Ankh review

It’s sometimes hard to remember what games are really supposed to be about. Some gamers talk and argue about them as though they’re the most important things in the world. Some magazines lambaste games that don’t meet their high standards in a way that’d make you think the magazine had paid the developer to make the game for them. However, the fact of the matter is, games are a form of entertainment (and a way of making money, but we’ll forget that for the moment).

Ankh, released soon on the PC, is a good example of a game doing what it’s supposed to do; provide entertainment. In a genre that’s sadly declined in recent years, it’s great to see a point and click game getting released again, especially when said game is a whole lot of fun.

You take on the role of a young Egyptian boy called Assil who, rather unfortunately, has had a death curse placed upon him. Obviously this isn’t a desirable situation to be in, and so Assil wants to find a way of lifting his curse. The game follows your quest to find a way of doing this, although in true videogame fashion, things are never as easy as they might appear.

Right from the off, the game will have you smiling. The introductory cut scene, the little dance involving some of the characters – it sets the scene for the rest of the game, not just in terms of the story and theme of the game, but the type of humour as well. It’s great to play a game that consistently makes you smile and laugh out aloud. The story isn’t anything new or groundbreaking, but the situations it puts your character in, and the people you meet along the way, all allow for some genuinely funny conversations and moments in the game.

Walk Like an Egyptian

While the majority of point and click games have been 2D, there have been some exceptions, the most notable and last of which was Grim Fandango. Ankh continues this 3D trend, and looks great. While the visuals aren’t spectacular, the cartoon style in which the game’s presented is certainly done very well, and there are some nice effects in there too. The developer has done a very good job of keeping up the Egyptian theme throughout the game, from the way the characters are dressed to the style of the locations. You’ll really come to appreciate some of the little touches that are in the game, which shows how much the developers cared about attention to detail.

The Egyptian theme is continued with the game’s sound and music as well. Every location has a piece of music that suits it down to the ground, and some good sound effects to boot. It’s the voice acting in Ankh that really shines though. Whether it’s someone on a market stall, the Pharaoh, or Assil himself, the acting is superb, with emphasis in just the right places, and voices that suit the characters. It’s because of this that game will have you chuckling so much and so often. Admittedly, some lines can get very repetitive, as there are certain characters that stay in the same place and speak regardless of whether you interact with them or not. This is only a minor gripe, although it can get very annoying.

Click Here to Win!

For those not familiar with point and click games, they’re very simple in terms of controlling. You click somewhere on screen, and your character walks there. If you want to use an object, you click on it, or combine it with something else. This means that there are no complicated controls to learn and remember, and you can just get on with enjoying the game.

Combining items is key to solving puzzles in Ankh, which is essentially what progressing in the game boils down to – finding the right items, combining them with others, and then using them to solve the puzzles. Unlike the controls though, the puzzles in Ankh are anything but simple. While there’s nothing in there that’s overwhelmingly obscure or difficult, there’s the odd puzzle or two that’ll have you stumped and scratching your head for a while. The moment that it clicks though, and the proverbial light bulb flashes above your head, you’re on your way again.

So…with all these good points, are there any negatives? Well, yes there are, but only very small ones. As I mentioned earlier, some of the voice acting can get very repetitive, and also it takes Assil ages to get anywhere. He walks pretty slowly, and it’s frustrating when you traipse through the city, only to realise you have to walk all the way back again because you haven’t got the right item. It’s not too bad to start with, but when you have to keep backtracking and exploring, the speed (or lack of) at which you travel around can get very tedious.

When it comes down to it though, these issues don’t really detract from the gameplay or the enjoyment you’ll get from the game, which is what it’s all about. In Ankh’s case, the gameplay’s spot on, the story is funny, and it looks and sounds great. It’s nothing new or special, but what it does, it does very well. Definitely worth looking at if you’re a fan of the genre, and even if you’re not, it could serve as a very accomplished introduction to it. Top stuff.