Customer Reviews

The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Fair warning: "The Hardy Boys: The Perfect Crime" is not an adventure game like "The Hidden Theft." It is instead a pretty straightforward hidden object game. It actually had the potential to be a very fun little game, but there are numerous small problems which add up to a disappointing experience.

First, the good: the plot follows the Hardy Boys as they try to track down a stolen bike, and discover a criminal conspiracy in Bayport. This game has more plot than many hidden object games, and while the dialogue is text-only, it manages to capture some of the goofy charm of the books. It's clear that the writers made an effort to create an interesting story. The boys' search takes them to a nice variety of locations, and the object hunt is occasionally interrupted for a quick puzzle. None of the puzzles are difficult, but they're not insultingly easy, either, and they do get a bit harder as the game continues.

Unfortunately, the game also had a number of flaws. First and foremost is the artwork, which isn't especially good and makes it almost impossible to find some of the objects. The game also has an irritating habit of giving you a description like "clock," and even though there are several clocks in the scene, only one of them is the correct answer. It also occasionally misidentifies objects (a clock is not the same as a watch), and gets strangely British at times (asking for a "spanner" instead of a "wrench," even though it seems like every scene features an American flag). None of these problems are game-killers by themselves, but it all adds up to a game that feels sloppy and unfinished. The occasional grammar mistakes don't help, either.

Overall, this game isn't terrible, but it isn't great, either. Die-hard Hardy fans should probably wait until the price comes down before buying it. Other players might just want to give this one a pass.

This game was such a disappointment for my son. The last Hardy Boys game was an adventure game. This is merely a series of seek-and-find exercises -- like I Spy books. It is marketed to 10 and over. My 8 year old was totally bored. The "perfect crime" is really that the Adventure Company is marketing this game with the Hidden Theft. Save your money.

I was very disappointed with this game. It is a hidden object game, which I wasn't expecting it to be. I usually like hidden object games so that did not bother me. Some of the objects are so small it is nearly impossible to find. I wish that I had not wasted my money on this game. I will never pre-order another game, I will wait and read reviews before I waste my money.

Very dissapointed in this game. It is boring...plain and simple. It is pretty much strictly hidden object finding. The mini puzzles are easy and boring as well. I had high hopes for this! It was like watching a bad movie with bad acting!

I bought this game for my 13 year old son. Paid more for shipping than for the game because I couldn't find one locally.

He installed it christmas day. Played it for 10 minutes and will never touch it again. It is nothing like the Hiiden Theft. It is simple a game of find the hidden objects. The Adventure Company has really messed up. HER Interactive has done an awesome job with the Nancy Drew games, but these guys can't seem to get there.

Too bad, would have been a great treat for my son.

If you ecpect anything like the Hidden Theft or any of the Nancy Drew games do not buy this one!

I thought this title was absolutely the worst game I've played. This is only the second time the Hardy Boys have been featured in their own video game, and I was looking forward to a good mystery story. I was sadly disappointed. The game is nothing more than a hidden object seek-and-find game. All the player does in the game is search for objects in the picture, plus do a few mini puzzles. Unlike Nancy Drew games, the puzzles aren't even related to solving the mystery. In each segment, Frank and Joe talk about the case and meet with other characters, but none of the plot is involved in the puzzles at all. It's like Frank and Joe decide to go somewhere, but first have to "clean up their room," or Cheif Collig has misplaced his keys, so the Hardy Boys search for the keys while "straightening up" the office. Thus from the player's point of view, all they do is look for items on a list. And the items are mundane, not even intregal to the plot. For example, while finding Chief Collig's keys, they also find a pencil, American Flag, shield, coffe mug, stapler, name plate, etc etc. Clearly the producers of these games are not even trying to develope a real Hardy Boys game here. I wish that they could produce something like the Nancy Drew games, where the player actually gets thoroughly involved in the plot, and solves intriguing puzzles in mysterious and often exotic locales. The Hardy Boys deserve the same. Personally, I think the current producers should give up the rights to the Hardy Boys and let someone like Herinteractive develop future Hardy Boys titles. I know they would do a good job. After all, they've developed over 20 Nancy Drew titles, each one a true classic adventure.

I shouldn't have pre-ordered this game! It's a search-and-find game, which doesn't bother me, but I just finished playing the Nancy Drew "Lights, Camera, Curses!" game and THAT was MUCH MORE fun and interesting.
This game was aggravating because of its grammar issues and choice of words (as another reviewer pointed out with British version of words, not being specific with certain words). AND, I thought perhaps after finishing the game (within a few hours) I could play it again with harder search objects. But NOOOOO, still easy, no fun. VERY disappointed.
I love the Nancy Drew games. I have to hope that the Hardy Boys games will get better. Unfortunately, so far, I've been disappointed by two Hardy Boys games and will be very wary of buying another one. I'll be reading comments before I buy another Hardy Boys game, THAT's for sure!!

I'm in agreement with the other reviewers, especially the comprehensive review by Laika. While the last Hardy Boys game was more like the very cool Nancy Drew games (adventure/strategy type), this is strictly a hidden object game. I was very dissapointed that the boys don't even speak in this game--you read text on the screen. It was fun, but the publisher's description should have made clear the type of game this is--especially for $19.99. I won't pre-order another Hardy Boys game again.

This game advertising was was very misleading in the fact that it stated that is was the next adventure of the Hardy Boy's. All it is is a where's Waldo type of game. If I had known whar I was getting, it would not have been gotten. I am veru very disappointed and quite frankly very upset. I hate these type of game. Can I put a zero rating on this game? Can I send it back? Don't buy this game if you are looking for an adventure game as in the first of this series, Too bad if you, like me pre-orderd this piece of garbage. First time U ever had to write a bad review and hope it's the last!

I purchased the game thinking it was like the previous game and was very dissapointed to find it a puzzle search game. I finished it in less than a day and didn't feel that it was worth the price I paid.