Lost: Via Domus Preview

[Sandman]

I found this on tv.com. (http://www.tv.com/story/10718.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=news&tag=headlines;title;4)

Checking in on the timeline, the game takes place during the first three seasons of Lost. Players will experience most of the major events of the first two seasons from their own perspectives; for example, they may not be around when Locke blows the hatch up with dynamite, but they'll definitely hear it, and it will affect the story. However, landmarks and locations were taken from all three seasons.

As far as gameplay goes, gamers should think PC-classic Myst more than fast-twitch shoot-'em-ups like Gears of War or Halo. In fact, Pollack told us that Lindelof and Cuse count Myst as one of their major influences on the show, a fact that had eluded us previously but is so obvious in hindsight. Lost: Via Domus is a return to the adventure genre riddled with puzzle elements, with an emphasis on exploration rather than running and gunning. In fact, it's pretty much the only way the producers would agree to make it, according to Pollack.

Players will start off as a brand-new character named Elliott, a photojournalist who was on board Oceanic 815 when it crashed. Elliott is one of the first round of survivors, along with Sawyer, Kate, Jack, and the rest of the season one cast. When Elliott awakes on the island, he can't remember who or where he is. Ahhh yes, the old amnesia trick. Don't blame the folks at Ubisoft, though, because the idea was concocted by Damon Lindelof himself.

Because of this twist, Ubisoft was able to make the show's trademark flashbacks playable. During Elliott's flashbacks, players will be asked to take pictures of key events in order to jar Elliott's memories. As the story moves forward, Elliott's past unfolds and intertwines with all of the familiar Lost cast members, just like it would in the show.

It sounds like this could be a descent licensed game for a change. I might be buying it if nothing else is out in late February.

[Zabyx]

I hate the idea of the new character. It's like there's this whole gripping story line, and he discovers so much... So why isn't he on the show?

[Siraris]

I hate the idea of the new character. It's like there's this whole gripping story line, and he discovers so much... So why isn't he on the show?

Because they need something for the game, and the show doesn't show everyone on the island at every moment in every single episode. Remember the guy Pablo or whatever and the girl? They were on what, 1 episode? Yet their story line was important enough for the show!

[Deadend]

I hate the idea of the new character. It's like there's this whole gripping story line, and he discovers so much... So why isn't he on the show?

Oh he is, it's just he is always behind the camera, and it always cuts away right before people mention him in conversation.

[Zabyx]

Because they need something for the game, and the show doesn't show everyone on the island at every moment in every single episode. Remember the guy Pablo or whatever and the girl? They were on what, 1 episode? Yet their story line was important enough for the show!

And caused the uproar of many fans. I'm just saying, why not elaborate on a current character's past?

[IrishWhiskey]

I hate the idea of the new character. It's like there's this whole gripping story line, and he discovers so much... So why isn't he on the show?Its not like they haven't done this before...

http://www.lostcrazy.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/paulo-nikki.jpg

And yeah, they were stupid as hell.

[Sandman]

That's the only problem I have with it really but if the gameplay is good I can overlook playing a new and somewhat minor character if it means I get to uncover some secrets of the island. And from the sounds of that article it looks like the character you play gets off the island somehow.

[IrishWhiskey]

That's the only problem I have with it really but if the gameplay is good I can overlook playing a new and somewhat minor character if it means I get to uncover some secrets of the island. And from the sounds of that article it looks like the character you play gets off the island somehow.What I'd like is just an accurate representation of the island (like in the Crysis engine) where you are given the task of gathering supplies and surviving, with traps by Danielle, and attacks by polar bears, Smokie, and Others. And subtle Myst-like clues revealing backstory. A sort of survival horror game.

Instead I suspect we'll be confined to a few areas and end up looking for different colored keys in underground science labs...sigh...

[kababa]

Gamespot has a preview up. (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/adventure/lost/news.html?sid=6184957&tag=topslot;title;1&om_act=convert&om_clk=topslot)

I think it can be cool.

[IrishWhiskey]

Instead I suspect we'll be confined to a few areas and end up looking for different colored keys in underground science labs...sigh...You're asked to deal with a potentially dangerous fuel leak from the plane engine that's still roaring on the beach. This puzzle, like many others in the game, involves arranging differently shaped fuses on an electrical board to divert power where it's needed. Fuses, we're told, were scattered all over the island when Oceanic flight 815 crashed, and considering that these puzzles can be solved only if you have the correct fuses in your possession (it's highly unlikely that you ever won't), you'll do well to pick up any that you see.
Hey, remember in Lost when they had to constantly find and pick up different colored keys (or fuses) in order to solve nonsensical puzzles?

Yeah....

[Heretic Machine]

Hey, remember in Lost when they had to constantly find and pick up different colored keys (or fuses) in order to solve nonsensical puzzles?

Yeah....

Eh... really doesn't sound that far off from the plot of the show. I think that is why most people stopped watching, including myself. We were more interested in survival, and secrets, and less interested in people acting out scenes from Myst.

[lost]

I find Ubisofts involvement in licensed games pretty discouraging. They tend to be short, full of standard cliche objectives and a little rushed. Naruto anyone?

Having said that, I love 3rd person action adventure games and not being a fan of Lost I think I'd still pick this up if reviews are above the 80 mark.

[LionEyez]

I saw and read some stuff about the development of this game and it seems they're quite trying to maintain the feel of the series, and its themes. Story seems great, but the idea if Myst gameplay doesn't really appeal to me.

[IrishWhiskey]

IGN has a list of the game's achievements. (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/848/848087p1.html)

They generally sound dull, and don't make me any more interesting in the game (Wow, I can photograph small objects I recognize from the show! Yippee!). Most of the points can be gotten by beating the game, so this will probably make a good rental. Whats more interesting is the number of points you can get:

1010

Thats right, there's 10 points more than usual for a game (except with DLC) which suggests that 10 of those points don't belong... An interesting way to hint toward a show secret, I'd suspect. As in whatever you do to get those points doesn't belong, or is noteworthy in terms of plot. Likely suspects include:

'Photograph the book Turn of the screw', 'Successfully confront Beady Eyes', and 'Open the magnetic door'.

Followers of Lost mythology always wondered if the "Turn of the Screw" book the film was behind was a clue or another red herring. The extra points could hint at either.

[jeffool]

I really think that if they had named all of the survivors in the first season (when they had the manifest and were documenting everyone,) the subsequent filling in of those peoples' stories would be much more welcome by fans than it currently is. It would've seemed much more 'planned' than 'seat of their pants,' even if it wasn't at all.