February 14, 2008
The Nightshift Code - hidden object game
I actually played The Nightshift Code about a month ago. The site I found it on only allowed thirty minutes of play on their free demo download and I was making notes and grabbing screenshots as I played. When my time ran out I didn’t feel like I had enough info for a review so I let it pass. Now it’s in wider distribution and I’ve had the chance to play it again tonight. It’s a fun game and introduces a few innovations to the hidden object game genre.
The stage is set with a graphic comic-style story. Mike’s father is missing. A sinister visitor to the museum where he works convinces Mike that he can rescue his dad by following a series of clues. The opening chapter of the story is quite long and each phase of the game is followed by more installments. This is my least favorite feature of the game, but perhaps would not have bothered me if I had been playing the full version. Having only a time-limited demo available, I was watching the clock and clicked rapidly through the storyboards.
The art is sharp, clear and skillfully drawn. Some of the hidden objects are tough to find, but all are fairly rendered and can be found. It’s what we expect from these games and a huge relief after my experience with The Count of Monte Cristo. Scenes are used repeatedly, so you’ll already know where some items are when a scene reappears with a new list of objects to search for.
One of the fun features of The Nightshift Code requires the player to work two scenes to find all of the items on a single list. This doesn’t occur with every level - I had only one shot at it during my free demo. You won’t know which items can be found on which screen, but can switch freely back and forth until your list is cleared. I found all of the objects on a list that accompanied the office scene and was duplicated in a kitchen. Locating an object on one screen eliminates it from the list of objects for both scenes.
Now here’s something fun and different. The objects are hidden on a map instead of in a room or scattered around a landscape. Using the magnifier to seach, you’ll find that the map is surprisingly “busy” with objects that are not obvious at all without the tool. Innovations like this keep gameplay fresh and challenging. I hope we’ll see more such surprises in future games.
I like The Nightshift Code, but I’m not sure I’ll buy the full version. Multiple visits to the same scenes with the same objects in the same places result in a lowered level of challenge as the game progresses. I played at Big Fish Games, where my Game Club membership would allow me to purchase the game for $6.99, but I think I’ll probably use my game credits for something that will still engage me the second and third times I play. Download the free demo, give it a whirl and let me know what you think.
You can read all of my hidden object game reviews by clicking on games in the drop-down category menu in my left sidebar.
Technorati Tags: Big Fish Games, games, hidden object games, The Nightshift Code
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April 20th, 2008 at 7:33 am, hannah clark Says:
hi,
i have been trying to find this game to play without having to download it. so i was wondering where you found it and if you had to download it?
April 20th, 2008 at 12:16 pm, skeet Says:
Aloha Hannah. I did a search for Nightshift Code. Every place I found it listed only has it as a download. Sorry! There are some free online hidden object games at Big Fish, just no this one.