Meridian 157: Prologue

Meridian 157: Prologue is a free, first-person point-and-click puzzle adventure and the opening episode of a four-part series. You play forensic meteorologist David Zander, travelling to a remote island in the North Pacific to track down a strange weather signal. It suits solo players who want a short, no-cost taster before deciding on the paid chapters.

Players describe a classic slideshow-style adventure in the vein of Myst and Nancy Drew, mixing inventory use with self-contained puzzles. Most found the riddles logical and on the easy side, with a sliding block puzzle near the end tripping up a few. Reviewers like the lonely, slightly spooky mood and the in-game camera that saves you taking notes. Several came over from the same developer's Aurora Hills and call this one less polished but still enjoyable.

The recurring problem is a bug on some screen resolutions, including 1080p, that blocks entering the boat's GPS coordinates or plays cutscenes incorrectly; typing the numbers blind and confirming works for some. There is also no highlighting of clickable objects. At about an hour and free, it is an easy recommendation for point-and-click fans; skip it if you want a complete story in one go.