Via Domus

Via Domus getting a sequel?

2008-08-24T16:44:00.000+01:00

Thanks to thelostvault for the following. What would you like to see in the potential sequel?

Take the poll

Free Poll by Blog FluxZygos Games have heard rumours that LOST Via Domus might be getting a sequel. If planned the game will be released in 2010, after the show actually finishes and it will also NOT be a direct sequel of Via Domus. Ubisoft hope that this well help bypass some of the heavy limitations of the original game (i.e. there weren’t allowed to show all of the island). Although the game wasn’t very well recieved a sequel could be a great thing, especially if we see the addition of an online mode.

What do you think? Should there be a sequel to the video game?

Source: Zygosgames

Ubisoft finds a path to get Lost gameplay right

2008-04-17T21:09:00.001+01:00

Finding a way to translate a story from one medium to another is tough enough, but how exactly do you go about transforming one of television’s biggest—and most secretive—shows into a video game? “It was a daunting task,” admitted Kevin Shortt, lead script writer and story designer on Lost: Via Domus. The game was published by Ubisoft and developed in its Montreal studio.

In a phone interview with the Straight, he explained that three creators and executive producers of the show—J. J. Abrams, Carlton Cuse, and Damon Lindelof—had oversight of the game’s story line. After Ubisoft won the right to turn Lost into a video game, Shortt and other team members spent two days in Los Angeles meeting with the show’s creators and writers. “We had one two-hour session in which we just brainstormed ideas,” Shortt said. “We came away with a lot of ideas from that.”

Dawn Kelly, who wrote for the show in its first two years, acted as “point” for the production company and ABC. “She and I spent months fleshing out story ideas and came up with the nuts and bolts of the story itself,” Shortt said. Kelly’s participation was essential, he continued, because she knew the voices of the characters and the world of Lost. “Any questions we had about the black smoke or any of the hatches, she gave us great, detailed answers, and we were able to flesh out a really good story that is true to the Lost universe.”

Cuse and Lindelof—and ABC—were adamant that no big secrets be unveiled in the video game. The game does, however, promise some exclusives. The magnetic wall in the Swan hatch, for example, was never explored in the television show but is revealed in the video game. “Working with Damon and Carlton, we established what was behind the wall,” Shortt said.

“We wanted to make sure that when you wander around the hatch, you get to see the hatch you’ve seen on television, but if you’re a diligent fan you can poke around and check behind this spot and that spot and get extra little details that you wouldn’t get on the television show and you can apply to your theories on the world of Lost.”

Unlike a television series, which can hook viewers to get them to tune in the following week, a video game has to end. “We can’t leave them with a cliffhanger and have them wait for another two years for another game,” Shortt said. “But at the same time, we wanted it to end with a way that leaves you with questions. Satisfied but with more questions about the world of Lost.” Shortt credits Lindelof with solving that problem. “He came up with a brilliant ending to the game.”

And will there be more Lost video games? “It’s a huge world. There are other games living on that island—whether we pull them out or not, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Source: Straight.com

What did you think of Via Domus?

2008-04-05T16:00:00.000+01:00

Take the poll

Free Poll by Blog Flux

Compilation of interesting thing Fans who have not played the game must know

2008-04-04T11:57:00.000+01:00

Posted by Kudos

Hey Lost Fans.. I know it has been some time since Via Domus came out but here’s a compilation of all the Easter Eggs and interesting things I saw..

1. In the beginning of Episode 6 the Smoke Monster separates into three heads like in (S3E16 One of Us) this is another thing to add to the whole Ceberus theory.

2.Like Maqrkk said before Hurley, Micheal and Mr. Eko is seen in the Persephone Hotel.

3.The Shark in the Hydra station is INDEED the “Dharma Shark” seen briefly in Season 2.Look closely at its tailfin after lifting it you can see the Dharma Logo clearly. And the shark is uhh.. dead..

4. The Light that Desmond shines up the Hatch door can be seen if you walk back to the Hatch from the Caves after Locke has introduced you to it.

5. The “Via Domus” boat in the end of the game is not Desmond’s sailboat “Elizabeth”. Although the show does not show the “Via Domus” it is not the sailboat due to the show’s timeline. ( Elliot leaves before Michael does in Season 2 ).

6. The boat the “Other” was in IS Michaels Boat at the end of of Season 2.

7. Those who’ve played the game should also know that the Flame Station has an underground passage that passes through the Sonar Fences and into the Barracks.

8. A second Blast Door Map exists behind the original pointing to the Electromagnet Room that is only seen in the game.

9. The anchor of the Black Rock is seen downhill. This shows that maybe a long time ago that area might be sea bottom.

10. Hurley looks horrifying.

Although a lot of you are scratching your heads over what happened in the end and even the producers said that the ending was not important as the game is not a canon..
but here’s my theory of what happened anyways..

While leaving the Island Elliot gets hit with a whole time-travelling electromagnet thing that causes a hiccup in time.

