Samantha Swift and the Hidden Roses of Athena
- October 31, 2008
- MumboJumbo
Get on SteamOn a quest to recover the Scepter of Zeus for The Museum of Lost Secrets, archeologist and adventurer Samantha Swift stumbles upon one of the greatest archeological finds of all time! Unfortunately, she also runs into greedy treasure hunter Ravena Stryker.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and a fun, simple story that appeals to fans of hidden object games.
- It offers a brisk pace with straightforward gameplay, making it accessible for casual players and families.
- The hint system is superior, providing useful tools like an object scanner and plentiful instant hints.
- The game suffers from low production values, including poor graphics and a lack of modern gameplay conveniences.
- Many players experience technical issues, particularly on Windows 10, with bugs that prevent the game from launching or functioning properly.
- The gameplay is overly simplistic and lacks depth, with trivial puzzles and a weak narrative that fails to engage players.
- story29 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as weak, clichéd, and simplistic, serving primarily as a vehicle to transition between hidden object scenes. While some players appreciate the cute and straightforward treasure-hunting theme, many find the narrative lacking depth and engagement, often feeling disconnected from the gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as average at best, with limited character development and predictable plot elements.
“The story is pretty straightforward, but works well for the treasure hunter theme.”
“The story is cute and the hidden object scenes are surprisingly good for their time, so, in the end, it is a game one can have much fun with—if they can get it at a reasonable price and do not mind the ancient graphics.”
“I like the mythos and the storyline is cute.”
“It's empty storytelling like this that cultivates a dead environment.”
“Story is barely a part of the game, and is only there in order to get the character to the next hidden object scene.”
“There is a story to it but relatively weak and predictable.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as cartoonish and bright, but they are considered outdated and inconsistent, especially when compared to modern hidden object games. While some players appreciate the vibrant art style and animations, many criticize the overall visual quality as poor and lacking depth, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the visuals may appeal to those who enjoy a lighthearted aesthetic, but they fall short of expectations for a contemporary gaming experience.
“The visuals style is cartoony and bright.”
“Likeable characters, nice art style (especially with light effects and animations during hidden objects search sections), and enough variety from puzzles to keep you engaged till the end.”
“Gorgeous visuals, ambient music, and fun cartoonish archaeological theme.”
“The graphics are okay for its age, but this feels sloppily made.”
“The hidden objects seemed dropped on an overlay and contrasted in art style.”
“Heck, Toonstruck (my first ever casual adventure game) has better graphics, and it’s over a decade older than this!”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on hidden object mechanics, which some players find straightforward and enjoyable, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking originality. Although it offers a few additional mechanics to enhance item discovery, the overall experience can feel tedious and repetitive, with limited challenge and no engaging story. While casual adventure game fans may appreciate its charm, many reviewers suggest that the gameplay does not stand out in a crowded genre.
“This is a very old game which doesn't have some of the gameplay conveniences that later hidden object games implemented, nor does it have any of the point & clicking activity. It's 95% hidden objects, yet it's not bothersome; I guess I was in the mood for some quiet clicking.”
“There's some additional mechanics for finding certain items which does make the game a bit more interesting.”
“It seems to contain at least a few hours of gameplay.”
“Again, I prefer this straightforward approach to chasing after a glowing arrow in the Artifex Mundiverse, but these duct tape approaches to guiding players show an inability to make naturally intuitive gameplay.”
“It lacks any originality or challenge in the gameplay aspect, though fans of casual adventure games probably won’t mind.”
“What mostly kept me going was the nice character art and fun story, but the gameplay itself felt tedious at times, especially since you had to find the same items over and over, or it was kind of lame that the items you're looking for are staring you right in the face.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as mediocre and not particularly memorable, with some users noting that it blends into the background. While the ambient music complements the visuals well, it lacks a strong impact, contributing to an overall experience that feels short and easy.
“Gorgeous visuals, ambient music, and a fun cartoonish archaeological theme.”
“The pictures are nice enough, but the music is mediocre.”
“The sound effects and music weren’t really noticeable, which means they weren’t great, but it also means they weren’t bad.”
“Audio/music feels like a text adventure.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have stability issues, with users experiencing frequent bugs and minor glitches, which detracts from the overall experience.
“It's quite buggy.”
“The only issue I had was the minor glitches now and then.”
“Very, very short and buggy hidden objects game.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it serves as a way to pass the time and is supported by appealing character art and an engaging story, the repetitive nature of item collection can feel tedious and frustrating at times.
“What mostly kept me going was the nice character art and fun story, but the gameplay itself felt tedious at times, especially since you had to find the same items over and over, or it was kind of lame that the items you're looking for are staring you right in the face.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers a few hours of engaging gameplay with likeable characters and a visually appealing art style, complemented by a variety of puzzles. However, it lacks additional endgame features or extended content that could enhance its replayability, leaving players wanting more.
“The game offers a good amount of longevity and replayability, providing at least a few hours of gameplay.”
“The likeable characters and nice art style, especially with light effects and animations during hidden object search sections, create enough variety in puzzles to keep you engaged until the end. However, it would have benefited from additional endgame features for enhanced replayability, similar to other games from this developer.”
“With its engaging gameplay and diverse puzzles, the game encourages players to return for more, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy replayability.”
“Likeable characters (though their backstory is limited to a few notes in the game menu), nice art style (especially with light effects and animations during hidden objects search sections) and enough variety from puzzles to keep you engaged till the end, though it would have benefited more had the game been longer or had some endgame features been unlocked for replayability like in some other games from this developer.”
“The game offers a few hours of gameplay, but lacks the depth and features that would encourage replayability.”
“While the initial experience is enjoyable, there isn't much incentive to play through the game again after completing it.”
