Imagine what gaming was like in your great-grandmother's day, before instant downloads and online puzzles. (Don't worry, we're just imagining—you can hold on to your mouse!) You might turn on the radio, or even more simply, open a book: a mystery book. Say, one by the legendary Agatha Christie. Let's say, "Peril at End House." As soon as you open the book, you find yourself sitting alongside Hercule Poirot in a quiet coastal resort, one filled with odd characters, art deco signs, and Victorian nostalgia.

Soon, you meet a beguiling young woman who calls herself "Miss Nick" and claims, rather nonchalantly, that she's come close to death three times in as many days. As you and Poirot listen, glancing about the scene, you realize something isn't quite right. Stories don't quite match up. Odd clues are scattered here and there. Suddenly, there is a murder. Before you know it, you have a mystery on your hands.

Intrigued? Well, luckily, you won't need to scrounge through the used bookstores to solve this mystery; Peril at End House is only a click away. Adapted into a hidden object game by Oberon Media, Agatha Christie: Peril at End House is a classic mystery for the 21st century.

At first glance, Peril at End House may seem like a typical hidden object game, complete with mini-puzzles. As you enter a scene, you are given a list of objects and 25 minutes to find them. However, unlike many games of this genre, you are not searching for random bits of clutter. You're looking for clues: bits of shredded newspaper, knick-knacks which disguise secret compartments, murder weapons and motives. In the meantime, you'll find yourself drawn into a twisted plot, presented as clue cards and comic book panels. As you piece together these hints and clues, a surprising story emerges — one that could only have been conceived by a master of mystery like Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie: Peril at End House is a pleasant blend of casual gaming and classic mystery. Often, hidden picture games can seem dull and repetitive, with contrived plots that quickly fall flat. This is not the case with Peril at End House. Even if you guess the solution to the mystery early in the game, Christie's clever twists and turns might lead you astray. The blend of art styles (detailed landscapes that are not quite still, period objects with art deco details, interrupted by comics and mini-games) gives the game a clever, eclectic feel—not unlike Christie's strange characters.

If you aren't quite curious enough to download this blend of modern gaming and classic mystery, consider this: In 1932, when Peril at End House was first released in the U.S., a copy of the paperback novel cost $2.00. Adjusted for inflation, that same novel would cost over $27 today. For the mystery lover, the price would be worth it. For the frugal gamer, this quick download is a bargain. Please, enjoy: Agatha Christie: Peril at End House.

Windows:
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Mac OS X:
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