Beckett is Back!
After successfully expelling all of the ghosts in his uncle's house in Mortimer Beckett and the Secrets of Spooky Manor, our timid hero is back for an even grander adventure. His uncle has discovered the source of the spirits that once haunted his house - a time portal! A rip in time has opened up right in his house and he doesn't know why or how! He only knows that you, Mortimer Beckett, have to fix it! He's concluded that there are eight anomalies spread throughout time and you must close all of them using his own invention - time bombs.
You'll travel through time, visiting various ages and solving mysteries in an attempt to close all of the portals. You're way beyond haunted mansions at this point! Good luck!
A Mystery For the Ages
Your first stop will be the Viking Ages, where you'll visit an authentic Viking ship, a sacred temple, and a bustling tavern, among other places. This product is a hidden objects game at heart, but it goes much deeper than that. All of the items are in pieces, so you'll have to find each and every part in order to reconstruct the items. Then, when they're whole once again, you'll have to put them back where they belong! But where do they belong? Well, that's part of the mystery!
Each reconstructed object is put into one of two categories: it's either a puzzle item or simply a misplaced item. If an object is misplaced, then you just need to put it back where it belongs - think of it like you're restoring balance to the universe. You don't want to leave objects strewn about all throughout time, do you?
If an object is a puzzle piece, then it's much more important. You'll still need to find where it belongs, but once you do so, it will open the door to further investigating. Often times, you can't find everything a location has to offer unless you solve some puzzles and shift things around. One level had me reconstruct a shoe, just so I could throw it at a sleeping cat! Once the cat awoke and moved, I discovered a wooden log that I had been looking for. Everything has a purpose here, and oftentimes that purpose is humorous!
It's All Connected
Everything you do in this game is related to the overall adventure somehow, which gives it a nice, connected feel. Too many hidden objects games have you looking for random items that have nothing to do with anything. Here, something you find in one location will undoubtedly come in handy, if not in that same location then somewhere else.
An Enjoyable Adventure
Mortimer Beckett and The Time Paradox has everything you could want in a game - great gameplay, an entertaining story, and humorous dialogue. I like to think that I have good self control but even I had a hard time ripping myself away from this one. If you're looking for a game to just get lost in, this product will suite you just fine.
