2023 marks a crucial period for Microids, as the efforts of French publisher Rosa Parks over the past three years are anticipated to yield results. Indeed, following a period during which the company produced games that received little attention from core gamers and were generally unremarkable, it has now set its sights on improving its offerings while still targeting a wider audience. This year’s lineup includes Inspector Gadget, The Crime of the Orient Express, Tintin, Goldorak, Flashback 2, and Astérix & Obelix Baffez-les tous 2; Les Fourmis and Cobra are scheduled for release in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The company’s ambitions are clear, but recent weeks have highlighted a lack of quality due to short development times, questionable studio choices, and poor game finishes. However, with the release of a patch to address significant bugs, it is now time to embark on the Tintin adventure. Any improvements noted would be welcome.
Understanding how to distance oneself from nostalgic works is as important as wanting to renew a genre, and on paper, the promises were great, all obviously at Microids’ scale. The €7 million investment for the game is part of the publisher’s major projects, which confirmed that the sequel, The Blue Lotus, is already in development. We do not know if the €7 million includes this second episode or just The Pharaoh’s Cigars, but there is still a desire to support these projects in the best way possible. Unfortunately, execution does not quite meet expectations… What’s wrong with this 2023 Tintin version? Let’s set aside the blocking bugs that were highlighted at the game’s release since I did not encounter them, launching the game a week after its release when they had already been fixed. However, there are still residual bugs. No, the main issue surrounding Tintin and The Pharaoh’s Cigars lies in its structure and the choice of its various gameplay elements. If you expect an action-adventure game as suggested by trailers and marketing, you will be disappointed because the game leans more towards a click-and-point adventure with some grafted action sequences (like the airplane scene or car chase) to create an illusion.
Point and Click
In reality, the core gameplay of Tintin and the Pharaoh’s Cigars involves solving puzzles in enclosed areas, which provides a sense of openness despite comprising approximately 70% of the game. Given Pendulo Studios’ involvement, this approach is understandable. However, it does not align with the promises made in trailers and Microids’ promotional discourse, as there is a noticeable lack of varied gameplay elements. Previews from May last year indicated diverse sequences including quick-time events during Tintin’s boat chase, puzzle sections within the pyramid, and an airplane control scene. These action-oriented segments are scarce in the final game, barely countable on one hand over the 10-12 hours required to complete it. This scarcity leads to frustration, especially since even these relatively dynamic parts lack engagement due to Pendulo Studio’s proprietary engine not being well-suited for such sequences. The stiffness and latency in vehicle movements—whether airplanes or cars—disrupt gameplay and break immersion entirely, including a poorly executed programmed jump that further detracted from the experience.
2023 is a crucial year for Microids as they aim to elevate their gaming offerings with an ambitious lineup, including titles like Inspector Gadget, The Crime of the Orient Express, Tintin, Goldorak, Flashback 2, and Astérix & Obélix Baffez-les tous 2. However, recent releases have fallen short due to factors such as rushed development times, questionable studio collaborations, and unpolished game finishes. The latest Tintin game, The Pharaoh’s Cigars, is a case in point. Despite a €7 million investment and promises of an action-adventure experience, the final product heavily leans towards a click & point mechanic with sparse action sequences. This discrepancy between marketing and actual gameplay has led to disappointment among players. The game focuses on puzzle-solving in closed areas, which aligns with Pendulo Studios’ strengths but does not match the advertised diverse gameplay. Furthermore, action segments like airplane scenes and car chases suffer from stiff controls and latency issues, detracting from overall immersion and enjoyment. Although a patch has been deployed to address some initial bugs, fundamental structural and design issues persist in this 2023 Tintin adaptation.
Unfortunately, the issues do not end there; the “action” passages managed through Quick Time Events also fall short due to a lack of expertise. We acknowledge that while Quick Time Events are no longer particularly popular in video games, when executed well—as seen in recent titles like Spider-Man 2 (on a smaller scale)—they can add dynamism to gameplay. However, in Tintin: The Pharaoh’s Cigars, this approach does not work effectively primarily because of poor execution. These pre-programmed sequences typically involve moments where Tintin runs either to escape someone or pursue a target. Players must press the correct button at the right time with an extremely forgiving timing, presumably to avoid upsetting younger players, and will see Tintin dodge obstacles with consistently poor inertia. Whether he jumps over an obstacle or dodges a piece of scenery, everything feels slow, monotonous, and sometimes ridiculous, particularly during the one-legged jumps where Tintin appears especially awkward. The game also notably lacks dynamism, and we are aware that there have been requests for developers to simplify gameplay to cater to children. However, I disagree with this approach; making a game specifically for children does not mean offering childish gameplay without any challenge. Just look at what Nintendo accomplishes, bringing together both children and adults around the same game without treating them as incapable. Instead, developers should provide players with opportunities to progress, utilize their reflexes, and be challenged. Let’s recall the games we played in the 80s and 90s; developers certainly weren’t there to pamper us.
In a pivotal year for Microids, 2023 is expected to yield results from the French publisher’s efforts over the past three years. Following previous releases that did not resonate as strongly with core gamers, Rosa Parks aims to enhance its offerings while maintaining broad appeal. This year features titles such as Inspector Gadget, The Crime of the Orient Express, Tintin, Goldorak, Flashback 2, and Astérix & Obélix Baffez-les tous 2; with Les Fourmis and Cobra planned for 2024 and 2025. However, recent weeks have highlighted quality issues, including short development times, questionable studio choices, and inadequate game finishes. Despite these challenges, the Tintin adventure is set to begin as a patch has been released to address critical bugs.
