Discworld: Worth getting?

[pocketpocket]

I have a vague idea of what the Discworld game is. I've seen some footage of the DOS version, and it doesn't look too bad. I just saw it for $25 NZ (I've seen it go for as much as $75 US before. It is ex-rental, but that doesn't bother me at all), and I was wondering if it's worth getting? A few things that have been concerning me though are...

* I understand that this game is based off a book series, but I have absolutely no knowledge of the series whatsoever. Will I still be able to enjoy the game regardless?

* From my experience, ports of point & click games on consoles are generally pretty terrible. Is this one any better? Does it control quick and smoothly, and is there any lag/frame-rate issues?

* How are the puzzles? Are they logical, on the level of LucasArts games such as Monkey Island, or is it more like Kings Quest, when some stuff you sort of just have to know?

Thanks in advance.

[crue1]

It is very difficult without a guide, but it is a good game and no you don't really need any knowledge of the books to enjoy it. Great voice acting.

[mick_aka]

One of my favorite point and clicks, awesome game, if you need the guide then the PC guide is fine and available pretty cheap.

[pocketpocket]

If the game is really difficult, I might hold off for now, as I am trying to save cash for some imports, and only really want to spend money if I see a game that I really want. I love point & click games, but I'm fairly rubbish at them in all honesty, and I get frustrated if I have to use a guide, because I don't feel like I've accomplished anything. I'll keep it in mind though.

[infernalcombustion]

I'm not really a fan of Terry Pratchett, he always seemed like a 2nd rate Douglas Adams to me (although he's obviously a talented writer who is bravely facing Alzheimer's with an incredible amount of integrity and resolve). Anyway, take it from me, reading Discworld didn't help one jot in playing the game.

As far as 'point-and-click' adventures go however, this is certainly a likable game. The graphics are in keeping with the humour evident throughout the game and the control interface is solid and logical. However, I found that some of the solutions to the puzzles just didn't seem to make any sense. So I'm afraid that this title does fall foul of the old 'cycle through available items and repeat' syndrome at times. Also, I didn't find this as enjoyable as Lucasart's romps - but that might just be down to me, as I'm definitely not as keen on this genre as I used to be.

Still, if you enjoy this sort of thing then it's a perfectly good and enjoyable game. I can't draw comparisons to Kings Quest as I've never played it, but it's no Secret of Monkey Island that's for sure.
That said, this is one of the better 'point-and-click' adventures available for the Saturn.

[RealBlue]

I think the first game is better than the second despite the second having far better art & animation. I really like the Discworld books but the humour in the first two games falls flat for me. It felt like they were trying to make it more like Monty Python which is not the same style of humour at all (& Eric Idle as the voice of Rincewind doesn't help either!). The story in both games are just mash ups of existing stories (for example Discworld 2 is a combination of the books: Light Fantastic, Reaper Man & Sorcery).

All in all they are fine adventure games but as Discworld games they're disappointing.