Macintosh

The Last Express

The Last Express is in many ways a truly classic adventure game, with its inventory puzzles, escalating plot and tried-and-true interface. However, its extreme nonlinearity, the inclusion of violent scenes, and a sense of being what is in reality a completely timed game set it apart from standard pure adventure fare.

The Last Express is a very well-made game, created with love and unprecedented attention to detail. After long and hard thought, I decided to give it an A-. The graphics and sound quality is excellent and certainly deserves an A. The story is quite interesting too, although it's easy to miss some details. But the gameplay is a bit too unorthodox for my liking, which accounts for the minus. Still, The Last Express is a quality game and a classic.

Jordan Mechner's development group has made an auspicious debut: it's a genuine pleasure to come across a game that's as smart, elegant, and well-crafted as The Last Express. With its classy, period look and challenging gameplay, it will satisfy all but those adventure gamers who do not enjoy playing in real time. Sure, it's not quite the same as traveling on the real Orient Express, but it's still a great ride. And it costs a lot less.