The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript explained
Developer: | Kheops Studio |
Publisher: | Tri Synergy |
Platforms: | Windows, MacOS, iOS |
Released: | 2006 |
Genre: | Adventure |
The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript is an adventure game developed by Kheops Studio and published by Tri Synergy on June 7, 2006 on the PC.[1] In 2009 it was released on the Mac OS X.[2]
Gameplay and plot
This is an investigatory game set in 1522 at Da Vinci's last home, the Cloux Manor.
Gameplay is standard for 3D first-person adventure games.
Development
This game was a co-production between Nobilis, Elektrogames, TOTM Studio, Kheops Studio, Mzone Studio, in collaboration with the Clos Lucé.[3] [4] It was the first ever game created about the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci.[5] In September 2005, the project was originally announced as ''Da Vinci Experience,[6] but this was changed to its current title in January 2006.[7] It came out at a time when the culture was saturated with Da Vinci (including a book, film, and competing video game).[8] Marianne Tostivint believes The Da Vinci Code projects helped get this game be sold to a publisher and financed.[9] A lot of effort was put into making the Clos Lucé as historically accurate as possible.[10] The designers had three key focuses to ensure an optimum player experience: gameplay, ergonomy, and interfaces.[11] In terms of educational goals, the designers wanted to make the game as historically accurate as it was fun to play.[12] Coladia (who owned the publishing rights at this time) announced the release of the title on iOS devices in February 2011.[13]
According to the Agence pour le développement économique de la région lyonnaise (ADERLY), Nobilis planned The Secrets of Da Vinci to be a hit. The publisher reportedly "hope[d] to sell at least 100,000 copies of this game in France and exceed one million units worldwide".[14]
Reception
The game has a Metacritic score of 69% based on 14 reviews.[15]
Quandary felt the game was entertaining, though the story could have been developed further.[16] Strategy Informer thought it would be appreciated by fans of the genre.[17] IGN concluded that the game was neither difficult nor compelling.[18] Gamezone felt the game didn't offer much motivation to the player to solve puzzles and advance the plot.[19] Eurogamer thought it was pleasurable, even if it wasn't particularly groundbreaking.[20] Tap Repeatedly compared the game's visuals and game play mechanics to those of Return to Mysterious Island and .[21] Adventure Classic Gaming deemed it a solid, enjoyable adventure.[22] PopMatters felt the game tread to far into the uncanny valley.[23] Jeuxvideo.com noted that the title had replay value due to the different ways in which players can complete puzzles.[24]
External links
Notes and References
- News: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript. GamesIndustry.biz. 2018-03-29. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329154956/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-secrets-of-da-vinci-the-forbidden-manuscript. 2018-03-29.
- News: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript. GamesIndustry.biz. 2018-03-29. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329154956/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-secrets-of-da-vinci--the-forbidden-manuscript-enigma-packed-adventure-developed-with-the-help-of-the-ch-teau-du-clos-luc. 2018-03-29.
- Web site: Nobilis and the Chateau du Clos Luce in exclusive partnership for the very first game devoted to Leonardo da Vinci: - PC News. 2006-06-18. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20060618120347/http://pc.gamezone.com/news/03_08_06_09_03AM.htm. 2006-06-18.
- News: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript. GamesIndustry.biz. 2018-03-29. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329154956/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-secrets-of-da-vinci-the-forbidden-manuscript-a. 2018-03-29.
- Web site: Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript Now Available in North American Retail - PC News. 2006-06-15. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20060615105835/http://pc.gamezone.com/news/06_07_06_04_29AM.htm. 2006-06-15.
- News: Nobilis expérimente. Jeuxvideo.com. 2018-03-29. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20131204055049/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2005/00013913.htm. 2013-12-04.
- News: Da Vinci Experience change de nom. Jeuxvideo.com. 2018-03-29. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20060127001551/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2006/00015153.htm. 2006-01-27.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript - Hands-On Preview - Just Adventure - Reviews PC and PS2 Walkthroughs Previews and Adventure News!. 2006-05-05. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20060505123535/http://justadventure.com/Previews/DaVinciForbidden/DV.shtm. 2006-05-05.
- News: The Secrets Of Da Vinci: interview de Marianne Tostivint. Jeuxvideo.com. 2018-03-29. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140103192105/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2006/00016261.htm. 2014-01-03.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript (PC) Preview Killer Betties. 2010-11-25. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20101125234612/http://killerbetties.com/the_secrets_of_da_vinci_the_forbidden_manuscript_pc_impressions. 2010-11-25.
- Web site: GameBoomers Talks to Benoit Hozjan of Kheops Studio. www.gameboomers.com. 2018-03-29. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170518030528/http://www.gameboomers.com/interviews/BenoitHozjaninterview.htm. 2017-05-18.
- News: The Secrets Of Da Vinci: interview Oliver Train. Jeuxvideo.com. 2018-03-29. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140105094244/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2006/00016260.htm. 2014-01-05.
- Web site: Coladia announces Secrets of Da Vinci HD for iPad. www.indiegamenews.com. 2018-03-29. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313215604/http://www.indiegamenews.com/2011/02/coladia-announces-secrets-of-da-vinci.html. 2013-03-13.
- Web site: NOBILIS - Aderly. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718022552/https://www.aderly.fr/2006/02/article-1352-nobilis/. 2019-07-18.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript. Metacritic. 2018-03-29. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170327233115/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-secrets-of-da-vinci-the-forbidden-manuscript. 2017-03-27.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript Review by Quandary. 2006-08-30. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20060830210313/http://www.quandaryland.com/jsp/dispArticle.jsp?index=768. 2006-08-30.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript PC Review, The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript Player Reviews. 2012-07-28. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20120728005146/http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/secretsofdavincitheforbiddenmanuscript/review.html. 2012-07-28.
- Web site: Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript - IGN - Page 2. 2016-04-20. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20160420222925/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/06/12/secrets-of-da-vinci-the-forbidden-manuscript?page=2. 2016-04-20.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript Review - PC. 2006-07-19. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20060719185010/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r28587.htm. 2006-07-19.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript Review - PC - Page 1 Eurogamer.net. Eurogamer. 2011-09-09. 2018-03-29. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20110909003010/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_secretsofdavinci_pc. 2011-09-09.
- Web site: Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure Review - Tap-Repeatedly. tap-repeatedly.com. February 2003 . en-US. 2018-03-29. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329154955/http://tap-repeatedly.com/2003/02/safecracker-the-ultimate-puzzle-adventure-review/. 2018-03-29.
- Web site: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript - Review - Adventure Classic Gaming - ACG - Adventure Games, Interactive Fiction Games - Reviews, Interviews, Features, Previews, Cheats, Galleries, Forums. www.adventureclassicgaming.com. 2018-03-29. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170816161247/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/383/. 2017-08-16.
- News: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript. 2006-09-26. PopMatters. 2018-03-29. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329154955/https://www.popmatters.com/the-secrets-of-da-vinci-the-forbidden-manuscript-2495710784.html. 2018-03-29.
- News: Test The Secrets Of Da Vinci: Le Manuscrit Interdit sur PC. Jeuxvideo.com. 2018-03-29. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160415183435/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00006489_test.htm. 2016-04-15.