Developer: Learn Technologies Interactive Distributor: SouthPeak Interactive System requirements 486 DX/100 or higher 2X CD ROM or faster Windows 3.1 or Windows 95/98 16 MB RAM 16 Bit Windows compatible sound card Microsoft compatible mouse Fans of Mindscape's original blockbuster hit, Myst, are definately going to enjoy SouthPeak Interactive's similar offering called Qin. Pronounced 'Chin', Qin has a familiar interface and the puzzles are similar in concept. The big difference here is that Qin is a masterfully disguised bit of edutainment. Where Myst was played strictly for fun, Qin offers you the same great gameplay but based on historic fact. In other words, the player will get a pretty good primer on Chinese history, philosophy, language and culture all within the confines of a very engaging game. Your adventure takes place within the tomb of China's first great emporer, Qin Shi Huanghi. As an archeologist you've been hired to explore Qin's tomb in hopes of unearthing hidden treasures. Along the way you'll be exposed to Chinese history and other aspects of the culture by means of your handy portable encyclopedia which helps make sense of the world you inhabit. All of the many puzzles you encounter are based on Chinese philosophy and cultural practice. Therefore, you'll need to resort often to your encyclopedia in order to figure them out. Many of the clues are written in Chinese but you are also equipped with a translator (you'll use it often) to decipher the many written clues you'll find. Da Graphics Qin uses the same kind of postage stamp window interface that Myst employed. Most of you will have seen pictures of the archealogical site where hundreds of soldiers and horses, all with individual detail, have been unearthed. Well, this is the locale for your adventure. However, Qin, also takes the player to mystical planes where time and earthly directions are meaningless. The graphical display is absolutely breathtaking. Qin lacks much of the tension that Myst was able to generate but it really makes up for it in generating an Asian feel on "everything" you encounter. Chinese artifacts have been faithfully and accurately recreated in photo-realistic detail. The world you explore is fairly large and you'll need to examine and look at numerous objects and vistas as you go about your journey. There's some great variety in the world of Qin as you explore ruins, buildings and numerous individual rooms. the artifacts are countless, and many of them can be picked up and manipulated in order to progress on your quest. Nonetheless, some are there simply as intellectual eye candy. You'll need to sift through them all because nothing exists by chance and there's something to learn from everthing you encounter. Great atmosphere is generated and Qin truly succeeds in providing the Western player with a sense of encountering the mysterious East. Point the joystick up. Qin is a magnificent treat for the eyes! Da Sound Huge points are scored here. The graphics alone can't bring the feel of China home to your PC. However, add a soundtrack where Chinese voice actors speak in their native tongue and where music is played on traditional Chinese instruments and things are stamped with an authenticity that is immediately recognizable. Qin is no hastily conceived and implimented project. There is tremendous attention to detail not only in gameplay but also in the graphics and sound. Qin is a quality product throughout. The music adds incredible atmosphere to the game. It may not make you tense but it is inherently facinating. The joystick is definately up on the sound! Da GamePlay Qin is at an intermediate difficulty level and I was able to solve it in two days. Granted, I play more games than most folks but I'd like to have seen Qin test me a bit more. The upswing is the edutainment value in learning about China's past and its belief systems in order to solve the puzzles. As a Westerner, I am amazed at the extremely complex and detailed nature of China's ancient beliefs and practices. To learn more about China was a great fringe benefit of exploring the world of Qin. The game is very well designed and the compromise between edutainment and pure gameplay reaches a harmonious balance in Qin that clearly merits a joystick up. Bottom line...play Qin for fun but you'll learn along the way regardless of your gaming focus. Conclusion Fans of Myst and other puzzlers will definately enjoy Qin. Anyone interested in China's history, its ancient beliefs and culture should make Qin a priority on their gaming list. The joystick is all the way up! Qin: Tomb of the Middle Kingdom was reviewed by Prophet on his: Pentium II 300 MMX Number Nine Revolution 3D video card 64 Meg RAM LX 350 Game Chair (It rocks!) Logitech Trackball mouse 19" Acer Monitor (make it big baby :)