The Book of Unwritten Tales
{{Short description|2009 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = The Book of Unwritten Tales
|image = The Book of Unwritten Tales Cover.jpg
|alt = The Book of Unwritten Tales
|caption= Cover art
|developer= King Art Games{{cite web |url=http://www.kingart.de/unwritten_tales.html |title=Book of Unwritten Tales - KING Art Games - Computerspiele-Entwicklung, Design und Programmierung für PC, Browser und online |language=German |website=King Art Games |accessdate=August 21, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626100947/http://www.kingart.de/unwritten_tales.html |archivedate=June 26, 2012 |url-status=dead}}
|publisher=Microsoft Windows{{Video game release|NA|The Adventure Company|EU|HMH Interactive|WW|Nordic Games {{small|(digital)}}}}OS X, Linux{{Video game release|WW|Nordic Games}}
|designer=
|released= Microsoft Windows{{vgrelease|EU|April 2, 2009|NA|October 28, 2011|UK|October 28, 2011|AUS|April 12, 2012|WW|July 31, 2012 (Steam)}}OS X
March 29, 2012
Linux
November 6, 2012
|genre= Adventure
|modes= Single-player
|platforms= Windows, Mac OS X, Linux{{cite web |url=http://www.application-systems.de/bookofunwrittentales/ |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales |language=German |website=Application Systems Heidelberg |accessdate=June 2, 2018 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025929/http://www.application-systems.de/bookofunwrittentales/ |url-status=live }}
}}
The Book of Unwritten Tales is a point-and-click adventure video game created by German developer King Art Games. A prequel called The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles was released in 2012. A sequel, The Book of Unwritten Tales 2, was released on February 20, 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.kingart-games.de/en/blog/the-book-of-unwritten-tales-2-release-2/ |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 Release!!! |website=King Art Games |date=February 20, 2015 |accessdate=June 2, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221151445/http://www.kingart-games.de/en/blog/the-book-of-unwritten-tales-2-release-2/ |archivedate=February 21, 2015 |url-status=dead}}
Gameplay
File:Screenshot The Book of Unwritten Tales.jpg
The game challenges the player with a series of puzzles and brain teasers presented as a traditional point and click adventure game. The puzzles are embedded in an adventure story that takes most players an average of 20 hours to complete. There are 60 locations to explore with a total of 40 non-player characters and about 250 interactible items.
A notable feature of The Book of Unwritten Tales is that the player controls four different characters. In some scenes it is possible to switch between two or three active characters. Making explicit use of this mechanic, some puzzles require the playable characters to exchange items or otherwise cooperate.
Reception
=Domestic=
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = PC Games
| rev1Score = 85%{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411102637/http://www.pcgames.de/aid,681236/The-Book-of-Unwritten-Tales-Test-Der-Adventure-Hit-aus-Deutschland/PC/Test/ | url=http://www.pcgames.de/aid,681236/The-Book-of-Unwritten-Tales-Test-Der-Adventure-Hit-aus-Deutschland/PC/Test/ | title=The Book of Unwritten Tales-Test: Der Adventure-Hit aus Deutschland | date=April 9, 2004 | author=Schütz, Felix | work=PC Games | url-status=dead | archive-date=2009-04-11 }}
| rev2 = GameStar
| rev2Score = 85/100{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008033336/http://www.gamestar.de/spiele/the-book-of-unwritten-tales/test/the_book_of_unwritten_tales,44507,1955203.html | url=http://www.gamestar.de/spiele/the-book-of-unwritten-tales/test/the_book_of_unwritten_tales,44507,1955203.html | title=Witziges und spannend erzähltes Adventure | author=Matschijewsky, Daniel | date=April 7, 2009 | work=GameStar | language=German | archivedate=October 8, 2011 | url-status=dead }}
| rev3 = 4Players
| rev3Score = 85/100{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421082621/http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/11013/62888/0/The_Book_of_Unwritten_Tales.html| url=http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/11013/62888/0/The_Book_of_Unwritten_Tales.html | title=The Book of Unwritten Tales | date=April 2, 2009 | author=Wöbbeking, Jan | language=German | archivedate=April 21, 2009 | work=4Players | url-status=dead }}
}}
=International=
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 82/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-book-of-unwritten-tales/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=August 21, 2012}}
| AdvGamers = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Raha |first=Shuva |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18201 |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales Review |website=Adventure Gamers |date=October 28, 2011 |accessdate=June 3, 2018 |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512064317/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18201 |url-status=live }}
| Destruct = 8.5/10{{cite web |last=Duncan |first=Alasdair |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-the-book-of-unwritten-tales-214897.phtml |title=Review: The Book of Unwritten Tales |website=Destructoid |publisher=Enthusiast Gaming |date=November 1, 2011 |accessdate=June 3, 2018 |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512064315/https://www.destructoid.com/review-the-book-of-unwritten-tales-214897.phtml |url-status=live }}
