Un Tranquillo weekend a
Capri
...a review by Inferno
Gli Slivuppatori
When I was approached with the opportunity
of reviewing A Quiet Weekend in Capri, I must say that my
interest was more than piqued at the prospect. Keep in mind, when this
game first reared its noble Italian head ~~ I knew absolutely nothing
about it (truth be told); nor did I have either the time or inclination to
find out. (My apologies, Silvio.) I merely thought that it was a simple
"mystery" quest and put it way back on a virtual
"to-played-someday-in-the-future-when-I-could-find-the-time" shelf that
exists deep in the caverns of my mind. (Sorry, Gey.) I'm delighted to say
that the encounter was well worth it.
“But, Inferno ---“, you might well ask, “a
review … a year later?”
Sure, why not…? You don’t honestly think
that -- when the blush and waggle of a new “Adventure Title” disappears
after the game hits the streets of our “virtual neighborhoods” and the
notoriety dies back down to a more normal turn -- that said issue is put
up in the oblivion box… do you?
Silvio e Gey Savarese
This is a most interesting and
talented Independent Development Team. Gey Savarese spent many years
working for Texas Instruments and then later for Micron Technology where
he was a "Research and Development" Director who designed integrated
circuits in France and then later, in his own beloved Italy. Seems to me
that here was “Il
Patè Intellettuale"
of this Dynamic Duo,
designing
an appropriate gaming engine, writing the code, implementing the game's
rather interesting interface, and integrating the over 4500 digital
graphics into its technical design.The
other half of the "Capri" team is Silvio Savarese, a young student of Cal
Tech University who last January attained his doctorate in "Computer
Vision". Ah yes! The indomitable “Dr. Savarese”." Bravo! But it is his
story crafting and musical genius that has me totally blown away. My,
it’s enough to make a father proud. Maybe we should ask him? Gey... how
proud you must be of your son! But then, the converse surely must be
true... Silvio how proud you must be of your father! Sorry, didn't know?
I didn't either until just very recently. The Developers Savarese
Extraordinaire are none other than a Father and Son Team. Most impressive.
Now how did they do it (and mind you, do it
so well) across the miles? Through websites and emails, I would imagine.
But I believe it was more than that -- one family member encouraging and
driving the other until their business was complete and out of the love
and "passion for the game", A Quiet Weekend in Capri was
born.
Per Il "Caprini"
The price point for this marvelous virtual
media project is right on target. Actually I feel that for what you
receive it may be slightly underpriced. Sorry, that's my opinion and I'm
sticking to it. While in the beginning this piece was promoted as an
Independent ~~ by the time it came to me to look at it, the game had all
ready been picked up by Got Game Entertainment. Well done you! I
sincerely hope that GGE will encourage this Developer Family to create a
series within this Adventure Travel genre. The gaming community should
count itself lucky to have “La Camera di Savarese” within its
midst... and speaking as someone who also makes their career in the travel
industry, so should the Italian Travel Bureau. I am so impressed.
I Mezzi Di Vedio
The media itself, well the version I played
anyway, published by Got Game Entertainment offers a "Virtual Tourist"
presentation in which the prospective "day-tripper" can do some
sightseeing on her own.This
section offers the choice of passing leisurely though the environment with
an Italian speaking Tour Guide with English subtitles for the characters
that one will encounter along the way. (I personally recommend this one); even the characters
you will meet along the way speak to you in Italian. Such spectacular
local color! Incredibly fabulous scenery and unforgettable music... I just
couldn't help myself, for I was immediately drawn in and held captive by
"Il periodo magico del Savarese" ... The musicality
of this beautiful language just heightened everything for me, especially
since I'm very proud to say that it spoke directly to my Italian heritage
as my Father's father was from Formia. There is
also, if one prefers, a total "Touristic Package" in English, whose
voice-overs were quite well done. Lovely. The visual surroundings are
nothing short of spectacular. Each one more breathtaking than the last.