This causes him to (like Desmond in The Constant)
jump back in time and into the moment where his girlfriend Lisa was shot. Instead of taking the photo he saves Lisa’s life and gets away.

But due to the whole Universal Course Correction thing no matter what he does next he’ll still end up on Oceanic 815
and no matter what it will still crash on the Island. This brings us to the ending cutscene where Elliot wakes up in the crash and Lisa runs to him very much alive.

Jorge Garcia Comments On Via Domus

2008-03-26T05:54:00.003+00:00

Jorge Garcia had this to say about Lost: Via Domus:

I have played a few video games in my day. And I do enjoy the scary ones. But nothing in "The Suffering" or "Doom III" has scared me more than Hurley from "Via Domus."

The best part was running into the engine and it blowing up. (But it's a shame it didn't suck me in before it exploded.)

Via Dispatches From The Island
Source: Audibly Lost

New Via Domus Trailer

2008-03-21T13:14:00.006+00:00

Here's a new trailer for Lost: Via Domus
Even though most of you already have the game, I thought it was pretty cool.

A Walkthrough Achievement Guide

2008-03-14T06:05:00.001+00:00

Thanks to Aphlix for the guide that you can see here.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/forum/showthread.php?t=60564

Initial Reaction/Summary Of Via Domus

2008-03-09T02:55:00.005+00:00

Josh of The Lost Flashbacks Podcast joined Big-O of The Cranky Fanatic Podcast to give his initial reaction (and summary) of LOST: Via Domus having recently completed the game. The following is the entire podcast (which mostly discusses "The Other Woman") but you can catch the stuff about Via Domus near the end of the podcast at about 1 hour, 6 minutes & 30 seconds.

Keep in mind that the section just before they discuss the game they discuss the trailer for next week's episode of Lost, so make sure to scrub past 1 hour, 7 minutes if you don't watch show trailers. :)

Listen Now!

Video Walkthrough Of Via Domus

2008-03-05T18:45:00.001+00:00

For those struggling with the game or for those who haven't played it but just want to see it in detail these videos should be quite helpful. They show you how to beat Via Domus quickly, focusing on the things you will need to complete to progress through the game. The following is each level, or "episode" from Via Domus. Many thanks to TyndelM for posting all these videos.

Lostpedia's Via Domus Game Guide

2008-03-05T18:17:00.003+00:00

The many contributers to Lostpedia have put together a great game guide for Via Domus. There is a wealth of information about each level/episode there, check it out.

The Lostpedia Game Guide for Via Domus

Easter Eggs

2008-03-05T08:44:00.002+00:00

Thanks to Maqrkk for these. Have you find any other easter eggs in the game?

Just some little easter eggs that some people might not have noticed.

1. In episode 5 when you have the first flashback inside the Persephone Hotel: Look up to the first floor, you'll see Hurley leaning on the railing.
2. In episode 6 when you have the second flashback inside the Persephone Hotel: Look up to where Hurley was. Now it's Mr. Eko. This is his only appearance in the game.
3. In the episode 6 flashback, look outside behind Lisa. All the way to the last is Michael sitting at a table.

LOST Via Domus - Metareview

2008-03-04T17:00:00.003+00:00

We've already seen a good deal of reviews about Via Domus, but we still haven't covered what some of the other major gaming sites have to say about the game. The consensus seems to be that this is a game for Lost fans only, which if you are reading this blog most likely includes you. A lot of the reviews have been stressing that the game can be completed in under 12 hours or so, which may make it more worth renting than buying if you only plan on playing it once.

IGN - 5.5/10 says: "Ask any Lost fan a question about the show and you are likely to be drawn into a long-winded conversation about The Others, polar bears and how hot Sawyer looks with his shirt off. Ask someone who doesn't watch the show why people seem obsessed with Lost and they will likely shrug, roll their eyes and say, "Who gives a damn?" If you are of the former camp -- the kind who dreams of one day crashing on the Island just so you can personally solve its mysteries -- then you should probably rent (not buy) Via Domus. If you're in the latter category, turn away."
Gamespot - 6.5/10 says: "All three versions of Lost: Via Domus look and perform in a similar manner. The PlayStation 3 version looks a little cleaner and brighter than the others, but it can be played only after a seven-minute, onetime install. The PC version allows for seamless mouse-and-keyboard controls. The Xbox 360 version looks a little darker than the others. Still, you'll get the same story and a pretty similar experience on every platform.

