History in Letters - The Eternal Alchemist

After playing 'History in Letters' the team's deep love for old school adventures becomes apparent, combined with a modern approach towards the genre with relaxing Hidden Objects pictures and knocking puzzles. It is a nice little treat if you look for a new adventure. The story is set in Paris, following smart ass Remy on the trail of the notorious alchemist Nicolas Flamel which somewhat evoked an appetite to dig more into the topic of who Flamel really was. The lovely crafted setting is an interesting mix of fancyful set-ups, French-styled cafés, buildings and dungeons to crack your head over puzzles and solve the mystery of the inherited diary.

History ist ein nettes Adventure für zwischendurch. Positiv zu erwähnen ist vor allem der echt gute und ansprechende Look des Spiels. Daneben gefällt mir persönlich allerdings auch der Humor, der (vor allem im Dialog mit dem Geistlichen) oft etwas versteckt auftritt. Für den Preis bekommt man bei dem Spiel auf jeden Fall einiges geboten. Einziger Kritikpunkt: Die fehlende Sprachausgabe. Es ist mitunter lästig und mühsam, sich selbst alle Texte durchzulesen und immer weiter zu klicken. Aber ich denke, darüber kann man angesichts der stimmigen Rätsel, des ansprechenden Designs und des Humors hinwegsehen. Für Adventure-Fans: Auf jeden Fall klare Kaufempfehlung! Gameplay-Material zum Spiel kann man u.a. hier sehen: https://youtu.be/TimKWVGWN_Q

At first I tried to like this game because of the subject matter, then I tried turning a blind eye to what bothered me about it, and in the end I gave up and asked for a refund. The dialogue was not very inspiring. I would not characterize it as inane because it is one cut better than that, but just barely. It's hard to tell when you should click to advance the dialogue. If you do you might miss something, but that's probably not a bad thing. I wasn't expecting the game to be about finding hidden objects, but it is. I encountered three puzzles, none of them giving hints as to what I was supposed to do. That wasn't a problem on the first puzzle (an uninspired cypher solving puzzle), but the next two were hidden object finders, after which I threw in the towel in disgust. There are several YouTube walkthroughs that I should have looked at before buying the game, because I would have realized what I was getting myself into. A shame, because medieval alchemy is a great subject.

Esperava uma coisa da gameplay e ganhei outra. Abordagem nada sútil ou fácil de entender, é indie e esta longe dos outros games de franquias objetos ocultos. Porém, esperava o básico para colecionar itens e montar os quebra cabeças. O que não acontece desde primeiro momento com o jogo. talvez compense apenas pelas cartinhas steam

A relatively short point&click adventure game, in which you play as a young French philologist Remy Chaveau, whose current case leads him on a trail of the famous alchemist Nicholas Flammel and the mystery surrounding his legacy. About half of the game time consists of dialogues, the rest is split between interactive scenes typical for point&click genre and puzzles of medium complexity. On the technical side, the game is somewhat mediocre – graphics look a bit outdated, loading times between the locations are perhaps too long, and music, while not bad, is few and far in between. But that aside, you still get an engaging story, well worth getting if you like point&click adventures.

Mir gefällt dieses kurzweilige Adventure sehr gut. Die anfänglichen Rätsel sind zum Einstieg recht schlicht gehalten, sodass die Einstiegshürde spielerisch überwunden werden kann und man sich so sehr schnell in das Spiel fuchsen kann. Wahrlich gelungen sind die verschiedenen Wimmel-/Suchbilder im weiteren Spielverlauf. Diese schmiegen sich nicht nur passend in das französische Setting ein, sondern stecken so voller Leben, Details und Informationen, dass man schlicht weg jede einzelne Ecke erkunden will. Darüber hinaus ist die Hauptstory auch sehr schön mit weiteren Hintergrundinformationen verflochten, sodass man nicht nur erfährt, wer Nicolas Flamel war, sondern lernt auch noch etwas über alte schon fast vergessene Werke und Personen. Das alles gestalten dieses Point-and-Click Adventure gepaart mit einem leicht verruchten Charme und Witz zu einer gelungenen Umsetzung. Eine schlicht weg gelungene Indie-Umsetzung.

