So… I’m not sure if I mentioned this before, but my dear abuelita, the woman who swore she didn’t know how to turn the computer on, has recently discovered Facebook, and now has, what some of us in the family are choosing to call, a “healthy” obsession with it. I mean, it’s great that she can see pictures of family who live far away and, yes, she has even dabbled in chatting a bit, but she has become absolutely obsessed with everything Zynga. I’m talking Farmville, Cityville, Frontierville, Castleville, and lately, a game called Hidden Chronicles.
This last one surprised me a bit since it’s a hidden object game, and a far cry from plowing fields and raising purple chickens. Well, of course, she wants all of us to play too, so yes, I admit it… I have a farm… I have a city… I may even have a castle… listen, if my grandma says jump, I ask how high, and I don’t care who knows it… you would too if you knew her! So, when I got the neighbor request from her for Hidden Chronicles, I couldn’t refuse… and here I am with my new estate and I'm ready to play.
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The story goes like this… your uncle recently passed away and left a rather run-down estate to you. But what you didn’t know about your uncle was that he was something called a Guardian, and he could read an item’s past just by touching it.
Apparently, you also have this skill and must continue your uncle’s quest to protect the Master Chronicle from his enemies. But first, you have to find it… and to find it, you must play hidden object scenes in order to gain trophies and money. Money will help you purchase upgrades and decorations for your estate, which will in turn earn you estate points, which will allow you to unlock new hidden object scenes. Trophies will help you unlock areas of your estate in order to increase the amount of land you have.
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The hidden object scenes weren’t too difficult. At least the ones I’ve played, which I admit are just the beginning ones. The difference with these is that you get a score for each hidden object scene you complete, and it’s based on a few different criteria, time being one of them. You also get bonus points for chain finds. You’ll see your bonus meter in the top right decrease after you find an item. If you find another one before that runs out, you will get bonus points. If you don’t use the hint button, you’ll also get bonus points.
Another aspect of this game, since it is a Facebook game, involves interaction with your neighbors. If you visit your neighbors, you get bonus money and points. You can also play a game called Fast Find where you have to challenge a friend on a hidden object scene. You have 60 seconds to find as many objects as you can, and if your friend can’t beat that score, you win! I admit… abuelita is really good at this part of the game…
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Once thing that does bother me about any Facebook game is the constant posting on my wall in order to get bonus points or to get upgrades built, and Hidden Chronicles is no different. In order to complete certain quests, you will need help from your neighbors, and the only way to get it is by posting on your wall and asking them to click on a link to help you out. It also reveals to people who may tease you incessantly that you are playing a game with your grandma… until the neighbor request comes into their inbox… and it will my friends… don’t worry… it will. Cue evil laugh now…
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Anyhow… overall, yes, Hidden Chronicles is a great way to get your hidden object game fix on a daily basis. The games don’t take that long, since you can only play as many games as you have energy for, and it's fun because I get to share a special moment with my grandmother a few times a day… so there!
