Hidden Identity: Chicago Blackout

Hidden Identity: Chicago Blackout by PopCap Games has just enriched the bank of ordinary games. The storyline is not out of this world that has you playing as an amnesia victim who finds himself in a Chicago hotel with no idea who he is or where he is.

Like any other hidden object games, Hidden Identity: Chicago Blackout offers you to find tons of items in busy and cluttered scenes, and these give you gradual clues to revealing your identity. This title specializes in hidden object searches mainly, and though mini-games do occur there, most of them are plain and too short. As for inventory puzzles, they are reasonably challenging, however, not clear at times. To diversify the game a little bit, the developers use clues to describe the hidden items rather than naming them outright. Unfortunately, this is the one twist of this game but original at all.

Sorry, we did not mention the points which are awarded for just about everything that takes place in this point-and-click adventure game. What a boon! It seems we go through not only economical depression but creative crises as well. Do the developers really consider that timer and no option to skip the mini-games add much to the game challenge? Experienced gamers will have no problem to crack this issue in a couple of hours.

To make a long story short, Hidden Identity: Chicago Blackout has a standard set of hidden object features: more or less intriguing plot, mishmash of puzzles and mini-games, hints and penalties. Can we specify it as a classic of the genre? Not, sure. Rather a mediocre premise.

5, March 2010