This game is an enhanced remake of a freeware (and low resolution) AGS point and click adventure called The Journey Down: Over the Edge. During my entire play through, it reminded me of classic Lucas Arts games - the game it resembles the most (especially in atmosphere) is Grim Fandango.

As I said, it is a remake of a freeware game which it improves considerably with HD graphics, voice overs and more puzzles; overall it has better production values that are reflected in its graphics and presentation (there are now FMV movies for the more important cutscenes). Speaking of puzzles, they are just right - not extremely difficult, but some may not be that easy or obvious at first, though a genre veteran probably won't have much trouble with them. Most of the puzzles are hilarious, and the main character will often wonder how he gets some of his stupid ideas.

The game has a unique visual style and that's partly due to the developers making use of African tribal masks in the creation of the game's characters. This unique visual style together with the jazz inspired soundtrack and the perfect voice overs, make for an amazing atmosphere and gives the game a soul, which is exactly what's missing from recent adventure games. This great atmosphere (reminiscent of old Lucas Arts games) will make you forget about the game's flaws and just enjoy it for what it is: a short, funny and very good point and click adventure game like I haven't played since Machinarium (which is completely different in tone and style but just as great as an adventure game). Almost forgot to mention that the game is episodic in nature and this is only the first chapter. There are apparently four chapters planned and chapter two will be larger than this one. I didn't expect much from this game but it managed to surprise me in a good way. I can definitely recommend it to point and click adventure fans and not only to them.

Standard point-and-click, but gets boring very quickly. I get that the devopers in their own word wanted to make a "black" game but here we mostly see stereotypes of ethnicity. But let's not talk politics. Is it good? Well, it's functional. A bit funny from time to time? Is it worth your last dollars? No, it's not. Buy it if you have money to spare and nothing bette to play.

Wonderfully presented in a smooth and uninterrupted painterly style, "The Journey Down" tries almost entirely successfully to take you back to the late 90s heyday of adventure gaming greatness, with a charm not dissimilar to "Grim Fandango," however its attempts at humour are more 'cute' than Grim Fandango's wise-cracking, sardonic wit.

TJD is, much like its protagonist Bwana and his adopted brother, Kito, easy going for the most. Puzzles work well, and I only found myself stuck the once when a pixel hunting exercise for an elusive room exit prevented me from finding a crucial clue. Items can be combined simply by dragging and dropping in the inventory and interactions cut out the need for verb choices simply leaving you with a single click. A bit of a limitation when you consider how much depth can come from getting more of the character's perspective by "looking." There's not a great deal of antagonism, despite the plot's inferred dangers and urgent presentation within the FMVs, there's not compulsion to rush through to completion. Which is just as well, considering the laconic pace of the somewhat dated animation styling, which quite often has you skipping repeated dialogue that could have been more varied (although on the whole, voice acting is hard to criticise, despite some accents slipping here and there) and Bwana's strutting coolly out of each scene makes you wish there was a run function of some sort.

The characterisations are mostly engaging and their design (based on African tribal masks) is more than appealing. The plot in this first episode reveals very little, therefore creating suspense but not giving you a great deal of motivation to assist your new client. It's obvious that more shall be revealed in coming instalments, however little relevance is given to the cryptic book which is supposedly crucial to the story.

Despite it's similar use of folk lore and caricatures to "Grim Fandango," I was mainly put in mind of "Mamago Garage" in "Beyond Good & Evil" run by the wheeler-dealing West Indian rhino family. Certainly, "The Journey Down" has no problem with wearing its influences proudly as for the effect is a well-rounded and entertaining tale that does well by its forebears.

A fantastic introduction to what I hope will be a brilliant series. Chapter One of The Journey Down is more or less a HD remake of the original, AGS based game on the same name. It follows the basic, old school adventure game formula and mixes it with its own unique brand of art, music and universe.

The puzzles are simple enough that they're ambitious. Chapter One resembles the "first section" of a much larger adventure; akin to the Three Trials in The Secret of Monkey Island. The main gameplay is, therefore, essentially a series of tasks and odd jobs you need to perform to get on your way. With the expected long wait between this chapter and the next, it might please some adventure fans a little bit more to wait until the second chapter is out before they try this. For newer players of the genre, Chapter One is a great introduction to adventure games on the whole.

The art direction, music and all are sublime. The world is an impressionistic backdrop to these African mask inspired characters, a surreal view of the temporally ambiguous suburbs. The music a jazzy, soothing soundtrack that makes visiting each area more of a pleasure than it already is.

And then, hidden amongst the scenery like fruiting apples are little, adorable references to other adventures that the more experienced adventurer will smirk and giggle a little at. A true indication that The Journey Down is the creation of an adventure nut just like yourself.

So The Journey Down will please anybody who has been playing the genre for a long time or just beginning. It looks and sounds beautiful. I can't wait for Chapter Two, and I really hope they get a soundtrack out soon!