[PC] Experience 112 aka Experiment 112 aka THE E.X.P.E.R.I.M.E.N.T feat Q-tip and Jay-Z

Aww yeah that sucks.. There's a nice piano tune in the beginning of the demo, and the main menu is all relaxing in a creepy brainwashy kind of way. I hope you can get your sound working eventually :/

But I have some good news in any case! The English demo is working now. I was talking about it on GameFAQs and everyone said they had the same install problems but now people are trying it and it's working. I re-downloaded from the main site and sure enough it's installed and is running smoothly. I'm kinda really gonna miss the French now, tho~

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I got it working as well. Well, kinda.

It's the same problem as with the french demo, it starts and works, but I get no sound. I have sound for the Microapplications logo video, but after that nothing. The game probably requires a sound card or driver of some certain kind and my old one isn't up for scratch. I'll see if it'll work on my parents' laptop better, so I can at least play it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Hi. Reviving thread.

As Qwarky said months earlier, Experience 112 has been renamed to "The Experiment" for its US release:


I happened to come across it yesterday and picked it up

Now I don't know why, but when I got the game at Best Buy (lol), it had a sticker on it for $19.99. However the lady ringed it up at $29.99. I contested this and they were kind enough to honor their mistake and so I got the game for $20 and some change. So, beware that the game might be more then $20!

Anyway, here are a few pics if you decide you want to pick this up as well (For handy reference!). 56K Warning:

Spoiler:

Box Cover


Opening the Cover Flap reveals some interesting info...


A tease at the situation...


and of the Story


Back of the Box


Inside the Box. 2 CDs are in the Spindle

I probably won't get around to installing/playing the game until the weekend, but that's only a day or so away so I'll try to post an initial review then.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Neat. They sure changed Lea's appearance for the US cover, though =x

I'm still hopeful they'll have multiple audio options or a french audio patch on the European release so I can play the game with original audio and english text~

I was speaking idiomatically.

I started playing this back in February, but I got stuck looking for some key and quit. Didn't really get very far. Runs a hell of a lot better than the demo did on my computer, though.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Xardion

I started playing this back in February, but I got stuck looking for some key and quit. Didn't really get very far. Runs a hell of a lot better than the demo did on my computer, though.

How's the AI faring? Did they leave that part out entirely or is there some non-scripted trust/mistrust noticeable anywhere?

Anyone want to buy the US version for me and mail it? I will send you PS3/PSP promos and chocolate ;________;

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Qwarky

How's the AI faring? Did they leave that part out entirely or is there some non-scripted trust/mistrust noticeable anywhere?

Anyone want to buy the US version for me and mail it? I will send you PS3/PSP promos and chocolate ;________;

Well she's a jerk and she yells at me a lot. But in the demo it was "Hey you need to do this WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE IT YET" so it's better. I haven't really noticed anything to do with the trust/mistrust thing, but at one point she was all "Hey don't make me search that dead guy." And shortly after there's a big monster thing corpse laying on a table and she starts digging around in its chest, so whatever. She mentioned a key to unlock something would be in the security office, but every time I try to get her in there she yells at me for wasting her time.

Also, I don't have a ps3 or a psp. Or money to buy/ship.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I got this through Skills a bit back and have been playing it since Sunday. I'm really, really loving it so far. The atmosphere is excellent, it's visually arresting (even if technically probably not that top of the line), music is wonderful and the whole concept is something I can't get enough of.

It's actually a lot more orthodox than I expected. It's slightly disappointing that Lea doesn't act freely after all and so far I'm not seeing any hints of trust or distrust. It's very difficult to spot when something she does is prescripted or something that occurred because I guided her there. If you can manage the hickups (stuttery animation, stop-start reaction, etc), the illusion of a more alive game character is still splendid. The whole thing is structured much like a regular point & click adventure, but the interface makes it much more organic and natural. You don't really feel like you're solving puzzles, more like exiting setpieces.

It does feel fairly traditional at times. When you first notice you're actually just telling her where to go by switching lights and operating door locks, it's slightly disappointing. Get over this fact and the experience really is awesome.

It's much like FFXII to RPGs in that many will bemoan the automation of standard genre devices, but it feels far more plausible and natural here. Instead of clicking pick up key, use key on door, open door, pick up next item, Lea will investigate scenes if there is something interesting, pick up what matters and use it later where it's needed. There is wonderful attention to detail in this. One time she discovered a note with a password (after searching a safe twice) and tried to show it to me but I couldn't read it even with camera zoom, so she eventually wrote it on a chalkboard. I don't know if the game REALLY registered that I shook my "head" with the camera when she asked if I could read it, but it doesn't really matter.

The main story is interesting enough to keep me playing, but what really makes the game sing is the computer system itself.

Operating security cameras and lighting alone is a joy. What makes it compulsive is the login system. Each member of the ships crew had their own username and password, which, when discovered (through whichever way) can be used to access their personal files, notes and emails, in order to find more clues.

