Eventide 3: Legacy of Legends

Developer: The House of Fables  | Publisher: Artifex Mundi | Release Date: 2017 | Genre: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Mary Gilbert, the world renowned botanist, is back and if the previous two Eventide games taught us anything, this means that one of her unfortunate family members is going to end up kidnapped. This time it is Mary’s brother John, who gets whisked away by some sinister creatures called Zmeys after she decides to pay him a visit. The monsters take him to a land in the clouds, but luckily for Mary, a house spirit called Aitvar arrives to assist her with reaching this magical world on the other end of the rainbow. Once there, Mary discovers that it is an evil sorcerer that is behind the kidnapping, so she has no choice other than defeating him and finding her brother while also saving the world in the process.

Players who are familiar with hidden object puzzle adventures in general and the Eventide series in particular will know exactly what to expect from Legacy of Legends. As Mary, you need to explore your surroundings, add any object that isn’t nailed down to your inventory, solve any minigames you encounter and find a ton of hidden objects to make progress. While Mary teams up with her brother on a couple of occasions, he usually isn’t of much use and there isn’t the typical animal helper found in most hidden object adventures to rely on either. Instead, Mary has to depend on herself and her own wits to overcome the obstacles in her way, which makes the ending a bit ironic.

Like the previous two titles in the series, Eventide 3 is based around Slavic mythology, so you’ll encounter creatures like Zmeys, which are basically dragons. You’ll also have to prove your worth to Perun, who in Slavic mythology is the god of thunder and lightning. However, as action packed as this may sound, Eventide 3 is actually quite a laid back game and doesn’t require you to make split second choices or have quick reflexes. Instead, you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery and interesting locations. In fact, the closest thing that this game has to action is an achievement for completing a hidden object scene in less than 30 seconds, which we have to admit was quite a challenge.

Although we didn’t find the story quite as engrossing as the previous two games, the setting for the game is quite unique and there is something like 30 different locations to explore. Like Eventide 2, the amount of creatures you encounter is far less than the original game, which is a bit disappointing considering how many unique ones there are in Slavic mythology. Since the game is mostly set on islands that are floating in the clouds, it is no surprise that the visuals feature a more pastel color palette compared to other hidden object games. Everything is still very detailed though, and a lot of imagination has gone into drawing the different locations. Each scene features plenty of foreground and background layers to create the illusion of depth and you’ll also see lots of small animations to make them feel even more alive. It is good to see that the character animations are also much better than previous installments as this is traditionally an area where most titles in the genre cuts corners. Finally, the game also features plenty of cut-scenes and most of them look pretty good.

In terms of gameplay, Eventide 3 can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be thanks to the adjustable settings. If you just want to experience the story without getting stuck then “Casual” mode is the way to go. If you prefer more of a challenge then “Expert” mode will dole out penalties for careless clicks as well as take away some of the assistance that make the other modes easier. For even greater control, there is “Custom” mode, which let’s you pick and choose in what areas you want to be challenged or penalized. We recommend playing the game in “Expert” mode if you want it to last as most of the minigames are very easy and there is no bonus chapter at the conclusion of the story, which is sure to disappoint some players.

Speaking of minigames, Eventide 3 features quite a few repeats, so players with a few hidden object games under their belt won’t find many surprises here. From moving sliders to maneuver a golden piece into a slot to rotating circles so that they only contain pieces of the correct color, most of the minigames are a little too familiar at this point. Newcomers will get the most out of Eventide 3, but none of them will stump experienced players. The hidden object scenes fare slightly better as none of them repeat and there is plenty of variety on offer as well. One minute you might be searching a scene for a list of objects that range from bracelets and broken swords to peacock feathers and the next you might be tasked with finding fifteen herbs in an overgrown garden. There’s even a few fragmented object scenes to spice things up. Overall, the hidden object scenes in this game are above average and offers a decent challenge without being too easy or too frustrating. This is a good thing as there are no puzzle alternatives to these scenes.

In addition to the lack of any bonus chapter, Eventide 3 also does not have the usual morphing objects to find. Instead, you’ll find ornaments scattered around the gameworld, along with cards from the Pantheon. Finding all of them will reward you with achievements, so it is worth keeping an eye open for them. Speaking of cards and achievements, the Steam version of the game has 28 achievements to earn, but sadly no trading cards. This is a pity as the previous titles featured some nice Steam backgrounds and emoticons, but the omission is more than likely due to the new Steam regulations.

The Eventide 3 soundtrack is nice and relaxing, but we would definitely have liked to hear a few more tunes. The tracks on offer thankfully never become repetitive, but some more variety would have been even better. The sound effects are very good and even the voice acting is quite solid for the genre. Too many hidden object games suffer from voice acting that sounds like the actors and actresses are merely reading their lines from a script, so it is great to hear that a little more effort went into this one. Of course, if you are not a fan of voice acting it can be muted as the game allows you to adjust the music, sound and voice volumes separately. The interface of Eventide 3 is standard hidden object game fare, and if you’ve played any other title in the genre you’ll feel right at home.

The option to replay minigames and hidden object puzzles after completing the game is nice, but a bonus chapter would have been even better. Other extras, like the concept art and wallpapers are interesting, but doesn’t do much to increase the longevity of the game. If you are looking for a relaxing hidden object puzzle adventure that can keep you busy for an evening then Eventide won’t disappoint. It might not be very challenging, but it is quite polished and features a setting that is a bit more interesting than the usual supernatural scenarios favored by the genre. It still has its fair share of cliches, but if you are a fan of the genre you’ll still have fun.