A few thoughts on... 80 Days

Late last year a game came across my path that normally I would have glanced at, thought “that’s neat” and then dismissed. But this time, instead of dismissing it, I looked a bit closer, took a bit more notice, and I’m really glad I did.

80 Days isn’t your normal 2D narrative adventure game. Based on story by Jules Verne, 80 Days sees you playing not as Phileas Fogg the british inventor and adventurer, but as his manservant, Passepartout. Your goal is the same every time, circumnavigate the globe in 80 days or less in order win a wager made by Mr Fogg. Starting in London, you head East, to the continent and then onwards via any number of different methods and contraptions. The game takes a fantastic view of technology (much as Jules Verne himself did in his stories) so you can not only catch trains and boats, but also submarines, autonomous carriages and skyships as well as the more mundane such as horses and camels.

Your interactions are limited to only a handful of options, sometimes even less depending on where in the world you are at any given time. As Passepartout, you need to ensure that your master's needs are met and that he is comfortable, but you must balance this with discovering other routes that will facilitate your journey. Along the way you might also get involved in a mystery or conspiracy, perhaps even a revolution. It all comes down to what decisions you choose to make and what directions you choose to go.

80 Days is not a long game, it can be completed in about two hours or so. There are the obligatory achievements, such as completing the game in 60 days or even 40 days. But each time you play things are different, a new seed is used in the world creation so your trip will have different things to encounter as well as different routes for you to choose from. I have thoroughly enjoyed every time I’ve circumnavigated the globe, learning more about the Artificers Guild, looking after Mr. Fogg and exploring a world that is near to our own, and yet so far away.