Emerald City Confidential
Platform: Mac, Windows
Point and click adventure games will never die, thanks in part to the efforts of Wadjet Eye Games, creator of the Blackwell series, The Shivah, and now, Emerald City Confidential. In the studio's latest title you are cast in the role of Petra, a young private eye trying to make a living in the strange Wizard of Oz-inspired world known as Emerald City. The hand drawn artwork is utterly captivating, the storytelling and writing top-notch, and the game itself is a package you won't be able to tear yourself away from.
As with most detective-based games, Emerald City Confidential starts out innocently enough with a client barging into the PI's office with a desperate plea. In this case we have Dee Gale, a well-off woman seeking her missing fiance who, even though he "travels" quite often, hasn't been seen for days. With little else demanding her attention (except for an arch nemesis in the form of a suit-wearing lion), Petra hops on the case, accepts the cash advance, and begins her investigation.
Traveling around this magical 1940s film noir land is a simple affair. Each location is filled with objects to examine and people to talk to. Use the mouse to navigate dialogue trees, initiate conversations, grab items and use inventory objects. Simple enough. As you travel throughout Emerald City and the lands beyond, you'll gradually uncover pieces of Petra's history and learn a lot about the harsh streets from various creative/shady characters. Talking dogs and robotic sentries, anyone?
Analysis: The artwork and story are what make this game truly shine, and the depth of which both burrow is impressive. Every location, every character, and every relationship in the game is steeped in mystery. Beyond the game's well-integrated puzzles, you'll also have to put together bits of story lines to make everything fit, a sort of meta-puzzle that takes place outside of the confines of the game.
The backdrops in the game (of which there are over 40, each one drawn by hand) are nothing short of gorgeous, and the amount of imagination put into every nook and cranny of the game is breathtaking. Emerald City Confidential paints a complete world from many levels, creating a surprisingly immersive experience for an old-school adventure game.
One pitfall Emerald City Confidential avoids is packing the world with too many things to investigate and areas to explore. It suffers a tiny bit in that the adventure is more linear, but the storytelling and character designs are so interesting, you honestly won't mind. In fact, if the puzzles were more intricate, I feel they would detract from the plot too much, which is one area this game really shines.
Beautiful, intriguing, well-thought-out, and put together so perfectly you'd swear it fell off the awesome tree, Emerald City Confidential is a stunning adventure game anyone — even non-adventure fans — can really get into.
Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version
Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version
Walkthrough Guide
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Emerald City Confidential Walkthrough!
Chapter 1 - Emerald City
Get into the warehouse
Get the crowbar behind you on the floor and click it at the door
Get off the bridge - alive!
A menu opens.
Choose one option - it will be wrong and another option will be shown
The right answer to give is: Call for help
But there is no harm to read and listen to what happens when you use the other options first
Find the spare notebook
Get the key that is laying on the desk and click it on the file cabinet at the left side, right next to the door
When the Lady wants to go, choose any answer you wish
Investigate Lead at the North Gate
Click the door to open it and leave the office
Go to the right by clicking at the thing that looks a canopy bench
A map will open, click the North Gate located at the top right side
Talk with Tik Tok
Click Tik Tok and use the conversation option "Ask about Anzel"
Follow up the questions about Anzel
Get the picture of Anzel out of the inventory and click it on Tik Tok
Follow the conversation till the end
Click the Gump Stand
Choose "Grinetta Lane", right side in the middle of the map
Main-Quest:Follow Anzel's trail
Sub-Quests: Find some flowers for Betsy
Follow Anzel's trail
Talk to Hank, the donkey
You will get the another quest: Find some flowers for Betsy
Go on talking with Hank
Choose option "How can I come in to see her?"
End conversation and click the Gump Stand
Choose "Petra's Office"
Talk to the odd looking man standing next to Petra's Office
Use all possible conversation options, ask only one time for hint
End the conversation
Find some flowers for Betsy
Click the door left of the guy and enter the Shop
Follow up the conversation between Lion and Scraps
When Lion is gone, talk to Scraps
Choose the options: Anything new for sale? / Tell me more about the flowers/ I'd like to buy some of these flowers
Choose whatever you like. I didn't try all, for me it worked at least with red/blue and blue/purple
After you have the flowers, ask Scraps "What are you looking for again?"
