Lost: Via Domus

People hoping to gain insight into Lost the show should probably stop reading right now. You won't find any answers in this review and you certainly won't find any in Via Domus. With that out of the way, we can treat Via Domus like every other game out there.

In Via Domus you play as one of the survivors of the fabled flight 815. As if the island you land on wasn't confusing enough, you have no idea who you are or what you were doing on the flight. To sweeten the deal, one of the other survivors wants you dead, and it's your job to stay alive long enough to figure your past out. Solving the mysteries of the island is not your job; something that will probably frustrate some fans of the show.

Lost In Adaptation

The format of the game is pretty close to that of the show. Levels play out like episodes, which include flashbacks. Game play takes place in present time, and as the meat of the game, is a mixture of tasks and puzzles. Some of these tasks, like finding your way through a cave, are made all the more menacing by the Smoke Monster that's been harassing the Losties since day one. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the Smoke Monster made me jump several times. As the game progresses, however, there just aren't enough moments of intensity. Once you complete a task, you'll wish it took longer or was just a bit more difficult.

Along the way, you'll need to collect things like food and water to barter for items such as torches and weapons. Interacting with characters can be fun for people in the know, especially when talking philosophy with Locke or earning a new nickname from Sawyer.

Another aspect of the game involves fixing fuse boxes. Seriously: fuse boxes. While these puzzles can be somewhat fun and challenging, there are way too many of them. Combined with several "IQ tests" you are required to complete, too much of Via Domus feels like a game that could be played on a cell phone. If that weren't bad enough, flashback sequences require you to "remember" important incidents by taking just the right photo at just the right time. They're easy at first but some of them might have you looking to the internet for answers just so you can move on to the next level.

Lost and Found

Via Domus does offer all the great graphics and sound you would expect from a PS3 game. The water, the jungle; everything looks great. The only problem is the graphics are really just eye candy and don't contribute much to the game. The sun setting over the ocean looks great, but who cares if you can't go for a swim? On the other hand, navigating through the island is pretty cool, and while it's understandable that you can't just freely roam all over the place, it's still a frustrating limitation. There are some pretty good renditions of actual characters from the show, and the characters that aren't voiced by their actual counterparts are portrayed pretty closely by sound-alikes.

I can't really see non-fans enjoying this game too much. While the game may not be a part of the show's mythology, there are plenty of references that will make hardcore fans happy. This is a quick game, and beating it feels like being dumped by someone you were just about to break up with: you tell yourself you'll just beat one more level and all of a sudden, it's over.

Pros: It's Lost (sort of), the Smoke Monster, looks great
Cons: Repetitive, too many puzzles, not enough action

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