In parts extremely well, here and average

The Most Important:
The most important thing about an adventure game are of course the puzzles. Here Gray Matter offers a wide range of subject puzzles, combination puzzles, riddles and search Good Watching puzzles. The difficulty is mostly medium, but partly also really crisp. As far as the puzzles are really super successful.
But there are always outliers. Firstly, the puzzles are quite thin and therefore also placed linearly. Thus, before a mystery to be solved, because in the limited selection just by trying the few options and so on is, instead of having to worry about the sometimes imaginative notes. On the other hand there are sometimes puzzle solutions that are so far removed from the job that you had the place already ticked. For example, I had found in a chapter "something" that had given me an acute Ellen Note. I just need the same thing half the game later, I never expected, and the indication was extremely poor. Say: either you tried everything again from (boring!) Or looking at a complete solution for (stupid!). And finally there is some progress puzzles, in which only what it's to guess which scene the author probably selects for further action - also because you can only guess. These little things are done but more in the last chapter as a bet, this should definitely move from mixing, number, claim and also presentation of the puzzles in the Hall of Fame of Adventures.
There is also an overview map, in places with open puzzles are marked in color as well as a progress indicator. Both are good evidence if you put time into a dead end, where you (ever the enigma or) can find the riddle.
A special feature of the magic items are to be mentioned, the protagonist Sam occasionally must perform (especially to outwit other characters). This is an interesting variant, but so simple that you can rarely make something wrong.

The Story:
Basically, the story is atmospheric managed and distributed through the chapters in proper bite (one chapter takes an average of two hours of play, you should spend in one go, the atmosphere full experience). The characters are designed in total tidy and have Persönlickeit. The synchronization is almost always excellent. However ... the author comes rather from the corner "Schnulz novel". Accordingly, the story is quite corny and rather ... well, just a woman story. But that nevertheless make friends - we men can contact us - thanks to the adventure and mystery. The Schmalzigkeit after the story remains, despite everything relatively shallow and although there are a few twists is the showdown so-la-la (from men view, of course).
A real drawback, however, there: The lack of implementation. What's ever Sams motivation to travel to London, remains open long. Too bad, because that I have long asked myself: Why am I doing this anyway, and who am I anyway? I want to make up for this introduction is why Sam is a gifted Zauberkünsterlin that but after a serious childhood runs away from her past and therefore travels from place to place in order to learn more magic tricks. That they make a wrong turn, just a happy accident for them, because it comes so unexpectedly to a part-time job and is embroiled in an adventure.

The Special Edition:
The shell has sturdy metal lid and looks very chic. The soundtrack is good, but rather background music (mostly classical "Score", partly quieter Pop). Unfortunately there is no separate cover to so that it - if you do not want to tinker - must remain in Steelcase. Post cards and the card game are also a nice gimmick, but the whole is more "solid home cooking" as a really great Special Colleciton. Say: Suitable for collectors, but who really wants to play the game is not interesting.

Technology:
The game (born 2010) tells his story in 2005. If you look at graphics, character designer, cutscenes (slightly animated stills) and system requirements, it seems likely: The game should actually be ready for 2005 or 2006, but is then only come with years late to market, without being technically drilled. That's silly. Also largely empty streets, parks and university campuses convey a sense of age - around the same level, then the "The Longest Journey" had, perhaps better rendered background images. Even the diary that actually should be a help / "Quest Log", is technically rather crap for it writes without further comments just the passages of the characters on, provides neither place nor time, making it almost worthless.

CONCLUSION: Gray Matter is a very strong adventure when it lags technically also his time afterwards. The puzzles quality is adequate to very good, but the adventure takes place in a world that needs to respond more women cheesy stories. This is but passable told and if man is not too much feel as macho in order to deal with it, man can also be accessed safely. The special edition is only recommended genuine collectors.