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As usual with titles from Domini Games, options are available to create profiles to record the progress of different players taking part in the action, adjust various volume levels and view the game in full screen mode with a custom cursor and special effects feature turned on or off.  You also have a choice of four levels of difficulty as you select from Casual, Advanced, Hardcore or Custom.  The game is available in Collector’s Edition format featuring a number of bonus items, some of which are accessible immediately while others require progress to be made in the main game before they allow access.

While carrying out a study of Stonehenge, Charles Michaelson, a leading scientist, discovers a crystal substance which emanates a kind of supersonic wave.  Initial investigations tend to indicate that the wave emanating from the crystal was capable of moving objects over a long distance.  Michaelson was of the opinion that the discovered crystal came from another world.  As a result you are to be drafted in as part of a team to investigate this other world believed to be Innovatrix.

The usual selection of tools are provided to assist you in your exploration of this new world.  As you progress further into the gaming environment, tools will appear across the base of various screens that provide access to a journal with Notes and Task sections, a Map, Inventory, previous scene, Strategy Guide and Hint feature.  Also appearing will be two side-mounted icons giving access to updates regarding Collectibles (Robots, Books and Packages) on the left and Decisions made during the game on the right.

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Task based, the game makes good use of overlaid windows and split screen views.  Overlays are generally used to indicate areas suitable for further examination while split screen viewing will involve the appearance of a character delivering their dialogue.  In some cases this dialogue will be linked to your choice of responses which can affect the flow of the story line.

As you move around the Innovatrix world, which is dedicated to intelligence and creativity with its claim that any problem can be overcome, you will encounter a limited number of residents.  These will include beings such as Leah and Conrad.  You also become involved in plots of revenge and the destruction of planets including Earth.  Fortunately you encounter Chronologists and AI technology that could provide a solution to your aims.

Along with the standard searching activity you will be faced by Hidden Object searches and mini game puzzles.  The presence of a Hidden Object game play will be indicated by the appearance of an outbreak of sparkles.  Usually you will be presented with a single screen but occasionally you will need to select a second scene in order to find required items that are presented as text, patterns, riddles or silhouettes as you identify items as pairs, alien food stuff or from a book's content.  An option will always be available to switch to March 3 game play to complete a task.

Mini game puzzles also offer the player a choice.  You can opt for either an Easy or Hard version of the puzzle.  Among these type of task are those of arranging pieces by columns and rows, dodging blockages as you travel along a route, find pairs, arrange shapes or gears and reform images that have been divided into sections.  You might also be required to build a weapon to destroy plans set in motion.

Featuring Domini Games usual high standard of graphics, the game did manage to leave me feeling a little confused by its story line but I eventually made it to the end and tackle a bonus section telling more about the Chronologists.  I downloaded my copy of this title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99.  It is also available from Big Fish Games priced at £15.00.  The game requires a 2.0 GHz processor with 1924MB of RAM and 1.28GB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and latter.

Maze of Realities - Symphony of Invention Collector's Edition | Big Fish Games

Maze of Realities - Symphony of Invention Collector's Edition | GameHouse