If you love Sins of the Fathers, I'm sure you'll love The Beast Within too, in spite of the differences. Because of the FMV the interface is different and The Beast doesn't have the same rich interactivity as The Sins, but it's a truly terrific game and the story is superb! Exciting and immersive cut scenes of real people showing emotions instead of grainy pixelated scenes with no facial expressions. You'll get used to the new Gabe and Grace. Dean Erickson has been criticised by some for his performance, but personally I think he did a great job. And Grace plays a much bigger part.

I'm already looking forward to the AG community playthrough of The Beast. ;)

Yeah, me too. I've never played it before and many people say that it's even better than GK1!

Any idea when it's going to happen? :D

If you're up to it, we can start off right away. First I'd like to hear back from everyone who played Sins of the Fathers, though, and I still have to find the time to post my own thoughts about the overall game.

And yes, GK2 is way, way better than the first one :D

You'll get no objections from me. :D

Just finished the last day. A worthy way to close this game, so much tension that gets built up in that last day. Great how they do so much with changes in music, like

Spoiler:

when you drum the right code to summon Dr. John and as soon as Gabriel stops drumming, the music of the Crash interrogation starts. Such a powerful piece of music, that makes the moment even more tense, and got me storming out of the inner circle because the music made me feel I was in a hurry and a very tight spot.

The same goes for the music during the endgame (which is my favorite piece of music, apart from the score during the end credits. Just. Love. That.)

People knowing me should not be surprised that I just have to love the endgame. (maybe a bit careful witht eh spoiler tags, but I would prefer to keep it a surprise, because that adds even more to the tension)

Spoiler:

Timed puzzles! Strict enough to get you all tensed up, though not so strict that it becomes physically impossible. And if you fail, you die. The way timed puzzles ought to be. Ah, love it!

Overall, well, gotta love this game. very rich, with reality blending into fiction, which is one of Jane Jensen's major talents. Intruging story, in general good puzzles (both of which, in my view, get better the further you get in the game).

Something that I still don't completely get (I feel so stupid): why the voodoo murders? Why did they start now? After being absent for so long? It can't be just

Spoiler:

for the hearts you find in the morgue, right?

Or is it? And if it is, then why did they only just start happening recently? It has to be linked to Gabriel's dreams, but for those the same question, why did they start just now? Why weren't they there before? Why weren't the murders there before? Why was Tetelo so quiet the past years and all of a sudden did she rise again in blood thirst? Was it because Gabriel was bound to take over the role of Schattenjäger anyway because Wolfgang's life was drawing to an end even without Tetelo's interference? Was it that all of sudden Malia, and with her Tetelo, was close to the next Schattenjäger?

EDIT: Here's another 'yes' to a Gabriel Knight 2 playthrough after this one!

Wee! That's awesome. :D

I'll install and set it up, then! :P

Now that you mention it, that's a pretty good point. Why now? I would take a guess that it has something to do with Malia being a certain age? Preparing herself properly for what was involved with Tetelo? The other thing too is that these murders could always have been happening, but just getting covered up by different people connected to the voodoo along the way. Bah I'm probably completely wrong and I'm sure Andrea will have something better to say :P

And as for GK2 - sorry for bringing it up Andrea, I'm definately interested to hear more on GK1 still. The proposition though of a GK2 playthrough is a very exciting one to say the least :D:D:D

As testified by the article Grace found about a string of killings back in XIX century, it's very likely that these voodoo murders occur on a cyclical basis, probably for ritualistic reasons, since it's a pretty common notion in the occult lore, especially when it comes to supernatural manifestations like hauntings, that such occurrencies happen in a very precise pattern that repeats itself over time. But another thing not to overlook is that the victims were indeed members of an external drug cartel - as the NOPD reportedly said in its press conferences - and it is entirely possible that the sect targeted these rival thugs both to fulfill their ritualistic cycle and to achieve a definitely more mundane goal, like the preservation of their economic interests.

In fact, I always believe in what Gabriel says when he's trying to convince Mosely to reopen the case:

"These guys have been in New Orleas a long fucking time. It's not the first time they've killed ritually to protect their interests. I mean, come on! This week it's the Chicago Mafia and, oh, by the way, a drug addict and a professor here and there! [...]"

Jane Jensen, Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, Roc 1997, p. 214

Yeah, yeah. Me too!

I apologize for my anxiety, guys! :P

One thing I never understood is this:

Spoiler:

Gabriel left the tracking device and the serpent rod under the confessional kneeler. But how did Mosely know to use the rod in the wall's hole? Obviously, it would've made sense to Gabe, since he learned of the rod's use at the Snake Mound. But Mosely would've had no idea.

GK2 playthrough? Sure, I'm game.

Hey! I just noticed your sig and you're already playing The Beast! :D

I have not had much time to play lately, but with pleasure I followed all the comments. The ending of the game is lovely, even the timed sequences are exciting enough and easy to complete.

I am looking forward to final comments from Andrea, and of course the upcoming PT of the next GK installment :)

One thing I wonder about - Teleto was supposed to be very evil and powerful entity, who overwhelmed voodoo in New Orleans for years. Dr John is her favourite servant - together they reign over the dark sect in the city, hunderds of people terrified of them etc. Then

Spoiler:

comes Mosely and shoots him with the gun :D

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who partecipated to the playthrough: I had a great time with it and I was really glad to replay this amazing game with you.

