The soothsayers (previewers & reviewers) are speaking up and RAVE REVIEWS for Riddle of the Sphinx™ have come in:
Universal Hint System awards ROTS a perfect 5/5!
"One of the best adventure games of all time, incorporating superb graphics, non-linear gameplay, supportive (but not invasive) ambient background music and sound, puzzles highly integrated into the story line, and a high degree of "immersion" in the game."
Just Adventure.com awards ROTS an "A"
"[Riddle of the Sphinx] was a totally enjoyable adventuring experience..."
H2H.com awards ROTS an 80%
"...after finishing this game I was left with wanting more. I didn't want to leave and if you're an Egyptian buff to any extent, this game is certainly worth a look."
CDMag.com - 4/5 Stars
"[The Tobler's] shared passion for Egypt is evident in every moment of this adventure. Their depiction of ancient chambers and temples (real and imagined) is remarkable—"
Avault.com - 4/5 Stars (5 stars for music!)
"...there's a richness and depth here that's far beyond most computerized adventures. Indeed, rival products look superficial by comparison..."
Game Zone Online.com - 7.5/10
"[Riddle of the Sphinx] is an engaging program, very well rendered and quite thought provoking."
GoneGold.com - 75/100
"[The Toblers] have lovingly invested 5 years of their lives creating a story and game deeply rooted, often in accurate detail, in their fascination with the mysteries of ancient Egypt."
GameSpot.com - 7.4/10
"...the Toblers have added an amount of depth and detail that makes the setting seem fresh, so that adventure gamers... will doubtless be challenged and entertained by Riddle of the Sphinx."
GamesMania.com 71% (or 3.6/5)
"Riddle of the Sphinx's immersive story, hearty exploration sequences and challenging puzzles make this three-CD set an enjoyable experience for the seasoned adventurer looking for a value-priced fix.
AppleLinks.com - 3/5 Stars
"...Riddle of the Sphinx is very well done, and I tip my adventure hat to Jeff and Karen Tobler (as well as the rest of their crew)"
GamesDomain.com - Unrated, but positive.
Veterans of Myst and its countless clones will be right at home with the game's first-person interface.
Quandaryland.com - Unrated, but positive.
"...Riddle of the Sphinx is an absorbing and satisfying solitary exploration game suitable for all the family to join in and play."
Some of the links below may not be live at this time. However, he have kept the original links in place.
March 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Marc Saltzman on GamesMania.com
March 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Rumplestiltskin on H2H.com
March 3, 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Brett Todd on GamesDomain.com
February 22, 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Kirk Hiner on AppleLinks.com
February, 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Frank Nicodem on UHS-HINTS.com
February, 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Dave Fisher on GoneGold.com
January 18, 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Ron Dulin on ZDnet.com
January 18, 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Bob Mandel on Avault.com
January 11, 2001
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Tom Houston on Just Adventure.com
January 11, 2001
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Michael Lafferty on Game Zone Online.com
January 5, 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Thomas Arbour on Adventure Gamer.com
January , 2001.
Riddle of the Sphinx™ review by: Gordon Aplin on Quandaryland.com
July 16, 1999
First Riddle of the Sphinx™ beta-release demo is reviewed on The Edge.com
[The full review]
Riddle of the Sphinx: NEWS JUST IN - July 13 1999
"We at The Edge are proud to announce that, as far as we know, we are lucky enough to be the only people this side of the US to take a peek and a play at the game - we were sent the very latest (and, we are told, the last) Beta version of the game this morning from the developers themselves.
"Whilst not allowed to distribute or sent the software anywhere, let me tell you personally that Riddle of the Sphinx looks like being THE game of 1999, adventure game or not. The atmosphere it generates, with intense egyptian-poowered music, rapid animation as you move swiftly from one location to another, astoundingly accurate visuals plus attention to detail, all makes the title truely an astonishing prospect. Not since the likes of Riven have we seen such true devotion to perfection.
"The demo gives you four options. Two different locations allowed you access to the control system - the tent and the secret passageways. Both were outstanding. Think of all the things that made Myst and Riven great, atmosphere, sound, great visuals, and multiply this by infinite. From what The Edge has seen, ROTS is certainly something to rave about. For example, the two playable sections have so much scope for depth and exploration, that they make the more intense sections of Myst look almost dull.
