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Secrets Can Be Deadly is the title of this next offering in the Strange Investigations series.  Developed by Elephant Games, this Hidden Object Adventure game is available in Collector's Edition format that bundles a number of bonus items with the main game play offering.  Opening with a scene where three friends sit around a table until a flash of light reduces the number to two friends and a warning message stating "You will all pay for this" appears, you take over the investigation that follows.

Cast in the role of Dana Strange, who lives up to her name by having an invisible friend called Eve who offers advice at important moments, you are quickly drawn into a case involving an unprovoked attack on a friend.  Your investigation will involve elements of betrayal, murder and revenge overlaid by a camp-fire story of horror that forms the central plank of the game that follows. 

Assisting you in your investigation will be a mouse cursor that can change shape when in the proximity of active areas plus tools arranged across the bottom of the scenes making up the game.  You will have access to a Journal with sections for Ghost Notes and related conclusions plus tabs for individual suspects.  There is also a Map, Inventory which can be locked in place or left to disappear when not immediately required.  Items in the Inventory accompanied by a plus sign will require some work before use.  Completing this area  is a Hint feature which emits a sound effect to indicate when it is fully charged.  You also get a Strategy Guide but this feature has been moved from its normal position to one located near the top right of the screen should you need it.

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Following the introduction of the camp-fire horror tale involving lifeguards and a mystery surrounding the death of one of them with a possible resurrection of the victim, it is hardly surprising that your investigation concentrates on this particular aspect.  The different locations featured in the game tend to be a mixture of rather uninspiring scenes, appearing two dimensional, with an occasional scene that is more realistic.  The game's various characters are equally easily forgotten and, apart from the eventual criminal that is causing various acts of damage, offers little towards the flow of the story line.

The game features the usual collection of tasks that need to be completed.  Collectible items need to be found and then used later as part of a Secret Room found as part of the bonus Collector's Edition selection as you complete a jigsaw from these Collectibles.  From time to time you will encounter one of the 12 mini games scattered through this rather disappointing adventure and 14 Hidden Object scenes that use features such as finding pairs, linking words to illustrations in a book, silhouettes, patterns and even replacing items in a scene.

The game does possess a Ghost Notes and Conclusion feature,  With this element you will have to select from a list of events by picking those that actually happened and then draw the correct conclusion from your choices.  This feature does make you feel as if you are actually playing an active part in the investigation.

As mentioned the game has a Hint feature that will require recharging after many uses.  This rate of recharging tends to be variable.  Often the recharging will be immediate but sometimes you could be kept waiting for a while.  Overall I was disappointed in this game and was almost tempted to stop playing this game before I reached its conclusion.

I downloaded my copy of this title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99.  It can also be downloaded from Big Fish Games priced at $15.42.  The game requires a 1.6 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 1.98GB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.

Strange Investigations - Secrets Can Be Deadly Collector's Edition | Big Fish Games

Strange Investigations - Secrets Can Be Deadly Collector's Edition | GameHouse