Syberia

 PC
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 1 out of 26
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  1. Four Fat Chicks
    100
    It is really hard for a run-of-the-mill writer like me to do justice to Syberia in describing it. Ultimately all I can tell you is this: Play it yourself! It is not likely you will be disappointed.
  2. Just Adventure
    100
    Provides a huge dose of what adventure gamers are hungry for: a rich story, complicated characters, tons of puzzles and exploration of a series of beautiful and intriguing environments.
  3. Game Over Online
    92
    The same beautiful artwork is there, but now there are more puzzles, better, deeper characters, and, I’m not sure how to describe this, but a wonderful mood to the game. In short, Syberia is the best adventure to come out in the last two years.
  5. GameSpot
    91
    Aside from a few little rough spots, Syberia is an adventure-game tour de force, with an engrossing story, a truly imaginative gameworld, and stunning visuals.
  6. GameSpy
    90
    Combining a haunting story with astounding visuals and sound, Syberia is the best adventure game since "The Longest Journey."
  7. Adrenaline Vault
    90
    One of the best adventure games I've ever played. The near-perfectly crafted combination of story, gameplay, graphics and audio makes it utterly enchanting.
  8. Yahoo!
    90
    The setting is rich, the characters are captivating, the interface is clean and easy to use, and the puzzles are just obtuse enough to be challenging, not frustrating.
  9. GameZone
    90
    While it doesn't have many fireworks or action sequences is does have a unique story that will delight those of you who are hungry for something different than your average adventure title or just tired of shooters.
  10. GamerWeb PC
    90
    Overall, I must say Syberia is proof positive that no matter what anyone says, the adventure genre never died. It just went on holiday to Europe.
  11. Quandary
    90
    Syberia is a very fine adventure game, gorgeous to look at and with an intriguing and compelling story. It's tremendously enjoyable despite the air of sadness.
  12. Adventure Gamers
    90
    Beautiful? Stunning? Breathtaking? All words that can safely be used when describing Syberia's graphics. The level of detail is simply immense.
  13. Armchair Empire
    89
    Not only is it an intriguing game, it’s also fun. It’s like a good book – one that you’ll want to return to again and again.
  14. netjak
    88
    While not perfect, Syberia is one of the best games of the year, and is destined to become a legend in years to come. Grab it while you can, and enjoy.
    All this publication's reviews
  15. Pregaming
    80
    Game play wise, it seems to be missing a basic function of the Adventure genre: The description of objects.
  16. eToychest
    80
    It is a great quest game that is definitely aimed to appeal to the generation of gamers that grew up in a time when the adventure game genre took center stage.
  17. PC Gamer
    80
    If you appreciate well-crafted stories over carnage, it's an adventure that genre fans won't want to miss. [Sept 2002, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  18. Cincinnati Enquirer
    80
    A slower-paced, puzzle-based game without any combat. But for those who'd rather use their brains instead of brawn, it's a solid pick.
  19. G4 TV
    80
    A magnificent game.
  20. Computer Gaming World
    80
    Easily the best new adventure game in years, though it loses some steam after its outstanding first act. [Oct 2002, p.112]
    All this publication's reviews
  21. Gamers' Temple
    78
    Features an interesting story and great atmosphere, but its gaming aspects fall a little short.
  22. PC Gameworld
    77
    Plot issues, questionable voice acting and a frustrating control scheme mask an otherwise good adventure title.
  23. Game Revolution
    75
    Syberia will return as much as you are willing to invest.
  24. IGN
    71
    It falls far short of being a great game because of its much too simplistic puzzles, boring story, characters you don't fall in love with and a really bad ending.
  25. Game Informer
    68
    Got really old really fast. [Nov 2002, p.148]
    All this publication's reviews
  26. ActionTrip
    63
    The biggest gripe I had with this game are the rather easy puzzles and the fact that some important technical (gameplay) issues were not resolved properly.
  27. Gamer's Pulse
    40
    Overall, the game puzzles are too easy, which makes the game boring at times.

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Best PC Game of 2002
16
#16 Most Discussed PC Game of 2002
4
#4 Most Shared PC Game of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 382 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 306 out of 382
  2. Mixed: 62 out of 382
  3. Negative: 14 out of 382
  1. slippery
    Aug 19, 2012
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I have played a lot of adventure games over the years. I've played interactive-story type games, exploration games, rpg-adventure games, escape-the-room type games and a lot more. So I'm not new to adventure games, and I'm not new to games that are long on story and short on action.

