The Secrets of Alamût

The Good
The Secrets of Alamut is ostensibly an adventure game, but it is much closer to 7th Guest in gameplay that it is to adventure games like the Monkey Island series. It is more compelling than some of the better known puzzle-adventure games (like Myst) for the simple reason that you aren't operating in a vacuum. There are plenty of characters to interact with and occasional action sequences that I thought really spiced up the game, although some puzzle game fans might be put off by these timed, reaction-based sequences. The puzzles are perfectly pitched. They're not so esoteric and infuriating (like many game puzzles) that you don't want to play anymore. Most don't take that long to figure out. But they're not too easy either - they require a little thought. I found myself feeling a sense of accomplishment as I progressed through this game without the sense of frustration that often comes with maddeningly difficult puzzles.

The Bad
What developer Arxel Tribe has done, they've done well, but there isn't a whole lot to this game. It's pretty short. The voice acting is passable, but not spectacular. The English translation is pretty good (it was originally developed in French) but there were a few instances of confusion that I wasn't sure if I should attribute to a poor game design decision or bad translation.

The Bottom Line
A diverting puzzle game experience that is over much too soon.