Review: The Mystery of the Crystal Portal 2: Beyond the Horizon

Everyone is familiar with hidden object games. Whether it is in the form of a Where’s Waldo? book, or hunting for your car keys as you try to make it to work on time (though this is never as fun as searching for the guy in stripes), those with keen eyesight can spot just about anything hidden within a picture. The Mystery of the Crystal Portal 2: Beyond the Horizon is G5 Entertainment AB’s latest title to allow players to search for items hidden within a picture. But is this game too much of a strain on one’s eyes for the experience it has to offer? I hope to answer that within this review.

For a title in the hidden object genre, it is a surprise to see a story in The Mystery of the Crystal Portal 2 (or Crystal Portal 2, for short). You follow Nicole Rankwist, a woman who activates the Crystal Portal in hopes of finding and rescuing her father. It doesn’t take too long to find him, but then you are sent to find a way to acquire a crystal so you and your father can go back home. Along your travels, you gain a companion named Igor and interact with those who give you quests of sorts. This game follows the first Crystal Portal, but if you haven’t played it, there is no need to fret: the story stands out well by itself if this is your first foray into the series. Still, it isn’t one of the most elaborate tales woven. Also, the ending is set up for a sequel to this title as well, for those who enjoy the game. Curious players may want to know also that the story does not change at all regardless of the mode you choose.

While having a story to drive you on through the eight different locations is always good, for this type of game to succeed, you still need to have clear, crisp graphics. Crystal Portal 2 delivers on this part exceptionally well. The game supports iPhone 4 Retina Display, but even if you don’t have that feature, the graphics are still impressive. The different locations are breathtaking. G5 was smart in allowing the players to zoom in as they scan the picture for any of the objects you need. The way the game presents which items you need to look for is done in a fashion that doesn’t clutter the picture. Even with the ability to zoom in and toggle the object list (a circular dial with small thumbnails of the objects needed) on and off, the items can be hard to find due to blending in really well with the background or hiding behind another object. I recommend that when playing this game, you make sure to give your eyes a break from the screen or you’ll feel them ache as they try to adjust.

As with most any game, a soundtrack can be the deciding factor if one’s going to turn the volume down as they play or enjoy the melodies the game produces. Crystal Portal 2‘s soundtrack has a nice sound to it, though it is the same melody repeating over and over. This isn’t a bad thing as the music is relaxing and not overbearing. It doesn’t override the sound effects at all and there is the option to control the volume of both the music and sound effects independently.

The game has two modes: Casual and Advanced. The only real difference I saw between the modes was regarding the hints you can use and how often you can use them. Even with a good eye, you will possibly need to use one or two hints in a level. The difficulty of the game remains the same. As I stated in the part regarding the graphics, it can be hard to see an item due to it blending in really well, or hiding behind another object.

The game takes only a few hours to beat, but I think pacing yourself is a good plan, as there is no time limit on the levels. In the eight different locations ranging for a library to a garden, there are thirty-four levels total and 8 mini-games to break up the hidden object search. The mini- games include a jigsaw puzzle, a turn-the-pipes game similar to that of Droplitz, and a matching game. Not all objects you need to get are as simple as tapping them and dragging them to the right spot. In order to unlock some, you will have to gather even more items. Then it could take using a rope to pull a wheel out of a pile of junk or cutting a rope to lower a blade to reach the item behind it.

If you are a fan of searching for hidden objects, then this game is worth playing. If you are unsure as to whether you would like this game and don’t want to pay full price, you can try out the free version first. But for the price, I think it is a game worth buying if you love the genre. It is not for everyone, as I’m sure not everyone will find having to spend ten to twenty minutes hunting for that elephant statue, then for the sun sigil to unlock the helmet you need to give to the little boy entertaining. Still, for the right player, The Mystery of the Crystal Portal 2: Beyond the Horizon may have you feeling as I did: wanting to visit Nicole, and see what her next adventure may bring.

The Mystery of the Crystal Portal 2: Beyond the Horizon
iPhone
	Publisher: G5 Entertainment Developer: G5 Entertainment Genre: Hidden Object Release Date: December 1, 2025 MSRP: $4.99 ESRB Rating: 4+

Doin’ It RIGHT: - Beautiful graphics with animated details. - Offers over 30 different levels across 8 locations. - Hours of gameplay; can pause any time and pick up right where you left off.	Doin’ It RONG: - Objects can prove to be difficult to find. - For its price, some may think that it should have offered more levels.
FINAL SCORE: 8.5 / 10