Hidden Expedition: The Price of Paradise – Review

The Hidden Expedition series has been passed around multiple times – from the original Big Fish Gams Studio to Eipix Entertainment and now to Domini Games. In this nineteenth adventure, H.E.L.P. sent you to an expedition site in Mexico to translate Aztec languages. What you did not expect was that Coatlicue, the Aztec goddess of nature was awakened and threatened to wreak havoc on humanity. It is now your job to find the key to buried Aztec secrets and save the world in Hidden Expedition: The Price of Paradise.

Hidden Expedition fans that have followed the franchise since its early days might be a little disappointed to find that The Price of Paradise is in a way, a reset for the franchise. Familiar characters are nowhere to be found and technologically advanced H.E.L.P. tools are not included. Also, for some reason, Domini Games who usually love their gadgets and gizmos, decided not to include the signature fact cards in this sequel. All these missing elements make the game feels like it belongs to a totally different series, if not for some minor story details that refer to the H.E.L.P. organization.

That being said, Hidden Expedition: The Price of Paradise is quite entertaining. The storyline is engaging, the gameplay is well-crafted, and the production is superb. In terms of gameplay, it is mostly safe and not experimental but incorporates enough thematic twists and creative flourishes to make itself entertaining. Quality-wise, this game is comparable to iconic Mayan-themed titles such as The Legacy: Forgotten Gates and Mayan Prophecies: Cursed Island, which is certainly high praise.

Hidden Expedition: The Price of Paradise adopts Domini Games’ bright and colorful graphics. Each location is highly detailed and painted with rich, diverse colors. These lush visuals make this game stand out among the crowd of dark and dreary hidden object games that have flooded the market as of late. As far as the audio in this game goes, it is excellent. The soundtracks are breezy most of the time, but able to switch up its pace when needed. The naturalistic sound effects also help enhance the experience and really immerse the player in the Mexican rainforest.

Although advanced hidden object players will find most of Hidden Expedition: The Price of Paradise to be easy, there is a plethora of tasks to complete. Thus, the game takes considerably longer than four hours to complete. The Collector’s Edition adds another hour from the bonus chapter and includes a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, cutscenes, replayable hidden object scenes, replayable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, morphing objects, and a souvenir room.

The Price of Paradise feels like a departure from the Hidden Expedition we are familiar with, but its gorgeous graphics and solid gameplay make it worth a try.