The culprit? Every adventure gamer’s trusty ol’ nemesis: pixel hunting. The enigmatic plot pulled me in, but unfortunately I got stumped within the first ten minutes. Other notable audio includes haunting whispers that arrive during key moments – never intelligible and always unnerving. Music is very sparse but ambient and evocative when present, painting a gloomy vibe that fits the sights. The snowy landscapes are pleasant enough to look at, but while exploring the wintry woods there are perhaps a few too many “empty” scenes between key destinations, making travel a bit of a chore (especially for players inclined to carefully comb the barren environment in vain for clues). Navigation is done through pure point-and-click adventuring, in a first-person 3D node-based interface allowing for 360° panoramic scenes like Scratches or Myst III: Exile. Sabotage from a rival fur trading company is suspected, but the truth quickly spirals into something far more sinister (and grotesque). The year is 1814, and our cleaver-wielding maniac “hero,” Robert, is tasked with solving the disappearance of two brothers at a French-Canadian trading post. Soon after, the setting shifts to an expansive, well-lit winter forest in Lower Canada, where our main story unfolds. Our unseen protagonist, mysterious and nefarious as he proves to be, certainly isn’t lacking in motivation.
Picking up the cleaver threateningly reveals a nearby cabin in the void, and within a matter of moments you’re breaking in to perform quite the dark deed. A heavy cleaver is embedded in the wood, next to a worried letter from someone begging you to stay away from them. The mood oozes evil, from the spooky, ethereal soundscape to the ominous items atop the table. You begin without introduction or fanfare at a candlelit table in a dark void, left to piece things together on your own.
#THE WHISPERER SL MOVIE#
Still, even with expectations of grander scope kept firmly in check, The Whisperer is only about as satisfying as a sufficient movie trailer: it sets an evocative tone and reels you in with an intriguing premise, but ultimately it’s a promotional tool that asks players to come back later for the real deal. Had I not known the size of the game, and expected a meaty adventure instead, I’d probably have been left very disappointed by the abrupt ending. As for why I recommend going in otherwise blind, well … there’s just so little story to report on that nearly everything I mention may feel like a bit of a spoiler by default.
#THE WHISPERER SL FULL#
However, if there’s one thing that all players should definitely be aware of before purchasing, it’s that this is not a full game at all, but more a bite-sized “standalone teaser” for Studio Chien d’Or’s upcoming The Whispering Valley, expected later this year. At the risk of making this review irrelevant, the less you know about The Whisperer going in, the more you’ll probably enjoy it.
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