The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript

by Tri Synergy

Product Features

• Point-and-click controls, in a fully interactivve world - explore and experience life in 1500s Italy
• Deep puzzles based on the ideas and inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci himself
• Unique controls and game options, even strategic use of clothing changes
• Moral barometer tracks your decisions and affects the ending

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000FOZD5S
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: May 20, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,984 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript is a full recreation of the era in which the legendary artist and engineer lived. You become Valdo - a disgraced apprentice of Francesco Melzi, a former disciple of the late Leonardo Da Vinci. Valdo receives a mysterious letter asking for help to uncover one of Leonardo's lost codices. Valdo is out of work, and the money is too tempting to ignore. So he travels to Italy and embarks on a strange and deadly journey, to uncover Master Leonardo's greatest secret.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Surprise, November 30, 2006

By 

Hapless User "James" (Houston, Tx) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript (CD-ROM)

I was surprised by this game. When I bought it, I was desperate for a new adventure game so I decided to give this one a try. I lucked out. This game was actually clever and interesting and had several different endings depending on certain choices you make near the latter part of the game (If you buy it, make several distinct saves during the last quarter of the game.). The main activities in the game are exploring DaVinci's villa and making his devices work in order to progress through the game. Don't be put off though, the puzzles aren't too difficult and most of the time you know what you should be doing. This game has a sound storyline and the puzzles fit nicely into the story. There are no mazes or slider puzzles and you don't have to incinerate any zombies.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Game, June 21, 2006

By 

Nancy "rainbow 15 games" (Bakersfield, CA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript (CD-ROM)

The Graphics were great in this game. You have lots to pick up in the game and use most sooner or later. I left one part behind and had to back track to figure out where I had left it in order to use it again. It has some alternatives which can change the game a little. You could only move around when you got a straight arrow to go that way. But the movement was still pretty easy. Lots to mix and lots of puzzles. Mostly logical puzzles which I love to figure out. I have played lots and lots of PC games and throughly enjoyed this one. When I ordered this game I thought I had ordered The Da Vinci Code game which I just finished the book. But this game was very interesting also.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pour yourself a glass of Sauvignon, and let the game do the rest..., February 3, 2007

By 

IniquiTrance "n+1" (New York State) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript (CD-ROM)

As a fan of the role-playing, mystery/puzzle solving genre, I must say this game is outstanding on all counts.

I am often irritated when playing games in said genre at the lack of a coherent, reasoned story arch. It often seems that the designers force together inconsistent concepts resulting in a kind of patchwork quilt plot, and me having no clue what I have just done.

Not so with this game.

The storyline was engaging, enlightening, and solid. The graphics were beautiful, unique, and true to the period. There were no in-game display options, but I played it on a widescreen LCD and everything looked fantastic. The ambient music had a classical/medieval twist that was pleasant and served to further draw me into the period. The voice acting was also impressive, suggesting to the player that much effort was invested by the designers in this crucial and often overlooked element.

I also enjoyed the puzzles, all of which were logical without any annoying pixel hunting. Whenever I was stuck, I would quit, do something else, and it would not be long before some solutions popped into my head. There was one puzzle towards the end involving a painting of the Mona Lisa which required more manual, random clicking than thought, but nonetheless solvable.
I would compare this game to the Syberia and Agatha Christie series.

Here's hoping for a sequel!