an inquiry into the reasonableness of pay-to-view sites

8/13/2019 An Inquiry Into The Reasonableness of Pay-To-View Sites

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The Mystery of the Druids is a single-player adventure video game developed by House of Tales Entertainment and published by cdv Software Entertainment. The game wasreleased on September 1 ! "##1 for Microsoft $indows.

The story ta%es place in &ritain! where Detective &rent Halligan! an inspector at Scotland 'ard! investigates a brutal series of murders committed in England. The investigationleads Detective Halligan into a mystery surrounding the demise of the &ritish (rder ofDruids and eventually ta%es him on a trip through time itself.

)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot

3 large portion of the game-play in The Mystery of the Druids consists of discoveringclues and solving pu44les. )lues are mainly found by moving the computer mouse overvarious ob5ects on the screen and clic%ing them to add them to the inventory or gaininformation about them. u44les are often solved by combining items! using drag anddrop gestures! after which the player must figure out how the newly created item is used.Many actions in the game re6uire the completion of such pu44les! such as being able touse a telephone.*1+

7nteraction with non-player characters is accomplished through dialog trees! most ofwhich is 8entirely e2pository8.*"+ These conversations with non-player characters areessential to playing the game! as many of the ma5or plot points are revealed throughconversation rather than through investigating the environment.* +


2/813

Synopsis

Setting

The Mystery of the Druids is set in England and 9rance! where a series of brutal %illings

%nown as the 8S%eleton Murders8 have been ta%ing place. This has caused panic andplaced Scotland 'ard under heavy scrutiny.

The second half of the game is mainly set in England circa 1### 3D! where Detective&rent Halligan and Dr. Melanie Turner attempt to stop a ritual which could enslavehumanity. The finale is set in "### at Stonehenge! where the )ircle is attempting tocomplete the 9inal /itual.

)haracters

Detective &rent Halligan

Detective &rent Halligan :/oger 3. ,raves; - Described as 8pretty much a loser!disrespected by peers and shunned by the fairer se28! Detective &rent Halligan is 8sort ofthe odd man out in the agency.8* + Halligan often does 8idiotic8* + things during hisinvestigationord Sinclair :)lifford $els; - (ne of the 7nheritors who gained the powers of all druidsliving at the time! >ord Sinclair=s main goal is to finish the 9inal /itual so that he and his

)ircle can enslave humanity.

lot

The Mystery of the Druids begins with a dar% ceremony at Stonehenge in 1### 3D! whereall but a few of the druids are enveloped in a supernatural glow before being consumedby fire.

7n "###! at ?ew Scotland 'ard in >ondon! Detective &rent Halligan has been assigned toinvestigate a series of brutal murders %nown as the 8S%eleton Murders8. 3ssisting him


3/813

with his investigation is Dr. Melanie Turner! an anthropologist at the (2ford3nthropological Museum! who! along with historian 3rthur &la%e! discovers that themurders match the description of cannibalistic sacrificial rites performed by &ritannicdruids. 7t is later revealed that a demonic superior druid sei4ed power over the druids inorder to force man%ind to submit to his rule by performing a 8final ritual8! which wouldtransfer the %nowledge and power of the druids to five infants %nown as the 87nheritors8.

The ritual was not entirely completed! but the 7nheritors are strong and powerful enoughto complete the ritual themselves.

$hile investigating a lead regarding a group of neo-Druids called 8The )ircle8! Halligan iscaptured and held prisoner by their leader! >ord Sinclair. Halligan escapes! but discovers

The )ircle performing a human sacrifice and faints. Halligan awa%ens at dinner and!unbe%nownst to him! is eating human flesh which grants strength and power! but alsoma%es them susceptible to brainwashing.

Turner is led to >ord Sinclair=s estate through information which Halligan had left at hermuseum! after which she is able to snea% in to the property. She finds an artifact! the

3mulet of Transformation! which may be re6uired to complete the 9inal /itual. Halligandiscovers her and a fight ensues before she is able to %noc% him unconscious. 3s heawa%ens! he discovers that he was brainwashed. He discerns Sinclair=s plan! which is toput a curse on the world in order to enslave humanity.

