MacFormat UK – September 2019

VERDICT

The scene

often gently

rotates to

create a sense

of movement

Handmade models and scenery add a

dramatic 3D effect to the game’s graphics.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | MACFORMAT | 95

T

rüberbrook is described by its

developers as ‘Twin Peaks meets

the The X–F iles’. It’s a stylish

adventure game that casts you in the role of

Hans Tannhauser, a student visiting the

German town of Trüberbrook during the

Cold War era of the 1960s.

After checking in to his hotel, Hans

discovers that some of his notes have been

stolen, so he begins to explore Trüberbrook

and starts chatting to the locals. Along the way

he encounters some eccentric characters, such

as the inventor Lazarus Taft, and another

student, called Gretchen, who joins Hans.

Needless to say, the crazy inventor guy

does what crazy inventors always do, and

introduces Hans to a sci-fi mystery involving

wormholes and inter-dimensional travel. We

Image credit: BTF

£25.99 FROM BTF, trueberbrook.com NEEDS OS X 10.11 or later

Tr ü b e r b ro o k

Atmospheric sci–fi adventure game, with slick 3D graphics

As soon as you walk into a disused science lab you know

there’s some sci–fi weirdness heading your way.

Stylish click-and-point

adventure, with a

healthy dose of The

X-Files sci-fi mystery.

++++++

Stylish 3D graphics

Atmospheric sci–fi story

Fairly short playing time

Some puzzles aren’t

very challenging

won’t drop any spoilers, but if you’re a fan of

The X-Files then you’ll feel right at home with

the dimension-hopping quantum quandaries.

Explore the ggraphics

It’s Trüberbook’s stylish presentation that

makes it stand out from the crowd. All the

background scenery is constructed from

handmade physical models, digitised in order

to create some really striking 3D graphics. So,

rather than simply walking sideways across

a 2D screen as you explore each location, the

scene often gently rotates to create a sense of

movement and perspective.

The control system works well too, with

a double-click allowing you to ‘power walk’

when you want to pick up the pace, while the

Space bar can give you the occasional hint if

you get stuck.

There are some rough edges, though.

It’s certainly worth checking the pretty hefty

graphics requirements before purchasing.

Many of the puzzles are also fairly routine,

or simply involve random clicking to find

an item, such as a key. The developers and

voice actors are German, and the English

translations sometimes sound a bit awkward

too. It’s also a little pricey for an adventure

that only lasts six to eight hours. Even so,

Trüberbrook’s sheer style helps to draw you

in, and the short running time ensures you’ll

stay gripped right to the end. CLIFF JOSEPH