‘A Grain Of Truth’ Review – Fly Away On My Zephyr
Classic point-and-click adventure games are dead, they said. Thankfully some developers, such as the Rudowsky brothers, are unwilling to accept this. As a result, they have produced the wonderful A Grain of Truth. Our heroine Myosotis is on a quest to meet the Wiseman in order to offer him a deal. She has dedicated years to this journey, following nothing but legends. As we pick up her story in A Grain of Truth, she appears to be heading in the right direction and one step closer to the answers she seeks.
From the beginning, A Grain of Truth is an endearing game. The story is opened well, the graphic style appears carefully handcrafted, and Myosotis is quickly portrayed as a character that we would like to spend time with. She is independent, witty and full of wonder. Myosotis is perfectly willing to chime in with some quips if the player tries to use items in ridiculous ways. When the stethoscope was used on a stone, Myosotis responded with, a Stone is dead. Remarks like this will almost make players want to combine the various items in the inventory to see what she will come out with next. Try a few; it is certainly worth it.
A Grain of Truth is readily understandable as it falls back on basic point-and-click adventure game mechanics; your mouse and your wits are all that you need. Objects of interest light up orange when you move your mouse cursor over them and you are presented with the relevant options. If you feel like there is something you have missed, A Grain of Truth includes a magnifying glass button that will highlight all items of interest in an area.
Don't be fooled though. This is the only help that you will get from the game and even after finding all the relevant objects in a room, you must still decipher what use they have. The game also includes a variety of puzzles from a game of Mahjong to using found clues in the right way to operate certain items or navigate the environment. The final puzzle involves laying out and connecting all your thoughts to unlock answers. It is a tough game at times, but the wonder of adventure games is finally piecing together the solution involving found items or how a device works.
The story of A Grain of Truth is an interesting affair and paces itself well. The story, the questions, and the answers slowly unveil themselves to players as they piece together the meaning surrounding this mystical land. What kind of story trader would she be if she couldn't speak to people, unlock mysteries and find out stories to retell though? While the story starts leisurely enough it certainly draws players into a more complex story than originally thought. It really does give players the feeling that they need to find out more.
It will be interesting to see where the Rudowsky brothers take Myosotis from here. A Grain of Truth paints the picture of a fantastical, diverse and intriguing universe that players would enjoy exploring more of. Myosotis will win many hearts over and players are sure to want to see more from her travels. After all, there are many more stories to hear, trade and tell.
A Grain of Truth is a fantastic game and it is refreshing to see that adventure games are still alive and well. It is a captivating universe, a unique story and strikes a balance between challenging and fun. The puzzles never appear so overwhelming that they are frustrating, but will still challenge players at times; unless you are a Mahjong expert that is. There are valuable life lessons to be learned from playing A Grain of Truth, but it is an enjoyable journey each step of the way.
A Grain of Truth is available to play on its official website for free. Developments regarding the game can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
