Titanic: Adventure Out of Time
Description official descriptions
Titanic: Adventure Out of Time is an open-ended first-person adventure game set on the doomed maiden voyage of the HMS Titanic. The player takes the role of Frank Carlson, a disgraced British secret service agent. His career having ended after he failed in a mission on board the HMS Titanic, he now lives in a small apartment, surrounded by mementos of his past. Somehow, however, Carlson is thrown backward into his past to April of 1912, giving the player an opportunity to change the events on board the doomed ship. While the player is not able to avert the sinking of the Titanic, they are able to influence not only Frank's timeline but that of the other passengers on board the ship and, indeed, the progression of subsequent human history. As a result, details of the game's plot are affected by the player's actions, which can result in one of any number of significant or minutely different endings.
The game is a puzzle-solving adventure game which utilizes a simple, point-and-click system in order for the player to interact with the world. While the game is played in the form of a traditional adventure game, it expands on this established system by constructing its game play around the idea of a continuous, transitory world. While the player still progresses through the game primarily through solving puzzles and interacting with other characters it presents these interactions as taking place within an active, malleable world. Characters, for instance, periodically move about the ship, and can be found in different portions of the ship during different times of day as they pursue their lives apart from the player.
Puzzles are similarly tied to this progression of time, and players may choose to pursue plot lines how ever they think is best, influencing both the plot and other puzzles within the game, allowing them to completely overlook or pass over entire puzzles and story points. Early in the game, for instance, the player is asked to locate an item hidden by another character. If they're able to discover its location early enough, they can take the item from its hiding spot before someone else does. If they're sidetracked by other characters within the world, or in some other way too slow in locating the object, the hiding spot will be empty and the plot will accommodate this development. It is important to note, however, that the game does not progress in real-time as other adventures, such as The Last Express, do. Rather, time progresses due to the player solving a puzzle or in some other way advancing the game.
In addition to the traditional puzzles within the game, there are also mini-games which the player can participate in either for fun or to influence the plot, such as poker and fencing.
The game is presented using 3D graphics, although the player still moves through the game by shifting from screen to screen, similar in style to the movement found in other adventure titles such as Riven. The bottom of the screen features a nautically-themed interface featuring a life preserver (the menu), a pocket watch (which represents the in-game time), a rolled piece of parchment (a map of the ship), and a leather case (the inventory).
Spellings
- Титаник: Прошлое можно изменить - Russian spelling
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Credits (Macintosh version)
182 People (102 developers, 80 thanks) · View all
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[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 74% (based on 20 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 27 ratings with 4 reviews)
Although dated, it certainly is a neat little package
The Good
The graphics are very detailed and in-depth, even with the backgrounds, objects and characters. Almost everything of interest is 'clickable'. The characters all have different personalities, which is quite unlike other games like this were almost everyone speaks, acts, and looks identical. Another good thing is the gameplay, which, although you have to reach certain goals, you decide how to get there and in what order you take out tasks, which will eventually affect other tasks.
The setting, the great but tragic Titanic ship, is so detailed and interesting that it's a hundred times better than reading about it or hearing about the layout. What's more, there's a feature that lets you explore the ship without having to play the story - "Tour" mode (It's either called Tour mode or Guide mode) which is great.
The sound quality and voice acting are good, although in some places could have been better. The interactions and simple, the mysteries and puzzles are mind-boggling (this is a good thing) and the presentation is superb.
The Bad
Somewhat dull is the strict interaction when talking to other characters - most times, you can only say one thing from an option of four. But I guess it's expected, but it dates the game back a few years. Also, in some parts of the game, it seems quite lame. One minute you've just solved a puzzle, then have to wonder about a bit doing trivial tasks for about half an hour before returning to another major task. It seems to lack action. No, when I say 'action', I'm not suggesting they add a gun into the game, but they should have improved the tasks a bit better to make them slightly more motivational and interesting.
The Bottom Line
Like point and click games? Love mystery and puzzles? Fancy an educational tour of a famous ship? Then heck, it may just be your sort of game. Don't expect action or anything major up until the end of the game (If you know your history, you'll know why). No doubt this game can now be found for a bargain, so if you find it in shops give it a try.
A good game which has great presentation and makes a boring old ship from history quite interesting.
Windows · by Reborn_Demon (127) · 2007
The Good
I liked the recreation of the Titanic. I also liked the storyline and the plot. The people are real looking and everything is accurate. The puzzles were good, the engine puzzle was the best I thought. I also liked how they managed to put loads to do in such a small place.
The Bad
I didn't like the fact that 3 decks were missing and you don't realy go anywhere on E Deck. G deck was the bottom Deck in the game but on the real ship there were 3 more decks. It sometimes (but rarely) crashes.
The Bottom Line
A great stratergy/adventure game which will be loved by evryone who loves solving puzzles.
Windows · by Dean Cuthbert (2) · 2003
The Good
The excellent detailed graphics of the ship's interior and exterior.
The Bad
The "twitches" when the "characters" are speaking.
I would have liked more choices for dialogue with some of the "characters."
The Bottom Line
An excellent game even if you just use the "tour" option and even more fun if you play the game. I have even "won" a few times ! The detailed graphics are very vivid and faithful to the actual records of the interior and exterior of the ship. The interplay with the "characters" is very informative and often adds a bit of humor. You'll probably end up playing the game over and over just for the fun of it, even if you don't "win" every time...and "winning" isn't completely impossible !
Windows · by Robert Paige (1) · 2004
Discussion
Subject | By | Date |
---|---|---|
A classic! | St. Martyne (3648) | Sep 21, 2009 |
Installing on newer Macs? | Jen Paul | Apr 19, 2009 |
Insall under Vista | James Millard | Jan 27, 2008 |
Trivia
Part of Cyberflix's "Adventure out of Time" series of educational adventure games. Also features a detailed reconstruction of the ships interior using original design drawings from 1912.
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Related Sites +
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Hints for Titanic
These hints will help you solve it without spoiling the whole game. -
Interview with Titanic's Producer
An interview with Andrew Nelson, the producer of and writer for Titanic, about the production of the game and the development of its characters and setting (Jan. 16th, 1998). -
RMS Titanic Sets Sail Again
A Business Wire article about the game's release. (November 12th, 1996) -
Sail On the Titanic and Never Get Wet
An article in The Augusta Chronicle about Titanic: Adventure Out of Time's release and production. The company that created it, Cyberflix, is also discussed. (November 9th, 1996) -
Titanic - A Dedicated Fanblog
A blog which intends to keep information about the title available to modern gamers. It provides additional details about the game, as well as puzzle solutions for the 1996 title (Spoilers). -
Titanic Interactive Tour Guides
All ten of the interactive tour guides, formerly available for download from the official website, at the information resource site Titanic-Titanic. -
Titanic-Titanic: A Walkthrough
A walkthrough of the game at the online Titanic resource, Titanic-Titanic, which is prefaced by a series of general tips intended to mitigate player confusion and frustration during the experience. -
Titanic: Review and Walkthrough
A short review of Adventure Out of Time at Balmoral Software, which is followed by a detailed walkthrough of the game, illustrated by screenshots and maps from within the game itself (Nov. 26th, 1996). -
Zarf's Review
A Macintosh review of Adventure Out of Time by Andrew Plotkin (June, 1999).
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Blackie.
Macintosh added by Dragom.
Additional contributors: Jeanne, JRK, Sciere, PolloDiablo, Zeppin, theclue, Daniel Hobi.
Game added January 3, 2001. Last modified January 29, 2024.