Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial
Game Review

The Premature Burial is the third game in the Dark Tales hidden object adventure series based on Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. It is based on a story that examines the fear of being buried alive. In the actual story, the narrator is someone who frequently collapses into a deathlike coma, and thus has real reason for this fear. In the game, you are an investigator working with Auguste Dupin, a detective who features in a few of Poe's stories, and the star of the previous Dark Tales games.

The game begins with you and Detective Dupin receiving a desperate request from a young man whose beloved died unexpectedly and was hastily buried. The story also involves forbidden love and a loveless marriage, making it an interesting case that you readily accept. As you are about to reach town, your carriage crashes due to the horses becoming spooked by a ghostly apparition. Your investigation begins in earnest as you realize there may be more than one death you need to solve.

The game is set in the early 19th century, complete with horse carriages and machines reminiscent of the Industrial Age. You get to experience beautiful scenery as you explore a quaint town and its surroundings. The art is very well done in a slightly gothic Victorian era style. There is also plenty of decent voice-acting as you interact with Detective Dupin and the other characters in the game, complete with pretty good animations.

This is a pretty standard interactive hidden object adventure game like the previous Dark Tales games. You travel around the various locations, watching the story unfold while gathering the tools and items you need to use to solve the many puzzles you come across. There's a fair bit of moving back and forth between locations as newly-discovered items will require you to double back to solve a previously locked puzzle.

Most of these items can be found lying around partially hidden throughout the many locations in the game. However, there are a number that can only be found by completing a hidden object minigame. These hidden object scenes are distinct locations (usually secluded corners and drawers) filled with plenty of random items. You will need to identify a list of items, some of which require prior interactions to unlock. For example, finding an "ink blot" will require you to obtain a quill, dip it in ink, then drop it on a piece of paper. The resulting ink blot can then be checked off your list of items.

The puzzles that you need to solve come in two categories. There are the more simple ones that only require you to manipulate objects that are in plain sight, usually using the items that you find along the way. There are others that are more complicated and will take you to a separate minigame screen. These puzzle minigames run the gamut from the tried-and-true logic puzzles to others that are refreshingly unique. Most of them present a fairly satisfying challenge.

Like its predecessors, The Premature Burial is not very innovative in terms of gameplay. However, it does present a thrilling story told in a beautiful way, supported by great narration and animation. It is also based on an Edgar Allan Poe horror story, and you can't go wrong with that! While it doesn't follow the original short story word for word, the general feel and suspense of the story is there, in addition to guest stars from other Poe stories as well as a couple of special visitors from beyond the grave. You will love The Premature Burial if you liked the previous Dark Tales games or just love Edgar Allan Poe's stories. It is also perfect for you if you like detective games such as those involving Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie.

You can get the basic version of the PC game, or you can get the Collector's Edition which includes exclusive extras such as bonus gameplay and beautiful screensavers and artwork. Or get the basic version or Collector's Edition of the Mac game.

Check out the other games in this series!

Related PC Games at Big Fish Games:

Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial Collector's Edition

Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat

Haunted Legends: The Bronze Horseman

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