For instance, you'll need access to a door that's locked by a code. A crew member that was in charge of that section of the lab may have the door code in their files, but you'll first need to gain access to their files. Sometimes you run into clues in other people's emails or files, sometimes Lea finds info on the ship and tells you. The whole thing is entirely nonlinear, so you may run into someone's password and read through their files, then later find their password mentioned in passing in someone else's emails, meaning had you first looked there you would have gotten it that way.

Most of the adventuring is nonlinear as well. The only thing limiting it is Lea's priorities. Meaning if you originally set out to find some crucial chemical, she won't enter a certain room where she says she doesn't need to access before finishing the previous task.

Of course this kind of stuff is pre-scripted, but it's all covered up really well. It's also possible to discover items and information in entirely different order than someone else, and Lea's determined focus is really just there to keep you on the right track.

What really deepens the setting and characters is, again, the computer system. Reading all the emails and notices is entirely optional, but while they often provide very valuable help and sometimes direct solutions to issues at hand, they're very worth reading because of how much background story they provide. I'd till now only briefly leafed through stuff, browsing for the most crucial puzzle clues, but once I started reading the personal emails and diary entries, research reports and comments, I started to get a much clearer picture of what was going on at the facility and its crew, their motivations and personalities and in general felt much more drawn into the world and compelled to keep Lea safe and discover more about the facility's story and its previous occupants.

I can't stress how much the backstory adds to the atmosphere. It was intense and creepy originally, now it's complimented with sadness and melancholy. Some of the research reports on the test subjects are really tragic.

The username system adds a great nonlinear meta-layer to the whole thing, dipping in and out of the main structure, providing crucial for both gameplay and background information. Each character has personal files and a protected section that requires a second password. Accessing these usually gives vital clues to the puzzles but also reveal new secrets about the characters and the story <3


Edit:
Oh, and the sweet soundtrack is available for download at mp3.com
Experience 112 soundtrack - LouisWarbeck - Song Listings

I'll probably get around to properly naming and tagging the songs and then uploading to somewhere, but use that one for now. I'm especially fond of the opening theme (Cinematik "The beginning"), the three tutorial themes and "Level eco intro". A lot of it is more moodsetting ambient than listeneable music, though. Still, very cool~

Jam it back in, in the dark.

So I just finished it. The ending was actually kinda disappointing. A lot of the game was subdued, but this was almost anticlimactic. After reading the creator's comments on the ending, I understand a little better why he made those choises, but first time you see it, it's all rather confusing and feels rushed and unfinished.

Despite the abrupt ending and minor niggles with some of the puzzles (I myself didn't actually encounter any bugs), this was quite something. It's been a long time since I've played an adventure game altogether so this was very special.

A shame Just Adventure+ only gave it a D in their bitter review (looked like his entire argument was that the game was not "fun". Which lead to the writing somehow being bad and the story being dull. Or something). I can only imagine how many point & click fans skipped the game cause of that

How ya doing, buddy?

I feel bad, I probably won't be able to get anywhere towards finishing it for months, since I have a huge backlog of games already that I need to play. Nice to hear a detailed review that doesn't spoil too much. What game or series would you recommend to follow up with after this game? =)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Well there's certainly nothing with similar gameplay, but for me it renewed my love for story driven games in general and especially point & click. Preferably the type that doesn't take too long.

I have an embarrassingly large backlog of old adventure games to play and am currently going through Beneath a Steel Sky. Like Revolutions previous game, Lure of the Temptress, it's both fascinating and terribly boring. The visuals are all kinds of brown and grey despite still having character, the story so far hasn't gripped me at all, while the dialogue is often funny and engaging. And puzzles, in typical old Revolution style, contain a LOT of pixel hunting, much to my annoyance. Hopefully it picks up a bit soon.

I'm a bit at a loss of what to recommend to someone who enjoys 112. On one hand, reading a lot of the optional backstory reminds me of elements from Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed and Metroid Prime. The structure is much closer to regular adventure clickan (while the flow is entirely different). I'd say definitely play Lexis Numerique's previous title In Memoriam (or Missing: Since January as I think they renamed it for the US) as well as, oh, say Still Life, Secret Files: Tunguska, Blade Runner and the Gabriel Knight games. Most of the other really good adventure clickan are a lot more humorous (Grim Fandango, Maniac Mansion, Legend of Kyrandia etc)


One thing to consider for your backlog, though. The game is pretty short at the end of it. Even with reading all of the files and emails I had access to, I finished it in a good five evenings, about 10-15 hours at max. So you could easily squeeze it in there before tackling longer games.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

The whole premise is interesting really. Like Q said, Lea is only controllable by the AI, which you can manipulate by hitting light switches or objects of interest.

It's pretty fun, if I say so myself. The whole intrigue gets to you as to why you're here, why you're the 112th experiment and Lea's involvement (as well as you) in the whole thing.

Also mine works under XP. Dunno what you guys use but it definitely works in XP.

I was speaking idiomatically.