EGYPTOLOGY 101......WITH DIFFERENT TWIST
A Review of Isis
by Rich Cunningham
Join the group Earth, Wind and Fire in an interactive game. Can you find the
missing gems and get the ship ready to sail before the volcano erupts again?
"Music is the language of the soul. It seeks to communicate a message to everyone that is open to receive it".
So states Maurice White, leader of the band Earth, Wind, and Fire during discussions for one of the bands latest projects. The project involves the combination of music, computers, videos, video games, and a combination of all of the above. This multimedia milkshake has resulted in a program called "Isis", and is produced by Panasonic Interactive Media and Snow Lion Entertainment.
This program has many levels to it. On one hand, it is a video game. On another, it is a collection of puzzles. And it is a collection of music and interview videos. Taken collectively, it is as unique an offering to the computer world that I have seen in a long time. While it has an air of "been there, done that" type of gameplay, it has some unique features that set it apart at the same time ( sort of a "been there, done that, but didn't buy the T-shirt" atmosphere).
The premise of the story is that an ancient civilization has come to earth from another dimension, where it is trapped in a pyramid by a volcano. That volcano is starting to awaken, and it is the mission of the player to get the ship ready to reenter its world before that portal is closed forever. The cargo of the ship is music, or as Isis calls it, healing sounds which promise hope to a trouble world. To get the ship powered up, the player must find 3 gems, which represent the 3 elements, earth, wind, and fire (catching on?). These elements are used to get the ship moving, and are found by exploring the ship and the pyramid it is trapped in.
The video game part of the program is very high quality artwork, slightly reminding me of "Myst", but still maintaining originality. They are very colorful, and have enough depth and dimension to add to the game. Player movement through the game is accomplished by point-and-click with the mouse, following the direction of the cursor. It turns into an Ankh icon (an Egyptian symbol) and points the player in the direction to go. Movement is similar to Doom, in that the player moves through the scenery, instead of the screen changing. There is very little animation in the program, which probably allows users of the slower IBM/Macintosh processors enjoy the program.
The puzzles that are scattered throughout the game are reminiscent of the games "The 7th Guest" and "The 11th Hour". They are cerebral in nature, requiring thought process rather than hand eye coordination to achieve victory. Solving the puzzles yields clues as to the what the player needs to accomplish next, and how it should be accomplished (but not too much detail is given, just enough). Hints are given by Isis, who has a habit of appearing at certain intervals to provide clues, explain a part of the ship one is in and its purpose, and intuitively pointing the player in the right direction (at least if was intuitive for me).
The music level is interwoven throughout the game. In searching throughout the ship, activating certain controls give the player brief views of an Earth, Wind, and Fire concert, as well as a series of interviews with the band members. After the puzzles are solved and the ship is freed, there is an entire concert shown to the players. At least that is what the instructions say. I haven't made it that far yet.
This program is, as I mentioned earlier, unique. It really offers nothing that hasn't been seen in other video games, but it does combine them in a way that is very intriguing and fun to both play and watch. The program is available in both the Windows and Macintosh format, as well as the REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer platform. Although it is designed for Windows 95, the enclosed documentation states it may be possible to run using Windows 3.1 under certain circumstances. The game runs entirely from CD ROM, so there is very little hard disk space taken up with program files.
This is a good program to play. It has challenging puzzles, nice settings, great music, and is easy to use. There is enough entertainment here for every computer user in the family to enjoy. Try it and you'll see what I mean.
Gamer's Zone Scorecard
| Product: |
Isis |
| Company: |
Panasonic Interactive Multimedia
|
| Cost: |
$39.95 |
System Requirements:
IBM: Windows 95; 8mb ram; 2X CD ROM; sound card capable of 8-bit 22,050Hz;
640x480x256color display; QuickTime for Windows (included on CD);
Microprocessor not listed but most likely a 486DX2-66 would be minimum
Macintosh: System 7.0 or higher; 8mb ram; 2X CD ROM (4mb ram free for CD);
256 colors; Microprocessor not listed
Breakdown:
Entertainment value 5
Graphics 3
Sound 4
Interface 3
Replayability 3
Overall Score:
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