Discworld Noir
| Discworld Noir | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Perfect Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | GT Interactive |
| Designer(s) | Gregg Barnett Chris Bateman |
| Platform(s) | Windows (9x), PlayStation |
| Release | 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Discworld Noir is a computer game based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld comic fantasy novels, and unlike the previous Discworld games is both an example and parody of the noir genre. The game was developed by Perfect Entertainment, published by GT Interactive, and was released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation in 1999. Pratchett was consulted on the story and wrote some of the dialogue. As a film noir parody, the games protagonist Lewton frequently engages in hard-boiled soliloquy, or monologue.
The game utilizes a 3D graphics-based game engine, with polygonal characters displayed against pre-rendered backgrounds. The game was only released in Europe, and the developer no longer exists. As a result, the game, which suffered from several minor bugs, was not patched and like many older games, has difficulty running on more modern platforms.
The main character is Lewton, Discworld's first and only private investigator and former member of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. His investigation of a brutal murder gets him involved in a sinister plot. The game's story line is a completely original creation, unlike the previous Discworld games which are a mixture of elements from several of the novels, and set in the Discworld city of Ankh-Morpork.
The game features many new characters and locales, which do not appear in the Discworld books. However as the game is set in Ankh-Morpork, characters and locales from the books also appear, such as the Unseen University, the Dysk theatre, the City Watch and its members, and eccentric inventor Leonard of Quirm. The game manual includes an introduction written by Discworld's author Terry Pratchett.
None of the characters created for the game have explicitly been introduced into the Discworld novels, although Neoldian, the blacksmith of the gods and forger of the Golden Falchion (a major plot element in the game) may be the unnamed blacksmith god who appears in The Last Hero.
Noir parody
Discworld Noir makes obcscure references to noir films of the past, in particular the noted Humphrey Bogart films Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. Some of the references include:
- Lewton is named after horror-noir actor Val Lewton. Kirby's Discworld Noir cover features a wolf posed in a similar manner to the cat on the cover of the Lewton film 'Cat People'.
- The Tsortese Falcion, a parody of the Maltese Falcon.
- The character of Mundy may be a reference to Thursby in the Maltese Falcon. Both die.
- Two of the villains, Al Khali and Jasper Horst, are direct parodies of two of the charactes in Maltese Falcon. Joe Cairo, played by Peter Lorre, is short in stature, named after a city and turns out to be the messenger for the huge man Casper Gutman. In Noir, Al Khali is a dwarf named after and equally sandy city, the lackey for huge troll Jasper Horst. Gutman is humourously rather rotund, to reflect this Horst has a hoarse voice. Horst uses lines directly taken from Gutman's dialogue.
- The troll Malachite is extremely similar to the strong but slow witted Moose Malloy in Farewell my Lovely, and the double identity 'Therma' subplot is almost identical to that film.
- The ending of Noir parodies Casablanca, except with a dog instead of a chief of police.
- The line 'you know how to howl, don't you Lewton? You just pull your jaw apart and blow' is a refernce to a line in To Have and Have Not, where Lauren Bacall famously says to Bogart 'you know how to whistle, don't you sweetheart? You just put your lips together and blow'.
- Sammael the vampire pianist refers to Sam the pianist in Casablanca.
- Ilsa is named after the female character in Casablanca.
- The encounter with Vimes in Mundy's bedroom seems very reminiscent of the policeman in Maltese Falcon.
Familiar characters
In Discworld Noir, there are many new, original characters designed exclusively for the game. However, this doesn't mean there isn't a familiar bunch of classic Discworld characters as well. These include:
- Nobby
- Corporal Nobby Knobs is one of Lewton's old friends from the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. He is in various City Watch Discworld novels including Guards! Guards!, The Fifth Elephant and Men at Arms. He plays a fairly important role in the game, offering Lewton certain information.
- Sam Vimes
- Sam Vimes is the commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. Vimes never really got on with Lewton when he was in the Watch and has despised him since he was thrown out for taking a bribe, something Vimes has very strong views about. He interrogates Lewton when he is framed for killing a troll named Malachite.
- Death
- The familiar Grim Reaper-style character that appears in almost every Discword novel. Death comes to take the Count's soul away later in the game and also to take an evil wizard's soul away when Lewton fights him off the Observatory roof.
- The Patrician
- The Patrician is only heard through the double-doors in his palace as a kind-of cameo. He talks to Sam Vimes and is mentioned throughout the game several times.
- Leonard da Quirm
- A genius and inventor who is locked up in the Palace Cells for his own safety or, rather, that of the rest of civilisation, given how dangerous some of his inventions have been. Because food, lodgings, peace and quiet and all the raw materials he needs are provided free, Leonard doesn't mind his incarceration at all. The Patrician occasionally finds use for his creativity and some of his creations. Lewton encounters him via a secret doorway in his prison cell.
