Syberia

Mówię Wam – poznajcie Syberię. Zachwyćcie się bajkowymi krainami, zanurzcie się w nastroju snu, popłyńcie lekko z prądem cudnej muzyki. Poznajcie przemianę Kate Walker i zastanówcie się nad sobą, czy warto tak gnać naprzód, na oślep. Zatrzymajcie się na chwilę. Wyciszcie. Odczujcie smutek, ale i nadzieję i wzruszcie się tragedią rodziny Voralbergów. Zatęsknijcie za dziecięcymi marzeniami, bo może dane im będzie jeszcze się spełnić...

In the past ten years this reviewer has played maybe 200 games, and reviewed about 50. I think I've played 95% of all adventure games produced in that time. Let's start at the ending of the review for once. This is, without question, the finest PC game I have ever played. If you have a pulse and are reading this now (duh!), GET THIS GAME! I'll repeat that: GET THIS GAME! ……now back to the beginning.

Syberia provides a huge dose of what adventure gamers are hungry for: a rich story, complicated characters, tons of puzzles and exploration of a series of beautiful and intriguing environments. From its eerie, haunting beginning to its bittersweet, challenging conclusion, the game serves up a heady experience I don't think you'll soon forget.

From madness to mechanics, war machines to windup toys, head wounds to heart wounds, Syberia's epic tale covers more than half a century in game time and allows you to spend about 15 to 20 of your real hours playing it, or rather almost living it. It is really hard for a run-of-the-mill writer like me to do justice to Syberia in describing it. Ultimately all I can tell you is this: Play it yourself! It is not likely you will be disappointed.

Игродельческая Франция - страна контрастов. В то время как одни разработчики, обливаясь потом, ежегодно выдают на-гора десятки концептуально-бездушных творений, другие не спеша придумывают миры, претендующие на нечто большее, чем звание "виртуального музея". Эти "другие" вселенные позволяют в себя играть и - трудно поверить, но речь сейчас идет о французском квесте! - доставляют подлинное удовольствие.

With Syberia, Benoit Sokal has created a gaming experience that will stay near and dear to your heart, regardless of whether you’re an adventure newbie or a seasoned pro. It’s packed with awe-inspiring graphics, music, and details that don’t even cross the minds of other game developers. Dreamcatcher has always had an excellent reputation for adventure games, and they’ve taken gaming one step further with Syberia. I never wanted the game to end, but alas, all good things MUST. I’ll try my hand at petitioning for EverSyberia, but for now, I’ll just hope for a Syberia II. ;)

Nu gresesc cand spun ca Syberia pe langa faptul ca este un joc extraordinar din toate punctele de vedere este si o lectie de viata, o experienta unica imposibil de uitat care te indeamna sa meditezi asupra sensului vietii.

It has been longer than I can remember since the last extraordinary adventure game was released, a very rare incidence as the popularity of adventure titles has dropped drastically over the last several years. Microids have stepped up to the plate and nobody could have expected the results they would produce.

So there you have it. Syberia does just about everything right, and it’s the best adventure I’ve played since The Longest Journey. Unless something amazing happens in the next four months, I expect Syberia will take every publication’s adventure game of the year award, and it’s a game you should definitely own if the adventure genre interests you at all.

Syberia's beautiful and wonderfully imaginative world alone is enough to make the game worth your while, but when you also factor in the game's moving story, memorable characters, and enjoyable puzzles, you get a superb gaming experience. Syberia proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the adventure game genre is still full of life.

And for those of you who haven’t played it before, don’t let Syberia’s age trick you into thinking that it’s too old to be worth checking out. It was one of the best point-and-click adventure games around when it was first released, and it maintains that status today. There are few such titles that can match Syberia’s visual beauty and expert storytelling. The only difference now is that it’s cheaper and more accessible than ever before.

Syberia insegna a credere nei sogni, a porci degli scopi e a guardare con occhi nuovi le persone per scoprire che ognuno, anche se insospettabile, ha a suo modo qualcosa da insegnare e da dare, che il mondo non è solo quello che conosciamo, che il continuo progresso ci ha fatto perdere di vista ciò che conta davvero… e, accecati da tutto questo, incapaci di credere, di sognare, possiamo iniziare magari aggrappandoci al sogno di qualcun’altro… non importa che si tratti di quello di un vecchio, misantropo geniale e folle allo stesso tempo ,alla ricerca di un mammut… in fondo, l’importante è crederci. Poetico.

Syberia offers a different type of gaming experience that is well worth the time. While it doesn't have many fireworks or action sequences is does have a unique story that will delight those of you who are hungry for something different than your average adventure title or just tired of shooters.

