7th Guest, The (1993)

Below is the sites description, great game that you can burn hours on and not get bored! Free too: The 7th Guest was one of the first games in history to utilize the relatively new FMV technology. It doesn't use animation or in-game graphics. Instead, it uses real-life actors that act out a very decent script and storyline. Something of this magnitude had never been attempted before and it's truly revolutionary. And the FMV quality still stands up and remains decent even when compared to today's standards. This was also one of the first games to use hi-res SVGA graphics. The Stauf mansion is beautifully rendered and the graphics department obviously spent a lot of time devoted to the small details. As you wander the halls and various rooms of the mansion, you actually get a sense of immersion because everything is so real looking. Even with it's flashy sheen, the main focus of The 7th Guest is the puzzles. There are over twenty and just about all of them are unique in their own way. In one puzzle, you have to remove pieces of cake in a certain order and in another one you must play "follow the leader" with Stauf on a piano. Every puzzle is seamlessly incorporated into the storyline. As you solve puzzles, you unlock more FMV sequences and become closer to finishing the mystery. While most of the puzzles can be solved with common sense and some thinking, some just boggle the mind -- especially the AI puzzles. On the AI puzzles, you actually play the computer or Stauf and at times the challenge is overwhelming. I literally had to play one particular puzzle for an estimation of 15 hours before I solved it! Fortunately, there are some in-game clues to help you get by if you get stuck. The 7th Guest was definitely before its time and it shows. It's a game that will go down in computer game history (it already has) as being one of the most innovative and groundbreaking games of all time. The story, acting and script are well done, the puzzles are fabulous and the atmosphere is dark and immersive. This is a classic and any computer owner who enjoys mysteries would be making a terrible mistake not to own a copy of it. Graphics: This game is simply gorgeous. The mansion is beautifully rendered and looks down right creepy. The FMV is good and the animation is fabulous. Sound: Supplied by The Fat Man, the music ranges from hot jazz to creepy, atmospheric music. While the music itself is pretty good, some of the pieces don't really fit the mood of the game. Enjoyment: The 7th Guest is highly enjoyable from start to finish. The story is great and the puzzles are very challenging and fun. And because the game itself is so beautiful, it's very easy to become immersed in the Stauf mansion. Replay Value: This game is good enough to go through twice. And if you didn't solve all the puzzles the first time through, then you should go back and try to figure them out. The 7th Guest is a puzzle-adventure game which takes place inside an abandoned mansion. Venture into the 22 rooms of the spooky mansion, solve over 20 mind-bending puzzles to unravel a tale of revenge and horror that took place in the 1930s.