7f Turner is noticed while trying to rescue Halligan! >ord Sinclair=s security will captureher. She is brought inside! where a brainwashed Halligan! who does not seem torecogni4e her! informs her that she will be the guest of honor for their dinner. 3 few dayslater! the s%eleton of Turner is found in a forest near >ondon. Halligan is listed as missingand last seen leaving his Scotland 'ard department.

&la%e is %illed by Sinclair! but he points them in the direction of the Twelve &ridges ruins.(nce there! Halligan and Turner are sent bac% in time. Halligan stumbles on the site ofthe ritual and attempts to disrupt it! but is interrupted by the demonic druid Serstan! whoholds Turner hostage. 3 staff that Halligan had found is bartered for Turner=s life and apromise! on his honor! not to harm Halligan or Turner. Serstan agrees and begins theritual! whereupon Halligan and Turner are transported bac% to their own time.

Halligan and Turner rush to Stonehenge where The )ircle is attempting to complete thefinal ritual. Halligan stabs Turner with scissors and informs Serstan that the vow has beenbro%en! causing Serstan to intervene and cause the )ircle to disappear and preventingthe ritual from being completed. Turner is near death! but Halligan is able to save her

using magical mistletoe! after which they share a %iss.

Development

cdv Software Entertainment revealed The Mystery of the Druids! then titled The Heirs ofthe Druids! to 7,? on @uly 1"! "###.*0+ 7t was developer House of Tales= first release.*"+

The Mystery of the Druids was advertised as containing 80# detailed locations8! 8 #


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interactive scenes8 and 8"# spea%ing characters8. 7t also blended 8"D and D graphics!including character models with up to 1### polygons.8* +

3 playable game demo was released on May "0! "##1*A+ which featured game-play up tothe 3nthropology Museum in (2ford.*B+ 3 second game demo was released later thatyear on September "0! which included the time travel scene to prevent the ancient ritualwhich resulted in the creation of the 7nheritors.*C+

The first trailer was released on 3ugust 1 ! "##1 and featured game-play videos ofDetective Halligan.*1#+ 3 second trailer was released on 3ugust # which showcased thevarious locations of the game! as well as the druidic ritual which is seen at the beginningof the game.*11+ The third and final trailer was released on September ! "##1. Thistrailer introduced the romance between Detective Halligan and Dr. Melanie Turner as itprogresses throughout the game.*1"+

/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score

)omputer and ideo ,ames 1#*10+

,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +

)omputer ,ames Maga4ine 1 0 stars*1 +

,ame (ver (nline A F*1+

The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputerand ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as itsinclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid of


5/813

plot.8*"+ ,ameSpy described it as being a game that might ma%e customers 8ta%ematters into their own hands and put the *adventure game+ genre out of its misery8.* +7,? described its repetitive game-play as being 8*stretched+ out considerably :and not ina good Tantric %ind of way! mind you;8! stating 8if you go bac% %nowing what to do! youcould beat the game in half a day.8* +

,ame (ver (nline was more positive! saying it 8provides everything an adventure needsto provide -- no more and no less -- and is therefore worthwhile to play for that reason.8

They praised The Mystery of the Druids for its graphics and bac%ground locations!especially those of 8some places! li%e HalliganGs office8 while noting that developer Houseof Tales 8made other locations loo% 5ust a little bit too regular and symmetrical to feelreal.8*1+The Mystery of the Druids is a single-player adventure video game developed byHouse of Tales Entertainment and published by cdv Software Entertainment. The gamewas released on September 1 ! "##1 for Microsoft $indows.

The story ta%es place in &ritain! where Detective &rent Halligan! an inspector at Scotland 'ard! investigates a brutal series of murders committed in England. The investigation

leads Detective Halligan into a mystery surrounding the demise of the &ritish (rder ofDruids and eventually ta%es him on a trip through time itself.

