Adventure at the Chateau d'Or

PC version requires:
Pentium, 100 MHz+, Win 95/98/ME/2000, 32 Mb RAM, 4xCD-ROM, 70 Mb HD

Mac version requires:
PowerPC, Sys 7.5.5+, 12 Mb RAM, 4xCD-ROM, 70 Mb HD

Description:

A modern princess needs your assistance to unlock the secrets of the Chateau d'Or. Help her track down the 'virtual self' of her deceased uncle the Duke and obtain his guidance in finding her inheritance. The game is won by using a combination of knowledge and problem solving. Knowledge is obtained in different rooms of the palace from devices including a tv, a computer and a book. Read and listen - what you learn is indexed in a Hero's Information Manager (H.I.M.), which also tracks your location on a palace map. It flashes when acquiring game knowledge.

Graphics are elegant. They are somewhat Myst-like (along with the point and click interface and manipulative puzzles). Problems can be set to an Easy level that is much simpler than those in Myst. Knowledge (of Paris and French history) can also be set as Easy, Medium or Hard. Whether or not you already know much about France, the information must be read or viewed so that it will be indexed in your H.I.M.. Then the objective is to locate the Duke. His apparition will quiz you. Click on indexed entries as answers. The Duke hands over a key and assigns further objectives if you answer correctly, so proving worthy of his help.

Knowledge to be gleaned includes information on Gothic Cathedrals, on Flea Markets of Paris and the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, and on French history from Ancient Paris up to the Revolution. Once the ghost gives his guidance, the next mission is to seek the golden crown and four sensory focal devices, find the princess and hand over the crown. So goes the game. As you progress you obtain access to locked rooms and find various ways to get around the lovely gardens and ornate salons. Movement is sometimes confusing though, as a right or left turn can vary between a 90 and a 180 degree swing.

Features:

• First person adventure
• 3D graphics
• Quizzes and puzzles
• Animated sequences
• French history
• Information on Paris
• Levels of difficulty
• 16 page jewel case User Guide

Technical Aspects:

The program crashed a couple of times with 'Error in 1ML32.DLL'. It's a good idea to save frequently (don't forget to save before quitting as there is no reminder).

Report and Conclusions:

My 11 year old son was intrigued by the video on Louis XIV and the French revolution, and also enjoyed working on game puzzles (set to Easy) with me. We have won the key, the crown and the chalice and it looks like there is still a great deal to explore to progress through the game. Overall, I'd recommend Adventure at the Chateau d'Or if you're interested in France, plan a trip to Paris and/or enjoy first person adventure with gorgeous graphics and good puzzles.