Dreaad
Arcane
Welcome to my amazing drunken lets play of a game about pirates, sharks, walking the plank, a kraken and so forth.
It is a rather old adventure game (1998) first person with the occasional 3rd person cut-scene. Puzzles, pixel hunting, exploration and an assortment of combat/mundane mini games (mostly lots of slashing people with a sword). It has a pretty damn good conversation system with rather expressive npc face and hand gestures AND a fully voiced (really really well done) dialog lock out system, as in if you ask one question you may not be able to ask another question, obviously just fluff but nice nonetheless. Spread over 3 discs a lengthy adventure of "privateering" awaits.
It's been about 15 years since I played this shit, somehow my cd's have survived! It was in fact the first non arcade vydya game I ever played, as such I remember it fondly. So without further ado let's play Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren! Note stuff in italics will be an explanation of game mechanics.
Intro and Episode 1: Pirates! Pirates everywhere.
Episode 2: Bottles to the face hurt.
Episode 3: Game of Pirate Thrones.
Episode 4: Allahu Akbar!!!
Episode 5: Cannibalism and Prison Break.
Episode 6: Lost
Episode 7: D&D
Episode 8: RedJack!
Episode 9: Bartender Edition.
Episode 10: Who is the traitor FFS.
Episode 11: Sewers and sex fiends.
Episode 12: Hand collection and megalomania.
-------------
We get treated to rather crappy and overly dramatic opening sequence, which I'll mostly paraphrase.
Seventeen years ago the greatest pirate king that ever lived was betrayed and died. In his last moments he vowed with dramatic fervor that he was going to get horrible bloody revenge on whomever had betrayed him! As he finished yelling his ship blows to pieces under cannon fire.
As he took his last breath we took our first. A boy named Nicholas Dove living on a tiny island called lizard point. The video ends with us sitting on a rock, at night, gazing at the sea. A little ways of from the village and our house.
-------------
Taking a look around I see the rock I was sitting on and HOLLY SHIT behind the rock it looks like there is some huge fucking storm from hell!!
Aside from that the game looks nice in all its 640-480 resolution glory. The movement in this game is not free roam but rather like a blobber dungeon crawl, left, right, forward and back on a predetermined map. You are free to look around with the mouse.Think Myst. Anyway, we turn around, head out towards some lights in the distance, as we do so, there is a brief cut-scene of an unfriendly shadowy figure lurking in the bushes behind us.
Quick side note, this game brutally kills you and sends you to the main menu (no quick save here bro's) if you don't pay attention. An example... if you ignore the fact that there is a dangerous looking mother fucker stalking you, turn around and walk back, you die.
Yeah this is one of those =DD.
-------------
I continue walking to the lights and spot my old family house..
Might as well head inside, kick my shoes off, relax and....immediately my asshole brother jumps on me.
: What are you doing here? I figured you'd be out way past midnight.
: This is my house too!
: Yeah and I'm your brother, I don't like being responsible for you. You wander around while I do all the work.
: I work sometimes.
: Ooooh, I forgot, there was that one day last year that you worked. When are you going to learn some responsibility? It would be nice if you helped out more often! Anyway there's a pirate ship at the dock's right now.
: What!?
: Their captain is in the bar. Maybe he would give you a job.
: er...right... (just the career I always wanted...)
I take a look around the gloomy house, made all the gloomier by our brother who clearly wants me to die, preferably somewhere far far away so he doesn't have to deal with it.
Guess I'll head of to town. Outside the feeling of being watched returns. I briskly make my way into town, pausing to watch a huge man pounding away (hue hue) at some metal.
: Good evening to you
: Are you new in town, haven't seen you before?
: Yes, I am. Came to start my own forge *flourishes his hammer*. What about you, you got a career?
: I'm a bum.
: Well, I suggest you get a career of some kind. I highly recommend blacksmithing. Nothing the girls like more than big, sweaty men. Between you and me, I've got my eye on Elizabeth. But I must say, she seems to have her eyes on you. You're a lucky man. Have you talked to her lately?
: Nope
: Well go talk to her, she won't be hard to find.
Things are looking up, guess I should head of to find Elizabeth. Which as the blacksmith pointed out, isn't very difficult since she ambushes me just as I walk around the smithy.
: Hello Nick, I was certainly hoping to run into you this evening.
: What are you doing out so late at night?
: Thinking, wondering what I'm goin to do. It's not as though it's dangerous out here. Unfortunatley, I know all of the pirates, if you can believe that. All those men and I can't even find someone to tell my troubles.
