This marks the end of week four of my Summer Game Challenge.  Before I start, I first want to share a pic of Rollergames I promised a while back.  It would have been a part of my challenge, but I started just a little too late. C'est la vie.


After a recommendation from crabmaster2000 I decided on Tombs and Treasure.  Judging from the name I really thought it would be a Wizardry-style game.  I even dug up some graph paper in anticipation of the challenge.  Instead I got.. well, a very unique game.


At the very core Tombs and Treasures (T&T) is a Japanese take on the PC adventure game genre circa 1987.  It has all the hallmarks of the adventure genre, from item management to strange, often cryptic clues about how to advance in the game.  Where the Japanese twist comes in is a extremely strange leveling and combat system, overhead world movement (with the actual locations within various ruins), and anime-style characters.  Doesn't sound bad, does it?  Trust me when I say this, it is bad.  Clunky controls, seemingly redundant interaction choices, and a overly large overworld that adds at least a few hours to the adventure.

I don't think I want to go on more about the game.  Suffice to say that to those that insist on playing T&T without a guide (I turned to one four times), let me give a bit of advice:

1) There is a definite linear progression to the game, so if you have not completed certain actions (and leveled up) the game will not let you progress.

2) Get a notebook.  With it make a map of the overworld, a glossary of all items that you find, as well as any conversation that you have.

3) The only place you can save the game is at the Nunnery.  This should be the first place you mark on your map.

4) While I am not a huge advocate of overly using FAQs and guides, I think a simple enemy list with the required level to win would go far in making the game more palatable, as this would make it easier to see if you've forgotten an item, an action, or any other myriad of things that keeps you from leveling up (which is completely transparent and behind the scenes).  I will be very happy to provide anyone with this information.

Overall the game took me over twenty hours to beat, not counting a few palate cleansing "breaks" (where I managed to beat both Limbo and Bastion). 


Whew, that was rough.

Conquest of the Crystal Palace
Ironsword
Dr. Chaos
Total Recall
Ultimate Stuntman
Tombs and Treasures
Swords and Serpents
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Driver: San Francisco
X3: Terran Conflict
X3: The Albion Prelude

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