A very good mission in all aspects. It has the gameplay and atmosphere of an ordinary mansion mission, but a story and a style that stands out a bit from the other FMs out there.
Final Score: 8.5 Hammers
A woman has contacted Garrett, offering him a reward in shining gems if he will accept the job she offers. Her bridegroom Saturio recently returned from a war in the Hilldrim territories and came directly to see her. The next morning he went to visit his mother, Lady Machado, who has been ill for a while. He never returned. Lady Machado's nephew Sigfrido has claimed to the authorities that Saturio was killed in the war. Suspicious, eh? Saturio's sweetheart would rather not confront Lady Machado personally, as the relationship between them is far from the warmest. Instead, she wants Garrett to find out what happened to Saturio.
At the start of the game, Garrett jumps down the chimney of the gardener's house and gains access to the mansion grounds in this way. The gardener's house is small and looks simple, but once inside the courtyard the view becomes very pleasant. The architecture is clean and stylish, and the main building is effective in an unpretentious way. This style is continued throughout the level. Several more unusual architectural features can be seen in the screenshots: details like these give the mission a personal look and atmosphere.
One way into the main building goes via the catacombs. Here we have something that I have seen before in other missions and always wonder about. Why are they haunted? People don't rise from their graves without a reason. Call me overly nitpicky, and I admit I am, but I like explanations even for something like this.
Inside the mansion I got sucked into the quiet atmosphere of the building. The combination of an irregular but easily navigated layout, logical room placement and very nice architecture makes this seem like a real location. The ambient sounds are subtle, with a few enjoyable intermissions in the form of guitar music from the victrolas. Although I normally wish for a subplot or two to follow as I play, the lack of any in this mission didn't make me feel like anything was missing. The story itself was enough to keep my interest up this time.
There are alternatives for how to proceed, but especially on Expert they are restricted. As I played I sometimes got the feeling I was following a planned route. On several occasions I had only two options: the straightforward approach that would most likely lead to bodies piling up, and a way to sneak past unnoticed. On Expert no kills are allowed, and I prefer to avoid confrontations anyway, so for me there was just one path to choose. Adding to this feel of limited options is the fact that many tempting wooden surfaces exist, but there are no rope arrows to use. Getting past guards by using higher ground would have been a welcome option. Other than this, I have little to remark on as far as gameplay is concerned. A few clues regarding the main objective can be found, and together with the map they give enough information to have an idea of where to go next. The necessary keys are conveniently found on the way. There are no hints concerning the whereabouts of the keys though, so if you don't keep your eyes open as you advance through the mansion then you will end up backtracking until you spot them.
Finishing this mission was quite a satisfying experience and made me feel like I had done a good deed; a rare and refreshing feeling to have after a night of sneaking and thieving. As unbiased as this may sound for a reviewer, Saturio Returns Home is one of my favourite FMs. It is well-designed, fun to play and has all the elements needed for a good mission.
The architecture is of high quality throughout the level. Both the interiors and exteriors are enjoyable to look at and move around in. The mansion feels realistic thanks to a suitably asymmetrical layout and appropriate detailing. The interesting details give it a personal style.
The mansion has its own kind of atmosphere, provided by the story and the many personal architectural touches. It has a more tranquil mood that makes you wonder what is hidden behind the calm. The victrola music is a noteworthy addition, as it fits in perfectly with the mansion's feel.
Romance, conflict, deception, greed... Just about all that is needed for a good story. The story is further developed in the mission but holds no great surprises. There is little reading to be done and most of it is directly related to the main plot.
Gameplay is what one might expect from a mission set in a mansion, but is sufficiently challenging. Both stationary and patrolling AIs are placed well. I only wished for a few rope arrows to use.
Final Score: 8.5 Hammers
