Back in 2010, PlayStation consoles went through an interesting phase. The PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable (PSP) had grown a significant install base, and allowed for cross-platform purchases. At this time, a lot of new genres aimed at casual gamers began to emerge. Games that were typically relegated to browser-only experiences begun launching on consoles. G5 Entertainment’s The Mystery of the Crystal Portal was one such title. It launched to capitalise on the growing popularity of hidden object games on the PlayStation 3 and PSP.
After years of quietly bubbling under on PC, the advent of digital distribution channels on consoles gave the genre a new outlet. And back in 2010, it was proving surprisingly fruitful. And not only did the rising popularity of the genre on consoles mean that more publishers and developers were producing such titles (especially given their comparatively low development and marketing costs, and subsequently low retail price), but it also meant that new ideas were springing up with alarming regularity. The Mystery of the Crystal Portal did exactly that. It delivered a hidden object game with innovation at a reasonable price.
The Puzzling of The Mystery of the Crystal Portal Puzzle
In The Mystery of the Crystal Portal, each new puzzle scene presents multi-layered puzzles. Resident Evil style object collection and implementation over and under other objectives. While most hidden object games are content with presenting a list of items and asking the player to get on with it, The Mystery of the Crystal Portal sets the player about their task with no clue as to what will be needed. Instead presenting an ultimate goal and allowing the player to investigate an increasing number of objectives. Each building to that final purpose. Objects within the world can contain items, and most objectives require the player to locate a number of items in order to obtain another item for use in a later objective. It may sound convoluted, but in practice it’s a system that’s frequently rewarding.
The Mystery of the Crystal Portal’s new ideas end there, however. The rest of the game is largely formulaic. The hint system remains entirely standard and the zoom function is exactly as would be expected. The analogue control is perfectly weighted for the implementation of more precise control with the D-Pad, which appears strangely absent. A story that provides enough backdrop for a globe trotting adventure fails to ever really communicate any depth or drama. It’s likely the player will soon tire of it’s one note characters.
Painting a Pretty Picture
The art direction of The Mystery of the Crystal Portal is more than commendable. It’s an aesthetic that brings vivid interpretations to a genre full of inspired scene setting. Tidy, hand-painted scenes are the basic design, while completion of objectives often leads to computer generated effects being placed over the top. Smoke trails, ghostly figures and other such visualisations come to life with progress. Each carefully crafted so as not to clash with the brushstroke nature of the backgrounds.
Though The Mystery of the Crystal Portal is largely a mixed-bag in terms of it’s performance in the genre, in terms of a marketable product it’s near-flawless. A low cost title perfectly suited for play on either PlayStation 3 or PSP, The Mystery of the Crystal Portal also includes a clever menu containing details and screenshots of some of G5 Entertainment’s other ‘PS Mini’ releases – Mahjongg Artifacts: Chapter 2, Supermarket Mania and Stand O’ Food are highlighted – as a demonstration of the publisher’s growing awareness of the unique opportunities offered by the numerous digital distribution platforms in today’s market. And there’s The Mystery of the Crystal Portal’s greatest strength – its built perfectly for the audience that will already be aware of it’s small innovations.
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