No one has reviewed Tombs and Treasure? I guess its my chance to reveal this hidden gem to you. Hardly anyone talks about this game, but its actually quite decent, and would make an excellent first rpg for new players. It uses some PC menu controls (use/move/go, etc) that can also make fans of KEMCO's Shadowgate/Deju Vu/Uninvited happy.
This is a game about an archeologist and a team inspecting Mayan ruins. They go missing, the only person who returns is the guide, with a bunch of items the professor was using, and a diary full of his ramblings about sun necklaces and demons they accidentally woke up. Its honestly kind of ominous, and when you go out exploring the ruins with Jose-the guide, and your best pal-anime hair girl, it looks bright and sunny and not dangerous at all. The open map has no random battles, nor are there secrets. Its big to show the expanse of the former Mayan city, not for any practical reason gameplay wise (I think there is only 12 or so locations you visit in the sprawling overworld anyway). When you fight, its turn based, and once slain, the monster never returns (letting you explore in peace). Going back into detective mode, you have to explore the ruins and find out what the heck is going on, and get to the bottom of what happened to the researchers.
Graphics: 6 The graphics while you are exploring inside the ruins are fairly good. Unfortunately thats not good enough, as this is a game about details, and the designers hide small things that force you to look at small sections to zoom in/get. The fighting parts are OK, the creatures are animated, but just move back and forth. The overworld walking looks hilarious, giant chubby chibi people.
Sound: 7 I felt the music was pretty good. It definitely gives a mystery feel with some of it, and fights have a good track. The sound effects are alright.
Addictive: 6 When you die, you can continue. And you level up (useful to fight bigger monsters) just by exploring and finding useful items, so this is an explorer's rpg. There are a few things that can sour your experience, but nothing derails the adventure.
Story: 8 I found the mysttery of what hapened to Prof. Ines was very interesting. I like seeing my companions tag-in and also be useful (even if it was in limimted ways). I did enjoy the story because it doesn't hold your hand.
Depth: 5 There is a lot of freedom it seems, to go anywhere, but really, you are not going to beat some monsters being a wimp. The linear story is accelerated by how you need to use many items to get desired results, often in a certain pattern and order. There is a password feature and thats nice.
Difficulty: 7 The foes in this are pretty easy. If you out level them, and use the sword properly, its not very challenging, combat wise. The evil of the game is hard-locking yourself from continuing further by doing a few tasks out of order. Its quite mean and while rare, does happen more than once. Save often.
Tombs and Treasure is a game that flew past radars in its time. It doesn't do anything particularly stellar, but I like its a different setting, a mystery, and the weirdness of the mouse type interface. Its a funky game but good for a solid hour. Just be very careful.
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