It's so disappointing to see a great game come along that falls shorts because it keeps getting in its own way.

I don't know what went wrong with Heaven's Vault. Developer Inkle Studios has done enough strong work over the years for me to go into any of their games with confidence and curiosity. I still feel that way even now. But I'm disappointed with this latest game.

Let's start with what works. There's a great idea at the core, for oneHeaven's Vault is a story-driven adventure game in which you play as fantasy space archaeologist Aliya Elasra as she researches a lost alien civilization and tries to decode its written language. Read more...