)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot

3 large portion of the game-play in The Mystery of the Druids consists of discoveringclues and solving pu44les. )lues are mainly found by moving the computer mouse over


6/813

various ob5ects on the screen and clic%ing them to add them to the inventory or gaininformation about them. u44les are often solved by combining items! using drag anddrop gestures! after which the player must figure out how the newly created item is used.Many actions in the game re6uire the completion of such pu44les! such as being able touse a telephone.*1+


Synopsis

Setting




)haracters


Detective &rent Halligan :/oger 3. ,raves; - Described as 8pretty much a loser!disrespected by peers and shunned by the fairer se28! Detective &rent Halligan is 8sort ofthe odd man out in the agency.8* + Halligan often does 8idiotic8* + things during hisinvestigation


7/813

>ord Sinclair :)lifford $els; - (ne of the 7nheritors who gained the powers of all druidsliving at the time! >ord Sinclair=s main goal is to finish the 9inal /itual so that he and his)ircle can enslave humanity.

lot


7n "###! at ?ew Scotland 'ard in >ondon! Detective &rent Halligan has been assigned toinvestigate a series of brutal murders %nown as the 8S%eleton Murders8. 3ssisting himwith his investigation is Dr. Melanie Turner! an anthropologist at the (2ford3nthropological Museum! who! along with historian 3rthur &la%e! discovers that themurders match the description of cannibalistic sacrificial rites performed by &ritannicdruids. 7t is later revealed that a demonic superior druid sei4ed power over the druids inorder to force man%ind to submit to his rule by performing a 8final ritual8! which wouldtransfer the %nowledge and power of the druids to five infants %nown as the 87nheritors8.




Turner is led to >ord Sinclair=s estate through information which Halligan had left at hermuseum! after which she is able to snea% in to the property. She finds an artifact! the3mulet of Transformation! which may be re6uired to complete the 9inal /itual. Halligandiscovers her and a fight ensues before she is able to %noc% him unconscious. 3s heawa%ens! he discovers that he was brainwashed. He discerns Sinclair=s plan! which is toput a curse on the world in order to enslave humanity.



Halligan and Turner rush to Stonehenge where The )ircle is attempting to complete the


8/813

final ritual. Halligan stabs Turner with scissors and informs Serstan that the vow has beenbro%en! causing Serstan to intervene and cause the )ircle to disappear and preventingthe ritual from being completed. Turner is near death! but Halligan is able to save herusing magical mistletoe! after which they share a %iss.

Development


The Mystery of the Druids was advertised as containing 80# detailed locations8! 8 #interactive scenes8 and 8"# spea%ing characters8. 7t also blended 8"D and D graphics!including character models with up to 1### polygons.8* +



/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +


9/813



The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputerand ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as itsinclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid ofplot.8*"+ ,ameSpy described it as being a game that might ma%e customers 8ta%ematters into their own hands and put the *adventure game+ genre out of its misery8.* +7,? described its repetitive game-play as being 8*stretched+ out considerably :and not ina good Tantric %ind of way! mind you;8! stating 8if you go bac% %nowing what to do! youcould beat the game in half a day.8* +



The story ta%es place in &ritain! where Detective &rent Halligan! an inspector at Scotland 'ard! investigates a brutal series of murders committed in England. The investigation

leads Detective Halligan into a mystery surrounding the demise of the &ritish (rder ofDruids and eventually ta%es him on a trip through time itself.

)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s


10/813

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot



Synopsis

Setting




)haracters


Detective &rent Halligan :/oger 3. ,raves; - Described as 8pretty much a loser!disrespected by peers and shunned by the fairer se28! Detective &rent Halligan is 8sort ofthe odd man out in the agency.8* + Halligan often does 8idiotic8* + things during hisinvestigation


11/813

Dr. Melanie Turner :Emily )lar%e; - 3n anthropologist at the (2ford 3nthropologicalMuseum! Dr. Melanie Turner is Halligan=s main ally throughout the game. &rief parts ofthe game are played from her perspective.*"+ 7n the final act! she becomes a love interestfor Halligan.

3rthur &la%e :$est $estbroo%; - 3n historian and prolific author! 3rthur &la%e is an e2pertin the study of ancient &ritannic cults! especially druids. &la%e sheds on light on multiplemysteries throughout the story! such as the 3mulet of Transformation! the 9inal /itualand the druidic cult itself.

