Chaos: A Fantasy Adventure Game

The Good
The graphics are pretty decent, a mix of FMV and 3D renderings presented in the Myst-style slideshow format. The sound effects are well-done and interesting. But where the game really shines is its humor. It is so off-the-wall wacky as to defy comparisons or description. The only other games I have played that were this funny were the Monkey Island series and the nearly-as-hard-to-find 'Callahan's Crosstime Saloon.' The interface was fairly intuitive, and the puzzles were unique and fresh. The bizarreness of them actually FITS into the chaos theory theme of the game

The Bad
It is a bit short. Experienced gamers will likely finish it off in under 12 hours

The Bottom Line
While it might seem like "edutainment," CHAOS is long on "-tainment" while giving you as much or little "edu-" as you want. The game's theme is chaos theory, a branch of mathematics and physics unfamiliar to most of the public. In this 1st-person point-and-click adventure game, you play a rather feckless hero...almost penniless, living in a tiny trailer home, and badgered by collection agents. One day you receive a call from your rich and mysterious Uncle Prospero, who wants you to come visit him at his secluded mansion. The journey takes you through a series of areas in which you must solve certain puzzles in order to move on to the next area. The puzzles are all based on different examples/applications of chaos theory. Don't be afraid if you are unfamiliar with the topic. Anyone who has read "Jurassic Park" likely knows enough about chaos theory to muddle through. Additionally, your Uncle Prospero kindly sends you video email lessons about chaos theory, each lesson related to the particular area you are in when you receive it. Loaded with bizarre humor and fun and unusual puzzles, this game is a real treat if you can find it.