Die With Glory review - An adventure that loses a lot in the telling

There's a strange dichotomy at the heart of Die With Glory. Half of it is presented in gorgeous black and white. It's essentially the stories you're telling about your life of valour and adventure as a viking.

Ththe game is far more cartoony in its outlook, and it's here that most of the meat of the experience lies. And sometimes these two distinct parts don't gel together, leaving you longing for the more stoic adventure that the cut-scenes offer.

In fact, there's a problem that bounces through everything you do, and that's one of clarity. While the game looks lovely, there are times when you're not really sure what you're doing. Or, for that matter, why you're doing it.

The main gameplay mechanics here are all about dying with glory. Or at least trying to. Basically the game is cut into bite-sized point and click adventures. There are puzzles to figure out, and dialogue choices to make.

To give you a flavour of things, the very first level involves finding an axe so you can chop down a tree to use as a bridge. There's also a floating skull. And an evil red night. But from there things get a bit confusing.

After the first challenge, you're friends with the red knight. Or you're not, depending on some choices you make in a tavern. A tavern you get to after you've apparently died. From there you tell more stories of your derring do.

There's a problem with the writing throughout most of the game, and it obfuscates everything you're doing. And there's a sense that you're always playing catch-up, trying to figure out the right course of action. Or just work out where you're supposed to go.

It's a real shame because the puzzles at the heart of the experience are actually really smart. Sometimes there are fiddly action sequences too, but they'd be easier to look past if you could figure out what you were up to.

Die With Glory isn't a bad game, but it feels like it could have done with an editor. While I'm all for games that don't hold your hand, this is one that seems to be trying to grab your digits, then failing at the last second.

There are definitely some good bits here, but too often you'll find yourself scratching your head as to what just happened. And in a game where narrative is so important, that's really not good enough.

There's a good idea in Die With Glory, and sometimes it's implemented brilliantly. Other times though it's a little on the wonky side. And no one really likes a bit of wonk when they need clarity.

By all means pick it up, but just be ready for a good deal of frustration as you try and figure out how and why you're moving from excellent puzzle to puzzle.