For the most diehard of Lost followers, the time spent with the game will be enjoyable. Unfortunately, it is over way too fast. Via Domus is full of little hang-ups, and it requires some knowledge of the show that could potentially isolate outside players and keep them from becoming immersed in the gameworld. Ultimately, this game can be recommended for purchase only to the most diehard of Lost fans."
Team XBox - 6.5/10 says: "Gameplay-wise, Via Domus is an average adventure experience that most players will be able to wrap up fairly quickly. Odds are, even a run-of-the-mill gamer will be able to play through the game from start to finish in about ten hours or less. And, much like a TV show, once you’ve finished it, you probably won’t go back to it for quite some time. There’s virtually no replay value whatsoever. On the upside, the solid scripting does a great job of making the overall experience feel just like an episode of the show. In fact, the game’s story and the progression of its plot is what keeps Via Domus from sinking in its own mediocrity."
Videogamer - 6/10 says: "...The musical score can't be criticised though, with the show's signature sound being reproduced superbly. The game is even structured into episodes, so you get a little set-up scene, followed by the white text on black logo, then the episode ending with that classic Lost cliff-hanger noise that closes off every show. The start of the next chapter even gives you a "Previously on Lost" rundown, adding to the whole feeling of the game being a TV show. What doesn't add to this, though, is the awkward looking acting, a not really TV-quality script and some odd roughness in the visuals and audio (in one scene Hurley's voice has the sound of the sea in the background, but the others around him are talking with no background noise)."
MetaCritic - 58/100: MetaCritic combines tons of video game review sites into one score. For a large helping of more reviews check out MetaCritic.

Spoiler : Via Domus Ending

2008-03-03T16:56:00.003+00:00

Feel free to discuss the ending of Via Domus in this section in the comments.

What did you think of the ending?

Thanks to Sergio for the video of the ending.

Variety reviews Via Domus

2008-03-03T10:40:00.002+00:00

Thanks to Congested for the following.

Watching the tense faces of actors carefully carrying dynamite made for several minutes of very exciting television in season one of ``Lost.'' Watching the back of an animated character carrying dynamite as you make him walk through the jungle in slow motion? Not so much. That's the fundamental problem of ``Lost: Via Domus,'' Ubisoft's new adaptation of the ABC series that hews so closely to its source material it never gives players anything remotely interesting to do. The only people bored enough to play through this tedious and poorly conceived videogame would have to be stranded on a remote island.

Serialized television has never translated well to videogames, but Ubisoft's Montreal development studio went to great pains to make ``Lost: Via Domus'' resemble its source material. Not only does the game look and sound just like the show, it's even divided into seven ``episodes,'' each of which starts with a ``previously on'' summary. The playable character, Elliott, is a new survivor of Oceanic 815 who, like everyone else on the island, has a dark past that's slowly revealed through flashbacks.

Immersing players in the world of ``Lost'' is one thing, but finding something compelling for them to do is a different matter. The series has a lot more talking than action, and the developers don't mess with that formula, which leaves not-so-exciting challenges like walking through a cave without letting a torch burn out, hiding behind trees from the black smoke, and following signs in a jungle. In several different instances players have to fix a circuit board by playing a minigame that's almost directly ripped off from ``Bioshock,'' right down to the sound effects.

``Lost's'' trademark flashbacks are as integral to the game as they are to the show, but the developers' weak attempt to turn them interactive is an exercise in frustration. Players have to make Elliott, who's a photojournalist, take a precise picture of something happening in the flashback in order to trigger the full memory. But the game demands that the shot be famed and focused in just the right way, which can lead to dozens of maddening attempts before, seemingly arbitrarily, the memory progresses.

There are only a handful of stabs at amping up the snail-like pace of ``Lost: Via Domus,'' which include a pair of running sequences and a gun that needs to be fired only five times in the entire game.

Not every videogame need be a nonstop adrenaline rush, of course. However, most that aren't replace action with multiple story paths and mental challenges. The plot of ``Lost: Via Domus'' - which sheds new light on the Hanso foundation and the Others and ends with a surprising twist - is just as intricate as an average episode, but it's short and completely linear. There are lots of visual and dialogue clues to pick up on, though, since Elliott's journal explicitly reminds players of everything important, and there's no real incentive to pay attention. The biggest intellectual tasks are a few SAT-like logic questions and a single puzzle tied to the name of the game.

That solution, like most of the information in the game, comes from conversations with Locke, Jack and the show's other main characters, only some of whom sound remotely like themselves. While they're all rendered realistically, the animation is so static that they never display a hint of emotion while talking. They look just as uninterested in the game as players will be.

Source: Variety

Dharmageddon's 'Via Domus' Appraisal

2008-03-01T12:05:00.005+00:00

There are so many Via Domus reviews floating around at the moment, that I feel it would be of no real value to write up one of my own. So instead I have decided to do things a little differently by highlighting a number of notable aspects of the game, and talking a little about each. For the sake of simplicity, I have sectioned them up into “Good features” and “Annoyances”.

Firstly, it will be worth noting that there will be very mild **SPOILERS** ahead.

Secondly, it might also be worth mentioning that I received and installed my game at midday yesterday, and I completed it before I went to bed last night. So in all it took me around about half a day to complete. Of those twelve hours I only really played for seven of them, possibly even less than that. It is not a long game by any means.

