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Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb Review for PC

Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb Review for PC

Riddle me this!

Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb is a classic point-and-click adventure that’s full of brain-teasers and puzzles. Strikingly similar to the Myst series’ gameplay, Riddle of the Tomb will have gamers scouring ancient Alexandria for clues and implements in order to solve the mystery of Cleopatra’s destiny and the disappearance of your mentor and lost love. The control mechanic is simplistic, the static visuals are authentic to the period and nicely detailed, and the puzzles are challenging. These three factors make this a game worth playing for any PC adventure enthusiast despite its flaws. Just make sure you’re patient, meticulous, and not easily frustrated if you plan on picking it up.

Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb screenshot

Riddle of the Tomb was originally released in Europe under the title, Cleopatra: A Queen’s Destiny. It was developed by Kheops Studio, and as their name would imply, they know quite a bit about Egyptian antiquity. This makes the story and settings both credible and satisfying. This also applies to the kinds of puzzles you will be deciphering along the way. From water locks to herbal tonics to refracting light with a great prism, the puzzles are varied, difficult, and authentic.

As such, there is a bit of a learning curve to the title. In the beginning, you will plod through the game as you constantly run up against confusion. Initially, it can feel as if the tasks you have to complete are not logically laid out for you. A big part of this is that you’ll miss a lot of clues by simply not seeing them; crucial story devices lay hidden at your feet and in trampled brush. Be sure you examine closely every single point of interest for all of its objects, text, and action sequences. If you miss anything, you’ll find yourself backtracking to every point and frantically clicking all over the screen in search of that bit of stick or the proper place to fill up a water receptacle. This can be frustrating and will be a game killer for someone who is used to popping melons in an FPS, not using their melon in a puzzle-laden adventure.

Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb screenshot

Along those lines, I would have liked to have seen a more linear progression early on in the title. For example, I had a heck of a time figuring out where to use the paint thinner I created in the Great Library. It took me over a half an hour just to notice the appropriate click point on the column. After going through every area several times I noticed a small spot that was already rubbed off. Sure enough, I pointed the cursor over the tiny spot in question, and I was able to advance. In other words, once I noticed where to click the game began to flow again. Maddeningly, these moments of confusion are frequent, so it is imperative that you diligently and methodically work your way through. Missing anything will needlessly cost you a lot of time.

Fortunately, the puzzles themselves are very logical, and it is just a matter of putting together all the clues according to the text prompts found on papyrus scrolls, wall carvings, and tomb inscriptions. Furthermore, you’ll often find objects that need to be assembled or disassembled before they can be used. This is also logically done, especially considering the game gives you a formula at the bottom of the screen that lets you know how many more items you are missing before being able to fashion the necessary implement.

Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb screenshot

Some of the finer points of gameplay include a straightforward fast travel system via the simple map screen. Additionally, at the beginning you’ll have to choose a sign from the zodiac along with an avatar. The avatar not only serves as your save folder, but combined with the sign, will determine whether or not your character is having a bad day. If you are having a bad day, then the gods seem to be conspiring against you at each and every turn. What does this mean for the player? You’ll have to find many more objects, and generally, things will be more difficult to accomplish. I wouldn’t say that having a bad day is necessarily more challenging, it just makes for a lot of busy work. Furthermore, this doesn’t really provide for any replayability like the developer claims, as the story and the puzzles are essentially the same regardless.

Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb screenshot

Some of the finer points of gameplay include a straightforward fast travel system via the simple map screen. Additionally, at the beginning you’ll have to choose a sign from the zodiac along with an avatar. The avatar not only serves as your save folder, but combined with the sign, will determine whether or not your character is having a bad day. If you are having a bad day, then the gods seem to be conspiring against you at each and every turn. What does this mean for the player? You’ll have to find many more objects, and generally, things will be more difficult to accomplish. I wouldn’t say that having a bad day is necessarily more challenging, it just makes for a lot of busy work. Furthermore, this doesn’t really provide for any replayability like the developer claims, as the story and the puzzles are essentially the same regardless.

The controls are about as easy they get. Everything is done with the two mouse buttons. You’ll point your way around the environments until the cursor changes, and then click to advance your character, activate a puzzle or pick up items. Because I never needed to use the keyboard, I was able to hook up my PC to a large HD monitor and kick back on my couch with the wireless mouse. Additionally, the menu screen is nicely laid out and is easily accessible. Features such as automatic item stowage make inventory organization a snap! However, the sheer amount of items you’ll pick up along the way does hinder it a bit.

If you’re not the patient type, get frustrated easily or tend to blow through text and plot lines, this won’t be the game for you. Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb is for those who enjoy and are used to point-and-click adventures. The tried-and-true formula is executed almost flawlessly, but there isn’t any innovation to speak of. If you’ve got a lot of time to spend pondering puzzles, then this game has a collection of mind-benders and an interesting story that will blow the New York Times’ Crossword out of the water. At just $19.99 retail, it’s hard to beat this game for leisurely puzzling fun. Combine this with the fact that the game will run nicely on almost any computing rig, and you’ve got yourself a fun and valuable experience on your hands.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.8 Graphics
The static environments are both authentic and detailed. 4.6 Control
The point-and-click mechanic is nearly flawless, but can be boring for the uninitiated. 3.6 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The musical themes and sounds are all nicely done, but the voice over work is pretty painful. 3.4 Play Value
The game is very slow-paced, but the puzzles are challenging and rewarding. 3.6 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • A multitude of different puzzles will challenge your every turn.
  • Detailed and realistic graphics really bring the story home.
  • Well designed maps allow players to hop around the city of Alexandria with the greatest of ease.
  • A respect for historical precision lends authenticity to the title.

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