Hidden Mysteries: JFK Conspiracy

The Good
This is a very easy game to play and by that I don't mean the puzzles are simple; it's just that the game looks, sounds and plays just as it should. There is the usual rechargeable hint mechanic to aid the player in the hidden object puzzles and the other puzzles have a help feature which explains what has to be done and a skip feature. I used all options, purely in the interests of research for this review, and they all worked perfectly.
Often in a game with multiple locations I'm faced with the old "Where do I go next?" question, usually after I've taken a short break. The game's help system has that covered too. When I used it I got a sparkly semi circle at the bottom of the screen indicating I needed to backtrack to another location and the sparkles continued until I got to the appropriate place. It was a bit like being let loose in a soft play area, because whatever I did I wasn't going to break anything and the game 'had my back', meaning I could relax and enjoy the experience.

The game has a decent story, it's not going to win many awards for originality but it is decent enough and the dialogue is credible throughout. It's difficult to say much about the story without giving away the plot but basically the player has visions in which they 'travel' to different places and times, solve puzzles, talk to people and advance the plot.
Following the story does involve a bit of reading and I found the text in this game easier to read than some others I have played so Story: OK - Presentation of same: Two thumbs up.

I really liked the in-game music of this title. It's got that downbeat ambient feel to it that appeals to me. It didn't so much enhance the game as create an atmosphere where it seemed credible for someone to be wandering around having visions and talking to people who were not there without being overtly spooky.

I liked the artwork a lot too. I have played a few games with hidden object puzzles and I found the puzzles here more enjoyable than most because the objects just seemed easier to see. Yes, there were a few times when I used the in-game hint option for an elusive object, but most of the time it was because, for example, I'd forgotten that in the USA a handbag is called a purse or something similar. There are plenty of locations to visit, all well presented and some of them quite pretty, and every now and then I'd come across something I didn't know and learn.

The Bad
There really is very little to dislike here, so it's down to the little things that just seemed a bit off and both have to do with the game's ending, which I felt lacked a suitable climax.
When the final puzzle is solved the game is over very quickly. There was a screen where I was told I'd "done a good job and my mother would be proud" and that was that. I don't know what I expected but it felt abrupt and a bit of a let down, even a bit of music and scrolling credits would have been better.

My other teensy weensy tiny gripe is in the game's replayability or lack thereof. I have finished the game on easy mode and I do not expect to play it again. There is a harder mode in which the skip and hint options recharge slower but I don't think that will really give me a significantly different experience. If there were some in-game stats or maybe wallpapers that are unlocked when a game had been completed without skipping a puzzle or using the hint option then I may play again, but as things stand I don't see the point.

The Bottom Line
If you're looking for an engrossing story or a life enhancing experience then look elsewhere.
This is a casual game and it does what it does very well. I completed this game in around three to three and a half hours, so it will fill an afternoon or an evening. It looks good, it sounds good, it has a good mix of puzzles, it plays well and I enjoyed it.