Lost Eden Longplay (PC DOS)

Developed by Cryo Interactive and published by Virgin Interactive in 1995 Follow me on Twitter:   / al82_retro   Add me on Google+:
For today's video, I decided to revisit one of the earliest games I played that came distributed exclusively on CD-ROM. Memorable for it's graphics and music, Lost Eden was one of many 'multimedia' titles made possible thanks to the additional storage capacity afforded by CD storage technology. In the world of Lost Eden, man and dinosaur coexist in an uneasy peace in what appears to be a fictionalised version of Earth. However, the resurgence of the Tyrran, a saurian menace led by the evil Moorkus Rex, threatens to consign both dinosaurs and humans to the pages of history. The only hope for survival is that humans and dinosaurs reforge the alliances of old and unite to defeat the forces of the Tyrran horde. The game is, at it's core, a point-and-click adventure game, although I think it's probably more accurate to describe the overall product as an example of 'interactive movie'. This term remains largely pejorative in that many developers spent more time creating grainy, poorly acted full-motion video sequences and pre-rendered graphics than building engaging gameplay content. Even though Lost Eden is guilty of such accusations, it's a title that I feel is a cut above many similar titles in the genre. The first thing that anyone remembers about the game is the graphics. From the moment the game begins, the player is treated to numerous pre-rendered, animated sequences that boasted detail and clarity previously unseen in a video game product. Of course, they look comically basic compared to what most modern game engines render in real-time, but back in 1995 these were simply breathtaking to look at - it felt like a true glimpse into the future. As good as the 3D sequences are, the technology and tools available at the time meant that the geometry and texturing of 3D assets would have looked incredibly basic when viewed up close and would have ruined the overall look of the game. Cryo decided to use traditional 2D artwork for the character art and conversation sequences, which have certainly aged considerably better than the 3D sequences. Cryo event went to great lengths in creating convincing lip synchronisation for the characters. The characters mouths have been animated so that they don't simply open and close in time with the audio, but to also form shapes that fit with the words being spoken - it's a remarkably effective technique that stands up to some fairly intense scrutiny. Whilst much can be said for the pre-rendered video sequences, I think that the game's music, produced by Stephane Picq, is what steals the show. From the opening introduction to the closing credits, the music plays a vital part in setting the tone for the game and contributing to the creation of the game's fantastical, prehistoric world. Sweeping synths and tribal drums combine to produce a score that ranges from hauntingly ethereal, to outright epic. Even today, my parents will occasionally refer to Lost Eden as 'the game with the lovely graphics and music' - for a generation that, deep down, continues to regard computer/video games as the frivolous pass-time of children, this is high praise indeed! I feel it's also worth giving a special mention to the game's story writing and supporting cast of characters. Steve Jackson, co-author of the Final Fantasy series of adventure game/novels, was brought on board to co-write the script with Johan Robson. It's typical fantasy fodder involving magic, spirits and the struggle to overcome a seemingly indomitable foe, but it never feels corny or too ridiculous - it does get a bit flabby in the later stages, with plot holes and inconsistencies making themselves apparent, but it's never less than enjoyable. As for actors voicing the characters, I felt they did a generally excellent job - some are stronger than others, but the lines are delivered with conviction and passion and help bring the characters to life. For those who have read this far, you'll have noticed that this reads more like the review of a movie than a game. The reason for this is that, beyond the admittedly excellent presentation, the gameplay is very thin on the ground. All the player has to do is pick up a few objects and work out where they should be used in the world - there are so few objects to find and so few places to use them that the puzzles seem almost inconsequential; a LucasArts adventure game this is not. Despite it's problems, it's all too easy to look back at such CD-ROM titles and dismiss them as a lot of fancy graphics and little else, but they should also be recognised for showing how, when used effectively, higher quality audio, graphics and video can enhance the overall storytelling experience, for video games are nothing if not stories in which the audience happens to be an active participant. #retrogaming