You feel transported, engrossed, enriched and amazed all at once while playing. Although the game takes place in modern Europe, you feel as if you are in a completely different world. A world that is isolated and untouched by our culture. It is this that lends so heavily to the nostalgic, sentimental and somewhat sorrowful feeling that eminates from the game. If Syberia were a book it would be the kind you read while curled up next to a blazing fire while drinking a cup of hot chocolate.

As you might have understood, this game is good, very good. Even though some think of it as too short it does let you play for quite a few hours, and doing so in a beautifully rendered environment with intricate background music should entertain almost anyone who have the patience to devote yourself to a game. Syberia may not be as funny as some of the old Sierra / Lucas Arts classics, but its great atmosphere surpasses most of what I've played in this genre for years. Any adventure game should own this charming little gem of a game.

Syberia is a very fine adventure game, gorgeous to look at and with an intriguing and compelling story. It's tremendously enjoyable despite the air of sadness (and my few criticisms). I'd recommend it for all adventure game players who want a gentle, poignant journey. Because it is so gentle it would also be an excellent choice for new players as well. There must be a sequel, and soon because many players, myself included, simply must know what happens next. And besides, I want to see the Mammoths!

As a gamer who has played through countless shooters, RPGs, and platform games, I had started to grow weary of games. There really wasn’t any thing interesting coming out anymore. How many times could I be satisfied with saving the world and killing monsters? I needed a game that gave me an incredible experience that didn’t revolve around killing enemies. Surprise, surprise the answer came in the form of an adventure game, which the genre had considered to be dead and buried. Syberia comes through with its stop and smell the roses environment. This game has renewed my faith in the adventure genre and even the game industry itself.

It always makes me very happy to see publishers release adventure games like Syberia. Sure, there are the great graphics, the enchanting story, and the often-interesting characters. But that's only half the fun. The other half is knowing that if you read any of those magazines and other websites that keep declaring the death of the adventure game, this is another one of those great adventures that's going to make them eat crow once again and admit that, yes, maybe there are good adventures out there. Well, I exaggerate slightly about the second half, but Syberia really is a great adventure game.

Like many gamers on the PC scene, I grew up playing adventure games. In North America the genre was once dominant and is now all but extinct – or at least evolved into other forms. Syberia may not be the emissary of a New Age of Adventure Games, but old school adventurers will probably fall in love with Syberia. And I don’t think it’s a case of “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Syberia’s a great adventure game that tells an intriguing story with all the flourish that old-schoolers always wax nostalgic about.

As somebody who has been playing PC games for over 15 years, I am very hard to please. This is even more true with recent games, which often lack substance. While I buy 20-30 games every year, I end up giving most of them away, trading on the Game Trading Zone or selling them on eBay. Every year, I keep maybe half a dozen of the best games. Syberia is one of those that I will keep. While not perfect, Syberia is one of the best games of the year, and is destined to become a legend in years to come. Grab it while you can, and enjoy.

Syberia confirme tous les espoirs que nous placions en lui. Avec une réalisation léchée et un scénario bien construit, on se prend rapidement au jeu pour accompagner Kate dans son voyage. Dommage qu'il soit si court.

At the end of the journey, the player has not only traveled with Kate Walker, but also seen her change subtly over time. Syberia is a physical journey, a journey of growth, and definitely a journey not to be missed.

An adventure game, which one should surely recommend to genre newbies. Beginners will have entertaining hours, perfectly free of frustration with this game. For advanced puzzle lovers, who look for logical challenges, it is however too simple and offers too little freedom, however the small degree of difficulty and also the short game length of around 16 hours are compensated at least to a large part by a story full of drama and atmosphere. Syberia was planned from the start as two games, and to all who have a lot of remaining questions at the end I must say that there will definitely be a Syberia 2 in 2003.

Un jeu d'aventure à l'ancienne, comme on les aime, au scénario en béton armé (ou plutôt en engrenages bien huilés et en ressorts silencieux), à l'ambiance sans égale et au charme toujours d'actualité...

Syberia is een beklijvend spel, dat iedere adventure-liefhebber moet gespeeld hebben. Soms vragen de puzzels wel wat minutieus denkwerk, maar dit is eigenlijk geen minpunt voor dit genre. Sokal's tekenwerk komt hier fantastisch tot zijn recht. Aanrader!

Een mooi en sfeervol product, zeker gezien deze barre tijden voor het point&click adventuregenre.

Syberia's beautiful and wonderfully imaginative world is enough to make the game worth your while, but when you couple that with a moving story, memorable characters, and puzzles that are usually more fun than frustrating, you get a great gaming experience. It's true that Syberia's interface could have used more polishing, and that the game's slow pace won't be for everyone. It should take you some time to solve Syberia, but once you do, there's not much reason to replay it, since the game is ultimately quite linear and has one fixed ending.

