Secret Files: Tunguska

Secret Files: Tunguska
Developer(s)	Fusionsphere Systems Animation Arts
Publisher(s)	Dreamcatcher Interactive (UK) The Adventure Company (USA) Deep Silver (AU)
Designer(s)	Jörg Beilschmidt
Series	Secret Files
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Wii, Nintendo DS, iOS, Wii U
Release date(s)	Microsoft Windows NA October 30, 2006 EU September 29, 2006 Wii EU May 2008 NA June 30, 2010 Nintendo DS EU May 2008 NA June 30, 2010[1] Wii U DE October 15, 2015 (eShop)[2]
Genre(s)	Adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Secret Files: Tunguska (German: Geheimakte Tunguska), is a classic point and click adventure game created by Fusionsphere Systems and Animation Arts. Released on Windows OS in 2006, the game generally received positive comments regarding its visuals,^[3][4] while some criticized the script and dialogue.^[5] The game was further released on Wii and Nintendo DS platforms in 2008, and on Apple's App Store in 2014.

The creators announced a sequel, Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis, at the Leipzig Games Convention in 2007.^[6][7] A third installment was released by Deep Silver in 2012, receiving an overall score of 67 (out of 100) on Metacritic.^[8]

Gameplay

The game is viewed from a third person perspective and uses a classic point and click interface. The game features a 'snoop key' tool, which highlights all interactive objects on screen and assists in finding small, easily overlooked objects.

Plot

Nina is torn from her day-to-day routine when she discovers that her father has disappeared without a trace. As the police seem reluctant to help her, Nina sets off to look for clues relating to her father's whereabouts. She joins efforts with Max Gruber, a young colleague of her father who impulsively offers to help the attractive young lady. Together, they quickly determine that Nina's father was involved with a research expedition to Siberia in an attempt to reveal the causes of the mysterious Tunguska catastrophe of 1908. In that mysterious event, a mighty explosion triggered an inferno that decimated the land of Tunguska. Nina and Max soon realize that her father's disappearance is related to the Tunguska event and the search for answers leads Nina and Max to the most remote corners of the world – Berlin, Moscow, Cuba, China, and the Antarctic. Powerful adversaries are also interested in Nina's father's secret. In the end, much more is at stake than just the disappearance of an old man.^[9]

Release

Deep Silver announced in June 2007 that it intended to release the game on both Nintendo DS and Wii stating:

"We chose to do it for a couple of reasons. Firstly to explore the control methods of the Wii and DS, which we find very interesting, and secondly because we feel the platforms deserve this kind of game."

The further game release was developed specifically to the motion controls of the DS and Wii.^[10] After a delay, Aeropause Games announced in May 2010 that it intended to release The Secret Files: Tunguska on both Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS to US and North American markets.^[11]

Reception

After the initial release on Windows OS, most critics gave a mixed review, with an overall 66 out of 100 on Metacritic.^[12] Play.tm gave a positive review saying, "Secret Files: Tunguska signifies a new era for point and click adventures". While Digital Entertainment News gave a mixed review saying, "Despite lacking any significant innovation, the game features solid gameplay that minimizes obtuse puzzle-solving in favor of object interactions."

The further release on Nintendo DS received more favourable reviews with an overall 71 out of 100 among the critics.^[13] But, the release on Wii received marginally less favourable reviews than the Windows OS release with an overall 65 out of 100.^[14]

References

External links

• Official website
• Adventure Gamers review
• Review (in English) of the German release
• German Demo
• 2404.org Review