There are 4500 digital photos here. The Tour alone took me two days
(...Gee a real weekend!) I wanted to take my time and drink it all in.
Hmmmm Yum!
One of the nicest things about A Quiet
Weekend in Capri is the "non-linear venue" of it all. Which can be
hard for some gamers, I know. But it works to a wonderful perfection here.
And the landscape graphics of this magical island make the whole thing
worthwhile. Not to mention the fact that the 37 characters which you will
come across in all four sides of the project are the common citizens of
this truly beautiful city. Again you'll have a choice, Italian with
subtitles or English.
Insalata Di Capri
I have to tell you that I started the
sightseeing portion of the game after a long stressful day at the airport
(we had a serious delay). After finally reaching my humble abode near
11:00 PM, I changed into my comfiest robe and slippers, poured a nice
glass of red wine, sat down at my computer and loaded up A Quiet
Weekend in Capri. Now, my intention was really just to have a
quick "lookisee" around the game world. I had the next two days off and
had planned to explore the piece at my leisure for those two days. Well,
you could just imagine my surprise when I looked up at the clock and
realized that it was already 4:30 in the morning! I had spent the first
five and one half hours of "Il Giro Parlato in Italiano" completely
captivated.
Worse yet, I had also realized that I hadn't
had anything to eat since lunch the afternoon before and I was
famished.... Luckily for me, in the Tour I had just arrived at the
Ristorante da
Tonino
and saw that lovely Capri Salad... it was all I
could think about. In fact I was so taken with it, that I began to crave
that "Insalata Di Capri” with such a passion that at 4:45, I was
out the door to the 24-hour market around the corner.
~~ Wal-Mart Superstore can be a beautiful
thing when one is hungry and in search of the ingredients one needs while
still clad in one's PJ's and slippers! ~~
Let's see: Fresh Hothouse tomatoes, Fresh
Whole Basil Leaf, Virgin Olive Oil, Romaine Lettuce, and of course Fresh
Mozzarella ... I was able to snag it all save the cheese! Being a
displaced New Yorker, I was very upset to find that there was no genuine
Italian Olive Oil (only Spanish) and of course no fresh Mozzarella.
Somebody save me! Yeesh! I tell you now, if
I had one wish it would be to obtain a can of genuine Italian Virgin Olive
Oil and real Mozzarella complete with high fat and water content.
...But I digress.
Il Racconto del Ragazzo Della
Drogheria di Mistero
Now when you've finished poking around the
village of Capri and local points of interest, you can start on the
"Adventure Game" portion of this marvelously brilliant piece of work.
You'll begin once again at the pier on the
Mainland. Things seem to go along quite nicely as you return to the
magnificent island. All things will seem quite like you remember. However,
~~ there just always seems to be a
however, doesn't there? ~~
As you make your way to your hotel in hopes
of beginning an utterly fabulous and quiet weekend... something wrong
happens... something very, very wrong! Hey... where did everybody go?
Maybe you should go back to the Piazzetta and ask?
I found that the interface for all portions
of the project quite interesting and extremely easy to use. Presented
almost as a “Desk Top” if you will, the “field of view” has a black
expanse with the primary action and slide show graphics of sometimes
varying sizes in the center. Underneath this (along the bottom) are
various icon graphics which allow access to “the notebook” which records
all conversations and holds many clues and hints, a “services” icon which
helps you to begin or reload the game, a “map” icon, an ”inventory” icon,
and a “scene” icon which allows you to see which scene number you are in.
Clicking on the “services” icon will bring up a new “Desk Top” where one
may Start, Save or Quit the adventure. But there is much more logically
placed information here as well. In the center, one will find icons for
“The Prologue” – this is very important, as it will give you two vital
hints to keep you from wandering aimlessly around at the beginning of the
game. “Instructions” – also vital, and simply done; here one will learn
the technical aspects of how to enjoy the adventure to its best advantage.
