Review Date: July 8, 2010
Developer: TwinBottles
Publisher: Codeminion Games
Platforms: PC
Genre: Hidden Object
Hidden object games, by their nature, tend to be very similar. If you play a lot of them it's easy to get the games confused with one another. Which is what makes Brunhilda and the Dark Crystal so special. The tale it weaves will keep you engaged from start to finish and when combined with some lovely visuals and polished gameplay, the result is simply magical.
Enter The Magical Realm
The game stars the titular Brunhilda, a young girl from our world. While her day starts out simply enough, with her setting off to do a favor for her Aunt, things quickly become more complicated, as she`s forced to team up with a wise-cracking demon and travel to the magical realm.
But things are far from fine when she arrives. A mysterious force is draining all of the magic from the world and there's even talk of war. Believing she may just be destined to save the world, a powerful wizard named Filemon asks Brunhilda to go on a quest to restore the magic. It's a lengthy adventure, comprised of 10 different chapters, each lasting anywhere from 30-45 minutes. Whereas most hidden object games last around two or three hours, Brunhilda gives you twice that amount.
Along the way Brunhilda and her demonic companion will come across all manner of magical creatures. If you can think of it, it's probably in the game. From sky pirates and vampires to dragons and talking books, the range of characters you'll meet is pretty incredible. And they're all interesting and unique, even the minor characters. Brunhilda is a strong and resourceful lead, even in spite of her predicament, while her demon, who stays inside her bag at all times, provides much needed comic relief.
A Story To Remember
The story is revealed solely through conversations between Brunhilda and the various characters she comes across, all of which is completely voiced. Though it's great that you can hear every single character speak, this is probably the weakest aspect of the game, as the voice acting isn't quite up to par. Many of the accents feel completely off and Brunhilda herself often sounds bored, as if she's simply reading a script. The dialog can also be a little stiff at times, though aside from that the writing is excellent. This is a story that will keep you engaged until the very end.
Though a good portion of the experience is dedicated to the story, giving you quite a bit of dialog to follow, there is also, of course, a very solid game to be found. Brunhilda is a HOG at heart, but it's not the kind of game that has you scouring the environment for a random assortment of items. Instead, everything you'll have to find is somehow related to the story. Everyone that Brunhilda will come across throughout the game needs a favor (or many favors, in most cases) and this is done by finding objects. So whether someone needs ingredients for a magic potion or some cheese to feed their kids, you'll need to find it all for them. There's also a hint system that recharges fairly quickly, so it's pretty tough to get stuck in the game.
Brew A Potion, Cast A Spell
There are also a few mini-games that take place whenever Brunhilda needs to do something magical, like cast a spell or brew a potion. Making a potion involves catching drops as they fall, while casting a spell requires you to pick out magic runes from a book in the order that they appear. There are only a few of these mini-games and they don't change much as you move through the game. That is, aside from the fact that they get progressively more difficult. While they start out fairly simple, towards the end of the game these puzzles become much harder. You do, however, have the option to skip them if you're so inclined.
Completing the trifecta of greatness that is Brunhilda, the game not only plays great and has an excellent story, but it also looks gorgeous as well. The graphics have a colorful, hand drawn look to them, and are absolutely brimming with detail and personality. The game is especially strong when it comes to character design. While some characters look exactly as you'd expect them to, others are creative and unique, while a scant but wonderful few are downright strange. At one point you'll meet a man who is half-man half-carriage. Yet somehow, he doesn't look ridiculous, but instead fits seamlessly into the game's world.
The Bottom Line
In the end, Brunhilda and the Dark Crystal is just about the perfect HOG experience. With beautiful visuals and engaging object finding gameplay, all wrapped up in a lengthy and entertaining magical adventure, it's so good that it's easy to simply overlook the few minor issues it has. Brunhilda and the Dark Crystal is the best hidden object game released in quite some time, and one that no fan of the genre should dare miss out on. Once it casts its spell, you can't help but be enchanted.