Customer Reviews

Majestic

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Originally billed as "The game that plays you!" Majestic was an exhilarating online mystery, unlike any other game before it. However, gameplay was all online, and involved searching websites on the servers run by EA. The software in this box is merely the interface for that online play, there is zero off-line content. EA shut down the servers running this game in April 2002. So, now, this is merely a collector's item for the box art, there is nothing that can be done with the software at all.

If you are looking for a game to play, do not buy this. There is nothing payable at all in this box. It's not bad, it's simply non-existant.

Majestic is a game I'd heard about for some time, but was waiting to read the reviews for. I finally read some, and they were uniformly outstanding, but to play you had to join an EA-owned service and I didn't want to do that. But then, they released the game on CD and no special membership was required. So, I bought the game.

You've probably heard, EA has pulled the plug. This is sort of like cancelling a great TV show before it has the chance to build up an audience. EA never gave Majestic a chance to succeed. The game servers are active until the end of April, so if you start now, you can't finish the game... period.

That said, I have NEVER enjoyed a game more than I'm enjoying this one. Well, maybe "enjoy" isn't the right word. I'm addicted. Besides the main plot, which consists of some simple puzzles that get harder over the course of the game but are always solvable with the tools right at hand, there is a second, much more challenging game just "outside" of the main game that has absorbed my attention for days and days now and is the single most challenging intellectual problem I've ever come across. I won't ruin it for anyone except to mention "Solitaire1947."

If you don't own Majestic... don't bother to start. But remember that Majestic was something truly innovative, great, and exciting, and Electronic Arts killed it before it ever had a chance to succeed.

Sad, really...

Majestic is an online game that puts you right in the middle of a far-reaching global conspiracy right out of X-Files. You solve puzzles by going to websites, and the game interacts with you by email, phone, fax, and AOL Instant Messenger. You can specify how much you want to be contacted and when, and if the game puts a "header" before it's phone calls, but this is definitely *not* a game for children.

There is only so much that I can say about the game before they find me. It has been up and running on EA.com for a few months now, but this new CD version will let you play five episodes for free, and comes with a strategy guide, classified documents and possibly a soundtrack CD.

New players will need to purchase this CD and register online to play the five episodes with no monthly fee. But current subscribers will experience no difference in their game and do not need to purchase this CD. EA.com's monthy fee is currently US$9.95, but that also currently includes unlimited access to the EA Web Sports games, and future games like Multiplayer Battletech, Maxis' The Sims Online, Westwood's Earth and Beyond, and Motor City Online.

Imagine getting woken up at 3am by a threatening phone call. Or finding a creepy classified-looking fax waiting for you at the office. Or getting a message in AIM by somebody claiming to be one of your allies, asking for immediate help.

This game plays you.

Just in case anyone was thinking of buying this game...

EA no longer supports this game and it cannot be played. So don't waste your money. It was a great game when it lasted.

Majestic is a highly entertaining game in the vein of the X-Files and David Fincher's movie, "The Game". In fact, Majestic is one of the most original and engrossing games I ever played.

Then why the 1 star rating? Electronic Arts, the creators of Majestic, have decided that the game isn't profitable enough for them - one of the reasons it is being released on CD. Unfortuneatly, subscriptions to majestic were much lower than EA expected. Instead of trying to get more subscribers, they have nixed Majestic. Already, the message boards and "members only" areas of the majestic web page are gone... But it get worse. How? Majestic is being cancelled as of April 30, 2002. I'll say that again : MAJESTIC IS BEING CANCELLED AS OF APRIL 30, 2002.

As many gamers have been, I am throughly disappointed with this decision. Unfortuneatly, EA is not about to change their minds on this. In fact, rumor has it the entire majestic team has been fired...

If you're a fan like me, you might occasionally check this space for reviews, hoping that someday you'll load up the Majestic page and see a note from someone saying "If you liked Majestic, try this new game instead." So far it hasn't happened, but I keep hoping.

Majestic was one of the most innovative and immersive games I ever played, but it was cancelled back in 2002 for lack of interest. Sure, the AI on the AIM bots was poor and the phone calls were hokey, but it was unlike any other game ever made, before or since. I dream of more games like it, but I guess the market isn't there, because I've not seen a single one. I can't even find any fan pages on the net.

But I find it hard to believe I'm the only one that fell in love with not only this game, but the concept of this game. A game that extends past the traditional interface and calls your cell phone, sends you faxes, AIM messages, and emails. For a brief moment back in 2002, I was stalked by a video game, and it was exciting as hell.

Anyway, this has gone on too long for a game that's been dead for three years. I just wanted to let you fans (if there are any) know that you're not alone. Some of us are out here waiting for the day that a new Majestic-like game comes out. [...]

I've been playing the online version of this game (identical to the version in the box as far as gameplay is concerned). There are times that I don't know if what I'm looking at is part of the game or not. When they said that "Majestic plays you" they weren't kidding.

The game is played online, so you visit many web pages...some part of the game, some not. Sometimes you can't tell the difference. Game characters contact you via email, AIM instant messenger, fax, and even call you (you can turn off the fax and/or phone contact if you prefer), adding even more realism...particularly when you come home to a frantic message on your answering machine.

This boxed version also includes some extras like interviews with the creators, some secret documents, the soundtrack, and strategy guides. It contains the full first "season," consisting of the pilot episode and four full episodes. Considering that the online version was $10/month to play, and you got one episode per month, this CD-ROM isn't a bad deal at all. You don't have to worry about the pace you play at, since you're not paying based on time. I would say that it's worth checking out.

I really like this game. It is a new concept that is finally something diferent than the Starcraft, or Half-Life models that are out there now.
The game is highly interactive, and the story is quite compelling. I find myself wondering what will happen next on a fairly constant basis... and yet, there is the problem.
There is a TON of downtime, and you are limited to aproximately 30 min of gameplay a day. I find myself looking at the game window in "StandBy" status for way too long, waiting for something to happen.
Overall, I would suggest this game highly; however, if you are looking for something to play for a prolonged amount of time in a sitting, look somewhere else.

Majestic provides an interesting mixture of emails, IM's, streaming media, phone calls and Internet "browsing" activities to spin an interactive adventure. The player participates at the center of this evolving adventure solving a variety of puzzles and challenges with clues gathered from its unique mixture of activities.

If a particular puzzle is challenging, Majestic provides a progression of hints to assist the player. Additionally, the player can select delivery type and times for phone calls to match desired play schedules. An alternate number can be used as well, definately take advantage of the phone calls in Majestic.

The Majestic game experience is truly unique and defines a new mode of interactive games. If you're intrigued at being at the center of an adventure and enjoy thrillers with interesting plot turns and rich character interactions, give Majestic a try!

I really liked this game and joined just as soon as it started. To be honest, the first episodes really weren't that great, but as it went on it really started to improve! The puzzles are great, but be prepared to not get one everyday. Some times you will go several days before getting another puzzle, but they are worth it. The first puzzles are pretty easy, but as the game progresses, they can become really challenging.

The game is also about the community. One who plays almost needs to check the Message Boards @ EA.com daily (though you don't need to, if you don't have time) and some like to chat with their "Allies." I would highly recommend this game!