Secret Files: Tunguska
- September 4, 2006
- Animation Arts
- 17h median play time
"Secret Files: Tunguska" is a point-and-click adventure game that explores the real-world mystery of the Tunguska event in 1908. As protagonist Nina Kalenkov, players uncover a global conspiracy involving ancient legends, high-tech secrets, and powerful organizations. The game combines captivating puzzles, rich narratives, and historical intrigue for an immersive and exciting experience.
Reviews
- The game features an engaging and intricate story that keeps players hooked throughout.
- The graphics and environments are charming, providing a nostalgic feel for fans of classic point-and-click adventures.
- The gameplay includes a variety of puzzles that, while sometimes illogical, offer a fun challenge and encourage exploration.
- Many puzzles are overly convoluted and lack logical solutions, often requiring players to rely on walkthroughs.
- The voice acting, particularly for the main character, is frequently criticized as annoying and poorly executed.
- The humor and dialogue can be cringeworthy, with instances of sexism and poorly written lines that detract from the overall experience.
- story112 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its intriguing plot, well-written characters, and engaging narrative that keeps them invested throughout. However, some critiques highlight moments of strangeness, predictability, and pacing issues, particularly towards the end. Overall, while the story has its flaws, it remains a strong point of the game, complemented by challenging puzzles and immersive environments.
“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.”
“Crazy good story!”
“The story is interesting, and focuses on the Tunguska incident.”
“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 voice acting is atrocious, both in German and English, emotions are never properly conveyed and the story seems very ridiculous as a result.”
- 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 players noted graphical glitches and a lack of modern polish, others found the visuals immersive and well-executed for a title of its era, contributing positively to the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a solid aspect of the game, enhancing its engaging storyline and gameplay.
“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 its absurdity and quirky character interactions, while others criticize it for being sexist and poorly executed, particularly in the voice acting. There are moments of genuine humor, often stemming from bizarre scenarios and witty dialogue, but these are sometimes overshadowed by awkward delivery and questionable writing. Overall, the game's comedic elements can be enjoyable if approached with the right mindset, likening it to a humorous 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.”
“There is some funny dialogue at times, which lightens the mood when you're stuck for a while figuring things out.”
“Some of the dialogue in the German version sounds very fake and unfunny.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a standard point-and-click adventure, featuring a mix of intricate and absurd puzzles that can be both satisfying and convoluted. While the character-switching mechanic adds some depth, it is underutilized, and the overall experience is polished with smooth mechanics and appealing visuals. Players appreciate the engaging story and clever use of gameplay elements, though opinions on the 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, which she can use 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 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 signal to the person watching through it, 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 some other games.”
“Tldr: gameplay is eh.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is noted for running smoothly despite its age, although some users have pointed out inconsistencies in voice acting and performance. While there are minor issues, the optimization is generally well-received.
“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 can hinder progress and enjoyment. 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
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % 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 ability to make different choices and explore alternative outcomes, enhancing the overall experience. However, some note that certain aspects may feel repetitive after several runs.
“The replay value is almost nonexistent; once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
“After finishing the main storyline, I found no compelling reasons to replay the game. It felt like a one-and-done experience.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and branching paths severely limits the replayability, making it feel repetitive on subsequent playthroughs.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received criticism for the absence of in-game background music, which many users feel detracts from the overall experience.
“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, but appreciate that the developers have reduced the time spent on these activities to minimize frustration.
“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 find myself spending more time grinding than actually enjoying the gameplay.”