Tough times
There are a number of games based on the late lamented Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, including Discworld 2, and which provide adventure fans with plenty of classic moments to enjoy. Discworld Noir is another fine entry in the franchise, and if you enjoy point-and-click games like Monkey Island and Sam & Max, this should be in your collection. This one is a bit more serious than other entries though, being darker in tone and subject matter, but it remains true to Mr. Pratchett's classic creation. The plot here finds you in the role of a hard bitten private investigator who is hired by a noir-style femme fatale to find her lost lover, but things don't stay simple and you soon find yourself in a complex tale of love and despair, all wrapped up in a sinister conspiracy. Gameplay is a bit different from usual, lacking the inventory-based puzzles of the genre and instead relying more on clue finding, and which help you in solving conversation puzzles, which in turn lead you deeper down the rabbit hole. For the most part, this is a great adventure. Perhaps the best aspect is the script, which feels like Pratchett even if it wasn't written by him, and although there's a lot of dialogue, listening to it is a joy which doesn't get boring. The plot itself isn't quite as engaging, although spotting all the references does help to maintain interest, while the visuals do a good job of bringing Discworld to life (although they are a bit dark and the animation isn't too smooth). Overall though, this makes for an entertaining ride.
