Pros: Original. Gorgeous graphics and visual effects. Thematic locations.
Cons: Hints do not work for key objects. Hard to find key objects. Unproductive comments from character.
Nicole Rankwist, the hero of The Mystery of the Crystal Portal, is a young New York journalist. Six month ago, she had a telephone conversation with her father, a famous archeologist. He was excited about his latest discovery. He only said that it would "change the cause of humanity." But then he goes missing. Nicole must find out the truth and her father. Your task is to help Nicole find the pieces of the Crystal Portal key. During your journey, you will travel to the most beautiful spots of the world such as Japan, the Swiss Alps, Africa and Russia. The Mystery of the Crystal Portal is a hidden object adventure game along the lines of Azada or Dream Chronicles series, but it introduces unique game mechanics. That's why it leans more toward the adventure side. Each level has several locales to explore. Actually, you will have to deal with different kinds of objects at every level: key objects, normal objects, puzzle pieces and containers. The goal of each level is to complete all of the key objects. When you find a key object, it opens up a small menu with items that are associated with this particular key object. You need just to drag these normal items on the key object. When you complete key objects, it opens a new area to explore or it can be just another typical object that belongs to another key object. It's quite an original approach to the game play. Containers are objects that have normal objects inside. When you find a container, your mouse turns into a magnifying glass. And some objects can be found and used in different scenes. For example, to reach a nest, you need to visit another location to find a ladder there. There are usually some small puzzle items like gears or tiles in each scene. When all the key objects are completed and puzzle items are found, you are presented a bonus mini-game. In this puzzle game, you use these already found gears or tiles. Unlike many games, most items hide in logical places. In other words, you will not have to look for footprints on the ceiling. The Mystery of the Crystal Portal has no time limits or penalties for random clicking. With no time limits, the game provides rechargeable hints, thereby relieving you from the pressure that comes with a clock. The hints are helpful, but only work for normal objects. If you are stuck and can't find a key object, the hint button won't help you and that's disappointing. You never know what a key objects look like. And it sometimes gets annoying to look for them. You need to explore every pixel of the screen. And when finally the mouse turns into a hand, you've found one! It takes time and patience. From time to time, Nicole makes useless remarks and they're bewildering. For example, when there's one more item in a scene, Nicole claimed that she could move further. But she couldn't go anywhere until she finds the last item. Besides the original game play and intriguing storyline, The Mystery of the Crystal Portal has gorgeous graphics and stunning visual effects. Moreover, every location reveals the beauty and distinctiveness of a given land. Before each level, you will see a beautiful rolling screen with the scenery of the country you are in. Each country gives you the chance to meet people. The locations reflect the theme so that it's natural to see a Japanese lantern or a cherry tree among hidden items. The Mystery of the Crystal Portal provides a lovely experience. The wonderful graphics, smooth sounds, and, of course, original game play, all make the game different and original. And the story ends without letting indicating if Nicole has found her father or not. Could it be a hint for a sequel? This one would be worthy of one.
The game is very entertaining. I got involved. A bit short but but it has nice puzzles. So if you are a puzzle lover, this games desrves your attention.
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