C&VG


Passengers On The Wind II

Publisher: Infogrames
Machine: Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #74

Passengers On The Wind II

If you can remember back to C&VG's August issue and the review of the first Passengers On The Wind game, you'll know that Keith is very hostile to the style of this adventure. Indeed, he would probably argue that it is not a true problem-solving adventure.

That's a good point. It's more like a role-playing book where at the end of a paragraph you have to make a decision. The wrong choice can send you off on the wrong track. With Passengers you have to decide on the correct sequence of people to talk to and making the right decision when confronted with a choice. Getting the correct sequence right is vitally important to progressing into the game.

In Passengers I, based on Francois Bourgeon's best-selling French comic books, all the main characters were introduced. Basically the game is set on the eve of the French Revolution.

Passengers On The Wind 2

Isa, an adventure girl who turned out to be a countess whose title had been usurped. Hoel a young sailor unjustly accused of murder who fell in love with Isa. Mary, a young English girl expecting a child who fled from her father and country. John, an English Officer and the father of Mary's unborn child. St. Quentin, the ship's surgeon and also a good friend of Isa. Boisboeuf, a captain of a slave ship, and more than fifteen other eighteenth-century characters.

After many adventures in France and a tough crossing on board a slave ship, the group reach Africa. Still with me? You are forgiven if you think this sounds more like a soap opera than a game. Right, from now in it's Passengers On The Wind 2.

Unfortunately, fate is against them - John goes mad; Hoel becomes ill and the two women are exposed to the designs of the evil Viaroux and Montaguere. Deciding to help Hoel, Isa goes to Dahomey's kingdom to see King Kpengia. You must decide by living this adventure in which you will learn the mysteries of voodoo when meeting the king and upon visiting the Savannah.

Passengers On The Wind 2

Despite the fact that the operation of the game is fairly complex and, at times, confusing, I do enjoy playing it, although I'm not sure how much sense the second game makes if you haven't played the first. The graphics are truly impressive.

Before buying this game, I would advise you to try and see the game working first. The ideas behind it are, I think, new and exciting and deserve encouragement. The execution of the concept doesn't match this.

The Passengers On The Wind series runs, as far as I know, to about five volumes so there is the chance we will be seeing more Passengers games from Infogrames.