Each of these levels needs a fair amount of exploring, and as there is no map, a very good memory. There is the landscape with a tree at the end, a sort of broken down mansion, a cold Valhalla type world, a desert with moving rocks and a city.
The levels are separated into five different worlds, which expand and develop every time you visit them. The tree is the one consistent thing in all the levels and it’s the end point you should always try to find, wherever you might be. The others are much more tricky to navigate and finish. Now, there are 18 levels in total and the first level I’ve just described is the easiest and simplest to complete. When you reach it, the scene ends and you’re onto the next level. There is a desolate tree in the distance, so you head towards the tree.
#ZHEROS THE FORGOTTEN LAND STARS CRACKED#
In the first level you are placed in a barren landscape, with cracked earth and a white sky. It’s all played in first person and you can move, run, crouch and jump. We don’t know what your role in this game is you could be a man, woman or a monster. Now ‘N Verlore Verstand takes this level of basic storytelling to a new level of abstraction. Inside is an example of that type of game, with its non-verbal world and visual clues to bigger and larger stories. There are games that you’ve played in the past that deal with the abstract, and try not to hold your hand through a linear narrative path. What is it? Well buckle up, get yourself a nice cup of tea and I will hopefully try to explain.
Which very much sums up my whole time playing ‘N Verlore Verstand.
All I know about the name in fact is that it derives from Afrikaans heritage, and in itself it has no translation, but is there to create mystery and Intrigue. Hands down, this title wins every award going for the most unusual and enigmatic name for a game ever produced.