The Voyage Review

Much like its predecessor, The Curse, The Voyage takes many of its gaming cues from the Professor Layton series of games. While its storyline isn't as involved, the kind of puzzles that one comes across are quite similar. In The Voyage, players make their way through a book full of 100 puzzles, which can be solved in any order they wish, as they unlock parts of a storyline about Bucklebeard the pirate and his quest for treasure.

Amongst those many puzzles are some great ones, and some that are best off forgotten about. The Voyage is a mixed bag of treats and terrors. Also, some aren't exactly puzzles anyhow - such as tasks involving rolling marble to their goal, or timing when to tap a button at just the right moment. Around one third of the puzzles are unique with the rest being more difficult rehashes of earlier interpretations. The difficulty certainly ramps up quite swiftly once one is a certain way through the game.

For the most part, this ensures that The Voyage is a fairly satisfying experience. Keeping things varied means that there's generally a good reason to pursue the next step and see what puzzles or small part of the story can be progressed to next. At times though, the explanations behind puzzles are quite poor. A level called Sands & Pearls is particularly infuriating, requiring one to draw a line to separate marbles while being rather vague in its description as to how to succeed.

There are hints to aid one's path to success, but notably these mostly need to be purchased via an in-app purchase. Generosity isn't here when it comes to a steady influx of freebies.

The Voyage might have a few issues but it remains quite satisfying to play. Not quite hitting the high notes that one would wish, puzzle fans should still rightfully appreciate its efforts. As misguided as they occasionally are.