Truberbrook is unlike any game I’ve ever played before. Yes, I’ve played adventure games. I actually like them a lot! Yes, I’ve played games with strong narratives. I like them, too. What Truberbrook does that is so unique, however, is pull you into it’s world and not let go. It’s a game that is fun to play, a joy to listen to, and a pleasure to look at. It is so lovingly crafted that you cannot help but appreciate the attention to detail that developer btf had put into this game.
Playing as the young American Hans Tannhauser, you find yourself deep in rural Germany after you’ve won a mysterious lottery that you don’t even remember participating in. You tumble into a small township that you soon learn is Truberbrook, and that’s where the fun begins. You are immediately greeted by a few quirky characters, who set the stage for the world and its inhabitants.
Honestly, the dialogue is fantastic. The genuinely German accents of the citizens of Truberbrook is one of my favorite elements of the game. As a Canadian, the accent is a joy to listen to, and it truly helps in immersing the player in the game world. The out-of-place American accent on Hans is a constant reminder of how awesome the voice acting is, and listening to him converse with his German counterparts will put a smile on your face. The setting and time period are captured perfectly; from the food on the table to the clothes on the dresser. Kudos to the development team for recognizing the unique opportunity they had to infuse culture into Truberbrook. It sets it apart from other games in the genre, and is an incredible element of the game.
You know, sometimes there’s just nothing like spending some time by the water.You also cannot talk about Truberbrook without talking about its incredible visual style. Every scene and landscape in the game is a physical hand-crafted set piece. Even the lighting in the game is actual light that has been carefully staged to perfection. The result of this work is a world that looks absolutely wonderful. The sheer level of detail in the models is breathtaking, and I have never seen a game that pulls off anything like this before. Again, I have played adventure games that look good… Truberbrook just looks phenomenal. It will the first thing you notice when you start the game, and one of the things you’ll appreciate as its final scenes play out. Seriously, the screenshots don’t do the game justice. You’ve got to see it for yourself.
All the care that went into the audio and visual elements of the game ultimately pay off in encouraging you to seek out every character interaction available. I never found myself skipping through dialogue or leaving any given set unexplored, simply because I wanted to see more. The result was a deep understanding of the world and its characters, which allowed me to piece together solutions to puzzles in a very organic manner. There was the occasional time when I wasn’t sure what the game wanted me to do or where it wanted me to go, but fortunately that only happened a few times. Generally speaking, the story kept progressing, and I was constantly problem-solving as I developed solutions to the challenges I encountered.
The game is filled with hints of clever comedy. This one made me laugh out loud!With that being said, Truberbrook is a very slow, deliberate game. If you are impatient and skip through dialogue, you will miss key details that will make the puzzle solving more difficult. Moreover, many of the puzzles can only be solved by talking to the townsfolk, so be sure to take your time and talk to everyone. Trust me, it’s worth it! Plus, as I said above, the dialogue is one of the best parts of the game, why would you want to skip out on that!
As with most adventure games, I am hesitant to say too much about the events of the story because it is something you should experience for yourself. What I can say though is that it has its twists and turns, and overall was an engaging ride. The characters you encounter will grow on you, and you’ll cheer for their success along their journey. The story may not have the emotional weight that is often found in narrative adventure titles due to its focus on quirky culture, but it still does a good job of keeping the player guessing. Truberbrook is a well-crafted game, though perhaps for some people, it is a little light on storytelling.
Truberbrook is a good game and is a breath of fresh air. Its fantastic infusion of German culture works wonders in immersing the player in its 1960s sci-fi world. If you’ve been craving an adventure game, Truberbrook is the real deal. Although it might not be the strongest narrative experience, there is still plenty to enjoy while exploring its wonderfully-crafted landscape.
