by Brandi Carpo

Created on: October 12, 2008   Last Updated: October 21, 2008

Not your typical hidden object game! The Wizard's Pen takes on a creative approach to hidden object games, incorporating challenging puzzles and stunning graphics. The game is broken up into different stages consisting of 16 pictures of objects sharing a common theme. Using the missing Wizard's magical Pen, the player reveals portions of each image in the Wizard's workbook. Occasionally the images are distorted, rather than hidden on the page, and the player uses the Pen to clear up the image and guess the object before the candle burns out. Each correct answer given grants the player a number of stars, the less your candle has burnt down the more stars you are rewarded. The stars collected from each stage are then used to open additional sketchbooks giving the player access to additional images to guess. After each stage of the game, the player is presented with a scene filled with objects where you draw in the missing objects or missing part of an object. As the game progresses, potions are unlocked after each stage. These various potions allow the player special hints in revealing the hidden objects. The "Perception" potion, for example, increases the viewing area to be revealed for one turn.

The overall game graphics and animation of the Wizard's Pen are great, and the music and sound effects do a great job at adding to the wizard theme. The game directions and tips are easy to understand, and the game objective is clearly outlined from the start. The idea of revealing portions of an object to be identified instead of finding a list of specific objects in a picture is an innovative approach to the typical hidden object game. Although the game does add in scenes where the player finds a list of objects, the developer takes on a different approach by having the player draw in the missing objects in stead of finding them. The intelligence of the game is also well designed and allows for the variance of words one may use to describe an object. The player doesn't have to get the word exact, you can type in "Spider" when the answer it's actually "Tarantula" and still get it correct. The game is well balanced, challenging enough to keep from getting bored yet not too challenging to make you frustrated and quit. Lots of challenging fun to work the mind, 5 out of 5 stars. A definite buy for anyone who likes hidden object style games.

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