Seit kurzem steht bereits der Nachfolger 'Syberia 2' in den Regalen der Softwarehändler. Auch hier hat Benoît Sokal schon bekräftigt, daß er sich wie bei 'Syberia 1' eher als Komponist eines künstlerischen Gesamtkonzeptes sieht, wo er besonders in der grafischen Darstellung seine gesamten zeichnerischen Fertigkeiten und die Liebe zum Detai ausleben kann. Deshalb ist Syberia vor allem eines - eine außergewöhnliche und wunderbar in Bild und Ton präsentierte Geschichte. Hardcore-Knobel-Denksportler werden hier wohl eher nicht auf ihre Kosten kommen. Wer aber schon länger mal wieder ein atmosphärisch überzeugendes Adventure ohne großes Frustpotential spielen möchte, oder sich als Einsteiger dem Adventuregenre nähern möchte, hat schon lange keine so gute Gelegenheit dafür erhalten wie mit Syberia.

Somit ist Syberia ein tolles Adventure, mit wunderschöner Grafik, guten, glaubhaften Charakteren in einer unwirklichen Welt, in die man wieder und wieder abtauchen möchte, auch weil die Geschichte toll erzählt wird. Das wirkt alles wie aus einem Guss: Orte, Personen, Grafik, Musik und Story, selbst die Nebencharaktere haben meist ein surreales Element und fügen sich da nahtlos ein.

Syberia lär attrahera de av er som törstar efter ett nytt äventyr, men ni lär inte bli fullkomligt nöjda. Istället bör detta ses som ett mycket bra försök från Sokal och hans team att sätta genren i blickfånget igen, och kanske sporra någon att skapa något ännu bättre.

It is a very impressive game which will dazzle and delight people of all ages for many years to come. The storyline, gameplay, graphics, and sound all combine to create a truly remarkable game. Any adventure fan will quickly fall in love with this title, and I think most anyone will be able to enjoy it. This game just seems to capture the element of mystery and stimulates our curiousity. Many will probably find that they are unable to put this game down, due to the ever-changing plot. I would definitely recommend buying this game, as it may even have some replay value.

Syberia is not a great game, but it tells a great story, despite its translation hiccups. Women, old folks, and other gamers who like their interactive entertainment laid-back and non-violent will derive the most enjoyment from it, but it's worth a look for anyone who appreciates a good yarn, especially at its $20 price point.

Syberia ist der neuste Vertreter eines fast ausgestorbenen Genres - des Point and Click Adventures. Spiele dieser Art waren früher unglaublich populär und haben massiv dazu beigetragen das sich der PC als Spielemaschine durchsetzte. Leider ist das Interesse an Spielen dieser Gattung in letzter Zeit fast verschwunden, da sie weniger spektakulär aussehen als zum Beispiel ein 3D Shooter und ihr Wiederspielwert meist gering ist. Wir wollen sehen ob Syberia es vielleicht schafft neues Leben in das Genre zu hauchen.

I have had my doubts about Syberia. I have seen the press screenshots of this game and the thought of another Myst clone pops into my head. As an old school adventure gamer, I frankly rather see old styled cartoon graphics and good gameplay than a pretty slideshow but little interactivity. Despite all of the hype, I decide to give this game a fair shot. Syberia starts with a woman standing on a street watching a funeral procession made up of life-sized clockwork figures that include a horse and a cart slowly work their way down the street. Immediately, I know I am hooked.

Syberia won’t appeal to everyone. But if you appreciate well-crafted stories over carnage, it’s an adventure that genre fans won’t want to miss.

Finalement, en dépit de la magie qui entoure le scénario et la beauté des décors, Syberia laisse une impression moins tranchée que sur PC. Autant j'étais complètement tombé sous le charme de la première version, autant cette adaptation m'ennuie pour tous les problèmes de jouabilité cités plus haut. Je ne peux donc qu'espérer qu'à l'approche du second volet, Microids tienne compte de ces remarques pour rectifier le tir et proposer un système de contrôle à la hauteur du reste de la réalisation.

Malgré les problèmes de maniabilité, Syberia reste un grand et bon jeu d'aventure qui s'intègre parfaitement à la logithèque PS2. Si vous souhaitez partir en voyage à travers des décors grandioses et magnifiques, c'est Syberia qu'il vous faut.

Good adventure games are even rarer. Unfortunately, Syberia doesn't fall into this category. The story, written by graphic novelist Benoit Sokol, lacks that certain something that makes you fall in love with the characters. The game is extremely boring and the puzzles never become challenging or interesting at any point. The main character can also get annoying as you learn about her personal life. Even with stunning graphics and a good soundtrack, Syberia falls far short of the high caliber adventure games of old, or even fairly good recent titles like Beyond Atlantis II.

