|
The Lost Continent in question is of course Jurassic Park revisited � the game has you negotiating a team of explorers past various dinosaurs spread over 15 tables. When I read the description of the game I just had to get the demo, but have been strangely unsatisfied by it. The table graphics are reasonable, all stony outcrops, carvings and rope bridges, and the back story is alluded to by a man and woman talking before the game starts. As this is basically Jurassic Pinball, there are certainly dinosaurs � some stone carvings, such as a triceratops and two pterodactyls within the game furniture, and at least one pterodactyl that flies out across the screen periodically. I had hoped for more but I would assume that the other tables make up for this. The ball action is reasonable, not especially responsive, but the ball's movement deforms the table slightly (this is true in all the Sierra games but is less noticeable). This particular table is split into two, and there is some skill involved in mastering both sides of the table, especially when faced with multiple balls. The animation is adequate, if limited � unlike Creep Night or NASCAR, no little random background animations have been added, which is a shame. Ball movement is accompanied by the sound of dinosaurs roaring, which is in keeping with the theme but unconvincing as an effect. The music is pleasant enough, a little too chirpy for the prehistoric setting however, and the constant cries of "superjets" seem strangely out of keeping with the overall theme � I didn't feel that I was especially involved in a world of dinosaurs at the best of times, without the stupid interjections. Overall (and basing my views on the demo) I feel The Lost Continent is a missed opportunity. Considering the potential of the dinosaur theme, the game is lacklustre and rather boring, and certainly fares badly in comparison to the rest of the Sierra stable. If the demo is merely a poor reflection of the real game, then that too is a shame � I will not be tempted to part with cash for The Lost Continent, it just isn't enough fun.
Requirements : 486/66, 8Mb RAM, soundcard, Win3.1/Win95, DirectX v2.0 Download the demo (8.9Mb from Gamespot) |
