were lines of color on the screen and the game crashed. Do not panic: all you have to do is go into your options and reduce the detail level to low and everything will be fine.

Syberia II a stunning completion of Kate and Hansý journey.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 29 / 29
Date: April 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Montréal-based Microïds and artist Benoît Sokal have teamed up once again to bring us the final chapter to Syberia, a mythical island where mammoths still roam. In 2002's Syberia (rated Game of the Year), promising New York lawyer Kate Walker traveled to France to oversee a simple factory buyout. The factory owner, Anna Voralberg, had died, and left a mysterious heir--her brain-damaged brother, Hans, who was somewhere deep in the Russian tundra. Kate journeyed across a Europe recovering from the scars of Communism in order to find the heir and be done with it, but along the way she began to care about Hans and his fantastic mechanical creations. The first Syberia ended with Kate jumping aboard the train in Aralbad, leaving her past and journeying towards an unknown future in Hans' quest to reach Syberia.

Syberia II picks up at that exact point, with Kate and Hans rocketing along in the snowy wilderness towards Syberia. As in the previous game, there are four worlds to discover: the gloomy border town of Romansbourg, the vast Great North Passage, the Youkol Village and the Last Voyage. Kate revisits Valadilene, Hans' birthplace, in a sepia-toned dream sequence (the haunting music here sounds as if it was composed by Danny Elfman, i.e. haunting chimes, bells and soloists).

In addition to Kate, Hans and Oscar (the cowardly automaton train driver), several characters from the first game have cameos here as well. There are multiple new characters to aid Kate on her quest: the spunky orphan Malka, Colonel Emeliov Goupatchev, bartender and surrogate parent Cirkos, a Youkol chief and shaman. There are enemies that threaten to end Kate's quest: the stern Orthodox Patriarch and bumbling villains Igor and Ivan. Animal characters also play an important role in Syberia II: the spirit guardian Harfang, lemmings, man-eating penguins (!), ferocious grizzly bears, and a Youki, a loyal dog-seal hybrid bred by the Youkol people.

There are several notable improvements from the first game, including major graphics improvements: reflections in water and glass, ice textures, and uniform fabric and decals; real time snowfall and footstep marks; dynamic lighting and shadows; animated fog; and better in-game animation. The cutscenes are gorgeous and numerous, and can be replayed at any point. The music is as immersive and beautiful as in the first game, and cycles in and out of gameplay. For much of the time the only sounds are of Kate's footsteps, snow gently thudding off branches and roofs, and nature sounds (birds, wind, wolves howling, ice cracking).

The puzzles are more organic in nature than the first game and there is more of an action element: Kate must rock climb, scale antennae towers, swing across chasms and outwit attackers (human and animal). An interesting (but unnecessary) subplot involves a detective hired by her employer to hunt Kate down and bring her home. Kate's cell phone, a crucial element in the first Syberia, has several brief appearances, but Kate generally hangs up mid-call (If I were her I would have thrown it off the train!).

Syberia II has much more of a spiritual element based on Youkol medicine and shamanism (you must make a Youkol potion, summon a spirit guide, and journey into a spirit world), and the ending ties up storylines from both games. There are several tear-jerker moments in the game.

There are optional subtitles for the hearing-impaired, a "Syberia recap" that neatly packages the major events of the first game into an entertaining trailer for those not familiar with the Syberia universe, and replay option for cinematic cutscenes. Syberia II is visually stunning, thought-provoking and a more than satisfying sequel that lives up to the impossibly high standards of the first Syberia. Bravo!

Great continuation of Syberia

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 22 / 22
Date: April 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game has taken some heat from professional reviewers for not being up to the caliber of the original Syberia. In some ways, I agree with those reviews. As a stand-alone game, I don't think Syberia 2 measures up to the first game. HOWEVER, this is a continuation. Playing Syberia 2 without having played Syberia is akin to opening up a 1000 page novel and starting at page 500, and then wondering why you don't care much about the characters. Yes, Syberia 2 picks up exactly where Syberia left off, and for fans of the first game, this is great. It means there's no contrived rehash of events or reintroduction of characters. The story just moves along. In fact, I'd like to see Syberia 1 and 2 bundled as a single, huge game, since that's really what they form.

The beginning of this game is actually a bit better than the beginning of the original. There's more to do from the outset... more characters with whom to interact, more places to go, fewer locked doors. Overall, it's just a more interesting start. Unfortunately, whereas the first game had a great mystery to keep you occupied once things got going, this game doesn't. Your one goal is FIND SYBERIA. Why? Who knows. Just because some old guy wants you to. In that sense, the plot isn't as compelling.

Still, Syberia 2 makes up for its weaker plot in other ways. In the first game, the pacing was almost too structured-- reach a new locale and stay there until you find a way to get your train moving again. Syberia 2 varies this formula a bit. I can't tell you how this is varied without giving away some fun plot twists, but rest assured, the progression from one locale to the next is more interesting.

Overall, Syberia 2 is a very welcome follow-up to a great game. As in the original, this game features a cast of involving characters, phenomenal graphics, fitting music, a great sense of atmosphere, brilliant cut-scenes, and well-integrated puzzles. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that both Syberia games are able to stir up emotions better than almost any computer game out there. This is due in part to the high production values, but more importantly to the sense of story and character development that make the experience of playing Syberia more like watching a really good movie, which just happens to be interactive.

Join Kate Walker on a fun ride.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 20
Date: May 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Yes. Kate Walker is back. And what a ride.

This game has excellent graphics, and good story (although some of the dialog is lame), many different places to go, and a great feel to the game.

Syaberia 2 picks up where Syberia left off (there is a button you can click to refresh your memory about the first Syberia game though if you haven't played it, I would play it first before this one because they are both great). You start off in a small town called Romansburg. You have many different things to do before you can go and it is the same with most every place you go.

