"The time I feared has arrived; the darkness prophesied will soon descend upon us ... and we need to be prepared."

Two adventurers begin on the path to battle the coming darkness, but these are not ordinary characters, they have stepped right from the pages of legend. But as they have been called before mage as his two finest apprentices, there is competition between the two.

THQ has woven a fascinating and intriguing world of wonder in Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy, a pending PlayStation2 release that blends action with mind-numbing puzzles to create a game that will have players working for hours through its levels.

The game begins with players in the role of Sphinx, an Egyptian character who seems relatively more aware and honorable than his "partner" in the adventure. The latter soon leaves him behind on a ledge, with some disparaging remarks, a high wall before him, a tree and a respawning rock. To one side is a lava flow, to another, a clouded darkness falling away into the abyss.

At this point if is up to the player to figure out how to combine the elements to get up the wall. A simple puzzle, but fret not, it is going to get a lot more complex as you move along. In comparison, what travails the Sphinx must overcome pale in comparison to the Mummy’s quests.

For the Sphinx, the task is relatively simple, find the legendary and powerful Blade of Osiris and then enter Castle Uruk to find what menacing evil is working there.

Ooomphf!

The mummy lands on the ground below, flattened by the fall. It was from a great height, and the fall itself would have killed most, but the mummy is already dead and such trivialities cannot harm it. But that is not the worst of it. What lays ahead will be even more deadly and perilous to some, but to the mummy, it is all in a days work. Becoming a living torch, or a receptacle to carry an electric charge will be par for the course.

While the Sphinx is about using weapons, the mummy is the weapon. The Sphinx portion of the game deals with some puzzles but action while the mummy portion is about action. And there is a lot more comedic moments in the mummy’s side of the game.

The script borrows off some standard plots in this game, but the developers have managed to create an amazing world that adds freshness to the stock "evil returning" plot. The puzzles are intricate and will require a lot of thought. This game is, in no way, for younger players.

The sound is solid and keeps in line with the mood of the game. The music is the predominate sound with grunts, groans and some ambient effects.

The game controls are relatively simple and players should be able to get into the game with little trouble.

Graphically, this game is stunning. The environments are amazing to look at, even in this preview, and the animation is remarkable. Throw a rock and watch it shatter into many pieces with a satisfying burst of dust and rain of pebbles.

The environment is interactive only to a point. Items that can be manipulated usually have a role in the adventure. It is up to the player to figure out how to combine the elements within the environment, and sometimes in what sequence, to advance the tail.

If there is any drawbacks to this tale, it may be that the puzzles are too intricate. But then that is what provides the true challenge of this game.

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy has some humorous moments, but overall, this is a game that will seriously challenge players looking for more than just a ‘kill this, kill that’ adventure. It has real depth of play, and one puzzle could occupy hours of time. A real treat for the eyes and the mind, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a challenge that will entertain serious game players.

Gameplay: 8.7
The game plays out with wonderful cut scenes and when you are in a level, the game plays out seamlessly.

Graphics: 9.2
This game is a dazzling feast for the eyes.

Sound: 7.8
A solid musical score but the rest of the game is merely average when it comes to the sound effects.

Difficulty: Hard
This game is not for the casual game player. The puzzles are progressive and intricate and may frustrate players not familiar with the genre.

Concept: 8.5
The control elements are kept simple and while the game does borrow from standard plots, the way it is delivered is fresh and entertaining.

Overall: 8.8
This is a dynamic, immersive game that may be too complex in the puzzle department for some. For others, if you pay attention to your environment, and don’t let little setbacks slow you down, but keep plugging away, you will find a rhythm and pacing to this game. It is tough, and there are some questions about replayability factors, but Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a remarkable visual experience that is rather challenging as well.