You're Going Down Under

I was a fan of the first Big City Adventure. In the vast jungle of hidden objects games, it stood out for having a really fun and informative presentation. Not to mention the actual gameplay wasn't bad, either. However, I was a big fan of the city of San Francisco itself, which could have accounted for why I loved the game so much. When I found out the sequel took place in Sydney, Australia, I began to wonder how I feel about it. Not that I don't like Sydney, I'm just very indifferent towards it. It doesn't hold a special place in my heart like the good ol' City by the Bay.

Five minutes into the product, I could stop wondering. Big City Adventure: Sydney Australia not only retains the charm of its predecessor, it may even double it. Seeing these characters that you now know and love feels like a family reunion. The quirky art style is back, along with the great voice acting and humorous dialog. I would be lying if I said I didn't chuckle at least a few times during the opening movie. Listening to the kids take turns asking "Are we there yet?" during the 15 hour flight had me laughing out loud.

An Educational Experience

Possibly the best thing about the game is how much you'll learn about Sydney. You'll search for objects in popular locales that actually exist and you'll get to read up pretty extensively on them. The first stop on the trip was the city's Central Station, where you learn a bit about the station's history. It's fun and it makes the game perfect for playing with the kids.

However, if lots of text isn't your thing, don't let that turn you away. You don't have to read anything if you choose not to. You can get right to the searching!

A Mess of Fun

The product's stages are crazy cluttered messes, which make for some great hidden objects fun. They also feature small animations, which definitely add to the life of the level. In the central station stage, the trains headlights will go on and off and the door will open and close. It's nothing too fancy, but it adds loads to the atmosphere.

There are a few ways to earn bonus points, which should please any hardcore game. Not only do you get points for simply finding an object, you can get "quick find" bonus points for find multiple items in quick succession. At the end of the level, you'll also get a bonus for how much time you have left and for any unused hint tokens.

Speaking of hint tokens, they work pretty much like any other hint system. Click on a token and a random item from the list will be highlighted on screen. You can earn more hints by finding tokens scattered around each stage.

Don't forget about the bonus stages! Any self-respecting computer game needs to have at least one! The first bonus level I ran across required me to bop crocodiles on the heads to get back the pies they had stolen. Every now and then the game would throw me a platypus to confuse me. If I hit the platypus, he would throw a boomerang and steal a pie! It's the wacky humor like this that really makes the game something special.

A Worthy Addition to Any Library

Big City Adventure: Sydney is a fun game any way you slice it. Anyone even mildly interested should give it a shot and you'll be hooked in no time.