: *sigh* Is that a hint?
: Yes. I need your help Nick.
: FML
: I've just got news that my father has died.
: I'm sorry to hear that...
: Don't be, he was as mean as two snakes and it finally caught up with him. But he's left me in quite a dreadful situation. My father's bussiness dealings were held together with promises he never intended to keep. Now that he's dead, everyone knows they aren't getting what he promised. They all want their money's worth... from me.
: Shiiiiiiaaaaaat.
: Your farm is the most valuable property my family owns.
: Wait a minute.
: I don't have a choice Nick. Unless you can help me.
: What can I do to help?!
: Have you ever thought about leaving, to make your fortune? What do you think about becoming a pirate!
: (What is it with this place and pirates?!)
: There's a ship here right now, a pirate ship and I know the captain, sort of. He recently lost some men in... um... an accident. In one good season of pirating, you could make more money than either of us need! What do you say Nick?
: How exactly do you know a pirate captain?
: Well, he's been buying supplies from my family for several years. A lot of people won't do business with pirates for "moral reasons". But as my father always said, there's very little profit in principles. I want a man who's rich, handsome and fascinating and you've already got two of the three qualities. The rich part is easy. Just join this crew and you'll be wealthy in no time!
: I'm not sure that's how it...
: The pirate captain is in the bar right now! Go talk to him. Oh and by the way, I promised I wouldn't tell but the bartender just bought twelve bottles of rat poison from me. I think he doesn't like pirates, so maybe don't drink or eat anything while you're in there.
: Right...(WTF this chick is a fucking double dealing insane whore!)
Fucks sake I like my house. I can see the tavern glowing in the night behind her. Shit, still feel like someone is stalking me. Well at least in the tavern I will be surrounded by friendly murdering pirates, surely safer than being out here.Ah the good old Bull and Crown.
We try to open the door but it's locked, so we knock. The "Bull" (don't ask) opens a hatch and glares outside at us.
: As I live and breathe, Nickolas Dove. Out and about after dark, hah I'm surprised that brother of yours let you go wandering around. What can I do for you eh?
: I want to go inside.
: *raises eyebrows* You must be looking to live on the wild side. Well come on in, there's someone I want you to meet.
He opens the door and beckens me in. After firmly closing the door after us he saunters over behind the bar. I look around, there's only one other person inside.
: Where's the action, I kind of expected more.... people tonight.
: ....
: Well thanks for letting me in anyway.
: Don't thank me so soon.
: You seen anything strange tonight?
: Hmm well, there was a man out back earlier, trying to steal some... food from me. Hit me up for a beer too, then charged at me like a wild animal when I said no. I shot at him and he ran away into the woods. Other than that and our... guests... it's been quite. I was actually just speaking to Captain Justice here. He's a famous sea captain. I'll introduce you if you like.
: Sure.
: Nick Dove, meet Lanton Justice.
The other man in the bar, with gigantic sideburns looks up at me from his map.
: You're a local, maybe you can help me. One of my men seems to have gone missing.
: (I glance at Bull, he stares back silent)
: His name is Lyle and he's not the type to jump ship. You seen him boy?
: What's he look like?
: Like a big stupid oaf but hes strongest man I ever met.
: No
: Well, if you see him, tell him that if he doesn't come find me soon I'm going find him and hang the idiot.
: Right.
: Now tell me, whats your profession?
: I'm uh currently unemployed sir.
: Hurr, I might be able to offer you a job that would get you off this stinking island. *He smiles* Privateering. I'm short handed because some of my men were misplaced.
: I guess I'll hav....
: Now look, I don't hire men with no experience. Can't afford those kinds of mistakes in this bussiness. However there is young lady in town who highly recommended you.
: (Fuck)
: I need men who can fight! We capture French ships, put them out of commision and keep watever we find. All part of our "patriotic" duty. I need men who can handle themselves. What can you do that's useful?
: I... well... I
: At the very least you would need a sword and know how to use it! You also need to be tougher than a shark! I saw one of those on my trip into harbor, probably still out there. So... get a sword, learn how to use it and bring me proof that you have killed a shark. You have until sunrise boy!
: Seriously. That's a hell of a quest.
: There's a storm coming, the likes of which this little island hasn't seen in fifty years. We need to leave as soon as possible. Now leave me alone, I'm busy.
