Aura: Fate of Ages is the latest point and click adventure from Canadian game developer Strecko Graphics, being brought to the United States and Canada by DreamCatcher's The Adventure Company division in late June for the PC. Strecko's game promises a more traditional adventure game packed with intricate puzzles, exotic and varied locales, pre-rendered graphics, a fantasy storyline and interesting non-player characters to interact with as players traverse four different worlds in a quest to solve the riddle of the rings. For the most part Aura: Fate of Ages seems to deliver what it is promising, though our journey through the game is limited to only one location in the game world called Dragast.

But before we delve into that mechanical world, let's give you a brief synopsis of what Aura: Fate of Ages is all about. In this game players don the role of a character named Umang, an apprentice keeper of a special order who keep the rings safe and have the power to wield them. These special artifacts allow the chosen ones to use the rings to travel to fantastic worlds beyond imagination and create new ones as they see fit.



Being that this is an adventure game there must be a great legend or prediction of doom, gloom and a possible loophole of hope and Aura: Fate of Ages serves one up in short order: according to an ancient legend if these powerful rings were to make it into the wrong hands then destruction would surely follow. But a more important legend says that one of the keepers will someday unite these rings and gain great power and immortality. Obviously the big question is "are you the one - are you that mysterious avatar that has the intelligence, cunning and understanding to bring the rings together?

We imagine so, but one must learn to crawl before one can walk, and so the adventure begins with a visit to the starting point of your journey, Ademika, followed shortly thereafter by the mysterious disappearance of your master Grifit. In his place is a hastily scribbled note instructing you to prepare the journey ship (a twin engine airship suitable for several passengers) and head to the crossroads of the worlds.

Aura: Fate of Ages is divided into four worlds, each with different architectural styles, unique puzzles, non-player characters, artifacts and scenery. We'll be focusing on the Dragast, which we've explored first-hand. But briefly the four areas are Ademika Valley (the actual starting point of the journey - a lush and organic world filled with mysterious magics), Na-Tiexu (a magical world set in the backdrop of the stars), Dragast (a world filled with scientific and mechanical devices beyond imagination) and the fabled Island of Unity (a mysterious world where the prophecy of old will ultimately be fulfilled).

Dragast is a highly evolved world where science, mechanics and seemingly alien glyphs and puzzles block every path. The world features some interesting modes of travel like Trams, elevators and bizarre alien transports. Of course each of these devices is blocked by some pretty intricate puzzle. Some of these puzzles are common sense, while others require some serious logic and problem solving. Still others require the use of a unique artifact - which in turn requires some more problem-solving to get to. As players traverse this world in the sky and deep underground they'll run across a handful of NPCs that offer brief clues and hints on what you'll need to do to move forward. One thing that is nice about the game is that short journal entries help players to figure out what to do in order to solve a given puzzle. The journal entries provide sketches (hints) of the puzzle in question and what might be important in solving it.

The puzzles in Aura: Fate of Ages in this particular world are complicated and require some serious problem solving skills in order to overcome - traditional point and click adventure game fans will no doubt enjoy the challenge that this game will offer, but more casual players might have a tough time figuring things out.

The game itself is served up using a traditional point and click interface where the mouse cursor controls navigation and interaction. Players move forward scene by scene and area by area, with the only animation being interaction with NPCs and the puzzles you'll encounter along the way. Each scene is pre-rendered and looks photo-realistic to the point of looking more painted than rendered.

The actual interface is pretty straightforward to use and players can pan around in a given scene by simply moving the mouse left to right and up and down. Interaction with devices is as simple as clicking on an object or person and when interaction is possible the cursor icon brightens up. When players can move to an area the cursor turns into an arrow. Players can also use objects in their backpack that they collect on other objects in the game world just like you would use a key on a door.

To paraphrase the Grinch that Stole Christmas, Aura: Fate of Ages had us puzzling and puzzling and puzzling some more. The game is very puzzle heavy and most hardcore adventure gamers will "like it like that". On the other hand, casual gamers may find themselves suffering from brain freeze in short order if the game starts out the way it plays in the Dragast region. From our limited peek inside the Dragast world of Aura: Fate of Ages the game should be challenging enough and interesting enough to grab the attention of the adventure game faithful. Look for the game to hit retail at the tail end of June. You can learn all there is to know about the game by visiting the official Aura: Fate of Ages web site .