Amazing game. Yes. I really think that Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers is a masterpiece, and definitely one of my favorite adventures. As you know, the Gabriel Knight series as a whole tops my list, but, obviously, I have my preferences and, if I were forced to choose, I'd certainly say that Sins is my least favorite out of the three. And not because it has so big a flaw that I can't overlook or because I didn't like its story, atmosphere, setting and characters. No: I love everything in this game, from the rich game-world to the intriguing dialogue system; from the dark, foreboding story to the thick, ominous atmosphere; from our intrepid but bungling Mosely to the wounded Crash; from the splendid musical orchestration to the multi-faceted interface.

And still, I really think that Jane outdid herself with the two following games: both The Beast Within and Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned tell a gripping tale where myth and historical fact blend seamlessly with each other; both are enriched by a superior cast of characters and the scope of their two story is really epic. But I can't held these feats against Sins, basically because Sins didn't want to be epic or magnificent in this luxuriant way (I'm thinking of the Opera in GK2 and, of course, of Le Serpent Rouge and the final climax in GK3). Sins of the Fathers is an origin story and, as such, its tone is appropriately intimate and melancholic, pensively thoughtful and ponderous. The adventure is about Gabriel's heritage and his discovery of this legacy, whereas the following games will be about Gabriel's inner turmoil (GK2) and, finally, Gabriel's belated taking charge of his responsibilities (GK3). Using a metaphor I really like, if The Beast Within represent Gabriel's adolescence and Blood of the Sacred his much welcome maturity, Sins could well be about his (spiritual) childhood, that pivotal moment where he finds out that he has to get up from his rocking chair and start to really live.

This is the reason why I don't like to disclose that, as games, I have my preferences amongst the three adventures: because they are so closely intertwined from a storytelling and thematic perspective, that I can't really choose between them, and I can't help but look at them as one, long but extremely cohesive (despite the disparaging media used for their productions), deeply thought-provoking coming-of-age tale.

Haha ah yeah that's right, I forgot I put that there. Well, installing the game and going no further than the intro cut scene is one thing, actually playing it is another :P. I was just about to begin when I stumbled across the suggestion there may be a playthrough and have been waiting patiently ever since.

Well said by the way Andrea. I've noticed you comment on Sins as your lessor favourite and wondered how it could be possible, but your post just makes me more excited for these two games I'm (ashamedly) yet to experience...

Finished the game last night. :)

It reminded me of the first time I completed the game. In those days I had no internet (no walkthroughs! ;() and the game took me months to complete, possibly even a year (or at least it felt like it!) thanks to the difficulty of a couple of the puzzles and also missing the snake scale from the fortune teller's scarf (that took me ages and a few different goes to get!).

Anyway, I enjoyed the game so much, and in some strange way it had become a part of my life for such a long time, that when I completed it I was overcome by emotion and nearly cried! Partly because it is a great game and partly that I had put so much time and effort into playing it I didn't know what to do with myself next (gaming wise). I know it's sad and I fully own up to being a complete nerd, but well, I was only about 15 at the time and the old hormones were everywhere! At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! ;)

Overall, the story of GK1 is a very adult story with some very serious and adult themes like love, betrayal, duty, destiny (both good and evil), self-sacrifice which is put together with the mystery of voodoo and "black magic" all wrapped up in a wry and self-depricating humour (which seems a very English style to me personally) which ends up with a game (and later series of games) that is unique in many respects.

Firstly Gabriel is a genuinely really likeable player character who I honestly care about and sympathise with whilst playing, quite rare in games. Secondly all the characters (mostly) are well formed and believeable (within the constraints of the story of course) and this leads to a massively immersive game with people, places and situations I really care about.

Also the story is coherent, original and very well written. Many games really fall down here (i'm looking at you Chronicles of Mystery! :frown:) by trying to do a "save the world from impending disaster" type storyline that just doesn't work and leads to a rubbish and dissatisfying ending. Here the stakes are not so high as saving the world, but the battle against evil, together with internal battles in Gabe, Malia, Wolfgang and even Mosely, are more gripping and tense. Also it leaves room for a sequal, as after saving the world, where do you go next?

I suspect i'm in a minority here, but GK1 is far and away my favourite of the series, the characters, the story, the puzzles, it all seems pretty much perfect (8-icon verb-coin aside!) and, following on from Kings Quest VI, was the game that cemented me as an Adventure Game player above all else.

Above all, I think it is the journey Gabriel goes on, from ne'er-do-well lazy writer just doing the easiest thing to get by, taking up the challenges presented by his family history and the situations in which he finds himself, to acheiving so much more and becoming a much more responsible and strong person, whilst keeping all the humour and charm he had in the first place. It really is an exciting and beautiful story which always satisfies and never goes too far, leaving you wanting more!

So, only two things left to say for me.

1. Thank you Andrea for another brilliant playthrough, your comments and insights are invaluable and really benefit the game playing process. Also thanks to everyone else who has played along and commented, it's always so interesting to hear new thoughts/ideas on a game you know and love.

2. Bring on the GK2 playthrough!

In the novel Jane explains that

Spoiler:

Gabriel scribbled a quick note to Mosely with instructions on how to use the rod

I really liked Mosely and his bumbling. :)

I never noticed that the painting was back in the shop--nice catch! I was too geared up for the final show down, I guess.

Spoiler:

I died several times in the final chapter but remembered enough to get through it without too many tries. I waited in Dr. John's room for too long for one death and I forgot to get a costume for Mosely in another.

I ended up with the maximum number of points too and I didn't use a walkthrough once during the game. I just remember too much from playing this 15 years ago so I never really got too stuck anywhere. It's amazing how these puzzles stay with you!

I love, love The Beast Within. I can't wait to play with you all.