***

Annoyances:

Voice-Acting – While some of the voice-acting is fairly good, the majority of it isn’t. From the very moment you stumble out from the jungle to be greeted by Michael, you just know that you’re going to be in for a world of pain. Character voices sound forced at times, and certain characters have been stereotyped, rather than mimicked. Amongst the worst voices are Michael, Sawyer, John Locke and Charlie.

Jack – I found Jack to be an annoyance throughout the game from the very beginning. The game utilizes Jack as an obstruction to the progression of the game’s story. Jack’s stubbornness quickly becomes tiresome though. While I agree that Jack should be used to provide challenge for the player, in many cases Jack seems to become too domineering and too strict, even bordering on stepping out of character at times.

Blockades – In order to keep the game’s narrative confined, the game limits your character to small areas using various types of blockades. The problem is, a lot of these blockades, which consist of things like plane wreckage, foliage and rocks, are often too indistinguishable to pass as blockades. You can’t always tell what is a boundary and what isn’t. In the jungle scenes with the smoke monster, this is especially frustrating.

Pace – One of the biggest problems for me is the pace at which the story progresses. One minute you’re helping Jack to rescue people on the beach, the next you’re hearing about how Scott, or Steve, has been found dead. It leaves you feeling as though you’ve missed out on something. It’s almost as if part of the Lost experience has been robbed from you. What about the days and weeks between? What was Elliot up to in that time? We may never know.

Lack of Lost Detail – Given that the game is so quickly paced, the story of the show of Lost is left to suffer. For example, events such as the making of the raft, Boone’s death, Ethan’s incursion, the tail-end survivors, Danielle’s introduction, etc, don’t even appear in this game. The only real storyline which is respectfully incorporated into the game is the Hatch/Swan Station scenario.

The Trade System – The trading system in Via Domus is pretty much worthless. It is made redundant by the fact that the items provided are never actually needed. Okay, that’s not entirely true because the torches are needed for the caves, but other than one or two torches, the other items are unnecessary. Fuses can be found all over the place, and other than the torches and a gun, they are all you need to progress. Besides, mango fruit and water is so abundant and easy to find, that you are never struggling for items to trade. It would have been better having to accomplish mini-missions/quests for item rewards.

Previously on Lost – At the beginning of each game chapter, we are treated to a ‘previously on Lost’ video segment. While it’s fun to watch the first time, it continues to repeat every time you start that same chapter. This wouldn’t be an issue if the player could press a button to skip the video, but instead the player is forced to sit through the entire thing.

***

Good features:

Graphics – The graphics, for the most part, are superb. I play the game on medium settings, which I suppose is the standard for most people. Aside from one or two pixilated areas, which mostly occur only in the jungle areas, the overall look of the game is smooth, detailed and lifelike.

Sound/Score/Music - Voice-acting aside, the sound in this game is second to none. The game utilizes sound-effects ripped directly from the television show, which makes this Lost experience all the more believable. The music/score for Via Domus is also superb, especially those played in the suspenseful scenes.

Locations – Many of the landmark locations included in this game are spot on. A lot of attention has clearly been paid to such locations as the Swan Station, the Black Rock and the Hydra Station. These locations add to the game and help to bridge the gap between the television show and the game.

The Main Character – Game-based characters always stand the chance of being unrealistic or just plain annoying. In this game’s case, the main character, Elliot, is neither. At first glance he looks like the guy next-door, and in many ways he acts like it too. This is due to the fact that Elliot suffers from amnesia; a masterstroke by the game’s designers. It means that the character is on the same complete journey as you are, meaning that players can easily relate to the character and what he is feeling.

The Smoke Monster – If you thought that the smoke monster in the television show was scary, just wait until you encounter the smoke monster in this game. Talk about suspense! From the very beginning of the game, you find yourself thrown up against the mysterious monster. By using the foliage to hide, you get right up close and personal with the monster. The spot-on sound effects add to this experience. What I consider to be the most challenging mission of the entire game, involves having to avoid the smoke monster while carrying dynamite. I challenge anybody to play that mission for the first time without getting the sweats.

Run-Away! – The chase scenes, in which you are running away from the camera/screen, are absolutely superb. Rather than giving you the freedom to move around freely, you are restricted to a set path, which you have to navigate using jump and slide abilities. Throughout these chase scenes you are either being chased and followed by the smoke monster or the Others. It is a pure adrenaline rush, and is a game feature which I wish they had included more of.

Puzzles – Puzzles are the one feature of the game which slow the pace up, and thank goodness! They are challenging and often perplexing. Throughout the game you are put up against a number of electronic circuits, which you must fix using fuses. These puzzles are fun and addictive.

Flash-Backs – Yet another masterstroke from the game’s designers. Flash-backs, though straightforward, provide escapism from the on-island storyline. Learning about your character’s history through the lens of a camera is both fascinating and exciting. The flash-backs also tie in with certain familiar things from the show.

