The 39 Steps
- April 25, 2013
- The Story Mechanics
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"The 39 Steps" is a digital adaptation of the classic novel, transforming the text into a visually stunning, interactive experience. Explore hundreds of hand-painted environments and uncover secrets in this man-on-the-run thriller, featuring 8 distinct storytelling mechanics and additional collectibles. Immerse yourself in the faithfully constructed 1910s Britain setting, inspired by the original book that sparked Ian Fleming's James Bond.
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Reviews
- The story is masterfully written and engaging, keeping players hooked throughout.
- The artwork is stunning, with beautifully rendered backgrounds that enhance the atmosphere.
- The voice acting is top-notch, adding depth and immersion to the narrative.
- The gameplay is minimal, with little interactivity beyond clicking to advance the story.
- The pacing can be slow, making it feel tedious at times, especially for those expecting a traditional game experience.
- Some players may find the lack of choices and consequences disappointing, as the story is linear and predetermined.
- story1,111 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "The 39 Steps" is a well-crafted adaptation of John Buchan's classic novel, presented as an interactive visual novel that immerses players in a thrilling espionage narrative set just before World War I. While the storytelling is enhanced by beautiful artwork, excellent voice acting, and atmospheric music, many reviewers noted that the gameplay is minimal, with little player agency and a linear progression that may feel slow or tedious at times. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate rich storytelling and historical fiction, though some may prefer to read the original novel for a more complete experience.
“The story is masterfully written, being divided across 19 chapters and brought to life with stunning backgrounds set in Scotland and England.”
“The narrative unfolds through beautifully rendered still images and voice acting, faithfully capturing the suspense and intrigue of the original story.”
“The story is captivating and the text is presented in short paragraphs, most likely abridged from the original, and it’s never too much to read.”
“The story is slow, and it shows its game.”
“The story itself felt a little absurd and forced at times, but that's just the style of the author, and I managed to look past it and enjoy the ride.”
“The story couldn't be bad since it's a adaptation of a best-seller, but the soundtrack, the awesome hand-painted artwork and the voice performances turned it into a brilliant experience which I would recommend to anyone.”
- graphics214 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are widely praised for their beauty and artistic quality, featuring hand-painted visuals that enhance the storytelling experience. While the artwork is often described as stunning and immersive, some reviewers note that the graphics can be static and lack interactivity, making the game feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game. Overall, the combination of visuals, music, and voice acting creates a captivating atmosphere that complements the narrative effectively.
“The artwork that accompanies each scene is beautiful and the music complements it greatly without being intrusive.”
“The voice acting is superb, the gorgeous hand-drawn artwork really makes you feel like you're in pre-WWI Britain, and the overall interface is sleek without betraying the lovingly-rendered throwback aesthetic.”
“The artwork is lushly hand-painted, not your typical computer game graphics.”
“The vn is short-changing you on the visuals.”
“The art style is simplistic and often feels half-finished or rushed, which sucks when the semi-pretty pictures make up almost your entire experience listening to the story.”
“The graphics are 95% static, the only movement being the occasional smokestack spewing smoke, a flag flapping in the wind, or falling rain.”
- gameplay164 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "The 39 Steps" is largely minimal and primarily consists of simple interactions such as clicking and drawing shapes, which serve to advance the story rather than provide traditional gaming mechanics. Many reviews highlight that the experience feels more like an interactive visual novel or digital adaptation of a book, with limited choices and linear progression, making it less appealing for those seeking substantial gameplay. While the story and production values are praised, the lack of engaging gameplay elements may disappoint players looking for a more interactive experience.
“There are some light gameplay elements, but nothing overly major.”
“The gameplay is interesting where mouse movements are used to navigate the text – swirling the mouse in a circle moves to the next paragraph of text.”
“The gameplay was subtle and propelled the story while involving you as the main character.”
“It is important to realize that there is no gameplay (besides occasionally deciding the order of what to click or matching pre-defined actions), no choices or branching storylines, or anything like that.”
“Every other review says it but I'll reiterate: this is a visual novel with extremely minimal gameplay mechanics.”
“The gameplay is simplistic, the visuals are wonderful, the soundtrack is excellent and the story is superb.”
- music154 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to set the mood and enhance the overall atmosphere, effectively complementing the visuals and voice acting. While many reviews highlight the soundtrack as atmospheric and fitting for the story, some note issues with looping and a lack of variety in certain sections. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and voice performances contributes significantly to the immersive experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The music really sets the mood and does what it needs to do, giving off an ominous and unsettling feeling like you're not completely safe.”
“The artwork that accompanies each scene is beautiful and the music complements it greatly without being intrusive.”
“The music and audio are good, appropriate, fitting the scenes and the atmosphere the art places you in.”
“The music is fitting, but the loops are cut terribly, and the final track makes you wonder if you were watching Jason Bourne.”
“The only mark on this experience was that although the music was fitting, some of the melodic and atmospheric tracks suffered from improper looping.”
“Nice way to experience this story, sadly all the atmosphere that was so good in the game is totally ruined by the awful music in the end-game credits.”
- atmosphere71 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent voice acting, fitting music, and detailed artwork that evoke the period setting. Reviewers note that the combination of sound effects, ambient music, and visual design successfully captures the tension and mood of the story, making it feel like a cinematic experience rather than a traditional game. While some players may find the lack of gameplay elements limiting, the overall production value and atmospheric depth make it a compelling choice for fans of narrative-driven experiences.
“The game really invokes the atmosphere, manners, and language of that era.”
“An atmospheric visual novel with a terrific presentation: the hand-drawn visuals, the music, and the sound effects/voice acting are all fantastic, lending to the establishment of the mood of the story.”
“The atmosphere that was created by the music, sound, art, voice acting, and UI is top-notch.”
