Just wrapped up finals, and it's definitely time to unwind here at home and recharge the batteries. And nothing's better than a quality hidden object adventure game to spend a few entertaining hours. Enter 9: The Dark Side Collector's Edition. This game is fresh from a relatively new developer in the casual games market, Play Favorite Games (and yes, that sounds like a hyperlink, not a company). And I have to give them props for releasing an extremely playable and engaging game that will exercise more than a few of your brain cells.
The backstory, if standard, still sets the stage nicely: in 1380 AD, a group of magicians called the Clan of the Nine unleashed a dark force in order to protect their castle from a siege. An evil fog wiped out the invaders, but also managed to wipe out most of the surrounding village (whoops). Ever since then, the castle has been cursed and nary a soul has dared to travel its crumbling halls and spooktacular locations – until you. Armed with a quick wit (hopefully) and some conveniently placed items, you'll delve deep into the castle to converse with some very helpful ghosts, solve a slew of mini-games and puzzles, and unravel the mystery of the curse across four expansive Chapters.
I was impressed with the beautiful backgrounds, the atmospheric soundtrack, and just the unity and professional sheen to everything. If you think there's nothing new under the sun when it comes to hidden object games, I think you'll be impressed how the developers both adhere to the formula and push the envelope with fresh mini-games and some original approaches to puzzle solutions.
Also welcome is a level of customization. You can choose from three difficulty levels – Casual, Advanced, and Hardcore – depending on how many hints you get and how many puzzles you can skip. There's also a full walkthrough strategy guide that comes with the Collector's Edition, so 9 really allows you to determine how you'd like to play. Also included with the Collector's Edition is a soundtrack, concept art, and downloadable wallpapers, so it's a nice bundle for not a lot of coin. There's even a full bonus chapter of additional gameplay, which goes above and beyond expectations.
Newcomers and veterans alike will appreciate 9: The Dark Side Collector's Edition. To put it simply, it's got game.
