So...I've played Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects, Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, Mysteryville, Abra Academy, Hide & Secret, Magic Academy, Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile, Dream Day Wedding, Little Shop of Treasures, Hidden Expedition: Titanic, Hidden Expedition: Everest, and G.H.O.S.T. Hunters. Am I forgetting any? I really get into these hidden object games. I think my first tip off that I needed reading glasses was because of them. “The room is all blurry, and I can't find a darn lion in the greenhouse!” Doesn't that make you crazy?
The Magicians Handbook: Cursed Valley was interesting, right from the start. You're supposed to save the valley from an evil curse, but before you can start, you have to learn some spells. All of the hidden objects you must find are ingredients for your spells, so it ties in nicely. The backgrounds are suitably creepy. The sound effects are STELLAR, and really set the mood. They made the game feel intense.
About the story, this is something new – you can choose between “long winded” and “short and sweet.” Excellent! I like a lot of story, but my husband won't read it if its more than a paragraph, so I always end up explaining the endings to him. With this game, we can each play the way we want. Also, you can choose between timed and untimed modes....so, if you're playing at work or while multitasking, you won't lose out, but you can still put a timer on yourself if you want. That really works for me, because its a total bummer to lose because the phone rings, if you know what I mean.
The difficulty level for this one is moderate, imo. It's not quite as difficult as Mystery Case Files, which is a plus or minus depending on your skill level and eyesight. Objects are fairly large and well drawn, so its not overly hard to find many of them, but there are still those stubborn ones that you just can't see. If you get stuck in one location, you can always move to another one to find the items you need. You can also use a hint “reveal” spell to find those trouble spots. The cursor wand is excellent, because you can really pinpoint what you are clicking on. Also, you hear a buzz if you click the wrong object, so there's no guesswork when it comes to selecting objects – HUGE plus.
It's four months early for Halloween, but I kept thinking what a great game The Magicians Handbook: Cursed Valley is for the holiday. I doubt I'll be able to resist completing it before then!
LISA
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