I'm fresh from the holiday festivities and waiting to ring in the New Year, so it's time to kick back and play some games before school starts up again. Haunted Past: Realm of Ghosts Collector's Edition is a solid way to spend a few hours. It doesn't do anything revolutionary, and the story is pretty clunky, but the puzzles are engaging and the visuals and atmosphere will draw you in.
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The protagonist is a woman who gets a call from the mysterious Mr. Malloy, who informs her (you) that she has just inherited the deed to an estate. Naturally, the estate is huge, creaky, and very haunted. You'll navigate through cobweb-infested, beam-rotten rooms, armed only with your wit and the knickknackery you stumble upon on the way. The gameplay is a mix of gather-and-use style adventure (use the scissors to cut the seam in the couch cushion, etc.) and classic hidden object hunting, though be prepared for more adventure than hidden object.
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As I said, the story doesn't try too hard; the premise and plot points are just kind of thrown at you. You arrive (by carriage, no less) to this mansion, and before five seconds go by, you're introduced to the ghost of your dead mother. Oh, it's going to be one of those games. Aided by your dearly-departed mommy, you'll chase after Mr. Malloy to unlock the secret to the mansion.
But beyond the story, the atmosphere is engrossing, and sound design in particular is crisp. There's also a flash of originality in that you're able to step between the real world and the spirit world. You can do certain things in the spirit world, and your actions will change the real world. This throws a nice wrinkle into the usual formula. Puzzles are usually just right as far as difficulty, and an Advanced mode will cut out the hints if you want a tougher run-through.
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The special Collector's Edition includes concept art, a step-by-step strategy guide, wallpaper, and a bonus chapter of content. Not bad, but there have been games with a little more to offer for their collector's editions.
Pick up Haunted Past if you can't get enough of hidden object/adventure games. It's a nice way to spend a few hours, especially if you're avoiding cold weather.
