Posts Tagged ‘puzzles’

Shutter Island Review

Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle, Seek and Find | Posted by Zeke
Mar 09 2010


Shutter Island is a well publicized new chilling psychological thriller movie made by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio based on a 1950’s story written by Dennis Lehane about paranoia, delusion, grief and denial. It is set in a New England asylum for the criminally insane where one of their dangerous patients is missing. Two federal marshals are called in to investigate this disappearance. Shutter Island, the Mac hidden object game of the same name, follows the movie script (follows the novel) very closely.

It is summer of 1954. Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) and Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) arrive in Boston’s outer harbor to capture a violent female escapee, Rachel Solando. At Ashecliffe Hospital you search through cemeteries, doctors’ offices and the many rooms within and outside of the asylum to solve this mystery. You also will talk to patients, guards and doctors to get more information. You are Teddy so you never see DiCaprio but you will see many familiar actors like Ben Kingsley as Dr. Cawley. These encounters will give you clues and move the tale along with the hidden object scenes. The many mini puzzles and games are all intertwined in the story line, but can be skipped if you do not wish to play them. Patient files and paranormal appearances will also give you information needed in the story.

All this is done well in Shutter Island the Mac game. The artwork stays close to the movie scenes especially the dining room set. In the promo for the movie they show this scene and the game’s room is very similar. I don’t know if I’ll go see this movie since it got mixed reviews, but the Mac game is so engaging with its many hidden object/seek and find scenes and mini games, you want to keep going to find out what’s really happening on this strange island full of hidden secrets and personal demons. I thought the game captured the feeling of the movie and did a great job conveying it through the game. The sound effects and music were also dramatic and helped increase your involvement in the story. You can get into this hidden object game and find out the gripping twist to this story.

Features of Shutter Island:
-Based on the Movie
-Great Visuals
-Immersive Game Play

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Tudors Review

Adventure, Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle, Seek and Find | Posted by Meg
Mar 03 2010


“The Tudors,” a fictional, historic Mac hidden object/seek and find game, is based on the popular TV show of the same title starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII. The game represents the show well with its lies and political intrigue. It begins after the beheading of Anne Boleyn, second wife to the king and marriage to his new wife, Jane Seymour, 10 days later.

The main play is a hidden object game within the castle and other locations in England and Europe. You are Elena Sedgrave, daughter of William Sedgrave, a diplomat to the king. Elena approached by the king after saving a life of Charles Willoughby, a loyal assistant to Thomas Cromwell, is recruited to spy on enemies to protect England and the king. She travels with her father to foreign lands in search of information and clues. She searches monasteries, castles and other locations appropriate to the time period. Not only is she creative and intelligent, she uses disguises to blend in in the rooms she is searching. The many objects you need to find may be placed in your inventory to use to progress your play. There will be times when you need to enter locked doors and you will need to find a key or an object to break the lock. In addition, you may need to go from one room to another and back again to find what you need. You will encounter royalty, religious figures and other spies. You cannot trust anyone.

There are many interesting scenes in this game. However, the indoor scenes are often dark and hard to view the objects, but there is a hint button to help you along. Mini games are throughout this game. One is to find the queen’s jewels thrown out the window. Another is to make potions where you will mix different color potions to create a new color. There are many puzzles to play in between the seek and find plays.

However, the main draw to this game is not the hidden object/seek, and find (although good), mini games or its puzzles, it is the historic and dramatic story of King Henry VIII’s court , its many political enemies, the many conspiracies, assassination attempts and the threats against the king and England. Also a big plus is the characters in the game are the stars from the television show and not the people depicted in art pieces in museums. In other words, Jonathan Rhys Meyer is a lot better looking than King Henry. I definitely recommend this game to try out especially if you are a history buff, a TV fan and a hidden object player. Why is Thomas Cromwell so suspicious and nervous?

Features of The Tudors:
-From the TV Series
-Hidden Objects and Mini Games
-History of King Henry VIII

Rating: ★★★★☆

Pure Hidden Review

Action, Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle | Posted by Meg
Mar 01 2010

Pure Hidden7
Download Pure HiddenBuy Pure Hidden

In this magical, mysterious hidden world there are many images to be unlocked and found. Pure Hidden is a visually pleasing hidden object/seek and find Mac game. It will give you hours of play with their graphically interesting pictures and scenes.

Pure Hidden’s hidden object scenes are a little different from the usual room full of household items and mystery to be solved. It’s more like a Pure Hiddenmodern day advertising billboard with objects discreetly spread out on the picture. Old time comic strips and superheroes will be on the scene to disguise the listed items. The layering of black and white objects with color forms also helps to distract your eyes from locating certain things.

