[Review] - Puzzle Agent 2

[Siren]

Publisher: Telltale Games

Designer: Graham Annable

Platform: Windows, Mac Os X, PSN, iPhone, iPad

Genre: Puzzle/Adventure

Release Date: June 30, 2011

Price: $2.99 -iPad, $.99 -iPhone, and $9.99 -PC

The one man puzzle solving machine of the FBI Nelson Tethers, is back on the case solving puzzle-esqe crimes in the followup to 2010's Nelson Tethers: Puzzle Agent, Puzzle Agent 2. In this sequel, Nelson is still bothered about the unresolved case from the town of Scoggins including the still missing Isaac Davner. Nelson is determined to put all of pieces of the puzzle together and figure out what really is going on in the tiny town of Scoggins. Do you have the wits to help Nelson finally say "case closed" on Scoggins or will you start this adventure only to never finish it? Let's find out in our review of Telltale Game's, Puzzle Agent 2.

After a brief little cutscene at the start of the game that has Nelson Tethers pondering about his past case, you are thrown into solving a small puzzle. Telltale Games couldn't call it Puzzle Agent 2 without there being puzzles after all. This puzzle is relatively easy. It is just a matter of moving around the circular bands and getting the symbols to not repeat themselves. This puzzle however is the only one you might enjoy. You are quickly thrown into repetitive and often lackluster puzzle solving of this point and click adventure that will make you wish that you had an actual puzzle in front of you to physcially solve with your own two hands, because it would make more sense and provide more entertainment. Some of the puzzles are difficult and will leave you scratching your head, but not for the reason you would expect or because of the difficulty considering the past level of difficulty in solving puzzles in the original Puzzle Agent. This was just sloppy and poor creative thinking on Telltale's part. Some of the puzzles do not have a direction that they point you in and you will find yourself either youtubing, chewing gum for hints, or looking for answers on Google, Bing, or whatever search engine you fancy.

Now not all of Puzzle Agent 2 is dreadful. The unique art design by Graham Annable stays true to the first Puzzle Agent and continues the tradition of creative graphics that look more hand drawn instead of the highly detailed graphics that we have all become accustomed to, bringing in a breath of air to an otherwise dull puzzler. Nelson's story involving the mysterious teeny town of Scoggins also helps to add a bit of luster to the experience. However that luster is not a constant as sometimes I found myself clicking to advance the cutscenes just to get to the next puzzle.

If you have the time and played the first Puzzle Agent, you should check out Puzzle Agent 2 just to see how the story unravels in the town of Scoggins. If not, then you can let this one stay on the shelf and app store.

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