If you are not a fan of puns, some of the humor in the game may strike you the wrong way (i.e. you encounter a cast-iron safe for saved games). On the other hand, who can resist cheeky talking termites with a Cockney accent? “Get out of our sun, homeotherm!”
The game, however, is not without a few issues. The animation to switch characters is odd; they half walk in a circle around each other to swap instead of instantaneously, which gets old when you have to constantly switch. The same half-circle happens when going in and out of doorways and entrances. Though the script is very good, the last few lines of dialogue in the game are in untranslated German. It was an odd way to finish, but a small mar of the face of an otherwise excellent game-playing experience.
Some lessons to take away from The Book of Unwritten Tales:
• Don't tee off the trolls.
• If you can’t see the solution to the puzzle, it’s likely under your nose.
• Individually, tiny creatures are no threat. Collectively, they can cart you off and toss you into the bushes.
The Book of Unwritten Tales definitely gives you your money’s worth. The game is presented as a book, divided into five chapters. I’m quite adept at adventure games and I found myself stuck in several places for a day or two. I opted not to use the walk-thru, as that takes all the fun out of it.
As with any good tale, I did not want it to end and didn’t want to leave these characters behind. Does plucky little Wilbur have the courage to venture forth and be a true mage? Do Ivo and Nate end up floating off into their own sunset in a gnome balloon? Well, I’ll let you play and write the story on your own.
There are strong hints of a sequel—“Maybe there’s another adventure out there for us,” says Wilbur—and there’s definitely room for more creative adventure games like The Book of Unwritten Tales.
Game Trailer:
You can also buy the full game as a digital download for only $29.99.
The Book of Unwritten Tales is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB
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