Grandpa's Got a Job for You

With the sudden passing (or is it just the disappearance?) of your grandfather, you discover that you are his only heir and that you will inherit all the contents of his estate. There is one rather major stipulation in his will, however, that you will need to fulfill before all those priceless treasures will be bestowed upon you.

You see, your grandpa was quite the adventurer and treasure hunter, so it's only fitting that he's putting you on a quest not unlike the ones that occupied a good majority of his adult life. Before you can get your hands on those treasures, you have to find them. That's right. It's time for one of the most epic treasure hunts of all time, so you'll need to put on your best peepers and investigative skills to unearth all the bounty that awaits you.

Arriving at each of the various locations on the map, you will be presented with a list of interesting items to seek and find. These could be anything from as simple as a golf ball to something as numerous as a flock of birds. The clues are typically presented to you in one of two forms: an outline or as a word. Interpret carefully and you just may find what you are seeking.

Manipulate the Environment

Real treasure masters don't just look. They don't just waltz into an environment and leave ever stone unturned. Instead, they want to dig right into nook and cranny, moving things around as they see fit. That's why this particular game gives you plenty of opportunities to manipulate the environment.

If you notice that your arrow cursor changes to an image of a hand when you place it over a certain object, that means that you can do something to that object. For example, if the hand appears over a torch lamp, it could mean that you can turn on the light and illuminate areas that were previously hidden in the dark. In like manner, you can use the hand to open drawers, draw curtains, and do all sorts of cool things.

If the arrow cursor changes into a magnifying glass, it means that you have an opportunity to look at the object in closer detail. For instance, a magnifying glass over a wardrobe might mean that you have the opportunity to look inside. Opening those large doors, who knows what treasures await you?

Hints, Coins, and the Darkness Factor

As expected, you will be issued a limited number of hints to aid you in your treasure hunting adventure. These are represented by the number on top of the magnifying glass in the lower-left corner. In order to earn additional hints, you will need to collect the coins that are hidden within the different environments. Three coins will purchase a single hint.

As you scan your way through each scene, you may feel inclined to click randomly and, hopefully, "find" an object by accident. This is not the best strategy! Excessive clicking will raise the meter on the left side into the red area, at which point the lighting in the room will dim considerably. It's impossible to find items in sheer darkness, so you'll want to click with moderation.