Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements

"Good and evil in Wonderland - as everywhere meet

But here, they live on different coasts.

Here, the roads wander all sorts of stories,

And imagination run on thin legs. "

Vladimir Vysotsky. From song to diskospektaklyu "Alice in Wonderland," "Young
man, the king I'm the last - to drop you a haughty gentleman in a cocked hat and excitedly returned to the interrupted conversation with good-natured fat man. - Where do we roll? - Do you hear, coming closer. - If I were a king, unless it happened to? "The fate of a kingdom, and in the hands of a commoner?" Our hero - the gardener? ". He is so passionate about expressing their discontent with that totally does not notice the signs, which tries to give him a genial companion, whose face is your appearance has become worried expression. "This is what, yesterday, buttercups, dandelions, and tomorrow the dragon won?" - Continues to grumble cocked. - Excuse me, sir, unless there can be trusted with such a mission a man absolutely without any mixture of blue bloods? "Is there ..." He is suddenly interrupted, noticing, finally, handing him the signals and turns sharply to your side. Whole range of different emotions running over his face, ends with a kind of obsequious expression, a tender smile and the tears hanging on her eyelashes. "My father, Duncan, it's you How's your dandelions? Not grow?" As you grow, our dear Duncan? Orchids! How romantic! Not you forward? Willingly give in to you all, you're our hero! " Yes, yes. You are now a hero. As the fates decree, the legend and studio PDAMill. It is up to you to decide the fate of an entire country in the RPG-epose Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Despite the popularity of this genre, RPG-games for mobile devices is not so much and this game had expected long before it arrives. As always, once the genre has been mastered PDAMill brilliantly. The game has surpassed all expectations: the geography of the epic world Arvale includes six continents, which presented 280 cards: as much as 200 monsters and magical creatures stand in your way. These scales are quite rare among games for mobile devices - Arvale immediately attracted the attention of gamers and has won many admirers. We are confident that our readers - both gamers and game developers - will be interesting information "behind the scenes", so before you go to most reviews, we publish the text of the interview, which has kindly agreed to Peter Balogh, CEO of the studio PDAMill. So, how to play do - what is called Postmortem.

Interviews with the storyteller, or Postmortem, as it is

Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
- Dragons, ghosts, mythical Orcs Corporation Sorcynth - ogromnoe variety of characters, unexpected plot twists. How did the idea, which arose from all this diversity? PB: We wanted to create a classic RPG with a storyline like Might and Magic and Final Fantasy. Jason Surgin picked up a script that was completely finished after 6 months of hard work. Jason is known to many as our composer, but few people know that he is also the author of the script nearly all of our games. - A schedule? The game has 200 monsters and countless heroes! Truly an unprecedented number of heroes of the game. Are all the characters to create only one designer? PB: Our designer started alone, a total of over background images and scenes of battles, he worked for over a year. In the course of the work to the project were connected more designers who basically have modified the finished image. By working together, was created more than 2500 graphic elements - for PDA games really a huge amount. - The game can communicate with almost all heroes, each of them is unique in its appearance and character. Some people seem to like the studio staff - you wrote off the characters with real people? PB: Yes, faces a little similar, but residents Arvale us have nothing to do. By the way, if you talk about the prototypes, you'll find a few of us in Anthelion (laughs).- How many people worked on the project? How long did the work? PB: Eight of our staff working on the game for over a year: 4 developers, 3 designer and myself Jason. Most of the time left on the creation of our Editor's game, event handlers, and battle scenes. All the work, by the way, Jason has done it with the help of the developed editor. - Has the game development process? How much different was released for sale Arvale: Journey of Illusion from the original idea? PB: The game is very heavily budded. Initially we planned to do something much less volume with fewer parts, highlighting the project 3-4 months. Nevertheless, we are pleased that wasted time and created something that exceeded our own expectations. - In developing the play you in the RPG-game? PB: Of course! Basically Might and Magic, Zelda, Final Fantasy and a couple others. - Will be continued? Do we wait Arvale 2? PB: Continuation is almost ready. Work on Arvale II: Ocean of Time began immediately after the initial release. Plot Arvale II refers us for 100 years before Duncan Forsyth, in the era DeMencheva inventive. Incidentally, in the sequel even more cards, monsters and magicians, weight puzzles, much broader and more meaningful dialogue with the heroes of the game and much more. - Peter, you are one after another to conquer new genres. Is now taken and the barrier RPG. Who's next? PB: We are working now on the game genre platformer, belong to this series, for example, the famous Mario and Rayman. Unfortunately, no details can not give, but will let you know when the game will be released in beta version. - Thanks for the interview and good luck in all your endeavors. Sure many are eagerly awaiting new games to your studio. PB: Thank you. I wish all gamers a good pastime in Arvale and lots of fun with shopping carts (laughs) (see the explanation in the text below reviews .- approx. Aut.). Thus, "the nose" is the ocean of time, as the name suggests a sequel. In anticipation of his appearance look at the Arvale: Journey of Illusion. We turn to the most reviews.