Well, that went well. Guess I have to go back outside. Stepping out of the tavern, looking around, I decide I might as well check round the back, see if I can find anything interesting. Tada I find an unlocked door, leading to some storage, with a nice bottle rat poison!
Might come in handy, gotta remember to warn the captain some time too, then again maybe Bull does just have a tonne of rats running around. We head of back to the town square to see the new blacksmith (convenient).
: What's on your mind?
: Can you make me a sword?
: It'll take me at least seven days and you gotta pay.
: I need one now.
: Sorry, I got a whole bunch of orders already, you going to have to find yourself a sword somewhere else.
Balls. Time to go explore. Asking around town, most people comment on strange lights at the old lighthouse and the pirates hanging around the dock. Might as well head out over there, I'm not keen on wandering into the forest without a weapon. I notice a crazy looking fellow cutting up some fish.
: Hello.
: You're out kind of late to be selling fish aren't you?
: Never mind that. Do you like fish?
:...What? I, I guess it depends.
: I love fish, I chop of their heads.
: That's great.....
: Didn't anyone warn you about me? *he lowers his voice* they say I'm crazy.
: Oh.
: But the truth is I just chop up fish. *raises cleaver and proceeds to... chop up fish*
: Do you have a sword?
: No, I'm a pacifist. You should talk to the blacksmith about that.
: *sigh* .... Hey wait, you know anything about sharks?
: I hate sharks. Always eating the best fish *uses cleaver furiously*.
: You know how I could kill a shark?
: Yes! Fish heads and innards are the best things to attract a shark and you can't kill it until you get close. If you want I can give you some of my leftovers? *hands over a bucket of fish heads*
: It stinks, fuck my life.
: Good luck.
Taking the bucket of fish heads I decide to walk further down the harbor and end up walking right up to two gentlemen loading up crates into a small boat.
One of them turns around unnaturally fast as I approach.
: Come here you scummy little rat thief, I want to ask you a question. You seen anyone in those woods up there? Hehe like maybe some rich people walking home from work with large bags of gold, maybe?
: Who are you?
: It's been almost two weeks since I robbed somebody! I must steal and quickly. What have you got in your pockets you little shit?
: Rat poison.
: Bah, I've already got plenty of poison. Maybe I'll just beat you unconscious and check your pockets for myself.
: Leave the boy be Bone, he's done you no harm. Justice will have your hide if he catches you stealing from this port.
: Mr law and order saves the day. Fine. Say, you haven't seen any other pirates around here, have you?
: I met Justice.
: The captain? Why would he waste time on some rat like you? Nevermind, who's that fine dish in the tight dress? You know her? *points at Elizabeth*
: I know her.
: Yeah? Do you know her in the "biblical" sense? No of course not, a woman like that.... not bloody likely. Heh, I could show her a few tricks. I think I'll go introduce myself. So long rat. *walks away*
: Watch out for that one boy.
: I might be joining you.
: Then I am happy to make your acquaintance, unless you become my enemy, in which case I will flay you and wear your skin as a hide.
: .....
Educational. I look around. Not much to see except the ship floating out in the harbor, some crates with some bottles in them and the old lighthouse on the hill. Usually it's locked but maybe those strange lights people mentioned prove to be interesting. Traveling uphill to the lighthouse, I notice that whomever has been shadowing us seems to back off.
The lighthouse door opens easily.Inside the stairs are broken but it looks like there might be some sort of hatch under all the rotten rubble. Spending some time clearing up the wreckage, a well maintained trap door is revealed. Opening it up I descend into the darkness.
That concludes the first episode I think.
Next time there will be combat, more crazy people obsessed with pirates, beer, cannons and maybe even mopping the decks yarrrr. By the way if anyone wants later episodes to have more environment screenshots or more descriptive text or whatever, just ask.
It is a rather old adventure game (1998) first person with the occasional 3rd person cut-scene. Puzzles, pixel hunting, exploration and an assortment of combat/mundane mini games (mostly lots of slashing people with a sword). It has a pretty damn good conversation system with rather expressive npc face and hand gestures AND a fully voiced (really really well done) dialog lock out system, as in if you ask one question you may not be able to ask another question, obviously just fluff but nice nonetheless. Spread over 3 discs a lengthy adventure of "privateering" awaits.
It's been about 15 years since I played this shit, somehow my cd's have survived! It was in fact the first non arcade vydya game I ever played, as such I remember it fondly. So without further ado let's play Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren! Note stuff in italics will be an explanation of game mechanics.
Intro and Episode 1: Pirates! Pirates everywhere.
