Indiana Jones' Brother?
Indiana Jones fans take note: I think I've found Indy's lost long brother. He's the protagonist in the computer game Hide and Secret! Okay, so the hero here is definitely made from the same mold as the famous explorer, right down to his trusty cap, but the story and presentation found in this fun title more than make up for it and make it a game worth playing.
Hide and Secret follows the adventures of Will Scout and his partner Anna Lyze. The story opens with them at the museum, about the to unveil the world's largest collection of rare treasures! The door opens to reveal that the room has been trashed and the treasures have been stolen! You run into the room just in time to see Jacque and his henchman Toadie make their escape!
Just when you think all hope is lost, you noticed that Toadie dropped something during their hectic departure. It's an electronic device that displays a list of items. It's then that you somehow have the epiphany that by finding these items, you'll find Jacques and the stolen treasure!
Alright, so it's not the most logical story in the world. It's also corny and cliche and requires a serious suspension of disbelief to really get into it. Still, it's incredibly entertaining for what it is. The characters might be ridiculous stereotypes but I've found that if you just embrace the cheesiness, you'll have one heck of an adventure on your hands.
Let's Go Hunting
The gameplay in Hide and Secret is of the "I Spy" variety, which suits the treasure hunting aspect of the premise quite nicely. In each level, you'll be given a few locations to look for items. The list of items is planted on the left side of the screen and is different for each location you go to. You will also see the number of items you must find, as you don't have to find every item on all of the lists.
You can't just go around clicking on everything, either. If you click too many wrong objects, you'll receive a time penalty and these can add up after a while.
Like I said, this gameplay suits this type of adventure really well. So many treasure hunting games go the "match'em up" route, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This item hunting mechanic makes you the hunter and helps you really get into the game.
Fantastic Presentation
I couldn't possibly write this without going into the presentation. This game gives you beautiful artwork that is presented in comic book style layouts, along with actual voice acting! That said, the voice actors are of the highest caliber, but it still makes the game enjoyable.
Worth A Spin
For what it is, Hide and Secret is a real fun time to be had. The characters are all reminiscent of classic archetypes and it's fun watching them interact. The gameplay itself is enjoyable and addictive and is sure to keep you occupied for hours.
