Game Review - by James Allen
I don't play many adventure games. The usual lack of blowing things up kind of draws my attention away. But, as long as the game features compelling gameplay, I'm willing to try anything. Along comes The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin. Armed with many pain killers, I attempted to wrestle with this title from DreamCatcher. At least they were nice enough to send me the title to review. On second thought, I much would have preferred a mail bomb (not really: this is called hyperbole, exaggeration used for comedic effect. Poison would have been fine).

Features:
For some reason, The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin comes on FOUR CDs. While playing this game, one wonders what the space is wasted on. Certainly, the features are not very impressive. Just the story mode. As you'll see, this is plenty to see what this game is all about. I guess we're better off this way.

Sound FX:
Apart from sound bytes that are portrayed by poor actors, the levels are bereft of sound. Hey, the voices in The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin give Madden 2002 a run for its money. Any sound used in the game distracts away from any possible realism of the environments. Mmmm�low production values.

Gameplay:
Chances are that you won't play this game long enough to experience the pain and suffering of The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin. The "tasks" you perform make no sense, are impossible to figure out with any assistance, and must be preformed in order and all completed before completing the level. The manual gives you a guide to the first five frustrating minutes of the game. I think an excerpt from the guide is all you need to know about this game: "turn left, go forward once, turn left, go forward, turn right, go forward, turn right." Who? What? How? And who can forget: "as you try to turn the key you will notice the lock needs oil. Use the oil-filled gourd on the lock." First off, what is a gourd. And second, why is it oil filled. And third, how would you know before hand? The point at which you pick up this gourd, you just turn around and look down, and it almost camouflages into the ground. The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin is filled with these sort of non-sensical blabber.

Graphics:
The graphics consist of cutscenes and a slideshow. Come on people, this is 2001, not 10 years ago! The graphics are the same as those found in SWAT 1, to give you some comparison. The slides are very disorienting, as "walking" jumps ahead a seemingly random amount, and you'll consistently turn around the direction you came from to pick up objects. Plus, there is hardly any animation in the game. What is going on here? I guess I've been spoiled by the reality of first person shooters. Boy, I hope all adventure games aren't like this.

Overall:
There is not one redeeming factor in The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin. A court order should be issued that all gamers must stay one hundred yards away from it. Bad slideshow graphics, poor sound acting, horrible gameplay, it's all not here. It's in the running for Worst Reviewed Game, with Airport Tycoon/Inc/Mogul and Hot Wired. Superb.