Schizm: Mysterious Journey
|
|
Schizm is an adventure-genre computer game created by LK Avalon and published by Dreamcatcher Games.
The game is reminiscent of the Myst series of games (especially Riven) in that the environment is rendered very realistically and in exceptionally high detail. Movement and interaction in the game is very similar to that in the Myst games. The background sounds are realistic and dynamic (for example, footsteps change as a character walks over different surfaces such as metal and stone, and echo when inside tunnels). The backround music is very atmospheric and highly evocative.
A major distinguishing feature of Schizm is that the player can switch control between the two characters at any time. There are puzzles which require both characters to be performing actions at the same time before they can be solved.
The game is available on 5 CDs or as a single DVD. The CD version does not include all the puzzles that appear in the DVD release.
Story
Sam and Hannah are piloting a spaceship carrying supplies to a scientific expedition on the planet Argilus. Arriving at the planet they lose control of the ship and are forced to abandon it in escape pods.
The two become separated at this point and find themselves on an apparently uninhabited planet - Sam lands in an aerial "city" made up of tethered balloons or airships. Hannah finds herself in a town built on a large, free-floating island. The two characters are at first unable to communicate but this becomes possible later when they arrive in the same area.
The objective is to get both characters to Matia's Zone, which is achieved by solving (sometime very difficult) puzzles to get the alien Argilan technology working. Once in Matia's Zone, the characters must work together to solve the final puzzle and escape the planet - and find the answer to the riddle of the missing Argilans.