Normality

aka: Normality Inc.
Moby ID: 1999
DOS Specs
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Description official descriptions

Kent Knutson is a teenager who lives in the city of Neutropolis. The city is controlled by a totalitarian regime, which prohibits people to express any emotions that would deviate from the prescribed norm - such as joy and happiness. Kent is arrested by the Norms, the police force of Neutropolis, and put in prison for whistling a merry tune. In prison, he received an anonymous note that tells him that there is a resistance group somewhere in the city, which seeks to overthrow the dictator of Neutropolis. The question is - how can Kent find that resistance group?..

Normality is an adventure game done entirely in 3D, similarly to Under a Killing Moon, though with more colorful, cartoon-like visuals. Besides the somewhat unusual (for the genre) engine, the game plays like a traditional puzzle-solving adventure, primarily relying on manipulation of objects Kent is able to pick up and put in his inventory.

Spellings

  • נורמליטי - Hebrew spelling

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Credits (DOS version)

48 People · View all

Writing
Producer
Lead Programming
3D Graphics Engine
Audio Programming
3D Environments & Artwork
Music
Sound Effects
3D Character Modelling
3D Sequence Animation and Compositing
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 76% (based on 28 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 43 ratings with 5 reviews)

Normality? Don't you mean Weirdality

The Good
It's very unique - the whole mood of the game is quite something. The graphics really help create a rather odd world where you really feel as if nothing is still "normal" (ironically). While the premise of the game, is that the world has become dull and everyone has to be "normal", you actually feel the opposite (which is only for the better of the games since boring locations and people aren't exactly the best elements).

Besides the unique feel and atmosphere, the puzzles are also well thought out and I noticed that, compared to early reviews of the game, they altered some to be less convoluted. While the solutions aren't always very obvious, they're usually logical and balanced so it never feels like the game is cheating or being too obscure.

The Bad
Well this game has a peculiar style which may not be to everyone's taste since it's very British through and through.

The 3D engine is only so-so as well. The older Under A Killing Moon achieved much more and yet ran better on lower end PCs compared to it. Still, it's cartoony so it's not that much of a problem.

Another negative, would be the game mechanics. The inventory often feels fiddly and when using an item somewhere, it will never say "you can't do that" but it will just give a general comment about the item you tried to use, which can be very confusing. It's a minor thing but when you're stuck, it can be very frustration.

Last of all, the game makes the mistake of making speech unskippable - something which, again, is a nuisance when you're stuck and end up talking to everyone again.

The Bottom Line
All in all, I would really recommend this game. It may not be perfect but it has its charm and the story is quite fun in a 1984 kind of way. The puzzles are not too obscure and it feels unique in a way that you won't find in modern games anymore. It's very much a product of the 90s.

DOS · by Icarus Lytton (19) · 2011

Stay Normal!

The Good
This game really is a break from normality compared to other games. A funny storyline and interesting puzzles keep you interested. Also, the graphics in this game are pretty good. Some levels are better more than others, my favourite is the Mint Mall, I like the atmosphere that you get playing this game.

The Bad
Sometimes the voice dialogue is poor, also, some of the background music gets very irriating. Also, it's frustrating when you are in the sewers level wondering around in the dark(Before you get the goggles)

The Bottom Line
A fun game which you should give a try

DOS · by Big C (56) · 2001

A welcome change from the usual point and click adventure games

The Good
The whole game is done is a first person perspective. This adds an element of exploration and removes the pixel hunting you often find in adventure games. Although the 3D engine isn't particularly quick it is more than adequate for this sort of game and the interface works well.

The puzzles are challenging enough to keep the game interesting but usually solvable if you use a bit of twisted logic. Many of them have multiple solutions which helps to stop you from getting stuck in a particular spot for too long.

The Bad
The storyline while being fun enough is a little too off the wall at times. The voice acting is also fairly poor but this is understandable given some of the corny dialog. Bad movie actor (read that how you will) Corey Feldman did the voice for Kent (the main character) and while he did a good job for the most part he can grate after a while.

The Bottom Line
This is a good adventure game which doesn't quite live up to its potential mainly due to a dodgy script and some poor acting. The 3D engine from this game was used to much better effect in Realms of the Haunting several years later. Its is still worth playing for anyone who likes the genre and fancies a change from the norm.

DOS · by Pix (1172) · 2000

[ View all 5 player reviews ]

Trivia

Guess the developers weren't fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: In the sewer beneath the stadium there's a tunnel near the elevator exit that takes you to a small dead end with a special rat standing atop some pizza boxes and surrounded by four hopping, masked turds. Their names? "King Rat" and the "Ninja Turds".

Now that's subtlety for you!

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Related Sites +

  • Hints for Normality
    These hints give only the amount of help you need to solve each puzzle one at a time.

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 1999
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by elron.

Windows added by Picard. Macintosh, Linux added by Sciere.

Additional contributors: Accatone, Zovni, Jeanne, Crawly.

Game added July 19, 2000. Last modified January 25, 2024.