1954: Alcatraz

Taking place in the mid fifties, we are going to the famous Alcatraz prison where Joe plans to escape and save his wife Christine from mob gangster Mickey. In the meantime Christine has her own plans to save her neck from Mickey. By the way, where is the loot?

The dialogue is a tad dry. [May 2014, p.79]

It is strange to find an adventure game that you actually want to play through a second time right after completing it just to see what you could have done differently.

Whilst 1954 Alcatraz does certain things very well, it too often lets itself down.

As cold as the waters around Alcatraz are, according to the game, such was my personal chill after completing 1954: Alcatraz. While I was waiting for another hit from the German studio, what I finally faced was the weakest and most problematic adventure game they have given us so far. Unfortunately one adventure game that we had many hopes for, turns out to be a disappointment.

This adventure shows some conceptually interesting ideas, but the lack of detail and atmosphere saps the motivation right out of you.

Quotation forthcoming.

Solid in every aspect but outstanding in none. [05/2014, p.61]

The story of two separated characters is nicely interwoven but that’s about it. Gene Mocsy failed to dazzle us. [Issue#241]

Despite doing a number of things right, 1954: Alcatraz doesn't feel special.

The plot and the script are surely interesting, but the adventure is short and the puzzles aren't that interesting.

There are choices, which is not common in these games, but then the consequences are too light, the game never gives us a “punch in the stomach” so to speak, despite the its promise to do so.

You'll want to escape from Alcatraz all right, but not in the way that's intended.

The puzzles, story and characters all were much stronger in concept than in execution.

The attempt to propose some more adult issues than usual and to offer from the beginning two playable characters and two different game environments are good choices, but the rest of the game (plot, storytelling, puzzles and visuals) isn't convincing at all.

This game shows a lot of ideas and potential, but uses nearly none of it. Although the story is about breaking out of the famous high-security prison Alcatraz the game lacks not only good puzzles, graphics or animations, but even a proper atmosphere of that. So the sound and speech is nearly the highlight of the game. Not the best recommandation for an adventure.

A distinctly average point-and-click adventure that doesn't deliver on the potential of its prison-break premise. [May 2014, p.90]

An average narrative ride that's unpleasantly superficial in contrast to its true potential. Unfortunately, the creators have blocked that potential with lame graphics and average gaming mechanics. A system of choices, and replayability should have been the things that save the game. However, it did not happen.

A few great ideas are drowned in a torrent of design flaws and technical problems. I wish there were something interesting to say about this game’s failures, but they just amount to plain, old-fashioned bad craftsmanship.

1954: Alcatraz has a great premise, but the execution falls flat.

1954 Alcatraz fails to deliver. There is a lot to like, the narrative and setting are exceptional, but the constant shortcomings of almost every other aspect of the game quickly saps enjoyment and replaces it with frustration and disappointment.

As much as I appreciate that Irresponsible Games an Daedalic are trying to capture the zeitgeist and the social conflicts of an era, I can't help but be utterly frustrated to see all the promise just go to waste on a startlingly conventional cock-and-bull story.