Ultimately, Syberia's worth to you depends on how much you value story in your games. If you play games to be games, and read books for stories, then Syberia is as far from your tastes as you can get. If you're willing to forgive a game some flaws in exchange for a memorable plotline and interesting characters, Syberia has those in spades.

Even with its slow points, Syberia was entertaining and a refreshing break from the high-adrenaline majority of games. The graphics are stunning and the sound is incredibly realistic. With the game being so long, it was too bad the story couldn’t have been better. I mostly enjoyed the scenery and mind games. The world is very imaginative as well, and I was easily submerged into it. If you’re a fan of great graphics and puzzle solving, Syberia has both. But beware: it’s not very exciting.

Eine Rendersequenz zeigt eine verlassene Straße. Es regnet. Träge kommen aus der Ferne schwarz gekleidete Gestalten ohne Gesicht. Behutsame Orchestermusik unterstreicht die Melancholie dieser seltsamen, für Syberia typischen Szene; eine Melancholie, die sich über das ganze Spiel hinweg erstrecken wird. In Syberia erkunden Sie fiktionale Orte, die das Gefühl von Einsamkeit versprühen: verlassene Kirchen mit futuristischen Stahlaufzügen; altmodische Züge, die mittels Schlüssel aufgezogen werden; stillgelegte Fabriken, in denen furchtbar kompliziert aussehende Maschinen Roboter herstellen.

But, as I said the biggest gripe I had with this game are the rather easy puzzles and the fact that some important technical (gameplay) issues were not resolved properly. Also, the game seems to lack more interactivity with the surroundings, as I often felt I was simply being guided to another location and the inevitable cut-scene. I remember that every classic adventure used to include a few objects and locations that were just there to throw you off, and you actually had to use your brains to determine the right course of actions. This is unfortunately not the case with Syberia. Here, you'll be usually thrown off by technicalities, like not seeing the pointer light up when you go over a part of the background which leads to a new location...

Bottom line, this game doesn't have a whole lot going for it outside of the gorgeous backgrounds (which, again, are awesome). Between the slow moving story, the awkward controls, and the inability to discern some of the important items on the screen, I really don't think the game is worth spending time playing. Why beat yourself up trying to solve a puzzle when, even if you solved everything right away, you're looking at a good hour before anything happens? I will say, however, that I hope that this isn't Microids' last attempt at console gaming. They have a few titles out for PC (including a sequel to Syberia), but to the best of my knowledge, Syberia is their only console title to date.

The story isn't all that captivating, and there's little that compels you to find Hans. While the sound and graphics are artful, far too much time is spent looking at static screens as Kate talks to people. If you're captivated by story telling and love adventure games in the style of Myst opposed to the comic wit of Grim Fandango, then you'll probably be content with Syberia. If you enjoy actually participating in games, you'll be fighting boredom throughout your adventure.

Viele Adventure-Fans haben sich vielleicht auf Syberia gefreut, um mal wieder einen guten Point-and-Click-Titel in die Finger zu bekommen. Die werden jedoch bitter enttäuscht. Hinter der prächtigen Grafik-Fassade verbirgt sich lediglich eine Spielspaß-Bretterbude. Langweilige Rätsel und Dialoge degradieren das Spiel zum Mittelmaß.

Syberia n'est clairement pas un jeu destiné aux joueurs purs et durs de l'aventure (si si, il y en a), les mêmes qui avalent du Myst, du 11th Hour, du Monkey Island ou même un bon vieux titre de Revolution Software (Les chevaliers de Baphomet) au petit déjeuner. Il se placerait plutôt au beau milieu de ces piles de jeu à trames linéaires que l'on trouve dans les supermarchés, aux cotés d'Atlantis, ou de Ring. Ce sont certes des jeux superbes, mais qui n'ont que très rarement leur place au centre de la ludothèque du joueur qui les trouvera au mieux, trop courts, au pire, trop lassants.

Syberia puede que guste al aventurero reciente, o incluso puede ser un buen candidato para introducirse en el género de las aventuras gráficas, pero, a pesar de muy buen aspecto gráfico y de una gran personalidad en la atmósfera, se hace pesado y poco agradable de jugar. Una buena historia como la del Syberia se merecía algo mejor que esto. Esperamos que con "Post Mortem" los chicos de Microids nos den la alegría que tanto esperamos.

It feels as though the story is only half told when the game abruptly stops. However, it's slightly superior to many of the other static-screened adventure games currently available, as some of the puzzles do occasionally tax the brain and the quirky story does keep you guessing even if it is short lived. It's still pretty dull, though, so I wouldn't get too excited.