Unfortunately, getting around the game world has become more confusing and frustrating at times. Movement is still handled by clicking on directional arrows in the interface, but the sequel doesn't adopt its predecessor's tidy 90-degree node movement angles. Navigating in Buried in Time frequently involves guesswork, as the nodes may guide you through unintended twists and turns, or just a couple steps ahead. This can easily cause disorientation, which is further compounded by the look up/down arrows available at virtually every node. As a precursor to the smooth 360-degree rotational panning of games to follow, this method had good intentions, but simply doesn't work well. Many nodes require a tedious, unnatural clickfest sequence of stop, look left, up, down, forward, up, down, left, up, and down, lest you miss a rare but important clue or available movement option. The whole effect feels spasmodic.

Progression through the game is rather disjointed, as items from any one given time period will be needed in others. There's no foreseeable sequence to minimize the backtracking, and each time jump lands you at the same starting point of the respective areas, so repetition will be setting in after a few trips. At least Presto limited some (but certainly not all) of the inconvenient disc swapping by having three of the locations on the same CD.

The puzzles in the first game were decidedly easy, and the same can largely be said for Buried in Time. Once again refusing to incorporate random puzzles simply for the sake of padding game length and difficulty, Presto has done a great job of integrating the obstacles into the storyline. Some are simple inventory tasks, and others revolve around specific jumpsuit abilities, but these are interwoven with logic puzzles and clue deciphering. It's a nice mix that keeps the game moving, so don't expect a brain-straining challenge, assuming you find all the items and clues you require (which can be more problematic).

Fortunately, this game is much more ambitious than the original, and should provide at least double the amount of play time (10 hours and counting). For those wondering about the number of puzzles in the game, there are precisely twenty. No, I didn’t count—in a redesigned point-scoring and record-keeping system, the game tracks your progress through the evidence you’ve collected and puzzles completed, although these are only presented during the "game over" death screens. Yes, death. In another unwelcome holdover from the original, it's still possible to die and fail in Buried in Time—at times quite unexpectedly—so saving often is again the order of the day. Thankfully, the mission time limit has been removed, allowing you to explore at your leisure. That said, there are timed sequences in the game that are much more demanding than anything in the original, so the frustration is more confined, but still present.

Buried in Time also features a hint system, which just so happens to be the real star of the show. Forget Gage. Somewhere in your travels, you'll acquire a companion in the form (or non-form, I guess) of a wisecracking artificial intelligence named Arthur. Not only does Arthur offer some vital information periodically, but he serves as a virtual encyclopedia about the eras you visit. These comments are optional, and continually accessing them is part of the annoying interface issue mentioned above. Still, for those so inclined, it's a substantial contribution to the game. What's even better is that Arthur is always quick with the quip, and consistently funny, which is a rare commodity in gaming. Having been immersed by his creator in 20th century media, Arthur makes constant references to our own culture. Within the span of mere minutes, Arthur may do a Monty Python impersonation, quote Maxwell Smart, and parody Ginsu knife commercials, and the good times just keep coming. Sidekicks are difficult to incorporate well, and comedic ones even more, so for all the game's other achievements, Arthur has to be its masterstroke.

Strangely, although Arthur is such an integral part of the game's enjoyment, he's not featured prominently in the documentation, and the story itself doesn't encourage you to seek him out. In fact, it's entirely possible to finish a significant portion of the game without ever knowing he exists, so at the risk of creating a spoiler, I suggest you start your trek in a time period best suited to an artificial intelligence.

While the acting of some of the visible characters can best be described as spotty, the voicework is critical to making Arthur endearing, and Presto’s choice is perfect. The rest of the sound effects maintain the high standards set by the original, receiving the same level of upgrade as the graphics. Music is much more prevalent in Buried in Time, and the various scores do a nice job of setting the mood for each historical period.

Overall, Buried in Time is a solid middle installment in the Journeyman Project trilogy. It maintains a tight continuity with the original, and its ending clearly sets the stage for a follow-up. The improvements show that Presto wasn't content to rest on their laurels, and their efforts are commendable, if flawed. Unlike the previous game, Buried in Time should have a broader appeal than just science-fiction fans. There's humour, there's history, and a healthy dose of puzzle adventure that moves the franchise forward appreciably, if you can dance around the awkward missteps along the way.