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GAME PREVIEWED: Discworld Noir (PC)
RELEASED BY: GT Interactive
PRICE: £39.99
PREVIEWED BY: G-String
PREVIEW: -
Since Terry Pratchett wrote the first Discworld book, there has been a craze around his fictional world. Now the number of books has reached well over 20 and Terry Pratchett has become one of Britain's most popular and funniest authors. There is no surprise then, that they created a game based on characters in his books. Well, two games. Titled Discworld and Discworld II funnily enough. Both were first published through Psygnosis and were 2D point and click puzzle solving games. You know the type. Get the ice to make yourself cold, get a dummy's arm so your pulse is non-existent, warm the mirror over the candle to get it warm so that your breath won't show on it, blah blah blah blabababa. So now we understand what the previous two games were like. So what about the third, Discworld Noir?
The job of creating the third game is now up to GT Interactive. So, have they done a good job or not? Well, for a start, Discworld Noir is not a 2D point and click game. No, no, no, no. It is now in gorgeous 3D. Gorgeous. The graphics are high quality and are well detailed. Honestly, look at the screen-shots and you'll be surprised at the difference. They are exceptionally good. They have also changed the main character. Rincewind and his loveable Luggage are no longer in the spotlight. Instead, Ankh-Morpork's first Private Investigator, indeed the Disc's first PI, Lewton, is the main character in the game. So here's the plot:
Lewton used to be a member of the city watch. Unfortunately, he was thrown out for taking a bribe, as most people would. From there on his life descended into a cess-pit of alcoholism and failure. Yes, he fell down the ladder to 'loser' level. So, now he's a PI on the streets.........but then the beautiful and dangerous Carlotta turns up at his office asking him to do a job for her. Now can you guess what he has to do? No? Well, let me explain. Lewton is supposed to track down Carlotta's ex-lover, a man named Mundy. So here Lewton spies and opportunity to turn his life around, as you would, but (and this is the twist), all is not as it seems. . . . . . . . . . .
And there's your adventure. A game with plenty of puzzles, locations and characters to solve, explore and interactive with. So, the idea is still the same as the previous titles, but the graphics are extremely better. What's that I hear you say? You want to know about the strange characters, just out of curiosity because you know Mr. Pratchett is a very funny man indeed? Okay then . . . . . .
Lewton, the main character, is the first PI on the disc. If I was to describe him I'd say, "Imagine the characters in the films "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca", the ones played by Humphrey Bogart, only, he's much better-looking, and taller. Carlotta is your typical femme fatale. Dangerous, ruthless, sexy and downright seductive. Horst is an enormous troll, though he's surprisingly wily. He's got a devious dwarf 'associate' called Al Khali. Then there's the vampire who's job is too play piano at the Café Ankh, called Samael. Also, there's a huge dumb troll henchman, Malachite, who's searching for his long lost girlfriend, as trolls do.
So there's your little preview of what looks to be a top class, best-selling, game. The only thing left to do is to check out the screen shots. Sorry? What's that you say? Are the the rumours about Mr. Pratchett true, that he's from another planet himself? I really can't comment on that . . . . . . . . . . . .
LINKS: www.gtgames.com www.discworld.com