The Ending – I’m not going to get into how the game actually ends, because I don’t want to spoil it for anybody. But wow. The ending to this game sits right up there with the very best cliff-hangers we’ve seen in the television show of Lost. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat with my hands clasped across my mouth. A truly wonderful end to the game.

***

My Verdict: Via Domus is a decent little game. However, whilst a few of the game’s features are great, a lot of game’s features tend to let the game down. I find myself asking why such a short game couldn't have been filled out with more story. Surely adding in a couple of extra missions/quests wouldn't have taken long to produce, and we would have been left with a far superior product.

The main character’s story, though patchy, helps to guide you through the game, and while at times way too easy, there are one or two tough challenges throughout. Getting an interactive view into island life, beyond that of what we have seen on the television show, is both interesting and exciting.

As I mentioned, I completed this game on the same day that I bought it. For me, that is inexcusable. When I buy a game, I expect to be challenged. When I buy a game, I expect to get more than a day’s worth of play out of it. That said, the game does involve a number of unlockables, for which I shall have to go back and play through each chapter again.

I guess it’s just a good thing that this game carries the ‘Lost’ signature. This alone guarantees the game’s success.

Now although my opinion may seem harsh, I 'did' enjoy the game and I 'would' recommend it to any hardcore Lost fans out there. But for the average gamer with no interest in Lost, I'd suggest you avoid this game like the plague.

I score this game a respectable: 6.5/10

Solution : IQ Test Answers

2008-02-28T07:53:00.001+00:00

Thanks to Levi for the following. Don't look if you don't want to know.

Solution : Fuse box puzzle - Hydra Station

2008-02-28T07:49:00.003+00:00

Thanks to Levi for the following. Don't look if you don't want to know.

Atomic Gamer Review

2008-02-27T21:09:00.001+00:00

You may be wondering if we really needed a video game based on the hit TV show Lost. While the show has a legion of fans, they've already got their hands full with the alternate reality game that went around and tons of mysteries still going on in each episode. But here comes Ubisoft with a licensed game, whether we like it or not. And frankly, unless you enjoy both light adventure games and the actual show, you'll probably not make it through this one. But for that narrow combination of fans of both, this can wind up being a pretty solid game.

Lost: Via Domus has you take on the role of a new character, one that's just inserted into the plot for the sake of the game. His name is Elliott, and right before the famous plane crash that starts the show, some mean-looking guy was getting out of his seat to rush over and attack him. Turbulence knocks the guy out and before long the plane's in pieces, crashing into an island in the Pacific. Elliott wakes up in the jungle on the island shortly afterwards with total amnesia. He doesn't know his name, how he got there, or his past. Much like the show's characters did, though, Elliott starts seeing someone who isn't actually on the island. Through exploration, puzzle solving, a little action, and a unique way to remember his past, Elliott begins to find his way.

Lost combines traditional adventure game conventions with the pacing and most of the production values of the show to a pretty decent effect. The jungle looks excellent, but wandering out there alone can be really dangerous - the black smoke is out there and if it gets near, you'll have to find cover in specific groupings of trees to stay alive. Conversing with the Losties is amusing, although you'll quickly find that the developers had a hard time capturing the look of some characters, and an even harder time securing the real actors' voices. Sure, there are a few of the actors that worked on the game (Desmond and Ben are probably the best examples), but most are impostors. Some of them aren't too bad, but a few are terrible - Locke's probably the worst. Also, strangely, Locke looks much younger in the game, and he doesn't have that signature cut around his right eye he got from the crash. It tells me that the developers of the game probably watched the show in order to make sure they got things right, but it seems few were actual fans.

Any fan of the show is going to enjoy visiting the many important locations from the first three seasons, but they might not be so happy with the many ways that Elliott is blocked from just going where he wants. It's a very linear game, and while you can take liberties here and there to explore, it's mostly to just pick up stuff like water bottles, coconuts, and papayas so you can trade for the good stuff with Sawyer and a few other characters. Otherwise, the beach is conveniently lined with debris to block your travel, while Jack manages to block your way back into the jungle at one point early in the game. We're supposed to believe that that's the only way Elliott can get back into the jungle. Overall, conversations with these characters are usually single-sentence questions followed by answers that aren't much longer, although their personalities do come out pretty well in how they respond.

Unfortunately, the challenge in Via Domus comes more through frustration than genuinely satisfying difficulty. Creeping through caves is annoying with your torches in limited supply, and the developers enjoyed placing little waterfalls to force you to extinguish and then relight your torch. It's dark as hell and easy to get turned around which will waste your time and torches. It might prompt you to reload from a checkpoint, but oops, that checkpoint was before you entered the cave, and often before you traded for torches and the like, so you'll need to redo that stuff as well.

Oh, and watch out for the endless pits, too, which will cause a Game Over screen if even half of one foot goes slightly off into the blackness. Of course, the caves are already pretty dark, so you're forced to creep around slowly - this makes already annoying sections of the game that much more aggravating. Poor Elliott is no Lara Croft, so don't expect much at all in the way of acrobatics. Actually, most of what he's good at is running around and talking to people. Sure, this is an adventure game, but there are bits of action, too, and those wind up being some of the worst parts of the game.

