User Reviews (1 - 10 of 10)

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makes you feel like you are in Istanbul

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: December 11, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I am from Istanbul and I found the interactive aspect of this game to be very successful. It made me feel like being at every one of these locations in Istanbul. The display of architecture, the introduction of customs and values and the interaction with the folks on the street was very well done. Also the plot was very skillfully interwoven with many challenging puzzles.

I specially recommended this game to those of you who are interested in going to Turkey and visiting Istanbul. It does bring the adventurous tourist experience to you as well as giving you background information about various civilizations and historical eras in Anatolia, such as Roman, Byzantium, Ottoman while introducing you different aspects of the daily life in today's Istanbul. In that respect, it is also great fun for people who like archeology, history and mystery.

I want more!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: May 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

An excellent game, and a fine way to tour without jetlag or bad food. This is one I play repeatedly without getting tired of it -- there's a lot to see and do. It really does make you feel like you've actually visited the sites, something I (as a woman) wouldn't be allowed to do in real life. And the story was believable, exciting, and engaging, with lots of human interaction interspersed with object puzzles. Wish there were more in this series! though I suppose they must be incredibly expensive to make.

Really Fun!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: February 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I throughly enjoyed playing this game produced by the Discovery Channel. They were supposed to release more games along this line, but have not done so. I am disappointed about that. It's very different playing a game with the graphics are based on actual film shot on location. I am a history buff and I found this game to be a fountain of knowledge about the Byzantine Era. It's one of the few games I would play again. It's too bad that a first attempt is shot down so completely by "professional" reviewers. So what if the acting is rather lame. IT'S A GAME - not an Oscar contender! Besides, in their native language these people are probably quite good. I found the acting, the music and the graphics to be acceptable. All in all a really fun way to spend my leisure time.

travel,learn,and be a detective

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: June 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Byzantine/Betrayal is as good as it gets. The locations are accurate (I've been to Turkey several times) the local colour is authentic and the actors (most of whom appear to be Turks) do a fantastic job.
The story rivals anything you'll find in Gabriel Knight, The Longest Journey, Zork or Myst. And those games have been my favourites by far and... I think Byzantine may be the best of the lot, overall.
One becomes truly immersed in the atmosphere, always mysterious, slightly threatening. While uncovering the mystery of the murder one also uncovers many mysteries of the ancient civilizations which preceeded today's Turkey. Much (accurate) historical/archeological information to be gained along this marvelous, mysterious trip.

Used game to prepare for trip to Istanbul

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: March 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I played this game a few years ago (1998? or 1999?) to bone up on my history before I visited Turkey. I thought it was great fun and very informative. When I was in Istanbul, I felt like I had already been in many of the places. It's a fun and easy way to learn history. I wish Discovery would make more games along this line.

Realism at its best!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 08, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I was truly impressed on the quality of this game. Especially for the price. The historical accuracy of which the game is based is excellent. The variety of the types of puzzles and twists keeps you engrossed in the game play. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I feel I learned a lot. I hope Interplay continues to create excellent games like this one.

Could not play on XP

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: September 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I tried everything I could do and checked everywhere on the internet to figure out how to load and play this game on XP. I could find no patches and all the directions and changes I made on my computer didn't help. I couldn't even get it to load. What a dispointment. I have played lots of older games but could always figure out how to get them to load and play on XP. It just kept telling me it had to be played on Windows 95.

Why don't they have more games like this?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I go with all of the 5 star reviewers. I thought the Turkish actors were great -- much better than most of the actors in other games I have played. It also gave you an excellent idea of what Istanbul is all about. It gave you a great feel for the city. Furthermore you could actually wander around some of the magnificent old buildings from Byzantine and Ottoman times. I didn't think the puzzles were all that difficult, but I didn't mind since you could get an "education" playing the game. I am so sorry that more games like this are not made. If you can't go there, and it is tough to go places when you are 80 years old, it sure is nice to go there in a game.

Would have been great, but.....

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 18, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I would have LOVED this game had I been able to switch CDs when called for. Every time I was told to switch CDs, I tried to open the CD tray but a message said that the drive was in use and I had no choice but to return to the Windows desktop. What I was able to play of the game was great! I tried calling the maker for support using the 800 number in the enclosed booklet, but the game was so old that no one could give me any solution to the problem.

Electronic Arts are you listening? Worth a companies updating for VISTA use in 2007, 2008, please.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 13, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I played this when it came out in 1997 and was enthralled with all the sights and sounds along the way with great game play. It filled my imagination along my need for sleuthing for hours at a time.

In 1997 you really needed a high end PC for the graphic's to play, I hit an area that I could not go further within the game and I have been remorseful about not being able to play this game to the end for years now. Every time I shop for a new game I always have thoughts about why a smart, progressive company would not take this very entertain and educational game further by updating it for today's market, and the new Window's Vista.

I agree with all the favorable Amazon reviews about this game...a winner overall! Ten years ago it was higher quality than today's CSI Hard Evidence video game and ten times more fun and mysterious.

I'd buy a new version immediately...$49.99 easy!

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