9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek Review (iPad)

If things usually get fishy in hidden object adventures, in 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek they get snakey. So clearly it will be an even bigger challenge to be played by those who fear the cold blooded creatures, which adds to the already high levels of creepiness the game comes packed with.

You play as a female detective called over to Serpent Creek by her friend Helen Hunter (because Hunt was taken). When you arrive there, you find out that everybody’s acting extremely weird, not caring that there are reptilian-looking creatures lurking around just after the closure of the Reptile Festival. Because, well, there’s something like that in Serpent Creek, together with the Rattle Snake Hotel and all sorts of snake-related spooky things.

What I really liked about 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek is that it does manage to mix the spooks with the puns and it made me smile quite a few times during my play. For example, early on as you start, after seeing that ghostly reptile-human-monster, if you tap the phone in the hotel’s lobby, the main character asks: “Who am I gonna call? Ghsotbusters?” Now that’s my type of humor!

And everything else in this hidden object adventure is just as stylish: despite the few plot holes and obvious exaggerations, 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek manages to deliver an extremely pleased experience. There’s a bit of roaming around involved, searching for gears and stuff and odd items found in odd places, but that’s how it is in all similar games out there. The hidden object scenes themselves are really well done, with interactivity put in the mix – the kind that makes stuff more difficult.

And then you have the puzzles, which bring a nice element of surprise and diversity. Although not particularly difficult – just like the entire game actually – they are nice to play and do manage to get your brain gears in function.

All in all, despite its ludicrous story, 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek is an extremely good game. The graphics are great and cutscenes have solid voice overs, the story itself is engaging and the hidden object scenes, puzzles and adventure are blended together in a really nice mix. So if hidden object adventures are your thing, you will surely like this game too!

iTunes link: 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek