Mountain Crime: Requital is a hidden object game that is set in a mountain resort. As stated this game is a murder mystery based hidden object game. Even though the story of the game starts off with a doctor going to a medical emergency in a mountain resort before the mystery starts to unfold. Over time the story of this game does go down the toilet after a short while. This because over time the story of the game does change what it wants to be. The story of the game does borrows a plethora of ideas from various places such as The Shining.
The general story of the game is poor generally speaking due to the basic writing and choices made in narrative. In many instances in the story something will happen and you can easily predict what will happen. Taking one instance in the game a character is placed in handcuffs and is sat in a chair. I guessed what would happen and my prediction happened.
The story is also expanded in newspaper clippings and photographs found in game. But I personally didn’t care for the story as it isn’t particularly good. The voice acting for the characters is quite basic, the acting wasn’t bad but it wasn’t particularly wonderful. I would have liked the game to have had a voiceover for any hints you get provided with the fact the game doesn’t do this is a missed opportunity.
On a visual level this game is great. The assets in game are of a decent quality, I particularly liked the backgrounds of each area which are of top quality. Although, I think that the animations in this game are quite basic.
The gameplay of this game is very much the main strength of this game. The game is helpful and provides hints if needed in various forms. There is a tutorial at the start of the game is helpful to many people. Particularly those who haven’t played the game or any hidden object game. The tutorial will show you how the game works. As well as explaining how to navigate through the user interface.
It even guides you through the first area in the game before you cross the bridge to the resort. I like the tasks section in the journal as it tells me what I need to do in game. I also like the map as the map will not only show you where you currently are. It will also show you where you need to go to further progress and where items you require are located. The only issue with the UI is where the menu button is located. At times this can cut off part of what information the game is giving you. Even though I figured out what information was provided. It would have been nice to see the full message.
The hidden object scenes in the game are great. Each scene is well designed and have plenty of objects and clutter to fill each scene. To add to this the items in each scene are believable in the story/location so it isn’t a pick and mix of assorted items in a scene. The items that you are tasked to find are hidden well, at times finding items can be a challenge.
However I do dislike some aspects to the hidden object scenes in game. I noticed that the list of items that you search for is shorter than in other hidden object games. In this game each area has up to 8 items at most to find in a scene. Other hidden object games I have reviewed have more items that you search for. To add to the comparison of other hidden object games I have reviewed the game does have you travelling back to areas on many occasions sometimes up to 3 times over the course of the game.
I also noticed that when it lists items for you to find it is in a black and white format of an image of an item rather than text or a colour image. But when you do find an item it does turn into a coloured item to show you that you have found it.
Some of the scenes in the game also make no sense. In one instance a hidden object scene is based around finding parts for a lawnmower so it can move. I don’t get why the protagonist couldn’t have moved the lawnmower to find the item underneath the lawnmower.
To add to the hidden object scenes there is various puzzles in game. Many puzzles in game are straight forward and are easy to complete. Some puzzles in this game are number lock puzzles which you can solve by guessing the code until you get it or by searching for a piece of paper that gives you the answer.
Inevitably I think that Mountain Crime: Requital is a generally mediocre game. The game itself isn’t too bad in itself; however it is a game that you will play though once. As when you have completed it once you have experienced all what Mountain Crime: Requital has to offer. The game also provides no reason or reward for playing the game more than once.
