The Mystery of the Crystal Portal Review

Written by: Keri Kunaschk Published: August 27, 2008 Welcome to The Mystery of the Crystal Portal, the latest hidden object adventure from Real Arcade and Alawar Entertainment. The main character, journalist Nicole Rankwist, has just received a strange note from her archaeologist father, Robert, saying he's discovered an artifact that will change humanity. Now Robert has turned up missing, and Nicole must find pieces of the Crystal Portal key as she retraces his steps. And just how will she find these pieces? By searching for hidden objects, of course. Her journey takes her through Japan, Africa, the Swiss Alps, Mayan ruins and wintry Russia. As you complete each location, all of which contain two or more scenes, a piece of the Crystal Portal is revealed. So what sets this game apart from every other hidden object offering?. Your tasks include searching for a list of "normal" items (nothing new here), locating "story" items which unlock new scenes, "puzzle" items that unlock the final stage of each round and "container" items. When you find and click on one of the latter items, they open up to reveal yet another set of items you need to find and drag into the container. Some objects have to be found and used in other scenes, such as a can of gasoline that powers a generator to illuminate a darkened cave you need to explore. The containers can be difficult to find. The only way you'll know you've found one is when your cursor turns into a magnifying glass. Also, once all of the items for some containers have been found, the containers disappear, revealing something you need underneath. There are no timers in Crystal Portal, so you can take your time and pay attention to everything. Hints are unlimited (and you'll need them); however, after using one, you must wait for a new one to fully charge. I found this strange, since the game isn't timed. As Crystal Portal went on, some objects become difficult to find. When you click on the hint button, little stars float away from an item in the direction of its location. However, if it's actually an item that needs to be removed in order to find something, the hint does a poor job of pointing that out, and I had to use two hints a few times. The graphics are excellent, though, and the scenery and objects within each location look authentic. Once you complete the final location, you'll have succeeded in finding all pieces of the Crystal Portal. After you solve one final puzzle, the game ends -- abruptly and unexpectedly, with you wondering whether or not Nicole found her father. Huh? Perhaps this was done to leave things open for a sequel. I hope that's the case, even if I'd like a more challenging game. Give this one a shot, though; you won't regret it. Scoring (out of five stars): Graphics: Ease of use: Gameplay: Challenge: Sound effects: Music: Final analysis: Click here to download the free trial version of The Mystery of the Crystal Portal.