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The game crashed frequently. It's not very intuitive. The hidden object scenes are horrible with some items so tiny and hidden that you just have to click randomly all over the screen until you accidentally hit on a speck that looks nothing like what you're supposedly looking for. Some of the puzzles are quite obtuse where there's no clue what to do, so you have to just keep guessing to solve them. There are long pauses between scenes and locations. It's just a horrible game that I wouldn't recommend to anyone. Unfortunately, I only got about 5 out of 28 achievements, so I knew I still had a long ways to go before I would finish the game when the stupid game crashed on me again. Instead of restarting, I rage quit and asked for a refund. I also recognized from some of the achievements that it would be necessary to play the game multiple times to get all the achievements (because of opposing choices), and apparently there's no chapter select and only one save slot. I wasn't having fun as it was, and there's no way I was going to play this dumb, boring game with all its crashes multiple times. Unfortunately, since I didn't get all the achievements, this game will negatively impact my game "Completionist" score. So, achievement hunters beware, you probably do not want to try this game... it will be a long, frustrating journey if you can even make it to 100%. And, btw, there's no real help for this game anywhere. There's only one guide on Steam that explains one of the many puzzles in the game, and virtually nothing on YouTube. No full gameplay anywhere on the Internet, and believe me I looked. There are about 5 guides on YouTube, and they're all only 12 to 14 minutes long. They all abruptly stop very early in the game with no continuation or follow up videos, every single one of them. I guess that's a clue right there, that all the YouTube players got frustrated with the game very early on and abandoned it.

History in Letters: The Eternal Alchemist is a narrative-driven adventure game that draws inspiration from one of history's most enduring legends: the life and supposed immortality of Nicolas Flamel. Developed by Z-Software and published by Z-Software GmbH, the game takes players on a journey through France as they assume the role of Remy Chaveau, a linguistics expert who stumbles upon a mysterious diary tied to Flamel's secrets. From its opening moments, the title establishes itself as a historical mystery that values storytelling and atmosphere over action, presenting an experience designed for players who enjoy unraveling clues at a deliberate pace. The game's premise is one of its greatest strengths. Rather than creating an entirely fictional fantasy world, it builds upon centuries of myths surrounding alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone. The narrative gradually unfolds through journal entries, conversations, and discoveries hidden throughout the environment. As Remy follows a trail left behind by Flamel, players encounter hidden agendas, forgotten histories, and puzzles that reinforce the sense of participating in an archaeological investigation. The historical backdrop adds weight to the experience and helps distinguish it from many other point-and-click adventures of its era. Gameplay focuses heavily on exploration and puzzle-solving. Players are tasked with examining environments, collecting clues, and piecing together information to continue progressing through the story. Several puzzles revolve around codes, symbols, and alchemical concepts, while others test observation and logic. The game does not hold the player's hand, which can be both a blessing and a drawback. Those who appreciate classic adventure titles will likely enjoy the challenge, but newcomers may occasionally find themselves stuck due to vague hints or unconventional solutions. The inclusion of alchemy-themed mechanics adds variety and helps maintain the game's identity throughout its relatively concise runtime. Visually, History in Letters reflects its independent origins. Its environments are modest in scope, yet they succeed in creating a mysterious atmosphere that complements the narrative. Ancient manuscripts, historic landmarks, and dimly lit interiors contribute to the feeling of uncovering long-buried secrets. The soundtrack further supports this tone with subdued compositions that enhance moments of discovery without becoming distracting. While character animations and interface elements feel dated by contemporary standards, the game's artistic direction demonstrates a genuine appreciation for the historical material that inspired it. The game's pacing can occasionally be uneven, particularly during sections that rely heavily on exposition. Certain supporting characters are introduced with intriguing motivations but are not explored as deeply as they could have been, leaving some narrative opportunities unrealized. Likewise, puzzle difficulty can fluctuate significantly, resulting in moments where progression feels more dependent on experimentation than deduction. However, these shortcomings are balanced by the game's commitment to delivering an engaging mystery that remains faithful to its central themes of knowledge, immortality, and human curiosity. Ultimately, History in Letters: The Eternal Alchemist is a niche adventure title that will appeal most to fans of historical fiction and traditional point-and-click gameplay. Its combination of real-world mythology, thoughtful puzzles, and atmospheric storytelling creates an experience that remains memorable despite its limitations. It may not possess the production values or accessibility of modern adventure games, but it succeeds in offering a distinctive journey into the legend of Nicolas Flamel and the timeless fascination surrounding alchemy. Rating: 5/10