Hidden Expedition: The Pearl 9+

I'm not sure why, but I am enjoying this game much more than the first time I played it. Maybe I've changed the way I view games. This one is colorful and historical. I love history. The sparkles are extra fun and lovely. My favorite games have the best sparkles :) If the visual experience is top notch, that's 75% of the game's success, in my opinion. Moving the pieces about was smooth. The mini games were interesting, although a couple were too hard to understand - it seemed parts were missing. The HOPs were much too easy and unremarkable. Good game and still extremely playable!

Although I love this series, I did not love this game. I cannot and will not rate a game 5 stars when I feel it is flawed.
You could customize settings. The storyline was easy to follow. There was no cohesive journal but objectives were regularly updated. The graphics embodied the culture of each nation one visited; however they lacked visual acuity and should have been way crisper. Inventory was labeled and there were complex items to assemble. There was a marked teleport map to transport you instantaneously between locations. At each location you must collect a key symbol; the indicator changes from a pale yellow to a bright golden hue. You must also collect fact cards, which impart knowledge and are enjoyable to read. There wasn’t a plethora of tasks at most locations. The HO scenes were not extraordinary and it would have been nice if an alternative puzzle had been provided. The puzzles/games were for the most part on the trickier side; I like to find solutions so at least there were some new ones and they weren’t simplistic. On occasion there were some touch screen sensitivity issues, but they weren’t overly noticeable. This game was extremely short even inclusive of the bonus adventure.
I deducted stars for length, graphics and lack of enjoyment. My actual rating will be 3.5 stars.
Happy gaming, everyone!
UPDATE: to those of you who haven’t played Noir Chronicles, it was a winner!

H.E. Series has always been known for its attention to detail (each game plays as a stand alone) and this latest offering is no exception! Immaculate details, gorgeous artwork, and interesting facts. Gameplay is smooth, storyline is action packed and around every corner is a new surprise! I never would have guessed I’d be going toe to toe with a ninja! Perhaps the best part is all the personality they give those characters you interact with....like the one ninja playing around with the pearl and his sidekick whaps him and tells him to knock it off all without a word. It’s just a hoot! Verdict: Buy and enjoy!