... also part III of the classic series JOURNEYMAN PROJECT abides by the story. The mixture of fiction and history but also adventure and humor are brilliantly combined in this game without acting dusty or ludicrous. I can only repeat it, the trilogy is a must for adventure gamers and who missed to play only one part of it until today, should catch up on it fast.

For the 3rd part even a new, sexy looking actor became Gage Blackwood, agent 5, and fans of Michelle Visard, agent 3, are able to look forward to her happy smile also in LEGACY OF TIME.

LEGACY OF TIME is a photo-realistic graphic adventure with historical refenrences and also in the, for the time being, last part again very much value is put on quality, also in the technical sense.

Unfortunately the trilogy hasn't been continued until today even if JOURNEYMAN PROJECT wrote history within the range of entertainment media, the first part JOURNEYMAN PROJECT - TURBO from 1992, was the first photo-realistic adventure game in the world. Exeptionally a negative message first: Unfortunately the entire series is officially out of stock in Germany! More about it at the end of this review: I want the game now!

1998 you could find the German version for about DM 80 in the shelves, later than as NicePrice for about DM 29 and in the bargain sale even for DM 9,90. There was a demo and a trailer in English by the way on one of the CD's of RIVEN - THE SEQUEL TO MYST. THE JOURNEYMAN PROJECT III covers four CD's and in the original release was packed in a sumptuous box.

Introduction

We write the year 2329 a .Ch. and we are Gage Blackwood, agent 5 of the time security authority, the ZSB. During the last 11 years it was our obligation to defend history against all threats which could change it drastically. Twice during our excellent career as an elite agent of the ZSB we protected the earth against criminals, which used the time journey, to destroy history as we know it.

Two months ago we thwart a plan, which should frame us with a crime. The plan was developed by a woman traitor, whom we had absolutely trusted - Michelle Visard, the apostate agent 3 of the ZSB. She had taken us as prisoner and had threatened us, to betray the secrets of the time journey to an extraterrestial race, the Krynn. But our fearless on-line companion, the watchful artificial intelligence Arthur, saved us by creating a virus, which infected the time travel suit of agent 3 and caused a malfunctioning. Unfortunately Arthur was the virus itself, got trapped in agent 3's time travel suit and whirled into the time stream while a flow of time energy surrounded both. Not a trace was found of agent 3 and Arthur and it is presumed that they both are dead.

Since that time bad times came for the ZSB. Due to the scandal around agent 3 the intergalactic league of worlds, which is called symbiotry, demands that earth hands over control of the time travelling technology to the symbiotry. We must watch helplessly, how the ZSB is closed around us.

While the ZSB experiences its worst times, events take place at the most remote borders of known space, that let all past dangers appear like a children's game. A forgotten extraterrestial race gathered a fleet of warships and returned, in order to take over a long lost relict. While their ships approach the earth threateningly, we receive the order to find the relict. We accept the task to save the earth from the mysterious invaders, and experience that the solutions to the present crisis can be found in the past ...

Introduction taken from the manual

Somewhat technical...

The installation of the game should request for installing, as far as autostart is activated. Before we play, we can adjust various setting in the option menu. We can make this directly from the starting picture or under FILE > GAME OPTIONS or STRG+G. Important for example: how to receive help from the meddlesomelittle asisstant later in the game.

Tip: Select NORMAL, here Arthur talks usually only if it is relevant for the game. To select the audio hint in addition makes also sense. Our companion sits down right in the corner and, if necessary, lets a bulb shine over his metal gumption or a bubble. If we have selected the audio hint, then additionally a small acoustic signal sounds.

Sometimes Arthur delivers simply a remark, crucial assistance you get however by the logos over his head. The bubble stands for remarks, willingly also impudent ones, and historical notes. The bulb lights up, if he has to make a remark to the current situation or the solution.

Arthur has usually several hints to a situation ready and doesn't go like a bull at a gate, but rather let us call one tip after the other, until the solution is only a piece of cake and our friend has nothing more to say.

Marvellous: Arthur keeps the last hint until he has to say something new, that's great when you after the solution don't know exactly where to go and what to do and are not so sure, what the advice-giving control box had said, then simply click on Arthur, wherever you are he repeats the last remark... well, and who doesn't want so much help, simply ignores our metal worker.

For history friends Arthur keeps in addition interesting details about the appropriate culture, for example pottery, murals or about the flight balloons of the Mayas.

Down, right side, we find the inventory that can be opened by mouse-click. In the center the inventory of the identities is available. We must catch identities during the game and store them here so that we can assume the shape of another character with the help of our chameleon suit - Arthur can also provide emergency assistance here too.

Navigation in the 3rd part the JOURNEYMAN PROJECT series is devised and opposite to the predecessors substantially improved very much. The mouse pointer does not always have a so-called rollover-effect: Navigation arrows usually show the direction but where we can get historical texts or comments, or whether we can use a switch is not always shown by the mouse pointer, thus interesting information could be overlooked.

