A fusion of archaic tale and language riddles
Chants of Sennaar is a puzzle game developed by Rundisc that allows players to embark on a unique linguistic journey. Drawing inspiration from the mythical Tower of Babel, the quintessence of this adventure game is decoding unfamiliar languages. It seeks to take the “Traveler” on an exploration to bring balance and understanding back to the people who inhabit the tower.
To add intrigue to the game, Chants of Sennaar doesn’t reveal the identity or facial features of the Traveler or any of the other characters. The focus is on solving puzzles, outwitting guardians, entering forbidden areas, and deciphering codes.
Symbols speak louder than words
Chants of Sennaar takes the player through a tower labyrinth to explore, learn languages, and solve puzzles within the building. Players have to match symbols with images, log their interactions with silent characters into a journal, and share their findings so that characters can understand each other. Much like a point-and-click game, it mainly focuses on identifying the meaning of symbols.
The game anchors its premise with the tower's dwellers conversing and writing exclusively in fictitious language. The characters' speech is cryptically showcased on signage, making them even more difficult to understand and decode. The skill needed here isn't purely linguistic but rather involves intelligent deduction and reasoning. However, the fact that the languages are entirely fictional adds another layer of difficulty for players to overcome.
With a setting that is situated in the heart of a desert, the game offers an impressive monument to mystery and adventure. The aesthetics of the surrounding landscape seem eccentric, mainly because the game does not use any English at any point to elaborate its milieu. Herein lies another layer to the game's unique mystery, posing a significant challenge when it comes to interpretation.
Employment of a validation mechanism
While its complexity can be overwhelming, Chants of Sennaar does not leave its players aimlessly wandering. Drawing parallels with the Return of the Obra Dinn, the game makes use of a well-forged validation system to aid the players. This system assists players by providing validatory cues and feedback during the decoding process. The game offers a free demo trial to give viewers a preview of what to expect from the game.
More than just a language puzzle
In conclusion, Chants of Sennaar intricately weaves decryption and deduction into its gameplay. With its compelling narrative, mysterious setting, and the novel premise of interpreting newly encountered languages, it crafts an inimitable gaming odyssey that's sure to captivate the imagination of puzzle enthusiasts. This game provides not just entertainment but also a peek into the realm of symbology and the thrill of linguistic riddle-solving.
