I missed the boat on point-and-click games when I was younger, unless you count games like JumpStart. My dad had a copy of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, and that was my exposure to them until recently. I’ve been playing a bit of Grim Fandango, and Day of the Tentacle was free on PlayStation Plus in January. But if most point-and-click games are anything like “The Search”, then I think I’m in for a pleasant experience.
I had the opportunity to play the full version of this game while discussing it with the creator (video to come later). What I really want to discuss is the artwork, the music, the story and the puzzle style.
I am incredibly impressed with the artwork in this game. The realistic style the shots makes it actually feel like exploring real places. The music and sound design helps this as well. The soundtrack is solid, a good fit for the setting.
Speaking of which, the actual game itself drops you into a setting and story you know very little about. It feels like it could almost be nonfiction, until you find letters scattered throughout the world that begin to explain some lore (and once the puzzles kick in).
The puzzle style is fresh and fun. You’ll find out that finding and combining the correct ingredients provides you with a paintbrush. Using the right paintbrush on the right canvas means creating objects and doorways that come to life and that you can actually use.
The Review
The Search
8
Score
The game is short, about an hour or two. Still, it was enough to impress me. It knows what it is, and executes that well. Pleasing visuals, good music/sound, an intriguing setting/story and fresh puzzles round out this surprising gem. I like how the puzzles develop in their complexity. And who is leaving these cryptic letters behind?
