Beyond Time Download (1997 Adventure Game)

Developed by DreamCatcher Interactive, Beyond Time is a graphical adventure that puts you in the first-person role of an archeologist who must help solve a great worldly mystery.

Great treasures of the world such as the Mona Lisa, Seti I statue and Michelangelo's Pieta have all been stolen and are now missing. One of the treasures has been discovered at an archeological dig in Cairo half buried in the sand. You must unravel this mystery using wits, memory, and a few select items.

You'll start the adventure standing outside the excavation site and as you move forward you will see an apparition telling you of some danger ahead. From here on out, you must navigate the area around you and look for clues and items along the way. A clue might be in the form of a scroll on a table or it might be some inscription on a nearby wall. You will end up traveling to many different locations in your quest for the truth. Also, there is an inventory that can be accessed at any time when you need it.

Graphically, the game looks fairly detailed and tidy. Locations are all represented with smooth backgrounds, interactive items and objects that you can manipulate. There is also some good-looking full-motion video in the game that is smooth and adds to the atmosphere. The interface and movement is exactly like the PC game Myst. The two games are similar, but Beyond Time is the one that borrowed ideas.

The audio department for this game is fairly decent. There are some voice samples that bring you into the story a bit but there is a lack of music and sound effects. The game just seems too empty and silent when you are traversing the locations. A bit of ambient noise is present, but not enough to make an impact.

This game doesn't sport much in the way of replay value. The problem with these types of games stems from the fact that on the first play through they're entertaining, but subsequent revisits lose all carrying power and you don't have as much motivation to play. The only real solution is to make a longer adventure.

Overall, Beyond Time isn't as good as other titles of the same style. It has some elements that made Myst great, but drops the ball on others. With some better sound and maybe a little more atmosphere, this one would've been much improved.

Graphics: Good-looking locations and backgrounds for you to see. There is also some FMV that is done fairly well.

Sound: Some decent voice acting and sound effects.

Enjoyment: Some aspects of the game are fun but a lot of the puzzles are complicated and frustrating. You need to be patient for this game.

Replay Value: Maybe good for one play after you beat it but other than the game's initial challenge, no more value.

Beyond Time is an inventory-based, mouse-driven adventure game based on the novel Obelisk by Dr. Judith Kaye Jones. "Obelisk" was the name given to it by the original designers when it was completed in 1995, but it was never published under that name. DreamCatcher picked it up for publishing 2 years later under the name Beyond Time, appropriate because the story does involve time travelling.

Rifts in time have occurred causing people and precious artifacts and treasures to disappear mysteriously all over the world. Travel to ancient Egypt, Tibet, the Yucatan peninsula and Atlantis to find the missing masterpieces of the world and repair time itself. Only your puzzle-solving skills can save humanity from impending doom.

How to run this game on modern Windows PC?

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