Ever tape a cell phone to a cat to record an important conversation because someone refused to talk to you? No? Well, what about using butter from a stolen construction workers’ sandwich to lubricate an axle on an old Volkswagen? If so, “Secret Files: Tunguska” may seem a bit boring, but for everyone else, it presents a more than interesting addition to their Nintendo DS library.
Forcing you to channel your inner-“MacGuyver,” (you know, the super, uber cool ’80s sitcom with Richard Dean Anderson where he’d save the world with common household items like a rubber band, match book and a used handkerchief) this title turns you into a detective Sherlock Holmes would be proud of, or drives you completely insane trying to move the story forward.
Either way, you’re in for a hearty adventure that you’ll remember after you finish it.
Simply put, the puzzles in “Secret Files: Tunguska” are not for the weak of mind and those who lack patience. Looking through every room for clues, this title asks you to ponder every possibility, resulting often times in bizarre answers to questions surrounding a Russian catastrophe a century ago and the experiments that followed. While the story itself is sound, putting together all of the clues is no joke and is a tough task. At times, it’s even an ardous process that gets extremely frustrating. Nevertheless, those willing to try every option, [in every room and in their pockets as well] will eventually find the answers needed to continue on.
As a result, the level of satisfaction one gets when finding out the keys to each puzzle is extremely worthwhile. Relying on imagination and logic more than any other game on the system, “Secret Files: Tunguska” feels more like those cool create your own adventure discs from the Tom Hanks film “Big” than an actual video game.
The fact that this feeling is created, in spite of the game’s true linear story is a testament to an easy control system and a fun story.
Aside from the story and finer gameplay mechanics, graphically, the game is nothing to marvel at, as blurry sprites sometimes make it harder to see smaller objects and advance the story. Helping matters though are cool cut scenes and a bevy of locations that turn this potential problem into a minor flaw that barely hampers your overall gameplay experience.
Add in a cost-friendly sticker price of $19.99 and that’s more than enough to whole-heartedly recommend this game, and get lost in its wild world of suspense and intrigue.
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