Wow, this was surprisingly well-done for an indie developer's first attempt for a HOG. Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner is a HOG indeed, with the atmosphere of a light weight adventure game coming from Anvate Games. It is not revolutionary, neither the best thing since sliced bread; but it is a decent HOG with some creativity put into it.

It's 1872, Portugal. Our protagonist Natalie is a young author at the end of her luck. She is going through financial problems after the passing of her father, critics mauled her new novel and now she conveniently misses the last steam ship to Americas for that week. Talk about Murphy's Laws, huh? Luckily - or unluckily enough, she manages to get herself passage on a small cargo boat which will be travelling towards Americas also. She quickly befriends the captain and the crew, and starts on a pleasant voyage, hoping to use the travelling time to pen a new adventure novel maybe. One night though, the adventure happens to her directly. As she wakes up to an eerie sound by the middle of the night, she quickly realizes that she is the only one on board. With an uncanny, glowing amphora residing in the cargo hold, she has time only until dawn to figure out what happened to the crew and bring them back. It seems that Murphy has spoken to Natalie at the end anyhow.

We are mostly used to hand-drawn environment art in HOGs - starting with Artifex Mundi and Big Fish classics - but Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner utilizes a 3D environment, much like an old school adventure game for our exploration. Cinematic cut scenes are hand drawn art already but gaming environment is all 3D models with a full blown environment design for the ship. There are certain effects that really brings out the atmosphere: like as the ship sways, our camera sways slowly to mimic the motion. I hope you wouldn't be prone to sea sickness. Flickering lights, eerie sound effects, triggered time bound survival mini games are all welcome flavors, successfully presenting a light horror atmosphere. 3D environment makes the HOG progression somewhat challenging in an enjoyable way too.

The game itself uses a HOG interface nonetheless; with your journal, inventory slots, clue button etc. You'll have 10 or so HOG scenes with creepy-crawlies walking around and the same amount of puzzles - some usual, some definitely creative. Items - mostly pearls - are easy to miss since there is little indicator that any object can be picked up and utilized, but the environment isn't large enough to get lost in a pixel hunt anyway. You easily get by.

As a last verdict, I can sincerely recommend the game for a casual time kill. It was a refreshing approach to the genre, and a successful trial at blending different genres into one casual game. Enjoy!

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Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner is a straight forward Hidden Objects puzzle game. The story sat in 1972, a young writer named Natalie who's been trying to survive life after her father passed away, she had financial issues because critics don't like her new novel. That morning she decided to take a steamship back to her homeland, America, but due to her bad luck, she missed the last voyage for the week. A captain of a cargo ship offered her to travel with them and she agreed. He told her they are carrying antique collection which belongs to a famous collector, little she does know this information will be valuable later when her adventure inside the ship starts in that night. The antique Amphora started to glow, and everyone in the ship has disappeared except for Natalie, all thanks go to the keepsake ring her father left her before he died.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1723652158

The adventure was only on the ship, you'll have to go back and forth searching for items and solve puzzles in order to save everyone who has disappeared. I like the 3d artstyle of the game and there is an option for the camera to give you a realistic feeling of the ship, but the lack of the fast traveling map made it a little bit frustrating at times. The journal was very helpful as well as the hints.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1723652670

Hidden objects scenes weren't very hard to solve, as well as the puzzles, which is skippable in case you fail to solve it. The music fits the atmosphere very well. Sadly since the game is old it doesn't have voice overs.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1723652542

Pros:
+Good 3D artwork.
+Good journal.
+Good story.
+OK music.
+Multiple hidden objects scenes.
+Collectables.
+Variety of puzzles.

Cons:
-No steam achievements.
-No voice-overs.

Its a little bit on the short side, but I recommend this game to Hidden Objects lovers, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑐𝘩𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑚𝑦 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐹𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑎'𝑠 𝐶𝘩𝑜𝑖𝑐𝑒

I really wanted to like this game, but unfortunately it is just not very well designed or put together.

Interface and Difficulty Settings:

The interface seems simple enough: a hand icon will appear if you can manipulate something, a spyglass icon will appear if you can examine something, and a glowing arrow will appear if you can move to a new location; however, there is no icon for whether you can pick something up, so have fun clicking on every object in a room or background to see if your character feels like taking it. There is also an issue with needing pixel accuracy for certain item interactions.

