The Secret Order 6: Bloodline
Gameplay 9
Graphics 8
Sound 8

Sarah Pennington is back and this time her adventures take her to a mysterious jungle where a visit to her mother turns into a showdown with the Dragon Clan over an extraordinary plant. The Secret Order 6 won’t disappoint those who are expecting more of the beautifully detailed visuals that has become a staple for Sunward Games titles. However, the game is also quite short and can easily be completed in a couple of hours. It is still very enjoyable though, and one of the better recent entries in this particular series, so if you are a fan of the genre or previous titles then this will be a good fit for your library.

Gameplay: Short and easy, but definitely entertaining.

Graphics: The scenes in this game are imaginative as well as very detailed.

Sound: Decent voice acting and a fitting, albeit limited, soundtrack

Summary 8.3 Outstanding
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

The Secret Order 6: Bloodline

Developer: Sunward Games Ltd.  | Publisher: Artifex Mundi | Release Date: 2017 | Genre: Casual / Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

From traveling to the past, mythical realms, legendary kingdoms, and even strange dimensions, nobody can claim that Sarah Pennington leads a boring life. As the daughter of the Master of the Order of the Griffins, she has had a lot on her plate and had to thwart the evil Clan of the Dragon multiple times in the past. In The Secret Order 6: Bloodline, we learn that Sarah’s mother is a microbiologist who is searching for a special flower deep in the jungles of South America. However, shortly after arriving in South America, Sarah finds herself up against the Dragon Clan once again as they kidnap her mother. It seems that some enemies from her past has their own interest in obtaining the miraculous flower that could give them power over life and death. Sarah has no choice but to rescue her mother and ensure that the Dragon Clan doesn’t get their hands on this miracle medicine.

Bloodline is the sixth installment of the popular Secret Order hidden object puzzle adventure series by Sunward Games and Artifex Mundi. Although the series has had some ups and downs, overall it has been amongst the better examples of the genre thanks to beautiful visuals and imaginative locations. Bloodline continues with this trend as it takes place mostly in a South American jungle. However, you won’t just bee seeing lots of trees as the 39 scenes on offer includes crash sites, hidden bases, secret labs, ancient ruins and much more. Each and every one of these scenes have been lavished with detail and are so colorful that even the most mundane ones are a joy to explore. It’s a good thing that all the scenes are so interesting too, as you’ll be spending a lot of time scrutinizing them very close. This is because in addition to the inventory objects needed to complete puzzles, all the scenes are also packed with bonus collectibles to find. These don’t have any use or impact on the story, but are there simply for an added challenge and an opportunity to earn some achievements. From jaguars and crocodiles to crows, chameleons, posters and the obligatory morphing objects, you have your work cut out to find all of them. We suggest making the effort to do so as the game is fairly short and can easily be completed in a couple of hours.

While same characters and names from previous games crop up occasionally, Bloodline is a self-contained adventure that actually has very little to do with the previous installments. Sarah spends most of her adventure alone, apart from the occasional helper, such as a monkey or jaguar cub. Her mother obviously also plays a small role, along with another member of the Order of the Griffins who you bump into. For the rest it is business as usual as Sarah scours her surroundings for objects to place in her inventory from where they can be used to solve all kinds of puzzles.

Along the way you’ll also encounter 12 hidden object scenes to complete along with 24 mini games. The hidden object scenes are detailed and interesting, but far from challenging. While the minigames features a couple of new challenges, most will be familiar to fans of the genre. Whether it is mixing colored fluids in the correct ratios, attaching wires to the correct spots to create the correct shapes, or using mirrors to reflect colored lights to their proper places on a grid, the minigames offer very little real surprises. Bloodline also features a cube artifact mechanic that can be activated in a few places, but the result is just another easy minigame.

While it might not be very challenging, even on the highest of the three available difficulty settings, Bloodline is still an entertaining experience, especially if you are looking for something relaxing. The whole game feels very polished and the interface is very easy to use. Features, like the map that can also be used to instantly jump to previously visited locations means you can quickly get to where you need to go when you figure out where to use an item. While the game doesn’t feature a lot of talking characters, the voice acting that is on offer doesn’t sound too bad. The soundtrack is also quite fitting, although we would have liked to hear a few more tunes.

