PC REVIEW | Amanda the Adventurer 3

Welcome back, folks, to Amanda the Adventurer, an interactive TV show with nothing weird or suspicious happening at all. This is certainly not some kind of conspiracy where the characters may or may not be alive in some capacity and a secret organisation is trying to cover it all up… Ok, so it’s this: it’s all of this, and for anyone who hasn’t played the first two instalments, I highly suggest going and checking them out, as it really is a fantastic story that needs you to be up to date with the lore.

All caught up? Good, Ok, so this is the final part of Amanda and Woolly’s story, where we find out just what happened and who is behind our two favourite characters. Let’s just say the truth is just as strange as you thought it was going to be. But will you be satisfied with the ending? Will you want more? There is only one way to find out, and that is to sink your teeth into this strange series of events and try not to anger the entity.

We start where we left off, heading into a secret underground bunker underneath the library after being chased by what seemed to be a mutated version of Woolly, which is called the Shepard. We left it behind and found an underground facility, which is where our adventure really begins. There is a lot to discover, so keep your eyes open, and remember, sometimes to move forward you must revisit the past.

Let’s get comfortable, and see what this episode of Amanda the Adventurer has to offer.

Things I liked!

• Graphics | Amanda the Adventurer has always had a very 90s feel to it, and this tradition continues in this part as well with the brightly coloured but strange-looking world inside the screen filled with objects with faces and, of course, Amanda, Woolly and their new ‘friend’ mixed with the empty feeling of the outside world in comparison, where everything feels just a little more off than it should. Another welcome return is the real-world sections where we watch hidden tapes that reveal what happened using real actors and sets. It’s odd that there seem to be these three realities in the game: from the show to the game and finally out to reality itself. Just what is real, and what is part of the adventure? The contrast between all the graphical styles leads to a lot of questions, and to me, it just makes it that much more fun to speculate about what exactly is going on.

• Soundscape | I love the soundscape of Amanda the Adventurer, with its contrasts of the cheerful yet eerie television show all the way through to the strange noises that let you know something is lurking just around the corner, watching you and waiting to pounce should you make a mistake. Everything has a place in this game, and it all just works amazingly well. Amanda the Adventurer does not let you off easily when it comes to terror through sound. You know when you are in danger, and you know vaguely when you are safe, but sometimes there is an unease in the atmosphere of the room, be it through subtle scratches or some very discordant music in what should be a pleasant memory of a day at the beach.
  
  The theme tune from the show is as familiar as you would hope for, and the voice actors do an amazing job with the emotion of their characters; you know exactly what they are trying to convey, and it really does help you to get into the emotional state of the characters as you watch the tale unfold. I really do think that the sound designers managed to do a fantastic job when it comes to the entire series, and they have managed to keep it both cute and creepy in equal measures.
  
  
• Puzzles | One of my favourite things about the Amanda the Adventurer series is the puzzles, and even though, yes, they might be a little easier with each edition of the game, it doesn’t make them any less fun to solve. I particularly enjoyed the rat puzzle, which actually had me stumped for a little while, and I needed to ask my friend, MrKravin (look him up on YouTube) for a little hint on how to finish that particular one off. The rest of the puzzles were not quite as difficult, but each one has you putting on your thinking cap to solve while you also listen out for lore that might be on offer at the same time. Take your time solving them as well, as some might have little hints here and there to help you with discovering some hidden secrets as well. Now, if you are having trouble with any of the puzzles, you can always ask for help from a little friend who pops up behind you early on in the game. All in all, it doesn’t make you want to smash your mouse in frustration and you will still feel a sense of accomplishment when you figure out the fine details.
  

Mixed & disliked!

• Length and Story | I wish this game was longer, to be honest, it feels like there is more to be told than what has been revealed, and there just seems to be a lot left unsaid at the end. Now there are two main endings to discover, and no, I won’t be revealing what happens, but once the credits have finished rolling, you do have a sense of ‘Is that it?’ in your mind. Should it have explained everything? No, because sometimes you are better off having a little lore in your own head, but on the other hand, should it have revealed more? Honestly, I think that should be a resounding yes. I want to know more about Hameln and the reasons behind what they did. I need to know what happened to the rest of the team, and I also really need to know who invented the tech to begin with and why.
  
  I really hope that this isn’t the real end of the series and that there will be another chapter or even a spin-off that helps us to dive deeper into the workings of Hameln and the Amanda the Adventurer project. The reason I have mixed story and length together is because without the story the game really wouldn’t have any longevity to it at all, and it is the story that should make you want to keep on coming back for more. Now, while the story is decent enough in its own way, I just feel that it needed a little more. I don’t know if the unfinished feeling is a choice on the writer’s part or if indeed there will be more from the series to look out for in the future, but as it stands, I really think that it deserves to be a little meatier.

How long did I play the review before publishing? 5 Hours
How long to beat the story? 2 and a half hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 15/17
How long to get everything | 5 hours
You’ll love this game if you like these | Amanda The Adventurer 1 + 2, Doki Doki Literature Club

CONCLUSION

Score: 78 /100

Will you be kind and rewind to play the series again after you finish, or will you eject and reject it from your mind? I personally love the Amanda the Adventurer series, but if this truly is the final part, then I will be disappointed because there just seems to be a lot left unsaid. Taking the game on its own merits, though, it is an enjoyable few hours to spend playing, and you won’t be bored. The puzzles are easier, yes, but still tricky enough to give you food for thought, and with the amazing voice actors giving their all for each character, you will definitely be drawn into the lore and want to know more. I might have to play through all the chapters again soon and see what else I can work out from what I have learnt in this chapter. Anyway, a great addition, but just a little short in my opinion.