Review

Plot [5 / 5 - excellent!]

Filled with humor and unexpected twists, completely unpredictable plot Arvale can safely be called one of the best games released for the CPC. A small entry introduces you to the prehistory of the epic State Arvale. The game begins in the chambers of King Entoka that caused you, the court gardener Duncan Forsyth, in order to tell you the "most unpleasant news: according to the secret archives of His Majesty's almost time for awakening of the Dark Dragon - according to legend - the most dangerous substance for the people, plunging the country into night many years ago, proznav that people are becoming aware of the secrets of the magic of old, guarded by dragons. Now on you is the destiny of the whole country - you will find a dragon, and once again she made him sleep. In this, as well as in many situations the way you intended to help the magic potions, a monopoly on who owns the corporation Sorcynth, the largest in the country and the most mysterious. Nobody knows its employees, no one had heard of its technology, but during the game you will have a lot to spend on its products.
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
You will have many battles - in the woods, abandoned castles, devastated at the time dragons cities, dungeons and caves Arvale. On your way to stand up rats, wolves, Mythical orcs, ghosts, giants and trolls, but in the cities you will find a lot of people - the sea perfectly vyrisovannyh characters. King Entok, for example, a man rumored to stupid, arrogant and pompous, expresses his thoughts, except under a semblance of Old English, something like "I am the" and "My Life." Heroes of the game - workers, artisans, sailors, officials, thieves, guerrillas, and many others are in love, concerned, grumpily, businesslike, moody, friendly, and sometimes rude. Many of you will raise a laugh: "What a hero? You?" How is this possible - and where oblique seven feet at the shoulders? Where burning eyes and Arnoldov biceps? ".Others, recognizing in you the very ask you for help. Despite the fact that the number of instructions in the game can not match your idea of ​​purposefulness of heroes, do not refuse - often only meet the requests can be obtained, without which you can not get to the end of the game. Remember - the hero must be good. Bizarre twists of the plot will not let you get bored, and the long game is assured. I played a whole lot more promised on the site 20 hours, though, judging by this forum, there were heroes overcame this entire thorny path of the saviors of the state for 12 hours. Honor and praise!

Gameplay [4.75 / 5 - excellent!]

