In a virtual version of 2011, the US government opened a secret division of paranormal or otherwise unusual investigations called the Top Secret Finders. As a member of this elite group of agents, you'll investigate an abandoned town, lost via mysterious circumstances back in the 1970's. As you investigate murders and kidnappings, you'll uncover a conspiracy surrounding mind control, time travel, a scorned lover, mad scientist, world domination and so much more.
Sonic is back to finish the journey he first started back in 2010, and this time he's brought along someone you may well recognize. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 follows up on the original episode, with the aim to hark back to Sonic gaming of the 90's while injecting this millennium's 3D coat of paint.
Here at Gamezebo, we review what are usually referred to as "casual" games. Despite the fact that we're constantly looking behind the scenes for a better name to describe the emerging wave of quick and accessible videogames, a simple fact stands: the games we review a vast majority of the time are going to be in the $20 and lower price range and are aimed at a general audience. So why, you might ask, am I reviewing a full-priced hardcore sequel to a game from 2000?
As an adventure game, The Journey Down: Chapter One hits all the right notes. It has plenty of charm and character, a mysterious story, an unlikely hero that gets wrapped up in things he doesn't understand, and puzzles that offer a perfect level of challenge, delivering a deeply satisfying "a-ha!" moment when solved. Oh - and did we mention that the game wraps all of this up in a uniquely African aesthetic?
The year of Titanic-inspired games continues with the release of Inspector Magnusson: Murder on the Titanic, a murder-mystery hidden object game that takes place aboard the Titanic before it met its tragic end. A coal tender has been found bludgeoned to death, and it's up to you and Professor Magnusson to solve this "whodunit" case surrounding more than just murder, but the sinking of the ship itself.
It's unusual for expert adventure game makers ERS Game Studios to stumble. The company's a well-oiled machine, cranking out top-selling hidden object adventures at an unbelievable rate. Perhaps it's speed that's to blame for the so-so success of its latest adventure, Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel. Whatever the reason, this title, though exhibiting all the quality ingredients of an ERS production, never really comes together. In the end it does little justice to the ERS name.
Take one part stealth action game, but give the protagonist an unlimited supply of bombs, and you end up with something close to Dynamite Jack. It's a top-down 2D puzzle/action game where you play a space marine trying to escape a mine after ditching that whole captivity thing. Being chained down ain't Jack's bag, baby. Jack likes to blow stuff up.
Snark Busters: High Society is a letdown. It cleaves closely to the mechanics of the Snark Busters franchise but the qualities that made the first game great, and the second game near-great, turn out to be almost as elusive as the Snark itself.