DOS

The 11th Hour

The release of the Seventh Guest in 1993 has been a revolution for adventure gamers and played a decisive role in the growth of CD-ROM drives installed. I saw people buying CD-ROM drives just to play with the 7th Guest, and one of the reason why it sold so well might be because it was among the few products that were pushing CD-ROMs to their upmost capacities at that time. Moreover, the 7th Guest was a technological breakthrough featuring SVGA 3D rendered graphics, computer animations up to 15 frames per second and video with a cast of professional actors. If you look closer at what is being done today in the computer games industry, you will notice that the 7th Guest was a precursor who strongly influenced the other computer game companies. Now with the release of The 11th Hour, the sequel of the 7th Guest, will we again be the witnesses of a new generation of games or just find another rehash packed with additional graphics and puzzles? You will find out if you read what follows!

Comment ne pas craquer pour un jeu aussi beau ? Si l'on déteste les jeux d'énigmes évidemment. Dans le cas contraire, ce produit s'avère être le meilleur du genre. Malheureusement, la progression ne se fait pas uniquement par les énigmes, et on doit presque obligatoirement passer par les aides pour avancer dans le jeu.

Välgjord grafik, bra ljud, utmanande gåtor och framför allt en myskuslig atmosfär gör spelet mycket bra, och gillade du 7th Guest är dethär ett givet köp.

I can only repeat that this is an excellent game for anyone who loves puzzles and games, and quiet contemplation, with a bit of story thrown in for good measure. But if you like your games with a bit of zip about them then maybe it's not for you. And it may not be for you if you can't take a spot of criticism -- Stauf has a limitless supply of insults up his sleeve to fling at you if you fall short of expectations.

In the end, The 11th Hour is little more than a frustrating experience. It is very clear that a great deal of effort has gone into the game. Eleven years after its release, the graphics still look quite pleasant. Navigating the mansion is a simple matter. There are a number of puzzles that should be quite entertaining to solve. But the game is lacking in too many other aspects. While the storyline is more coherent and clearer than the previous game, it is somewhat lacking in depth. There are a number of fun puzzles, but the mini-games you play against Stauf can easily become frustrating. Despite the presence of some cleverly constructed riddles, the “Treasure Hunts” boil down to annoying exercises that test your patience. The game fails to create the kind of atmosphere that draws players in and creates a feeling of immersion. It just feels like a series of puzzles with a number of puzzles thrown in between and a storyline that focuses more on past events than your own actions.

Without meaning to, The 11th Hour has taught the gaming industry a few valuable lessons: First, the sequel isn't always as successful as the original. Second, pretty graphics and cool video sequences do not ensure a good overall gaming experience. Third, and perhaps most importantly, game creators should stay true to their claims, or they'll disappoint their audience in the end.

Bei allem Respekt vor der Arbeit der Trilobyte-Grafiker - bei diesem Spiel habe ich mehr Zeit damit verbracht, mich zu ärgern, als irgendwelche Rätsel zu lösen.

Was haben die Jungs von Trilobyte bloß in den letzten eineinhalb Jahren angestellt? 11th Hour ist fast in allen Bereichen schlechter als The 7th Hour. Die Puzzles sind noch undurchschaubarer als beim Vorgänger, die Synchronisation der Videos ging total daneben.

All in all, Trilobyte has made a bad game. The 11th Hour is a huge disappointment, even the Trilobyte designers themselves said they didn't want to make it. And they shouldn't have.

Overall, 11th Hour is a mess in its storyline, its poor puzzle quality, its too-high-end requirements, and its general lack of consideration for the game player. I would not recommend this game to anyone.