“I really tried to like this game, the graphic side is appealing, the atmosphere is okay, but the annoying interface and time-wasting way the story is moving on made me give it up after 40 minutes :(”
“Nice way to experience this story, sadly all the atmosphere that was so good in the game is totally ruined by the awful music in the end-game credits.”
“While I would in no way call it a triple-A title; art, voice acting, music, and sounds all add to a generally foreboding atmosphere, while encouraging you to continue through each scene.”
- replayability27 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting it as a one-time experience due to its linear structure and short playtime of around 3-6 hours. While some players appreciated the artwork and voice acting enough to consider revisiting the story, the consensus is that there is minimal incentive to replay, making it feel overpriced for its limited content.
“Totally re-readable, or in this case re-playable thanks to the way the artwork is brought to life with a moving soundtrack and artfully placed sound effects along with intermittent narration.”
“Replayability is limited, but I still highly recommend this game.”
“Not much of a replay value, but for a point-and-click/interactive story, it was fun and a must for anyone who likes spies and games that lean more towards a story than gameplay.”
“There is no replay value here, just a solid one-and-done experience.”
“Not much in the way of actual gameplay, and there's no replay value, but there's lots of atmosphere and it really does immerse you in the novel and has excellent production value.”
“Saddly, because it's a finished story, it has absolutely no replay value; play it, enjoy it, get achievements, uninstall, done.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of quirky elements, including amusing voice acting with a variety of British accents, humorous animated segments reminiscent of silent films, and an unexpected techno breakdown during the credits that elicited laughter. While the comedic aspects are often entertaining, they can overshadow gameplay frustrations, and the game's old-fashioned charm includes a mix of national pride and outdated stereotypes that add to its humor. Overall, players appreciate the innovative storytelling and artistic presentation, which contribute to a lighthearted experience.
“Generic spooky thriller music accompanies most of the story, though it is broken up by a sick techno breakdown in the credits - I couldn't stop laughing when the glitch noises and bass kicked in.”
“Voice acting is good, with some hilarious British gentleman action and some frankly unintelligible Scottish accents.”
“Beautiful art, funny and innovative storytelling techniques, great music.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the tasks tedious and detracting from the narrative experience. While some appreciated the vibrant soundscapes and illustrations, others felt that the game often felt more like a chore than an engaging experience, leading to moments of disengagement and frustration. Overall, the balance between story progression and grinding tasks appears to be a significant point of contention among players.
“Stuck between a visual novel and an adventure game, this classic novel loses its strength as player focus is torn between following the narrative and accomplishing tedious tasks to turn pages.”
“This turns the game somewhat tedious, as the story is action and progress-oriented.”
“It doesn't feel like a game; at times, it feels even more tedious to go through than it would be to just read a thick book.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding the storytelling methods unique and heartfelt, evoking strong feelings and even tears. However, many criticize the narrative as boring and lacking depth, with a singular path that diminishes player choice and engagement. Overall, while some appreciate the emotional impact, others feel let down by the story's execution.
“It almost made me cry.”
“10/10 would cry again.”
“Heartfelt and captivating story.”
“Boring story about some British colonizer.”
“Expected at least a bit of a detective game, got a very boring story instead.”
“Incredibly boring story.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is primarily centered around its narrative-driven content, resembling a book more than a traditional game, with optional historical advertisements and articles that enhance the experience. While some players found the focus on period-specific ads and scenery descriptions to be excessive, others appreciated the depth and authenticity these elements brought to the storytelling. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of reading and exploration, though it lacks traditional gameplay mechanics like puzzles or choices.
“While it wasn't perfect, and some parts of the story felt like they were either meandering or getting repetitive in parts (I swear some of it felt like it was just an advertisement from the Scottish tourism board, dwelling on how stunning the scenery was or basking in the charm and generosity of the locals), overall I really enjoyed reading this - and that's what I found so amazing about it.”
“Certain parts were highlighted as relevant for flavor and the story, but equally interesting (if not amusing at times) are some of the ads for health tonics, men's moustache grooming products, and the like.”
“They allow you to zoom in and out on objects you see in the environments - here I am, thinking that I'll have to do some Sherlock Holmes work and pick out clues from the zoomed-in objects, but alas - there isn't much to discover but a few timeline-appropriate advertisements and newspaper articles.”
- stability7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Overall, users report mixed experiences regarding stability, with some encountering minor audio glitches and issues when switching windows that can affect save points. However, others found the game largely bug-free and well-executed, indicating that stability may vary depending on individual usage scenarios.
“There are no bugs, no glitches, and everything is done in a professional way.”
“Just to be clear, this isn't a game; taking that in, it's far from perfect. If you plan on clicking 2000 times, dedicate your entire PC because switching windows glitches your save point, so you have to start all over again.”
“The game is too buggy for me.”
“In order to give some constructive criticism, I will say that there are times in the story when the voice acting echoes and glitches a bit, but other than that, I completely enjoyed every moment of it.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is praised for its high-quality voice acting and impressive visuals that resemble a graphic novel, complemented by a strong soundtrack. Overall, the combination of these elements creates a polished and immersive experience that enhances the storytelling.
“The visuals are on par with a good graphic novel, and the music and voice performances are as good as any audiobook.”
“The story couldn't be bad since it's an adaptation of a best-seller, but the soundtrack, the awesome hand-painted artwork, and the voice performances turned it into a brilliant experience which I would recommend to anyone.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, as the narrative primarily focuses on the main character's escape from various predicaments rather than exploring deeper plot elements or personal growth. The lack of substantial character arcs leaves players wanting more depth in the protagonist's journey.
“It's essentially an innocent-man-on-the-run thriller, and the middle 3/5ths of the game basically have the main character escaping one sticky situation after another, with little in the way of actual plot or character development taking place.”
