Syberia: The World Before

Two women find their stories intertwined in an adventure beyond time and space. That’s the basic premise of Syberia: The World Before, the newest game by developers Koalabs and Microids. Featuring some challenging puzzles and gorgeous artistry, this is an adventure that will stick with you long after you’ve finished the game.

Set in two different periods, The World Before presents players with ample opportunity to discover the many mysteries of its game world. If you enjoy slow-paced puzzle games, or if you’re looking for a game with a captivating story and fascinating settings, then this might be the game for you.

A Long Time in the Making

Adventure game fans will surely be familiar with the Syberia series. Created in 2002 by Belgian comic artist Benoit Sokal, the series is popular for its point-and-click puzzles and complicated plots. The latest entry in the series, Syberia 3, wasn’t as well-received as its predecessors, which means that The World Before has the chance to be a long-awaited reboot for the franchise.

The developers seem to have understood the situation the franchise is in perfectly, with The World Before looking like a wholly new Syberia experience. Some remnants of the classic point-and-click titles still remain, but this game seems to be a more story-oriented title than its predecessors.

Players Will Remember That

Similar to the games made by Telltale (like The Walking Dead,) dialog options play an integral part of The World Before’s gameplay. Although the plot won’t be as radically changed by every decision you make, these choices will still allow you to enjoy different paths and solve difficult riddles.

The game features two main characters: Dana Roze and Kate Walker. Dana’s story takes place at the dawn of the Second World War, in 1937. Kate, however, lives in 2004, and she’s currently trapped in a salt mine.

The two women’s stories intertwine at some points, particularly through the many challenging puzzles. Some of these riddles involve both protagonists, as the player will slowly come to the realization that these two characters are more related than they initially seem.

Visual Delight

One of the biggest updates in this Syberia game is the revamped visuals. Usually, when we think of point-and-click adventure games, one might immediately imagine a 2D affair. That’s no longer the case in The World Before. This game is a real graphics tour de force: beautifully rendered maps and adequate character models will help enrich the game’s peculiar story.

This seems like a realization of Benoit Sokal’s vision: a game with beautiful visuals that go a long way into immersing the player into its captivating world. And that’s just the graphics; no game would be complete without a solid score, and The World before nails that, too.

Composed by Inon Zur, The World Before’s gorgeous symphonic soundtrack takes the game to the next level of artistry. The game’s surreal setting reminds us of the fantastic landscapes of Bioshock Infinite, with a more intimate and well-developed plot to go along.

Pros:

• Amazing graphics
• Challenging puzzles
• Captivating story

Cons:

• Some odd-looking NPCs
• Chromatic aberration issues mess with the presentation