The Bookwalker especially has some lofty intentions. As a narrative explicitly about the creation and exploitation of stories, it naturally has a lot of pressure on it to say something. But it doesn’t, beyond a milquetoast message of “be nice to people.” I could look past that if it wasn’t for the creative setting or if the gameplay was better. But as it is, it all seems hollow. Despite all this, I still really like The Bookwalker. It may not live up to its potential, but it’s a fascinating concept executed competently. The puzzles are good, even if the RPG and crafting systems seem like little more than an afterthought. The story is sufficient to pull you through, even if it doesn’t have much to say.
Ultimately the shift to real-time combat was a difficult transition that the game was unable to effectively make. For me, the simplistic systems do too little to provide longevity or replayability. However, if you have wanted to get into XCOM but couldn’t because you hate turn-based combat, this may be the game for you. The story, too, is worth your time, but as for me, my time with Aliens: Dark Descent is over.
So we have a rough game with fantastic turn-based combat with a unique twist. The setting is well-painted, but the smaller brushstrokes are messy. I love this game and am going back to finish all the side missions, but I have to dock it some points for failing to live up to its premise.
I enjoyed this game and would recommend it to adventure game fans, especially for anyone who, like me, never played the original. But I wish they had either gone all in with the preservation and just added the audio-visual updates or gone for it and revamped the whole thing. Instead, we are left with a half-measure that does not live up to the fans’ hopes nor presents something new players will want to engage with. That said, I still hope to see more from the Williams. I remain a massive fan of their work and will always be grateful for their impact on me as a child.
It’s a game that takes inspiration from one of my favorites of all time, so no matter what tiny issues I have with it, I can’t stay mad. It doesn’t always succeed in living up to Uncharted Waters, but the additions that it does make are solid. The best summary I can give is this: I’ve played a hundred hours of this game and am still excited to return for more. If you’re new to the sail anywhere genre, this could be a revelation. There isn’t much else out there that does what this game does. On the other hand, if you have played Uncharted Waters before, this may just be the return to form you are looking for. But be wary of the differences. They weren’t enough to ruin it for me, but I would understand if they did.
Just a couple of notes. First, as this is based on the works of Doyle and Lovecraft and set in Victorian times, some questionable ideas are espoused here. For the most part, the game goes out of its way to repudiate such views, like the man abusing his servant. But be aware they are there (the game warns you about this in its loading screens). Second and far less important, the game is relatively short. It took about fourteen hours to complete, and I wasn’t exactly trying for a speed run. I in no way think this is a bad thing, however. The timeframe kept the story tight and meant the game did not outstay its welcome. The game releases April 11, 2023, so if you pick it up let me know what you think in the comment below!