The phone is ringing… Who could that be? You weren’t expecting any calls, but someone needs you. Will you answer the call and help the town of Pawtuxet before it’s too late? Dark Mysteries: The Soul Keeper is developed by Cerasus, and published by HH Games who should need no introduction for fans of hidden objects games. The game is based on H.P. Lovecraft’s novel “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward”. It was originally released on the Big Fish gaming website in 2012. The Collector’s edition is the latest version to be released.

You wake up to the strident sound of your phone ringing. A stranger is at the end of the line. You’re a detective, so you’re used to seeing people in their most vulnerable moment. This time it’s different. His name is Charles Dexter Ward. He’s in a panic. He’s done something terrible, and needs your help to fix it. It is said that his ancestor knew the secret to immortality. Charles wanted to claim it for himself, and so he did the only thing he could… he resurrected him. Of course he could have never foreseen the devastation it would bring. A misanthropic maniac is now loose in the town. People are disappearing faster and faster, so there’s no time to lose. You pack up and travel to the fateful town of Pawtuxet. Ward’s ancestor is bent on finding enough souls for his dark aspirations, and will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal. Will you succeed where Charles has failed?

In Dark Mysteries you play as the detective. You’re there to help Charles, and the people of Pawtuxet. They are dropping like flies. If the town is to be saved you will have to find a way to stop Charles’ ancestor. Charles is way over his head, but he does have a formula that might work. Dark Mysteries is a classic hidden object/puzzle game. You have to complete puzzles and HO scenes to gather items that you will need to get to new locations, and finally put a stop to Pawtuxet’s misery.

There are several modes you can choose from for a more customized gameplay. If you wish for an easier experience, you can choose the casual mode. If you are an experienced HOG player, you can go for a more challenging option. The hints will recharge more or less quickly depending on your choice. This Collector’s edition adds a lot of bonus material. There is a strategy guide that is available throughout the game in case you get stuck. Additionally, there is some beautiful concept art, a behind the scenes video. There is also a bonus chapter that you can play once you’ve finished the main story. My favourite item from the collector’s edition is the original Lovecraft’s story. You can download it, and read it at your leisure. It is available in PDF, mobi and epub format.

The game aged really well, and the graphics are surprisingly nice for a game of this age. It’s no secret that some HOG have sub-par graphics, but Dark Mysteries’ are crisp and gorgeous. It makes a huge difference when solving puzzles and hidden object scenes. The artwork is beautiful. It’s dark and gloomy, and creates a sombre atmosphere. It’s a perfect backdrop for this Lovecraft inspired game. The cutscenes are amazing, and look almost hand-drawn. These cutscenes are the only part of the game that has voice over, but the rest of the soundtrack is great and really sets the mood.

There are a good amount of variety in the puzzles, and the difficulty level is perfect. They are not too difficult, but offer a good challenge. There is also a fair amount of HOG scenes. This specific edition has 6 chapters plus the bonus one. However I got frustrated with some of the HO scenes. I don’t know if it’s a language issue, but some of the item’s name were confusing. As an example in one scene, I had to search for “yarn”. I spent a good amount of time looking for a ball of yarn. Eventually I got tired of looking and used one of the hints only to find out that “yarn” was a spool of thread. Without the hint, I’m not sure I would’ve guessed it. As I’ve said it might just be a language issue, but it did make it harder for me to find certain objects. I was always wondering if I was searching for the right item. The puzzles however don’t suffer from the same problem. These have great instructions. They are clear and to the point.

There is a journal you can consult at any time which gives you some hints. I loved it, because it gives you hints of what to do next without revealing too much. You get a couple of hints for each goal, and I found the guidance helpful. However one aspect that is lacking is a map. I am baffled at this design choice. A map is usually a given in HOPA games. It makes situating yourself in the game much easier, and it provides a way to quickly travel between locations. There is usually some backtracking needed in this type of game, and a map cuts through the tedium of it. Thankfully, although there are a lot of areas to explore, you only get a couple of locations at a time. As you progress through the game more locations are uncovered. Unfortunately, the way you go to certain locations is not straightforward, and it hindered my playthrough. At times I couldn’t remember how I got to an area, and having a map would have created a more enjoyable experience. Another issue is that occasionally a magnifying glass would show up on a spot that had nothing interact-able. It’s not a big deal, but did get annoying after awhile.

Dark Mysteries: The Soul Keeper is a fun HOPA. I loved the couple of hours I spent playing it. The puzzles were varied enough to keep my attention throughout, and have the perfect level of difficulty. The artwork is beautiful, the atmosphere is appropriately gloomy, and the story is a classic. If you love a good horror story, and are a puzzle/hidden objects fan, you’ll definitely want to add this game to your collection.

Positives

• Beautiful artwork
• Lovecraft’s inspired narrative
• Challenging puzzles and HOG scenes
• Collector’s edition has lots of extras

Negatives

• No map for fast travel
• hidden objects wording is not always clear
• No achievements