The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript is an adventure game developed by Kheops Studio and published by Tri Synergy for Windows.[1] In 2009 it was released on the Mac OS X.[2]
Gameplay and plot
This is an investigatory game set in 1522 at Da Vinci's last home, the Cloux Manor.
Gameplay is standard for 3D first-person adventure games.
Development
This game was a co-production between Nobilis, Elektrogames, TOTM Studio, Kheops Studio, Mzone Studio, in collaboration with the Clos Lucé.[1] It was the first ever game created about the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci.[3] In September 2005, the project was originally announced as Da Vinci Experience,[4] but this was changed to its current title in January 2006.[5] It came out at a time when the culture was saturated with Da Vinci (including a book, film, and competing video game).[6] Marianne Tostivint believes The Da Vinci Code projects helped get this game be sold to a publisher and financed.[7] A lot of effort was put into making the Clos Lucé as historically accurate as possible.[8] The designers had three key focuses to ensure an optimum player experience: gameplay, ergonomy, and interfaces.[9] In terms of educational goals, the designers wanted to make the game as historically accurate as it was fun to play.[10] Coladia (who owned the publishing rights at this time) announced the release of the title on iOS devices in February 2011.[11]
According to the Agence pour le développement économique de la région lyonnaise (ADERLY), Nobilis planned The Secrets of Da Vinci to be a hit. The publisher reportedly "hope[d] to sell at least 100,000 copies of this game in France and exceed one million units worldwide".[12]
IGN concluded that the game was neither difficult nor compelling.[21]GameZone felt the game didn't offer much motivation to the player to solve puzzles and advance the plot.[20]Eurogamer thought it was pleasurable, even if it wasn't particularly groundbreaking.[17]PopMatters felt the game tread to far into the uncanny valley.[25]Jeuxvideo.com noted that the title had replay value due to the different ways in which players can complete puzzles.[22]
^Jeuxvideo.com staff (January 17, 2006). "Da Vinci Experience change de nom". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