Uniquely fascinating. You have to solve a number of tasks that can be grouped into three main categories: communication, search and battle. Communicate in the game can and should be with everyone. Almost every city there is someone who will tell you the information, without which it will be impossible to reach the end. Ignoring the communication, I soon became entangled in the game, we had to start over and gently pestering everyone he met. Often communication is expressed in the form of a dialogue in which you simply select one from the list of answers. In contrast to the life situations in which "what was said can not be undone," in the fairy Arvale can safely start talking again and try out different answers. With some of the heroes of the story you'll make an appointment in other cities, so often have to find their designated place in unfamiliar towns you. In addition, it is necessary to find and return the daughters go on a bender, patiently endure all the caprices, to search for and release imprisoned princesses and search of the alchemists who can make you the right drug. Sometimes it will be necessary to look for hidden levers, opening doors, a variety of weapons, without which life, as well as a pile of basic magic needed. The entire list of current tasks can be found in the menu Stats - Quest. In a very convenient form set out who should be found and what operation to do with the found. It is saved as a list of assignments (the button with a "tick").
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
When moving in two different levels of cards. The first - the map of the local scale for settlements (population not only in human beings and malevolent creatures). The second - a level continental, for which you are moving between settlements. Here you will prompt the road signs on the roads. Be careful, though, and you will not be shown, but on these roads and wandering various "monstrously criminogenic" elements with naughty intentions. There is also a button Zoom (magnification), which increases the scale, but only slightly. Never useful. Incidentally, all the maps can be downloaded from the site of Geography Arvale PDAMill. Now for the battles. What kind of RPG do without a good battle? There are battles on the step by step principle: be impacted in turn. In the course of the battle can change weapons (switch the button "Weapons", the change by pressing the arrows to the right "and" left "), to use magical means (arsenal under the button" Magic "), to restore health and strength (the button" Potions "). Be careful: if you use healing potions (potions) you miss a kick, so that once a "tipping the bottle" you "give ear." Do not say that I did not warn you. If everything is really bad, you can try to get away from the battlefield ("Flee"), but it is dangerous: firstly, is not always possible, and, secondly, even if given the chance, your opponent is free to napoddat you last, and when low health is fraught with fatal outcome. Then comes the last image - you are on the ground and the quiet moonlight silver in your boots. All battles are accompanied by a rich animation, where each opponent is different own style: some bite, while others use spears, swords and knives, others weighed slap, and a fourth literally pull the soul, sends a curse upon you, and entangle sorcery enchantment.
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
On every continent there exists at least one "den" - a place where much of evil. To avoid such places should not be - right there in the battles, you can earn the most money that you need in the game, and, most importantly, gain experience (Experience), which increases the level of a number of characteristics of our hero. In the Stats can be found with current information on the game and as Duncan. On line Health (Health) on your level of health and its possible upper limit separated by a colon. If the numbers do not match, it's time to take medication. In Experience (experience), two figures are also separated by a colon: to the left before the current level, to the right - the one to which you want to reach. Current level grows with every battle, on reaching the goals you move to a new level. So is the volume of your health as well as the opportunity to increase your level of strength (Strength), knowledge (Knowledge) or skill (Dexterity).
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
Force will increase the damage with every blow in combat. Knowledge will allow you to use more powerful magic arsenal, and his skill will increase the level of mastery in handling the weapon. Depending on what type of characteristics you build, change accordingly the ability to defend (Resistance) and resistance (Defense) before striking the opponent. Several of these parameters can be increased, also taking on his chest magic potions, which can be purchased at the store alchemist. In addition, there may be otovaritsya healing potions and magic items. Along with the alchemist's shop in every town there is also a weapon shop where you can get rid of the old and buy new protective gear (armour) and weapons (weapons). And, both in the battles wear what you reported on during the game, so that from time to time have to go to the window of inventory (Stats - Inv), choose a new gear box "Armour" and to click "Use". Weapons will be changed automatically. The level of deterioration is shown in the box battle in parentheses next to the weapon / armor, as well as information to each item of inventory in the section Inv. The game has many hiding places - drawers, cupboards in the homes, jugs and even trucks. If they hide something when you approach them in red lit button "Use". However, not always something most helpful. Sometimes, in boxes hidden monster, but often you just play. Thus, most of them by clicking on the "Use" of trucks, you just lets his hero in a strange communion with this kind of transport, and every time Duncan mutters something new. Here you have a pleasant interaction with the cart, which laughed Peter Balogh in his wish to our readers;)
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
And finally, the last one. Along with the plot, it becomes unpredictable at times and gameplay. So, going down into the dungeon as early as Entoke (Enthoque), you will find boxes. Judging on the button "Use", they should examine what you are doing. Duncan, however, displeased: "I'm not going into these dungeons touch anything!" - Resents it. And again, the box, and then we go against his will. "I said, - boiled our hero - nothing to make me."The third box, and again, we, willful, trying to coerce Duncan ... From this moment you lose control: Duncan turns and walks to the door, grumbling on the road: "Damn it! He said because, he said ..." You give them no longer drive. It serves neither the joystick or the stylus, and only reached the door, he turns and asks: "Agreed!" The world again. So, Arvale is all that is needed for a good RPG-games - equipment, battles, quests, dialogue filled with humor. Were seen only minor flaws. Firstly, it is difficult to work out some system and understand how best weapon to fight against the forest's diversity of monsters. Despite the fact that in every battle of this or that weapon is most effective (by the way, sometimes turn out to be the most effective means of magic), the same weapon is not as strong in the subsequent battles. Another - sometimes spells - pretty exciting at first sight, require a ceremony, so that each time must wait until the citizens and citizen ghostly form protantsuyut all its magical ritual dance before the strike - the whole process takes too much precious "heroic" time. In general, the gameplay, we estimate the "excellent". Rare PDA games well conceived, originality, excitement and, of course, sense of humor, which is very happy along with morosely and a penchant for dramatizirovaniyu other developers.

