games-pc the longest journey User Manual

5

is an adventure game.  There are no guns to shoot, no

explosives to set off, no monsters to...  Uh, hold on, there are monsters.  But unlike most
games, in The Longest Journey your most potent weapon and your greatest asset is
your brain.  Adventure games are all about solving puzzles, exploring new worlds,
meeting and talking to strange creatures both friendly and not quite so friendly, and
about figuring how the heck you're going to get out of the jam you've got yourself into
this time.

April Ryan, the protagonist of The Longest Journey (and your alter ego in the
game), can't die.  We believe it's very frustrating for the player to spend hours solving a
puzzle only to have a piano dropped on her head when she pushes the wrong lever.  But
this doesn't mean the game isn't challenging.  It just means that, whatever you do, right
or wrong, you don't have to worry about being punished.  Games are supposed to be
fun, not aggravating.

If this is your first time playing an adventure game, good luck!  You're in for a treat, and
probably a totally different gaming experience from what you're used to.  If you ever get
stuck, take some time out to just look around, experiment with the items in your
inventory, talk to people.  You may also want to check out the chapter of this manual
called "Walk-Through".  Not only does it contain a detailed explanation on how to get
through the Prologue, it also has a few helpful pointers that may get you back on the
right track wherever you're stuck.

If you have played adventure games in the past you probably know what to expect.  Or
at least you think you know what to expect.  Well, good luck to you too. The Longest
Journey

has quite a few surprises hidden up its sleeves.  And while the interface and

play mechanisms will probably be familiar to you, it's still a good idea to read through
this manual thoroughly before playing.

Whoever you are, and whatever your past experience with adventure games, we'd love to
hear back from you with comments and criticisms regarding this game.  We're always
striving to make better games, and we can only do so with your assistance.  You can find
contact information in the back of this manual.

Thanks for purchasing The Longest Journey. And, as the denizens of Arcadia would
tell you, may the Balance protect you and provide you on your journey.

4

Between science and magic, between order and chaos, between Stark and Arcadia, there
is an ancient Balance.  For thousands of years, this Balance has weighed the scales of the
cosmos evenly, ensuring harmony between the twin worlds.

But now, in an age of great turmoil, Chaos threatens to turn the scales and bring our
most terrifying dreams to life.

The Guardian of the Balance has abandoned his throne...

The armies of the Vanguard are advancing...

A storm is coming...

And the fate of worlds is in the hands of one person.

Her name is April.  She is a Shifter.  The power to walk between worlds is within her
grasp, and her destiny is foretold in a hundred tales.  But the tides of Chaos gain
momentum with every passing second, and those who would be gods will not stand idly
by.  How, then, can one person prevail against impossible odds?

April's future is shrouded in a veil of mystery, the path ahead treacherous and winding,
and her journey will carry her not only through the twin worlds of science and magic,
but also into her own heart and soul.

This is the longest journey of them all.