Formats: PC

Publisher: Lighthouse Interactive

Reviewed By: Richard Davenport

Price: £19.99

[ratings]

The Lost Crown is a ‘point and click’ ghosthunting adventure which begins as a slow, atmospheric and downright strange journey through the coastal village of Saxton, and it pretty much maintains this pace throughout.

You play Nigel Danvers who whilst on the run stumbles upon Saxton and is immediately intrigued by what the locals have to say about the place. Ever the inquisitive one, Nigel is thrust into a search for treasure and soon discovers that not all is normal in this sleepy coastal village.

The first thing that will strike you is the look of the game. The almost primarily black and white visuals are actually stunning, often using real photographs for the background. The sound effects are superbly done and are used to crank up the tension and create real atmosphere, making gameplay genuinely creepy.

The characters, however, do not fair as well on a visual front. They move from one area of the screen to another in a robotic fashion and considering how good the backdrop looks, this is a shame. The dialogue, too, has a ‘wooden’ feel to it and could have been much better.

The game is not going to satisfy those gamers demanding fast-paced action as it requires some patience. Expect to spend what seems like hours exploring the same areas, over and over looking for the clue that will unlock the next part of the game. The game will no doubt prove frustrating for some but thoroughly intriguing to others.

For those interested in the spooky side of life and willing to dedicate some time to solving some tricky puzzles, then this game will not disappoint. Some moments genuinely make you jump and this atmosphere created by the makers of The Lost Crown is very impressive.

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