"The attention to detail is superb. In the tent section you are able to select any of three cassettes, insert it in the tape recorder, rewind, or fast forward, as in a normal device, reset the counter, record, turn the volume up and down, eject, etc etc. These might be small points on their own, but collectively you begin to see the wealth of hypnotic detail within the game. In the same section, clicking on the bed causes you to sleep - you hear yawning, and the screen gradually closes til darkness ensues. Another click on the mouse and the reverse, til you awaken and its dark again. You can light your match, blow it out, get a key, and test it in numerous locks. You can do just about anything you'd imagine in a normal tent!
"Okay, so perhaps we seem to be raving about nothing! Perhaps. But consider that this is merely a thousanth of the entire game and you start to see its depth. In the secret passageway section you must negotiate through a maze of...you guessed it...passageways, til you reach a box with sword. With the combination of almost eerie Egyptian-style music, the hieroglyphic details on all walls, with a faultless interface which actually LETS you go forward and not to the left or right by mistake, this one's shaping up VERY nicely indeed.
"Dont be surprised if THIS is the game to turn those heads that said, a single year ago, the genre was dead. Riddle of the Spinx promises something TRUELY AWESOME. From what we've seen, it looks like it might just deliver too!"
(For the published review, go here)
June 14, 1999
Riddle of the Sphinx™ is previewed on The Edge.com
[excerpt] " Following on its tradition of exclusive interviews from behind the gaming scenes, we talked to Jeff Tobler, the man responsible for the up coming knock-out adventure game, that actually looks like it could impress. Riddle of the Sphinx....Jeff....
- Q. [The Edge] Riddle of the Spinx. They're calling it the next big adventure game here in Europe, but we've heard precious little about it. What's the deal?
- A. [Jeff Tobler] Yes. We've had a tremendous response from the european community, which was truly amazing to Karen and I as it has initially spread from word-of-mouth. Aside from several small articles (some indirectly related) and those gamers who've been following our progress from the beginning, ROTS is now beginning to be noticed. (ROTS just recently made its TV debut on Digital Turf on the E! Channel.)
Of course, another reason could be that we had not officially announced ROTS in conjunction with a publisher/distributor. We do anticipate that once ROTS goes "public" it will attract a mass following due to the familiarity of the Sphinx and Great Pyramid."
The rest of interview is here...
(For more of the interview go here)
April 8, 1999
Riddle of the Sphinx™ is previewed on AdventureGamer.com
[excerpt] "My first impression when I first saw a screenshot of the game was simply "Wow, this game looks absolutely stunning!" Omni warns visitors on their website that the pictures are not photos, but actual in-game screenshots. They've even copied the Pyramids' surface features and imperfections precisely, except for the graffiti currently defacing the Great Pyramid that was intentionally omitted (wouldn't that be going a bit too far?). The real wonder comes when you see the game in action, the graphics flow smoothly and often immerse the player so much, that you actually feel that you are in Egypt."
(For more of the preview go here)
March 20, 1999
Riddle of the Sphinx™ is previewed on Mr. Bill's Page Of Game Reviews
[excerpt] "This one looks like a winner for all of us die-hard adventure gamers. This superb looking game has beendeveloped by a husband and wife team, Karen and Jeff Tobler. They have taken more than three years to very carefully replicate, in beautiful graphics with photo realistic detail, the Egyptian archeological digs at the Sphinx and Great Pyramid. And they have also incorporated into this game what appears to be a very intriquing story that addresses many of the mysteries and prophecies that abound concerning this area. Solve the "Riddle of the Sphinx" that has been hidden for better than 2500 years. The publisher Omni Creative Group, Int'l is taking preorders and expects to release the game this spring. Be sure to visit these two websites in order to watch the trailer, enjoy the beautiful artwork, and listen to the haunting music."
(For more info go here)
March 12, 1999
Riddle of the Sphinx™ previewed at Quandary - The magazine for Adventure, Puzzle and RPG players.!
[excerpt] "Violent sand storms have once again covered most of the Sphinx and Great Pyramids. After years of digging, noted archaeologist Sir Gil Blythe Geoffreys uncovers a secret chamber overlooked for centuries. Geoffreys’ first and only trip reveals an ancient, brittle papyrus scroll. After rough translation, he realizes he’s found the ‘Rosetta Stone’ of the Sphinx. Finally, Gil thought, the riddle of the Sphinx... solved!"
(For more info go here)
March 11, 1999
Riddle of the Sphinx™ previewed at JustAdventure.com!
[excerpt] "Lovers of all things Egyptian rejoice--Jeff and Karen Tobler have just spent three years painstakingly recreating the landmarks and mysterious dwellings of this fascinating country. For what reason? So that we may participate in their indulgence and immerse ourselves in a mystery as old as time itself as we attempt to solve the Riddle of the Sphinx."
(For more of the preview go here)
