Secret Files: Tunguska
- September 4, 2006
- Animation Arts
- 17h median play time
Get on Steam"Secret Files: Tunguska" is a point-and-click adventure game that follows the story of Nina Kalenkov, whose father goes missing while investigating the Tunguska event. Nina uncovers a conspiracy involving ancient artifacts, secret societies, and the mysterious Tunguska explosion. The game features challenging puzzles, rich environments, and a thrilling narrative set in various locations around the world.
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Reviews
- The game features an intricate story and solid gameplay that provide great satisfaction, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the point-and-click genre.
- Despite its age, the game runs smoothly and has charming environments, with well-designed puzzles that can be both challenging and enjoyable.
- The character-switching mechanic adds depth to the gameplay, and the humorous dialogue, while sometimes hit-or-miss, can be entertaining and adds personality to the characters.
- The voice acting, particularly for the main character Nina, is often criticized as annoying and poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
- Many puzzles are considered illogical or nonsensical, leading to frustration as players may resort to trial and error rather than logical reasoning to progress.
- The game suffers from dated graphics and some technical issues, which can impact immersion and enjoyment, especially for players accustomed to modern standards.
- story110 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally praised for its intriguing and well-crafted narrative, with many players highlighting its engaging characters and plot twists that maintain interest throughout. However, some reviews note that the story can become convoluted or strange towards the end, and there are criticisms regarding the quality of voice acting and occasional unrealistic elements. Overall, it is considered a strong point of the game, particularly for fans of the point-and-click adventure genre.
“Very nice point and click adventure game, with rather mind-boggling situations to resolve at times; the story is definitely the strong point here, along with well-written characters.”
“The story is great, the voice acting is good, the puzzles are sometimes a pain and sometimes simple!”
“Fantastic story, puzzles, and an all-round satisfying game.”
“So if you're looking for a game with a story that moves forward with little effort, look elsewhere.”
“The plot is silly yet seems to take itself seriously, with bizarre tonal shifts from lighthearted to edgy, and characterization is absent.”
“The story is 'meh'... the voice acting is awful at times.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, released in 2006, show their age but are generally considered functional and appealing, with many reviewers praising the hand-drawn backgrounds and vibrant environments. While some locations are described as stunning and immersive, others note that the character models and animations feel outdated. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gameplay experience, despite occasional graphical glitches.
“The graphics are very pretty and vibrant; backgrounds are drawn, and characters are in 3D.”
“The scenery and art are great; despite older graphics, the game is immersive - Russia, Cuba, and Ireland are all nicely captured.”
“Well thought out, attractive graphics, quite humorous; poor voice acting, one or two illogical puzzles.”
“The graphics (understandably) haven't aged well, but it's okay.”
“I won't go further into graphics or animations - this game originally released in 2006, so it shows some age - but there are many things wrong here that have nothing to do with age.”
“Plus I had some graphical glitches, so I wouldn't personally recommend it.”
- humor19 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the absurdity and charm of the dialogue and character interactions, while others criticize it for being sexist and poorly executed. There are moments of genuine hilarity, particularly in the absurd puzzle solutions and quirky character dynamics, but the overall comedic quality is often undermined by questionable voice acting and inconsistent writing. Players who embrace the game's offbeat humor tend to enjoy it more, likening it to a funny B-movie experience.
“Nice cast of characters; Nina is a funny protagonist.”
“Between the abysmal yet hilarious voice acting to the batshit insane puzzle solutions (taping a mobile phone to a cat, of course!) to the extra thick layer of cheese that coats everything, it's hard to argue this isn't fun in its own strange way.”
“The moment with a cat was ridiculous, to be honest! It's like the developers have their own sense of humor.”
“Some of the dialogue in the German version sounds very fake and unfunny.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-designed and polished, featuring a mix of standard point-and-click mechanics and some absurdly creative puzzles that challenge players in unique ways. While the character-switching mechanic adds an interesting layer, its limited use detracts from the overall experience. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay and appealing visuals, though opinions on voice acting vary.
“Overall, it is well-designed, featuring an intricate story and solid gameplay that provide great satisfaction.”
“The gameplay is a very standard point-and-click affair, but has a couple of things to ease your time in solving some of the most convoluted and outright bizarre puzzles I have ever seen. From using silicone to get an imprint off a sign to show in a camera, to slowing down a record with weights to make a desk clerk dance slower so the painter outside can paint a picture of her for her political campaign flyers, this game gives Gabriel Knight 3's cat hair mustache puzzle a run for its money; they are just that absurd - sometimes.”
“Other than that, the gameplay was really smooth and the visuals of the game were really well made.”
“The gameplay is a very standard point-and-click affair, but has a couple of things to ease your time in solving some of the most convoluted and outright bizarre puzzles I have ever seen. From using silicone to get an imprint off a sign to show in a camera, to slowing down a record with weights to make a desk clerk dance slower so the painter outside can paint a picture of her, which she can use for her political campaign flyers and then reward you with opening the gate inside. This game gives Gabriel Knight 3's cat hair mustache puzzle a run for its money; they are just that absurd - sometimes.”
“The mechanics follow standard point-and-click adventure game conventions, though the puzzles are usually more grounded than in some other games.”
“Tldr: gameplay is eh.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is noted for its smooth performance, even if it shows signs of age. While some voice acting may not meet expectations, the optimization allows for an enjoyable experience despite these minor flaws.
“Despite the negative review, I would like to point out that the game runs smoothly, even though it is 'a bit older'.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous graphical glitches and overall poor quality, which ultimately hindered gameplay progression. Many recommend against playing due to these persistent issues.
“The game is very cheaply made and full of glitches.”
“Eventually, the glitches made it so that I couldn't go any further in the game.”
“Plus, I had some graphical glitches, so I wouldn't personally recommend it.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being minimal and reminiscent of old adventure films, which also suffer from underdeveloped characters and awkward dialogue.
“Character development is pretty lacking.”
“It's obviously emulating the old adventure films, which are also severely lacking in character development and full of cringey dialogue.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing various modes, branching storylines, and unlockable content that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many appreciate the dynamic gameplay elements that change with each session, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players note that certain aspects may become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing long-term engagement.
“The replay value of this game is incredible; every playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“I love how each decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay the game multiple times.”
“With so many different paths and endings, I find myself coming back to this game again and again.”
“The game lacks significant replay value; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to go back.”
“After finishing the main storyline, I found no compelling reasons to replay the game, as the choices felt inconsequential.”
“While the game is enjoyable, the limited variety in gameplay mechanics makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note a significant absence of in-game background music, which detracts from the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game. This lack of auditory engagement has been a common point of criticism among players.
“There is a lack of in-game background music, which makes the experience feel empty.”
“The absence of background music in the game really detracts from the overall atmosphere.”
“Without any in-game music, the gameplay feels monotonous and uninspired.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's meticulous attention to detail creates an immersive atmosphere that distinguishes it within the adventure genre, making it essential for fans of mystery and suspense.
“The game's attention to detail and immersive atmosphere make it a standout title in the adventure genre and a must-play for fans of mystery and suspense.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when repeatedly traveling between locations. However, the developers have mitigated this frustration by reducing the time spent on these activities, making the experience less time-consuming.
“Going back and forth between these two could be very tedious, but thankfully they shorten the time you have to watch it, to not waste time.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I spent hours doing the same tasks over and over, which really drained my enjoyment of the game.”
