Amerzone
Encyclopedia
Amerzone is a first-person adventure game
produced by French
company Microïds
, and designed by Benoît Sokal
. The player takes the role of a journalist
on a quest to help save a rare species of magical birds.
, nobody believed Alexandre or his journals about the Amerzone.
Sixty years have passed, and the world has changed. World War II
has come and gone, the Amerzone remains unexplored and closed off to outsiders by its despotic
leader, Antonio Álvarez. Monsieur Alexandre Valembois is an old man at the end of his life, living alone in a lighthouse and wishing to fix his mistake. At this time, a young reporter comes to visit the old Alexandre Valembois regarding his adventures...
and developed by Microïds
, who later developed the critically acclaimed Syberia
and its sequel Syberia II
. These games contain references to Amerzone and take place in the same fictional universe
.
The places, concepts and some of the characters featured in Amerzone originate from Sokal's work in the 80s with the comic Inspector Canardo
, especially the fifth story in the series, L'Amerzone.
, aggravated by an absence of game manual, along with being too short and too easy, while proponents of the game claimed it was into its genre average.
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
produced by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
company Microïds
Microïds
Microïds is a French software brand belonging to Anuman Interactive that publishes and develops video games. In recent years the company's collection of brands and game licenses has grown since being a part of MC2 France...
, and designed by Benoît Sokal
Benoît Sokal
Benoît Sokal is a Belgian comic artist and video game developer, best known for his comics series Inspector Canardo.-Biography:...
. The player takes the role of a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
on a quest to help save a rare species of magical birds.
Plot
In 1932, Alexandre Valembois was a young explorer who, with his native friend Antonio Álvarez, wanted to make a name for himself by exploring the mysterious Amerzone region. Befriended by the natives of the region, he witnessed a strange ritual involving a giant egg of the famed white birds. Wanting to prove that the white birds existed, Alexandre betrayed the natives' trust and stole the mysterious egg. Alas, upon his returning to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, nobody believed Alexandre or his journals about the Amerzone.
Sixty years have passed, and the world has changed. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
has come and gone, the Amerzone remains unexplored and closed off to outsiders by its despotic
Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy...
leader, Antonio Álvarez. Monsieur Alexandre Valembois is an old man at the end of his life, living alone in a lighthouse and wishing to fix his mistake. At this time, a young reporter comes to visit the old Alexandre Valembois regarding his adventures...
Influences & legacy
Amerzone was designed by Benoît SokalBenoît Sokal
Benoît Sokal is a Belgian comic artist and video game developer, best known for his comics series Inspector Canardo.-Biography:...
and developed by Microïds
Microïds
Microïds is a French software brand belonging to Anuman Interactive that publishes and develops video games. In recent years the company's collection of brands and game licenses has grown since being a part of MC2 France...
, who later developed the critically acclaimed Syberia
Syberia
Syberia is a 2002 computer adventure game conceived by Benoît Sokal, developed by Microïds and published through The Adventure Company. It follows the protagonist Kate Walker as she attempts to wrap up a sale on the behalf of her law firm...
and its sequel Syberia II
Syberia II
Syberia II is a 2004 adventure game conceived by Benoît Sokal and developed by MC2-Microïds, and a continuation to Syberia. It is a third-person puzzle-solving game. Stylistically identical to the first Syberia, Syberia II improves upon the first game by introducing more realistic character animation...
. These games contain references to Amerzone and take place in the same fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
.
The places, concepts and some of the characters featured in Amerzone originate from Sokal's work in the 80s with the comic Inspector Canardo
Inspector Canardo
- History :Sokal created the character Inspector Canardo after graduating from Institut Saint-Luc, at the age of 20. He first drew his comics for À Suivre but after the comic became popular, they were published as albums by Casterman.- Canardo :...
, especially the fifth story in the series, L'Amerzone.
Critical reception
The game was generally positively received, with critics praising its top-grade graphical quality and the scenario's quality and depth. However, many also pointed an awkward player interfaceGraphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
, aggravated by an absence of game manual, along with being too short and too easy, while proponents of the game claimed it was into its genre average.
See also
- SyberiaSyberiaSyberia is a 2002 computer adventure game conceived by Benoît Sokal, developed by Microïds and published through The Adventure Company. It follows the protagonist Kate Walker as she attempts to wrap up a sale on the behalf of her law firm...
- Syberia IISyberia IISyberia II is a 2004 adventure game conceived by Benoît Sokal and developed by MC2-Microïds, and a continuation to Syberia. It is a third-person puzzle-solving game. Stylistically identical to the first Syberia, Syberia II improves upon the first game by introducing more realistic character animation...
- Paradise
- Sinking IslandSinking IslandSinking Island is an third-person perspective adventure game that uses point and click game mechanics. Released in France on October 4, 2007, it was developed by White Birds Productions, a company founded and led by Benoît Sokal, the creator of the adventure games Amerzone and Syberia.- Story :The...