The only difference between normal and advanced difficulties is that the normal mode will sometimes, if it feels like it, make certain interactables (usually pearls) sparkle. It is a bit buggy, though, because it will also make areas where you have already picked things up sparkle, or areas where there is absolutely nothing of interest sparkle. Hidden object screens in both difficulties are clearly noted.

Hidden Object Puzzles:

You would think that the items would be pretty clearly distinguishable from each other, since each object is a separate cg-rendered model, but everything looks like it's made out of the same cheap plastic; if two items have a similar colour, they just blend together.

The puzzles at least make a bit more sense than most in the genre - the kitchen contains cooking-related items, the first-aid kit contains medical supplies, and the crew quarters and storerooms contain a wider assortment of gear and personal effects. There aren't too many piles of junk, or random Victorian dolls, or vegetables mixed in with antiques like you see in other HOGs.

One slightly irksome thing is that interactables within the hidden object screens are not indicated in any way, so any of the items stashed within containers or compartments are especially difficult to locate. It kind of defeats the purpose of strategic hunting if you have to randomly click on everything that might be a secret cache.

Additionally, at least two of the puzzles have random insects crawling all over them for "atmosphere," so I hope you like bugs.

Mini-games:

Speaking of creepy crawlies, I hope you also like rats and spiders because they each have their own mini-game.

I will at least give this game props for creativity.

Some of mini-games were tedious, and involved either "do this repetitive thing for a full three minutes" or "see how fast you can click and drag." Other mini-games were actually fun, though, and were different from any of the formulaic genre standards. I especially liked the match-3 tile-flipping game.

At the completion of each puzzle, a little victory jingle plays, and fireworks explode from each side of the screen. So much for the immersive horror experience. "Something horrible is happening on the ship, but I just opened a door. Party time!"

There is also a game-wide hidden object puzzle of finding little pearls hidden all over the ship. I like that the game adds another layer of complexity with this challenge.

Story:

You, a girl with a magic ring that wards off evil spirits, book passage on a cargo ship that just happens to have an evil spirit problem. Go figure. You must then spend an entire evening pretending to be an exterminator, a mechanic, a janitor, a navigator, and a really, really bad thief. (Seriously, you successfully crack a lock in a mini-game, and then the cutscene shows your character doing a completely different and stupid action that results in negative consequences.)

The gameplay is entirely linear, but you will need to refer to your journal to figure out where you should be trying to go next and why it matters. Without the journal, the story doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

There is also a weird quasi-romantic scene shoehorned in for no reason.

Graphics:

It starts off with a hand-drawn cutscene, which I was completely on board with because it was artistic and different. Then as soon as you get control of your character, you are dropped in a 90's-era, "we just learned how to use textures" cgi landscape that reminds me of the old cd-roms I played as a kid. The effect is jarring, and gets more grating with each subsequent cutscene.

I did like that they included a camera option that simulates boat-rocking. It adds to the feeling of being trapped on a creepy ship.

Text:

The text is well-written in both the various notes you find around the ship and in your journal, but the subtitles for the cutscenes are often misspelled or grammatically incorrect, and use an annoying serif font.

Music:
The game includes a free copy of the soundtrack, so you can enjoy all the boat creaking, wind whistling, and ghostly banging you want at your own leisure.

In short, this is a mediocre HOG with a clunky interface, inconsistent graphics, frustrating hidden object screens, bad translation errors, a contrived story, and too many vermin, that just happens to include a couple of enjoyable mini-games, a bonus scavenger hunt, and an interesting camera gimmick. That is simply not good enough for me to recommend it, when there are so many HOGs out there that do a much better job. I give it a 4/10.

Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner (IHOG)
Game provided for Curator review

Options include a slider for Brightness before you even enter the game (can be changed at any time), separate sliders for Music and Sound, Full-screen and Screen Correction (to make it widescreen). Choice of Casual or Advanced Mode, which can be changed at any time.

NOTE: You cannot access the Menu by clicking on the Menu button. lol~ You have to click on the ship's wheel above it in order to get to the menu.

WARNING for those sensitive: We have a mini-game where we have to catch a few tarantulas... Oh and there are rats, too. No snakes, though, you're safe there! lol~

Story:

You've had a run of terrible luck, but manage to gain passage upon a cargo ship bound for America. What seemed to be a boon turns out to be a nightmare in disguise when a horrible noise awakens you one night and you find that the crew of the ship has disappeared. You soon discover the horrible truth, and you only have 'til dawn to save the crew... and yourself!

