Have you ever wondered what a point and click game would look like if it was put in first-person? It would look exactly like Myst, which I had no idea was essentially a point and click puzzler until this very review. It was right there! I can’t believe I never noticed. God, I hope they do this with Monkey Island someday.
Anyway, we’re not here for Myst or monkeys; rather, we are here to discuss Amerzone from developer Microids Studio Paris. It was a 1999 game that started as a point-and-click adventure but has since been updated, translated, and treated quite well. What you get is essentially the same type of game, but far more modernized in nearly every way.
What you don’t get with this re-release/remake is an easy time or freedom of movement. The latter of which is why I mention Myst, a renowned game that must have been a blueprint for Amerzone. If you aren’t in love with Myst’s movement, you certainly won’t be endeared by Amerzone, as it can be jarring being in a first-person view without the ability to move around like you’re in a Call of Duty game.
Let’s discuss this throwback game that harkens back to simpler times.
Story
The story of Amerzone is well-thought-through, and it’s more of a true adventure without much violence to carry it. The goal of the story is to help finish the job of a late explorer and uncover the mysteries behind Amerzone’s Great White Bird, which is believed to be a myth.
If you’re looking for a story that is thick on narrative, and I mean super-thick, like molasses-thick, then you’re in for a treat. You essentially get a well-organized narrative that is a book that you’re playing within. That includes good character development and fantastic world shaping. If you like stories, love reading notes, and such, then you’ll be thrilled to go through this adventure. The story is done very well.
If you don’t enjoy reading a lot in your video game experience and are looking for notes/answers with gobs and gobs of details, then this might not be the experience for you. While the gameplay is impressive as it is challenging, gathering details and being mindful of the specifics can be a tough deal for some gamers. The story isn’t a throwaway by any means, rather, it’s a key component for enjoyment and success in the game.
Go into it with an open mind, a fresh jolt of energy, and be ready to learn. That’s the best way to describe the story and its importance in the gameplay. They are entangled and one cannot move without the other.
Gameplay to stand for
It has taken me about four days to get used to the idea that I’m anchored to a standing space in search of clues while trying to solve puzzles. Every single time this game would load up, I would try to move my character like my instinctive first-person shooting has taught me. Every single time I played, I would be thrown back, and I had to remember that the game allows me to exist in a single standing position with items of interest lying around. This is the same structure as Myst from the 90s, and it’s just as close to entertaining because of it. It’s also the same blueprint for the original 1999 Amerzone, though far less jarring.
The moment you set foot in the game, you’ll find out quickly that the controls are point and click. You point with an icon at a space, the game tells you whether you can interact with said space, and then it interacts. That interaction could be walking forward into another space, looking at an object that stands out, or delving into a puzzle that requires your utmost attention.
In a way, it’s easy to navigate puzzles in this game because of the space restriction. In another way, it’s easy to miss details because the game throws so much at you. For example, I was stuck in a tunnel at the initial jumping-off point of the game, a lighthouse. It required me to put a disk in a computer, figure out the password, which would then allow me access to the next area/puzzle. Trying to figure out that password was the death of me for a few days, but it set up the rest of the gameplay and what it was asking from me.
Again, this is the type of game that only Myst fans could be super-jacked about. Anyone who enjoys going through notes with a fine-tooth comb and acknowledging specific details and remembering them when trying to solve very difficult puzzles is going to go ga-ga over this game. And I know that there are a ton of gamers who could come and go as they please with this type of gameplay, which is a huge plus for Amerzone. Honestly, that type of gameplay works, and the balance of not moving, gathering obvious details, and discovering puzzles to solve creates a nice challenge. And the payoff isn’t half bad either.
Now, it should be noted that pointing and clicking at items, solving puzzles, and gingerly trying to find the hot spots for interactivity is fun. This type of gameplay allows for the narrative to be at the forefront, and it is a very worthy narrative, allowing for characters to stand out more, rather than just becoming brief and meaningless interactions. It’s like Indiana Jones but without whips, guns, and running. You simply get to progress the story with your attention aimed directly at the details and pat yourself on the back when solving what can be very difficult puzzles. Having a story driving the entire game is worth the struggle when it comes to solving the many puzzles that equal progression. Again, both gameplay and story are very much entangled with each other.
Overall, the above is the type of gameplay you will run into. It’s story-driven and puzzle heavy, which makes for a great way to sip this fine wine rather than to gulp it. The challenges are used as motivation to push forward and solve the mysteries the game contains, which makes the adventure in Amerzone rather cognitively awarding.
Looks that aren’t puzzling
If you’re going to turn a P/C game into a more modernized experience, then you’re going to need the best type of engine to lead the charge. This game was rebuilt and re-imagined using the Unreal Engine, and what you get with that is some gorgeous environments that contain finer details to bring the world of Amerzone to life. The small details stand out thanks to the devs’ usage of this engine and how real they wanted to make the environments and their people. This is one of the prettiest games that I have seen in 2025. Maybe The Secret of Monkey Island would be nice in first-person using this engine and gameplay blueprint. Hmmmmm.
Anyway, this is a gorgeous game. To take that gorgeousness even further, the game features some fantastic audio and some superb voice acting. The drama is sold through visuals and audio, the adventure is pushed because of visuals and acting, and the game’s presentation is so much nicer than I expected. This is a huge plus for Amerzone.
On that sweet note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
Amerzone from developer Microids Studio Paris is a Myst-like experience that features a heavy narrative, great characters, and incredibly challenging puzzles. It may not be for everyone, but those who want this type of gaming experience will certainly be thrilled with the delivery.
