GameTech: Holiday package has travel bug
80 Days reimagines the story of Phileas Fogg and his loyal valet Passporteau, with you in the starring role as the valet. The overall concept is the same as Verne’s novel (Fogg must travel the world in 80 days or less to win a wager) but the premise here has been slightly altered. In this version, Fogg and Passporteau live in a Victorian ‘steampunk’ world, where steam engines, airships and even magnetic railway lines are in regular operation. These machines allow the player to plot all manner of routes back to London, and not just the routes that would have been feasible in that period of history. Berlin, Honolulu, Pyongyang, it’s all on the cards. The world becomes your oyster. There are 169 cities to visit overall, each one with its own special items and characters to help (or hinder) Fogg on his journey.
Playing as Passporteau, the goal is to make it back to London without going bankrupt while maintaining the respect of Fogg, all within 80 days. To sustain this challenge, the game plays like an interactive novel, or a Choose Your Own Adventure story, presenting entertaining vignettes for Passporteau to, well, navigate. At one point, for example, your boat trip from Yokohama to San Francisco might be thrown off course due to a storm, with the ship’s captain reneging on his word and turning to Hawaii instead. Passporteau can attempt to start a mutiny on board, playing the Christian and Shinto factions against each other. Choose the wrong option, however, and things might get even worse. Another scenario involves a young girl who falls in love with an engineer — should you get involved, or keep clear? Helping her could expedite your journey, or it could set you back days.
