Time Mysteries 2: The Ancient Spectres

[b]My Playtime:[/b] 3.9h (100% achievement, finished the game) [list][*][i]Main game[/i]: 3.2h [*][i]Bonus content[/i]: 0.7h[/list] [b]Grindy Achievement(s):[/b] No. [b]Optional Achievement(s):[/b] Yes (9 achievements). [b]Difficult Achievement(s):[/b] No. [h1]Intro[/h1] [i]Time Mysteries 2: The Ancient Spectres[/i] is a sequel to [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/350010/Time_Mysteries_Inheritance__Remastered/][i]Time Mysteries: Inheritance - Remastered[/i][/url] ([url=https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198132503739/recommended/350010]my review[/url]), a hidden object game focusing on time travel. [b]Pros:[/b] - 2 difficulties - Hints in case you are stuck - Skip button in case you are stuck - Map shows which area still has some action that you can still do [b]Cons:[/b] - Visuals have aged - Some puzzles don't make sense [b]Specs[/b] AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT [h1]Should you buy this game?[/h1] [i]It was a good game if you just want to play hidden object games, but the rest seems to be subpar.[/i] [hr][/hr] [h1]In-Depth Review[/h1] [h3]The Game[/h3] [b]Gameplay[/b] [i]Time Mysteries 2: The Ancient Spectres[/i] is a hidden object game with some adventure elements in it. You'll pick up objects and put them on another object to reveal a new path needed to progress the game. Sometimes, some areas will have a green glow, indicating that a hidden object scene can be initiated. Unlike other similar games, this game focuses on hidden object scenes rather than balancing it with the number of puzzles. [b]Hidden Object[/b] The hidden object minigame is simple: you are given a list of objects, and you must click on the item on the screen to make it disappear. Some hidden objects are held in the same location, with the difference only being that there are fewer items than before. I found this to be a nice way to indicate how the area changed after the last hidden object scene. The objects are hidden very well. Although some can be found right away, others will require great observation skill to find. Moreover, the somewhat blurry image also adds another layer of difficulty. That being said, if you are stuck, you can either use a hint or switch to a match-three minigame instead. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3609994385 The match-three minigame is boring, though. I found it to be easier to just use the hint button since it takes so long to get one item crossed out the match-three minigame. [b]Puzzle[/b] In addition to the hidden objects, you'll find puzzles from time to time. It's not as many as the hidden object scenes, but it's enough to keep you entertained. Each puzzle plays differently and doesn't have any tutorial on what to do. While it works in the base game somehow, the bonus game makes it harder since you won't know what the game wants you to do. Moreover, the only option to bypass this issue is by using the skip button, which will automatically solve the puzzle. [b]Story[/b] It seems the game has become worse due to age. The animations look too stiff, and sometimes what is supposed to be surprising or scary ends up as a pure laugh due to how badly it looks. Moreover, the story feels all over the place. It might be because I forgot how the first game's story went, but it doesn't seem to give me any context on what's happening until I read the in-game journal. Furthermore, the story doesn't end in this game, ending the game abruptly. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3659571314 [b]Length and Difficulty[/b] I finished the game in 3.9h. If you are not an achievement hunter, you can finish the game with ease using both skips and hints. If you are, then you might have to spend a longer time to finish the game since you need to finish all hidden objects and puzzles without hints and skips. That being said, using the hints to progress on the point-and-click part is fine. [h1]Conclusion[/h1] Time Mysteries 2: The Ancient Spectres is a mediocre hidden object game that was shadowed by its old age. Both the story and the animation look lackluster, and the bonus content feels lacking due to its unclear instructions in its puzzles. I'm not sure whether I should recommend this game or not, but since I wasn't enjoying the bonus content, I ended up not recommending it.