Daemonica Impressions February 26,2006 - Need proof that glancing at a screenshot can barely prepare you for the surprise hiding within a small adventure game? Daemonica may not be strong on looks, but even we were surprised at the dark, rich story waiting for us during a recent trip through a preview build of RA Images and Meridian 4's upcoming mystery title. Interesting characters, original puzzle variations, and great text localization round out an intriguing storyline, even if the voice overs of our demo were still in Czech. But no matter—just as a great foreign film makes you forget that you are reading the dialogue, so too does Daemonica transcend the language of the audio. Even though we've only completed a single act, we're left with no doubts that Daemonica is shaping up to be a fine game, and look forward to solving the enigmas within.

From the beginning, it's clear that Daemonica is not a simple point-and-click adventure. It is rendered in full 3D, and you control main character Nicholas Farepoynte from an isometric perspective. Movement is as simple as a click, and you can double his speed with a double click. You zoom in and out using the mousewheel, and rotate the camera with the middle mouse button. These may be familiar mechanics in RPGs, but it's uncommon in the world of pixel-hunting adventures, and while you may initially miss the exquisite 2D backgrounds more common to the genre, it won't take long to leave behind your preconceived notions and embrace new conventions. Speaking of new conventions, when was the last time you wielded a sword in a pc adventure? Well, unsheathe your dagger prepare to parry: while the mechanic is simple, you'll still have a chance to test your combat skills against characters that don't welcome your intrusion in the idyllic village of Cavorn. When you get the chance to fight, it's a simple matter of using the space bar to block and your mouse buttons to swing, but it's nice to have the choice when it presents itself.

Your reasons for the intrusion are simple: the mayor wants you to investigate some recent murders—even though he's already hanged the accused perpetrator. Seems a young couple that had only recently arrived has disappeared, and soon afterwards, the local undertaker was found hovering over his murdered beloved, covered in her blood and babbling incoherently. The mayor ordered the young man killed, yet the townspeople aren't convinced he's the perpetrator, and he needs you to prove him right. He escorts you to your temporary home, and from there, it's up to Nicholas to discover the true nature of the crimes.

It's not a simple matter of crime investigation and puzzle-solving, a la Still Life or Law & Order: Nicholas has some special abilities, although they are only revealed as you slowly explore the village and meet its varied inhabitants. It's also not hard to notice that the countryside is replete with growing herbs, which you can pick and add to your inventory. A glance through your diary reveals that with these herbs, you make various potions, although the uses of these potions aren't immediately clear. In fact, nothing is immediately clear, and the journey towards measured discovery is paced wonderfully. Soon, we realize the fascinating truth: Nicholas is a Harash el-Dorem, a hunter who can communicate with the dead. We also learn of Clarice, a special woman from Nicholas's past. Who was she, and how did she die? You'll discover more as you progress, but the answers are more surprising than you would expect.

As soon as you solve one of the early puzzles, you're introduced to the Temple of Sacrifices. We'd rather keep the purpose of the temple a secret to our readers for now, but Nicholas's ability to solve the crime depends on his knowledge of the deceased; without this knowledge, Nicholas is likely to sacrifice himself at the temple rather than finding the restless souls that possess the answers. Finally, an adventure game that puts all of the backstory to good use within the context of the gameplay! Suffice it to say that without enough knowledge and the common sense application of those tidbits, you could join Clarice on the other side before you're ready.

As you can imagine, the narrative's complexity makes it easy to look past any flaws in the presentation. Daemonica's graphics are utilitarian: they get the job done, but there's nothing particularly noteworthy about them. Textures are bland, and the village and its inhabitants won't inspire you to zoom in for a closer look. There are some nice touches, though, like the thunderstorms that occasionally light up the sky, or the scuttling farmyard chickens that squawk and flee when you get too close. Even with the Czech voice overs, though, the sonic design is solid, particular where the soundtrack is concerned. The music sets the perfect milieu without ever being intrusive or repetitive. It's also worth noting that the localization of the subtitles is outstanding. While we know the script was originally written in Czech, you'd be hard pressed to tell when reading the dialogue: it's realistic and somewhat mystical, making it easy to get involved right off the bat.

Adventure game fans need to keep a close eye on this one. We must profess just how pleasantly surprised we are: Daemonica has a lot of good ideas going for it, and we look forward to seeing how they shape up in the full game. It's due out in mid-March, so keep an eye on this space for a review soon after release.

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