Syberia is a rough game. Coming into it, I became increasingly aware of the number of people who would put it near the top of the adventure genre. It was similar to the experience of learning a new word only to start hearing it everywhere. I can see the appeal with the amazing visuals, surprisingly rounded character acting for an early 00's neo-3D game, and general presentation that would appeal to someone who electronically subscribes to the New York Times instead of using an adblocker. The problem is there's just not enough game to make the stretch.

Syberia is beautiful, but not in a way that really reaches me. The choice of 'non-descript' Eastern Europe tends to land flat for me, like the writer wanted too much control and so was unwilling to build off of something that was already interesting, like a jovial place or a war that occurred. There's a standard in fiction: "Is this the most exciting thing that has happened in this world, if not, why aren't you writing about that?". There's a genuine atmosphere of 'near loneliness', where every area seems like you got there just past its hayday, but then you have this bright 'coming out of my shell' character arc for the player that never really 'syncs'.

Syberia is not that difficult in the grand scheme of things, but that's largely because it doesn't attempt to engage your problem-solving skills. Difficulty in the game becomes a check of thoroughness, remembering to revisit rooms after unrelated events, exploring every dialogue tree option, and scouring for clickables. These are adventure game staples, but the good ones leave them as nominal inclusions and tend to leave you larger swathes of time for abstract or physical puzzles.  By about the halfway point, you're wise to the lack of engagement and feel empowered to steamroll through the second half in a half or third of the time.

The game also launches into a prompt to 'Play Syberia 2' abruptly at the end; leaving Syberia is an odd faustian state where you probably are hankering to play more, but because the base experience feels like the first 2 parts of a 3-act play.

Syberia reminds me of modern 'walking simulators', in a good way, and I'll deride a bit by saying that most people who love it probably love replaying it, but trying to make it an adventure game for the new millenia really holds it back from something truly new it could have been. I can't rightly recommend it.