The Journey Down - Chapter 1 Review

The Journey Down started life as an Adventure Game Studio game, a tool that allows users to create traditional point and click games. Now, thanks to indie company SkyGoblin, we have a shiny new HD version available, complete with voice acting, a beautiful look and a fantastic jazz soundtrack.

Being episodic in nature as is the trend these days, Chapter 1 takes us through the story’s opening rather than the whole thing. Taking control of Bwana, we start with the power being cut off at their Gas and Charter company thanks to an unpaid bill, a measly $4000. Desperate for a way to pay off the debt, Bwana and his good buddy Kito are relieved to get their first real customer along in the form of a woman enquiring about a special book; which she believes to be in their possession. From there the small chapter sets you off to fix your broken charter plane which hasn’t been flown in decades, and that is what you’ll spend the bulk of your time doing - scouting around trying to find the required objects to fix the plane.

As simple as they come, The Journey Down harkens back to the simpler times, when all you needed to play was the mouse and the left button. Left clicking will either use or examine an item depending on context, and hovering the mouse to the bottom of the screen brings up your inventory, where you can drag appropriate items to where they need to be. Hovering over the top of the screen shows your menu with load/save/menu. So, really, as simple as can be and all the better for it.

It would be a disservice to not mention the game’s graphics in any detail - gorgeous hand-drawn backgrounds with unique character models with a strong African theme - the main characters faces all being designed based on African tribal masks, it presents a unique look in an age where realism is king.  Graphically and the way the characters move it seems like claymation, but it is oddly reminiscent of LucasArts classic Grim Fandango, in style as well as the excellent smooth jazzy soundtrack.The two main characters are also firmly in the African camp voice-wise, with their Caribbean accents. While the two main characters and the lady in question sound the part, a couple of characters have sub-par voice actors in place, which is disappointing in a genre where the story is led by the actors.

Unfortunately the lip-syncing is terrible at best, but it’s understandable given the faces of the characters involved. The dialogue is sharp with some funny moments, and the puzzles within aren’t too taxing for an entry into the game-world, with usual suspects like picking up items and combining them with others, to tile puzzles where you have to line up wires correctly.

All in all you will be looking at a short experience, with it being the first of multiple chapters the game lasted around the two hour mark, which is short, even for episodic content and at £10 it’s a steep price for a short experience when all episodes for other series can go for as little as £15. Hopefully when the second chapter hits, the voice-work will be more refined, the length will be a little more pleasing and it’ll maintain the charm it has built up in this first chapter.

The original AGS version is available free to play over on SkyGoblin’s website, which will give you a taste of what to expect story and puzzle wise, but the HD version (available currently on PC and Mac and even Linux, with iOS and Android versions incoming) features more locations and puzzles so to get the full experience, if an adventure fan, do yourself a favour and pick this up and we can maybe breathe even more life into what seems to be a resurfacing genre.