I have just played a tantalizing game called Shiver: Poltergeist, the second in the series of Shiver games. Why tantalizing? Because I only had time to play for a little bit, since I’m still getting everything ready for the big move… but that was enough to get me hooked, and now I want to know who, why, and how, and, I’m pretty sure… so will you.
We have our main man, Ricardo, the last surviving member of a family he never knew about, who inherits an estate on its own private island. Since Ricardo feels like his life is in a rut, he loses no time in heading out to check on his new island.
And what does he find? An unkempt, dilapidated mansion with no staff, except a correctly dressed butler who I think might be a bit confused since we find him trimming the hedges… in the rain.
As expected, Ricardo finally finds a way into the house and the fun begins. We mix in one fiery poltergeist, who feels jilted by Richard, a former family member. This ghost likes to throw things around, block doors, and set things on fire if Ricardo gets too close to a clue or item he will need later in the game. Of course, it doesn’t help that Ricardo looks just like Richard.
The game has all that is necessary to make a good storyline. However, I did find the fact that the rain and dust motes have some sparkle to them a bit confusing when deciding what I needed to check out next. I'm used to seeing sparkle hints. Because of these sparkles, be sure to completely roam around the site you are in so that the “eye” can alert you to places you need to look at, items to pick up, and puzzles to solve. If you are not sure where to go next, use the hint button. Don’t worry; you won’t lose a needed hint. I found all the moving from area to area a bit excessive for finding the objects you need somewhere else, but that could have been because I had limited time to play.
All in all, it is a game worth playing, and I hope to get a chance to finish it very soon! But it might have to wait until after the move...
