Enigmatis 2: The Mists of Ravenwood on Steam
MSRP: $9.99*
Platforms: Win, Mac, Linux, XBox One, Android, iOS, WinPhone
Release: 9/25/13
Steam rating: 98% positive
*Price may vary by edition and platform. Price listed is for Steam Collector’s Edition
I debated not touching this game until I actually had time to finish out the first game in the series, but honestly, I was gobsmacked to see a hidden object game with a such a high rating. I mean, all of the Artifex Mundi games are good for what they are, but it’s not terribly common for even those to be so universally well-reviewed. I promised myself I wouldn’t play too far in – I really prefer to do these things in order, but I got absolutely sucked in and played for more than an hour. Oops.
There’s good variety thus far in both the types of hidden object puzzles, and in the other puzzles as well. I’ve impatiently used the hint button more often than usual for me, but just about every time, it resulted in a forehead-slapping moment – I have yet to come across anything that wasn’t obviously apparent as soon as I revealed the hint.
The evidence board mechanic is still present, and it’s just as important. If you don’t take the time to figure things out on the evidence board, you’ll quickly stall out. Collecting and interpreting evidence isn’t the most challenging part of the game, but it really helps you stay connected to the plot. Like most hidden object games, you’re tasked with stopping some sort of ancient supernatural evil, but there’s also a family you’re trying to save (and a helpful prisoner you’re trying to free).
In a lot of ways, I’m glad I chose this for a day where I didn’t have tons of time to devote to gaming, or I might have binged the whole thing, and I’m guessing, in one way or another, there’ll be spoilers for the first game. I’m hoping to pick up the third chapter in the series during the Steam Winter sale, and then carving out a weekend to just binge my way through all three. Normally, that’s not something I’d say about hidden object games, but the addition of the evidence mechanic does serve to make the Enigmatis series a little more compelling than most games in the genre.
If you aren’t attracted to the hidden object genre as a whole, there’s probably not enough here to change your mind, but the Enigmatis games are pretty much the cream of the crop. Enigmatis 2: The Mists of Ravenwood will run you about 5 hours including the bonus chapter, and you’ll likely spend even longer on it if you choose to hunt down all the collectibles. Snap it up instantly if you see it for 50% off or better.
366 Days of Gaming 