Game: Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic
Genre: Hidden Object, Puzzle
System: Steam (Windows and MacOS)
Developers | Publishers: Rogueside
Controller Support: Full
Price: US $TBC | UK £TBC | EU € TBC
Release Date: October 5th, 2023
Review code used, with many thanks to Evolve PR..
The first game in the Hidden Through Time series was released for Nintendo Switch and Steam in 2020. I reviewed it as well, and you can find that review here.
A few years later, developers Rogueside are back with a follow-up game, Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic.
Myths and Magic
Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic follows the same format we are familiar with from the previous game. You are presented with a very busy scene, and your task is to find the well-hidden objects that are displayed at the bottom of the screen.
In Hidden Through Time 2, the single-player campaign has four stories to search for hidden objects. We have Arabian Nights, which tells the story of Sinbad and his legend of the Seven Seas. Greek Mythology is about Greek Legends and Myths.
Furthermore, Medieval Fantasy relates the story of an adventuring party on a quest to free their world from all evil. Finally, The Magical 80s tells the story of a little witch falling in love with a werewolf in 80s high school fashion. All the stories are narrated, and I liked them all, though if I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Magical 80s that I enjoyed the most.
All the stories have eight chapters for you to play through and find various numbers of items. As you play each story, you unlock the others as you go. The game does offer a challenge; some of the items you must find are tiny, and searching for them in such a busy, packed scene can take time. Thankfully, there aren’t any time limits, so you can take as long as you wish.
New Reality Shift Feature
New to this game is the Reality Shift feature. It allows you to switch each scene from Day to Night, or some scenes change seasons from Summer to Winter. Not all items can be found in the original scene, as many items only appear once you change the scene using Reality Shift.
Having the Reality Shift feature is a great addition to the gameplay. It adds more depth to the gameplay, and I love the way the scene changes before my eyes.
Architect Mode
If you are creative, you can try out the Architect Mode. In this mode, you have a blank canvas to create your own scene. Many more customisation options are available in this game compared to Hidden Through Time. With the all-new terrain painter, you can create custom structures and dozens of characters with one click or sculpt terrain any way you want.
Once you have finished your creation, you can share it online and download other folks’ creations for you to play. I played around with the Architect Mode, and while I don’t have a creative bone in my body, I can see where it would be fun for those players who like to design their scenes.
Visuals and Controls
Every scene in Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic is well-animated with a beautiful, hand-drawn world. The music is relaxing, and the sound effects all add to bring the scenes to life.
They feel much more alive than in the first game, Hidden Through Time. Birds will squawk or flap their wings, drawers open, and people will make a sound if you click on them with the mouse. Additionally, both control system versions, controller and mouse, work as expected.
Conclusion
For new players and those players who enjoyed the first game, you will have as much fun, if not more, with Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic. It feels like the developers have put their heart and soul into Hidden Through Time 2, and it’s a lot more challenging than the first game. For me, out of the two games, I think this one is the best.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up 