The Blackwell Epiphany
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Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for The Blackwell Epiphany
The high-point of a consistently strong series, and a great showcase of adventure game design that fits the story's theme.
The Blackwell series has spanned eight years and as such has developed a devoted following. Blackwell Epiphany had a lot to live up to and could have easily faltered.
Fans will definitely enjoy the ride, latching onto each minute. Newcomers, well, go play the whole series—they're on sale often and you'll thank me when it's over.
An excellent ending to the series, but best played by those who have played its predecessors.
The Blackwell Epiphany is a fantastic and poignant end to the series, and I really hope we can start mentioning Dave Gilbert in the same breath as adventure gaming luminaries like Tim Schafer, Charles Cecil and (sigh) Jane Jensen. And you know what? I think he could out-adventure all of them.
Fans of the Blackwell series or Wadjet Eye Games will need no prodding to pick up a copy of Blackwell Epiphany, but noobs should definitely take a look at the whole Wadjet back-catalogue. We'd especially recommend picking up the first four Blackwell games before playing Epiphany (you can grab a bundle for mere pounds on the likes of GOG.com), although it's not essential - the game is still perfectly playable as a stand-alone adventure, even if some bits don't make a whole heap of sense.
The Blackwell Epiphany is the epitome of what has made the series so gripping so far - highly intuitive controls, intriguing puzzles, an intense rollercoaster ride of a story, witty banter between the two lead characters, and some fantastic music and voice acting to boot. Those that played the past four titles are in for a treat with this concluding episode, whilst those mulling over what to do after reading this review, be sure to start from the beginning and work through The Blackwell Bundle first so as to not miss out on one tiny drop of the series' magnificence.
The level of storytelling once it makes it past the more clunky moments makes the whole experience worthwhile. The conclusion itself made me forgive the game for all the awkward moments that came before it. And, after playing through all five chapters in quick succession, I can guarantee that that is the best way to appreciate the overall narrative.
