Journey to the Moon (often packaged as "Voyage" outside the UK) is an exceptional adventure game based very loosely on two Jules Verne novels - From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon.  I can't say how much it follows the plot of the latter as I have yet to read it, and it owes only the main character and initial premise to the first book.

You play the role of French adventurer Michel Arden on his fantastic journey to the earth's satellite.  Accompanying him were two other men -  Barbicane, President of the Gun Club, and his rival Captain Nichol, a great Armourer - but both of these are dead when Arden comes to.  His memory is foggy and the first thing you need to do is find out what happened to bring his memories of where he is and why he is there back.  Shortly afterwards, you will need to clean up the air supply or die...

Journey to the Moon is one of those adventure games where it is quite easy to die, but the game restarts you immediately at the point before you made your fatal mistake (or your time runs out), and any useful actions you'd made prior to this are not undone. I used to find the Sierra games (King's Quest etc) quite frustrating with their constant death traps, but in this game dying doesn't seem like such a bind!

You play the game in first-person perspective, with each scene viewable from any angle.  This works well and is almost identical to the system used in Return to Mysterious Island, The Adventure Company's take on another Jules Verne novel.  It works well and has the advantage of much clearer icons for showing you when an object can be interacted with, meaning much less annoying pixel-hunting.  The game also features the same excellent method of combining multiple objects to create new items.

There are so many things to like about this game.  It has a good story (typical sci-fi fare, but well developed), a huge variety of puzzles, an idiomatic moon language to learn, a trading system (once you meet the Selenites), challenges galore, cooking experiments, and plenty of unexpected little touches that make this a joy to play.  The only real criticism I have of Journey to the Moon is that some of the puzzles are extremely tricky, to the point that I think anyone who manages to complete this game without ever having to look up online hints must be both extremely intelligent and very observant.  (If you have done this, give yourself a pat on the back - you obviously deserve it!).  Taking into account that hints are not really difficult to find if you're really stuck, I'm not judging this to be an amazingly negative factor.  Managing to solve the various puzzles gives you a great sense of achievement, and as long as you don't over-use them, having to resort to hints doesn't feel like cheating (well, not too much).

The graphics are very nice, with a wonderfully envisaged moonscape and plenty of surreal plants and characters.  There's plenty of life and vitality in the scenes, often with quite a bit going on in the background.  The way gravity (or lack of) is utilised in the game is very good.  The music is suitably eerie and sci-fi sounding - in fact it reminded me very much of the sort of music Blake's Seven had! 

The voice acting is pretty good - while you are alone at first, this isn't always the case.  Soemtimes the inflections that main character has in his dialogue is a little weird, but it's mostly good and at times the way he says things is quite amusing.  Strangely your French adventurer really doesn't sound very French at all though, which was strange.

However despite some small niggles Journey to the Moon is an excellent game.  It has a vast range of locations, puzzles, puzzle types, and quite a few  unique elements incorporated into the game that make it feel like none other you've ever played.  I would recommend this game to anyone who likes adventure games, or space games, or just anyone who's looking for a different gaming experience.  The best game I've yet played by The Adventure Company.

If you really need a hint - and I'm certain that you will, unless perhaps your IQ is 200+ - then you will need to refer to some hints.  I suggest http://www.gameboomers.com/wtcheats/pcVv/Voyage.htm - though use sparingly for the best results, and try not to read beyond what you absolutely need to make progress in the game!
 
Something you must try in the game (from my personal experience) - when you get far enough into the game to enter the Seleites' kitchen area, add some wine to the food.  Come back later on and speak to the Selenite nearby - his response is classic!
 
 
Minimum System Specs:
 
OS: Windows 98 SE/ME/2000/XP (and ran absolutely fine in Vista)
CPU: P3 800MHz
GPU: 64Mb DirectX 9.0 compatible
RAM: 64Mb
HDD Space: 1.4Mb

The game comes on 2 CD-ROMs but runs entirely from the HDD when installed.


Tested on:  Packard Bell iPower X9810


Adventure Game Links

Also by The Adventure Company:

Return to Mysterious Island
Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None"

Another good adventure game set in space:

The Dig

See also:

My Top Ten Commercial Adventure Games


Jules Verne Links

Jules Verne novels:

From the Earth to the Moon
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Around The World in 80 Days
Journey to the Centre of the Earth


Films/TV series based on Jules Verne's novels:

Mysterious Island
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea  
Around The World in 80 Days (film version starring Jackie Chan and Steve Cooghan)
Around the World in 80 Days (mini-series starring Peirce Brosnan)
Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Recommended: Yes