The Collection Chamber: VIKINGS: ADVENTURE OUT OF TIME

Vikings takes you right into the heart of one of the most turbulent eras that mark the start of the first millennium.

The parents of Hjalmar have been killed and his family domain is in ruins. The young Viking sets out on a pitiless trek to find the murderers and to recover Hildrid - his ancestors' magic axe without which he cannot maintain his role as head of the clan.

You must help Hjalmar in his quest, which takes place throughout four real worlds where Vikings dominated - Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Vinland.

The different themes covered allow you to become embroiled in the history and society of Vikings; their public life, justice, law, poetry and rituals; their beliefs and religion and their enduring relationship with the sea.

While this is a beautifully presented, absorbing and fascinating adventure game, it is also a uniquely realistic way to learn more about the Vikings and their civilisation.
Based on a rigorously authenticated historical background
A fascinating way to experience the life and times of the Vikings
Ten testing puzzles for you to solve in 60 sites throughout the Viking world
More than 300 interactive video scenes
60 minutes of Hollywood style film sequences add to the drama
50 files of facts about Viking life

~ from the back of the box

Way back in June last year, I reviewed an interesting little educational adventure that was called Crusader: Adventure out of Time in some territories. It was the first international release by Index+, a French company quickly making a name for itself in its home country. If you've read my review, I coloured it with faint praise feeling its educational and adventure elements conflicted with each other. Still, it sold well enough to earn a sequel in 1998, this time transposing the action from Jerusalem of the Middle-Ages to 11th Century Norway. It was called Vikings: Adventure out of Time (or just Vikings to some).

This follow up is still an educational adventure, but there are some vast improvements to its design and presentation. It tells the fictional tale of Hajlmar, the son of a famed berserker named Leif Harraldson who's currently living in Iceland. He is told that his father's settlement has been razed to the ground, killing all those who dwell there, including his father. Like any dutiful Viking son, Hajlmar takes on the quest to verify his father's death, avenge him and find his legendary axe, Hildrid. Along the way, you will learn about the daily life of Viking society and the political weight they cast throughout northern Europe.

It is a better told story than what came before, with the puzzling elements in keeping with the plot at hand. Each chapter has their own 'riddle' marking the immediate goal of our hero. They tend to be fetch quests, with the number of items found indicated at the top of the 'quest screen' where the riddle takes place. The other screens that surround this are where you find said items, as well as hearing the accounts from the locals toiling away. The snippets of conversations you hear aren't as arbitrary as Crusader. While in that game you were more likely to a history lesson with each click, it is here more often than not combined with a clue.

Use the encyclopaedia to understand how to solve each 'riddle' (left).
Most of them require you to locate a bunch of items (right).

This is best described by retelling the first 'riddle'. We are to earn the presence of a shaman aboard our ship to bless our voyage across the sea to the icy lands of Iceland. We do this through trade. He demands a lot of unusual items such as a hunting falcon and walrus ivory, though I'm sure they each represent an educational lesson. Throughout the Norwegian city of Bergen - once the country's capital - you will see and speak to many merchants and tradesmen. A right click will get them to talk a little, perhaps about their country of origin, while a left click will add a representation of them in your inventory. We then zoom out to see a map of northern Europe and its countries as they were a thousand years ago. In each one, we are to place one of these professions such as a weaver in Denmark or a Falcon trainer in Iceland. You do this in order to establish trade in order to gather items for our materialistic shaman. All of a sudden, listening to these folks makes more sense.

Alternatively, you can find this information elsewhere. Vikings, like its predecessor, still features a detailed encyclopaedia. Drag any icon from your inventory over the question mark, and you will be taken to the page describing it. It is complete with some nice visuals and graphics which are certainly interesting, but can be a little dry for some. Learning its contents through osmosis by simply playing the game makes for a much better time, and this one does a much better job at it than before. If you are coming off the previous game, you will know that you cannot collect what you missed by going through these pages of information. You actually have to play the game instead.

Access previously visited encyclopaedia pages by clicking on "QuickMove" found on the bottom right (left).
Chances are you'll get lost in a series of hyper-links and find something super interesting (right).

Crusader was no slouch in the graphics department, and Vikings follows suit. Its mix of pre-rendered art, composited photos and digitized actors blend together to create a distinct idea of what the time period was actually like. The static screens displaying each location remain a little lifeless at times as if we're only seeing what is necessary for the game design, but as the puzzles are closely aligned to the history, the lack of any real exploration isn't much of a detriment. Then again, it won't be long before the third 'riddle' allows you to sail the seas in search of Iceland satiating some wanderlust while also teaching their sea-faring skills. I went by way of the shores of Scotland.

So, if you want to see the ancient city of Bergan as it might have been, witness the savagery of berserkers or understand how Norway changed Europe back then, then Vikings: Adventure out of Time is a great way to learn about it. Even if it does delve into magical-realism at times, it is one of the better and fully-featured educational titles out there and can be enjoyed by adventure gamers of all ages. It is a little short and easy, but that doesn't prevent me from highly recommending it.

To download the game, follow the link below. This custom installer exclusive to The Collection Chamber uses the DOSBox-X build of DOSBox running Windows '95. Press Ctrl-F4 when prompted to cycle through the three CDs. Manual Included. Read the ChamberNotes.txt for more detailed information. Tested on Windows 10.

IMPORTANT - Do not close DOSBox-X without shutting down the emulated Windows '95 operating system. This could potentially result in errors, lost saves and corrupt data. The game will automatically shut down when you exit the game via the in-game menu.

File Size: 1.03 Gb. Install Size: 1.88 Gb. Need help? Consult the Collection Chamber FAQ

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