This game is the perfect example of a mediocrity.

Adventure gaming isn't dead; mainly because there are several companies that are trying to revive it the way roleplaying was revived last year. Sierra has tried to do it with King's Quest: Mask of Eternity, but they didn't do such a good job. Another player in the adventure genre is Bethesda, who have made the foray into the field with their new game Redguard. Based on the popular Elder Scrolls universe, this game promises old-fashioned adventure gaming with a bit of pirate swashbuckling with it. What they deliver, however, is an overall mixed bag.

The basic elements of the game work well. If this were a FPS, the graphics would be right up there with Half-Life. Based on a souped-up version of the Xngine which Bethesda has been using since Christ was an altar boy, the graphics work. With the right 3D card, the game's visuals are downright stunning. But this is a double-edged sword. Why? Well, first, this isn't a FPS, and the graphics seem ill placed, despite how beautiful they are. There is something haunting about these 3D polygonal characters, especially during conversation. They are far from fluid, and at times, creepy. Also, no matter what system you have (this was tested on a PII-450 w/ dual Voodoo2's), this game plays slow. The sound is good -- both the music and the voice acting is right on. This is one of the highlights of the game.

Now remember, this is an adventure game, and should be compared to games like Grim Fandango, or the Quest for Glory series. Shown in this light, the game falls a bit short. Most of the adventure part of the game requires endless conversations with people you end up wanting to stab in the neck with a #2 pencil. There are puzzles, some of them well thought out, but the puzzles as a whole seem to be an afterthought. Basically, not enough happens in this game to keep you alert. I know adventure games aren't supposed to be exciting altogether, but something is missing from this game. It feels empty, like a semi-interactive demo. This is harsh criticism for a company that is making its first entry into the genre, but hey, they've been in business for a long time and I am sure they can do better in the gameplay department.

Remember, this game is built upon the Elder Scrolls universe. But this is no Daggerfall. Fortunately, it is not Battlespire either. (For those unfamiliar, Daggerfall was possibly the best RPG created in the 90's but bug-infested; Battlespire was a train-wreck of a game that tried to simplify Daggerfall). It is not nearly as deep as Daggerfall was, nor does it intend to, and it is not as horrible as Battlespire. It's a decent game. It just bothers me that game companies can't seem to get their act together and make a game that works on all levels. Very few games can do that. I liked Daggerfall a lot, and though I was a bit skeptical of Bethesda's use of the universe for Redguard, I was looking forward to this game. I was mildly disappointed. The game is not a total waste, however. It does have a certain playability. Cyrus, the character you play as, is an interesting character, and I found myself wanting to know more about him as the game progressed. This is certainly a good feature. Actually, most of the main characters are interesting. This is good, and a rarity in games today.

What prevents this game from really making it, however, is the twist that is supposed to separate it from the rest of the pack; the swashbuckling. It reminded me of a game called Swashbuckler, which came out about fifteen years ago. Fighting in this game requires very little skill and a lot of luck. I found myself just tapping the joystick buttons (an adventure game that uses a joystick? Yuck!) and beating everyone down. Watching my Uncle Joe pick lint out of his belly button has more entertainment value. They could have kept the swashbuckling out of it, and added some more true adventure elements, like better puzzles. This would have vastly improved this game, but it is too late for that.

In all, Redguard isn't a total failure. If you liked Mask of Eternity but hoped for something better, Redguard might just fill the void for you. If you were hoping for the revival of the adventure genre, understand this; they have brought the genre back from the dead, but I don't think what they have created is breathing air. What we have in the genre now is a zombie, something that is not alive and not dead. Hopefully someone will either kill it for good (not an option I'd vote for) or come to its rescue. Actually, someone already has. But we'll review Grim Fandango at a later date.

Reviewed by John Misak, PC Gameworld.