Alot of the puzzles are pretty much common sense but there are a 5 or 6 puzzles that are very hard. It can get to be very tedious and frustrating, but it is very satisfying to solve it and move on.

I thought the story was very good and the message that it brings is a good one that most of us should try following. The little cutscenes are well done and the movies are great. There many of these in the game and it is amazing to see them. Especially the last 2. They are pretty incredible. And the sound of the wind blowing and other sounds in the game give it a great feel. When I had my earphones on, I felt like I was actually there. It was great.

If you played the first one, you definitely have to have this one. And if you like puzzle games and didn't play the first one, I reccommend you get the first one also and play both. Either way, this game is great.

The thinking man's adventure game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 16
Date: November 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Just so you know where I stand, I hated The Longest Journey. I play for relaxation and I do enjoy a slow paced adventure but I also demand depth and credibility. Spare me the psycho-babbles and silliness about magic and dragons.

Syberia 1&2 is an altogether different level of engagement. It has a well developed plot, life-like characters, and most important ATMOSPHERE. The amount of details is astounding and I would agree the game has a certain feminine charm to it. While it doesn't escape the triple curse of adventure games (linearity, pixel hunting, annoying puzzles), this is probably as good as it gets.

It goes without saying, hyperactive players looking for a rambo-like romp should steer clear of this one.

Great story, great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: May 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is definitely not for those who like "Hack n' slash" or shooter type games. However, if you liked Myst, you'll probably enjoy this one.

It is more of an interactive novel than a game, really. The plot is non-cliche', although they could've done without the side plot of the detective, which I too felt was unrealistic. I mean, come on. In the real world, if you go AWOL from your job without calling in sick, that's generally seen as quitting. The company would probably just have replaced her and not bothered with the detective at all, especially after finding out she was alive via her cell phone.

But still, the main plot was pretty good. I do wish they'd have explained Kate's reasons better though. Yeah, she has a good heart, but even the most kind-hearted souls probably wouldn't follow someone to the ends of the earth without strong motivation. And what exactly was her dream, anyway? To get away from her boss and annoying mother?

I have to say this is the only computer game that ever brought tears to my eyes at the end. I really hope they do a sequel. It could be Syberia III: Return to New York.

The best of what's out there in this genre but a few hitches

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: May 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The graphics are spectacular, the scenery lovely. This is an adventure that doesn't hurry. A little mystery, a little magic and a goodbye. If you loved Syberia 1, you will most likely be a fan.

I am writing this for would be gamers to let them know that there ARE a couple of problem areas that don't seem to be written about. Save often of course. There are places in the game (I found two) where if you make the wrong choice -- forgetting to pick up an item or preforming an action which seems logical but is the WRONG action in the game developer's mind -- you CANNOT, no matter what you try get a second chance to rectify your mistake. You must go back to a previously saved game and do the steps in the "correct" order. This appears to be a programing problem and happend to a friend of mine also so does not appear to be system related.

So, if you figure out what you SHOULD have done (or read some hints) and can't get back to where you can preform the action ("no point in doing that", says Kate), just go back to your last game and repeat the steps.

Yes, it's a pain, but the graphics are worth it.

A continuation of an already amazing achievement

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 22
Date: March 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It is very fair to say that Syberia was the game that got me back into adventure games. I picked it up off the shelves on a whim shortly after it was released, thinking that it looked like a good game, but half expecting it to be a mildly dissapointing experience. People have been saying that the adventure game genre is dead, but that is most certainly not the case. Syberia was an amazing accomplishment, as much a piece of art as it was a game. Given from what I've seen of this sequel, I have no doubt in my mind that this one is going to astound and amaze me as much as the first did. If you're feeling depressed about adventure games, play this series. Then you'll just feel depressed about there not being a Syberia III to look forward to.
The sequel is in some ways shorter and easier than the first one, but the writing and graphics were immersive enough that I found it difficult to hold it against the game. After all, it didn't prevent me from moving the story on, which was all I really cared about after a while. And even though it is a sequel, it is easily capable of standing on its own (but shame on you if you haven't at least tried to get your hands on the original first).
The music in my opinion exceeds the original in many ways, and instead of an endless loop it comes on only sparingly, though I wouldn't have minded if there had been a bit more of it.
The story is artfully executed and greatly enhanced by the use of the pre-rendered cinematics, evoking enough emotion to actually bring tears to my eyes in several places. Yes, there are a few factual errors concerning penguins, but there are factual errors in just about everything these days, and if necessary their presence in the North could be explained by a well meaning but fairly dim zoo keeper trying to return his charges to the wild. The fact that it is short in no way cheapens the game play, as it would have been a crime to try to draw out the plot, which is always at the forefront of the game, any further as it would only have ruined the story. Also, strong performances help bring every character in the game to life.
In short, brilliant acting, cinematography, writing, and visual aspects all help this game live up to its astounding predecessor. If you're a fan of old style adventure games, you simply have to play this series before giving up on the genre.
Even shorter: PLAY THIS GAME.

A very awesome game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 19
Date: March 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I played Syberia I a great deal of times and can never get tired of it. The graphics, the plot, the characters, everything is absolutely amazing. Syberia II is said to have even better upgrades than the first version.

I suggest this game to anyone who likes games where you have to use your wits and doesn't mind going back and forth, trying to solve puzzles. It's a very enjoyable game where you really get sucked into the story, becoming Kate Walker, and trying to figure out endless puzzles.

Anyone into this genre should also try Escape From Monkey Island 4.

Syberia rules!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 57
Date: January 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I have been waiting for this. Syberia is such a great game and now, Syberia 2 is coming out. :)

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