Skip to main content

Dark Fall: The Journal (2002)

Up until 2002, I had been more interested in Real-Time Strategy games- like "WarCraft" and "Command & Conqueor: Red Alert", and Turn-Based Strategy games like "Civilization".  That changed when Jay (from "Film Reviews From the Basement") lent me a simple Point & Click Adventure game called, "Dark Fall: The Journal"...

After receiving a cryptic message from your brother on your answering machine, you head to Dorset to investigate.  Upon arrival at the abandoned train station your brother was preparing to renovate, you discover that he's gone missing... just one in a long list of strange disappearances that have occured over the years...

"Dark Fall: The Journal" is a very basic, Point & Click Adventure game that relies on a good story and mood.  The graphics are not top of the line for the time- but still effective at adding a great, eerie atmosphere.  This is only enhanced by some of the scripted moments.  One in particular still gives me chills.  It's when you're in a hallway, and the lights start going out from one end of the hall, heading towards you.  When you're alone in a darkened room, this is quite effective.  The sound quality isn't great, but had potential.

I really liked the way the story is revealed as you go along.  There are newspaper clippings, journal entries, etc that you can read.  There is even a phone you can use to hear a ghostly voice pleading for help.  You also gain some equiptment that will help you investigate the station and expose more the story.  If you're not into exploring and spending your time reading every little piece of paper that you find, then you can always forgo that.

If you're not into solving puzzles, then you may not want to play this game.  It is fairly puzzle heavy, and many of them could be rather obscure though interesting none the less.  I would've preferred a more balanced use of the puzzles- and used ones that were fairly commonly known.  It would've been great if the puzzles themselves actually had something to do with the story in order to add even more depth to the gameplay.  It felt like I was being taken out of the game from time to time just to solve the puzzles, as some of them didn't fit in with the rest of the game.

In the final analysis, I have to say that despite it's flaws, I really quite enjoyed, "Dark Fall: The Journal," and it was effective at introducing me to the Point & Click game genre.  I'm going to put this game in "The Good".

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Grave Questions: Jessica Cameron

February is " Women in Horror Month "- a month in which to celebrate the impact that women have had on the genre and the industry- from writing, to acting, to directing and producing. Jessica Cameron has experienced the industry in all those capacity- making her a perfect choice for me to ask some " Grave Questions " of in order to raise awareness of the great women in Horror. Please not that this article SHOULD'VE been posted in February, but due to technical difficulties, we're putting it up now.  Thank you. TCoT :   Which female horror stars helped to inspire you to not only enjoy the genre- but to get involved in bringing scary movies to the world? Jessica :  I literally said to my " Truth or Dare " producer, "If the Soska sisters can make " Dead Hooker in a Trunk " with nothing, then I can make " Truth or Dare ".  So needless to say that those girls have been a huge inspiration in everything I do behind the

Meridian: Kiss of the Beast (1990)

Sometimes, a director/producer will surprise you- such was the case during " Terrorpolooza 2012 " when I watched Charles Band's " Meridian: Kiss of the Beast " Catherine Bomarzini has come home after her father's death.  Needing company, she asks Gina to stay with her.  Soon, the two meet a wondering troupe of performers that Catherine invites to dinner at her castle. Catherine find herself pulled into a love triangle and an ancient curse that only she can break. After watching movies like " Evil Bong ", and " Demonic Toys ", I really wasn't expecting too much from this Charles Band movie- but I was pleasantly surprised by it. The story is actually quite interesting with lots of potential for eerie scenes, and character development.  It's a nice twist on the classic " Beauty and the Beast " story.  It's a bit slower than most of Band's other works, but moves smoothly and draws you with it. I have to ad

The Phantom of the Opera

  Not too long ago, I reviewed the silent horror classic, "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror", and wound up being in the mood to view a few other of the silent horror films in my collection.  The next one I watched was "The Phantom of the Opera", starring Lon Chaney, Sr, and released in 1925.   A mysterious stranger has been threatening the star singer of the Paris Opera House- someone who has signs his letters simply as, "The Phantom".  This stranger wants to clear the way so his protege, Christine Daae can ascend to stardom herself.  Soon, her love for the Comte de Chagny collides with The Phantom's desire for Christine forcing both to take drastic actions in order to be with the one they love. " The Phantom of the Opera " actually underwent three periods of re-shoots and editing, due to poor reception and test viewings.  In 1930, a sound version was created- often assumed to be what is called "The Eastman House Print".  It is