Games for Mystery Fans
I rediscovered Project Gutenberg, and have been thrilled with the huge amount of classic novels at my fingertips. If you haven't heard of it before, Project Gutenberg is the first producer of free electronic books (ebooks). The only criteria are that all of the books are in public domain and their copyright has expired. There are even audio books and recorded music files. I happen to be a new fan of mysteries, having just "discovered" Ruth Rendell a few months back, and so now I've got a lot of catch up reading to do in the entire mystery genre. Wow, and there are lots.
On the same train of thought, it’s really turned me on to games based on books, especially mysteries. I was thrilled to see the release of The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes, a hidden object game which has you playing Sherlock and solving 16 different crimes. It is the only Sherlock game to be officially licensed by the Conan Doyle Estate, and it features all of the character's you'll find in the novels.
Agatha Christie - Death on the Nile, and the sequel Agatha Christie: Peril at End House, are both interesting variations of Agatha Christie novels. While there is some creative license to be had, you find the same great character development as in the books. Both of these are also hidden object mysteries. Rumor has it that the developers are working on another game based on James Patterson's "Women's Murder Club" series. The Count of Monte Cristo is another strong hidden object game, with some knock out background art and great atmosphere. I haven't read the book yet, but I've seen the movie does that count?
If you're looking for a family game, Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel is a new release that delivers lots of fun, adventure game style. It's creepy, but not TOO creepy, so it’s suitable for older girls and teens alike. My girls are still a bit too young, but I look forward to introducing them to the Nancy Drew series when they reach that teeny-booper stage.
Perhaps the best part of games based on books is the ability to really get immersed in the story. It's exciting to get to walk in the shoes of your favorite protagonists, no matter what your favorite genre. Now we just need some interactive Jane Austen novels, hmmm.
Lisa
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