Until November 13th Humble Bundle offers a collection of games by the developer Microids. At least 3 games of these have their story based upon or focused on a train journey. The bundle includes a game to Agatha Christie's world known "Murder On The Orient Express" But the bundle also includes all 4 games of one of my favorite game franchises along Grand Theft Auto and Train Sim World of course, Syberia. The Syberia games belong to the point & click genre, orientated to solve puzzles/mysteries. I personally really enjoyed the puzzles of Syberia in the past decades and still do. I like to play Syberia in mid summer to give that cool feeling from display to my room. In Syberia 1 and 2 the storyline is that you help to bring the genious but old and weakened developer Hans Vorarlberg to fictional place somewhere in Sybiria to an island called Syberia, where Mammoths are still alive. The focus of the way to there is via Hans Vorarlberg's mechanical train, driven by a human-like robot called Oscar (he actually don't like to be called a robot, he prefers being an Automaton). Syberia 3, which I played this summer, is missing loco as journey keeper but from what I saw there will be a return of it in Syberia: The World Before (in practise Syberia: Part 4). From the trailer, there will also be like a tram in it I think. I will get the bundle to mainly get the latter but I'm also be able to dive into the Orient Express with it. The price of the bundle is superb to what the games cost together on Steam being bought separately. Important to say that the loco will just stay in locations, there will be no way to operate it. However, on some points you need to wind up the mechanics of the loco, otherwise it can't proceed further. And just to met expectations, this totally might be not something for everyone and that some mysteries took me hours to actually get the clue and complete them might be hair ripping yes. But I like the Syberia games just because of that really much. A few pictures below Oh and by the way, there is currently also a Microids Sale on Steam and Murder on the Orient Express and Syberia: The World Before have huge discounts there as well if you prefer that.
Here’s something I didn’t expect to read on the forums today. At the recommendation of a friend, I got all the games some time ago but haven’t gotten around to playing any yet. Really need to get around to that soon-ish, methinks.
played I and II, got III in my Steam library and planning to get World Before... btw The Longest Journey Saga (aka Dreamfall and Dreamfall Chapters also) is also marvellous and speaking of trains, how about The Last Express game where you have game running almost in real time and having tons of endings (with only few being truly positive), where you roam the famed Orient Express, trying to solve a murder, I believe
It's something very niche and one need to be the person to like it. The puzzles especially in Part 1 and Part 2 can be very hard, taking you hours to understand "What does the game actually wants me to do?". But especially this can be quite a calming thing to bring you down from anything else again. The scenery and storyline has its very own charme, you find nowhere else. And just a small spoiler but maybe a recommendation. It actually takes a bit in Part 1 to get to the train journey part. If that is something you don't want, just dive in directly with Syberia 2 where the game actually starts in the train. I guess it's like a niche musician one of your friends recommend to you and is not that popular. But it could turn out really good if you take a look into it. I actually came into the game 16 years ago with Syberia 2 back in the day on my old PS2. Couldn't finish the story until the last chapter. 2 years ago I started to rediscover the franchise and finally finished Part 2, then played part 1. Played Part 3 this summer but it somehow a bit different to the previous 2 games in feeling and game design, I guess because the large timeframe between. But all in all, a very good game despite many of the negative reviews regarding the control mechanism. If you're a true fan, it shouldn't bother you too much. At least for me, it didn't that much and I'm happy that they revived the franchise. I hope that the franchise will continue at some point. Recommend to get World Before if you intend to play 3. There is actually a review of mine on Steam. But be aware, it might contain some spoiler including the reason why I recommend to get World Before as well if you intend to play 3. And since The World Before is usually very pricey and rarely on sale, a good opportunity now to grab it in the Humble Bundle or on Steam.
The train isn’t actually the main reason I was interested in the first place, so I’m not worried about the pacing in 1. I love story and world-building focused games as well as steampunk, so it’s a natural fit for me. I had actually played the demo for 4 on a whim and that is how the conversation started that got my friend to recommend the series to me. It’s just one of those things that’s been sitting in my backlog even though I’m sure I’ll love it because I don’t have a lot of time for gaming at the moment. And there’s also the fact that I got the first games for my potato laptop since they’re not on PS5 (my usual platform), which isn’t doing them any favours for reaching the top of the backlog. Still, I’m planning to get around to them soon-ish, doubly so now that you reminded me that they’re still waiting for me.
nice post I wont read review, no offense, but over the years my experience has been that oftentimes reviewers would pick on this and that and then I played the game and I was like huh, really? and had a great time I dont have a problem with those newer games being different, looking forward to the story when I get there ... I remember being almost teary-eyed at the end of Syberia II... and I straight up cried when I finished Dreamfall chapters... not only I got the best ending, the most moving, the story was awesome, but also remembered that I finished that one 10 years after TLJ and Dreamfall... plus Dreamfall Chapters also had a couple moments that haunt me to this day, very strong parts (also, main heroine from Dreamfall/Dreamfall Chapters was kinda hot heh )
Oh yes! I love Syberia 1 and 2. Third game was quite weak and I didn't even finish it because nothing about it was making any sense. Syberia: The World Before on the other hand is absolutely amazing in every aspect. It's hardly train-focused because the infamous spring-powered train doesn't make an appearance but there are these tall trams that have... some pretty interesting features and that you use to get around the city of Vaghen where the game take place. I also like Dana Roze and feel like she makes a very compelling character.
Just a reminder, a little less than 10 hours left. I bought my bundle a few minutes ago. I was unsure whether Murder on the Orient Express was worth the 7,30€ more. Reviews and videos made me concerning, but I ended up giving it a try.
