About Bizarre Legacy:
This little charming hidden gem of a quirkily adventure (accomplished by a one-person development team) deserves a closer look/review. The puzzle (and character/dialogue) design is interesting and funny, but can get very challenging (tricky/illogical) at the end. Although, some puzzles can be skipped. The game offers you to switch between characters and take different approaches on how to solve puzzles/on how to proceed on the main “quest/topic”. The integrated hint/help systems provides additional guidance and support. The general behavior of the game is very slow paced and you need to be patient. The main topic is to reveal the secret behind a bizarre series of earthquake. This keeps you busy for 4-5 hours! (It is somehow influenced by “Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned”) If you do like the classic/retro approach, it is for you. Bizarre Earthquake is a good casual adventure game. It has an original storyline compared with those in the “game industry” as a whole, including the adventure genre. No horror, no blood, no zombies, no vampires, no trashy things : nothing that will hurt your feelings. It’s almost family-friendly BUT not in a way that you’ll feel like you’re playing a children game, far from it. At least it’s not violent nor gore. Admittedly it’s not realisitic all the way (especially in the end), but it’s a game, it’s not meant to be a hundred percent plausible and the main idea remains interesting, even though certain aspects of the plot lack some depth. But given the price it’s okay and it doesn’t take the fun away. Nice graphics, although sometimes animation is a bit awkward. It’s still totally playable and enjoyable. The music is fine and appropriate. Pay attention to it, sometimes it changes a bit to signify you did what you were supposed to. It’s a well-balanced adventure game : not too easy and not too difficult. Puzzles are solvable but the solution isn’t given. There are not too many back and forth in the different areas. Sure you’ll have to visit some places twice or more but not in a way that makes you crazy. You can play the whole story as the male or as the female character, or you can switch between them along the way. That gives replayability to the game. The characters don’t have the same puzzles to solve in order to make progress in the inquiry. That way you can “skip” something you’re stuck in. If you like “side quest”, not that there is properly one, there are hidden objects to find in the game. Those are not necessary to complete the game but you will need to find (most of) them if you’re going for the 100% Achievement. Last but not least. Maybe since it’s not a big production , the dev might answer nicely to your relevant observation/question. Given the price and the size of the team I’d give a mark of 8/10. (Don’t mind the amount of hours I spent on it, I’ve done many playthroughs with both characters to write a guide). It’s not expensive so give it a try. If you hesitate then wait until it’s on sale. Go for it !