Interface [5 / 5 - excellent!]

The game handles like a joystick and stylus in almost all situations. However, sometimes manipulating the stylus to be less convenient, so Duncan quite inadequate reaction to the screen by pressing. That's why I prefer to use a joystick. All menus are laid out in a very convenient sequence of windows. All intuitive. The minimum information that must hold to control the game, before the course and may be found in translation in the text. All events are accompanied by news reports, which give an idea of ​​everything that happens is that the ambiguity is not expected. User-friendly interface will allow store up to four different positions in the game. In addition, will automatically save the time of entry at the last town on the map. The volume of music and sound effects, easy to configure in the window "Settings". You can also disable the high quality graphics - a bit to save CPU time, although on my HP iPAQ h2210 any delay in the time I did not watch.
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements

Graphics [5 / 5 - excellent!]

Ironically, the schedule I originally did not like. Since the appearance of the first screenshots of battles, they seemed too simple and primitive compared with the level of graphics in the previous games in the studio. As the game progresses, however, adopted in developing the style became more and more justified. It should be noted the quantity and elaborate. As many as 2,000 of graphic elements, as we have already noted, the phenomenon is truly unprecedented for Pocket PC-based games. In this case, the schedule clear enough, contrast, and also performed with humor. Each character is endowed with his game face, his character, a huge amount of weapons and armor - all of them marked with appropriate drawings. Set of landscapes, little houses, perfectly conveys the atmosphere of abandoned towns, mines, caves, dense forest ... Excellent!
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements

Sounds [5 / 5 - excellent!]

Drym-tsa-tsa. Drym-tsa-tsa. 17 songs total duration of 45 minutes. 100 different sounds that accompany the events in the game - hitting, slap, magic, steps, surprises ... Even this component has not been overlooked.And it is not surprising, because the music sochinaet Jason Surgin, Peru belongs to the whole scenario of the game.

Summary

Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
Arvale: Journey of Illusion. Life of a dragon, or a history of about 2000 graphic elements
On the first page of the legend with which the game starts, I was involved and played almost without stopping for several hours - a phenomenon rare for me. Studio PDAMill never rushes headlong into questionable scam the games out there seriously. And at the same time with humor. Beautiful, harmonious blend. Until now, this company has not been issued any unfinished game. They can always be improved, but complaining about absolutely everything. Arvale: Journey of Illusion was the most ambitious project studio. And the time spent justified itself - the game is among the best-selling portals for mobile applications. We have found only minor flaws that are likely can be attributed to the wishes than to errors. In short, we recommend to all. Look, do not give up, to put the good, and certainly ... entertain his truck talking!;)

Acknowledgments

Thank you for giving PDAMill studio to review the commercial version of the game. Links - Arvale: Journey of Illusion for Pocket PC and Palm OS directory HPC.ru - Cheats Online HPC.ru. - Web site Arvale: Journey of Illusion - All games PDAMill Directory HPC.ru authors, translation: