by Christina Brzustoski

Created on: October 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 21, 2008

Rating: 4/5

Wizard's Pen is a visually attractive and entertaining puzzle game that offers enough challenge and variation to keep its players interested. The story begins with what those who have read Harry Potter will remember as a Quick-Quotes Quill, a feather pen with the gift of unaccompanied writing. The eponymous Wizard's Pen informs the player about the mystery of the game a mysteriously vanished wizard and the "clues" left behind form the premise for this magical adventure.

There is little need for explanation of the games, as each game gives simple instructions that are generally quite intuitive. A blank canvas awaits the gamer with a small box illuminated by the cursor. Each click on the box will reveal a new piece of the puzzle, until the mystery object becomes apparent. While many of the items were quite simple (clicking in the middle of the screen, for example, yields what is obviously the face of a clock), they do grow more difficult as one progresses. The game will accept a wide array of answers for each item, which will either delight or irritate the player. "Clock" will work for a wristwatch or a grandfather clock. This makes guessing the item a good deal easier and tends to water down some of the intellectual challenge.

However, there are many more facets to the guessing games. There are also twisted, scrambled, zoomed-in, and blurred pictures, where each click of the mouse results in a bit more clarity. It's a nice way to break up what could have easily become a monotony of simple household items. As the levels get higher, the gamer is also treated to a variety of special potions to help assist in any tricky spots. A "perception" potion, for example will allow the player to reveal a bigger area than the usual click.

The most fun and aesthetically pleasing part of the puzzles is the reverse "Spot the item." Many games are devoted to a good old-fashioned treasure hunt inside a beautifully painted picture Wizard's Pen does one better and gives you a list of items that re missing from the scene. It can be quite challenging as "leg" could mean either a person's appendage, the support of a chair or part of a roasted chicken. The only complaint is that you can click anywhere and the item in question will appear, regardless of whether the player believed that a top hat or a brush bristle belonged there. This can be remedied a bit by clicking on the name of the item on the side, then where it is believed the missing item should appear.

Wizard's Pen is highly recommended for lovers of fantasy as well as puzzle fans and is a worthy download. The whimsically catchy music is still playing in this writer's head as she completes this review.

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