Jazz and Faust from 1C is a multi layered journey through a fantasy eastern setting.  The game features two story lines based on which character you pick.  There is either the light hearted and adventurous smuggler Jazz or the more serious (and poorly voice acted) Faust.  Depending on your pick you will embark on separate but intersecting journeys across three beautiful and thoughtfully detailed worlds.

Jazz and Faust features a very simple point and click interface.  The main problem in the game play occurs ironically from the lavish detail of the background environments.  Getting stuck was rarely ever a problem of not being able to solve a puzzle but rather simply not being able to find a particular item that was lost in the background.  The cursor changes if you are over the item but the range for this cursor reaction is just small enough to make searching screens for interactions or items frustrating.

As I've already mentioned Jazz and Faust is graphically superb.  Effects such as smoke mist and heat waves help add life to a world that is already teaming with picturesque scenes and moving backgrounds.  One problem, the success with which the world was constructed is that it makes the character models pale in comparison.  Slightly blocky, and lacking the detail of the environment, the characters tend to stick out like a sore thumb.

The music in Jazz and Faust never bothered me but some of the voice acting did.  While Jazz and some of the characters were pretty well done the other main character Faust sounded like he was sort of a robot.  It was as if Christopher Walkin and Steven Hawking had gotten together to do a voice over.  Also the dialogue was sometimes weak or stilted. For example, at the beginning of Faust's journey he is insulted and the next second he seems to have forgotten all about it.

The game is not particularly difficult.  Dying is not an issue and most of the puzzles rely on gathering items rather than brain power.  As a result the story line advances fairly quickly and it is rare to get stuck.

However, the best thing about Jazz and Faust is not the beautiful graphics or the easy to use interface.  Jazz and Faust introduces us to a new concept in adventure gaming.  The way the story is handled from each characters perspective is a new and probably influential addition to the adventure genre.  While I've seen similar to this in role playing games I have never seen an adventure game progress this way.  It will be interesting to see if the industry picks up on it or if it becomes an evolutionary dead end. 

Jazz and Faust is an interesting adventure game that is easily enjoyed by fans of the genre.

Gameplay: 8
A very simple point and click interface along with an expansive world and two separate but intersecting story lines creates an enjoyable experience for anyone interested in adventure gaming.

Graphics: 8.5 
Beautiful backgrounds and effects such as heat waves in the air.  However, because of the backgrounds intricacy it could be difficult to figure out what objects could be used and what were simply part of the background.  Another problem is that the characters are far less detailed then the scenery.

Sound: 7
Overall the music was pretty good.  However this game looses points for the often stilted dialogue and poor voice acting on the part of Faust.  

Difficulty:  Medium
This game should pose no particular challenge to people familiar with adventure games.

Concept: 8
While the story is interesting the real conceptual leap comes from the use of two separate but intersecting storylines.  This novel way to approach an adventure game is almost certainly going to have an effect on the genre. 

Overall: 8
A solid adventure game.  It has its problems but the pros of playing Jazz and Faust outweigh the cons.  Just spare yourself and turn the volume off when you're playing Faust.