    Syberia is a game with very few good points and very many problems.

    The game is beautiful. There's no doubt about it. Now, I started playing games with Pong and Space Invaders, so graphics aren't a big deal to me. But I will say this game is beautiful to look at. However, I would much rather have had much simpler 2d graphic environments and a much better story and much better gameplay.

    1. This game is not finished. I don't mean the plot. I mean the scripts are full of errors. Somebody should have gone back and done some proofreading.

    2. There are several things in this game that, in terms of science and physics, simply don't make sense. And I'm not just talking about the highly improbably c3po-clone who drives the train. Throughout the story I found myself shaking my head at the naivety and just plain ignorance of some of the ideas here.

    3. There were several items that were crucial to the plot that I would not have found without a walkthrough, such as a very small book on a table, or a shelf at a bar where there was nothing to really attract my attention to it, and it was placed quite insignificantly. Likewise there was a door that was crucial to the plot that was very easy to overlook.

    4. The game doesn't have "puzzles" really, or at least not many. Many of the so called "puzzles" are really just a matter of "find A and take it to location X". There were a few things that I found that needed to be done in a certain order, but there wasn't really very much that made me think. There were a few things that had a kind of silly trick to it, but nothing that required logic.

    5. Wasted space and wasted opportunities. There were too many locations where the only thing available to do was to walk to the next location. Sure, it's pretty, but there were no branches, no items, just space. Early in the game there were a frustrating number of "Nope, it's locked" and "No need to go down there." moments. So why have a hotspot at all? With so few hotspots in the game, it was kind of frustrating to find one only to be told that it doesn't do anything.

    6. All of these problems though, I could really overlook if there had a been a stronger plot. The characters in this game are universally abhorrent. I found virtually no one in the game who WASN'T selfish, petty, obtuse, self-important, or simply weak. Even the main character early in the game refuses to get her boots wet and refuses to get a piece of wood from a river because it's wet and dirty ... so she asks a local boy to do it.

    SPOILERS
    The bright spot to the plot was the relationship between the characters Anna (who at the beginning of the game is dead) and her brother Hans. Told through letters, objects and flashbacks, the story -while somewhat improbable- is nonetheless touching.

    The story arc concerns the main character's attempts to find Hans. Being that she's a lawyer, she should know that she does not need Hans. Hans has been declared dead. So the face that townspeople have a rumor that he's still alive is pointless. She could have used Anna's correspondence to show that she intended to sell the factory and gotten the sale put through probate. Let Anna's lawyer deal with the probate and inheritance issues. It's not the main character's job or concern. But this is a technicality in comparison to the fact that the whole plot takes us on a journey during which;

    MAJOR SPOILERS REGARDING ENDING
    The sale of the factory is not resolved (as the main character does not return home with the papers), Syberia is not actually visited, Hans's obsession with mammoths is not made in any way relevant as anything other than a plot complication, and despite the main characters alleged evolution, she remains unconvincing as she still has not actually resolved any of the personal problems she's faced over the phone ... unless you count running away.

    All in all, I found the game amateurish and disappointing.    … Full Review »
  2. Kaniya
    Mar 30, 2013
    10
    Syberia is a pure adventure game. Story of syberia takes place as you might guess by the name of the game, in a frozen town where people lifeSyberia is a pure adventure game. Story of syberia takes place as you might guess by the name of the game, in a frozen town where people life was handled by robotic people and you have come to buy the company and regain its reputation agian after the death of its owner. But sounds like the owner's brother is still alive where you do not know and it brings you to a breath taking and beautiful adventure where you will discover the life of this people, their culture through out a nice written story and awesome art direction. Syberia has quiet challenging puzzle through out the game and it might take you a while to figure out the solutions but they are that much interesting and nicely put together that makes you never bored of it. Story is just awesome and really unforgeable. Graphics are pre-rendered environments but the art directions is somehow awesome job. Overall Syberia is an unforgettable game.… Full Review »
  3. DominickP.
    Feb 16, 2005
    9
    Finally a great adventure game. Amazing graphics and puzzles hard enough, but you don't get stuck for hours. I can't givethis one a Finally a great adventure game. Amazing graphics and puzzles hard enough, but you don't get stuck for hours. I can't givethis one a 10 because of 2 reasons: 1. there is a lot of walking back and forth, going through multiple screens which can get very frustrating. 2. The side story about your fiancé and your best friend that, as a guy, could not care less.… Full Review »
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