Further details can be taken from the manual and at MENU/F1 we can also find gaming instructions, by the way .

Thus however not enough: As agent 5 we get a small game introduction by the lead engineer of the time security authority, ZSB, before he dismisses us into the time journey... into the four worlds which are to discover:

• our own, 2329
• Mediterranean (Atlantis?), 5. October 1262 v.Chr.
• Anden/El Dorado 28 January 524 A.D..
• Himalaja/Shangri La, 14 April 1219 A.D..
• but first we experience a harsh surprise...

Pros

Detailed German manual, autostart function, simple installation, individual settings, well thought out navigation, mouse-control, interactive help, that can be adjusted.

Good tips, can be used when needed, not spoiling the game. Historical remarks from Arthur, long opening, integrated training of navigation. Good introduction to the game, it begins simple and increases later.

Four worlds can be investigated.

Arbitrary travels between the worlds, we return exactly back to the place where we were last.

Kinetics option lets already seen video sequences call up again.

Hybrid: PC and MACINTOSH.

The CD change is not only announced, but the CD-drive is also automatically opened, you only put in the appropriate CD and it loads automatically. The save function stores not only a name of your choice, but also a screenshot and the appropriate epoch ... such gimmicks inspire me again and again. The 3rd part of the series is based on its predecessors, however has a completely unique story and we don't have to know part one and two.

Though the graphics are a bit dated, they are however still good. The beautiful atmosphere of the game is result of the professionally composed sound track, interesting plot and relative good actors.

Some actors we meet again, like agent 3 - Michelle Visard, the ZSB commisioner and Dr. Elliot Sinclair; Agent 5 - Gage Blackwood is played by a new actor, a very good decision I think. The German dubbing is o.k., even if the voices of the predecessors were not maintained, Arthur is particularly well spoken. The sound design is suitable and good in relation to the year of release ...

Example: if we walk in the temple on tiles, the steps resound through the halls while the steps on carpet are absorbed... The characters are represented by real actors and their videos are inserted into the background graphics, as e.g. with MYST, ZORK, GABRIEL KNIGHT 2. LEGACY OF TIME shows, that a good game does not need necessarily the newest features and great effects in order to absorb the gamers.

The storyline is exciting, the motivation high, the game depth good , the clou interesting and through the different epochs, the JOURNEYMAN 3 is very varied.

Who gets involved in the game and doesn't sit there with the walkthrough will forget fast that since the release of this game several years have elapsed. The game runs perfectly, without crashes and such things. (I did not test the MACINTOSH version however.) Movie-like final! ... a game with an END ...

Cons

The inventory handling needs getting used to, navigation is a bit clumsy, the fat pink arrows showing the way, disturb the graphics. The graphic resolution shows too much pixels, even for 1998.

Personally, I didn't like the narrow gaming window, the inventory elements and the frame take too much place and are too dominant.

Rollover with the mouse pointer isn't consequent - not in each place where you could investigate something the pointer changes to an info-icon, thus you could miss information - but mostly no important.

Seldom but true, I couln't find any other noticeable contra points ... The game could please you if you liked JOURNEYMAN PROJECT II. - BURIED IN TIME, ATLANTIS - THE LOST TALES and/or THE RING of the NIBELUNGEN.

Result

I think this kind of adventure would still obtain good sales figures today and would make talk about it in the press.

Many games have a good opening, how does it look with the end? ... Such a movie-like final recompences for this entertaining game ... For those 30 and up must be said: Who does not know it yet, should start playing it as fast as possible. For the -30 must be said: not everything new is better, especially games without claptrap often have an absorbing plot and a marvelous atmosphere - as JOURNEYMAN PROJECT III - THE LEGACY OF TIME, this quality and innovation has unfortunately a rare character.

Who wants to experience thus a nearly "classical" adventure between future and past must acquire this title, unfortunately it is widely out of print.

Reason enough to incite a German rerelease: http://www.presto.com I want the game now! The German version is available at http:/www.gamepad.de. The english version and the trilogy is available at Chips&Bits ($14.95) An alternative are online-auctions, where the game can be bought also in the German version, although rather rare. I think a price from EUR 5 - EUR 10  is quite o.k. Finally I had a giant fun with the game and to write a review about a four year old game was very interesting. Not so easy for me however the rating, I took the release year as a basis!

Rheingold

OBENAUF - Mediendesign - Hamburg

Minimum Windows system requirements:

• Windows 95
• 90MHz Pentium
• 16 MB RAM
• 70 MB on hard disk
• 4 x CD-ROM
• Display 640 x 480 High Color
• Sound Blaster 16 or 100% 16-bit-compatible sound card
• DirectX (on CD)

Played on:

• Windows 98
• AMD 800
• 128 MB RAM
• 44 x CD-ROM
• ELSA Erazor III

Also played on: