Ecstatica - * REVIEW *
Neal W. Miller
Ecstatica, (c) 1994 Psygnosis, CD-ROM
Purchased locally for $34.99US
Reviewed by: Neal Miller (millen3@rpi) on 5/22/95
Reviewed on: 486dx-50, VLB graphics, 8M RAM, 2x CD-ROM
As a fan of cinema-animation style games, such as the Alone in the Dark
Trilogy, I was enthusiastic to get my hands on Ecstatica. However, I must
say that I am quite disappointed+.
The ellipsoid-based 3-D animation is unique to this game (at the time of
print) and shows some promise. Unfortunately, the task of using the
animation in a decent game is a burden that will have to fall on future
programmers.
While Ecstatica does not require a "full" installation to your hard drive,
it is recommended for the speed difference, assuming you have the 60M to
spare. The installation process itself is quite smooth.
I noticed the first problem within two minutes of playing the game.
Veterans of Alone in the Dark are used to the luxury of being able to change
directions while walking, as one would do when walking in a circle, or around
an obstacle. Not so in Ecstatica. You're either walking *or* turning, much
like the drawing facet of the old programming language LOGO. This means
that if you are being pursued, and you wish to run around a corner, you must
come to a complete stop, turn, and start running again.
The tedious movement within the game is compounded later on, when your
character dons a suit of armour that slows down all movement, including
walking, close to the point of unplayability.
Another irritating aspect of Ecstatica is the character's inability to
carry more than TWO objects at any one time. After all, your character has
but two hands. Therefore, if you are armed with a sword, you may carry no
more than one additional object (when fighting, your charcter will swing at
the enemy with whatever is in his hand, be it a knife, or a live rat).
Also, while the slow animation is very smooth, the faster animation is
jerky. While running, I can clearly see the gaps between my character's
locations between frames. Plus, poorly chosen camera angles often leave your
character fighting while you're only able to see your enemy's opaque backside.
Object bleeding is also prominent; one can walk partway through a locked door,
poke one's head through the side of a wardrobe, and swing your weapon at an
enemy with a seemingly random chance of the hit connecting.
The puzzles are either too simple, or just too silly. I've given up on
the game at this point because my armour-clad character keeps tripping while
crossing a particular point in a path. There are no stones in the area, but
he trips nonetheless. Of course, when you fall down while wearing armour, it
appears that getting up again is not possible. I tried walking on the grass
around the path instead, but when I reached that same point, my character
vanished from the grass, reappeared on the path, and tripped. Game over.
------
The Plot:
I'm not too sure; neither the instructions nor the intro sequence provide
much along the lines of a plot. It looks like another pseudo-medieval damsel-
in-distress story with magical overtones. The game is complete with a werewolf
who talks with a vague Cajun accent, and a whiny, raspberry-blowing little
girl in the stable.
-------
Summary:
Not worth the price. Psygnosis is capable of far better games than this.
--
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Neal Miller | Job Hunter, Full-Time | "This Side Up - Not Plummet Please!"
mil...@rpi.edu | Southampton, PA 18966 | - the box for my Taiwanese CPU fan
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Solid State
> Ecstatica, (c) 1994 Psygnosis, CD-ROM
> The tedious movement within the game is compounded later on, when your
>character dons a suit of armour that slows down all movement, including
>walking, close to the point of unplayability.
I figured the full plate was supposed to be unusable, there is a perfectly
good set of chainmail you can get elsewhere. I too tried to use the plate
armor and eventually figured it for a "red herring". The guy with the mallet
that saunters up to you after you inevitably trip was the big clue for me.
> The puzzles are either too simple, or just too silly. I've given up on
>the game at this point because my armour-clad character keeps tripping while
>crossing a particular point in a path. There are no stones in the area, but
>he trips nonetheless. Of course, when you fall down while wearing armour, it
>appears that getting up again is not possible. I tried walking on the grass
>around the path instead, but when I reached that same point, my character
>vanished from the grass, reappeared on the path, and tripped. Game over.
Ok, I solved the game in a day, so the plot and puzzles were a bit too easy
for me as well. I did like the "atmosphere" with the creepy music and this
game would, for me, have been better if there was more story with more work
to be done to get to the "payoff".
> I'm not too sure; neither the instructions nor the intro sequence provide
>much along the lines of a plot. It looks like another pseudo-medieval damsel-
>in-distress story with magical overtones. The game is complete with a werewolf
>who talks with a vague Cajun accent, and a whiny, raspberry-blowing little
>girl in the stable.
