Currently available for PC ( Steam/ GOG/ Epic), Syberia: The World Before is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 15, 2022, followed by PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in 2023. In side objectives, too, which prompt you to interview characters or rummage around more thoroughly, the aim is purely to learn more and add context. It’s refreshing for a game of this type, particularly one with so many mechanical parts, to not present the world merely as a series of useful things, or problems with discrete solutions, but as a place to observe and comprehend for its own sake. Syberia: The World Before was announced by Microïds on August 19, 2019, by which time it had already been in development for a year. [3] The game was released for Windows via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com on March 18, 2022. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions were released in November, 15 2022 while PlayStation 4, and Xbox One ports were released in October 19, 2023. Although the Switch port was delayed and will be published sometime in 2024. [4] Plot [ edit ] Despite being set in 1937, it’s a story that, at times, feels especially relevant in 2022, a year in which it has felt as though we are inhabiting a world that at times has felt like it’s edging closer to war on a scale the likes of which haven’t been seen since World War II. I was genuinely moved on a regular basis, especially when the story casts a light on how damaging blind hatred can really be.

One criticism that could perhaps be leveled at Microids is that it takes an incredibly long time for the narrative to gain any steam. The early hours are very much spent walking through the beautifully rendered world at a snail’s pace, engaging in what are, quite frankly, uninteresting conversations. You’ll come across very little in the way of anything that challenges the player in the early stages, and while it does allow for Microids to flesh this world and the characters out well, it does also create a bit of a barrier to entry for anyone who appreciates a bit more instant gratification. Overall, though, I’m sure anyone who does manage to persevere will find that those early hours were well spent, as taking that time to focus on the world and characters really help later narrative beats resonate that much more. Syberia: The World Before is more of an emotional journey than a physical one for its two heroines. It primarily explores who Kate is as a person, but the link between the two women, separated by time, is satisfying when ultimately revealed. As with the first Syberia game, this one ends with a moment that feels like both an appropriate ending and an excellent launching point for further adventures to come, though sadly any new tales will have to be told without the oversight of Benoît Sokal, who passed away before this game was complete. For the secondary objective "Explore the Stalls Before You Talk to the Antiques Dealer" in "Antiques District", you don't need to interact with the door at the end of the alley. Indeed, when it comes to Dana’s sections, many ‘puzzles’ are really daily routines in disguise, such as serving the right drinks in a bar. This is a smart way, I think, for The World Before to spend quality time with its characters and story, as opposed to directing everything towards advancing a wild adventure. As such, I would almost call it a kind of visual novel, not in the sense that there’s loads of reading to do, but that it develops the kind of epic saga that would suit a book.

Syberia The World Before: FAQ

I fell in love with this game right away. That's important to note, because when The World Before was first announced, I was skeptical, as I suspect many Syberia fans were. That’s because the ill-fated third game in the series had left such a poor taste in my mouth, to the point where I almost wished the franchise would end there. Then Microids released the playable prologue for Kate's fourth adventure, and while it was still rough around the edges at that point, it hinted at enough possibilities that I became cautiously optimistic. Having now completed the full game, I feel confident in saying this is the game fans have been waiting for since the Syberia series began. As a poignant reflection on Kate's growth as a character, however, it will best be appreciated by longtime fans. This journey will take us across continents and through time periods to experience a journey rooted in the turmoil and tragedies of the twentieth century. Dive head first into the universe created by Benoît Sokal with this latest installment of the famous Syberia series. In this new adventure, play as Kate Walker and Dana Roze, two women capable of moving mountains to uncover the deepest buried mysteries.