| GamePro = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Matulef |first=Jeffrey |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/224395/review-the-book-of-unwritten-tales-pc/ |title=Review: The Book of Unwritten Tales (PC) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=GamePro Media |date=October 28, 2011 |accessdate=June 3, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029202302/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/224395/review-the-book-of-unwritten-tales-pc/ |archivedate=October 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}
| GMaster = 81%{{cite magazine |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales |magazine=GamesMaster |publisher=Future plc |date=February 2012 |page=101}}
| GSpot = 8/10{{cite web |last=Todd |first=Brett |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-book-of-unwritten-tales-review/1900-6346897/ |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales Review |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=December 1, 2011 |accessdate=June 2, 2018 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126223029/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-book-of-unwritten-tales-review/1900-6346897/ |url-status=live }}
| GSpy = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Nelson |first=Mike |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-book-of-unwritten-tales/1225591p1.html |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales Review |website=GameSpy |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=July 30, 2012 |accessdate=June 3, 2018 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012034528/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-book-of-unwritten-tales/1225591p1.html |url-status=live }}
| IGN = 9/10{{cite web |last=Michael |first=Jon |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/15/the-book-of-unwritten-tales-review |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales Review |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=August 15, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2018 |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211002914/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/15/the-book-of-unwritten-tales-review |url-status=live }}
| PCPP = 7/10{{cite magazine |title=Review: The Book of Unwritten Tales |magazine=PC PowerPlay |publisher=Next Media Pty Ltd |issue=207 |date=October 2012 |page=81}}
| rev1 = The Digital Fix
| rev2 = The Escapist
| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |last=Arendt |first=Susan |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/9850-Book-of-Unwritten-Tales-Review |title=[The] Book of Unwritten Tales Review |website=The Escapist |publisher=Defy Media |date=August 8, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2018 |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529182102/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/9850-Book-of-Unwritten-Tales-Review |url-status=live }}
}}
The Book of Unwritten Tales received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
The Escapist gave it all five stars and said, "If you're going to try and woo a modern gaming audience with old-fashioned gameplay, you'd better be pretty special. The Book of Unwritten Tales is. It's smart, funny, [and] well-crafted and has tons of heart." 411Mania gave it 8.1 out of 10 and said that the game "harkens back to the golden age of point-and-clicks and does a great job of it. Fans of the genre will love seeing a new entry into the genre that's enjoyable to play. Other PC gamers may want to check it out, as even the puzzles don't require a huge amount of thinking to solve."{{cite web |last=Larck |first=Adam |url=http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/248682 |title=The Book of Unwritten Tales (PC) Review |website=411Mania |date=July 30, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804062115/http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/248682 |archivedate=August 4, 2012 |url-status=dead}} The Digital Fix gave it eight out of ten and called it "a thoroughly entertaining and engaging adventure game with a classic fantasy storyline, well thought-out plot lines, loveable characters, and plenty of humour that is must for anybody who likes point and click adventures".
In 2011, Adventure Gamers named The Book of Unwritten Tales the 64th-best adventure game ever released.{{cite web | author=AG Staff | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604021011/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 | url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 | title=Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games | date=December 30, 2011 | archivedate=June 4, 2012 | work=Adventure Gamers | url-status=live }}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://kingart-games.com/games/2-the-book-of-unwritten-tales}}
- {{moby game|id=/book-of-unwritten-tales}}
{{King Art Games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Book of Unwritten Tales 1}}
Category:The Adventure Company games
Category:Point-and-click adventure games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Germany