Dark City: Amsterdam Mystery

If you think you’re going to be pedaling a bicycle along the dikes, leisurely eating Gouda and drinking a glass of beer, or picking magnificent tulips, think again! Instead, you must step into the shoes of Detective Agatha, to solve the mystery of the legendary Flying Dutchman ghost ship, in this marvelous adventure set at the turn of the twentieth century. Just when you think you know exactly what’s going to happen, the story takes unexpected twists and sinister turns. The ability to create a story so intricate is the absolute genius of our favorite developer, Friendly Fox. This wonderful gem interweaves the crime genre along with paranormal phenomena to create exciting and addictive gameplay. You must use deductive reasoning and clues to progress in your investigation. I was also pleased to that the protagonist in the bonus chapter who requested Agatha’s help was disabled, but portrayed in such a positive manner. Too often disabled persons are overlooked or ignored and treated as if they are contagious, evil, or unworthy! The graphics were excellent, as the developer has managed to capture the ambience of the Netherlands. The quality assurance was terrific (no hard tapping required!) and the tasks were enjoyable to complete. This game was lengthy, exciting, and thrilling. I didn’t even want to stop playing in order to go to sleep, and you won’t either. Gamers, this is a must-purchase adventure! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Ahoy, Mateys! Get ready to embark on a chilling nautical adventure as you investigate what appears to be ghostly apparitions, in the form of dangerous seafaring pirates, who are manifesting throughout the village and terrorizing the townspeople. But are these swashbucklers really what they seem to be? True to this series, the graphics are ominously dark, cultivating levels of suspense and amplifying a fear of what’s lurking around the corner. I love me an absorbing mystery thriller in which I can put my observational and analytical skills to work. Throughout your investigation, you often refer to your notebook in which you assemble clues to draw conclusions; this is effectuated in an interactive manner, which draws me further into the storyline. The hidden-object scenes are creatively rendered, enhanced by embedded puzzles. They also convey some snippets of backstory, via newspaper articles, notes, posters, etc. The puzzles vary in type, and some are customizable to suit your difficulty preference; the conceptual designs of such adhere to the nautical theme. I appreciate the pull-out tabs on the side to keep the status of acquiring the collectibles within each scene. Transition is seamless; no glitches, as usual. I’m about halfway through the game but wanted to vouch for the worthiness of playing this little package of fun. I rate this game five stars.