There are clues, including a diary and a wizard that explain what needs to be
done.
> Not worth the price. Psygnosis is capable of far better games than this.
To me, it lasted as long as most "puzzle" games do. I generally only play
"strategy" games like Masters of Orion/Magic, etc. With a Soundblaster 16,
large hard drive, 90 MHZ processor, and 17" screen the game was alot of fun
(while it lasted) with great creepy music and sound effects. There is more than
one "red herring" in the game, so some "puzzles" just can't be solved. The
plot could have been better though, but at least you could do pretty much
what you wanted, even if it was pointless. Buy a used CD if the price seems
to steep, and then re-sell it after you solve it.
Are there any more "animated" games of this type out there?
----
Solid State
s...@xmission.com
Animesh Karna
Here's my .02-cents . . .
I played it a decent bit one day. Didn't get too far: puzzles (that I had
encountered) seemed easy, but I found a lot of the combat to be just plain
annoying. After one point, after getting attacked by that werewolf guy again,
I just said ENOUGH. I wasn't enjoying this game, and that was that. I took
it back to the store and exchanged it for Relentless (which has similar
controls but doesn't have shifting camera angles). I have not regretted that
decision (Relentless is a VERY NICE game; I'd be more enthusiastic if it had a
better save game).
Marc Goldman
Neal W. Miller <mil...@alum01.its.rpi.edu> wrote:
> The ellipsoid-based 3-D animation is unique to this game (at the time of
>print) and shows some promise. Unfortunately, the task of using the
>animation in a decent game is a burden that will have to fall on future
>programmers.
I hope they use the system again, i loved it. Just wished it were more
in depth.
> I noticed the first problem within two minutes of playing the game.
>Veterans of Alone in the Dark are used to the luxury of being able to change
>directions while walking, as one would do when walking in a circle, or around
>an obstacle. Not so in Ecstatica. You're either walking *or* turning, much
>like the drawing facet of the old programming language LOGO. This means
>that if you are being pursued, and you wish to run around a corner, you must
>come to a complete stop, turn, and start running again.
I didn't notice this to be a problem. I can't check as i no longer have
the game but i found this no worse in control than the AITD games.
> The tedious movement within the game is compounded later on, when your
>character dons a suit of armour that slows down all movement, including
>walking, close to the point of unplayability.
You don't need this armour, it's just a red herring. In fact if you
actually manage to leave the town in it you get killed. You get some
proper armour later on.
> Another irritating aspect of Ecstatica is the character's inability to
>carry more than TWO objects at any one time. After all, your character has
>but two hands. Therefore, if you are armed with a sword, you may carry no
>more than one additional object (when fighting, your charcter will swing at
>the enemy with whatever is in his hand, be it a knife, or a live rat).
There are so few objects that this doesn't really matter. And although
at first this annoyed me I soon realised it wasn't realy a problem.
> Also, while the slow animation is very smooth, the faster animation is
>jerky. While running, I can clearly see the gaps between my character's
>locations between frames. Plus, poorly chosen camera angles often leave your
>character fighting while you're only able to see your enemy's opaque backside.
>Object bleeding is also prominent; one can walk partway through a locked door,
>poke one's head through the side of a wardrobe, and swing your weapon at an
>enemy with a seemingly random chance of the hit connecting.
Hmm i noticed very little of this on my system. (similar spec but a
DX2/66)
> The puzzles are either too simple, or just too silly. I've given up on
Too few or too simple.
>the game at this point because my armour-clad character keeps tripping while
>crossing a particular point in a path. There are no stones in the area, but
>he trips nonetheless. Of course, when you fall down while wearing armour, it
>appears that getting up again is not possible. I tried walking on the grass
>around the path instead, but when I reached that same point, my character
>vanished from the grass, reappeared on the path, and tripped. Game over.
Get rid of the armour. Put it back where you found it. Surely with the
problems it generates you've realise dthat it is useless to you.
My only complaints about this game (apart from the occasional slight
graphical glitch) where that it was far too short and easy. In general I
found it a very nice atmospheric adventure that i enjoyed much more than
the first 2 alone in the dark games.
> Not worth the price. Psygnosis is capable of far better games than this.
Worth the price now that it an be got cheaply or easily second hand as
in gaming terms it is quite old now.
Marc
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