Sentinel review

MaryScots · 01-31-2005, 10:37 AM

First of all - great review, Laura!

I just finished the game myself and I agree with you for the bigger part. In one point, though, I differ - I found it quite fitting that you're not able to interact with objects other than those belonging to a puzzle and that is because while you are wandering through a stranger's memories - to me personally - it seems logical that you can only touch or interact with what this mind allows you to.

P.S.: While explaining the story you made a little mistake, the game starts in Tomb 35. It's not very important but anyway I thought I'd mention it.

LauraMac · 01-31-2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

game starts in Tomb 35

Uhm yes and so it did. OOPS Thanks

That's an interesting point about the possible logic for that aspect of the game, still left me feeling unengaged,

but yes makes sense from a story point.

EasilyConfused · 01-31-2005, 02:36 PM

Thanks so much for this Laura. I was really excited about Sentinel when I first heard about it, and then grew less so in a probably graph-able way over time. My concern was exactly the problem that you've described here--that I'd be unceremoniously dumped in some lovely but inaccessible world, even though I'd have that . . . Dormeuse-lady to talk to (or listen to???). Puzzles aren't great company to me either. But this might well be someone's cup of tea, so I thought it was a fair and balanced review.

Helpful!

colpet · 01-31-2005, 04:20 PM

Nice review, Laura. This game is right up my alley. You have me drooling already!

LauraMac · 01-31-2005, 05:46 PM

Thanks guys.

Yes, The sentinel, Dormeuse was a very intriguing character and would have liked to have seen more of her in the game. And yep - it was a sit there and watch the dialogue moment. No actve choices. It was very well done cinematics, but still just a passive activity.

I do think that avid puzzlers will LOVE these obscure brain busters, I liked them in places - just wanted stuff to do - things to pick up - look at - comments...

And sensory overload on ambiance, graphics - really beautiful game environs.

Now I am being optimistic though about Still Life and Niburi

and then there's DreamFall, Fahrenheit and Lost Paradise

yummmmm

EDIT: To Trep - EXACTLY!! Embrace the rant and not right that we even have to.

Someone said I seemed less upbeat in my reviews lately, and I said isnt "me" it's the games... Gotta be more than puzzles and one rat...

Intrepid Homoludens · 01-31-2005, 07:46 PM

ARRRGH!!! What is it with these STERILE, DEAD, and INACCESSIBLE gameworlds?!! Where is it written in stone that the only things you're allowed to mess with are the puzzles themselves? It's the crucial difference between looking at a world and BEING in that world. This is one reason I get easily bored in these games, I can't do anything else, I can't touch anything BUT the puzzles themselves. Screw that, give me ways where I can actively discover the stories and not have to sit impotent and watch one cutscene after cutscene with my hands tied behind my back.

Umm....

....excellent review, Laura. Love your style of writing.

RLacey · 02-01-2005, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

ARRRGH!!! What is it with these STERILE, DEAD, and INACCESSIBLE gameworlds?!! Where is it written in stone that the only things you're allowed to mess with are the puzzles themselves? It's the crucial difference between looking at a world and BEING in that world. This is one reason I get easily bored in these games, I can't do anything else, I can't touch anything BUT the puzzles themselves. Screw that, give me ways where I can actively discover the stories and not have to sit impotent and watch one cutscene after cutscene with my hands tied behind my back.

Die, Myst!

01-31-2005, 10:37 AM	#1
MaryScots headless Last Online: 09-05-2006 02:32 PM Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 249	Sentinel review First of all - great review, Laura! I just finished the game myself and I agree with you for the bigger part. In one point, though, I differ - I found it quite fitting that you're not able to interact with objects other than those belonging to a puzzle and that is because while you are wandering through a stranger's memories - to me personally - it seems logical that you can only touch or interact with what this mind allows you to. P.S.: While explaining the story you made a little mistake, the game starts in Tomb 35. It's not very important but anyway I thought I'd mention it.

01-31-2005, 04:20 PM	#4
colpet Easily amused Last Online: 05-25-2016 04:49 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,091	Nice review, Laura. This game is right up my alley. You have me drooling already! __________________ Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 00637228).

01-31-2005, 05:46 PM	#5
LauraMac Bearly Here Last Online: 05-19-2009 04:58 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Barcelona Posts: 1,145	Thanks guys. Yes, The sentinel, Dormeuse was a very intriguing character and would have liked to have seen more of her in the game. And yep - it was a sit there and watch the dialogue moment. No actve choices. It was very well done cinematics, but still just a passive activity. I do think that avid puzzlers will LOVE these obscure brain busters, I liked them in places - just wanted stuff to do - things to pick up - look at - comments... And sensory overload on ambiance, graphics - really beautiful game environs. Now I am being optimistic though about Still Life and Niburi and then there's DreamFall, Fahrenheit and Lost Paradise yummmmm EDIT: To Trep - EXACTLY!! Embrace the rant and not right that we even have to. Someone said I seemed less upbeat in my reviews lately, and I said isnt "me" it's the games... Gotta be more than puzzles and one rat... Last edited by LauraMac; 01-31-2005 at 08:48 PM.. Reason: to talk to Trep

01-31-2005, 07:46 PM	#6
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Last Online: 05-17-2012 02:26 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	ARRRGH!!! What is it with these STERILE, DEAD, and INACCESSIBLE gameworlds?!! Where is it written in stone that the only things you're allowed to mess with are the puzzles themselves? It's the crucial difference between looking at a world and BEING in that world. This is one reason I get easily bored in these games, I can't do anything else, I can't touch anything BUT the puzzles themselves. Screw that, give me ways where I can actively discover the stories and not have to sit impotent and watch one cutscene after cutscene with my hands tied behind my back. Umm.... ....excellent review, Laura. Love your style of writing. __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

01-31-2005, 02:36 PM	#3
EasilyConfused Curiouser and curiouser Last Online: 08-19-2005 08:29 AM Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 803	Thanks so much for this Laura. I was really excited about Sentinel when I first heard about it, and then grew less so in a probably graph-able way over time. My concern was exactly the problem that you've described here--that I'd be unceremoniously dumped in some lovely but inaccessible world, even though I'd have that . . . Dormeuse-lady to talk to (or listen to???). Puzzles aren't great company to me either. But this might well be someone's cup of tea, so I thought it was a fair and balanced review. Helpful!