What is a good adventure? Obviously, my definition and the adventure genre’s definition of a good “adventure” are very different. My definition has to do with exploration, a labyrinth of an area to explore. Backtracking is the norm, and opportunity to be nosy is a given. By the genre’s definition, an adventure is a game that takes you to places you would never ordinarily experience. There is some exploration, but you’re usually adhering to the game’s plot. That was what was in my mind as I played Secret Files: Tunguska on the Wii.
Tunguska follows the adventures of a young woman by the name of Nina who is searching for her father who has mysteriously vanished. He is a well-known archeologist and works in a museum in Berlin. Her adventures take her all over Europe in attempt to not only find her father, but also the truth behind his old research and the Russian Army’s interest in Tunguska.
Initially, the game has a feel of something like a mimic of another game that is a mimic of the original story (that’s my Psych reference for the night). And there is plenty of evidence to support this feel: the disappeared father figure, the academic love interest, the strong-willed heroine driving a motorcycle around town and the European travel. However, there is a subtle supernatural undercurrent to the game. Furthermore, the more time you invest in it, the more interesting it gets. The downside is that the characters’ personalities are rather dry, so there is little separating them from other archetypes.
Graphically, the game is a mixed bag. The characters are made out of polygons, trying to emulate a realistic feel. Unfortunately, it fails. They do not emote and gesture. They stand there, dead panning the events unfolding before them. Then there are the various backgrounds. They are, by far, the most interesting parts of the game. They are not drop-dead gorgous, but they come close. Windmills turn in the distance in one scene, the museum looks authentic with its dinosaur exhibit, the countryside speeds by while Nina explores a train and a discontinued but highly disturbed Russian asylum. Discovering what locale comes next is somewhat exciting.
Gameplay is traditional point-and-click adventure gameplay. In other words, you will explore the same few screens in an area to solve puzzles. The game’s box says you need the nunchuck attachment, but it works just fine without it. The Wii-mote is needed to move Nina around the screen without clicking on the screen with the A button. The B button initiates an inspection of the place or item in question. Spots in question become highlighted when the cursor is over it. And you can even see all of these places (plus exits) by pressing the 1 button. Inventory is limitless and can hold various items, including broom handles and exposed needles.
As accessible as Tunguska can be, it is not easy. If you do not constantly search the locales, it’s easy to miss things. Items do not always make sense in how they combine together. How do mortar, aloe, water and plaster of Paris combine? How does aloe’s vegetable property supposed to be known when it is more well-known as a medicine for burns and cuts? How does one get the idea to combine a chair leg that is apparently hollow to make a blowgun? How does one get the idea to use a hose to flush out a urinal in a bathroom? Everything is completed by trial and error. The solutions are not very clear to me as I either misunderstood, missed or noticed the lack of clues. I relied heavily on a walkthrough to find my way around.
Audio wise, things are rather decent but downright underwhelming. Music is mostly ambiance. You will not hear the characters walk around the map, but you will hear the little “phre” sound whenever an item is used. What you will hear is a lot of voice acting. Most of it fits the various characters but doesn’t feel right. Sometimes it is because of the phoned-in feel of the actors; other times it is due to the lack of accents. There is certainly some disconnect between the characters and their environments.
Overall, Secret Files: Tunguska is a solid game in the adventure genre. It does not deviate from the standard tropes of the genre, such as the pixel hunts and odd item combinations. However, it does provide an interesting adventure for those willing to travel with Nina. That is the main joy: being able to visit the various locales. For about $20, it is a solid choice. However, games with stronger presentation easily knock this game out of the ballpark. I imagine adventure fans enjoying this game much more than the everyday casual gamer or action fan. But there is no denying that the developers are certainly getting close to the secret of a successful game.
