I've been lurking on this forum for the past few days since the sale, because I wanted to read peoples' experiences with the game. There hasn't been a lot of extra activity and most of it hasn't exactly been gushing. That disappoints me a little, but then the world isn't there to please me!

I think ultimately you have to remember that the game is 16 years old and it will be awkward to play in parts because of this. I don't necessarily think this makes it a bad game or a bad design, but I can understand where people can find fault and frustration.

Regarding jerky graphics: that's completely a technology limitation of 1996. The game could have went for a totally different graphical style, but then people would have forgotten it long ago. The narrative of this game is very, very important. The animations, although running at a frame a second, play a vitally important role in the narrative. The characters look real, move realistically and have a range of expressions unparalleled in video games. I really mean that - higher fidelity modern graphics are vacant by comparison. In fact, as our resolutions and polygons increase, there is increasing dissatisfaction at the "Uncanny Valley" effect. Even LA Noir, which used facial capture technology to chase after a similar effect, doesn't escape this and may even compound it. For The Last Express to have filmed real actors, chosen the best frames and then stylised them to a period befitting of the game was, in my humble opinion, a wonderful use of 1996 technology.

Being on a train was another good narrative choice, again in my humble opinion. To be in a real-life historical location during one of the most important periods of European history, mere days before the first world war broke out, with a passenger list that crossed most of the divisions that sparked the war - that's just a great setting. The closed environment simply seals the narrative for me.

The gamey part is interesting, but I did feel that some of the routes through the game didn't offer enough gaming reward. Normally not a problem with this sort of game, but the progression penalties are harsh and the windows for success are narrow. I didn't like the time rewinding mechanic in the slightest, but I am incredibly glad it existed. It worked far better in a 'proper' game like Prince of Persia.

The script is good and the conversations are interesting, although the characters can sometimes slip into caricatures. The body language is fantastic, however. The objects people had in their compartments and their behaviour as the game progressed were confirmations of my initial judgements, rather than dirty little secrets that I would never have imagined.

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SPOILER ALERT
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One example - I suspected the two ladies (whose names escape me) had a thing together from the first moment I saw them. The younger lady's diary was nothing more than the smoking gun I knew existed. The game is littered with little things like this.
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SPOILER END
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Anyway...

tldr; If nobody else is going to gush, then I am. Please try to look past the game and enjoy the setting, atmosphere and characters. I know it isn't easy as the game does appear to punish you, so I apologise for it on that front.

Yeah, you have to be in the right place at the right time. I know that phrase gets thrown a lot in regard to TLE. But patience and a healthy dose of eavesdropping will pay off.

I discovered The Last Express when it arrived to GOG. I had heard about the game earlier, but I hadn't bought it, because I didn't like the graphic style at first. But nevertheless I bought it from GOG and I was pleasantly surprised. I actually even learned to like the graphics and "jerky" animations.

And what I liked most is that there's plenty of exploring to do. Because you can't be everywhere at the same time I ended up rewinding the time regularly, so that I could discover if there were other discussions going on elsewhere. Most of those discussions weren't related to main plot in any way, but added nice touch to the characters and made the game's atmosphere more realistic.

But I agree that this isn't a game for everyone. Because of it's rather unique style, some people will hate it and others will think that it's one of the best adventure games ever.

Ugh. There is no accounting for taste. But this is one of the most original, nicely styled games with a great storyline, realistic historical setting and well worked out, believable characters you get to know pretty well. Go play a generic first person shooter or something. It certainly has its flaws (I didn't like the fighting mechanics, for instance), but it's sheer originality can't be ignored. Unless you're ignorant.

I agree with the fact the gameplay is rather frustrating for the reasons said above.
It's a reay pity, because otherwise the game would really be an absolute masterpiece.

Despite that, the game is still unique, and I am glad I bought it and played it,
it's something completely different and sometimes new things don't always
come 100% perfect, but they still show great sparks of innovation.

It's a similar situation I found in FTL (Faster Than Light): beatiful concept,
sometimes frustrating gameplay (well, in FTL it's actually quite always
frustrating). So, you get angry, but still cannot avoid to somehow admire
the ideas that the developers put in.

All in all... what about a The Last Express 2 to remedy...? :-)

If i had known this game was about repeating over and over portions of the game akin to platformers until you get the 'right' combos of actions to get the right outcome I would not have bought it. I thought it was a point and click adventure game, not a insta 'death' game where you have to start over ad nauseum. I do not enjoy playing over the same portions of game until you get to a new portion of game till you fail, replay to the next fail point, try something new, replay to the next fail point .. try something new... repeat repeat repeat. this is that game.

the graphics are stellar, the story is intriguing. I love the atmosphere. Too bad I cant enjoy a bit of it due to stupid timers and forced restart mechanics which destroy any ambiance and leisurely exploration. For some reason my honest review wont be posted along with all the other 5 star gushing ones that conned me into buying this tiresome game.

I fully agree with every word there, same show-stopping reasons that made me dump this game on the abandoned pile. Don't care if the artwork is beautiful and all the strong points of the game, if the gameplay is awkward like this then I'm out regardless of how many 5 stars reviews there are.
I also had problems with a wonky mouse cursor, seems to be one of those GOG games using Dosbox that I can't get to work properly without tinkering around and that puts the last nail into the coffin.

Where though? I certainly can't find it.

found it near the clock area.

There is no way to discuss feelings. If someone takes his feelings for an argument, there's no point in reasoning. Be happy in your own, little, wild world of uncontrolled emotions.