Dreamfall joins Xbox Originals lineup March 24

29 Comments by Ludwig Kietzmann Mar 20th 2008 3:13PM
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

With Psychonauts and Indigo Prophecy already on Microsoft's Xbox Originals service, we're alarmed to think that we might have something in common with a gigantic corporation: A soft spot for overlooked games rich in narrative. Compounding this realization is next week's addition to the downloadable back-compat lineup, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.

The sequel to 1999's modern adventure classic (just entitled The Longest Journey) sees new protagonist Zoe stumble across the divide between Stark, a world driven by technology, and the whimsical fantasy realm of Arcadia. Though we can't say Dreamfall is a sterling example of adventure gameplay, it does succeed admirably as an interactive novel. If superb writing and multi-faceted stories draw you in, Dreamfall is well worth the trip (also: mash past the dreadful combat sections). If the 1,200 MS Point ($15) asking price doesn't sit well with you, there are plenty of other options as well.

Tags: BreakingNews, Dreamfall, Funcom, XBLM, Xbox-Originals

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Daniel: Mar 20th 2008; 3:20PM

It's good to see Altair in another game so soon...oh wait

Lewis: Mar 20th 2008; 3:38PM

Nice, lmao.

cjshrader: Mar 20th 2008; 3:39PM

That was my first thought as well.

Morien: Mar 20th 2008; 5:21PM

precisely my thoughts

Jerk Face: Mar 20th 2008; 3:29PM

Anyone play this game? Is it any good? I was thinking about picking it up on Steam.

cjshrader: Mar 20th 2008; 3:38PM

I beat the original and played halfway through this one. If you like adventure games then I think you'll like these. The only reason I stopped playing was other games caught my eye, and I'm not the best at playing long games all the way through.

I do enjoy the story of this game though.

Bootes: Mar 20th 2008; 4:18PM

I loved this game. It's more like watching a good movie than playing a game though.

Jerk Face: Mar 20th 2008; 4:28PM

Cool. I think I'm going to pick it up, then. Thanks for the feedback, kids.

gLitterbug: Mar 20th 2008; 4:48PM

I also played The Longest Journey and even though it had a bit too long winded dialogue in parts it was much better than Dreamfall. Not even considering gameplay. Something (I think the fairy tale feel), simply got lost from TLJ to it's sequel Dreamfall and in my opinion that made it more bland. Also I don't consider the cliché character behaviour as superb writing, but maybe that's just me.

Oh and don't get this if you get worked up over cliffhanger endings, which this game got hate for from all fronts. So my verdict would be to go for the original game instead if you haven't played that yet.

ChooChooCharlie (Brawl: 1504-5357-9285): Mar 20th 2008; 4:38PM

Do downloaded Originals titles have achievements?

Not that it matters much. Just curious.

Wubbytoes: Mar 20th 2008; 4:46PM

Wubbytoes: Mar 20th 2008; 4:46PM

My wife played through this game in a cople of days and she said that she loved it.

Abhinav Kumar: Mar 20th 2008; 4:49PM

Bah MS is putting all the games that i spent time to track down on this service. Guess that teaches me a lesson.

Watership: Mar 24th 2008; 6:42PM

Ha. I think that's the point :)

Bulky: Mar 20th 2008; 5:10PM

YES! This game is worth it and I really want it to succeed so the story can continue. I don't have a 360. I'm more of a Dreamfallfanboy.

343 Guilty Fart: Mar 20th 2008; 5:17PM

This is one of the best games I've ever played, and Zoe Castillo is one of the most intelligent and attractive female characters in any video game period.

And Crow also deserves to be mentioned as one of the funniest talking animals in video games.

Geist: Mar 20th 2008; 7:19PM

I preferred April Ryan. But I agree on the Crow remark.

jack1: Mar 20th 2008; 5:47PM

Wow, this game is still pretty expensive on eBay. I guess this is one of the few games that is worth downloading from XBL instead of just buying used

Jason Axelrod: Mar 20th 2008; 6:56PM

Get the PC version and the original game with it... no reason to play this on a console, its a point and click adventure.

Kujel: Mar 20th 2008; 7:19PM

I for one am pleased this is being released for the 360 owners who never got to try it before. It may not have a lot of gameplay but the story is really well crafted and the voice work is among the best.

Ethan: Mar 20th 2008; 7:52PM

I've always wanted a go, but could never find a copy. This is wonderful.

However it's still astonishing that Beyond Good and Evil isn't there, considering that there are multiple games that have BC and run on the same engine. And it seems to fall under the same discerning platter as this game does.

Korova: Mar 20th 2008; 10:19PM

Its a nice steadily paced game. Novel-like is right. It really is "the longest journey" - it takes forever. I've been playing it for a couple of years and I am still not done.

But its a nice break from intense games and Zoe is pleasant to look at and play with.

vannyx: Mar 21st 2008; 12:36AM

I fell in love with this game the second i started talking to Theoretically blind bob. Its a great game with a crappy ending. ( what i mean by crappy ending is that the game doesnt actually end, its just that you cant play anymore).

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 21st 2008; 2:35AM

I really have to consider getting this game for Steam.

Is the first one good (original Dreamfall, not the longest journey)?

t_m: Mar 21st 2008; 3:46AM

The original game was The Longest Journey. dreamfall was the sequel. The original is way better than the sequel... worth buying Dreamfall on Steam merely to get the original imho.

t_m: Mar 21st 2008; 3:51AM

Am I the only one who things Indigo Prophecy would rock on the Wii?
Its essentially a game full of quicktime events, and it would be majorly improvecd if it had motion controls for those events rather than button/stick action.

Also, while we are at it, how about Wii versions of Psychomauts (xbox is the wrong system for it), Beyond Good and Evil, and the Original Longest journey.

I hope wiiware means devs can re-release a load of old classic adventure games on the Wii. Longest Journey, Grim Fandango, Monkey Island, etc.. would all be great with a pointer.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 21st 2008; 5:22AM

Never played Indigo Prophecy, but I'd really like to play it.

I... must... Steam... (or buy it in a store for PC)

Dustin: Mar 26th 2008; 2:21AM

Couldn't get enough of this game, played through it 3 times. Also, it's the only 'real' game I could get my girl to play through, and she loved it. I will have to pick this up. (damn you, microsoft)

hvnlysoldr: Apr 12th 2008; 4:37PM

Indigo Prophecy game on Wii with QTE waggle motions would be cool.

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