Hawaiian Explorer Returns!

We first got a taste of the series in the excellent Hawaiian Explorer: Pearl Harbor. In that adventure, you were searching the ocean all around Hawaii for the lost Japanese Diamond Medal, a flawless diamond over 800 years old. That's a pretty hard treasure to top, but it's definitely been outdone. In Lost Island: Hawaiian Explorer 2, you're looking for a legendary lost island supposedly forged by the gods. You've definitely taken your game up a notch. In addition to Hawaii, you'll also be searching New York City for clues. Get ready for an adventure twice as big as the first!

Time To Search

Hidden objects games are a dime a dozen these days but this product makes a name for itself by combining stellar gameplay with jaw-dropping visuals. Each level is amazing to look at, whether it be as extraordinary a setting as underneath the ocean, or something simple and mundane like an office building. While good graphics certainly don't make a game, they sure enhance the experience, and this product has them in spades.

The rules applied here are very traditional, meaning that the learning curve is small to none. The easy accessibility makes this a wonderful game to play with a young one or even the whole family. In each level you're required to find all of the items on your list in a given time. You're allowed three hints, but each one takes 45 seconds off the clock. You're also docked time if you click too many times in the wrong spot.

To ensure that you don't get burned out looking for objects, you'll play some mini-games in-between stages, where you'll perform tasks such as solving puzzles or matching stones. There's even a form of concentration, the classic card-matching game, as well as a rendition of MahJong! The variety is great and keeps the gameplay fresh.

Real People Make For a Real Experience

One of the aspects of the game that I love (that carried over from the first title) is the use of live-action people in cutscenes and pictures. While I enjoy hand-drawn characters and they can have a charm all their own, using real photographs grounds the game in reality and makes it that much easier for me to be drawn in to the experience. Not only is your character a real person, but your boss, retired adventure Charlie Johnson, is a real guy as well and you can naturally picture him in his role. While the story is told in still pictures, the realism makes it seem like an interactive movie. And of course, the great voice acting only adds to the experience!

Well Worth Your Time

Lost Island: Hawaiian Explorer 2 is everything you could want in a sequel and more. It features an entertaining story, amazing visuals, and addictive gameplay that will have you glued to your computer screen as you hunt down every last object. And with over 30 missions to complete, you'd better bring a snack or two!