At the right shelf behind you, you will see a little green sparkling
Click it and you will receive a button
Click Scraps again for a conversation and choose: I've got some buttons for you
Whenever you a colored sparkling in any scene, click on it to get the button. You can give it to Scraps whenever you are in the neighborhood
You will receive a sketch from Scraps
Leave the shop and click at the Gump Stand
Choose Grinetta Lane
Click the flowers at Hank
He will accept it and you can enter the house by clicking at the door
As soon as Hank accepts the flowers, you will receive the emeralds for both quests
Talk with Betty
Follow the conversation
It's important to ask Betty: "Anzel was a student at the University?" and "What happened when the guard showed up?"
You will get two new tasks: Follow lead to the University and Find General Jinjur
Leave Betty after the conversation, click the Gump Stand and choose "University" in the middle of the scene
Main Quest: Follow lead to the University
Sub Quest: Take advantage of Cutter
Follow lead to the University
Get the red button from the stairs
Enter the University
Talk to Professor Woogleburg
Go through the conversation: 1. Ask about Anzel 2. Ask about University 3. Ask about machine
After asking about the machine, choose the "Go back" Option and you will see another conversation-theme
Ask about Cutter
End the conversation when Cutter is there and talk to him
Ask about Anzel. Make sure that you talk long enough to see see "Anzel is back in the city"
You will get a new quest "Take advantage of Cutter"
Get the button from the bottom at the left side
Take advantage of Cutter
When he asks you for your fee, choose the answer: Isn't knowledge priceless? I want access to the Knowledge Pharmacy
End the conversation and click the machine left of the entrance
Choose a pill and swallow it
If you choose now all pills or if you do it later one by one is up to you
You can't leave the University with a pill in your inventory, at least not now
Leave the machine and click the door to leave the University
Click the Gump Stand to go to the North Gate
Find General Jinjur
Talk to Tik Tok and choose "Do you still talk to General Jinjur?"
Listen to the answer and then use the Gump Stand and choose "East Docks" in the lower right corner
At the docks, you see General Jinjur standing with two people.
You managed the quest
Talk to General Junipur
At the docks, you can see something blinking on the right.
Click it once to get there and a second time to take it
The cufflinks go into your inventory
Go back and give it to General Jinjur
Wait until Captain Bill and Trot leave, then talk to her
Go through the complete conversation
Finish the conversation and click "Pumpkin Patch" in the upper left corner
Talk to Pumpkin Jack
Go through the conversation with Pumpkin Jack
After this, click the wooden sign at the right side of the screen - it's the way to the Gump Stand
Choose Petra's office
Enter the office and talk to Trot
When she asks about the fee, then ask 50 emeralds
After she leaves, get the yellow button from the table next to the door
Leave the office, enter Scraps' shop and give her the buttons by using the conversation menu (I've got some buttons for you)
Go outside, you may ask the odd looking man for another hint
Click the Gump Stand and choose "Riggedo's Bar"
Main Quest: Investigate Captain Bill
Sub Quests: Retrieve mysterious debris/Learn more about the pumpkin
Investigate Captain Bill
Wait until General Jinjur leaves the bar, then talk to Ruggedo
After finishing this conversation, talk to Bill
When you are done with talking, grab some candy out of the blue bowl, standing at the right left side of the bar
Before you leave, get the umbrella, standing right next to the door
Go outside and talk again to General Jinjur
After this, use the Gump Stand to the East Docks
Get the button which is sparkling at the tower right next to the moon at the map
When you arrive at the docks, an orange thing is floating in the water
Retrieve mysterious debris
Get the umbrella from your inventory and click it on the orange thing
It goes automatically into your inventory
Investigate Captain Bill/Learn more about the pumpkin
Talk to Trot and use the Gump Stand after the conversation to go to the University
In front of the stairs you'll see Toto, the dog
Talk with Toto, till you can show him the pumpkin
End the conversation and enter the university
Click the machine and press Bill's Trial
Swallow the pill and get another one, doesn't matter which one
Put this pill into the inventory for later
Get the candies from your inventory and click it on Petra
She will swallow it - Professor Woogleburg thinks, that she swallowed the knowledge place
Leave the University and click the pill onto Toto
Start a conversation with him about Magic
Show him the pumpkin
You will receive a silver whistle from him for later use
You passed your quests and will get a new one
Confront Bill
Use the Gump Stand to get to Riggedo's Bar
Talk to Bill
Leave the Bar and use the Gump Stand to go to the Pumpkin Patch
Confront Pumpkin Jack
Talk with Jack about Bill
Go on until you have the option to ask about the Scarecrow
Use the Gump Stand and choose Petra's Office
Find the Scarecrow, Find Anzel
You will find a red button in the puddle on the street
Bring Scraps the buttons to receive more sketches
Talk to the odd man and choose "You wouldn't know anything about the Scarecrow, would you?"
