Haunted Past: Realm of Ghosts
- April 9, 2014
- Gogii Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Haunted Past: Realm of Ghosts" is a hidden object puzzle adventure game filled with chilling encounters and spooky locales. As paranormal investigator Emily Sutton, you must explore a haunted mansion to uncover its dark secrets and lay the ghosts to rest. Solve intricate puzzles, find hidden objects, and delve into the mansion's eerie past in this gripping supernatural journey.
Reviews
- The game features a unique mechanic of switching between the living world and the ghost realm, adding an interesting twist to the puzzles.
- The graphics and atmosphere are well done, creating a spooky yet relaxing environment that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The game is straightforward and casual, making it accessible for players looking for a light-hearted hidden object experience.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
- There are technical issues, such as problems with fullscreen mode and some items being difficult to see due to color saturation.
- The story lacks depth and detail, with many plot holes and an unsatisfying conclusion that may disappoint players seeking a richer narrative.
- story66 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as enjoyable but lacking depth, with many players noting its brevity and predictability. While some appreciate the intriguing ghostly themes and the integration of story elements into gameplay, others criticize the plot for being shallow and filled with holes. Overall, the narrative is seen as a decent backdrop for the hidden object mechanics, but it could benefit from more development and detail.
“A short relaxed hidden object game that you can stretch out for a few hours when you read all the notes and story lore that go with this game.”
“In fact, the story is well written and the sounds/music fit everything super well!”
“The story, voice acting, and puzzles were all above average compared to other hidden object games I have experienced.”
“It's also very short, and the story is bad.”
“So many plot holes and unfortunately poor storyline.”
“The weakest point other than length is a profound lack of plot, or maybe I should say lack of backstory or detail in the plot.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the beautiful artwork, atmospheric visuals, and detailed environments, particularly in the haunted mansion setting. However, some users note that the graphics feel somewhat dated and mention technical issues like fullscreen mode problems. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are calls for potential upgrades to enhance the experience further.
“Good game with very nice graphics and a good storyline.”
“The graphics are really good, dark and atmospheric; that's what matters. The mansion is impressive and intimidating, and you will love each and every room's detailed rendering.”
“Beautiful graphics, eerie atmosphere.”
“Apart from the relatively old graphics, it's still decent to play.”
“I had a problem with the graphics, as it refused to actually go into fullscreen mode, but it was still playable.”
“It’s also a little dated in the graphics department, but the overall plot and mechanics still hold up.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this hidden object game is highlighted by a unique mechanic that allows players to switch between the real world and a ghost realm, enabling clever puzzles involving hiding and retrieving objects. While some players found the core gameplay to be somewhat standard and tedious, the innovative mechanics and atmospheric design were generally well-received, making for a short but enjoyable experience. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the genre, though its brevity and limited content may lead some to recommend waiting for a sale.
“Fantastic little hidden object game, love the ghost realm mechanic.”
“Having to hide objects from the past to use in the future was a cool mechanic and felt like a neat spin on an otherwise standard hidden object game.”
“A good hidden object game with a mechanic to swap between the real world and ghost world allowing for some clever puzzles to hide and recover objects you need.”
“There is only one gameplay mechanic that makes it a bit more interesting, but other than that, it's just tedious.”
“The gameplay is the standard one: find items, use them, clear hidden objects scenes and solve puzzles.”
“The story is good, not that it matters; this is a game, and the gameplay is where it breaks down.”
- music16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its eerie and spooky qualities that complement the hand-drawn visuals. While some found the soundtrack to be crisp and effective, others mentioned occasional inconsistencies with the thematic elements. Overall, the combination of ambient sounds and music contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“I love the hand-drawn scenes—beautifully done—and the ambient sounds and spooky music.”
“This game has the best atmosphere (music and art) of all HOGs that I have played.”
“The aesthetics are pretty good, with okay voice acting, background graphics, and atmospheric music that is almost *too* creepy at times.”
“The soundtrack to Haunted Past is very eerie; if you play, make sure the volume is turned up and the lights off!”
“The music, however, came out crisp and clean…and creepy!”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging and eerie qualities, enhanced by impressive graphics and a haunting soundtrack. Players appreciate the detailed rendering of environments, particularly the intimidating mansion setting, which contributes to a unique and immersive experience. Overall, the combination of art, sound, and ambiance effectively captivates players throughout their gameplay.
“This game has the best atmosphere (music and art) of all hidden object games that I have played.”
“The graphics are really good, dark and atmospheric; that's what matters. The mansion is impressive and intimidating, and you will love each and every room's detailed rendering.”
“Its atmosphere is unique, engaging, and held my attention from start to finish.”
“Eerie atmosphere”
“+ creepy world and atmosphere”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, primarily due to repetitive mechanics like hiding and uncovering items. However, the introduction of a unique gameplay element in the ghost realm offers a refreshing twist that some players appreciate.
“There is only one gameplay mechanic that makes it a bit more interesting, but other than that, it's just tedious.”
“While the mechanic of the ghost realm could be seen as tedious, it was also a nice change and something I hadn't seen before, which is almost always a good thing.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features linear pathing and a short story duration of about two hours, leading to minimal replayability. Players find it lacks the depth and variety typically needed to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“Pathing in this game is linear, so there's no replayability from what I can see.”
“Pretty standard hidden object game; its only downfall is that the story is quite short (about 2 hours), and as a result, there's not much, if any, replay value.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game includes an optimization option specifically designed for slower computers, making it an appealing choice for players with older hardware.
“The game includes an optimization option for slower computers, which could be a significant selling point for those using older machines.”
“I appreciate how the developers have included settings to optimize performance, making it accessible for players with varying hardware capabilities.”
“The optimization features really enhance the gameplay experience, allowing it to run smoothly even on less powerful systems.”
“The game does have an optimization option for slow computers, though, so that might be a big selling point if you are running an older machine.”
