Welcome to Neverland!
What is Neverland? Why, it's a magical place where all the lost toys are found! Our main character, Diana Travers (nicknamed Dee-Dee), used to frequent Neverland when she was young, just by willing herself there. Now that she's older, she wishes that she could go back!
The story here is masterfully written and beautifully illustrated, unfolding like a Disney tale. It's told in comic panels, with voice bubbles fading in with the characters' dialogue. I was completely wrapped up in this product before I even got to the gameplay. I could recommend it based on production values alone. Luckily I don't have to!
Finding Lost Toys
The levels, in which you'll locate lost toys, are bright and colorful, looking exactly what you would expect a magical wonderland to look like. The toys themselves will talk to you, which sounds a little creepy, but within context it's delightful and fun. At the right of the screen you'll have a list of toys to find. I know this sounds simple enough, but remember that this is an imaginary place of wonder!
While searching, toys will move and sway with bubbling life. Sometimes they'll talk to you, asking for items. Sometimes they'll even get up and dance!
If you get stuck searching, you can always use hints. There are normal hints, which show you the location of a random item, but there are also power-ups that have special properties.
If you use the pinwheel power, tiny pinwheels will appear next to all the items on your list. As you move around the screen, the pinwheels will change color and spin faster the closer you are to the item. Think of it as "hot/cold" as it works the same way.
If the toys get out of control and start dancing, it can make it very hard to search for objects. When this happens, use the whistle power-up to grab their attention and calm them down.
I Want the Star!
Toys will frequently request objects. If you find the object they ask for, you can grab it and drag it over to them and in return they'll give you a power-up. They'll ask a lot, however, so don't feel obligated.
Grabbing and moving items is also a key feature. By moving objects about, you'll often find hidden power-ups and sometimes even objects from your list!
Magical and Unique!
There are plenty of hidden object games on the market, but you've never seen one quite like this. Neverland is innovative and charming, presenting an experience like no other. The story is amazing, and like I said earlier, I could - and would - recommend this product on production values alone. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale it told, and that isn't something that happens often.
The gameplay is equally enthralling. I've played dozens of hidden object games but I wasn't prepared for what awaited me here. Between all the talking and the dancing that the toys did, it got pretty hectic and challenging, but something about the setting kept everything calm and relaxed. Among hundreds - if not thousands - of games out there, Neverland stands out as a must-own title.