Episode 2: Bottles to the face hurt.
Episode 3: Game of Pirate Thrones.
Episode 4: Allahu Akbar!!!
Episode 5: Cannibalism and Prison Break.
Episode 6: Lost
Episode 7: D&D
Episode 8: RedJack!
Episode 9: Bartender Edition.
Episode 10: Who is the traitor FFS.
Episode 11: Sewers and sex fiends.
Episode 12: Hand collection and megalomania.
-------------
We get treated to rather crappy and overly dramatic opening sequence, which I'll mostly paraphrase.
Seventeen years ago the greatest pirate king that ever lived was betrayed and died. In his last moments he vowed with dramatic fervor that he was going to get horrible bloody revenge on whomever had betrayed him! As he finished yelling his ship blows to pieces under cannon fire.
As he took his last breath we took our first. A boy named Nicholas Dove living on a tiny island called lizard point. The video ends with us sitting on a rock, at night, gazing at the sea. A little ways of from the village and our house.
-------------
Taking a look around I see the rock I was sitting on and HOLLY SHIT behind the rock it looks like there is some huge fucking storm from hell!!
Aside from that the game looks nice in all its 640-480 resolution glory. The movement in this game is not free roam but rather like a blobber dungeon crawl, left, right, forward and back on a predetermined map. You are free to look around with the mouse.Think Myst. Anyway, we turn around, head out towards some lights in the distance, as we do so, there is a brief cut-scene of an unfriendly shadowy figure lurking in the bushes behind us.
Quick side note, this game brutally kills you and sends you to the main menu (no quick save here bro's) if you don't pay attention. An example... if you ignore the fact that there is a dangerous looking mother fucker stalking you, turn around and walk back, you die.
Yeah this is one of those =DD.
-------------
I continue walking to the lights and spot my old family house..
Might as well head inside, kick my shoes off, relax and....immediately my asshole brother jumps on me.
I take a look around the gloomy house, made all the gloomier by our brother who clearly wants me to die, preferably somewhere far far away so he doesn't have to deal with it.
Guess I'll head of to town. Outside the feeling of being watched returns. I briskly make my way into town, pausing to watch a huge man pounding away (hue hue) at some metal.
Things are looking up, guess I should head of to find Elizabeth. Which as the blacksmith pointed out, isn't very difficult since she ambushes me just as I walk around the smithy.
Fucks sake I like my house. I can see the tavern glowing in the night behind her. Shit, still feel like someone is stalking me. Well at least in the tavern I will be surrounded by friendly murdering pirates, surely safer than being out here.Ah the good old Bull and Crown.
We try to open the door but it's locked, so we knock. The "Bull" (don't ask) opens a hatch and glares outside at us.
He opens the door and beckens me in. After firmly closing the door after us he saunters over behind the bar. I look around, there's only one other person inside.
The other man in the bar, with gigantic sideburns looks up at me from his map.
Well, that went well. Guess I have to go back outside. Stepping out of the tavern, looking around, I decide I might as well check round the back, see if I can find anything interesting. Tada I find an unlocked door, leading to some storage, with a nice bottle rat poison!
Might come in handy, gotta remember to warn the captain some time too, then again maybe Bull does just have a tonne of rats running around. We head of back to the town square to see the new blacksmith (convenient).
Balls. Time to go explore. Asking around town, most people comment on strange lights at the old lighthouse and the pirates hanging around the dock. Might as well head out over there, I'm not keen on wandering into the forest without a weapon. I notice a crazy looking fellow cutting up some fish.
Taking the bucket of fish heads I decide to walk further down the harbor and end up walking right up to two gentlemen loading up crates into a small boat.
One of them turns around unnaturally fast as I approach.
Educational. I look around. Not much to see except the ship floating out in the harbor, some crates with some bottles in them and the old lighthouse on the hill. Usually it's locked but maybe those strange lights people mentioned prove to be interesting. Traveling uphill to the lighthouse, I notice that whomever has been shadowing us seems to back off.
The lighthouse door opens easily.Inside the stairs are broken but it looks like there might be some sort of hatch under all the rotten rubble. Spending some time clearing up the wreckage, a well maintained trap door is revealed. Opening it up I descend into the darkness.
That concludes the first episode I think.
Next time there will be combat, more crazy people obsessed with pirates, beer, cannons and maybe even mopping the decks yarrrr. By the way if anyone wants later episodes to have more environment screenshots or more descriptive text or whatever, just ask.
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