Review by Katie Taylor

As a kid, I really found this game to be quite dull. But now that I’m older, I find myself really attached to it. I think what I disliked is that there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of running around and learning. Which also happened in Secret of the Scarlet Hand, though it was handled better there. So what makes me like it now? Well, it’s the most straight forward game (aside from the later games that would literally hand you a letter or a diary that told you exactly how to play the game – and for not having those, I appreciate this game all the more, since is shows you can have that sort of story and NOT tell the player of a MYSTERY game exactly what they need to do to reach the ending). And really, the learning isn’t all that bad.

I appreciate the characters more now, and the ending. I love the ending. Also, after looking at several other games, I’ve come to love how everything works together. All of the puzzles help you in some way.

However, I wouldn’t recommend this game to new-comers to the series, or to the impatient fans. It isn’t the most exciting game, so if you’re looking for a game to get into the series with I’d point you more towards Treasure in a Royal Tower or Secret of Shadow Ranch. If you want a learning heavy game as your intro, I’d say go for Scarlet Hand, just be prepared as it’s ending is a little scary.