Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure

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Safecracker The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure
Safecracker Box Shot.jpeg
Developer(s) Kheops Studio [a]
Publisher(s) The Adventure Company [b]
Platform(s) Windows, Wii, Nintendo DS
ReleaseWindows
  • NA: August 2, 2006
  • EU: October 27, 2006
  • AU: December 12, 2006
Wii
  • NA: December 3, 2008
  • EU: January 23, 2009
Nintendo DS
  • NA: December 3, 2009
  • EU: March 19, 2010
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure is a 2006 puzzle adventure game developed by Kheops Studio and published by The Adventure Company. It is the spiritual successor to Daydream Software's 1997 title Safecracker .

Contents

Safecracker was also released on Steam on August 29, 2007. [1] It was included in Humble Bundle's Humble Weekly Sale: The Adventure Company and Friends.

Gameplay and plot

The game is a [First-person (video games)|first-person]] puzzle adventure game, where the player moves through 3D environments, to find the safes to crack. The safes themselves vary in style and design, from safe to safe.

The games story revolves around a safe cracker, being hired by the family of a recently deceased billionaire and oil magnate, Duncan W. Adams. The player has been employed to find the will of Duncan W. Adams, by cracking the 35 safes that were in his possession.

Development

Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure was first conceived in early 2006, when DreamCatcher Interactive queried Kheops Studio about developing a game in the style of Daydream Software's Safecracker . [2] According to Kheops' Benoît Hozjan, the idea arose because the original had been a hit for the publisher. [3] Kheops responded with a pitch for the game and suggested a plot based on locating a will. [2] [3] The puzzle-based design was a departure for the team: Hozjan wrote that Kheops had previously focused on "exploration and story" in addition to puzzles, in titles such as Return to Mysterious Island and Voyage: Inspired by Jules Verne . [4] The transition proved difficult. [3]

DreamCatcher's Adventure Company announced the game in April 2006. [5] The game was reported to be a spiritual sequel to Daydream's title, rather than a strict follow-up. [6] In May, Hozjan estimated that it would be finished in July and "released in late summer or fall" thereafter. [7] After going gold in July 2006, the game reached store shelves in the U.S. in August. [8]

Reception

The PC and Wii versions received "mixed or average reviews", while the DS version received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [9] [10] [11]

IGN reviewer Charles Onyett thought the music, voice acting, and plot were limited, though he felt the puzzles were engaging. [18]

The PC version won the award for "Best Puzzle Game" at the 13th Annual PC Gamer Awards. [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ DS version developed by Firehazard Studio.
  2. ↑ DS version published by DreamCatcher Interactive in North America and by Tradewest in Europe.

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References

  1. ↑ "Now on Steam - Safecracker: The Ultimate Adventure". Steam . Valve Corporation. August 29, 2007. Archived from the original on August 31, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Dahlberg, Chris (2006). "Personal Computer: Kheops Studio Interview". Cosmos Gaming. Archived from the original on October 26, 2006.
  3. 1 2 3 Sluganski, Randy (October 4, 2006). "Interviews: Benoit Hozjan of Kheops Studio". Just Adventure . Archived from the original on January 15, 2008.
  4. ↑ Walter, Johann (November 14, 2006). "Kheops Studio - Benoît Hozjan". Adventure Gamers . Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Sanders, Kathleen (April 20, 2006). "Practice Larceny Legally". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ Morganti, Emily (April 23, 2006). "New Safecracker game in production". Advenuture Gamers. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  7. ↑ Fallen Angel (May 22, 2006). "Interview with Kheops Studio "The Secrets of Da Vinci"". Adventure Advocate. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ Allin, Jack (July 19, 2006). "SAFECRACKER turns up gold". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure critic reviews (DS)". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure critic reviews (Wii)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  12. ↑ Michaud, Rob (August 23, 2006). "SAFECRACKER: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure review (PC)". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  13. ↑ Allen, Darren (July 23, 2007). "PC Roundup (Page 2)". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  14. ↑ Todd, Brett (August 23, 2006). "Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure Review (PC)". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on September 1, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  15. ↑ Brodie, Joel (August 31, 2007). "Safecracker Review (PC)". Gamezebo . Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  16. ↑ Hollingshead, Anise (September 6, 2006). "Safecracker – PC – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  17. ↑ Hollingshead, Anise (January 8, 2009). "Safecracker – WII – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Onyett, Charles (August 30, 2006). "Safecracker Review (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  19. ↑ pixelpirate (February 17, 2010). "Test: Safecracker : Expert en Cambriollage (DS)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  20. ↑ Superpanda (November 25, 2006). "Test: Safecracker : Expert en Cambriollage (PC)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Review: Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure (DS)". NGamer . Future plc. March 2010. p. 68.
  22. ↑ "Review: Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure (Wii)". NGamer. Future plc. April 2009. p. 70.
  23. ↑ Newton, James (March 17, 2010). "Safecracker Review (DS)". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  24. ↑ Red, Carmine (March 23, 2009). "Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure (Wii)". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Safecracker Review (DS)". Official Nintendo Magazine . Future plc. May 2010. p. 85.
  26. ↑ "Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure". PC Gamer . Vol. 13, no. 11. Future US. November 2006. p. 120.
  27. ↑ "The 13th Annual PC Gamer Awards Reveals The Best Of The Best For 2006". Future US. South San Francisco, California. February 2, 2007. Archived from the original on June 17, 2007.
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