If you have trouble finding your objects, click on the pink star to your left and then click on the listed word and a pink circle will help you discover your item. After using the star, you must wait until the star fills up again. The scenes are sometimes difficult to uncover the objects, but it is a fun challenge. There are many different kinds of scenes to search for hidden objects.

Pure Hidden3The Game Tree will lead you to the different scenes and mini games. One such game is to discover 10 items that do not belong and another is to find 33 butterflies in a beautiful garden. An action puzzle is to get the sheep over the fence (the trick is to wait until the Pure Hidden2question mark appears before clicking on the sheep). Another puzzle is to connect the pipes for the eggs to continuously pass through.

The draw to Pure Hidden is the beautiful, original graphics, the hidden object play and the many interesting and fun mini games. Enjoy this game for its variety of puzzles and stunning illustrations.

Features of Pure Hidden:
-Hidden Worlds
-Unlock Images
-Over 1000 Objects to Find
-Mini Games

Rating: ★★★★☆

National Geographic Games: Mystery of Cleopatra Review

Adventure, Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle, Seek and Find | Posted by Zeke
Feb 28 2010


Any tale about Cleopatra whether fiction or non has been popular for hundreds of years since her attempts to reverse the decline of Ptolemaic Egypt. Her relationships with Caesar and Marc Anthony have peaked interests of many historians. National Geographic Games: Mystery of Cleopatra in their hidden object, seek and find method tells the story of an intruding Roman soldier’s murder on the docks from the advisor to the queen’s viewpoint.

You are the advisor and you are to serve the queen by investigating the murder of this soldier in this Mac game by searching for objects and using the items in tasks to uncover this mystery. You can choose from the Casual mode where found objects will automatically be placed for you, but in the Advanced mode you must place the object on their corresponding spot. As the advisor to Cleopatra, you have access to many areas others cannot view. You leave from your personal room with your necessities throughout the city of Alexandria looking for clues. In each scene you will search for objects, and you may need to investigate deeper in some areas of the screen when you see sparkling dots. By clicking on these regions you will zoom in and find more things to discover.

There are many mini games to conquer and complete from the usual find 6 similar items to logic puzzles. When the skip button charges, you can skip the games if you wish to continue on with this story and the seek and find plays.

Following National Geographic’s last 2 hidden object games, Herod’s Lost Tomb and The Lost City of Z, Mystery of Cleopatra is less like those 2 plays and more like the Dream Chronicles and G.H.O.S.T. Chronicles: Phantom of the Renaissance Faire. I found Mystery of Cleopatra heavy on the task portion, mini puzzles and historic facts, and not enough hidden object play which I prefer. I was surprised to find that these factors slowed down the play and made the story drag on. You would think the political intrigue and the personal vendettas would keep you on the edge of your seat but the extra readings of the people, historic interests labored the play a little. Maybe condensing the write-ups would keep the mystery tale more interesting but this version did not do it for me.

Features of Mystery of Cleopatra:
-Explore Alexandria
-Mini Games
-Historic Features
-A Roman Soldier’s Murder

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Marooned Review

Adventure, Hidden Object/I Spy, Puzzle, Seek and Find | Posted by Zeke
Feb 26 2010


Marooned, a hidden object Mac game, is the first chapter of a Trilogy. You wake to find yourself with amnesia marooned on an deserted island. You must search for clues and items to find your identity and why you are on this island in the first place.

This game is your typical hidden object game with searching items in several different locations. Some of the objects will be needed to perform tasks in areas of the scene. You hover over a location and it will tell you if you need to do anything further with it. These “hotspots” will need an item from your inventory to accomplish the task and it may not be in the present scene. If it is not in your inventory or even in the present screen, you may need to search in another location for your tool.

There are many side puzzles integrated into the game to break up the hidden object play. The story is one of the main objectives you must unravel in your misty, amnesiac state, get the boat working, find 15 solar panel pieces, and find the tropical birds.

The narration carries Marooned’s story in a logical order, and the idea of an alternative source of energy is an enticing subject. The scenes are clear with great artwork, and the sound effects appropriate for the play. I found Marooned enjoyable and a pleasure to play. I am looking forward to the other chapters to see how everything unravels.

Features of Marooned:
-1st Chapter of Trilogy
-Search in 15 Landscapes
-Immersive Story

Rating: ★★★½☆