Genre: Hidden Object Adventure
Developer: TechFront
Publisher: Gamehouse
Download a 60-minute trial of Lilly Wu and the Terra Cotta Mystery
December M: 
Ever noticed those gold rectangles around the border of National Geographic magazines? Well you will, after playing Lilly Wu and the Terra Cotta Mystery. They’re everywhere! I’ve not seen such effective branding of a game since the Spin Top hidden object games. But one thing about National Geographic – they certainly give you rich storylines and superb graphics. Perhaps they have the Midas touch?
You play Lilly Wu, a forensic archaeologist – much like the heroine on the TV show “Bones”. As you explore ancient remains of a new discovered dig, you realise there’s a possibility that the Emperor was murdered, and the adventure begins.
While the storyline is detailed, thorough and no doubt accurate, it isn’t told in a riveting or exciting manner and this is a common flaw in object-seeking games. However, Lilly Wu does make up for it with a distinctive manner of searching – with a PDA of all things – that certainly adds a ‘techie’ moment for all of us gaming geeks. Objects can be located in a variety of rooms so searching is challenging. But it isn’t at all difficult. Once you reach a room with an object in it, a bright gold rectangle (yes, there’s that branding again) will animate the item you are searching for. I really liked the unique searching style as it allowed you to be searching for answers of several different problems at once. This made the game feel less like a guided tour and like you were actually part of it.
Occasionally there are mini puzzle as well to enhance the playing pleasure which I found a fun diversion. The music became repetitive quickly and somewhat annoying but the hint system was solid and simple – click to use, wait a few seconds and click to use again.
All in all, National Geographic delivers again with a dependable and well made game with a slight twist. It doesn’t have much to offer in re-playability but it will certainly give you some enjoyable hours to whittle away – all while learning something new. I just wish the makers had used the word Terracotta instead of breaking it into two words. Why DO they do that?
