Review of Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure by PantslessAaron
Rating by PantslessAaron posted on May 13, 2014 | edit | delete
The Game Was Loaded
I’ve known for some time now that this would be the hardest review I’ve ever had to write. I’ve waited sixteen years to play Tesla Effect, and I desperately wanted it to be great, because the fear was always that it would be terrible, and I would be forced to rip it apart in my review to maintain my journalistic integrity.
Ten days ago, I had the rare opportunity to attend the Tesla Effect premiere party, and I got my review copy of the game in person. I booted it up with just about the most anxious trepidation I’ve ever felt. Twenty minutes later, my fears had been destroyed more thoroughly than the Moon Child – Tesla Effect is excellent, a fantastic return-to-form for FMV games, and a glorious adventure filled with twists, turns, and surprises.
It’s not the most visually impressive game ever. Nobody’s going to be comparing this game to Crysis anytime soon, but for what the game needs, the in-game graphics serve their purpose admirably. I’m completely in love with the soundtrack. Bobby James has composed an amazing set of orchestral music for Tesla Effect, and it fits the tone of the game and the on-screen action like a glove.
The puzzles are, like the old games, a mix of challenge, with some softballs in the earlier chapters (called Days in the Murphy-verse), and a few hardballs later on. Sadly, the puzzles are also the source of Tesla Effect’s few bugs, but I should note that none of the bugs I encountered were game-breaking, just mildly annoying. And all the old Tex Murphy standard gameplay features are here and in fine form, like multi-path conversations, interrogations, inventory puzzles, and yes, even the semi-dreaded death traps.
Tesla Effect has been a long time coming, but it has been worth the wait. It’s easily one of the most entertaining experiences you can have for the price, and it’s unquestionably the best game I’ve played this year so far. This might be nostalgia talking, but it’s not quite as good as The Pandora Directive is. Having said that, it is really, really good. Fans of the series should be absolutely thrilled with this game, and those new to Tex will find themselves in for an awesome introduction to the series. Here’s hoping that the world still needs saving next year – there’s a damn good P.I. I can recommend for the job.
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Time Played: Over 20 hours
