Game release: “Silence” (PC)

It’s been 7 years since point-and-click adventure game The Whispered World made Daedalic Entertainment one of the most respected German game development studios, as it revived the old genre with hand-drawn graphics and mature storytelling, and now their newest title Silence takes the genre one step further.

I can’t remember much about the original game, except that it had some pretty visuals, a sad clown named Cedric and a form-shifting caterpillar named Spot as the main protagonists, which made it somehow unique, but not really a classic. This mainly had to do with the puzzles which were so obscure at times, especially with too many logic puzzles, that a walkthrough was the only way to complete it. Fortunately, the newest game is quite different, as it tells the story of Noah and his little Sister Renie who are transported from their war-torn home to a fantasy land that is also in turmoil because rebels try to fight against dark creatures who threaten their world. It all sounds a bit heavy-handed with the war theme, but stories about people being drawn into fantastic worlds are always welcome, as could be seen in The Longest Journey.

3D adventure games never had it easy when it comes to convincing animations and character models that don’t quite match the backgrounds, and while there are some good examples (like Dreamfall or Grim Fandango), they usually suffered because of clunky direct movement controls or fewer puzzles. Daedalic’s newest title simply looks amazing and might be the first that actually combines 2D and 3D in a meaningful way, at least visually, without compromising the characters’ animation quality. A lot of puzzle solving shouldn’t be expected, though, as the game caters to a more casual audience while delivering a more cinematic experience. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering how The Whispered World suffered from illogical conundrums that made enjoying the story, characters, and world exploration more tedious than necessary.

The game is now available for PC on digital and retail platforms, with the Xbox One version following on the Xbox Store and the PS4 version on physical shelves. The artbook and soundtrack can also be bought separately in their digital form. For those who’d like to learn more about the fantasy world and who want to recognize all its characters and references will be happy to hear that GOG offers The Whispered World for half its price at the moment.

Buy the digital version for PC on
GOG
Steam

Buy the digital artbook for PC on
GOG
Steam

Buy the digital soundtrack for PC on
GOG
Steam

Buy the retail version for PC on
Amazon Germany

Pre-order the retail version for PS4 on
Amazon Germany

Official Website

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