Product Overview
This program is great fun for serious puzzle-lovers. Based on Wrebbit's popular Puzz 3D brand of puzzles, this game allows players to construct a truly gorgeous 3D puzzle of the Orient Express, the celebrated train from the 1920's, and learn some history at the same time. Video clips help players understand the history of the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits and its founders. This title is the fourth in the very original Puzz 3D CD series.
There are two stages of this CD-ROM. The first stage involves the very challenging task of building the 3D puzzle. There are 4 difficulty levels to choose from ranging from Novice to Master Builder. Depending on the level you select, you will be working with 150 to 707 puzzle pieces. On easier levels, the pieces are pre-sorted by color and they don't require rotation. Additionally, they are laid out so that there is very little overlapping, and there are 3D guide outlines at the construction site to make it easier to assemble the completed sections. The puzzle pieces require rotation and/or sorting as the levels advance, and guides at the construction site drop off.
There are Custom Settings available that allow you to fine-tune the difficulty levelsPlayers can zoom in at 3 different levels of magnification and choose from a number of different views. Assembling the puzzle requires some patience and involves working with pieces on the Main Table. There are handy trays in which you can store completed sections, as well as Snapshots and Construction Tips that aid players in the construction process. The Book is another reference tool and can be used to view the historical and informational clips that describe the rise of the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits and the cars of the Orient Express. Fictional clips introduce players to the characters that will appear in the mystery portion of the program.
The second stage of Puzz 3D The Orient Express is an exploration phase that is only accessible after completion of the puzzle. The areas of the train that can be explored depend on the challenge level that has been completed. For example, if the puzzle was completed at the Novice level, the player earns a 2nd Class Ticket that opens up the Type S sleeping car only. More areas are available as the difficulty level increases, and complete access is granted when a player earns the 1st Class Overnight Ticket at the Master Builder level.
Observation sites allow players to view the train from various angles and are full of hotspots. As players move through the rooms and halls, they can pick up objects, including ciphers for the Prophecy Game, and they meet up with an intriguing cast of characters.
The 4 mini-games are as follows:
- The Code Game involves determining the word that will reveal a broken encoding machine's secret, using the 12 keys that remain in 10 tries or less.
- In The Jazz Game, the sheet music to a jazz number is messed up, and players must attempt to reconstitute the song by rotating the 16 cylinders in a certain order. Clicking on a speaker icon will let you hear the song as it is supposed to sound.
- In The Marquetry Game players attempt to restore the castle's throne to its real shape.
The Prophecy Game involves using the Mah Jong tiles to read the fortunes of 4 of the Orient Express passengers. Players will work with riddles and ciphers (words) that they have collected throughout the train cars.
Technically Speaking
Minimum requirements are Windows 95/98, a Pentium 100 (200 MHz processor recommended), 16 Mb RAM (24 Mb RAM recommended), and 2X CD ROM. Mac users require a MacOS 7.5 or higher, Power PC 80 MHz (200 MHz recommended) with 20Mb RAM (32 Mb recommended), 2X CD ROM.
Pros & Cons
The first stage of the program -- the actual puzzle building stage -- is worth the price of the CD-ROM itself. It is designed well, and is rather challenging. One of the benefits of puzzle software is the tidiness of it all -- no small pieces to clutter up a table or to lose! However, 3D puzzles might be a little easier to do off the computer, simply because it is less difficult to visualize the final product in the real world. The second stage makes the program even more worthwhile, adding some intriguing games and a mystery to solve. The mini-games are delightful teasers -- frustrating at times, but compelling nonetheless.
Skills Covered
puzzle-making skills, spatial reasoning, logical thinking, historical information.
Educational Value
The puzzle-building is challenging -- players must build the puzzle in both 2D and 3D environments, forcing them to stretch their minds toggling between these two modes of thinking. Success requires good spatial skills. The mini-games are more teasers, and the video clips provide some historical information.
Entertainment Value
The live-action video clips are entertaining and build a certain amount of suspense. Mini-games are especially fun for people who enjoy brain-teasers.
Design
Lots of customization options are available, and the addition of trays helps players to sort puzzle pieces logically (they appeal to those of us who tend to sort puzzle pieces into groups like edge pieces, sky pieces, and so forth). The puzzle pieces resist each other when they are not meant to fit together and the whole puzzle-building experience is very satisfying and well-organized. Graphics are exceptional.
Replayability
Although the desire to complete the puzzle is sufficiently motivating, the fact that there are games and an adventure that open up only upon completion of the puzzle adds even more incentive to play the program. There is a huge amount of content here considering the 4 difficulty levels that provide different access levels for the exploration phase.
Dollar Value
The suggested retail price is only $19.95 US. Considering the 4 levels of play and the amount of content, this program is well worth the price.
Released: 2000
Reviewed: April 2000
| 
