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Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Episodes 3 & 4 Review for PC

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Episodes 3 & 4 Review for PC

The Doctor Will See You Now

Although Doctor Who holds the record for the longest-running science fiction television program (or programme, if you like) of all time, I think it should have some sort of record for spin-off material as well. Between novelizations, CD dramas, comics, and video games, it’s easy to fill your life with Doctor Who-related material, 365 days of the year. Around June of last year, the good Doctor made his way onto PCs with two episodic-style video games that featured familiar enemies and fun plotlines. Though the first two episodes were fun to play, they lacked depth, and weren’t particularly memorable, even if you did take them more as interactive episodes than actual games.

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Episodes 3 & 4 Screenshot

The last two Adventure Games of the first season have largely the same issues. However, they are most pronounced in TARDIS, the third Adventure Game. On paper, the idea sounds pretty cool. Due to a hole in the space-time continuum, the Doctor and Amy get stuck inside the TARDIS, but at different periods of time. Although the Doctor is clever enough to figure out a solution, Amy accidentally releases an evil “Entity” from a case in the Doctor’s drawing room. The game takes place entirely in the TARDIS, which could have been a good idea, as there are universes, libraries, and several swimming pools within the tiny police box. However, the game drops any expansive feel, and only takes place within the TARDIS console room and the Doctor’s never-before-seen study room.

The game feels constrictive, which is disappointing considering the potential of the title. However, the setting wasn’t the only part of the game that felt shallow. There is little to do in the game, besides pressing buttons on the console and “examining” artifacts in the Doctor’s study. As a result, TARDIS feels more like an extended cutscene than an actual game. And the worst part is that it’s not even a long cutscene. You can expect to be done with TARDIS in less than an hour, and you’ll likely feel quite unsatisfied by the experience.

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Episodes 3 & 4 Screenshot

However, even though TARDIS represents the worst of the series, the next entry is easily its best. While TARDIS has you shuffling about pressing buttons, episode 4, Shadows of the Vashta Narada, has you running through a copious amount of corridors (in true Doctor Who form) and implements one of the best villains in new-Who: the invisible-but-deadly Vashta Nerada. If you missed season four’s “Silence in the Library,” here’s a quick primer on the Vashta Nerada: these invisible creatures are flesh-eaters who live in darkness and can reduce a human to bone in mere seconds. Although we first see these creatures on a library planet, they return in Shadows of the Vasta Nerada at an underwater base in Earth’s future. However, instead of wanting to get revenge, the Vashta Nerada are displaced in time-space thanks to a wormhole. Though their intentions aren’t as nefarious this time, people are still being reduced to bones, and to make matters worse, there’s a zombie shark in the water destroying parts of the base!

The plot is fairly tense, and this is the most story-heavy of the four adventure games. And surprisingly, Shadows of the Vashta Nerada also feels the most like an action-based game. Instead of just clicking through different areas, you’ll spend a lot of time in maze-like corridors, solving puzzles to keep the lights on, and running away from skeletons in dive suits reanimated by the Vashta Nerada. There’s a lot going on in this title, and though Blood of the Cybermen also featured a lot of action, Shadows of the Vashta Nerada feels a lot bigger, and will also take a bit longer to complete, as there is more to do in the game.

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Episodes 3 & 4 Screenshot

Although both of these chapters will likely take you less than an afternoon to complete, the price tag for admission ($9) doesn’t seem too high. Though TARDIS is a huge let-down, Shadows of the Vashta Nerada more than makes up for the weak third episode. However, if you want to skip the third episode and just purchase the fourth episode as a standalone for $5, you might be better off, as there really isn’t anything you’ll miss from the third episode, other than collectibles.

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Episodes 3 & 4 Screenshot

As for production values, episodes 3 and 4 of the Adventure Games are almost identical to the first two titles. The character models look fairly standard, but the animations are still a little awkward. This problem is especially noticeable in Shadows of the Vashta Nerada, as there are a lot of “stock” animations interspersed with the action sequences, which slow down the flow of the game considerably. Sound still works well, and the voiceovers are still capably performed by current-season stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. Although the soundtrack samples nicely from the show, I have to say that the constant repetition of the “I am the Doctor” theme is a little excessive, and can become rather grating, especially for those who played the first two games.

Controls are also exactly the same as in previous games, and unfortunately, that becomes a bit of an issue with the fourth episode. Because Shadows of the Vashta Nerada features a lot of action and stealth sequences, the “click to move forward” controls aren’t always precise enough to get the job done the first or second time around. Of course, like any sub-par control system, you’ll find ways to get around the problem in tricky situations, but that doesn’t really excuse this issue, and I really hope it is addressed in future releases.

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games: Episodes 3 and 4 is a nice package, even if it is a mixed bag. The third episode is by far the weakest of the Adventure Games’ first season, but the fourth episode more than makes up for the third’s shortcomings. Although this is the end of the Doctor’s first season of downloadable video game adventures, the BBC has confirmed that The Adventure Games has been commissioned for a second season to begin later this year, so there’s plenty to look forward to!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.4 Graphics
The character models are good, but the animation is still a little too jerky. Environments are good in episode 4, but episode 3’s TARDIS feels quite claustrophobic. 3.2 Control
Simple paint-and-click controls work well enough in TARDIS, but can hamper the faster-paced gameplay in Shadows of the Vashta Nerada. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan’s voiceovers sound great, but the soundtrack’s over-use of “I am the Doctor” can grate on the nerves. 3.0 Play Value
TARDIS is incredibly short, and feels more like an interactive cutscene than a game. Shadows of the Vashta Nerada makes up for its predecessor’s shortcomings though, and is easily the best of the four Adventure Games. 3.5 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Collectibles. Scattered around the game environments are cards that build into a comprehensive collection of Doctor Who characters
  • Stealth and explore. Run, crawl, and navigate the Doctor past enemies, traps, and obstacles of various kinds.
  • Puzzles. Embedded in each game are a number of puzzles which need to be solved to move the action on.

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