The game 80 Days is based on the Jules Verne book, but definitely takes a different, ahem, path. Here the action is firmly entrenched with Passepartout, newly employed as the valet for Phieas Fogg. Of course, just as in the novel, a wager to journey around the world in 80 days sends these two on an adventure. It is up to the player, as Passepartout, to plan the journey and manage the funds.
Another departure from the source material is how “advanced” the technology is. Mechanized horses and hovering trains are wonders of the “modern” age. There are plenty of real-world methods of travel in this game, but so many others as well that fit in with the spirit of what Jules Verne imagined.
Players begin their journey with a set amount of funds, a random assortment of items to pack or leave behind, and a train ride to Paris. In each city players have the option to visit the bank, the market, explore, or plan the next leg of the journey. If necessary an overnight stay in a hotel is available as well. All of this comes with an effect on the clock with is always moving.
Exploring the city can reveal some new routes to take. Talking with dockworkers could lead to discovery of a ship departing in the morning. Wandering around the city could lead to stumbling upon a shop where the merchant knows of an air ship departing in the direction Passepartout and Fogg are headed. Exploring is necessary, as is conversing with people during these rides. Other travelers will have knowledge of routes to take that players will want.
Visiting the bank can prove to be more of a hinderance than anything, but also necessary at times. Any funds that will be available are never going to be ready immediately. Often the required amount will take a couple of days to arrive, which means a stay at the hotel, and as such more expenditures. More advantageous is the trading going on at the market. Buying and selling things along the way is the best method of keeping the funds flowing.
80 Days plays out like an interactive novel, something akin to the Choose Your Adventure books. There is a lot of text to read with various choices to make – and this is separate from deciding on which path to take around the world. Conversations and explorations are all done by reading and tapping on alternate things Passeportout (the player) will say or think.
There are images of course. The art style is minimalistic, which is striking, and keeps the focus on the word, as it should be. I really like the red lines signifying travel around the globe, giving it a very classic look. Other than that most everything else is pretty monochromatic.
It took me three tries to get around the world in the time allotted. The first time I got stuck in Yokohama with no money. Going to the bank to get enough funds took 2 weeks because the hotel stay drained all my funds. I just started over. The second attempt was successful, almost, at 86 days. Upon arriving in London the game reset as Fogg declared we would try the feat again. It took me 78 days the third time.
For $5 it might seem like a lot for an app, but it’s not. This is something you will want to play again and again even after finishing it. There are so many paths and alternate routes that players can go through multiple times and never take the same path.
80 Days is a game that captures the spirit of the source material and gives it a unique twist. iOS gamers have had this for a while and now Android users have the opportunity to check it out. I played it on my Kindle – I wasn’t about to try and play it on my phone, but you might enjoy it there depending on your phone’s screen size.