The story progresses via semi-regular cutscenes. Our Journal contains extra details, and will also give you an idea of what you should be doing without giving you hints. It feels more like a true journal than is usually seen in a game with hidden objects. There is also an Objectives list inside if you need it.

Gameplay:

Be on the lookout for pearls* as you play. You'll likely notice them right after you start the game, but you won't find out that they're not a collectible until after you've been playing for a while.

The first half+ of the game plays more like a true adventure than an IHOG. Your cursor will change when you mouse-over something you can interact with, but it does NOT change over items that you can pick up. Like any good adventure game, click on anything that looks useful. You may get a message that there's no reason to do or take something right now, but at least you'll know it's there for later. The latter part of the game has a lot more puzzles and HO scenes and less adventuring.

Hidden Object Scenes can be lightly-interactive, but most of them are just your standard to-find list. The HOS themselves are junk piles, and some of the items are really cleverly-hidden. These scenes will eventually repeat once. Besides the lists, there are also a couple of times during the adventure portion when you'll have to find multiples of something, fragmented item-style.

A couple of the Mini-games are based on timing (ie. dropping something at just the right moment or spraying moving targets), and there's a super-irritating Simon-type memory game where you have to remember and repeat 8 sequences... and if you mess up anywhere along the line, you have to start over. :lalala:

We do have a MAP of the ship, but it is not interactive, nor does it allow instant transport.

Using a HINT during the adventure portion will either give you a direction to go or pinpoint an objective on the scene.
*Now about those pearls...
You MUST have all of the pearls in order to complete the game, but I found out AFTER I spent 10 minutes looking for the last two that once you finish everything else in the game, the hint will help you find any missing pearls. *face palm*

Sights and Sounds:

The scenes gently rock in rhythm with the sea, but you can turn this function off at any time.

Most cutscenes are done in a graphic novel style, but the rest of the game is done in the too-perfect 3D model style of yesteryear. Although the copyright in-game shows 2015, Amphora Prisoner actually came out in 2013, so it's no surprise that the graphics feel dated.

A couple of gripes, both related to anachronisms (there are a TON of them!): What is a modern-day fire extinguisher doing in a tale that feels like it's from the 1900's, and why can't we use said extinguishers to put out fires, huh? >_<
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1807461432
The music and SFX are nicely-environmental, and there are no voice overs - much preferred to BAD voice overs, I must say!

Extra Content:

This is not a collector's edition, but you can replay any minis and/or HOS that you've already completed in the game via the main menu.

• 15 Puzzles
  
• 11 Hidden Object Scenes

Verdict:

Cleverly-hidden HO's are offset by some annoying mini-games, but overall, this is a pleasant way to spend a few hours, and - due to the strong adventure element - a bit different than your usual IHOG fare.

Natalie is a young writer that missed her boat. She finds another one ready to accept her but she is warned that they're also carrying a box full of antiques. When she wakes up, she found the boat empty and a strange sound coming from that box... Now, it's a run against the clock to free the crew and to jail again an evil spirit.

Nice little casual game: not only the music is good but the story is also well written - I didn't really find any plothole (apart how the captain and our heroin seemed in love without any indication from her to have feelings). I find also the place very great: it's a boat and you're staying in it. Though the map isn't interactive at all, it's easy to find your way.

The minigames themselves are varied and I've appreciated the timed ones - though 3 minutes is too long for my taste. And the HOG are also challenging: some items are really obvious while others, being partially hidden or really well hidden to the point where you think they're part of the scenery or another object, are quite challenging.

You can also replay the HO or the minigames in the menu, which is a nice bonus.

The graphics are also good: while the cutscenes are clearly a drawing, the main game is a false 3D. Besides, as you're in a boat, the screen is moving. If you're getting sick, you can disable the feature.

Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner isn't really the game of the year, as there are better games out there but still, it's a refreshing one, with a good difficulty, with nice bonuses and with a nice concept.

Night Mysteries is a hidden object game that also tries to be a lightweight Lovecraftian horror story on board of a seemingly abandoned ship, and it does a surprisingly good job at both.

