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| Reviewer | Platform | Publisher | Developer | Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Bailey | PC | Paradox Interactive | Quazar | 1 |
| Requirements | Buy from Amazon.co.uk | |||
| 2.0GHz processor, Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista, 256MB RAM, 128MB Video Card, 2.5GB HDD space, DVD-ROM drive | Click here to buy Tarr Chronicles. | |||
It hasn't been long since we looked at the unfinished version of Tarr Chronicles, so it's hardly surprising to see this version hasn't changed very much. Not that this is a bad thing; our preview code showed a product of near-complete status, and since then the changes seem to have been mostly ironing out bugs. This means we already know the basics, but now we get to try out a full campaign and experience a space-based combat game that actually works rather well with a mouse, and not just a joystick.
On the other hand we have the same problems. Most particularly that, while the campaign might be quite good to play, and can be fun, it isn't particularly original, and doesn't offer the struggling genre a way to move forward. The story sees you working behind enemy lines in an attempt to defend the galaxy from an alien race known as De'Khete. The story is told reasonably well, with a combination of voices over the radio, cut-scenes, and briefing screens. However, it ultimately doesn't offer much more than a break in the action, itself becoming repetitive rather quickly. Essentially you spend a lot of time with some conversations over the radio and then a wave of fighters will move in and you'll either have to attack or defend something, and then it's back to a bit of conversation before the fighting begins again. Again, not particularly original, and not always particularly exciting, but that doesn't stop it being enjoyable in parts.
The biggest issue is that this is pretty much it. The main story may be able to last you a few days, but it's very linear (which is somewhat ironic considering the vastness of the setting), so you probably won't want to play it right the way through again. There's also no multiplayer or any other options – so once that campaign is complete, Tarr Chronicles really is over.
Anyway, moving back to the gameplay; the game is mainly built around the use of the mouse and keyboard as your control method. Mouse movement, as you might expect, controls the movement of the ship itself, and is a responsive input, used with a combination of mouse buttons to activate certain functions, though the humble two-button setup will see primary and secondary weapon firing. The keyboard is used in combination to provide the large variety of functions that you might expect in a space-based game, such as barrel rolling, adjusting thrust (which can also be achieved through a mouse wheel), and changing weapons. The idea of designing around the mouse, rather than having it as simply an option for those who don't own joysticks, allows Tarr Chronicles to be more accessible, though the multitude of buttons that are required to be pressed on the keyboard are counter to this, particularly for a more arcade-like space combat title. The hardcore, however, who rarely get to dust off their joysticks these days, are also catered for, with full support included. However, with the mouse as the reference, it seems a little less sharp than what some space sims might offer, but nothing to detract from the experience. As in the preview I gave the Xbox 360 controller - now becoming some sort of standard for games on Windows machines - a try here, and unfortunately the game doesn't fully support it; the triggers or the right-stick can't be used, limited the range of functions you can assign. Admittedly as this isn't a "Games for Windows" release it shouldn't be expected to include such support, but it would have been a good addition when such controllers are more common than joysticks today.
Technically Tarr Chronicles does well. Without requiring a particularly powerful PC, it manages to pull off some rather impressive visual effects, as part of a set of generally pleasing graphics. Space itself is rather dark, so effort has thankfully been put in to make the most of the explosions and laser fire, and generally make things more exciting on screen. The ships themselves contain a fair amount of detail, though they seem somewhat uninspired in design. On the sound front, though, things are worse, with annoying voice-overs making the breaks between the action somewhat infuriating, though at least the sound effects don't spoil the visuals.
| Graphics | There's nothing mind-blowing, but there's some fairly impressive visuals here that should especially satisfy gamers without powerful setups. | 7/10 |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | Mostly enjoyable, but often far too repetitive. After a few missions you feel like you've done it all before – and you probably have. | 6/10 |
| Value | There isn't much here apart from the campaign, but the game is well-priced, making this less of an issue. | 7/10 |
| Lifespan | The campaign is of a fairly good length, with plenty of missions to get through. However, you're unlikely to play it through again, and with no multiplayer the game can feel a bit limited. | 6/10 |
| Audio | The sound effects are fine, but the voice-overs – while not exactly delivered badly – can get irritating. | 6/10 |
| Overall | Tarr Chronicles isn't a bad game by any means, and indeed can be quite good in parts. But the score is simply saying that it's nothing more than a competent space shooter, and ultimately could have offered more to the genre. Certainly one for those indeed of dusting off their joysticks though. | 6/10 |
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