Meet The Tekka

Ages ago there lived a tribe called the Tekka People. They had everything they needed to live a happy, peaceful life, and this made the other tribes jealous.

Before the Tekka could be attacked by these other, bitter tribes, the elders gathered up all of the treasures and locked them away and then split the key up into fragments for safekeeping.

Over the years, these fragments have been lost and the Tekka's treasure is sealed away where nobody can touch. Ten years ago, your father, an explorer, discovered the first known piece of the key. He's retired now and no longer does field work, so the key and his responsibilities have been passed on to you, his daughter.

Navigating the World

The most significant feature that Ancient Secrets offers that you won't find in other hidden objects games is the ability to traverse the world in between levels. You're no longer instantly transported from one scene to the next, but you can move around the world yourself! To move in a certain direction, simply move your mouse cursor the direction that you want to go until it turns into an arrow and then click.

Keep in mind that you can't simply go where you please; there are paths to follow. Still, despite not having total freedom, the ability to move around serves to make a more immersive adventure.

Hidden Objects and More

While this game would fit firmly in the hidden objects category, that isn't the only thing that it has to offer. Aside from searching for lost items - which you will do plenty of - you'll also have to solve various puzzles. One of the first tasks you're given in the game is fixing a water pipe system that is in complete shambles. The puzzles are all varied and each one is a blast to play.

And when you do get to a traditional hidden objects puzzle, it always fits into the story without feeling shoehorned in. For example, your first task of the sort will be to help the owner of a cluttered knick knack shop find all of the items for a local fisherman's order. And then once you find everything, you must deliver the package to him, only to have him ask you for help sorting out his fishing lures. Everything falls into place nicely.

So Much To Do

Ancient Secrets: Quest For The Golden Key is an exciting and accessible game and will have you hooked from the very beginning. It's absolutely loaded with content, as evidenced by the fact that even after all of the puzzles I mentioned, you still won't even touch on the main plot. There's a lot to do here and it's challenging enough that you won't be able to breeze through it, ensuring that you'll be playing for quite a while.

The gameplay is a fantastic result of new twists put on classic mechanics. You can't rightfully call yourself a hidden objects fan without this product in your collection! And I'll hold you to that!