Fans of the franchise will be happy to discover a collector's edition created for the occasion on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game follows two timeframes with two characters: Dana Roze, a young pianist in the small fictional Central European country of Osterthal (resembling a mix of Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland) in the 1930s and Kate Walker, the protagonist of Syberia series, who is now imprisoned in a salt mine in the fictional Eastern European region of Taiga in early 2000s. Dana graduates from her conservatory by performing the local anthem dedicated to the city of Vaghen, where the fascist Brown Shadow faction (an analogue to National Socialists) have begun to persecute the ethnic minorities and force them into ghettoes. For the Betrayed achievement, you must choose "Justify yourself" while talking to Leni at Silberspiegel Refuge (Part 2). The other options don't trigger the achievement. As ever, you accompany perennial protagonist Kate Walker, now an investigative drifter who stumbles into intrigue and turns it into obsession. In this case, in the process of escaping enslavement in a Russian salt mine (where she ended up after the events of Syberia 3) and learning of the death of her mother, she finds an old painting of a girl who looks quite a lot like her. For our anchorless hero that poses a question which can’t be left hanging. Despite a slow start and some persistent technical issues that are inexcusable, Syberia: The World Before is a fantastic narrative adventure that continues the series in spectacular fashion, and does Benoit Sokal’s legacy proud. It’s not clear where Syberia as a series goes from here now that the Sokal is sadly no longer around to steer the ship, but I have full faith after playing Syberia: The World Before that Microids is more than capable of continuing to deliver more incredible tales in this universe.In fact, one of the qualities I like most in The World Before is that it doesn’t feel a need to hurry to hold your attention. It’s willing to linger on views, expressions, thoughts as Kate zig-zags across the postcard town on quietly efficient automated trams, pondering her life and Dana’s. Moments set aside for optional ‘introspection’, meanwhile, aren’t merely a convenience to recap events with internal monologue, but punctuation points that create space for events to breathe. Syberia: The World Before is now Gold and is set to release November 15th, 2022 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Hey GoldenSun, thank you so much for this amazing guide! While following it, I noticed a few things: But that’s the nature of the beast, and won’t deter genre fans, while any dropped story beats are made up for by the overall rhythm of a compelling plot. And ultimately, the game’s heart is there, not in its machines but in those human stories, in Dana and especially in Kate. It’s her curiosity and longing for meaning that drives this series, and precisely what we need for a good adventure. The World Before allows her to shine, and long may she continue.

I’m also not sure why the lore needs to offer up an alternate version of the World War 2, where Hitler and the Nazis are replaced by a fascist organisation called the Brown Shadow, which sounds like an unpleasant Marvel supervillain, and the main victims of their persecution are referred to as Vagerans instead of Jews (although one note explains that the Vagerans are Jewish). It all feels a little too vague, as you hear talk of “nasty times” and “people like us” rather than historical specifics. The dual running narratives also have gameplay implications as you will find yourself in control of Dana as well as Kate here, with the game switching to Roze as Kate digs into and uncovers more about her life. The moment-to-moment experience doesn’t change too much between the protagonists, with the core gameplay loops involving the solving of many, many puzzles and sleuthing your way through environments as you look for intel and anything else you can interact with that might help move the narrative along. Unravel the intertwined fates of Kate Walker, a New-York attorney whose life was turned around by the call to adventure, and Dana Roze, a young and promising pianist in Vaghen whose career is threatened by the shadow of the Second World War. Escape prison, visit abandoned cemeteries, explore high mountains and feel the thrill of adventure.Set off on an adventure across continents and through time. Play as both Kate Walker and Dana Roze as you get to the bottom of mysteries that have remained buried for too long. Syberia: The World Before is a graphic adventure video game developed and published by Microids and the fourth installment in the Syberia series. The game is dedicated to the memory of creator Benoît Sokal, who died during development in 2021. A tale like no other! Embark on a magical journey through the enchanting cities of eastern Europe, both in 1937 and 2004. Accompanied by the music of Inon zur and the Budapest Film Symphony, piece together the puzzles that will disentangle the mysteries of two lives entwined together Having made its way to PC earlier on in 2022, Syberia: The World Before, has finally made its way to consoles. Being the fourth installment of a beloved franchise is already a daunting task, but, with series creator, Benoit Sokal, sadly passing away during the development cycle, the pressure was firmly on development studio Microids to continue Sokal’s legacy and deliver something that maintained the high standards the series is known for without his valuable oversight. With that in mind, it’s with great pleasure that I can confirm that Syberia: The World Before isn’t just a fantastic narrative adventure, but a title that the late Sokal would have been immensely proud of.