Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Devil in the Belfry – Review

Can you believe that the Dark Tales series has already come to its eighteenth installment? In The Devil in the Belfry, you arrive in a town where evil lurks in every corner. Each night, someone is murdered at the 13th chime of the bell tower., but no one has ever seen the bell itself. Can you and your good friend Detective Dupin solve this paranormal case?

While this long-running detective hidden object adventure franchise from AMAX Interactive has quite an uneven track record, there is no denying that a good mystery goes a long way. The developer has long given up on trying to tie the games to the original works written by Edgar Allan Poe and that is evident in The Devil in the Belfry. The storyline in the game has nothing to do with the original 1839 short story, but it is unexpectedly intriguing. Unlike some of the past Dark Tales sequels, there are moments of genuine surprise that really drive the story forward.

Because of its suspenseful storyline, Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Devil in the Belfry remains quite engaging even with its derivative gameplay. The gameplay is definitely heavy on the puzzles. These puzzles are neither outstandingly clever nor particularly challenging, but they are enjoyable and context-appropriate. The hidden object scenes are relatively rare, which is a shame since they are mostly expertly-crafted.

Thanks to its exquisite production, Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Devil in the Belfry stands out as one of the best Dark Tales games as of late. In fact, the memorable scene designs remind me of some of the studio’s iconic early works, when they were at the forefront of the HOPA scene. The sharp graphics, the brilliant voice-acting, and the ominous soundtracks work in conjunction with one another to create an immersive experience.

Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Devil in the Belfry does not take long to complete. The main game is roughly three and a half hours long and the bonus chapter adds an extra 45 minutes or so. The Collector’s Edition includes all the standard items; a strategy guide, wallpapers, screensavers, concept art, soundtracks, videos, replayable hidden object scenes, replayable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, and morphing objects.

Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Devil in the Belfry is among the better games released by AMAX Interactive in recent months.