Score
Gameplay:	8
Graphics:	8
Sound:	8
FunFactor:	7
PlasmaFactor:	9
Overall:	8

Vigil: Blood Bitterness Review
July 15, 2007 by Whitney Booker

Vigil: Blood Bitterness is a game that tells a uniquely interesting, if somewhat disturbing story. This is not a game for children or for the squeamish. You play as Dehon, one of four Grand Disciples, who exert a certain control over the universe. Above the four Grand Disciples is Gomend, the Ancient Grand Disciple, under whom the other brothers serve. Gomend, Dehon, and the other brothers seem to bear a resemblance to a caste structured cannibalistic ancient culture. The higher caste rules over the people of the universe with much brutality and no mercy. For the high caste, at least, all is going well until a great Evil is born. The Evil destroys everything in its path, as opposed to the Disciples’ more controlled destruction. You must attempt to destroy this Evil.

Keep A Close Watch

 

This adventure game has you trekking across the whole span of the palace trying to escape. You must solve puzzles, decipher clues and stay alive. The puzzles are all tied up into the clues that are scattered across the palace. The clues can be videos, sounds, a remark by Dehon or more often papers scattered on the floor. Approaching the papers allows you to read whatever is written on them and every page holds a clue as to the traps and mechanisms of the palace.

The puzzles in this game are not overly hard to solve. The papers provide clues as to how to open secret doors or deactivate the palace’s traps. It does take some powers of deduction to decipher the clues and how best to use them, but the important bits of information are in italics, anyway. One thing that is necessary in this game is to pay attention at all times. Ignoring a comment by Dehon or even the Evil is a sure way to end up dead.

At some points during the game, you are required to complete a task within a certain allotted amount of time. There is no countdown clock to warn you of time running out, just a change in music or sound. Being outside for longer than the Evil allows you will result in a rather enigmatic death; at least for me, anyway. At one point early on in the game I died and received the Game Over screen of shame and had not a clue as to why. Scratch that, I did have a clue, two in fact. First, Evil commented on how I had precious moments outside before it would go for my throat. Second, the music changed and became rather intense and urgent. While these are clear signs of danger to the observant, to those not paying attention to the clues, it results in unhappily beginning again.

Even for the non-observant, the signs of danger can be clear in some places. Red gas floating up from the floor is not a sign of long life and prosperity, so it is best to avoid it like the plague it looks like. And if you really want to be shamed, then try getting killed by a bed. Yep. There are clear signs of danger as all of the dangerous beds are blood stained and shake around as if possessed. Having the brilliance of mind to go near them anyway results in death as it flips over on you. Not slams you into a wall, or levitates and smites you down, but flips over on you. There is not a more shameful death except for perhaps being killed by the ever-present rat enemy in an RPG, or by the cute monkey in Tomb Raider II.

The controls in Vigil are extremely easy to use. All you use is the mouse. Left click on a point on the floor to move to that point. Any actions are performed by right-clicking. There are emblems on the floor over which you can pray by right clicking. Opening doors and feeding on slaves or your brothers is also done by right-clicking.

The only truly frustrating part of the gameplay is not having any save points or a save option. The game is split into acts, and after completing an act you can move to the next act, thereby saving your actions on the previous act. Completing an act requires you to read certain clues, open certain doors, and complete certain tasks before that act is finished. This game, because of its puzzle-like nature, requires a good bit of trial and error, especially in the timed portions. Dying at some point before completing the act negates all of the progress you have made. This can be really frustrating as it can sometimes mean performing the same tasks over and over before finally completing it.

 

A Watchful Eye

 

The graphics in vigil are unlike those I’ve seen in another game. All of the game is stylized black and white, with barely any color except for red gas and blue book clues. The game seems to be 2D, but the developers’ description states it as a 3D adventure game. Cel shading might be the best way to describe the graphics, though it doesn’t even look like cel shading in its traditional form. By using only two colors for the game, Freegamer has taken 3D and stripped it down so much that it is barely recognizable as such. It really does make for a brilliant and ingenious art style.

There are some cutscenes that feature screens that look like black and white video footage that doesn’t quite seem to fit with the rest of the game’s visual style. It more breaks it up, than really adding to the game graphically. There is also the stray small pixelation spot in some places, mainly cutscenes. It never ruins the experience, but it is there, and it does draw the attention since the rest of the game is so crisp and clean graphically. Overall, this game is really clean in its graphics, and awesome in its style.

 

An Attentive Ear

 

Vigil is a prime example of the less is more philosophy, when it comes to the sound. There is little, as far as a track is concerned, most of the game is rather silent, but not in the way of the unnatural digital silence. Most of the sound is achieved through sound effects that are well arranged into a composition that replaces the traditional soundtrack. The background sound is best described as outdoor noise, but of some eerie and alien world. It is haunting and very effectively used.

At times, sound is used as a clue in itself. Having eerie, urgent music start up is a sign that something not so good is about to happen should you not hurry. Sound is also used to tell you if you are on the right track. A sound effect, such as an eerie laugh, may be the only sign you are given that you did not complete the task in time.

 

Piece It Together

The fun factor about Vigil is piecing together the puzzle pieces. The whole palace is a puzzle, with mechanisms and traps and hidden doors. Figuring out how to find and open the doors and reach your next clue and objective is really satisfying, when successful. And it is not just solving the puzzle of the palace’s traps and doors that is fun, it is also unraveling the story of the universe in which you play a major part. A lot has happened in the palace and the universe since the Evil has come, and figuring out your place in it all is intriguing and does a fair job of keeping you engrossed.

Plasmafactor

The factor that sets this game apart from other games, the make or break, is most definitely the art style. The stylized graphics of the world of Vigil really set it apart as a new and different kind of game. The graphics may not always be flawless, but man has this game got style. And the points for style definitely can outweigh most any other shortcoming, short of gameplay. This is a truly well-conceived game that I don’t believe you will have seen before.

 

The Last Drop of Blood

Vigil is a game that is well worth playing. It is not terribly hard. After all, all you need do is point and click. And the puzzles and storyline are fascinating. Again, let me reiterate that this is not a game for young kids. There is some mature content in this game, even if the blood is stylized and usually not red. If you like a good adventure game with some decent puzzles, then give Vigil a try. At least try it for the art style, if nothing else. This game may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is a demo, so at least give it a try. I think you’ll find that it is a pretty good game, especially for the price.