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The Pandora Directive Company : Access Software Reviewed By : Lonelines |
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With the release of "Tex Murphy: OVERSEER" soon to come I decided to go a bit back and review the last quest/adventure game from access software called "The Pandora Directive", for this review I replayed the game (making it the 6th time I played the game from start to finish) and this time went on the evil path (which gave me an |
| unsatisfying ending sequence but I guess I deserved it for being such
an A$$). For those of you who do not know who or what Tex Murphy is, Tex
is a P.I. who lives in the streets of San Francisco in the early 21st
century. The earth has experienced War World 3, and is now divided into
two, the mutants (who were affected by the radiation) and the normal people
(who are naturally immune to the radiation). Also this is a cause for
racism against the two (norms hating mutants and vice versa), however
Tex (who is immune) decided to live with the mutants because he just feels
closer to them (even though he claims it's cause the rent is cheaper). |
| Tex first appeared back in 1989 with the game "Mean Streets" (which actually provided the plot for OVERSEER). The game came out in the days before Sound Blasters existed for the public, when 40 MB hard drives where a dream and VGA graphics where the newest in technology.The game then used a phrase in their manual that make |  |
| most CD-ROM games shudder, it was "Interactive Movie". Yes, it came
on two floppies but already Access had put a goal for themselves, to make
an interactive movie for the PC. But enough about that (expect a full
review on "Mean Streets" just a bit before I get OVERSEER in my possession).
When CD-ROM drives were made public, Access released "Under a Killing
Moon", still a great game, even with today's standards. following it was
"The Pandora Directive". |
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"The Pandora Directive" puts YOU in the shoes of Tex Murphy the PI. "Sure" you say, "did that already"... "No" I say "you didn't". Access has developed a unique feel to their adventures by using 3D technology (like doom) to create virtual worlds. Unlike Myst (and clones) you will not get still photos or pre-rendered animation. It's all REAL 3D. |
| This gives you the feel of actually being there! Which makes the game
even better. In Pandora directive you must find a missing person, however
things don't stay so simple for a long time, and you will soon be up to
your neck in conspiracies and UFO mysteries. The game itself features
great movies, video, gameplay and sound (especially if u have a good MIDI
card like the AWE64), the plot is great as well. The designers wanted
to make the game as replayable as possible so the made it that you can
be a good, medium or bad Tex Murphy, with a total of 7 (!!) different
endings for them all. |
| However the game itself is not as short as you'd believe and after playing the game one time only from start to finish you will have no desire to replay the game (since it's long, hard, and has a fully satisfying ending), so I believe only great fans (like me) will bother |  |
| replaying. Even though being a different type of character results in sometimes different video sequences, the puzzles remain the same, so it's not that appealing. |
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Amazing game, great movies, great graphics, great gameplay, great plot. What can I say, this game is my all time favorite (why else would I play it 6 times???). Very rewarding ending (unlike MANY others), and most of all FUN TO PLAY!!! | 
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The replay part was lost and I think it's a shame since the different video sequences are a nice tough to the game. Also, after playing the game you want more and more Tex (thank God for Overseer) and you'll get hooked on this kind of Adventure games. Beware: after playing this game, all other quest games become dull and boring and bad. This one will spoil you for other quest games. |
 YES!!! If you don't already have it GO GET IT!!! This is one of the best games of all times! A masterpiece, a must for every quest/adventurer to have. This game will not disappoint you, I do not know anyone on the planet that did not like this game. Sorry, it's just as good as it gets. (this game will make all other games look obsolete). |
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