“LIFE IS FULL OF HYPOCRITICAL MASKS, BUT THE MAN WHO WEARS A REAL MASK SURVIVES”…Oscar

Sam Wilde had just published an article about a series of abductions throughout town when he received a letter with a dire warning, “Anna is so beautiful, isn’t she? You’re digging where you’re not supposed to. If you want to see her alive, come to the Goldvale Manor. Say nothing to anyone. If I see even one sign of the authorities, your beloved will be another work of art in my collection”

Fearing the worst and with no other options, Sam rushes to the Manor and soon realizes he’s nothing more than a pawn playing a twisted game of “catch me if you can” in a maze of horrors freak show. Oscar eagerly entices Sam through a multitude of doors and secret passageways. He tracks Sam’s every move through a series of cameras and speakers, constantly taunting him and toying with his emotions.

Sam knew he was dealing with a deranged psychopath, but nothing could have prepared him for the artwork he was about to witness next!…

GAMEPLAY FEATURES:

This is an old-school HOPA before the creation of a Jump Map. It does have a map that shows each location and where available tasks are located, but you’re going to have to travel with your own two virtual feet! This will be no easy task because you will be discovering secret passageways and unlocking dozens of doors within the manor, and unlike today’s HOPAs, the scenes won’t lock behind you as you progress. In fact, you will be revisiting these scenes throughout the game.

For me, this “free-roaming” aspect is the Adventure part of the Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game that no longer exists! Having to keep track of or remember how to get back to a particular scene once you finally find an inventory item requires critical thought. In HOPAs of today, scenes are locked behind you, and you’re always pushed to move forward as if we’re in a cattle chute. How can a game be challenging or require critical thinking if you only have to keep track of 2-3 scenes at a time?

HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:

There’s just something about old-school Hidden Objects Scenes that made them seem more authentic, and they always served a purpose. Somehow they were able to hide the objects in plain sight, yet you had to scour the scene several times to find the objects because they blended items strategically into the scenery. Magicindie Softworks found the Goldilocks sweet spot with the Hidden Object Scenes in Brink of Consciousness; not too many, not too few, just right!

As I stated above, the HO scenes in older games always had a purpose. They were designed to make the player feel as though they were actually searching through a pile of random junk in search of missing parts or a much-needed inventory item. Several HO scenes are repeated from previous chapters so if you can’t figure out what you’re supposed to do next, revisit previous scenes in search of another HO scene.

MINI-GAME PUZZLES:

Puzzles had a purpose too. Every mini-game opens intricate locks or turns on electrical panels. Most of the mini-games are mechanical-type puzzles where you adjust pressure gauges or select weights that equal a specific setting. What I loved about these puzzles was that every puzzle was doable without having to refer to a 20-page walkthrough! Most are solved using common sense or simple addition. They are still challenging, and you will feel a sense of pride when you solve them. There were some really unique mini-games, some of which I haven’t seen offered in any of the newer games!

Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome will absolutely delight HOPA fans who are longing for the adventure aspect that has been missing in newer games. The lack of a Jump Map may be a turnoff for those not interested in a challenge. But for those willing to give it a try, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how entertaining a HOPA was and can be! You will be completely vested in the gameplay, and, like me, will wonder why developers took the Adventure out of our Hidden Object Adventure games!

You can find Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome in the Dangers from Dreamland – 15 Pack!

Happy gaming!