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Brightstone Mysteries - The Other is a Hidden Object Adventure title from Cateia Games.  This latest version has been remastered with enhanced graphics and a revamped interface.  As I seemed to have missed out on the original version of the title, I am unable to comment on any possible improvement regarding the title's performance and appearance.  I did, however, quickly find that I needed to adjust my regular mode of playing to cope with the unique style of play adopted by this title.

The game is set in the township of Brightstone where a series of events took place in sequence on one unmemorable night.  A toy factory closed its doors.  The factory workers then proceeded to disappear from their usual haunts.  Following the factory closure and the disappearance of the workers, the factory owner and the Toy Maker vanished.  This is the environment to which you have been hired to investigate as a private detective to see if you can discover what is causing these events to happen.

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Usually with games of this genre, you expect to be provided with a number of tools to assist your investigation.  However this title is not quite so generous with regards to supplying such tools.  Positioned in the usual position, across the bottom of the screen, you find a Map, Inventory and a Hint feature.  While the Inventory is of a familiar type, the Map is more concerned with the scenes visited rather than the actual locations.  The Hint feature's functionality varies depending upon the current circumstances.  You could be offered a map scene layout or a possible direction in which to proceed when using the Hint feature.

As you move around the different locations, you will encounter other characters (but not the missing workers) who communicate with both spoken and printed dialogue.  Several encountered scenes will require puzzling tasks to be completed and these will vary in both type and difficulty.  Fortunately the Hint feature will eventually offer an escape route, after several attempts, if a puzzle proves too difficult.

Along with the puzzles, you will also need to complete Hidden Object scenes indicated by an outbreak of sparkles.  These scenes adopt a familiar cluttered look as required items are listed in text format presented three at a time.  However occasional items will be listed in blue rather than black.  The blue entries hide two possible substitute, one of which will be present in the scene.  The Hint feature could help decide which substitute to go with and help with this matter.

This game certainly made a welcoming change to the usual diet of Hidden Object Adventure titles that come my way especially once I had adapted to its style of game play.  After completing the main game and solving the possible mystery of the Toy Factory closure, you are granted access to replaying the Hidden Object scenes and 13 puzzle tasks.

I downloaded my copy of this title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99.  The game is also available from Big Fish Games priced at £15.84.  The game requires a 1.8 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 917MB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.

Brightstone Mysteries - The Others Remastered | Big Fish Games

Brightstone Mysteries - The Others Remastered | GameHouse