Follow up the conversation until the man leaves
Go to the Gump Stand and choose Riggedo's Bar
Talk to Riggedo about Anzel and choose "You can stop pretending. I know he came here" and "Where is he?"
Go on with the conversation and choose to be transformed
Transform Petra back
Talk first to Anzel, the decanter on the left side of the bar
After that, talk to the mirror
When the mirror won't believe you when you tell it that it is pretty, talk to Anzel
Talk again to the mirror and choose: "You have really nice eyes"
Get the spell out of your magic inventory on the right lower side of the scene and click it on the cloth rack
Leave the Bar
Transform Anzel
Click the Gump to enter it
Under the balcony door you will find a button
Talk to Dee
You will get a new challenge
Leave the room through the balcony door
Click the Gump to enter it and choose Pumpkin Patch
Talk to Jack about the transformation potion
Use the Gump and choose Petra's office
Go to see Scraps
Tell her "Jack sent me" and follow the conversation with "since when you are selling magic" and "I need a potion that will reverse transformation"
Use the Gump to go to Riggedo's Bar
Use the Potion on Anzel (the decanter on the left side of the bar)
Follow Anzel and Clutter with the Gump
Click the Gump. When it tells you that Gumps are not allowed to have more energy, give him candy from your inventory
Main Quest:Escape from Prison
Sub Quests: Pass Tik Tok/Escape the Palace
Escape from Prison
In the cell, there is a button behind Petra at the top of the wall
Talk with the Scarecrow
After he is gone, pick up the paper that is in front of the cell door
It's an escape spell
Use it by clicking it on Petra
You will come out next to TikTok
Get the pill from the shelf on the left next to the cell door
Get the button from the shell
Grab your stuff out of the crate, left next to the shelf
Use the escape spell again to get back into your cell
Pass Tik Tok
Click the door to call Tik Tok
Talk to him till you get the option to get food
After you smash the food against the wall, use the bottle with fluid that makes all green on the food at the wall
Knock at the door to call Tik Tok again
Tell him that there is a problem
Tell him that the food is not healthy because it's green
Tik Tok will come into your cell
Wait until he cleans the wall, then use the escape spell on Petra again
Click at the stairs to escape
Escape the Palace
Right next to the fountain, you will see a red sparkling for a button
Go right and try to escape to the Courtyard
General Jinjur is sleeping, but awajened by your footsteps, so go right to the throne room
At the curtain on the right side of the picture, there is a sparkling. Get the button
Click the magic picture and use all options
Have a look at the vase, but it's empty
Click on the throne to make Petra stand in front of the stairs
Use the silver whistle to call Toto and ask him to bring you to Dee
Do the conversation with Dee
Follow up with the story until Ozma lets you go
It doesn't matter which countr you do choose now - I decided to first go to Winkie Country
Chapter 2 - Winkie Country
Explore the Town of Flow
At the window, right to the "Shaggy's" Sign, you will see a yellow sparkling, get the button
Go to the door and then right in into the garage
Wait till the frogman left and talk to Shaggy
At the left side at the crates you will find another button
Leave the garage and talk to the Tin Can Man - go complete through the conversation
Talk to the Saw Horse
After that, go across the street into the Diner and talk to Ms Cayke
Leave the Diner and go over to the Tin Can Man - talk with him about the frogman
Visit the Frogman
Click the Sawhorse and ask it to bring you to the Frogman's Villa
Knock on the door and tell Ms. Aimee, who opens the door, that you are here to do business
Talk to the Frogman - make sure that he will let you work for him
Leave the villa and go back to the Sawhorse
When you click at it, it will bring you back into Flow Town
Smuggle for the Frogman
Back in Flow Town, use the Gump Stand and choose "Petra's Office"
Enter Scrap's Shop, you may give her the buttons to receive new sketches
Follow the conversation by telling Scraps that the Frogman sent you
She will give you the magic brush
Now back to the Frogman
You can start a conversation with Ms. Aimee now or you do it later, after finishing the conversation with the Frogman
Whenever you do it, she will give you a heart locket
Go back to Flow Town and try to give it to the Tin Can Man
Talk with him about Ms. Aimee
After that, go to the garage
