Casual adventure games are gaining ground as titles such as Azada and the Dream Chronicles series cut out the complexity and serve up a little lighthearted gaming alongside item-based puzzles. Natalie Brooks - Secrets of Treasure House follows suit in an adventure that uses optional hidden object scenes to earn hints to solve puzzles in the main quest. It's a good blend of genres that, despite its rather short length and occasional grammatical hiccup, holds your attention with an interesting story and varied gameplay.
More of a linear adventure game than anything, Natalie Brooks - Secrets of Treasure House plays out through a series of first person locales interspersed with comic-style cutscenes that progress the story. Natalie has inherited her grandmother's home and learns there's hidden treasure somewhere within. She quickly discovers the house is scheduled for demolition, however, and begins her quest to save the family house. Gather items and talk to townspeople as you try to solve puzzles in each area. Puzzles are self-contained, meaning the items you pick up in one area will be used right there, so you don't have to lug things from scene to scene.
The interesting mechanic in Natalie Brooks is the use of hidden object scenes as a mini-game of sorts. If you're stuck in the main part of the game, simply click the magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen. The area you're in will be littered with items and a short list of things to find appears. Find the items within the time limit and you'll earn a few hints to point you in the right direction. You can even hop from location to location while in hidden object mode, breaking the monotony quite well. These diversions are short and rather easy (although some of the item names are a bit too vague), so even if your mortal enemy is hidden object games, you can have a good time.
Analysis: Natalie Brooks - Secrets of Treasure House is one of those games that grabs you early on and never really lets go. The protagonist is likeable, the characters just comical enough to make you grin, and the overall art style keeps your eyes plastered on the screen. The distilled adventure-like puzzle solving is done quite well and, despite the linearity to each quest, manages to keep you guessing without laying on too much obtuse ambiguity.
I was initially skeptical of the hidden object scenes (not my favorite genre), but they're so short and easy they become a welcome change of pace. As the game progresses you have to do more and more of them, but I honestly didn't mind. It was worth the pixel hunting to get clues for the puzzle I was solving. Also, Natalie is a bit too chatty from time to time, and some of the dialogue borders on the trite. Expect a few grammar mistakes here and there as well, which is an unfortunate blemish on the otherwise excellent presentation.
Natalie Brooks - Secrets of Treasure House is pleasing from stem to stern, with just the right balance of genres to keep the pace at a steady clip.
Windows:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Mac OS X:
Not available. Use Boot Camp or Parallels.
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Comments (may contain spoilers)
YAY EARLY WEEKENDS!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Zace
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March 28, 2008 10:29 PM
I just played it a couple of days ago. It's not bad, though it annoys me that the final scenes are not translated to English so I haven't been able to understand what the postcard picture was about.
Posted by: Irene
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March 29, 2008 9:03 AM
I am stuck in the Police Dept with lots of hints but She says that I am finished with that room. I have no more little mini games to complete...so I must be missing something in that room. I didn't get the robot started..though it has all the batteries. Any suggestions?
Posted by: azuremoon
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March 29, 2008 6:04 PM
For the police department, you have to find a card to start the robot.
I'm stuck in the cave, I repaired the boat, found bugs and some other details. When I ask for a hint it says that I'm done here, but I can't find a way to go on.
Posted by: buket | March 30, 2008 1:52 AM
Smash the donut machine, and there fill we be an activating card. Yoy'll need that to activate the robot. He drops the key, you'll need for the desk. in the desk there is the 5th coin you need for the donutmachine. Play the game, hand over the donuts to the chief, and hand over the pen to the lady. Talk to both of them, and leave the scene.
Posted by: cobrafunny | March 30, 2008 10:19 AM
azuremoon:
If you click the robot, you'll see that you need an additional item to make the robot work. Now, where could that be?
Are you sure you've checked everywhere and talked to everyone?
Try to buy donut from the vending machine for the police chief. (Click on the machine to get the close-up view and press the bottom button.) For some non-narratively-justified reason you'll get an activation card for the robot instead.
Posted by: Lizard
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March 30, 2008 10:49 AM
I am also stuck in the Police office, I have finished all the hidden item games and did get the robot to work and drop the keys. It tells me I have done everything but help I cant get out. Thank you
Posted by: Sue | March 30, 2008 11:19 AM
Have they removed some scenes from the end, then? I have finished it both with and without completing the puzzle, and got the same ending both ways, all in English.
Posted by: Cain Maris
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March 30, 2008 7:15 PM
I'm stuck in the cave. The hint points me to the area by the rock in the water, but no matter where I click nothing happens. Any suggestions?
Posted by: Linda | March 31, 2008 10:47 AM
I have gotten out of the cave and am now back in Johnson's office, but I can't find the activation card for the robot or the keys for the drawers. Any suggestions?
Posted by: Linda | March 31, 2008 5:09 PM
Don't worry about the drawers...did you plant a bug in the light switch?
Posted by: Allison | April 1, 2008 7:43 AM
Any clues for the basement? I found three "keys" in the wall which I was able to light up and collect the next item. Can't find fourth. Can't figure out manhole cover. Using the clue button says I am done but the screen won't change. Very frustrating...
Posted by: amy | April 1, 2008 3:49 PM
Like Amy, I'm also stuck in the basement. When I click on a clue it says I'm done there, but I don' know how to get out. Any help will be appreciated!
Posted by: Melissa | April 1, 2008 7:52 PM
In the police department, you need to speak to the lady at the desk. She will tell you where to go next.
