Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid Game Review

Game Type: Hidden Object

Rating: Not available, family friendly with mild violence

How long does it take to play?

• About four hours, but it depends on how fast you can solve the puzzles

How can I play?

• Available on the Steam app

I've reviewed countless versions of The Little Mermaid on this blog, and some have been phenomenal, while others leave something to be desired. Unfortunately, this is one of those versions.

The plot begins with a fisherman on the water enjoying his day. Somewhere in a foreign land, an ancient city has surfaced after thousands of years under sea. And a dangerous sea beast has also been awakened! A deadly purple tide has also washed ashore, killing the local fish and affecting a local village. This is something many people worldwide deal with as our climate continues to change. These algal blooms release toxins that once ingested can be fatal, so I appreciated this nod to current oceanic challenges.

We play as a detective to uncover the mystery of what’s going on. The scenes in this story were gorgeous and have ties back to ancient Greece. The Little Mermaid character is gorgeous! You can find clues about her sisters in some of the scenes, but she's the only mermaid in this game.

However, there were many issues with the plot. For one, the player is able to walk around underwater without explanation, and the merpeople can swim into an air bubble guarding the castle without flopping around? Later on, the purple tide wasn't explained nor was the giant sea beast.

One of my favorite parts about Hidden Object Games or HOGs are the complex and different puzzles around each scene. However, there was a lack of puzzles and it was just about finding different pieces of locks or scenes to open things up, creating a lack of challenge for the player.

 While the scenes and mermaid were captivating, there's a lack of puzzles with some plot holes that miss the mark on a successful gaming experience.

I give this game 2 stars.

Sirenita The Selkie

** for lack of puzzles and plot holes.