I'm not a huge adventure gaming fan, but I found that exploration and just taking in all the Lost-like stuff to be the best part of Via Domus. Solving fusebox puzzles by fiddling around with wiring is a significant part of your adventures, and I can't figure out why the developers clung so tightly to reusing this game in slight variations. Then again, the "hacking" mini-game in Bioshock happened far more often and it was just as tedious as this one. The flashbacks are interesting in that you get a clue as to what you're supposed to take a picture of and then must take the right picture in a scene. If you miss it, the short scene replays until you get it right - then the whole thing replays with full dialog and usually a bit extra to add interest. I liked these flashback scenes, but some will likely find them to be just as annoying as the cave creeping.

It seems like Ubisoft missed the mark overall. While the game does cater to that narrow cross between adventure gamers and Lost fans, it still doesn't really satisfy either one very well. The show's original pacing is ripped apart as the game accelerates time pretty quickly; after the first night on the island, Michael's already building a raft and Sawyer's been hoarding gear for what seems like a while already. The characters are here, but they reappear and disappear to the point that only a few are usually available to talk to at any one time. And for adventure fans, the puzzles are not terribly challenging and certainly not diverse enough to keep up with the greats of the genre.

Most of the time and effort for Via Domus went into recreating the show's most interesting landscapes, and that's where it shines the most. Don't expect much in the way of answers about the show, however, as Elliott's story might involve the characters and locations, but it doesn't reveal anything big. Still, as an encapsulated little adventure that takes place next to the main plot, it does work well and fans will love that the whole thing is broken up into "episodes", complete with the "Previously on Lost" recap, flashbacks, and style that always ends an episode in a cliffhanger. While Lost: Via Domus won't be winning any awards, fans with sixty bucks to blow will still enjoy the ten-plus hours that it has to offer. Get it, but only if you're really into the show and don't mind some casual adventuring.

Overall: 72%

Source: AtomicGamer

Platform Nation Review

2008-02-27T11:54:00.000+00:00

Game Review: Lost Via Domus
Release: Feb 27, 2008
Genre: Action Adventure
Developer: Ubisoft
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3,PC
Players: 1
MSRP: $59.99(Xbox 360 and PS3) $29.99(PC)
ESRB Rating: Teen
Website: lostgame.us.ubi.com/

Let me start off by saying that I am a huge Lost fan, I absolutely love the television show. So I went into this game with really high hopes and expectations of what i wanted due to the story line that I am familiar with. You start of the game really on show one of season one. Now I know what your thinking, damn, I do not want to play the story that I have already watched, but Ubisoft has you covered on that because you actually play a new character. You play a man that has suffered amnesia from the plane crash and spend the first few levels trying to find out who you are and thats really all I am going to say about that because I do not want to spoil any of the storyline for you. So the game itself takes place over the first season of Lost and kind of ends there as well, but lets just get right into the scoring of the game.

Graphics: 7
The island as a whole looks nice but when you start playing the game you start noticing all the little imperfections in the graphics department. While the character details look real nice the animations especially during the game play really suffer. The cinematics are done spectacular but this is not a movie nor television show, this is a game and thats why I really did not bump up the graphics score because of this. Once you start playing the game you will notice clunky movements, blocky characters during the game and just nothing really spectacular.

Sound: 8
Ubisoft did this right by getting the same people that did the score for the television show to do the score for this game. The music in Lost Via Domus ties in with the show perfectly and it adds a lot to the game. What adds even more is the fact they they had several of the stars of Lost lend there voice to the game as well. I believed that the sound was one of the strong points of the game. The only reason that this did not get an even high score for this is because not all the characters voices are in the game, and the ones that they used voice models just did not seem to work for me, as I am a huge fan of the show and I know what they are suppose to sound like. Other then the music and the character voices, the ambient sounds are not bad either, they are not great, but they are not bad.

Gameplay: 6
Lost Via Domus is an action adventure game and most of the time spent in this game is running around and talking to people on the island. This became boring very quick for me. It felt like I would talk to everyone at point A, solve some type of puzzle at point B, then I would run back to point A because the puzzle was solved, and then I would finish off at point C for the episode; this just was not my cup of tea. There puzzle games mostly consist of taking photos of certain objects, like in the flashbacks, fixing some circuit board with fuses and talking to people. In this day and age of gaming there just has to be more then that for the game to be enjoyable.

Controls: 8
This is the controls in a nut shell, left thumbstick moves you, hold right trigger and you sprint and A is to talk. Now you will use all the other buttons in this game but really, thats it. Thats not a bad thing, this game is not complex but there really is not that much to do so it does not need complex controls. You definitely can pick up this game and dive right into it the only awkward thing I really noticed was having to hit up on the d pad to pull up my inventory, this could have been done in a different spot but it works I guess.