>ord Sinclair :)lifford $els; - (ne of the 7nheritors who gained the powers of all druidsliving at the time! >ord Sinclair=s main goal is to finish the 9inal /itual so that he and his)ircle can enslave humanity.

lot







7f Turner is noticed while trying to rescue Halligan! >ord Sinclair=s security will captureher. She is brought inside! where a brainwashed Halligan! who does not seem torecogni4e her! informs her that she will be the guest of honor for their dinner. 3 few dayslater! the s%eleton of Turner is found in a forest near >ondon. Halligan is listed as missing


12/813

and last seen leaving his Scotland 'ard department.


Halligan and Turner rush to Stonehenge where The )ircle is attempting to complete thefinal ritual. Halligan stabs Turner with scissors and informs Serstan that the vow has beenbro%en! causing Serstan to intervene and cause the )ircle to disappear and preventingthe ritual from being completed. Turner is near death! but Halligan is able to save herusing magical mistletoe! after which they share a %iss.

Development





/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +


13/813

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +



The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputerand ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as its

inclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid ofplot.8*"+ ,ameSpy described it as being a game that might ma%e customers 8ta%ematters into their own hands and put the *adventure game+ genre out of its misery8.* +7,? described its repetitive game-play as being 8*stretched+ out considerably :and not ina good Tantric %ind of way! mind you;8! stating 8if you go bac% %nowing what to do! youcould beat the game in half a day.8* +




)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting


14/813

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot



Synopsis

Setting




)haracters


15/813


Detective &rent Halligan :/oger 3. ,raves; - Described as 8pretty much a loser!

disrespected by peers and shunned by the fairer se28! Detective &rent Halligan is 8sort ofthe odd man out in the agency.8* + Halligan often does 8idiotic8* + things during hisinvestigationord Sinclair :)lifford $els; - (ne of the 7nheritors who gained the powers of all druidsliving at the time! >ord Sinclair=s main goal is to finish the 9inal /itual so that he and his)ircle can enslave humanity.

lot







16/813



&la%e is %illed by Sinclair! but he points them in the direction of the Twelve &ridges ruins.(nce there! Halligan and Turner are sent bac% in time. Halligan stumbles on the site ofthe ritual and attempts to disrupt it! but is interrupted by the demonic druid Serstan! whoholds Turner hostage. 3 staff that Halligan had found is bartered for Turner=s life and a

promise! on his honor! not to harm Halligan or Turner. Serstan agrees and begins theritual! whereupon Halligan and Turner are transported bac% to their own time.


Development





/eception


17/813

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +



The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputerand ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as its

inclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid ofplot.8*"+ ,ameSpy described it as being a game that might ma%e customers 8ta%ematters into their own hands and put the *adventure game+ genre out of its misery8.* +7,? described its repetitive game-play as being 8*stretched+ out considerably :and not ina good Tantric %ind of way! mind you;8! stating 8if you go bac% %nowing what to do! youcould beat the game in half a day.8* +

,ame (ver (nline was more positive! saying it 8provides everything an adventure needs

to provide -- no more and no less -- and is therefore worthwhile to play for that reason.8 They praised The Mystery of the Druids for its graphics and bac%ground locations!especially those of 8some places! li%e HalliganGs office8 while noting that developer Houseof Tales 8made other locations loo% 5ust a little bit too regular and symmetrical to feelreal.8*1+The Mystery of the Druids is a single-player adventure video game developed byHouse of Tales Entertainment and published by cdv Software Entertainment. The gamewas released on September 1 ! "##1 for Microsoft $indows.

The story ta%es place in &ritain! where Detective &rent Halligan! an inspector at Scotland


18/813

'ard! investigates a brutal series of murders committed in England. The investigationleads Detective Halligan into a mystery surrounding the demise of the &ritish (rder ofDruids and eventually ta%es him on a trip through time itself.

)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot



Synopsis

Setting


19/813

The Mystery of the Druids is set in England and 9rance! where a series of brutal %illings%nown as the 8S%eleton Murders8 have been ta%ing place. This has caused panic andplaced Scotland 'ard under heavy scrutiny.


