The  Mystery of Whiterock Castle is a hidden object WiiWare title from Playtainment which sees you exploring Whiterock Castle in search of the hidden princess.  The game offers two levels of play - easy and hard – and each scenario sees you searching for a set quantity of a given item in each particular location.  So, for example, you may have to find ten horseshoes in a stable.  You use the Wii remote throughout the game, pressing A to select an item and B to activate the magnifying glass.  Points are scored for every item you find but points are lost for every item you select incorrectly.

As stated previously, in each location you need to find certain quantities of an item and you are timed in doing this.  The amount of time provided varies depending on whether you play on the easy or hard setting and in the beginning timescales can be quite generous.  However, even in easy mode, finding ten of the same item in an unfamiliar location in 2-3 minutes can be a hard task and the locations do seem to become progressively more difficult.  There are no hints to help you on your way and at times even your magnifying glass isn’t enough to reveal the elusive objects (although during the majority of the game, using the magnifying glass is a must – some of these objects are miniscule!).  Whilst you might imagine it’s easier to find ten of one item than ten different items, the timescales make what should be fairly easy going quite frustrating.

In the event that you can’t complete a particular location in time, it’s game over and you can play again or return to the main menu screen.  Playing again sees you returning to the beginning and playing through the same levels again.  Thankfully Playtainment have ensured that you’re not always searching for the same item by offering a small random selection of different objects but unfortunately it can still be somewhat repetitive at times.  On occasion I was so close to running out of time and still with so many objects to find that I simply resorted to random clicking to find the remaining items, which – whilst it often saw me through to the next level – provided a less than satisfying experience. 

In fairness, throughout the game Playtainment have taken steps to try and keep it quite varied.  For example, in a dark location a lamp lights small amounts of the room, requiring you to scrutinise each area bit by bit.  For those who complete the game, Co-operative and Competition modes are also available and highscore boards allow you to compare your achievements with friends and family.  The locations are bright and eyecatching the areas of the castle and characters you meet would no doubt keep many children entertained.  It has all the makings of a great family title but the structure is sadly lacking – a real shame in my opinion.

The Mystery of Whiterock Castle is one of those disappointing games that is actually filled with promise but doesn’t really live up to expectations.  The game – aimed at 3 upwards – could have been perfect for families and children to play together.  The game is quite childlike at times in feel and would have been a great exercise in attention to detail and working together.  Instead it’s a hurried affair that leaves you feeling disappointed.  Removing the time limits and making the puzzles a little more challenging by adding a variety of objects instead would, I feel, have been a much better approach to this title. At the very least, time limits should be optional, making it more accessible for a range of players.  Whilst it’s clear that this was an excellent game in theory, it’s execution required a little more work; however, I still believe there’s hope for future Playtainment WiiWare titles.

**Review by Donna Haw**