Replay: 5
After you beat the six missions there is not really much to do in Lost. You can go back and work your way through the levels just exploring the island which, by the way, is actually ok because if you know the show it just adds a little bit more into the mix. But other then that all you would really do is try to unlock all your achievement points by completely the flashbacks that you might not have done fully or taking pictures of special moments of the game which will unlock achievement points.

Value: 5
Lost Via Domus costs 59.99 and honestly I do not know how they can feel they can charge this amount other then because its just affiliated with the television show. The replay value just is not there, and the games itself us inexcusably to short. The only thing giving this any value is on the Xbox 360 version you at least get easy achievement points, unlike on the Playstation 3 version. I just feel the price tag for this is way wrong, the console versions should have been 29.99 just like its PC counterpart.

Overall: 6
While the controls were easy to pick up and play, the visuals of the game were not bad and the game audio was done quite well that did not save this game from all its pit falls. The length of the game was way to short, and the majority of the game was spent in cut scene (which were done quite well), talking to people on the island and running around. Which, by the way, was awful, you were running in dark caves, running away from the black smoke as well as running away from the others while they were shooting at you. That right there was by far the worst part of this game, it was done to often and it was very frustrating when you failed and that happened quite a bit. I can not recommend spending sixty dollars on this game, a thirty dollar price tag would have impacted my overall score slight bit but still not enough for me to tell you to buy this game. Rent this if your a fan of Lost or an achievement type of person, otherwise stay away.

Source: Platform Nation

Review - Lost: The Video Game

2008-02-26T21:51:00.001+00:00

Thanks to Inaudible-Whisper for the article.

“Previously, on Lost…”; that’s how each chapter starts, that’s the level of fan service that ABC and Ubisoft have injected into Via Domus. Polar bears, smoke monsters, flashbacks, numbers, the hatch; every set piece is ripped straight from the show and carefully placed in the experience - except the game’s protagonist. You play as a new castaway, Elliot Maslow, a photojournalist who has his own amnesiac past to discover.

Elliott isn’t shoved in haphazardly, finding himself as an awkward tagalong in the show’s memorable moments – he’s not picking bits of Arzt out of his hair, or shoving Henry Gale in a jail cell. Following his own objectives and stories lessens the importance of staying true to the show’s scenes and gives the developer free reign with his flashbacks.

While Via Domus is linear and gives tasks on a point-to-point basis, it’s the exploration of the world, investigation of the show’s props and conversations with 815 castaways that provide the game’s greatest strength (and the majority of the Xbox 360 version’s Achievements). The tasks are typically aggravating or tedious; dynamite’s erratic nature makes for a memorable scene in the show, but actually performing the sluggish trek through a smoke-monster-infested jungle isn’t so exciting. Also; since when was the entirety of the Dharma Initiative and Oceanic Flight 815 powered by a selection of carefully placed fuses?
Elliot’s flashbacks provide a much needed change of pace; you’re provided with a torn-up Polaroid and dumped into a saturated, distorted half-memory. Taking a snapshot that mirrors the photograph restores colour and sound, allowing you to explore the areas in Elliot’s past.

The game definitely gives away a few answers; nothing major, nothing that the TV-only crowd could miss – disposable answers - ties between Elliot and the island, insights into Hanso/Dharma’s other projects and one that will definitely make Lost fans smile.

When it comes to the “Losties”, similar care and attention is applied, but not without its jarring disconnects. Some of the show’s typecasting is misaligned with the speedy timeline; it’s only the second day and Sawyer has already set up his International House of Pilfered Suitcases, Michael’s building his raft and Locke is hiding in a Banyan tree, knife at hand, spouting off his philosophical views on fate and destiny – the behaviours and ideas are there, but the timing is off; the game is almost too eager to show off its expansive knowledge of Lost lore.

The presentation makes up for a lot of the game’s shortcomings. Each environment from the luscious beaches to the foreboding jungles and from the desolate Dharma lairs to the chilling Black Rock are rendered in immaculate beauty, each toying with colour and light to match the atmosphere. Objects and props like Desmond’s mural, the infamous computer, Charlie’s guitar and the smoke monster guard poles are scattered about to examine and photograph, the latter leading to several 360 achievements.
The audio work is a mixed bag, however – Lost’s orchestral score makes it into the game, but only a handful of actors (including Claire, Ben and Desmond) signed up to provide voices, other characters are portrayed by lack-lustre stand-ins.

Via Domus’ strengths lay in its more passive accomplishments – Elliot’s storyline, insights into the character’s lives and the pure satisfaction of exploring the world of Lost first hand. The missions are merely linear fetch quests, the mini games are frustrating and the shooting isn’t winning any awards, but for a Lost fan, this is a commendable experience, true to the series.
It encapsulates the thematic elements of the show and presents them in a stunning fashion. To outsiders, it will come across as pointless fan service, but to the fans, Lost: Via Domus provides enough insight and exploration to warrant at least a rental.

