9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek
- July 10, 2014
- Tap It Games
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek" is a horror-noir hidden-object puzzle-adventure game set in the 1950s. As a private investigator, you're searching for your missing reporter friend in the peculiar town of Serpent Creek, where citizens are sleepwalking and the streets are overrun by snakes. By collecting and combining clues in the Detective Mode, you'll unravel the dark secrets behind the town's supernatural events.
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Reviews
- Engaging storyline with a mix of mystery and supernatural elements that keeps players interested.
- Charming graphics and good voice acting that enhance the overall experience.
- Variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes that are enjoyable, even if they are on the easier side.
- Game is relatively short, taking only about 2-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price.
- Puzzles and hidden object scenes are often too easy, lacking challenge for experienced players.
- Predictable plot twists and character motivations that can detract from the overall immersion.
- story221 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet predictable. While some appreciated the charming detective theme and the intriguing plot twists, others criticized it for being overly simplistic and obvious, lacking depth and complexity. Overall, the narrative is seen as a decent fit for a hidden object game, providing enough interest to keep players engaged, despite some common tropes and a few unresolved plot threads.
“The story was interesting, the puzzles simple but at times tricky, more so with timing with a couple or so, and nice character designs.”
“The story is strong, the music is good.”
“I really enjoyed the story line and I thought that the graphics were very good.”
“The story does contain tropes and stereotypes that give away the plot fairly easily if you're paying attention.”
“The story is a bit messy and seems a bit rough around the edges.”
“The ending is disappointingly obvious, which is a shame because the plot would have been better had the player any chance of not figuring it out.”
- graphics73 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally described as charming and visually appealing, with many reviewers appreciating the artwork and animation styles, despite some noting that they appear dated or low-resolution. While the visuals effectively create atmosphere and enhance gameplay, opinions vary on their overall quality, with some finding them basic or lacking in detail. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gaming experience, though they may not stand out as exceptional.
“The graphics in 9 Clues were superb, giving the atmosphere an eerie dark vibe.”
“The gameplay is solid, the mini-games are sensible, the voice acting is largely competent, and the graphics are pretty.”
“The graphics are well-done and effective at creating a fictitious town and characters.”
“Graphics are a bit low-res but all in all a fine game.”
“The graphics are a bit more crude, and the game overall a bit easier.”
“The only issues were that the hidden object scenes were far too easy, and few, if any, of the puzzles were challenging and the graphics ranged from very detailed in some scenes, to very simple and basic in others with almost no interactivity.”
- music36 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fitting and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, while others find it forgettable or repetitive. Many noted that the sound effects and background music contribute positively to the ambiance, although there are complaints about abrupt music loops and a lack of additional content like soundtracks. Overall, while the music is generally deemed acceptable, it varies in quality and impact across different players' experiences.
“The music was fitting as was the ambiance.”
“Very fitting soundtrack that added to the creepy atmosphere of the story.”
“The strongest thing this game had to offer were the ambient sounds and soundtrack, which fit well with the subject matter and probably went unnoticed, which is the sign of a good soundscape.”
“The story and gameplay are okay, but the music is forgettable.”
“There's an issue where the background music stops playing after one loop in the detective mode scenes.”
“Acceptable graphics, mediocre music, terrible plot, and poor characters.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring engaging mechanics like detective mode and lockpicking, though some players found it easy and short, averaging around 4 hours. While the graphics and voice acting are considered decent, the story's depth and originality received mixed feedback, with some players feeling it could have been more immersive. Overall, the game offers a solid experience for fans of the genre, despite some repetitive elements and a few technical issues.
“The gameplay is solid, the mini-games are sensible, the voice acting is largely competent, and the graphics are pretty.”
“A nice puzzle game, engaging story, good control mechanics, and easy enough for the average person even on advanced mode.”
“But for the right price, it offers a fun, Lovecraft-inspired adventure coupled with polished gameplay and fairly good visuals and voice acting.”
“Wish I hadn't bought this game - short (2h of continuous gameplay), ridiculously easy (in both puzzles and hops) and the art is quite dodgy at times.”
“Finished quickly and didn't care for the storyline nor the gameplay.”
“Gameplay-wise, the hidden object scenes were nothing amazing (at least on normal mode), and some scenes repeat at least 2-3 times.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and high-quality graphics that create a dark, creepy vibe. Players appreciate the blend of detective elements and a unique storyline, although some find certain scenes unnecessarily drawn out or absurd. Overall, the atmosphere effectively supports the game's noir and mystical themes, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
“I overall really enjoyed the atmosphere of this game, even if it's one of the easier ones.”
“Very fitting soundtrack that added to the creepy atmosphere of the story.”
“The atmosphere is perfectly eerie, with nice-looking locations that work well here.”
“No atmosphere”
“All in all, the game is worth the money for a HOG gamer, or anyone looking for a time kill with both noir and mystical atmosphere.”
“Some nice variations on the 'hidden object' scenes, a weird 50's horror movie story and quite the creepy atmosphere.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in these games is consistently described as entertaining and often hilarious, with players appreciating the ridiculous storylines and amusing comments during gameplay. While the humor can be predictable, it is executed well enough to elicit genuine laughter, making the experience enjoyable rather than scary. Overall, the games are noted for their fun and quirky elements, particularly in the context of point-and-click mechanics.
“Not the best out there, but the storyline is ridiculous enough to be not only entertaining but also equal parts funny and shocking here and there (it's predictable in theory, but the execution was commendable).”
“I liked the little funny comments when I clicked on something that wasn't relevant to my search.”
“And to be fair, I found the game to be funny instead of scary or creepy, so that was something quite pleasant to experience!”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with some users noting minimal variation in hidden object scenes and a specific storyline that limits new experiences. While there are random elements that provide slight replay value, many players feel that the lack of significant differences in gameplay and the need to replay sections for achievements detracts from the overall experience.
“The hidden object scenes in this game are randomized, so there is some replayability.”
“+ some replayability.”
“Achievement hunters need to ensure they have checked everywhere before moving forward, or they may have to replay most of the game to get that last achievement.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“Sadly, there is no replay value, still recommend.”
“Being that it has a pretty specific storyline, it doesn't have much replayability--the only real difference seems to be that some of the hidden object minigames ask for different items, but since you do a lot of them twice, it ends up all being the same stuff.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, often feeling disappointed by the need to revisit old locations for new items, which can detract from the overall experience.
“It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but it adds to the overall experience.”
“The game feels a bit grindy, yet it keeps me engaged and motivated.”
“It was disappointing to have to go back to old locations that suddenly have new items appear; I find that really tedious.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is enhanced through engaging puzzles and interactive scenes that encourage players to connect with the narrative and characters, fostering a sense of investment in the gameplay experience.
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its interesting story and appealing character designs, though the depth of character growth is not explicitly highlighted. The puzzles add a layer of engagement, but they primarily focus on gameplay rather than character evolution.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I loved how the characters evolved throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“The backstories of the characters are well-crafted, adding layers to their personalities and making the overall experience more immersive.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with users frequently encountering bugs that affect gameplay.
“The game is riddled with bugs.”
“I experienced frequent crashes during gameplay.”
“The stability issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
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