There is also a “Designers” icon and a “Credits and Information” icon --
both are self-explanatory, highly informative and well executed.
The only thing I will tell you is that I had
an absolute blast trying to figure it all out. There are puzzles, tasks
and mazes (the nuclear village is one big maze at first until you get your
bearings) but the map will mark key points as you speak to people and
discover various objects. The puzzles are inventory-based for the most
part. Some are mechanical as well, but none of them impossible. A very
colorful, combination- mechanical-inventory-based- visual-cryptograph
puzzle, which combines elements from various areas of the island, an audio
cryptograph which is hysterically well done and yes, there is a “tonal
puzzle” using musical notes. These were particular favorites of mine, yet
the best by far was the maze at Villa Jovis...but then, I’ve always had a
penchant for mazes. All in all, I found the game’s challenges to be
interesting, sometimes humorous and always entertaining. They each fit
within the storyline in such a natural and refreshingly fascinating
manner, seeming to add a solid base to the structure and logic of Capri’s
parallel universe. And I have to mention that I truly enjoyed the fact
that sometimes these conundrums required me to revisit a place more than
once.
Signs and clues are there, all you have to
do is look carefully and listen to everyone, well, everyone that is,
except one person. But, you'll be okay --- after all you have your
notebook with you!
Dopo Pensiero
I must also mention here, the strong musical
prowess attained by Silvio for A Quiet Weekend in Capri’s Soundtrack.
Many gamers may not have realized that the third CD is a separate entity
all to itself. For it is here that we can sit back and listen to the
lyrical expressions and moods of Silvio's enchanting music.
Each music track is highly imaginative, and reflects the ambiance of the
island itself. Though each one is an individual piece; you can still hear
and feel the obvious emotional thread, which holds them together.
It brought back to mind all that I remembered of Italy: her mesmerizing
landscapes and vistas, her wondrous culinary styles, her majestic wines,
ancient and fascinating culture and her strong and creative people. This
especially holds true for the bittersweet and haunting strains of
Laguna al Tramonto, which brings a tear to my eye whenever I hear it.
It has become a consummate favorite of mine. Thank you, Silvio for
reminding me of an ancestry to which I had long forgotten and am so very
proud to be a part of now.
When playing A Quiet Weekend in Capri,
do yourself a favor and choose the Italian version when you play either
the tour or the game ... but hopefully both -- immerse yourself in the
whole Capri experience while you play. Fix yourself a delightful
Insalata Di Capri and treat yourself to a bottle of good Chianti.
Salut!
...Then, when you're finished with your
"quiet weekend", surprise your loved ones by cooking an authentic Italian
supper and play Silvio's music CD during dinner and before you know it,
you'll be saying:
Ah!
Quanto è bella questa tranquilla isola
di Capri!
Ciao, Ciao, Avventura Bella!
...Inferno
Grade: A+
Minimum System Requirements
Windows® 98SE/ME/2000/XP or
Windows® 98 equipped with Windows Media® Player
XGA monitor with true Screen Area/Resolution 1024 x 768(standard screen)
or 1280 x 800 (wide screen) and 16 millions of color
740 MB free Hard Disk space
CD-ROM reader 16X
64M DRAM
Soundblaster™ Live Player 1024 or equivalent Audio card
Suggested System Requirements
Windows® XP
XGA monitor with true Screen Area/Resolution 1024 x 768(standard screen)
or 1280 x 800 (wide screen) and 32 millions of color
800 MB free Hard Disk space
CD-ROM reader 48X
120 MB RAM
Soundblaster™ Live Player 1024 or higher
Played on:
Microsoft Windows XP Home w/SP
1
Pentium 4 CPU 2.00GHz
512MB DDR Memory
64MBNVIDIA GeForce 2 MX/MX 400
Creative SB Live
DirectX Version: 9.0b
design copyright ©
2005
GameBoomers Group
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