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Available from Domini Games, Mystical Riddles - Haunted Portraits is a Hidden Object Adventure offering.  I have been looking at the Collector's Edition version of this product which comes bundled with a number of bonus items to help enhance the appeal of the main game.  While some of the bonus items will be available immediately, others such as mini game puzzles and Hidden Object game play, are only accessible once they have been tackled in the main game.  You also get a bonus chapter as a reward for completing the main game.

Cast in the role of a private detective, you are hired to find Neil Clark's wife who went missing following a visit to the gallery of photographer Oliver Cool.  The initial stages of your investigation will introduce you to the way the mouse pointer can inform you as to the features it can help with and deliver various helpful tools.  Consisting of a Journal, Map, Camera for capturing paranormal activity, Inventory, Strategy Guide and Hint feature, these tools are arranged across the bottom of the screen.  You will also be provided with links to check on Collectibles, made up of 10 Cameras, 10 missing people and 70 photos, found and the result of Decisions made at vital points during this Adventure.

Moving around the various locations, featured in this game, reveals some well-drawn scenes but they rarely have the effect of drawing me into the story line.  In fact I felt there was one particular repeated scene, showing the photographic gallery, that made a regular appearance.  It always depicted the same security guard working with a security panel as if the guard was frozen in time.  So often did he appear and slow matters down.  I almost came to regard the guard as a close friend.

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At other times the game did make good use of overlaid windows and split screen views to enhance visual effects.  You also get occasional paranormal intrusions with appropriate special effects to help hold your attention.

As you move around the various locations to search for clues and information, you will encounter mini game puzzles and Hidden Object game play.  While the Hidden Object game play's presence will be indicated by an outbreak of sparkles and an option to switch to Match 3 action if you so wish, the more numerous mini game puzzles offer a choice of Easy or Hard problem to solve.  They do tend to add to the game's challenge.

Apart from a couple of occasions when I opted for Match 3 action, I tended to stick with the Hidden Object choice.  Sometimes the required list of items would be in words with a different colour used to indicate when some additional work was required.  This form of game play also listed its items as silhouettes, as paired items or spotting the difference between two scenes.

Among the mini game puzzles were those requiring cameras to be linked to designated clips, arranging beads so no colours clashed and placing bottles on coloured stands.  At other times you might be asked to match pairs of silhouettes, developed a photo and arranging the parts of a lock.  Another type of puzzle might involve setting timers to allow the passage of a spark.

This is a game that I found easy to take a break from as it never really drew me into the story line.  I downloaded my copy of the title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99.  The game is also available from Big Fish Games priced at £15.51.  The game requires a 2.0 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 1.08GB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.

Mystical Riddles - Haunted Portraits Collector's Edition | Big Fish Games

Mystical Riddles - Haunted Portraits Collector's Edition | GameHouse