Full List of Characters
This is the full list of characters in the game. They are noted in the rough order of which they appear in the game. Template:Spoiler
- Lewton - the protagonist of the game; Lewton is a cynical and bitter private detective (formally a member of the Watch) who later gets transformed into a werewolf
- Carlotta Von Uberwald - a rich woman who hires Lewton at the beginning of the game to track someone down; she also goes by the name of Therma
- Mr Scoplett - the first mate on the Milka; he picked up a bad case of Philosophy in Ephebe
- Captain Jenkins - the captain on the Milka; bitter and unhelpful
- Malachite - an unintelligent troll of few words
- Nobby - a sneaky and thieving Watchman who gives a lot of information to Lewton
- Mankin - a half-elf bartender who doesn't appreciate people asking lots of questions
- Sapphire - a troll singer at The Octarine Parrot
- Samael - owner of Café Ankh and an accomplished pianist
- Ilsa - an ex-lover of Lewton who is back in town with her new partner
- Al Khali - a dwarf named after a city working for Jasper Horst; he is first discovered snooping through the drawers of Lewton's desk
- Two Conkers - Ilsa's lover; a very foreign man
- Rhodan - a very forgetful sculptor
- The Watchman - an unnamed watchman on Pier Five who delivers the immortal line, "sharp as a pancake you are". In Lewton's own words, "blisteringly unhelpful".
- The Butler - a butler at the Von Uberwald mansion; overuses the word "sir" and is stereotypically sarcastic and condescending.
- Count Henning Von Uberwald - a rich man and father-in-law to Carlotta; he is crippled and very ill
- Mundy - a traveller and the man you are originally asked to track down; he had the golden falchion
- Vimes - the head of the Watch
- Remora Selachii - an assassin who appears to have been hired to kill Lewton
- Whirl - a croupier at Saturnalia
- Warb - a depressed wizard and a True Believer of Anu-anu
- Malaclypse - a mad conspiracy theorist who serves the goddess Errata
- Mooncalf - another mad cultist who serves Anu-anu
- Jasper Horst - an intelligent troll in search of the golden falchion
- Regin - a dwarf who is employed to drive the Count's carriage
- Detritus - a dim-witted troll Watchman
- Leonard de Quirm - an inventor and technological genius; kept prisoner in the Patrician's palace
- Lord Vetinari - the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork
- Gable - a rooftop gargoyle with a gutter in his mouth
- The Doorman - a stubborn doorman to the Guild of Archaeologists
- Laredo Cronk - an upwardly nubile tomb evacuator; a direct parody of Lara Croft
- Gaspode the Wonderdog - a mangy stray dog who teaches Lewton about his werewolf abilities
- Miss Fomes - housekeeper of New Hall in Unseen University
- Death - the harvester of mankind; he rides a white horse called Binky
- Grim Squeaker - a harvester of ratkind
- The Gatekeeper - a gatekeeper at the Merchant's Guild
- Foid - a troll who is a True Believer of Anu-anu
- Satrap - a wizard and True Believer of Anu-anu
- Coom - a spineless True Believer of Anu-anu
- Privetier - a thespian
- Anu-anu - a powerful god who appears during the game
- Kondo - a True Believer of Anu-anu
- Gelid - a bledlow at Unseen University and a True Believer of Anu-anu
- Zombie - a jewel-guarding zombie
Deaths
The following characters from above died during the game:
- Lewton technically died but was revived as a werewolf.
- Malachite was murdered with a crowbar on the rooftops above Salis and Phedre
- Al Khali was dragged to his death by Anu-Anu
- Count Henning Von Uberwald died of his long illness after being kept alive by Death for some time
- Mundy is murdered while Lewton is in the same room (Lewton however is unconcious)
- Warb, Satrap and Kondo were all killed in the explosion under The Dysk Theatre
- Mooncalf climbed to the top of the Temple of Small Gods and was struck by lightning
- Regin died while driving the carriage in a mysterious crash
Full List of Locations
These locations are noted in the rough order of which they are encountered in the game.
- Lewton's Office - where Lewton does all his paperwork
- The Wharf - docking place of The Milka
- Pier Five
- The Octarine Parrot - a sleazy and empty bar; used to be a troll bar so has a bad reputation
- Rhodan's Workshop - home of Rhodan and Malachite
- Café Ankh - an almost empty café with a wine cellar which is ideal for hiding people
- Pseudopolis Yard - home of the Watch
- Von Uberwald Mansion - home of the Von Uberwalds and their massive library
- Saturnalia - the local casino which is later closed due to a murder outside it
- Selachii Family Mausoleum - a huge mausoleum where Therma is said to be buried
- Temple of Small Gods - location of the mad cultists Mooncalf and Malaclypse
- Horst's Quarters - location of Jasper Horst and Al Khali
- Maudlin Bridge - bridge over the River Ankh; final resting place of Regin and his carriage
- Rooftops above Salis and Phedre - location of Gable and the murder of Malachite
- Patrician's Palace - home of the Patrician and where you are jailed
- Leonard's Cell - room of the palace where Leonard is making a flying machine
- Cemetery - where you wake up after being bitten by a werewolf
- New Hall, Unseen University - Mrs Formes employs you to work here
- Sewers - an underground maze
- The Merchant's Guild
- Sanctuary
- Dagon Street - home of Foid
- The Wizard's Pleasaunce, Unseen University
- The Dysk Theatre - home of the cities thespians and leading to the underground cavern where Anu-anu appears
- The Observatory, Unseen University
The Lyrics to 'When You Met Her'
Although Lewton cuts him off, Samuel does sing a complete song:
You can't recall; If the whisky knocked you flat; Or if everything was a blur; When you met her; All that you remember; Are the tunes of a vampire; A melancholic tune; About impending doom; I'll fetch yer tankard; Fill it to the brim; A cask of stale; Broken Drum Inn; Wondering how long till you meet it again on the bank of the Ankh; Too much to drink; You could barely even think; Too much Bearhugger; When you meeeeeeeet heeeeeeeeeer...