Night Mysteries: The Amphora Prisoner is the first time Anvate Games tried itself at the hidden object genre, and for a starting project, it is an incredibly positive surprise.

The biggest of these surprises is the story: we follow a struggling young writer called Natalie, who– while being on board a ship to America– has to battle an undescribed mysterious force in order to save the missing crew. There are some problems with the pacing and the out-of-place minigames, but even they cannot put a dent into the great, eerie atmosphere that accompanies us from start to finish. In this regard, Night Mysteries outclasses many large-budget hidden object games.

As for gameplay, it relies on some really outdated hidden object mechanics, and I swear this is the first HOG I met where the bonus collectibles are promoted into a mandatory element. Still, some parts are clever and refreshing, and even the worst parts are more than tolerable, so, altogether, this is a really solid product for any HOG fan.

I've played a lot of hidden object games, and The Amphora Prisoner ends up somewhere in my all-time bottom ten. There's an arrangement of typical minor issues, like sometimes-shaky English translation and a poorly-paced assemblage of clichés as a plot, with an ending cinematic that seems to presume a romance was featured at some point in the story -- it wasn't, but perhaps it was cut out in development.

More problematic are the actual gameplay elements. First, the environments, HO scenes, and everything else are modeled in 3D. A pretty good job was done of the modeling, really, but not good enough. Too often, the texture of an object you're supposed to find in a HO scene is insufficiently detailed, or simply not good for the given resolution, making the object nearly-impossible to recognize. A "strawberry" became a mere red triangle, while a "seahorse" looked more like a door handle. The HO scenes are mostly tolerable, though; it's the minigames that are particularly bad. A bucket-hoisting minigame and a ladder-climbing minigame are both straightforward tasks, made difficult purely by the horrible control scheme. Other minigames, that don't rely on the game's poor ability to recognize mouse movement, are rather too easy.

Finally, completion of the game requires finding 33 tiny pearls that are hidden throughout the game. They aren't that hard to find, really, but they're still an annoyance. A better game would make the pearl hunt an optional bonus objective, instead of making it essential.

Honestly this HOG bored me alot. I am just happy to finish it. Finishing the game was the best part of the game for me LOL.

Pros
One thing that was different was the game wasin 3D which I found unique and cool.

I also liked how the cutscenes where cartoon style.

Music was nice.

Cons

There was no voice acting at all. I think it's the first HOG I've played that had no voice acting at all.

Puzzles were ok. Some I just couldn't care about. In perticular the ones that had a countdown on them. I think there were three puzzles with counting down. I also hated the find the items I usually never hate the find the items part. But in this one the hidden objects on some were just hard to find. I abused the hint button a lot on the find the objects portion.

The hint button recharged very slow even at casual.

The map sucks. No fast travel. But the boat didn't have a lot of places to go. So getting lost wasn't a problem. The map doesn't even tell u where there is an action in a room. This made it difficult for me to remember which place to go to. Once again I abused the hint button a lot here. I think this HOG is also the first time a map didn't tell u where there is a action in a room.

The story sucked as in like it just wasn't developed at all. I couldn't care about the characters at all.

HOG was really short.

Can't remember what else I hated about this HOG as I hated a lot about this HOG.

Only get this HOG on a sale as it's $1.00 while I'm writing this. This HOG is not worth $4.99

You' re probably seeing some bad reviews here and wondering if you should you buy it? - the answer is no. You might see this title on sale at 60% off and think it can't be that bad - trust me it can.

I did not like this game. I bought it for a dollar and I got a lot of frustration for my time and money. Point and click actions are very fussy about where you click. Any mini-games with click and drag mouse motions did not work on my PC - raise the damn bucket (twice for goodness sake) or climb the damn ladder. I just had to wait for the skip timer to run out. The hidden object games had items so completely obscured that I had to use the hint button several times - I hate using the hint button. The artwork is below average. I did like the cartoon cut scenes.

I give this game 4 out of 10. I don't recommend it even if it's 90% discounted.

There's a whole bunch of things that make this game terrible. A 25/100 effort.

The good

Decent graphics
It has trading cards

The bad

Everything else, specifically:
Terrible action sequences - steer a boat, repel rats with insect repellent etc
And you need to do them for three minutes
Lack of clues on what to do
Ho-hum story
Pixel hunting involved
HO scenes are dull
Music is repetitive