Completing Bloodline rewards players with a bonus chapter that is set directly after the main storyline, but it doesn’t add too much to the overall playing time. Fans looking for something that can be completed in an evening will enjoy what this game has to offer, but those who thrive on a tough challenge won’t find it here. Bloodline isn’t perfect, character animations are still somewhat on the stiff side, the story is a little muddled at times and the whole experience is over all too soon, but it is definitely one of the better entries in the series. It is also very reasonably priced, so even with the short playtime, you’ll find plenty of value for money. If you are a fan of the series and would like to see more of Sarah Pennington and her adventures then The Secret Order 6 should be high on your wishlist. The same goes for newcomers to the genre as despite being the sixth title in a series, Bloodline is actually quite friendly towards novices.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 256 MB VRAM
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
  • OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
  • Processor: 2.5 GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 512 MB VRAM
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
  • OS: 10.6.8
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 256 MB VRAM
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
  • OS: 10.6.8
  • Processor: 2.5 GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 512 MB VRAM
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
  • OS: Ubuntu 12.04 (32/64bit)
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 256 MB VRAM
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
  • OS: Ubuntu 12.04 (32/64bit)
  • Processor: 2.5 GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 512 MB VRAM
  • Storage: 3 GB available space

Related posts

Burnout™ Paradise Remastered

Burnout™ Paradise Remastered

Burnout Paradise Remastered is an updated version of the original release from 2008 featuring better visuals as well as all the previously released DLC. The game looks better than ever and is still a lot of fun to play, but also retains a lot of the archaic interface elements. It also lacks features such as way-points and a fast travel system that fans of modern open-world games take for granted. Nevertheless, it is still a lot of fun to play and there are hours upon hours of content waiting in Paradise City. Gameplay: Fun and addictive, but some things have not aged so well in the ten years since the original release. Graphics: Not a massive visual overhaul compared to the original, but the game does look pretty good. Sound: The soundtrack is still great and the sound effects decent.

DuckTales: Remastered

DuckTales: Remastered

Wayforward definitely handled this remastered version with the respect that it deserves. The updated visuals look fantastic and the audio sounds great. It was also very nostalgic to hear the original voice actor for Scrooge reprising his role after all these years. If you loved the original you will have a blast with this one, but newcomers might wonder what all the fuss is about. Gameplay: Very true to the original. Graphics: The new character sprites are awesome, but I would have liked 2D backgrounds as well. Sound: Nice renditions of the classic tunes.

The Hong Kong Massacre

The Hong Kong Massacre

The Hong Kong Massacre is a top-down shooter with an addictive blend of all-out action, slow-motion dives, and bloody destruction. It will receive a lot of comparisons to Hotline Miami and Max Payne, but the addictive gameplay and John Woo elements ensure that it makes its own mark on the genre. The cutscenes could be better, and the game lacks some polish here and there, but overall, it is a great shooter with plenty of thrills to offer for those who are up to the challenge. Gameplay: The game is challenging and unforgiving but very addictive and rewarding. Graphics: The Hong Kong Massacre features plenty of blood, destructible scenery, and interesting locations. Sound: No voice acting, but the soundtrack and sound effects are good.

WazHack

WazHack

Wazhack is a roguelike game that kept us busy for hours, most of which was spent dying and retrying. It is a challenging game, but with a good strategy and plenty of luck, you will get far. Permanent death ensures you always stay on your toes, and the procedural levels provide plenty of replay value. There is also a wealth of characters to choose from, each with their own unique skills and weaknesses. Gameplay: This strategic roguelike is tough as nails but very rewarding. Graphics: The rendered backgrounds and 3D character models make for an interesting mix. Sound: The audio is subtle enough that you can play the game for hours without the music becoming annoying.

Commando Jack

Commando Jack

There is a lot to like about Commando Jack, but the fact that it is a straight mobile port without any enhancements does mean it will be overlooked by some players. The gameplay still shines though and there is a very enjoyable campaign to complete. The game might be free on mobile devices, but in this PC version you have everything at your disposal without any in-app purchases required. If you value gameplay over visuals and enjoy the genre give Commando Jack a shot. Gameplay: Straightforward tower defence gameplay with the ability to fight back in first person as well. Graphics: Clearly a mobile port, but not without charm. Sound: Catchy tunes that complement the action.

Trek to Yomi

Trek to Yomi

Trek To Yomi is a side-scrolling action game steeped in classic samurai movies' cinematic style. It features an eye-catching black and white art style along with an authentic soundtrack. However, even with the inclusion of multiple combos, the combat never encourages players to move beyond the same basic attacks to win. This is a pity as it can make enemy encounters repetitive instead of exciting. Nevertheless, samurai fans, especially those familiar with the movies of Akira Kurosawa, should definitely check out the game. Gameplay: The game is very short and quite linear, with plenty of combat sections interspersed with brief bouts of exploration. Graphics: Fans of vintage samurai movies will love the black and white aesthetic of the game and the cinematic camera angles. Sound: The music is authentic and filled with Japanese musical instruments from the period in which the game is set.

Leave a comment

14 + 7 =