The Mystery of the Crystal Portal – one of the products of Real Arcade and Alawar Entertainment – is one of the best casual games you can stumble upon nowadays.
An adventurous journalist Nicole Rankwist receives a letter from her father Robert, who in his archaeology dig came across an amazing artifact. Said discovery is not only exciting but dangerous – it could change the human race. And guess what? Right after sending the note Robert went missing. Following his trail Nicole searches for the pieces of the key, hidden objects spread around the world.
Your mission goes all the way through Africa, Russia, the Swiss Alps, Japan, and dangerous Mayan ruins. Each location includes two or more scenes as you hunt to reveal a hidden part of the Crystal Portal. This casual game contains both usual for this class of hidden object games locating of “normal” items and search of “story” items which help to reveal new scenes, “puzzle” items that unlock the final stage of each round and “container” items. Container items allow you to expose another array of hidden objects you must put into the container. From time to time you have to find hidden object which will be used in other scenes.
As usual in hidden object games finding the containers turn out to be a tricky business. Only when your cursor transforms into a magnifying glass you will discover one. Once you fill the container with items found it will vanish, uncovering hidden treasures under it.
I liked this casual game as it allows slow exploration without time limits to make you rush. It is a game for those who is not in a hurry and pays attention to details. Unlimited hints permit you exploration, though sometimes you have to pass the time till the next one will charge fully. But time of the game is unlimited so it does not pose a problem.
As the game progresses hidden objects become increasingly hard to find. Hint button is your friend here. As you click it little stars pinpoint the path to object’s location site. Sometimes a number of hints should be used as a certain item must be removed to uncover something else.
In modern hidden object games good graphics is a must and this casual game will not disappoint you. Each location including the scenery and objects within it look genuine enough.
Once final location is completed you will have all parts of the challenge. After you have them all you must gather your courage – an ultimate riddle awaits you!
Mind, the game’s end will come out of the blue and leave you speculating whether the family was reunited and a plucky journalist Nicole got her father back. I guess a sequel will be coming out. And a good thing too, since you won’t regret giving this game a shot.
 |
 |
