Tex Murphy - Overseer

Before you play a game you need to select the config tab from the main menu. Then choose the preferences tab, from this screen you can select 'captioning'. Go back to the main menu and play a new game. This game is quite different to other games in that it uses actors to play the parts of the characters. The introduction that follows is like an introduction to a film and you see all the characters coming on screen. There is no speech, just some music to accompany the screen shots of the actors. The next introduction does contain speech and this is subtitled. The subtitles are colour coded with Tex's subtitles always in green. Characters' conversations are easy to control, the main conversation appears at the top of the screen while a menu of your responses appears at the bottom right of the screen and you simply click on the one you want to select it. The 3D graphics are stunning and very realistic and the film clips are of an equally high standard! The actual acting is very good too with some well known actors appearing in the game such as Michael York and Chris Jones who plays 'Tex' is great at bringing the character to life. Controlling the game is also easy, very easy. There are four hidden menus, you move the mouse to the top, right, bottom or left of the screen for a menu to slide out. The top menu gives you the options of the game, the menu to the right of the screen is your inventory list, the menu to the left of your screen is your travel menu and the most important one is to the bottom of your screen. From here you control Tex's movements. Click and hold on the red dot to move yourself around the room with grace and agility. You can crouch or tilt your eyelevel with the same ease and speed. This interface system needs to be looked at by a few more developers, if they would like to improve the computer interface systems. Because the menus are hidden until you want them, they do not get in the way while you are playing the game.