)haracters


Detective &rent Halligan :/oger 3. ,raves; - Described as 8pretty much a loser!disrespected by peers and shunned by the fairer se28! Detective &rent Halligan is 8sort ofthe odd man out in the agency.8* + Halligan often does 8idiotic8* + things during hisinvestigationord Sinclair :)lifford $els; - (ne of the 7nheritors who gained the powers of all druidsliving at the time! >ord Sinclair=s main goal is to finish the 9inal /itual so that he and his)ircle can enslave humanity.

lot


7n "###! at ?ew Scotland 'ard in >ondon! Detective &rent Halligan has been assigned toinvestigate a series of brutal murders %nown as the 8S%eleton Murders8. 3ssisting himwith his investigation is Dr. Melanie Turner! an anthropologist at the (2ford3nthropological Museum! who! along with historian 3rthur &la%e! discovers that themurders match the description of cannibalistic sacrificial rites performed by &ritannicdruids. 7t is later revealed that a demonic superior druid sei4ed power over the druids inorder to force man%ind to submit to his rule by performing a 8final ritual8! which would


20/813

transfer the %nowledge and power of the druids to five infants %nown as the 87nheritors8. The ritual was not entirely completed! but the 7nheritors are strong and powerful enoughto complete the ritual themselves.





&la%e is %illed by Sinclair! but he points them in the direction of the Twelve &ridges ruins.(nce there! Halligan and Turner are sent bac% in time. Halligan stumbles on the site ofthe ritual and attempts to disrupt it! but is interrupted by the demonic druid Serstan! whoholds Turner hostage. 3 staff that Halligan had found is bartered for Turner=s life and apromise! on his honor! not to harm Halligan or Turner. Serstan agrees and begins the

ritual! whereupon Halligan and Turner are transported bac% to their own time.


Development



3 playable game demo was released on May "0! "##1*A+ which featured game-play up tothe 3nthropology Museum in (2ford.*B+ 3 second game demo was released later thatyear on September "0! which included the time travel scene to prevent the ancient ritual


21/813

which resulted in the creation of the 7nheritors.*C+


/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +



The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputerand ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as itsinclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid ofplot.8*"+ ,ameSpy described it as being a game that might ma%e customers 8ta%ematters into their own hands and put the *adventure game+ genre out of its misery8.* +7,? described its repetitive game-play as being 8*stretched+ out considerably :and not ina good Tantric %ind of way! mind you;8! stating 8if you go bac% %nowing what to do! youcould beat the game in half a day.8* +


22/813


They praised The Mystery of the Druids for its graphics and bac%ground locations!especially those of 8some places! li%e HalliganGs office8 while noting that developer Houseof Tales 8made other locations loo% 5ust a little bit too regular and symmetrical to feelreal.8*1+The Mystery of the Druids is a single-player adventure video game developed by

House of Tales Entertainment and published by cdv Software Entertainment. The gamewas released on September 1 ! "##1 for Microsoft $indows.


)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot3 large portion of the game-play in The Mystery of the Druids consists of discoveringclues and solving pu44les. )lues are mainly found by moving the computer mouse overvarious ob5ects on the screen and clic%ing them to add them to the inventory or gaininformation about them. u44les are often solved by combining items! using drag anddrop gestures! after which the player must figure out how the newly created item is used.Many actions in the game re6uire the completion of such pu44les! such as being able touse a telephone.*1+


23/813


Synopsis

Setting


The second half of the game is mainly set in England circa 1### 3D! where Detective&rent Halligan and Dr. Melanie Turner attempt to stop a ritual which could enslavehumanity. The finale is set in "### at Stonehenge! where the )ircle is attempting to

complete the 9inal /itual.

)haracters


Detective &rent Halligan :/oger 3. ,raves; - Described as 8pretty much a loser!disrespected by peers and shunned by the fairer se28! Detective &rent Halligan is 8sort of

the odd man out in the agency.8* + Halligan often does 8idiotic8* + things during hisinvestigationord Sinclair :)lifford $els; - (ne of the 7nheritors who gained the powers of all druidsliving at the time! >ord Sinclair=s main goal is to finish the 9inal /itual so that he and his)ircle can enslave humanity.

lot

The Mystery of the Druids begins with a dar% ceremony at Stonehenge in 1### 3D! where


24/813

all but a few of the druids are enveloped in a supernatural glow before being consumedby fire.




The )ircle performing a human sacrifice and faints. Halligan awa%ens at dinner and!

unbe%nownst to him! is eating human flesh which grants strength and power! but alsoma%es them susceptible to brainwashing.


