While falling short of outright uber art, Wintersonne stands tall enough to see you through to overweaning satisfaction.
In the onset cinematic we are introduced to the main character, John Russell, as he is given a briefing and sendoff to his world saving mission. The huddle includes the requisite patronly figures, a snarling maverick type eager for blood to act as muscle, and lurking around the edges, the bloody diva of spycraft, her eponymous self. Clearly, Russell is being saddled up to perform heroic duty. And expertise in nuclear physics is what recommends him for the position. I am reminded in this of the send off the good professor receives in the beginning scenes of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"......the sensation is of a spring being loaded.
Russell proves his puzzle solving mettle in the beginning with the adventure game equivalent of finding one's way out of a paper bag. This particular paper bag happens to be a bullet scarred, London building, Big Ben visible off in the distance, kind of setting. This puzzle and all subsequent puzzles prepare the player for the sort of precariously placed pixel cum logic festival that some celebrate, some dread. I happen to be fairly neutral on the subject. Just throw a few handfuls of spaghetti at the wall, and I am happy unraveling the noodles at my leisure. I say this fully aware that my leisure time involves a sizable proportion of time grinding my teeth into chalk dust. Some of these noodles will have you moving from frustration, through exasperation, and ending in disgust. Caveat emptor!
Character development is adequate, shining in areas, not so much in others. Russell gets the glossiest treatment, which is only fair being that he is central while all others are second banana scoring second stringers. He has good presence, thanks to a smooth melifluous proper Brit's vocal authenticity. The makers have truly captured the tea sipping, stiff upper lipped, vaguely sunken chested, self effacing, fussy mien that has endeared us to the stereotypical Englishman. He has all that, and the ability to surprise us with his significant bag of tricks, one of which is an easy way with Latin phrases. After all, you never know when you may go toe to toe with one of the Vatican's finest in your journeys.
Fashionable Ann Taylor may play second fiddle to John Russell, but she is no fawning lily. She bears the good breeding and correct proportions of a well drawn character......though her Nation affiliation and brand loyalties remain doubtful through the rolling credits (which happened to be done with exceptionally classy, of a bygone era, character stills). While Russell is variously wooden and spastic, she prances across the runway like a carriage horse. Though she has the condescension of the queen, and I wonder if her day job actually has her working in a testicle grinding factory.
This Historic Adventure has a decidedly prosaic touch, but gets away with it because of the material. The soundtrack is tinkling orchestral, the sound effects are minimalist but appropriate, and visuals are tinged in slate. I did feel I was being taken through the pages of WWII to a certain extent, with the 2 and a half dimensional, pre rendered backgrounds. The dialogues were very fitted to the characters and scenarios. The flickering streetlamps at night, the snowflakes falling lightly, the electrical sparks cascading, and the steam rising all served to soften the otherwise cold stone, iron and steel feel of Undercover :Operation Wintersun.
You will collect endless articles of varying importance for your progress in the game. You will be called upon to feed the hungry, slake the thirsty, unlock the doors,subvert the guards, disable the bomb, and ultimately seize the day...........Carpe Diem!........I have walked where you will walk, and I can fully recommend this side track as a pleasant adventure game diversion.