The Mystery of the Crystal Portal: Beyond the Horizon

by Lila
(Download-Free-Computer-Games.com)

The Mystery of the Crystal Portal: Beyond the Horizon is a beautiful HOG with all the elements for a great game.

Nicole must find her missing father, who disappeared while off on some previous adventure. She heads off, aided by Igor, the strange character from the Floating Islands. She begins to make an epic discovery. This secret is so vast, it threatens the fate of Mankind.

There are two modes to play in; Casual or Advanced, which just indicates whether or not a timer is used, and if the hints will recharge faster.

What I really liked about the Crystal Portal was that it had the ideal type of hidden object search for me. The rooms were gorgeous, and weren't crammed full of distorted, irrelevant items. You get the shadowy, grey-toned image of the item to match, and the objects are in slightly different angles, or cleverly hidden away. There are also key items which lead you to another object which may then unlock a chest, say, for the crucial item inside. It's all quite linear, but it doesn't feel that way.

You often have to set a series of things in motion to complete or fix something, like a bridge or clock. You get just enough help so that it's not overly difficult, but the challenge is still there. I like my HOGs without a timer; I DO want to relax and get away from it all.

The mini-games are charming and give you a nice break from Nicole's main quest.

The game play also feels well-organized, so it doesn't feel like there's a vast amount of 'stuff' going on. It didn't get overwhelming or confusing at any point.

The Mystery of the Crystal Portal: Beyond the Horizon is a well-written, nice game to play. The storyline is good, and the characters don't go on and on with endless dialogue. The mystical look and feel gives it a really beautiful, Zen atmosphere.