The Clockwork Man: The Hidden World
- September 23, 2011
- Total Eclipse P.C.
In "The Clockwork Man: The Hidden World," players join Emily on a thrilling adventure through a beautifully designed steampunk world. Emily uncovers a mysterious letter from her grandfather, leading her on a quest to find the hidden world of automatons. Solve challenging puzzles, uncover hidden objects, and experience an immersive and captivating storyline.
Reviews
- Beautiful artwork and engaging visuals enhance the overall experience.
- The game features a mix of hidden object scenes and puzzles, providing a fun challenge for players.
- Improved gameplay mechanics and a more involved story compared to the previous title.
- Technical issues, including bugs and compatibility problems, hinder gameplay, especially on Windows 10.
- Many hidden objects are too small or obscured, making them difficult to find and click on.
- The lack of a skip option for puzzles can lead to frustrating gameplay, especially when items are missing or unresponsive.
- story74 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring a simple yet interesting narrative centered around Miranda, a scientist searching for her missing parents, but it suffers from clichés and a lack of connection to the previous installment. While some players find the plot engaging and well-acted, others criticize it for being convoluted, predictable, and ultimately unsatisfying, with an abrupt ending that leaves many questions unanswered. Overall, the story provides a decent backdrop for the hidden object gameplay, but it may not be compelling enough to keep players fully invested.
“It tells the story of Miranda, a young scientist bent on uncovering the secret behind her parents' disappearance nearly a decade earlier.”
“For a hidden object game, the plot is absolutely spectacular and the characters are rich and entertaining.”
“The hidden world continues the story of Miranda Calomy and her clockwork friend, Sprocket.”
“It's a mess, and the story just isn't good enough to be worth slogging through to experience all of it.”
“The story is fairly bad, although well acted, and the ending is just rubbish.”
“Perhaps the most annoying thing about it is that it has nothing to do with the story of the first game and in no way addresses the cliffhanger ending from the first.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the Clockwork Man series has received mixed reviews, with the original criticized for its confusing mechanics and frustrating hidden object challenges. The sequel improves upon these issues, offering enhanced presentation and a broader scope, while still incorporating simple puzzle-solving elements and hints as part of the experience. However, some players still find aspects like tiny hidden objects and odd mechanics to be hindrances to overall enjoyment.
“This sequel is improved in gameplay and presentation.”
“Embrace the fact that the hints are part of the gameplay, and enjoy this nice casual game.”
“Somewhat different mechanics and original puzzles.”
“Messy, confusing gameplay, where you really don't know where you should go and what you should do.”
“Extremely tiny hidden objects which are difficult to distinguish from the background scene, which was frustrating and hindered gameplay.”
“The zooming scene mechanic is odd and disrupts the flow of the game.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics have received positive feedback for their beautiful artwork and neat art style, with many noting improvements over previous installments. While some describe the visuals as still somewhat primitive, they appreciate the gorgeous visuals and good character designs, highlighting a more varied setting and engaging storyline. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong aspect of the game, enhancing the puzzle adventure experience.
“Well put together puzzle adventure with gorgeous visuals.”
“Very pretty graphics, engaging storyline if just a tad predictable.”
“The artwork is still primitive but improved.”
“Maybe it's my imagination, but it seems the graphics are better in #2, though I'm pretty sure they used the same game engine.”
“The visuals are better this time around with limited animation in some scenes and more varied settings.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as having high production value, being pleasant but not spectacular, and complementing the overall art and voice acting. However, technical issues such as glitches can cause the music to become repetitive and drown out voice acting, impacting the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
“I mentioned high production value: excellent art, music, and voice acting throughout.”
“In both games, the music isn't spectacular but it's pleasant to listen to.”
“The scrolling, zoomable hidden puzzles are just as challenging (and frustrating, and messy), the music and art are just as beautiful, and the voice acting is just as over-the-top.”
“Glitches in the hint system mean that sections of the game drag on far longer than they're welcome, and sometimes the music gets stuck, continuing to play a single set of atmospheric effects on every screen.”
“(The default sound level has the music as loud as the voice acting, which makes it impossible to hear what people are saying.) The game seems to have been developed in Flash -- which I don't mind, as long as the final result works.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for being sluggish and buggy, with notable issues such as glitches in the hint system that prolong gameplay unnecessarily and music that gets stuck on a loop. Despite attempts to troubleshoot, including a fresh reinstall, these problems persist, indicating a lack of optimization.
“Glitches in the hint system mean that sections of the game drag on far longer than they're welcome, and sometimes the music gets stuck, continuing to play a single set of atmospheric effects on every screen.”
“As it stands, it's all a bit sluggish and buggy (I have a very powerful PC, so hardware is not the issue).”
“Troubleshooting attempted: fresh reinstall.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a cast of amusing characters and beautifully illustrated environments, contributing to its overall humorous tone.
“The game features some hilarious characters and beautifully drawn locations that enhance the overall experience.”
“The humor in the game is brought to life through its quirky characters and stunningly illustrated environments.”
“With its funny characters and gorgeous artwork, the game delivers a delightful comedic experience.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is marred by technical issues, including glitches in the hint system that prolong gameplay unnecessarily and repetitive music that can become stuck, detracting from the overall immersive experience.
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game features appealing graphics and well-designed characters, suggesting a strong visual presentation that enhances the overall character development experience.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and plagued by bugs, detracting from the overall experience.
“The grinding feels tedious and is often plagued with bugs.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes the game feel like a chore.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game, turning it into a monotonous task.”