Nibiru: Age of Secrets
Encyclopedia
Nibiru: Age of Secrets is a 2005 adventure game
developed by Future Games and published by The Adventure Company
.
The game features around 80 locations, 5 chapters to play in, 3D
character animations, 35 NPC
characters, over 50 pages of dialogues, atmospheric visual effects
and scenic music.
, workers discover an entrance to an old tunnel
. After they enter the tunnel, they find out that it was probably a German
tunnel intentionally backfilled at the end of World War II
. They contact an employee of the Western Bohemian Museum who then informs the superior body in Prague
about their findings. The news about the discovery is published by the regional press the next day and there is tremendous buzz in the archeology community of the new find.
Martin Holan, a linguistics
and archeology student is contacted by his uncle to examine the mysterious World War II tunnel. A friend of Martin’s uncle is supposed to meet Martin upon his arrival to brief him on the mysterious discovery; however, when he arrives in Prague
he discovers that she has been brutally murdered.
And the Adventure Begins…
Martin, an educated polite young man who, like his Uncle Professor de Vilde, has an adventurous spirit. A scholar in Archeology and Linguistics
, Martin is fascinated by the mysteries of the past. As a young boy Martin would often accompany his Uncle on spectacular adventures all over the world. A courageous and determined individual, Martin embraces the unknown and is consumed by his search for the truth.
Professor Wilde
The Professor, a 75 year old man, in his youthful days enjoyed the thrill of traveling the world in search of ancient artifacts
. A specialist in Mayan
history, he now lectures at one of Paris’
most prestigious universities. Recently, the Professor
has been consumed by his current study, The Nibiru Project. He requires Martin’s help to uncover the secrets that lie beneath the mountains of Western Bohemia
(Czech Republic
).
Petr Stasek
Stasek is the son of Dietrich Raumhart, a well known archaeologist of his time. Stasek, like his father, studied Archeology. Stasek is a man determined to destroy anyone or anything that stands in his way of him retrieving his father’s lifetime work, The Nibiru Project which was lost during World War II
.
games, such as Syberia
and its sequel, Syberia II
. Another similar title is Secret Files: Tunguska
. The player controls the main character, Martin Holan, in fixed-camera, third-person view
.
that apart from standard elements enables several graphical
effects like rain, lightning, fog etc. The primary graphical mode of the gaming engine is 32 bit but there is also a less demanding 16 bit mode for older hardware. The engine was originally developed and used for The Black Mirror
horror adventure game
.
, the game received an average score of 64% based on 14 reviews. On Metacritic
, the game received an average score of 66 out of 100, based on 12 reviews.
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,...
developed by Future Games and published by The Adventure Company
The Adventure Company
The Adventure Company, is a publishing label of Nordic Games. It is formally a division of DreamCatcher Interactive but was sold to Nordic Games in 2011 following DreamCatcher's parent JoWooD Entertainment being sold after entering administration.-History:...
.
The game features around 80 locations, 5 chapters to play in, 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
character animations, 35 NPC
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
characters, over 50 pages of dialogues, atmospheric visual effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
and scenic music.
Storyline
During the construction of a new highway bypassBypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
, workers discover an entrance to an old tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
. After they enter the tunnel, they find out that it was probably a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
tunnel intentionally backfilled at the end of 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...
. They contact an employee of the Western Bohemian Museum who then informs the superior body in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
about their findings. The news about the discovery is published by the regional press the next day and there is tremendous buzz in the archeology community of the new find.
Martin Holan, a linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
and archeology student is contacted by his uncle to examine the mysterious World War II tunnel. A friend of Martin’s uncle is supposed to meet Martin upon his arrival to brief him on the mysterious discovery; however, when he arrives in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
he discovers that she has been brutally murdered.
And the Adventure Begins…
Characters
Martin HolanMartin, an educated polite young man who, like his Uncle Professor de Vilde, has an adventurous spirit. A scholar in Archeology and Linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, Martin is fascinated by the mysteries of the past. As a young boy Martin would often accompany his Uncle on spectacular adventures all over the world. A courageous and determined individual, Martin embraces the unknown and is consumed by his search for the truth.
Professor Wilde
The Professor, a 75 year old man, in his youthful days enjoyed the thrill of traveling the world in search of ancient artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
. A specialist in Mayan
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
history, he now lectures at one of Paris’
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
most prestigious universities. Recently, the Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
has been consumed by his current study, The Nibiru Project. He requires Martin’s help to uncover the secrets that lie beneath the mountains of Western Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
(Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
).
Petr Stasek
Stasek is the son of Dietrich Raumhart, a well known archaeologist of his time. Stasek, like his father, studied Archeology. Stasek is a man determined to destroy anyone or anything that stands in his way of him retrieving his father’s lifetime work, The Nibiru Project which was lost during 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...
.
Gameplay
The gameplay is very similar to previous Adventure CompanyThe Adventure Company
The Adventure Company, is a publishing label of Nordic Games. It is formally a division of DreamCatcher Interactive but was sold to Nordic Games in 2011 following DreamCatcher's parent JoWooD Entertainment being sold after entering administration.-History:...
games, such as 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...
. Another similar title is Secret Files: Tunguska
Secret Files: Tunguska
Secret Files: Tunguska is a classic point and click adventure game by Fusionsphere Systems and Animation Arts. Released on the PC in the last quarter of 2006, the game was praised for its graphics, although some critics noted the weakness of the script and dialogues.Ports to the Wii and Nintendo...
. The player controls the main character, Martin Holan, in fixed-camera, third-person view
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
.
Graphics engine
NIBIRU uses the AGDS (Advanced Graphic Development System) engineGame engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
that apart from standard elements enables several graphical
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
effects like rain, lightning, fog etc. The primary graphical mode of the gaming engine is 32 bit but there is also a less demanding 16 bit mode for older hardware. The engine was originally developed and used for The Black Mirror
The Black Mirror
The Black Mirror is a third-person point-and-click horror adventure game developed in 2003 by Future Games, a Czech company. Its original name is Posel Smrti . The game features 150 locations and 5 hours of spoken dialogoue...
horror adventure game
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,...
.
Critical reception
The game received mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator Game RankingsGame Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
, the game received an average score of 64% based on 14 reviews. On Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, the game received an average score of 66 out of 100, based on 12 reviews.
External links
- Nibiru: Age of Secrets Official website
- Nibiru: Age of Secrets at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- Nibiru: Age of Secrets at The Adventure CompanyThe Adventure CompanyThe Adventure Company, is a publishing label of Nordic Games. It is formally a division of DreamCatcher Interactive but was sold to Nordic Games in 2011 following DreamCatcher's parent JoWooD Entertainment being sold after entering administration.-History:...