[h1] Recommended very highly for anyone who enjoys P&C adventures. Some very small performance issues. [/h1]
Emulating successful formulas goes all the way back to the beginning of gaming... back to the beginning of any creative pursuit, really. Sometimes, the derivative work ends up being as good as or better than the inspiration. Mission Critical is an example of that phenomenon.
Myst may have been the design inspiration, but Mission Critical did it at least as well, and in some ways better than, that grand old warhorse of gaming.
[h2]Decide the fate of the future...[/h2]
This game has reach, breadth, and depth.
[h3]Immersive setting and storytelling [/h3]
The game's environments, particularly the light cruiser USS Lexington, are immaculately and intricately detailed. They're believable environments, and even though it's barely mentioned, the design and structure of the ship is actually more fitting a hard sci-fi work than a game - the engineering is actually quite solid.
Almost every single object in the game can be examined as potential clues, and you will accumulate dozens of artifacts and tools, each with well-written descriptions. It's a level of detail that actually puts Myst to shame, because this game explains its world rather than just showing it to you.
But its artwork [i]does[/i] show you an incredible, detailed world. There is artwork in this game that is still visually striking now, [i]30 years after its release[/i]. Back in the day, it was praised for its graphics. Compared to today's photo-realistic content, sure, it looks a little dated. But still fantastic.
[h3]Open, less-linear gameplay [/h3]
As soon as you pass what's essentially the prologue, you have almost free rein over the ship. Go where you like, check things out, experience the game world. While there are some timed sections of the game, for the most part you are able to go and do as you see fit with very few limitations.
Hence the "less-linear" comment. Obviously a game like this is going to have a more-or-less linear plot. You can't do things completely out of order. Sure, you can switch some things up, you can even sequence break things if you already have the answers.
But the real genius in the design is the game won't stop you from doing almost whatever you want, even if it's an incredibly bad idea. Want to take a torch to that incredibly important plot element? Sure. Leave the control room door open when you pop the outer door of a pressurized shuttle bay and launch yourself into space? Bon voyage. The game is so committed to giving you choice that you will have three separate opportunities to end the story on your terms, short of the scripted end. All valid, all your choices. Bad choices, perhaps, but the game lets you make them.
[h3]Variety across the board [/h3]
You will run into a wide variety of puzzles and tasks, ranging from engineering puzzles, sleuthing, temporal puzzles, and good old fashioned object puzzles. There's even a 3D real-time strategy ship-to-ship combat game that was ahead of its time in 1995 and still holds up well today. A little simplistic, sure, and all done with wireframes, but it's still extremely well done. Don't like doing real-time combat and just want your story? No problem! Set the difficulty to zero and the game will handle it all by itself, leaving you free to just enjoy the story and the puzzles. This game also doesn't hold your hand in the puzzles; if you want a hint, you'll have to turn to a third-party guide for it. But stick with it - all of the hints and clues are there.
It really is hard to overstate just how well designed and executed this game is.
[h3]A great cast [/h3]
There are full-motion video segments in this game, too! (This was rare in 1995, you see.) Fully acted, video and interactive dialogue. The intro of the game is over five minutes of good-quality sci-fi film starring - wait for it! - Michael Dorn!
[h2]...while dealing with a few problems of the past.[/h2]
Okay, so while the game is solid, the presentation has a [i]few[/i] rough edges.
[h3]Emulation [/h3]
Credit where it's due, they got the thing to run. [i]With[/i] all its videos, no less, and the tactical simulation doesn't run so fast you can't see it. All very praiseworthy. But the emulation does create a few issues of its own. Volume inconsistencies can occur, and occasionally there are some control logjams and missed clicks. But really, these are barely nuisances, and hardly dealbreakers.
Oh, and it's running in DOSBox, so alt-tab is... wonky.
[h3]Short game[/h3]
This is also a fairly short game. End-to-end at a normal pace, it'll take about four hours. But they're good hours.
[h1]The Bottom Line[/h1]
If you like point-and-click adventure games, this one shouldn't be missed. It is still an outstanding experience, a great story, and a gorgeous world chock full of engaging, well-designed puzzles.
