For fans of Aura, that point and click adventure game for the PC from Streko-Graphics and The Adventure Company, we have some good news: the follow-up title, The Sacred Rings continues the story of the first game and offers more of the same types of puzzles and exploration. The Sacred Rings (or Aura 2 as it is known in Europe) picks up immediately where the last game left off, with our hero Umang on the run from the evil clan. The Sacred Rings promises to reveal a lot more background detail on Umang's clan as the story progresses so fans that wanted the dirty little details on that aspect of the game should be pleased.

According to public information on The Sacred Rings, this game was greenlighted, conceptualized and then re-created using storyboards to lay out the flow of everything. While we don't want to spoil any of that storyline for you, we think it's safe to tell you that after securing the Sacred Rings, Umang uses the power of these artifacts to escape to a different world. Too bad this world is not quite as pleasant as the one you explored in Fate of Ages. The art style in The Sacred Rings is certainly a lot darker, with a gothic atmosphere combined with the mechanical trappings of the first game.

Picking up and playing Sacred Rings will be a no-brainer for anyone that played the first game or any other point-and-click adventure. You can expect to have to solve a lot of puzzles that range from simple to extremely difficult, with lots of hints and clues to be gathered at every turn. There are not too many differences in Sacred Rings in that regard, just more of the same kind of logic-based brain teasing and tinkering. The developers promise that this game will certainly have it's share of intricate puzzles to solve, but there will be a real sense of urgency as the people chasing you close in. We're not sure how that dynamic is going to work in the game given we've only gotten a mere taste in the press demo but it certainly sounds intriguing.

Another promises being made is more intricate cutscenes that do more than show off bits of the game world. This time these cutscenes will offer more character interactions and dramatic scenes that support what is going on around you in the game.

Graphically The Sacred Rings really is a lot darker than the previous game, but the art style feels a bit more refined. It's still the same kind of world offered in Aura with the ability to pan around and interact with select objects and devices. The world is still pretty two dimensional, and honestly, it would be nice to see these strange art styles and interactive devices converted to full 3D…

Other promised features include richer environments to explore including a mysterious house, Manula Valley, an old witch's house, an ancient warlock and the old Keeper’s Tower now controlled by your new enemy; the familiar mouse-driven point-and-click interface is in there, as well as a ton of new puzzles, and the promise of more than 400 locations to explore, a brand new musical score and a deeper, more engaging storyline.

The Sacred Rings is shaping up nicely, though it will be interesting to see how fans react to dealing with a very familar game world and puzzles (we think they'll like it just fine). Honestly though, if you liked the first game, you'll probably want to take on this second adventure just to get some sort of closure on the plot as well as the backstory on Umang's clan. The Aura 2: Sacred Rings is set for release in early January 2007.