The real desert island disc holds more questions than answers
There's not much to be said about Lost that you don't already not know. A plane crashes on an island, there are survivors and as the TV show rolls on to a fourth series, there's not been much in the way of answers from the cast, crew, or spooky creator JJ Abrams - the man behind recent sci-fi horror Cloverfield. For fans of the show, the game is set over seasons 1 and 2, which revisits key scenes (the crash, the fog monster and the hidden base) and gives a decent impression of playing a real character in the show. Your character is new, but the other people you bump into are all from the show and look just like the real thing and sound almost like the real thing too. Ten minutes in and you'll meet a virtual and grumpy Evangeline Lily and be able to select a few things to say to her. Sadly the phrase list doesn't include "would you like a drink?", "would you like to see my injuries?" or "can I see your injuries?".

The game world looks great and, though the RPG elements are limited to selecting phrases and trading items, there's an attempt at giving the player some depth which isn't felt while watching the series on TV. The flashbacks familiar to viewers of the show are replicated in game and you have to direct a camera - taking snaps to jog your memory, building the pieces of a virtual jigsaw puzzle. It's undeniably slick and the way each section of the game is preceded by a 'previously on Lost…' intro which compacts the previous hour into a one minute cut scene is clever and something that fans will love. More than most movie and TV tie-ins, Lost gives the impression that you're actually involved in the show but as an outsider, rather than the super hero lead which is intriguing and satisfying in equal measures. Key puzzle scenes, like playing with the fuel tanks of the downed Oceanic flight to prevent an explosion and tapping in codes on a computer, make you feel like part of the Lost universe. Concessions have been made to more traditional game mechanics – we don't ever recall the islanders collecting coconuts and mineral water for trading – and it’s slightly at odds with the realistic adventure side of the game. One minute you're talking to Matthew Fox and getting punched by an FBI field agent, the next you'll be trying to understand the purpose and value of a piece of fruit which, when you're stranded on an island full of monsters, sexy girls and strangers, feels as weird as you might imagine. But if you're a die hard Lost fan, this is an enjoyable trip and worth the money, even if you can see the credits roll within five hours.

For anyone not familiar with the TV show, Lost might feel a bit strange but at a time when most adventures are full or orcs or magical mushrooms, the original plot and ambitious concept that made the show such a TV hit works on PC too. Think of Lost like a mix between a serious RPG and something along the lines of Myst and you'll get an impression of what the developers have achieved. Lost is a game that is essential for fans and an adventure that is a welcome diversion for anyone expecting a tired and unambitious cash in or a lazy, basic platform game. Lost isn’t any of these things and, in turn, is as much of a breath of fresh air as the ongoing TV series itself.

82%
A gorgeous, short-lived, but ultimately satisfying adventure built for fanboys
Richard Melville