7f Turner is noticed while trying to rescue Halligan! >ord Sinclair=s security will capture

her. She is brought inside! where a brainwashed Halligan! who does not seem torecogni4e her! informs her that she will be the guest of honor for their dinner. 3 few dayslater! the s%eleton of Turner is found in a forest near >ondon. Halligan is listed as missingand last seen leaving his Scotland 'ard department.



Development


25/813





/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +



The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputer


26/813

and ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as itsinclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid ofplot.8*"+ ,ameSpy described it as being a game that might ma%e customers 8ta%e

matters into their own hands and put the *adventure game+ genre out of its misery8.* +7,? described its repetitive game-play as being 8*stretched+ out considerably :and not ina good Tantric %ind of way! mind you;8! stating 8if you go bac% %nowing what to do! youcould beat the game in half a day.8* +




)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay


27/813


28/813


29/813

holds Turner hostage. 3 staff that Halligan had found is bartered for Turner=s life and apromise! on his honor! not to harm Halligan or Turner. Serstan agrees and begins theritual! whereupon Halligan and Turner are transported bac% to their own time.


Development





/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score



30/813

,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +



The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputerand ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as itsinclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid ofplot.8*"+ ,ameSpy described it as being a game that might ma%e customers 8ta%e





)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development


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/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot

3 large portion of the game-play in The Mystery of the Druids consists of discoveringclues and solving pu44les. )lues are mainly found by moving the computer mouse overvarious ob5ects on the screen and clic%ing them to add them to the inventory or gain

information about them. u44les are often solved by combining items! using drag anddrop gestures! after which the player must figure out how the newly created item is used.Many actions in the game re6uire the completion of such pu44les! such as being able touse a telephone.*1+


Synopsis

Setting



)haracters



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lot






Turner is led to >ord Sinclair=s estate through information which Halligan had left at hermuseum! after which she is able to snea% in to the property. She finds an artifact! the3mulet of Transformation! which may be re6uired to complete the 9inal /itual. Halligandiscovers her and a fight ensues before she is able to %noc% him unconscious. 3s heawa%ens! he discovers that he was brainwashed. He discerns Sinclair=s plan! which is to


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put a curse on the world in order to enslave humanity.




Development





/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores


34/813

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +






They praised The Mystery of the Druids for its graphics and bac%ground locations!especially those of 8some places! li%e HalliganGs office8 while noting that developer Houseof Tales 8made other locations loo% 5ust a little bit too regular and symmetrical to feelreal.8*1+The Mystery of the Druids is a single-player adventure video game developed by

House of Tales Entertainment and published by cdv Software Entertainment. The gamewas released on September 1 ! "##1 for Microsoft $indows.


)ontents *hide+


35/813

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot

3 large portion of the game-play in The Mystery of the Druids consists of discoveringclues and solving pu44les. )lues are mainly found by moving the computer mouse overvarious ob5ects on the screen and clic%ing them to add them to the inventory or gain

information about them. u44les are often solved by combining items! using drag anddrop gestures! after which the player must figure out how the newly created item is used.Many actions in the game re6uire the completion of such pu44les! such as being able touse a telephone.*1+


Synopsis

Setting


The second half of the game is mainly set in England circa 1### 3D! where Detective


36/813

&rent Halligan and Dr. Melanie Turner attempt to stop a ritual which could enslavehumanity. The finale is set in "### at Stonehenge! where the )ircle is attempting tocomplete the 9inal /itual.

)haracters



lot




$hile investigating a lead regarding a group of neo-Druids called 8The )ircle8! Halligan is


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captured and held prisoner by their leader! >ord Sinclair. Halligan escapes! but discovers The )ircle performing a human sacrifice and faints. Halligan awa%ens at dinner and!unbe%nownst to him! is eating human flesh which grants strength and power! but alsoma%es them susceptible to brainwashing.




Halligan and Turner rush to Stonehenge where The )ircle is attempting to complete thefinal ritual. Halligan stabs Turner with scissors and informs Serstan that the vow has beenbro%en! causing Serstan to intervene and cause the )ircle to disappear and preventing

the ritual from being completed. Turner is near death! but Halligan is able to save herusing magical mistletoe! after which they share a %iss.