Talk to Shaggy through all conversation options until you find out that he is in love with Ms. Cayke
Match Making
Leave the garage and use the Gump Stand to go to the University
Talk first to Professor Woogleburg
Use the pill machine
You will see that there is a new section: Vocabulary Lessons
Get the pill and keep it for later use
Don't forget to swallow a candy before you leave the University
You may choose to swallow all new pills about people and places
Go back to Flow Town and give the Vocabulary Lesson to Shaggy
Go on talking and he will give you a spell to let wood float
Learn more about the Frogman
Hop on the Saw Horse to go back to the Frogman's Villa
When you are there, use the wood spell with the Saw Horse
You will hear half of a magic spell
Go back to Flow Town
Main Quest: Learn the magic spelll
Sub Quest: Match breaking
Go to the diner and wait until Shaggy is leaving
Talk to Miss Cayke
Leave the diner, cross over to the garage and talk with him about the Frogman
Give Shaggy the oblivion pill from your inventory afterward
Follow him to the diner
When he leaves again, talk to Miss Cayke and she will give you two spells
Find Proof
Use the Saw Horse to go back to the Frogman's Villa
When Ms Aimee opens the door, tell her what the Tin Can Man said
Make sure to tell her the rude stuff also!
Talk to the Frogman. It doesn't matter what you tell him (I didn't tell him about drugs, but the other answers all gave the same result)
Wait until he leaves the room
Use the magic paintbrush from your inventory at the painting
When you see Petra in the painting, use the portrait spell on the painting
Click the drawer to find the proof
Now use the portrait spell on the painting again
Make sure to use it at a spot that says "Painting", otherwise the spell does not work
Use again the magic brush to repaint
Leave the house and go back to Flow Town
Give the proofs to the Tin Can Man
Free the witch from the key stone
Use the Saw Horse and choose the option "Go to Ravine"
Once you are there, click first the keystone, then click it again with the rod from your inventory
The witch is free
Talk with her
Defeat the Frogman
When the Frogman starts spraying its green stuff, use the wood flow spell on the Saw Horse
It will go up and kick the Frogman into the waterfall
Click the Saw Horse and choose Quadlings Country
Chapter 3 - Quadling Country
Explore Woot's Arena
You are landing in front of the entrance to Woot's Arena
Pick up the copper rod, right next to the entrance on the floor
Enter the arena
Grab the button that is sparkling right next to Petra
Wait until Mombi leaves, then talk to Woot
Enter the Arena, the door left to Woot
Get the button right next to Petra on the stairs
Talk to the Wizard
Main Quest:Enter Glinda's Tower
Sub Quests:Defeat Mombi in the ring/Find a coach/Free the magic rope
Enter Glinda's Tower
Leave the arena and talk to Woot again
When he tells you, that Mombi has the key, as it is always given to the champion, leave Wooti and enter the café;, the door on the right of Woot
Get the button from the table at the right side
Talk to Barista and make sure that you order the special food - a heavy cake and a light snack
Go up the rope, the rope charmer wants your attention
Talk to the magic rope, you will get another quest: Free the magic rope
Go and talk to Mombi
Leave the café and the arena
Once outside, go to the left to Glinda's Tower
The red button is sparkling on the floor to the left of the tower
Click on the door. It's closed, but while Petra is standing in front of the door, you can grab the Tonk Stone that is on the floor on the right side of the tower
It goes into your inventory
Go back to the arena
Defeat Mombi in the ring
Talk again to Woot
Choose "I want to fight"
He will tell you that you need a coach
End the conversation and enter the arena again
Find a coach
Talk to the Wizard and tell him that you need a coach
You have to convince him and fight against Ugu first
Ugu will prison you in a box - use the spell "escape from prison"
Now the Wizard will accept you
Defeat Mombi in the ring
The Wizard gives you a sap spell
It takes away some of the energy from a magic user
Go back to the café
Free the magic rope
Go up the stairs
Get the rock out of your inventory
You have to place the rock on the top of the rope at the knot
Make sure that you see the word "Rope" before you click the rock onto the stone
The rope will go into your inventory
Defeat Mombi in the ring
Go back to the arena
When you come in, you see that the left pole of the ring is broken
Get the copper rod out of your inventory and replace it with the broken pole by clicking at the pole (make sure, you see the word "Pole")
