Astruc, too, is a historical French entertainment promoter. For example, SchragmÃ¼ller is a historical senior German spy, not a neutral pacifist as in the game. The pacifist spy ring in the game is pure fiction of course, but it is interesting to see that the game already starts to integrate some quasi-historical garnishment. Another member of this international pacifist spy ring is SchragmÃ¼ller herself. Together, he says, they will use state secrets to prevent a war in Europe. On her way out, another man stops her and persuades her to take up spying as a backup career, since she cannot be a beautiful dancer forever. At a party, she collects various bits of conversation (akin to inventory objects) and then uses this repertoire to convince a rich man named Gabriel Astruc to become her stage manager. Rather, she is introduced as an exotic dancer looking for a patron to kickstart her career. The story is thus framed as a series of flashbacks, beginning with the evening of Mata Hari's first arrival in Paris in 1905. Another woman, Elsbeth SchragmÃ¼ller, is being interviewed about Mata Hari's life. The game's intro and subsequent cut scenes are set in 1963. At its best, the historical adaptation offers some diversion amid bantering dialog and occasionally an unexpected puzzle, but it falls short of its concept's full potential as either an exciting spy adventure game or a deep historical edutainment title.

Many characters, including well-known historical figures such as Marie Curie, behave in extremely implausible ways, merely for the convenience of the plot and puzzle designs.

A small set of mini games gets recycled ad nauseam, crowding out better parts of the game. Unfortunately, both gameplay and story also take many tedious diversions. Not surprisingly, the game features beautifully detailed scenes and character animations as well as extensive replay value due to alternative endings. The game's lead designers are Hal Barwood and Noah Falstein, best known for their work on LucasArts' classic Indiana Jones series. Yet, in reality, Mata Hari was a relatively powerless commoner-a dancer, a courtesan, and just briefly a spy-who was tried for treason and died by firing squad during World War I.Ĭranberry Production's Mata Hari (also known as Mata Hari: Betrayal is only a Kiss Away) continues in the tradition of spinning an exotic spy story that only dabbles in history. She is perennially reinvented as a femme fatale in screenplays, books, and even video games.

The same maxim seems well suited to the fate of the Dutch-Frisian historical spy Mata Hari. 'You only live twice' is one of the great catchphrases of spy fiction.

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