'' is a 1999 Point-and-click Adventure Game by Norwegian Studio Funcom .
It features a Minimalist Interface , rich Mythos , and simple Puzzle s in response to the escalating difficulty in adventure titles at the time, focusing instead on involving Storytelling . Its premise of a world being separated into Science and Magic generated interest in the mainstream, in an age where adventure games had long been driven into a Niche .
The game's graphics drew praise from critics for their persuasive portrayal of both fantasy and cyberpunk futuristic settings. While its Translation into ten different languages was lauded, the game was criticized for its extensive Dialogue of almost 8300 individual voice samples.
A Sequel , '' Dreamfall '', was released on April 20 2006 .
You play as April Ryan through 13 chapters of adventure and mystery to save the two worlds: Arcadia , the world of magic and Stark , the world of science.
April Ryan, an 18-year-old art student, is having strange dreams. When she speaks to a strange man outside her house, who tells her about the dreams, the story embarks upon an epic journey spanning two worlds, as April discovers she can walk between the two. April is tasked with restoring the Balance between the worlds before it is too late.
- is the young heroine of the game who has artistic aspirations. As a resident of the technology-driven world, Stark , she discovers that she is a ''Shifter'' - a person with the power to move between worlds. Her journey begins when she unwittingly transports herself to the magical Arcadia . She is hinted to be the daughter of the White Dragon, as she herself felt a connection between the two of them. Moreover, her Stark parents adopted her. April is voiced by Sarah Hamilton .
- is a fast-talking, black-feathered bird who endured years of ill-treatment from his Alcoholic master (who shut him in a trunk) before escaping. He becomes April's wisecracking Sidekick and is integral to several of the game's challenges. Despite his name (which April gives him), he is not actually a Crow and becomes offended when he discovers what crows are in Stark. It is revealed that April named him after ''Crowboy'', a cartoon hero of her childhood. Voiced by Roger Raines.
- was an eccentric, foul-mouthed Hacker who provided April with invaluable aid. He lost his legs in an accident and hovered around in a floating Wheelchair , à la Charles Xavier . Flipper was killed by ''Vanguard'' agents, when they discovered he was helping April. Voiced by Andrew Donnelly.
- is Jacob McAllen's right-hand man, warped by magic and science to become the next Guardian so that the Vanguard may disrupt the Balance. He speaks in a cold and collected tone and has no qualms about committing Violence . It is revealed that he was stripped of the emotional part of his soul, which became the Arcadian ''Chaos Vortex''. Voiced by Kevin Merritt.
- are April's friends and neighbors at the ''Border House''. The game presents a possible attraction between Charlie and April, but it is not explored, and neither is Charlie's character, very much. Emma was April's best friend and tried to save her from the Vanguard, but was gunned down for her efforts. She survived, however. Fiona and Mickey are the Lesbian couple who own and manage the ''Border House''. Emma is voiced by Julia K. Murney. Charlie is voiced by Mark Anthony Henry. Fiona is voiced by Francesca Longrigg.
- is a tenant in the Border House who lives across the hall from April. Obnoxious and chauvinistic, he sold April out as Revenge after she rejected his advances and was gunned down by Holloway's men. His death is disputable, but very few would mourn him. Voiced by Ron Gallop.
- was the highest-ranking ''Sentinel'', who taught April Alltongue , a universal language. He was assassinated shortly before ''Marcuria'', the Arcadian North's capital, was invaded. Voiced by Ron Foster.
- is an evil Alchemist who lives in a floating Castle some miles north of Marcuria. He has a tendency to Petrify his victims. April defeated him in a Math duel with the help of a Calculator , and when he tried to study it he was consumed by a bluish energy. It is unknown what exactly happened to him. It is later revealed that he was an agent of the ''Vanguard''. Voiced by Ralph Byers.
- is a former Stark native who resides in ''Marcuria''. He is nicknamed "The Rolling Man" by Marcurians because he rides a Bicycle , a Vehicle foreign to them. It is unclear how he found his way to Arcadia. It is suggested that there is another way of crossing the Divide rather than ''Shifting'' and that the Dragons (particularly Cortez) are aware of it. Voiced by Ralph Byers.
- is the present Guardian, originally from Stark. He returned there, but was at a loss of what to do as no-one had come to assume his position, and was captured by Holloway. One of April's main objectives is to locate him. He is voiced by Louis Aguirre.
- is a mysterious old woman who recounts the story of April's quest. She also appeared inside the story giving asylum to April when she was chased by ''Vanguard'' agents. She lives in the House of All Worlds, possibly located between the worlds like the Guardian's Tower, since a ''Shift'' can be opened in it. Amongst fans, there is a speculation that Lady Alvane is April as an old woman, but this was deliberately left ambiguous by the game's designers [http://www.ragnartornquist.com/blogger/2003/09/got-to-play-colin-mcrae-04-at-office.html .
- , also known as ''the White Mother'', was a great protector on the side of the ''Sentinels'' and the only female ''Draic Kin''. She died due to injuries sustained while battling the ''Chaos Vortex''. She lives through her daughter, whom April calls ''sister''. Voiced by Nicole Orth-Pallavicini.
- is a peculiar old man who served as April's mentor. She is wary of him at first, but later grows to trust him. He is much more than he lets on - in one of the game's most memorable scenes, he reveals himself to be the '''Red Dragon''', but apparently perishes at the hands of his brother, the '''Green Dragon'''. His Pocket Watch , which he gave to April and called his "heart", ceased to function soon after his battle with the Green. He is voiced by Louis Aguirre.
- is a wealthy magnate and leader of the ''Church of Voltec'', a powerful Stark Cult that is actually a front for the ''Vanguard''. Towards the end of the game, it is revealed that he is the '''Green Dragon'''. It is unknown whether he lived or died following his battle with Cortez. Voiced by Ralph Byers.
- is the eldest of the ''Draic Kin''. His gigantic form has slumbered at the bottom of the Arcadian Ocean for millennia as he awaits the right time to return to the stars from which he came, together with his ''Alatien'' (winged folk) and ''Maerum'' (mer folk) children.
Note: the actor names above are for the English Language version.
- – An age-old order that oversees the Balance between science and magic, Stark and Arcadia, with the two existing separately.
- – An order that opposes the Sentinels. They wish to see the worlds reunited, disregarding the risk that the both them of could be destroyed in the process. They are the main Antagonist s of the game.
- , also known as the Dragon s, are a race of ancient, Extraterrestrial beings that have arrived to Earth before the Divide. The Driac Kin assisted the humans who Divided the world but twelve thousand years later, they have internal disagreements about the reunification of the worlds, which has already led to civil strife.
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