Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Fair warning: "The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime" is not an adventure game like "The Hidden Theft." It is instead a pretty straightforward hidden object game. It actually had the potential to be a very fun little game, but there are numerous small problems which add up to a disappointing experience.
First, the good: the plot follows the Hardy Boys as they try to track down a stolen bike, and discover a criminal conspiracy in Bayport. This game has more plot than many hidden object games, and while the dialogue is text-only, it manages to capture some of the goofy charm of the books. It's clear that the writers made an effort to create an interesting story. The boys' search takes them to a nice variety of locations, and the object hunt is occasionally interrupted for a quick puzzle. None of the puzzles are difficult, but they're not insultingly easy, either, and they do get a bit harder as the game continues.
Unfortunately, the game also had a number of flaws. First and foremost is the artwork, which isn't especially good and makes it almost impossible to find some of the objects. The game also has an irritating habit of giving you a description like "clock," and even though there are several clocks in the scene, only one of them is the correct answer. It also occasionally misidentifies objects (a clock is not the same as a watch), and gets strangely British at times (asking for a "spanner" instead of a "wrench," even though it seems like every scene features an American flag). None of these problems are game-killers by themselves, but it all adds up to a game that feels sloppy and unfinished. The occasional grammar mistakes don't help, either.
Overall, this game isn't terrible, but it isn't great, either. Die-hard Hardy fans should probably wait until the price comes down before buying it. Other players might just want to give this one a pass.
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The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime
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