Lost: Via Domus

For a fan of the series it may be great to explore the locations and talk to well known characters, but even the greatest atmosphere is going down the drain if the lack of enthusiasm of the developers is so obvious. Sloppily created missions, repetetive riddles and unnecessary howlers in design make it difficult to enjoy the game.

This short adventure game nails the feel of both the show and the island on which it's set, but struggles with some of the characters.

If you have the choice, check that you're really a huge fan of the show by reciting Hurley's winning lottery numbers, and then either play Via Domus on a PC or rent it.

In theory, all it takes to make fans of the series happy is giving them an interactive episode. And that's exactly what they got. Unfortunately the spirit of the series is lost and there is nothing mysterious about its disappearance: because there is no mystery in the game at all. It's just a guided tour through the well known set, only slightly masked as an adventure. Fans will be happy, the rest... well, whatever were you looking for, it isn't there. [Apr 2008]

Not the step forward for TV-to-game titles that we'd hoped. Only really dedicated fans of the show need apply.

Just too short and too shoddy. [May 2008, p.106]

At least it only takes five hours to reach the conclusion.

As a Lost fan, I enjoyed exploring the island and interacting with survivors from the Oceanic Flight 815; as a videogames player, Via Domus feels like a wasted opportunity.

Lost Via Domus will be tempting to fans obsessed with the show, but the story—as good as it is--has no bearing whatsoever on the overall canon. It’s short, much of the gameplay amounts to a hurdle to get to the next cutscene, and at just over five hours long, under no circumstances can we recommend it for a purchase.

Adventure game fans have come to expect a lot more than this, and fans of the show, while they may enjoy this extra chapter of the story, are not likely to get their money's worth.