Off the Record 1: Linden Shades

Off the Record: Linden Shades
by Eipix Entertainment - June, 2013

Series links: Off the Record 1: Linden Shades, Off the Record 2: The Italian Affair, Off the Record 3: The Art of Deception, Off The Record 4: Liberty Stone

Available at:
Big Fish as Collector's Edition / Standard Edition



A mysterious figure in red… Something’s driven everyone away from Linden Shades.  No one’s been back since that time of terror when the kids drew startling images of blood-red ghosts, and the police were no help. Your editor’s sure there’s a story hidden in the Shades. Can you get the truth, off the record?

The Collector’s Edition includes:

• The bonus game to uncover more secrets
  
• Soundtracks, wallpapers, screensavers, and concept art
  
• The integrated Strategy Guide
  

For the Standard Edition

• Walkthrough
  
• Strategy Guide (Big Fish)
  

Click images to enlarge

Not Just Another Ghost Story****

BASED ON DEMO

This game already has me won over. The STORY is a spooky GHOST story, set in the BROAD DAYLIGHT of a sunny day in the country. While the ATMOSPHERE suffers a little from this departure from cliché, I think it’s worth it just for the variety. And it is a creepy story. BLOOD RED GHOSTS began to appear to the children of an orphanage. The principal believes they are real, but no one else does. The orphanage is closed anyway and you in your role as a REPORTER with OFF THE RECORD are investigating this decades-old case.

This is a HO GAME, there are oodles of them everywhere – which is just fine by me! The ADVENTURE component is limited and very simple. Each INVENTORY item is quickly used in an obvious place. There are also very few PUZZLES, and so far they are not difficult.

The HOS are the INTERACTIVE LIST TYPE, with some objects requiring further action. Some require the solving of a VERY SIMPLE little puzzle – for example, placing different shaped stones back into a necklace where the background cloth indicates the shape. There are also some MULTIPLES OF items in each HOS, for instance, spur x 5 and apple x4. If you are too slow on finding an item, one will start to glow.

HINT points to the area you need to be DIRECTLY, showing a photo you can JUMP into. So does the INTERACTIVE MAP which shows you active objectives, places with things to be done, and your location. You have 3 levels of difficulty, which is probably just as well, because on Regular this game is VERY EASY.

The GRAPHICS are CLEAR, PLEASANT & BRIGHT. No problem with dark scenes in the beautiful daylight. They are not, perhaps, spectacular, but they are CE standard. The MUSIC became a bit annoying to me, too many repetitions already. AMBIENT sounds are great. VOICEOVERS were also EXCELLENT.

Now for the BELLS & WHISTLES. *deep breath*

We have COLLECTIBLES – 37 crayons, 12 letters (of the alphabet), 16 toys, and we must also find tapes with the backstory.
ACHIEVEMENTS – 20, including ones related to the collectibles.
GALLERY with ART, CONCEPT ART, REPLAYABLE CUT SCENES, MUSIC, MAKING OF.
REPLAYABLE HOS & PUZZLES.
BONUS GAME WITH NEW HOS
STRATEGY GUIDE – which at first I couldn’t find, it’s in the diary I never even thought to open!

I’m keen to buy this one, it fits me to a tee – good story, nice graphics, different idea (daylight) and the gameplay is HOS heavy.

But that is not going to be the case for most HOPA fans. I think even in the ‘INSANE’ mode, this game will be TOO EASY for EXPERTS, and have too many HOS for the ADVENTURE PLAYERS.

So 'OFF THE RECORD' I recommend it to all us AVERAGE players out there looking for a relaxing & entertaining few hours.

I recommend this game!