Review: Tiger Eye for PC by Passionfruit Games

*Review copy provided by Passionfruit Games through Wunderkind PR in exchange for an honest review*

I was incredibly surprised and honored when I was approached as a reviewer for the video game based on Marjorie Liu's Tiger Eye, which is the first book in the Dirk and Steele series, and was reviewed here on What Book is That?

The book is excellent, and in this case, it provides the story line for a really fun game of the same name, created by Passionfruit Games! Marjorie Liu wrote the script for the story line as well; one of the things I enjoyed most about this game was how closely the storyline and cut scenes paralleled the plot of the book.

The trailer gives a really good depiction of what game play is like:

Playing this game is easy enough- each game screen presents different objectives, which, when met, allow you to advance to the next level. Interspersed are cut scenes where the story of the book is told; you DON'T have to have read the book to enjoy this game, although I highly recommend reading/enjoying both!

The games are relatively straightforward and hints are provided if you need them; this game doesn't require a lot of exposure to video games or to PC gaming specifically to be enjoyable. I played through this game on my netbook and had few issues; I do think a regular mouse would have made some of the activities easier. If you're a hardcore puzzle fan or play a lot of computer games you might find these a little too simple for your tastes. Bear in mind, this is a game designed to entice a hesitant demographic to enter the wide world of PC gaming; if you're a veteran in the area, you'll still have fun but there isn't anything here to widen your skill set. Basically, if you can play games on Yahoo or Facebook then you have all the skills and know-how to be able to beat this game as well.

Another nice feature is that the game automatically saves each time you quit, which means it's easy to come back after an extended break. I would play a few minutes of the game in between writing reviews or other tasks; there isn't anything to forget or to have to relearn so this is a good option for people who don't have time to sit down and play a game regularly.

The cut scenes and music are well done and didn't take an unreasonable amount of time to load; I was interested to see how the events of the story would be depicted in the game. Rest assured also, for younger players, that there isn't anything objectionable in here. The website rates the game at PG-13 and I think that's a very fair assessment.

The game is available for purchase at three different levels- the cheapest option is just the game, while each successive price level offers more and more extras. The most expensive one caps out at $12.99, so any way you slice it, this is a good deal on a pretty fun, easygoing game.

It should be noted, though, that this is only Part I of the game, which means that not all of the story of the book is represented here! Part II, according to the website, is contingent on how well Part I sells, so I highly recommend trying out the free demo available at the purchase link and buying a copy of the game if you enjoy it. The package that includes just the game is $6.99, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. I have a long car ride coming up and you can bet I'll be revisiting this game to pass the time.