If you do not have the copper rod by now, it;s outside the arena on the right side next to the door on the floor
Go out and tell Woot that you want to fight
After you convince him about having a coach, you will be automatically brought to the ring
It's Mamba's right to do the first spell, she will have a shield in front of her
Answer it by using the sap spell on her - for now she is immune
Mombi will use a wind spell - to not get blown away, grab the heavy cake out of your inventory and click it on Petra
Use the sap spell again
Mombi creates a magic hole - use the rope to get out of the hole
Use the sap spell again
Mombi uses now a lightning spell - because of the copper rod she will miss
Use the sap spell one last time - you won
Enter Glinda's Tower
Click the door of the tower and the Wizard will open it
Follow him up the stairs
Free Glinda from the keystone
Grab the yellow button that is in the down middle, sparkling at the stones of the tower
Place the magic rod on the keystone
Glinda is free
Save the Wizard
Talk with Glinda and the Wizard
When Mombi and Glinda are fighting about the Wizard, give him the light snack from your inventory
That will make him able to come back on the roof
After Mombi is gone, talk again to Glinda and the Wizard
Use the stairs to leave the tower
You will be brought in front of your office
Main Quest: Follow Cutter to Phanfasm Island
Sub Quest: Become an ambassador
Follow Cutter to Phanfasm Island
After you have your meeting with Cutter, you will find yourself back in the palace throne room with General Jinjur and the Scarecrow
Follow up the conversation
Then leave the throne room and meet the Lion at the courtyard
Follow up the complete conversation
Leave the courtyard by going to the entrance
You will see Tik Tok guarding the door
Grab the button at the curtain, left from the door
Talk to Tik Tok, until he tells you about the ambassador
Ask him who the ambassador is right now
Become an ambassador
Go back to the throne room
Talk to General Jinjur and the Scarecrow again
As they refuse to let you be ambassador, go back in the Courtyard
Talk to the Lion and tell him that you are a victim of discrimination
Accept his prize of 10.000 emeralds
Follow the Lion into the throne room
Follow Cutter to Phanfasm Island
After General Jinjur leaves, talk to the Scarecrow
He will give you a potion to transport you to Phanfasm Island and back if needed
Go in the courtyard and talk to the Lion
Say thank you
After that use the transportation potion on Petra
You will find yourself on Phanfasm Island
Chapter 4 - Phanfasm
Escape the Phanfasm cell
After you find out that Ozma was giving your brother to Phanfasm as an exchange for peace, Ozmal will not stop talking
Get the sap spell out of your inventory and click it on Ozma
Petra decides different, but at least Ozmal finally stops speaking and gives you a reverse spell
Use your escape spell to leave the Phantsam Cell
When you are outside, click to the right to leave the prison
Cross the chasm
Use the growing spell on the little sapling
Now use your reverse spell that you just got from Ozma on Petra
It will turn all your spells in the inventory to the opposite
Use your Aisdow spell on the big sapling
Instead of floating the sapling will fall and you can cross the chasm
Enter the Phanfasm Fortress
Talk to Anzel trough the bars
Use the Mupacse spell (escape) to get into the cell
Inside the cell
Talk to Anzel
Petra will give him his potion to transport back to Emerald City
Click on the cell door to leave
Get past the Phanfasm smithy
To get past the smithy, use the whistle Toto gave you
Click on the hall to leave that place
Library
After the guards leave with Ozma, enter the room with the curtains, the library
Talk to Cutter/William
Save Ozma
If you haven't done it yet, reverse your spell back to normal by clicking it on Petra
Now use the wood spell on the plank Ozma is standing on
Get past the spiked vines
Reverse your spells again by clicking the spell on Petra
Use the spell that normally lets grow flowers on the vine
It will vanish
Defeat the First and Foremost
Reverse you spells again, so that they are back to normal
Click the portrait spell onto the First and Foremost
He will go into the portrait
While Cutter/William protects them both with the shield, get the torch that is behind Petra
Click it on the portrait, so it will burn
Help William
After Petra gives William his portrait, use the portrait spell on William
Enjoy the End
Thank you, Kayleigh for writing this walkthrough!!
Posted by: Pam
|
February 23, 2009 2:01 AM