PixlBit

I Spy Spooky Mansion is a surprisingly well done game based around finding hidden objects. Unlike most other titles in the genre, which are usually flat 2D images, I Spy Spooky Mansion is completely 3D; a great aspect that allows players to scour every plane of an area. Add to that some decent humor, mini-games that actually work, a decently long quest, and co-operative play, and you have one of the best games in the genre on Wii.

The game's premise is simple: you, as the character, become trapped within a mansion and must solve all of the puzzles in order to escape. At the very beginning, players are introduced to a skeleton that will appear throughout the game after each puzzle is solved, to offer congratulations and a cheesy, yet charmingly sarcastic line. He explains that for every fully solved puzzle he will grant the player a puzzle piece, and they must find all of them if they wish to escape.

After the explanation, players are released to explore the two story mansion however they would like. The mansion itself is impressively constructed, with smooth textures making up every detail of the building, from the floors to the furniture. As players search the mansion, they will need to keep an eye out for a change in the on-screen reticle, as a switch to an arrow indicates that a puzzle is present, though they sometimes take up entire rooms.

The puzzles are even more impressively constructed, no matter if they exist within an entire room or just a particular section. Rather than seeking an item from a picture, players will have to zoom around a 3D area filled with objects along a predefined track.

Unlike other hidden object titles, players aren't simply given a list of items that hangs out on one side of the screen. Instead, a list in the form of a riddle is read to the player at the beginning of each puzzle, although most of the items that need to be found are clearly laid out. Sometimes players will seek an individual object, sometimes they will need to find a certain number of an item, and other times players will to complete a mini-game.

There are a wide variety of these mini-games, spanning from sharpening a pencil to cracking eggs within a pan; the majority of which implement waggle. From my experience with other similar titles and the quality of waggle encountered in those, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the motion controls responded. By no means would I call them perfect, or even polished, but the fact that they worked, though a bit roughly, was enough to be impressive. Considering the type of consumer most likely to purchase this game, they aren't even going to notice the rough spots.

A nice feature included in the game is co-op play, which will allow I Spy Spooky Mansion to make a great family game and even work well in a party setting. This will certainly be a valuable aspect to some, considering the game does not provide the player with any hints. Though the game is far from a good challenge, I can see how this tiny game element may either appeal to or frustrate certain individuals.

Those who enjoy their time with I Spy Spooky Mansion will be glad to realize after the main quest is completed that there is plenty more gameplay to be found in the form of another romp through the mansion; this time seeking new items in each puzzle area. In all, an experienced gamer can expect to get around 4-5 hours of gameplay from I Spy Spooky Mansion, whereas the more casual gamer will undoubtedly get far more out of it.

For anyone who enjoys titles in the hidden object genre, there's no question that I Spy Spooky Mansion will make them extremely satisfied. It's deeper and more robust than the majority of its competitors, offers a fun cooperative experience, and is a great departure from the monotonous 2D item hunting found elsewhere.