Legend of Lotus Spring PREVIEW
To be Released Valentine's Day 2000
Published By: DreamCatcher
Previewed by Dr. Kathryn Wright and Circe
2/1/2000

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First Impressions:

We have been awaiting this game, the first game that specifically targets women, with much curiosity. Ever since we interviewed the founder of WomenWise, Anne-Marie Huure, and learned of her trials and tribulations to get this game to market, we were checking our WG mail daily looking for that special box. The box cover looks quite different from most box covers in the game store shelves- softer, more relaxing, slightly mystical... it was a good omen for what the game was likely to bring. The package finally came, and we put the CD in the drive. After an easy installation the introductory movie began. Dr. Wright was standing behind my chair and said "it looks like it would be very relaxing to play."

The game is based on ancient Chinese history, legend, and culture. The game setting is a painstaking virtual recreation of the Chinese Garden of Perfect Brightness, built in the 1700's by six generations of Qing emperors. The game designers recreated the Garden from some of the original construction plans, and from original paintings of the Garden.

In the introduction, the narrator describes the premise of the game while soothing chinese music tinkles in the background. The narrator is quite good, and we were gratified that WomenWise chose an Asian woman to fill that role-- it certainly adds to the authenticity of the game. She speaks of a ruling Manchu emperor, XiangFeng, and his forbidden romance with a woman named Lotus Spring. It was the 1800's, and Lotus Spring was a Han woman. At that time, marriage was forbidden between the Manchu and the Han. Han women could not even step foot inside the gates of the Forbidden City, so XiangFeng kept Lotus Spring inside the Garden of Perfect Brightness where they carried on a romance. Evidently the dowager princess grew jealous of their love, and had Lotus Spring arrested and detained on an island in the Garden. One day the emperor hears that the bridge to the island has been destroyed, and that Lotus Spring has disappeared. The goal? Travel to the Garden of Perfect Brightness, and find out what happened to her.

Gameplay:

Although this game is based on traditional point-and-click exploration, it is unique among adventure games because of its focus on romance and ancient Chinese history and culture. You wander through the game using an intuitive cursor: a chubby little China Doll who tells you where you can go, and whether you can interact with objects. Interacting with objects is how you solve puzzles, find clues about the missing Lotus Spring, re-live their love, share their daily life, and learn bits of interesting legends and stories from Chinese culture. There is a diary that you carry in your inventory along with several other key objects. As you go through the game, you trigger animations that fill the diary with stories and clues about what happened to Lotus Spring. There is no order in which you must do things-- you explore the Garden at your leisure.

Graphics:

The graphics are gorgeous, and depicted historically correct reproductions of the Garden and of everyday objects. You feel as though you really are in a quiet, mysterious Chinese garden, complete with rippling ponds, gurgling fountains, arched bridges, meandering paths, and various flora and fauna. Dr. Wright especially liked the buildings: the pavilions, temples, even a stone boat. In most rooms there are reproductions of Asian art, which is a nice touch. The detailing is amazing, especially inside the buildings. You are treated to close-up views of intriguing objects like treasure chests, hair pins, tea sets, intricate game boards, clothing, and Circe's favorite: a small "spider box"-- when you open it, a small spider crawls out! The animated introduction and cut-scenes are especially well-done.

Release Date: Valentine's Day 2000

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