April 14th, 1912. Unbeknownst to crew and passengers, the R.M.S. Titanic is headed for danger and the seeds of World War I are about to be planted. It was our hero's job to stop a certain Col. Zeitel from destroying not only the Titanic, but also life as we know it. Much to the disappointment of Her Majesty and our hero, the mission failed. Forward to the World War II era. You, the same hero, are lounging in your dingy apartment hiding from your landlord who is trying to collect the rent. Trinkets of past missions for the secret service abound on shelves and mantles around you. A news clipping about the Titanic and an inscribed pocket watch spark memories of that night. You think to yourself "what if I could go back in time and alter history?" An air-raid whistle screams and a bomb knocks you out. So starts Cyberflix's excellent Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, a game of alternate history and wondrous mystery. The ticking of a watch is heard and you are back on the Titanic, ready to start with a clean slate. Some great puzzles lie ahead and a few fights ensue as you try once again to stop Col. Zeitel and his master plan before the ship sinks. The key to this game's allure is actually feeling like you are on the ill-fated ship. Cyberflix have outdone themselves by making virtually every part of it explorable. The myriad subplots and double-dealings will make you trust no one you meet and nothing you hear. The logical puzzles include a bit of everything from cryptography to wiring an important telegraph. On the surface, Titanic may seem like another Myst clone to some. Quite the contrary, Cyberflix was smart enough to populate the ship with colorful, vivid characters, all dressed in period costumes. The interface is awkward at first, but soon becomes second nature after a few minutes of play. The only major bug to report is a tendency to freeze while running under Windows 95/98. With a non-linear play path and a good amount of alternate endings, Titanic: Adventure Out of Time is as grand and majestic as the ship it was named after. Reviewed by: doowopman |