Traitor's Gate

List Price: $19.99 Discount Price: $9.99

Accessories:
PC Gamer (1-year)	Games for Windows: The Official Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Avoid this game like the plague. [Posted on 2002-12-01]
Seriously. I bought it because I was curious how it would play.
Badly is the answer. It is a first person perspective game, however Doom had better interaction than this. You basically find that the entire interface consists of clicking on the correct location on the screen. The program then switches to a quicktime movie of you moving into the new location (including opening doors, turning to one side to look for guards, etc.) and deposits you in the new location. You can then pick your next location. In fairness it uses the quicktime 3D view stuff so you can turn 360^ to find new locations to click on, but I've seen web sites selling apartments where you can do that...

In summary this would be fine as a free game on a web site, but it is so un-interactive its more like working with a spreadsheet than playing a game. It might be good for someone who wanted to create a half-life/quake map of the Tower of London, but otherwise avoid it.

You ARE there; you ARE Raven!! [Posted on 2003-05-05]
This was probably one of the best Adventure games that I have ever played and I have played many. First of all, this game does not treat you as some sort of 'bonehead'. You are treated as a bright, intelligent individual who does not need 'pixel' guides to aid you in finding clues. You are actually there and it is really up to you to be able to find the items that you need to accomplish your mission. Were this real and not just a gaming simulation this is exactly what would have been required of you. However, because it is a game, gamers seem to have the attitude that if the game does not help them in locating clues then the game must not be any good. I would say rather that the gamer has become so hypnotized by games that treat them as being less intelligent than they are that they forget they are perfectly capable of solving a game that does not give hints. I think if these individuals would give this game another chance and play it the way it is intended to be played: as if you are really Raven and as if you are really there on your own and must solve it on your own then they would find that they would enjoy the game ever so much more! Vive le Traitor's Gate and give me more like it!!

spy stratigy [Posted on 2003-08-14]
If you a spy stradigy game fan this game is right for u of course you might have to get some pacthes here and there but ather wise its great.

Lavishly detailed but not very exciting [Posted on 2003-10-18]
Perhaps the best aspect of this game is its visuals - an expansive and detailed visualisation of the Tower of London, right down to the souvenirs on sale in the gift shop. I've never been to the real Tower and so can't vouch for its accuracy, but the game certainly provides a realistic graphical environment. Most of the locations you can visit are not essential for completion of the game, but add to colour. There are secret passages and rambling corridors galore.

The game is also far from straightforward. Some may see this as a plus, others a minus. Your mission is to steal - well, actually 'borrow' - three of the Crown Jewels, and replace them with fakes fitted with tracking devices so that another operative cannot steal them. There is a time limit, so you have to make your moves count (keep saving your game, and replay key scenes if necessary). You start with a small inventory but quickly pick up a large number of items - both tools of the trade, and various keys and items lying around the Tower. This can sometimes lead to long sessions trying many different inventory items to see which one works.

From soon after the start you can visit most places in the Tower. This can be irritating as the Tower is filled with information (literally dozens of tourist information boards, books, paintings, items etc) and a couple of these contain vital information for completing the game - but which ones? It's a laborious process to photograph and read all the information boards in the hope that you will strike it lucky. Similarly, despite you having some interesting equipment (such as a grappling hook and ropelift) there are only a couple of limited locations where you can use it, which it will probably take you a looooong time to find without a walkthrough. This means the game is not open to creative solutions, despite the Tower location potentially providing many opportunities. There's a lot of guesswork rather than deduction involved.

Unfortunately for such a potentially exciting story, gameplay is ponderous. I found new locations slow to load, and although there is much tracking back and forth there is no 'zip' mode to enable you to navigate quickly through scenes. In addition, the game comes on four CDs which need to be swapped often throughout as there is no full install option.

The game will keep you occupied for a while but although the locations are well detailed they lack the wonder of (say) the locations in Myst or other more fantasy-based games. There is also a lack of much action (you can't let yourself be seen by any of the guards) and the plodding pace of the game engine is irritating. I often return to the Myst series just to marvel at the astounding visuals, but I can't see that happening with this game.

Perfectly Executed Adventure Game [Posted on 2003-10-21]
Traitors Gate is one of the best adventure games ever. You are a secret agent who is called Raven. You must replace the British Crown Jewels with replicas that have tracking devices which will let the CIA know where someone who is going to steal them will be. One of the first things you will notice about this game are the graphics and how great they are. They look almost real. Another thing is the sound is great. This is like Myst in those departments, except better. Another thing is how realistic this game is, but that can lead to fustration.But the puzzles are mostly fun. You have many items at your disposal, and many more lying around the tower, but most of them are rarely used. Also, there is no fighting, just knocking out gards with darts. If they see you, you are immediately arrested or killed. There is also very little replay value. Also, this is a game of logic, not creativity. The good aspects outweigh the bad, however. It may seem I talked alot about the bad parts, but I was nitpicking for the bad and generalizing for the good. Traitors Gate can be hours of fun or fustration, but it is worth your money.

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