Reah: Face the Unknown

Release Date: August 21, 1998

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Created by the Polish development studio LK Avalon, this adventure game takes place in the distant future. A journalist imprisoned on a distant planet tries to find his way to the Earth and, at the same time, to solve a few problems tormenting its inhabitants.

Avalon Computer Laboratory is considered to be one of the pioneers of game production in Poland. In the 80's of the last century, this group became famous for several excellent adventures addressed to 8-bit computers. Over time, LK Avalon started to prepare games for PCs as well. Reah: Facing the unknown is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and best titles in the company's heritage.

The action of the game takes place in the unspecified future. People developed a technology allowing interstellar travel and began colonization of foreign planets. One of them was Reah. Although it did not present any strategic or economic advantages, a large military unit was sent to its surface. Initially, the case aroused media interest, but it was quickly discontinued. Only one journalist was curious enough to finally get permission to travel to Reah, visit the planet, and after returning to describe their observations in detail. Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan. After reaching the planet, it turned out that the portal leading to Earth was broken down. Thus, the journalist must find his own way back.

Of course, players come to play the role of a journalist imprisoned on Reah. However, the eponymous planet is a strange place where it is difficult for a newcomer to get help.

Reah gameplay: Face the unknown in a linear fashion and has no direct impact on the chronology of events. Luckily, individual locations in the game are very refined and interesting, so that even the non-linear plot is not boring.

It is based on searching locations, finding objects, listening to NPC monologues and solving puzzles. The latter, although relatively few, are the real decoration of the game and often require the efforts of the grey cells. Luckily, Reah creators: Tackle the unknown with a less savvy player, who is often prompted by the main character.

The audio-visual setting of the game stands at a very high, as for the time of release, level. Reah uses prerendered 3D graphics. In each location, the player has the ability to make a full 360 degrees of rotation, and in places to look upwards as well. All this makes the game environment seem vivid and exceptionally rich in detail.

The film fragments with independent protagonists, in which famous Polish actors have played, are also very good. The soundtrack maintained in the rhythms of techno, ambient and drum'n'bass was created by bands such as Fading Colours, Gagarin 108 and Mesmerisa. Attention is also drawn to the very natural sounds of the environment (e.g. birds singing and steps).

Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions regarding this description.

Last updated on August 14, 2015

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