An International Affair

Tired of the same old nine-to-five? Bored with annoying customers and quirky co-workers? Then take on the role of expert archaeologist Professor Jack Foster as he embarks on one of his greatest quests to date!

Foster has received a letter from his good friend Alicia, causing him to abandon his current dig in Egypt so that he can return to New York to discover what is amiss. Upon returning to the Big Apple, Jack finds out that Alicia has disappeared without a trace and no one seems to know where she is. Last they heard, Alicia was investigating a strange artifact that she had unearthed in the jungles of the Guatemalan Basin. Is the relic cursed? Could it have led to her to her doom? Professor Jack Foster must find out and he can only do it with your help.

The journey will span the globe, sending you on a trip through just about every continent as you search for clues concerning Alicia's whereabouts. As you continue to solve the puzzle, you'll find yourself questioning locals in Paris, digging through ruins in Central America, and who knows where else! Are you up to the task?

Finding the Connection

When you arrive at each location, you will be shown an increasingly complex array of gems, jewels, and other relics. These items have been laid out in a honeycomb-like fashion and you'll notice that they have been placed on top of a series of hexagon tiles. Your goal is to collect all the gold tiles by forming combinations using the gems which lay on top of the tiles.

Using your mouse, left click on one of the gems and then drag your way through adjacent jewels of the same kind. The chain you create must be at least three units long and it can criss-cross all the way across the array, so long as you are connecting adjacent gems of the same type. The longer your connection, the better. The gold tiles underneath each of the gems you string together will then be collected. Your goal is to retrieve all the gold tiles.

If you manage to connect a chain of seven or more elements, you will be rewarded with special items that will help you create even more complex combinations. These will become a necessity later on in the game.

Tools of the Trade

You'll soon discover that there are secret items and hidden tools at your disposal. These will be randomly placed among the honeycomb array and the way that you earn them is to remove all the pieces that lay beneath them. When they fall out the bottom of the grid, they enter your inventory and can be used at any time. For example, if you unlock a hammer, it will excavate any tile you select. Alternatively, the hourglass will add two minutes to your timer.

There are two game modes to explore. The main Adventure mode pits you against the clock, so be sure to finish each stage before time runs out. If you're more in the mood for something more casual, check out the Relax mode which gives you unlimited time to clear each level.

Only Real Adventurers Need Apply

Professor Jack Foster is an intrepid adventurer with plenty of wit, intuition, and knowledge, but he will not be able to locate the whereabouts of his friend Alicia without your aid. You'll travel the globe and collect clues, and maybe, just maybe, you'll also unearth the story behind the Mayan deity that Alicia discovered before her disappearance.