Eternal Journey: New Atlantis is an exploratory hidden object adventure game that takes you from the depths of the Atlantic to the heights of the red planet Mars. Amrite, the heroine is an archeologist who along with her fiancé Michael explores the lost world of Atlantis. Along their journey hijinks ensue and Michael is missing. It is here that Amrite begins her quest not only to uncover the secrets of this lost world but also to find her lost love.
Hello, my name is Erika and I am a gaming newbie. Please keep this in mind and feel free to join me as I develop and polish my gaming chops. When I began my foray into gaming, I was a little doubtful, and when I opened the title screen to Eternal Journey: New Atlantis. My immediate thought was, "ugh a Buck Rodgers, Flash Gordon-esque type game." (Yes, clearly I am a child of the 80's and 90's.) Good thing, I didn't let the introduction cause me to quit then and there.
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In spite of what the opening graphics suggested, I found a visually superior game that took this newbie from a novice to a believer. The numerous sceneries are a varied blend of ancient wonders, apocalyptic type disasters, and underwater landscapes. The sound effects were initially unnoticed but quickly needed to be muted. Even though, for some strange reason, I did appreciate the underwater sounds of the oxygen tank during the scuba diving; go figure, I guess it kind of relaxed me.
I selected the casual mode of play, which was tricky enough for me, but for the skilled gamer, the expert mode would probably be more of a challenge.
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At its core, Eternal Journey: New Atlantis, is an adventure love story, but not in the overly obvious sappy kind of way. Navigating through the sci-fi ventures and curious happenings, you assist Amrite in her hunt to find the answers to the numerous questions plaguing her life.
The storyline is rich and in-depth but, I must admit, I didn’t read most of the information provided, as I am more of a figure-it-out-on-your-own kind of person. I guess the competitor in me just wanted to win or complete the game or whatever the end goal was. I just wasn’t interested in all the textual information or even the videos that enhanced the story. I wanted to grab my items, find my objects, and get on with the course.
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I really loved the investigative aspects of the game and the hidden objects elements were great. Thankfully, there were clear indicators of where these areas were, as they were brightly twinkling like the Twilight vampires.
For certain objects, you had to perform different tasks to be able to uncover the item, this was a welcomed twist. I found myself trying to beat an imaginary clock as if a bomb was going to explode if I did not complete these areas quickly. (Note to self: must relax, it’s just a game! )
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Truthfully, I would not have been able to complete the game successfully without the awesome interactive features; although, I did not see the need for the notebook that you can reference to keep track of the storyline. A lifesaving map feature helps you from getting lost in the abyss of scene changes and portals; and you can use it to chart your path without hassle.
There’s also the refilling hint feature that helps if you are completely lost on what to do or where to go next. But really, my best friend in the whole process was the strategy guide, and I must admit I referenced it more than I would’ve liked. Finally, the ever-present inventory bar stores your collection of resources.
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What I didn’t care for were the frequent mini-games. Although I enjoyed the one in the screenshot above (it reminded me of playing Memory); the others were tedious, distracting, and, in my opinion, unnecessary. Thank goodness you have the option to skip them, which I took full advantage of.
As for game play, it is exactly what I expected from this genre of games; nothing too taxing or overwhelming to deal with and visually pleasing. I had a hard time quitting each session without saying to myself, "just complete one more scene."
In reality, I have to say that Eternal Journey: New Atlantis has "mass appeal." It’s easy and inviting enough not to overwhelm beginning gamers like myself, but still varied and extensive enough to satisfy seasoned gamer's appetites.