Development




The first trailer was released on 3ugust 1 ! "##1 and featured game-play videos ofDetective Halligan.*1#+ 3 second trailer was released on 3ugust # which showcased thevarious locations of the game! as well as the druidic ritual which is seen at the beginning


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of the game.*11+ The third and final trailer was released on September ! "##1. Thistrailer introduced the romance between Detective Halligan and Dr. Melanie Turner as itprogresses throughout the game.*1"+

/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +






They praised The Mystery of the Druids for its graphics and bac%ground locations!especially those of 8some places! li%e HalliganGs office8 while noting that developer House


39/813

of Tales 8made other locations loo% 5ust a little bit too regular and symmetrical to feelreal.8*1+The Mystery of the Druids is a single-player adventure video game developed byHouse of Tales Entertainment and published by cdv Software Entertainment. The gamewas released on September 1 ! "##1 for Microsoft $indows.


)ontents *hide+

1 ,ameplay

" Synopsis

".1 Setting

"." )haracters

". lot

Development

/eception

0 /eferences

E2ternal lin%s

,ameplay

,ameplay screenshot




40/813

Synopsis

Setting




)haracters


Detective &rent Halligan :/oger 3. ,raves; - Described as 8pretty much a loser!disrespected by peers and shunned by the fairer se28! Detective &rent Halligan is 8sort ofthe odd man out in the agency.8* + Halligan often does 8idiotic8* + things during hisinvestigationord Sinclair :)lifford $els; - (ne of the 7nheritors who gained the powers of all druidsliving at the time! >ord Sinclair=s main goal is to finish the 9inal /itual so that he and his

)ircle can enslave humanity.

lot


7n "###! at ?ew Scotland 'ard in >ondon! Detective &rent Halligan has been assigned toinvestigate a series of brutal murders %nown as the 8S%eleton Murders8. 3ssisting him


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with his investigation is Dr. Melanie Turner! an anthropologist at the (2ford3nthropological Museum! who! along with historian 3rthur &la%e! discovers that themurders match the description of cannibalistic sacrificial rites performed by &ritannicdruids. 7t is later revealed that a demonic superior druid sei4ed power over the druids inorder to force man%ind to submit to his rule by performing a 8final ritual8! which wouldtransfer the %nowledge and power of the druids to five infants %nown as the 87nheritors8.




Turner is led to >ord Sinclair=s estate through information which Halligan had left at hermuseum! after which she is able to snea% in to the property. She finds an artifact! the

3mulet of Transformation! which may be re6uired to complete the 9inal /itual. Halligandiscovers her and a fight ensues before she is able to %noc% him unconscious. 3s heawa%ens! he discovers that he was brainwashed. He discerns Sinclair=s plan! which is toput a curse on the world in order to enslave humanity.



Halligan and Turner rush to Stonehenge where The )ircle is attempting to complete thefinal ritual. Halligan stabs Turner with scissors and informs Serstan that the vow has beenbro%en! causing Serstan to intervene and cause the )ircle to disappear and preventingthe ritual from being completed. Turner is near death! but Halligan is able to save her

using magical mistletoe! after which they share a %iss.

Development


The Mystery of the Druids was advertised as containing 80# detailed locations8! 8 #


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interactive scenes8 and 8"# spea%ing characters8. 7t also blended 8"D and D graphics!including character models with up to 1### polygons.8* +



/eception

*hide+/eception

3ggregate scores

3ggregator Score

,ame/an%ings 0 *1 +

Metacritic C*1 +

/eview scores

ublication Score


,ameSpot . 1#*"+

,ameSpy 0#F* +

7,? .0 1#* +



The Mystery of the Druids received mostly negative reviews. &rett Todd of )omputer,ames Maga4ine proclaimed it 8poorly designed! ugly! and rife with bugs.8*1 + )omputerand ideo ,ames derided its 8unimaginative settings and painful dialogue8 as well as itsinclusion of 8some of the most ridiculously comple2 pu44le se6uences to achieve even thesimplest of tas%s8 before deciding that it has 8very little appeal for anyone but the mostpatient and gee%y )-head.8*10+ ,ameSpot described its characters as 8rude8! its pu44lesand dialogue branches as 8confusing8! and the game overall as 8surprisingly devoid of

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