/ Previews / Adventure / Gabriel Knight 3 / Page 2
	Betas can be fun, but often bug ridden.

Graphics and Sound
I managed to get my hands on a Beta version of the game for me to preview. Even though it still contains bugs, the whole game was actually contained on the 3 CD's sent to me! To me this is a good thing, meaning at least the brunt of the work is done, and only bugs have to be ironed out, which the Beta did have an abundance of.

The first main thing you would notice about GK3 compared to its predecessors is that it's full 3d! And even better, it uses the power of today's most advanced 3d-accelerators. When most people think of adventure, they think of sprites walking around in a 2d world clicking on objects on the screen until something happens. This is not the case for GK3, and I can't stress that enough. There is just so much detail put into GK3, I don't even know where to start. Using a full 3d world has a lot of advantages, meaning you can look at anything from any perspective, not just the one that has been drawn in 2d. The world put together is one of the most realistic I've ever seen. There must be thousands of textures in just one room! The sense of atmosphere is amazing, from the damp confines of the hotel lobby, all the way out to a stroll in a graveyard. The animation for the characters in the game is amazing, as motion capture is used in their movement. But on top of them, their faces are fully animated as well, and you can see their mouths move, their eyes blink, they brows frown. People walk around the room going at their business, such as reading newspapers (you actually see them turning papers and their head move as their read), drinking, talking, examining. I've even seen the hotel manager go around and wash the windows, and it even makes little squeaky sounds as he does it!

The world is just as explicit, with stained glass in churches, fountains in the Town Square and ancient paintings in the museum. The characters in themselves are truly something to behold. With over 20 people to interact with, you can be sure the story will be deep enough to satisfy anyone. Each person has his or her own personality and voice. And with 3 CD's filled with speech, you can bet they have a lot to say! Each of the characters actually has their own human actor (this isn't Half-Life where every security guard sounds the same). And the scripted sequences carried out during conversations are truly something to behold. In one example, you walk into a kitchen where you find your favorite snack… coffee! Finding the mug empty, you quickly run back outside, and start yelling at the waiter to get some more "Coff-aey …. Mer-see?"

The last great thing to mention is the music. I have listened to the intro music so many times my parents had to soundproof my room so that they won't go insane. Well, OK, maybe not that many times, but the music sounds so professional, it might as well be placed in a movie. And although you don't notice it as much while you are actually playing the game, I think that's basically the point. Music isn't there to stand out, but instead to blend in with the gaming environment to help bring out feeling and emotions when you don't realize it. If you want a taste of the music, visit the GK3 website (link on first page) for a short sample.