[h2]Hidden Schlock™ "Hidden Object Game" Shlock-O-Meter™[/h2]
[h3]---/Schlockmarks™\---[/h3]
☐ You're [i]mostly[/i] doing something [i]besides[/i] finding hidden objects (inventory puzzles, minigames, cutscenes, etc).
☑ Failure is impossible (e.g. no timers, everything is hintable/skippable, enjoy your participation trophy).
☐ Ubiquitous fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal plot (usually but not necessarily terrible).
[code]
3 Points: Total Schlock 💯
2 Points: Schlockalike 👭
1 Point : Soupçon of Schlock 🥄
0 Points: Not Schlock 👌
[/code]
[b]RESULT: Soupçon of Schlock 🥄 [/b]
NOTES: I'm not the target demographic for this game. I kept hoping the story would end in tragedy, but was disappointed. Realism is rare in this genre, so it has a unique charm despite the following jank: an unusable custom cursor which thankfully can be disabled, although there are certain mini games which force it despite the setting. You can slog through these, except for one late-game "puzzle" where the cursor completely disappears and enabling a Windows accessibility option for locating it is the only way to progress (good luck "casual" gamers). You will need to change your aspect ratio to 4:3 unless you like 'em wide. Like most Big Fish titles on Steam, it's absurdly expensive for what it is, until it goes on sale once or twice a year for the appropriate price of a pre-Liberation-Day chocolate bar, so please delay your marginal gratification.
It's very nearly an inoffensive way to waste a regrettably capacious portion of your precious human incarnation. Looking back on this game I GIVE IT ONE THUMB UP IN THE REAR!
FINE PRINT: Hidden Schlock™ "Hidden Object Game" Shlock-O-Meter™ is designed to inform players about a game's formulaic conformity to the conventions of a prolific but erroneously named publishing category. In order to be considered for a HOG Schlock™ rating, a game must display generally accepted hallmarks of HOGs including, but not limited to, UI design and behaviors typical of, and tagging/identification with, the genre by the gaming community and/or publisher. Hidden Schlock™ "Hidden Object Game" Shlock-O-Meter™ is not in itself a measure of quality, nor a recommendation, and does not constitute financial advice.