Rating: ★★★☆
3/4 Good (providing you’re a Lost fan)

Source: British Gaming

Via Domus Dharma Ride Achievement

2008-02-26T08:19:00.002+00:00

Thanks to Ali for the video. Only watch if you want to know

Via Domus Staff Station Achievement

2008-02-26T08:17:00.001+00:00

Thanks to Ali for the video. Obviously only watch if you want to know.

Wonderwallweb Review

2008-02-24T18:54:00.003+00:00

Thanks to Doomed for the article.

I have to admit, I am a big fan of the TV series Lost, so when I heard that Ubisoft where making a game based on this popular program two things crossed my mind, the first being, would this game be any good? And secondly and perhaps more importantly, how was anyone going to make a game out of this? Well I am about to tell you the answer to both these questions and if you are a Lost fan, then you are going to be pleasantly surprised.

Lost (Via Domus), sees you take control of a photojournalist who is one of the survivor’s of Oceanic Flight 815. At the beginning of the game you soon discover that your character is suffering from amnesia and cannot remember who he is (I know now but I’m not telling you. cruel I know). As in the TV program most of your time is spent discovering all about the island, however along the way you will also unlock memories from your characters past, which in turn helps him to remember who he is.

Drama is never far away in this game, from the first moment it just drags you in and doesn’t let go. To be honest I wasn’t really impressed at first due to the frustrating load times at the beginning of the game, however once the mystery starts to unfold you really start to feel hooked and the load times become a distant memory. The game is separated into seven episodes, at the beginning of each you are treated to that ever so familiar “previously on Lost” scene which shows you the highlights of the last level you completed, it’s all very impressive and really makes you feel like you are playing a character on the show, Ubisoft must be applauded for this.

During the game your character will have many flashbacks, as he remembers his previous encounters with his fellow islanders and other characters, flashbacks take the form of a broken picture, which you must piece together by recreating the scene with your camera, take the perfect picture and you will then be able to interact with the past to find out more information, this may all sound a bit strange but when you see it in action you will understand.

Interacting with other characters during your adventures is pretty simple, all you need to do is walk up to them and then the option to chat will then appear, once selected you are then able to interact by selecting the highlighted questions. When talking to an NPC you are also able to trade items and if you wish to ask about an item you have in your possession, check your inventory. The game also offers you the chance to take photographs of certain items, in some cases this will even update your quest log, which is basically a diary of what you have achieved and what you need to do next.

While Lost isn’t an all out action game there are some moments where your heart will jump out of your mouth, the perfect example being when you meet the black smoke for the first time, although there are ways to escape it’s grasp. There are also a few on the rails moments when you are trying to escape the black smoke and later on The Others, but the main bulk of the game though is spent solving puzzles which come in all shapes and sizes, such as the fuse boxes where you need to get the correct voltage to each meter, thus enabling it to turn green, it’s all very taxing stuff, I sat for at least 30 minutes trying to get all of the meters in one fuse box to change before eventually managing to move on.

Each stage of the game offers many different and challenging environments, of these the jungle and the caves are probably two of the most difficult to navigate. Personally I found I kept getting lost in the jungle due to the amount of wrong turns I kept taking, although helpfully there are markers on trees, which when activated point you in the right direction, though if like me you still get lost then the game will then allow you the option to return to where you began. The caves pose an entirely different challenge due to the dangers that lurk in them, the main rule of entering a cave is always take a torch, the reasons for this are many, however the main one is that if you enter the cave without a light source the darkness will kill you, well that’s if you don’t fall down a dark pit first.

The presentation in Lost is absolutely stunning, the character likenesses are pretty much spot on and although only some of the actors have been recruited to provide the voiceovers this really doesn’t take away from the general feel of the game. The same can be said of the environments, each area of the island has been perfectly reproduced making the game feel very authentic, however the most impressive thing of all has to be the musical score, just try not to imagine you are not really there when the beautifully created music increases in speed and intensity, it’s just perfect what more can I say?

It is very difficult to talk about this game without giving away any of the story, but it really is one of those play it for yourself adventures that you must experience rather than read about. When I began playing this game I really didn’t think I would like it due to the impossible task I felt the developers faced in making it any good, however I was so wrong, I managed to complete the game start to finish in twelve hours and I tell you what, the ending is just typical of the TV series. Lost is a brilliant game and therefore I have to say that in my eyes Ubisoft have achieved the impossible, hats off to them.

Source: WonderwallWeb

Videos of Game Play

2008-02-24T18:08:00.001+00:00

Thanks to Seth for the videos, don't watch if you don't want to be spoiled.

DocArzt Reviews Via Domus

2008-02-24T16:54:00.002+00:00

My good friend DocArzt has just written a quick review of the Via Domus game.

Check out his review.

http://www.docarzt.com/lost-news/docs-review-lost-via-domus-for.php

Then come back here and let us know your thoughts.