The sequel to a sleeper hit among the many PN crew, Hidden By Time 2: Myths & Magic, takes one step ahead and two steps again. Whereas nonetheless a enjoyable hidden object sport, it seemingly wanted extra time for optimization.
Because the moniker signifies, the builders determined so as to add a fantasy angle alongside the time interval method. However all this does is make the sport really feel considerably messy thematically. I can recognize the wrestle when a number of concepts are on the desk, however it will’ve been higher to stay with (and goal to good ) the unique moderately than attempting to shoehorn one thing that doesn’t match.
As an example, I’ll decide only one period, The “Magical” ’80s. My spouse and I received an actual kick from seeing all of the popular culture nods on this period. Atari 2600s hooked as much as field TVs, filming of a music video clearly meant to be “Thriller”, and a Marty McFly look-alike, full together with his crimson “life preserver,” to call only a few. All these match. Why hunt by means of witches, ghosts, and all these different random parts that appear to have little, if something, to do with the ’80s? Generally, much less is extra.
It’s a credit score to the core gameplay that we nonetheless spent a number of hours attempting to beat the sport. And in the end, story issues are extremely subjective. However in relation to lack of polish, that’s the form of factor that’s laborious to miss. Hidden By Time 2 has a number of bugs, at the very least on Change.
I’ll listing a handful we present in no explicit order. Story textual content vanishing (although narration remaining), unfound gadgets within the search bar altering to clean empty areas, and exhibiting a transparent message claiming we discovered each goal after we hadn’t. These reveal the aforementioned lack of polish, although I need to stress the sport stays enjoyable regardless of these.
However worse are the bugs that influence the gameplay. The hitbox detection is so finicky that we couldn’t end at the very least one stage as a result of the merchandise we wanted didn’t register. Clicks merely affected a personality that evidently was standing too shut. We even tried taking part in undocked, however the touchscreen labored sporadically right here. Our recommendation, particularly when manipulating buildings to examine every ground, is to be persistent. Discover that candy spot, and pull a Goldilocks on the button (don’t faucet too brief or too lengthy).
Graphically, this sequel stays true to the successful appears to be like of its predecessor. Actually, permit me to cite from my prior overview, because it nonetheless applies. “It’s a brilliant and colourful child’s ebook dropped at life on-screen. Seeing all of the animals and other people milling about is an actual asset. You may click on virtually something and get an animation, a sound impact, or each.”
A recent visible contact entails altering the degrees. Every can change with a button faucet to a unique time of day or new climate situation. Past graphical selection, this additionally positively impacts gameplay, as sure gadgets are discovered solely below particular situations. The lone disadvantage right here is that I assumed my Change would soften most occasions I modified issues. The load occasions and stutter actually stood out. Talking of which…
It took us 40 seconds simply to load up the sport to its major menu—and frequent prolonged load occasions have been constant all through our play. I get there’s a ton of stuff on display (this can be a busy-looking sport, in a great way), however when you’re impatient, it’ll bug you. Additionally, don’t count on smoothness when panning round essentially the most sizable maps.
For all these observations and gripes, the alteration you can also make to every stage—known as ‘Actuality-Shift’—is a key addition that provides a big quantity whereas making this sport really feel like a correct sequel. It makes for a follow-up with more difficult content material, resulting in a lengthier expertise. Whereas I can’t advocate it over its predecessor, when you loved the primary, you’ll take pleasure in this sequel.
One other enchancment is for the inventive varieties—particularly, a tutorial’s inclusion. When you’ve completed the primary sport, you possibly can strive your hand at creating ranges, now with extra ease. I lamented the shortage of a tutorial within the first sport, so to see it right here is appreciated. It offers the sport legs. If DLC arrives much like the primary, this can additional lengthen playtimes.
Hidden By Time 2: Myths & Magic is enjoyable, however some vital points (at the very least on Change) make it fall barely wanting its predecessor. It is perhaps higher to seize this one on sale or when DLC arrives (hopefully with a efficiency patch). Artistic varieties won’t need to wait that lengthy.
