Nostalgia can be a powerful thing, especially when it is invoked through a more modern means. I loved classic sci-fi adventures such as The Journeyman Project 20+ years ago, so when I was in the midst of deciphering a puzzle in Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock, that warm feeling of revisiting a great experience washed over me.
Type of app: Adventure
Platform/where to buy: iPad; available in the iTunes App Store
Developer: Red Herring Labs/ Phoenix Online Publishing
Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock Description:
- Experience an immersive sci-fi adventure, packed with gorgeous HD graphics, brand-new puzzles and scenes, and an all-new, streamlined interface
- Newly remastered cinematics display the haunting landscapes in beautiful high definition
- Uncover the mystery of Deadrock through new and optimized puzzles and an extended storyline
- The alien planet of Deadrock comes alive with full voice acting and engrossing sound effects
- Includes an atmospheric remastered soundtrack with over 30 minutes of original music
Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock Major features:
The opening sequence of Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock tells you the aftermath of a crash – you are trying to get your bearings, figure out what happened – and deal with the fact that your ship is plummeting towards the planet surface. You quickly realize that of the crew you are alone in being able to do anything – one member is dead and the captain has been gravely wounded. It is up to you to repair the ship and investigate the mysteries you discover along the way.
Morningstar is a fairly standard survival adventure game in many ways – you need to explore areas, find items, use specific objects to trigger actions needed to go forward, combine things in your inventory, solve logic puzzles, and so on. Morningstar executes all of these things very well, making for an experience that is both challenging and rewarding, and enjoyable throughout.
The game is relatively short, and offers little in the way of replayability – you need to accomplish certain tasks to proceed, and there is basically a single path to your ultimate quest to escape. That is typical for the genre and isn’t really a negative, just something to understand. My only criticism is that there is a single game profile without the ability for multiple users to each have their own save.
Ease of use/Overall performance:
Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock controls like a classic point & click adventure, which makes it both simple to play and fun for people who have followed the genre for years.
The visuals are excellently detailed and nuanced. Considering you are spending a lot of time on a basic spaceship or a desert planet, the developers had to work hard to make things stand out and keep the game interesting and engaging. The music and sound are similarly well done, creating a tense environment as you work your way through.
Would use again/recommend?: Definitely! Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock executes well on everything you can ask for out of an adventure game, and doesn’t fall short in any significant way. For a budget-priced game it is a very solid experience.
Suggested changes/wish list for updates: Multiple saves / profiles
Source: Publisher provided review code
Price: $9.99 from Phoenix Online Publishing, also available on Steam for $9.99
Here is the Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock trailer:
