Secret Files 3
- September 13, 2012
- Animation Arts
- 150h median play time
A fun, good-looking and interesting adventure game that will last you about 8-9 hours depending your thinking level and tolerance for timing mechanisms.
Get on SteamIn "Secret Files 3," Nina Kalenkow is back in an exciting adventure to clear her name and uncover a conspiracy. The game features engaging puzzles, stunning graphics, and a captivating story that will keep players on the edge of their seats. As Nina, players will travel to various locations around the world, interacting with characters and solving intricate puzzles to reveal the truth.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Improved voice acting and beautiful environments enhance the overall experience.
- The game features enjoyable puzzles that are mostly logical and cohesive.
- The self-aware humor and character development, while less pronounced, still provide some entertainment.
- The game is considerably shorter than its predecessors, with many players completing it in under 5 hours.
- The storyline is convoluted and lacks the charm and depth of the earlier titles, leading to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion.
- Character development is minimal, with the main character feeling bland compared to previous installments.
- story54 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it rushed, convoluted, and lacking the charm of previous installments. While some appreciated the continuation of character arcs and the inclusion of humor, others criticized the plot for being overly complex and unsatisfying, often feeling abrupt and poorly developed. Overall, the narrative is seen as a significant step down from earlier games in the series, with a shorter runtime and less engaging storytelling.
“Better voice acting, decent plot, and the same self-aware humor you hopefully loved in the previous games.”
“The story was good, and the puzzles were more cohesive and straightforward than others in the series.”
“As with the first game, there's essentially two stories here: the global story and Nina's personal story.”
“The game's storyline lacks the intrigue and excitement of the previous games, and the characters and dialogue feel uninspired and unmemorable.”
“The story is boring and feels rushed, the puzzles have been lowered in numbers and quality which is a shame because those were my favorite parts about the previous titles along with its goofy, self-aware humor.”
“The story was a huge mess.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the high-quality pre-rendered visuals and polished textures, while others note that the animation feels dated and the overall visual design can lead to confusion during gameplay. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the beautiful graphic upgrades and the artistic elements, particularly in the final cutscene and artwork extras. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for an adventure game, they may not meet the expectations of all players.
“As a saving grace, SF3 at least leaves a nice aftertaste with its final cutscene and artwork extras.”
“+ High quality and polished pre-rendered graphics.”
“- Good graphics and textures, good lighting effects.”
“Although the animation and graphics may seem somewhat dated, it's still enjoyable.”
“Well, be prepared for boring casual stuff and some unsolvable puzzles - unsolvable not because they are complicated, but because you cannot discern the graphics.”
“The game's visuals and sound design are also disappointing.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its dynamic and varied mechanics, including unique climbing and navigation challenges, while others criticize the reliance on tedious mechanical puzzles that disrupt the flow. Although improvements in puzzle design and a more streamlined experience are noted, the overall gameplay is seen as lacking depth, with some players finding it too short and formulaic compared to previous entries in the series.
“I don't understand why the average rating is 'mixed'; this is probably the best game in the series (I played only the first two though). It's very dynamic, and you can expect some sort of twist every ten minutes of gameplay.”
“This sequel is also more varied with its gameplay.”
“Departures from the standard adventure fare include things such as picking your route while climbing a wall, timing your moves to destabilize [spoilers], freeing yourself while hanging upside down in [spoilers], navigating an underwater labyrinth, and more.”
“I'm not a fan of mechanical/logic puzzles, so having four of them in a row (navigating a labyrinth, finding the clues to enter a sequence of characters, setting hands of a clock to correct positions, and sliding bars on a small board) late in the game was a bit much for me, especially since the first one of them was incredibly annoying.”
“Gameplay feels a little more streamlined than the previous games.”
“Anyway: from a gameplay perspective, there is improvement as the game becomes much smoother as a result of improved puzzles and logic; but from a story perspective, this game is painful, doesn't make any sense and is (luckily?) over far too quickly.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game retains its self-aware charm and engaging character mannerisms, though it is noted to be less effective than in previous installments. While some players appreciate the references to earlier games and the attempt at humor, others feel it falls short in delivering consistent laughs. Overall, the humor is present but may not meet the expectations set by its predecessors.
“Better voice acting, decent plot, and the same self-aware humor you hopefully loved in the previous games.”
“The sense of humor in the game is still there.”
“Nina's mannerisms were funny and engaging.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with a good soundtrack that some players enjoy; however, issues with audio balance detract from the experience, as voice acting can be too quiet compared to the music. Additionally, the music style is sometimes considered out of place, and the overall sound design fails to create an immersive atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is good.”
“The voice acting has been further improved and could even be called decent now.”
“Good music.”
“The voice acting has been further improved and could even be called decent now, but the audio balance is kind of wack; Nina speaks so quietly sometimes that the music is five times louder than her voice on default settings.”
“The style of music is often out of place.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unchallenging, with puzzles and mini-games that feel repetitive and serve primarily to extend gameplay rather than provide genuine difficulty or engagement. The experience is marred by a lack of meaningful challenge, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
“Also, some puzzles offer a 'challenging' variant which is never challenging at all, just tedious.”
“The same overly unrealistic puzzles you know from the first two games, except that these now have ones that will punish you if you misstep and have you repeat the same tedious stuff just in order to provide filler material and make the game seem longer than it is.”
“The mini-games in this game are tedious and boring.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a notable deficiency in character development, with many players feeling that the game lacks depth and focus on its characters, resulting in a less engaging narrative experience.
“There wasn't as much character development or character focus in this one.”
“Lack of character development and depth for most of the cast.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant replay value, with players indicating they might revisit the earlier titles in the series but not this one.
“I may play the first two games again, but there is definitely no replay value in this one.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying this game feel pointless.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is criticized for its lack of detail and bland environments, which detract from immersion. Additionally, the sound effects and music do not effectively enhance the overall experience, falling short of the compelling atmosphere found in previous titles.
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the characters, particularly Nina, exhibit a limited emotional range, failing to convey appropriate feelings in critical situations, such as Max's arrest before their wedding. This lack of emotional depth detracts from the overall impact of the narrative.
“The characters, including Nina, display a profound emotional depth that resonates with players, especially during pivotal moments like Max's arrest on the eve of their wedding.”
