by Kulani Kon

Created on: September 10, 2008   Last Updated: October 05, 2011

Hawaiian Explorer: Lost Island is a puzzle game, by IWin, that consists of finding the hidden objects along with several mini games. Charlie, an explorer, tells you about a Hawaiian island hidden by the gods. With clues left behind, you begin by helping Charlie find different items for his journey. After a mishap during his adventure, you start your journey to rescue Charlie.

The creative and intriguing story entices its audience. The game is easy to follow and challenging enough to keep you racing time. Each hidden object game contains a list of specific items to find before time runs out. You get a decent amount of time to complete the mission and just enough to challenge you. If you get stuck there are three hints to help you out. When you find a correct item a chime sounds indicating that you got it right. It is then dimmed on the list and removed from the picture. If you click anywhere that is not a correct item, a buzzer sounds and seconds are taken off your timer.

Once all items are found on the list, the level is completed and you move on to your next mission. If you run out of time you fail the mission but you will get another chance. It will be the same picture but with several different items on the list. This gives the game a replay value. In between the hidden picture games every once in a while there will be a mini game. These range from matching to picture puzzles, and keep you excited about what your next mission will be.

The graphics are more realistic but sometimes distorted and it gets hard to identify what the items are. They also get over cluttered, which can seem intimidating. A lot of times you are searching through clusters of items, trying to determine what each one is, rather than the items blending with the surroundings.

The music is fitting to the environment of each mission and the theme of the game. It flows and is upbeat enough to motivate you without feeling overly rushed or anxious. In the begging, when Charlie is explaining the details of the Lost Island, his voice is barley audible because the music drowns him out. Fortunately everything he is saying is written in front of you. The difference between the sound of finding a correct item or an incorrect item is immediately recognizable allowing you to determine your next move.

With its creative story line and different puzzles, the game is addicting and entertaining. However because of the cluttered pictures and indistinguishable items it rates at a 3/5, not the best but not the worst. It is fun to play and is intrigued enough to want to see more but do not spend a lot of money on this game. Lost Island just might be the adventure your looking for, join Charlie and find the island for yourself.

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