TL;DR
Step into Fia Quinn's shoes as a time traveler exploring historical New York in Old Skies! This point-and-click adventure boasts a compelling, emotional narrative about loss and isolation, offering a fresh take on time travel stories. You'll face moral choices and solve puzzles to unravel mysteries. However, be aware of its strictly linear progression, which can limit creative problem-solving, and a music score that sadly misses the mark on atmosphere. If you love narrative-driven adventures but don't mind a rigid path, this might be for you. Dive deeper into our full review to see if this journey through time is worth your attention!
Old Skies immerses players in various historical periods of New York City. The narrative centers on Fia Quinn, a professional time traveler employed by ChronoZen, a corporation that provides affluent clientele with opportunities to experience historical events firsthand. Throughout the game, players will confront moral quandaries, unravel intricate mysteries, and grapple with the ramifications of temporal manipulation.
Old Skies adheres to the classic point-and-click adventure formula, requiring players to solve puzzles and engage with non-player characters through dialogue choices. The game excels in forging an emotional connection with the protagonist and her circumstances, while also exploring themes of loss, change, and isolation. The narrative is well-crafted and provides an engaging experience that distinguishes itself from other time travel narratives in gaming and film.
However, the game’s strictly linear structure feels somewhat anachronistic. Contemporary players often appreciate the freedom to experiment with various solutions. The frequently singular path to progression can lead to frustration when viable alternative solutions are not recognized by the game.
Another significant drawback is the music, which is noticeably out of sync with the game’s overall tone and atmosphere. This is a particularly unfortunate element, as the score should ideally complement and enhance the player’s immersion.
Old Skies is currently exclusive to PC. Given its relatively simple graphics, the game does not require high-end hardware. A configuration including 2 GB of RAM, a basic Direct3D, OpenGL, or DirectX 5 graphics card, and 4 GB of available storage space should suffice.
In conclusion, Old Skies presents a well-executed and emotionally resonant adventure featuring a unique time travel premise and a compelling narrative. While it will likely appeal to fans of the point-and-click genre, its linear structure and the aforementioned inadequate music detract from the overall experience, impacting the final rating.
Wadjet Eye Games provided a review copy for the purpose of this evaluation. The provision of review materials does not influence the editorial objectivity of our assessments.
