New Software To Be Reviewed Review

I have been looking to use the phrase "another terrible game" in one of my reviews, because most of the games I've reviewed have been just that - dreadful. The graphics have been subpar, the storytelling's been lacking and lackluster, and the gameplay mediocre.

But, fortunately, not all of these shareware games are "another terrible game". Some of them really stand out above the rest. A diamond among heaps of coal.

And while I wouldn't say that "Royal Envoy" is a diamond, for damn sure it's not some crappy piece of coal. It's more of a... diamond in the rough. (How cliche.)

The story goes that a section of "The Kingdom" known as "Islandshire" has had practically every home wiped from it thanks to a bad hurriance, or rainstorm, or somesuchthing. The ambivalent and clearly effeminate king (if not outright homosexual) only takes the pleas of his scribe/vizier/judge/guy in a powdered wig with a bunch of papers and an abacus named Cedric seriously when he remembers the statue they made for him, and his throne, and his favourite pair of pink slipper shoes. He appoints YOU, the player, to go out to Islandshire and rebuild the homes of the populace before rainy season arrives.

Basically, this game is something of a city-builder/strategy/puzzle game. In any case, you achieve your goals by these means.

Workers are big, strong men who build, demolish, and upgrade buildings, and who saw wood for you to make buildings with.

Tax collectors collect money from houses, banks, and markets for you to buy wood from sawmills, more workers, and more tax collectors.

You collect taxes from houses. The more upgraded the more taxes they pay. The bigger the house, the more taxes.

Houses near buildings like sawmills and markets suffer from unhappiness. Houses with gardens gain happiness.

It's pretty standard gameplay from Alawar, fairly average.

But what makes this game different and more enjoyable that, say, Romopolis, is these things:

1) This really made a difference. A game is not only the mindbending activities in which the individual engages, but also the suspension of disbelief in which the creator holds the player. The environment of Royal Envoy - while not realistic - was engaging. Charming. A feast for the eyes.When you tell your workers to build a house, you see them pop out of your castle door, walk down the road, and take a hammer to an open plot of land and gradually build a house. You get to see PEOPLE. You get to see DETAILS, like cannons on a beach, or gnarled roots in a jungle. GRAPHIC DETAIL IS IMPORTANT.

2) The cutscenes and non-gameplay graphics. I have never seen an Alawar or YoudaGame Game that used full 3D cutscenes with voice acting before. While some of the acting was dreadful, and the premises for that acting (such as what looks like a 13 year old piratess asking for her island to be rebuilt? Yeah, right) were even worse, I have to admit, I was entertained. And again, the technology impressed me.

3) The music. It actualy fit! And it didn't get old! :D I actually LIKED the rather Jamaican drum-y, and thus rather apt music! (Or doesn't Jamaican drum and Caribbean music fit in with an island-themed puzzle game?)

Overall, this game's gameplay is average. But it's the hilarious cutscenes, the bad yer present voiceacting, and the wonderful graphics, animations, music, and overal ambiance that MAKE this game something far better than most of the games at Alawar!

I would most definitely recommend the demo. It's an excellent game that shows a LOT of promise - overwhemling promise. In fact, if I actually had money, I might even buy the game right now! It's definitely worth it!