G.H.O.S.T. Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor Review by Meryl

Children of the ’80s can’t help but think of Ghostbusters while playing G.H.O.S.T. Hunters, a hidden object game with mystery thrown in. Viola Majesty calls Ghost Hunter, Inc. for help finding out what’s going on in her mansion. She reports hearing strange noises and seeing things move.

Welcome new investigator, you have 15 days to investigate the house, identify suspects and solve mystery behind the haunting. Search room by room for clues in the guise of hidden objects while hair stands on end in response to the scary music and creepy looking objects. Discover suspects as you clear the rooms on a level.

Most hidden object games come with hints, and G.H.O.S.T. Hunters takes a creative approach in providing them. Instead of simply pointing out the location of a hidden object, use Spectre-Scan Mate, a remote control-like gadget for finding objects. The handheld device works like the “Hot and Cold” game. When the four red buttons on the remote control light up, you’re hot and very close to the object. See one red dot and you’re way off. Since the device, like most devices, sucks down power — you can gain more hint power by finding batteries in the scenes.

The game comes with two modes — timed and easy. Those optioning for less pressure will still see a clock ticking down, which annoys some people. Just put a small towel over it to hide the distraction. Most casual games let you switch out of full-screen mode, but not this one.

In comparison to other games of this genre, this one challenges even the experienced player in finding hidden objects. The list of evidence can trick the investigator with an item like “arrow.” You might start hunting for the kind that works with a bow, but it could also be an arrow on a street sign. When you think of bat, what comes to mind? Baseball? The mammal? It could be one or the other. You don’t have to find all the objects in every room, but you can earn a bonus if you do.

It’s common to find the same object a few times in an average hidden object game. However, this one has the same items appearing in the list too often, and the rooms don’t vary much as you advance. Hidden object games usually have a mini-game or another game that doesn’t involve finding objects to break the monotony. G.H.O.S.T. Hunters doesn’t have any other puzzles.

With its crisp graphics and accompanying background music, G.H.O.S.T. Hunters succeeds in creating an environment expected in a suspenseful game. It isn’t the most captivating of hidden object games and won’t be a favorite, but it will occupy players for a few hours.

Recommended Requirements for Windows

• Windows ME/2000/XP/Vista (Windows XP is best)
• 1.0 GHz or faster Processor
• 512MB RAM
• nVidia or ATI accelerated 3D video card