Posted by: Lynn | April 2, 2008 3:47 PM
Melissa, I finally got through the basement by restarting the game. This time the fourth piece showed up. With all four hooks you can open the cover on the floor. Now I am stuck in the cave. I got a "piece" from the water but my clue says to look there. I feel like the game doesn't always sense what has been done.
Posted by: amy | April 2, 2008 3:48 PM
Amy, thanks for the info. I'll try that!
Posted by: Melisa | April 2, 2008 10:45 PM
I am in the Museum and am looking for the parts to the Sarcophagus and am stuck locating the locking mechanism? Any ideas. The hints point to the Direct and have me go back to the storage room to the black bag that Natalie doesn't want to touch because its dirty? Help
Posted by: Michelle | April 4, 2008 1:21 AM
I must be slow...I haven't been able to get past the front gate. All I have is a stick and a hint about the brick but the stick doesn't seem to affect the brick. Any help? Thanks in advance!
Posted by: Deborah | April 4, 2008 2:48 AM
help with the slider puzzle in chief's office.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 7, 2008 4:56 PM
Has anyone else found that if you leave the game and come back to it you are back in the previous location and not able to go anywhere else????
Posted by: Anonymous | April 8, 2008 12:08 AM
I really need help with the slider puzzle, also. I've about given up on this game. Can anyone help?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 8, 2008 10:13 PM
How can I open the safe in the police room? I placed all the detail pieces on it and it still does not work. Hints are no help either -they keep sending me to the criminology drawer, but I have done the sliding puzzle already.
Posted by: Yetses | April 11, 2008 5:36 PM
i am stuck in the music box, can anybody help me? I cannot understand what needs to be done...I have tried every instructin I have read about this...Please help as I cannot continue the game
thanks
Posted by: cat | April 12, 2008 1:41 AM
"How can I open the safe in the police room? I placed all the detail pieces on it and it still does not work. Hints are no help either -they keep sending me to the criminology drawer, but I have done the sliding puzzle already." ----leave there from the window
Posted by: Concertina | April 12, 2008 9:21 AM
Why is it when I leave the game and I come back to the previous game and now I'm stuck and she's saying the room is complete. What to do next?
Posted by: jw | April 13, 2008 12:24 AM
I'm not able to break the window with the stones found at the gate. I keep repositioning the yellow arrow and tossing the stones but none of them break the window. Help???
Posted by: Anonymous | April 16, 2008 1:55 PM
I'm stuck in the evidence room. I click on the wire (for the lamp), it lights up with yellow but keep getting the message about another boring lamp. Help!
Posted by: boo | April 16, 2008 11:16 PM
I too am stuck in the polise station. I have lots of clues but it keeps telling me I have finished with this place. Is this a fault with the Game?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 22, 2008 10:04 AM
Cut the lamp cord and see how you go !
Posted by: Anonymous | April 22, 2008 5:52 PM
Ok, the slider puzzle. This one is really just trial and error (and boy do I not like these kinds of puzzles), but it's getting a lot of people stuck. I found a Flickr page with a step-by-step image walkthrough, just browse through the pics one by one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24911804@N07/2353285894/
Hope this helps!
Posted by: JohnB
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April 22, 2008 7:54 PM
i'm stuck in the cave...the hints point me to a spot on the water but i can't find anything there
help pls
Posted by: sarah | April 24, 2008 6:04 AM
Regarding the water in the cave, if you have the helmet, you have to dunk it in the water to fill it.
I too had problems with this game, with it starting at a previous level and then not being able to move on because I was done in that room but didn't offer anything else to do. I was also extremely disappointed in the ending, the game seems unfinished and the story has not resolved. I also picked up clues in the game that I did not use. I would not recommend it until they fix the bugs and extend the game with a proper ending.
Sad really, the game was excellent otherwise.
Posted by: Suzanne | April 25, 2008 12:21 AM
I am stuck in the cave. I have already gotten the water in the helmet. I have found all the picture pieces. The water lights up and so does the spy device. But what do you do with them?
Posted by: justbugged | April 25, 2008 1:12 AM
I do not know what is going on with this game but everytime I go to the police station, the game shuts itself down. I have tried everything including using my other computer to download the game and it did not help at all. All restarting the game did was take me to the jeweler and I was stuck there no matter what I did. Is anyone else having this problem or this only me?
Posted by: AmberV
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April 25, 2008 9:30 AM
I have done everything in the police station. The cheif has his donuts, the lady has her pen and I have all the hints but cannot go anywhere!! Help!!
Posted by: DeadHelen
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April 26, 2008 3:22 PM
It's crazy. I've been to the cave and now I'm back at the police station 2 plant the bugs but after i'm done I can't get any further!!!
She says that we're done but I can't do anything. I've played the mini games and nothing helps!
CAN ANYBODY PLEASE HELP ME??
Posted by: nes | April 26, 2008 6:41 PM
I am SO STUCK. I am in the Jewelry store. It says I am done in that room. But I can't go on. I did the mini games too but nothing happens now. What do I do?! Please help!
Posted by: Nancy | May 12, 2008 1:46 AM
I am so stuck and can't get out of Mr. Edison's office. It says "you're done here" but I can't leave and can't make anything happen. HELP! I don't seem to have any itinerary either
Posted by: Linda
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May 12, 2008 4:17 PM
I'm also stuck in Mr. Edison's office. I've done everything including handing him the pen. Now there is a document Natalie says she needs a pen to sign & there is no other pen. WHAT DO I DO! He just sits there drumming his fingers.
Posted by: Barbara | May 16, 2008 12:06 AM