As I sit in gorgeous 80 degree Florida weather in December, my friends and relatives in the Northeast are snowed in and freezing. I’m much happier to interact with snow through a computer screen than to actually have to go out and shovel or slide down an icy sidewalk. So, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble across Secret Trails: Frozen Heart where I could get my fill of wintery weather while still wearing flip flops!
The story in Secret Trails: Frozen Heart is somewhat reminiscent of a recently released animated feature based on an old Hans Christian Anderson tale. In this version, you travel to surprise your sister on her summer birthday but find her beautiful town of Bloomingspring covered in snow and ice. To add to the mystery, a creepy figure hidden under a dark cloak kidnaps your sister, Emma, right before your eyes. You set off to save Emma and free the town from the icy curse.
The graphics in Secret Trails: Frozen Heart are really well done and surprisingly realistic. The colors are vibrant and show the stark contrast of the spring world with the snow-covered version. The background music is adventurous and not overly bothersome – I actually enjoyed the effect sounds. The voiceovers are typically cheesy, but what I’ve come to expect from hidden object adventure games.
There are several collectibles and achievements along the way – in casual mode, I earned a “Sherlock Holmes” title for completing an HOS without help. Not much of a challenge but it’s fun to watch the badges pop up on the screen!
The strategy guide is helpful if you are stuck on a particular scene or the hint feature is readily available as well. Unfortunately, the map does not allow you to jump between scenes, so there is a lot of back and forth, which can get old fast but that’s the only typical feature that I missed.
The hidden object scenes throughout the game are clear and pretty easily completed without help. Items are mostly hidden in plain sight and the brighter tones used in Secret Trails: Frozen Heart aid you in identifying items easily. In casual mode, areas that require interaction will sparkle but even without the hint, they are easy to spot. Each scene provides you an inventory item to use as you continue on your journey.
I truly enjoyed all of the mini-games that I came across in Secret Trails: Frozen Heart. They ranged in difficulty from almost boringly simple to ones that had a bit more challenge and required forethought. For me, they stopped just sort of frustrating, which provides me a sense of accomplishment when I solve them on my own.
I had a lot of fun working my way through Secret Trails: Frozen Heart to rescue Emma. The scenery is beautiful and almost makes me miss winter – until I think about how cold my feet would be in my beloved flip flops. I’m perfectly content to experience snow this way!