A sort-of spiritual sequel to 2020’s excellent Hidden Through Time, Sophia the Traveler is another hidden object game which is basically a digital version of Where’s Waldo. While still offering plenty of wholesome entertainment, it doesn’t have as many features as Crazy Monkey’s original but is sold at a lower price point.
Using the analog stick to control a cursor, the goal is to click on specific objects within each digital landscape. The right side of the screen displays a list of the items that need to be spotted, complete with a general hint as to where it might be located. Then the triggers are used to zoom the camera and the d-pad switches the findable objects. It is an intuitive and simple interface that gives you everything you need although I wish there was a “hold down this button to make the cursor move faster” option.
What the game doesn’t tell the player is that several parts of the environment are interactive, and secrets are most likely hidden within them. For example, the first stage tasks the player with finding a couple objects that are not visible. Instead, the player needs to click on a specific part of a tree to clear some leaves and tap on a cabinet door to open it, revealing objectives inside. Once you realize the game wants you to click on almost everything, it isn’t a big deal. It is just a little confusing, mislead, and frustrating at first.
In fact, these subtle interaction behaviors are part of what gives this game its charm. Selecting a human might make them say something. Clicking on a fishing net will make fish appear. Tapping on that sewer cover could reveal something from the depths. Hitting a flower bed a few times will make flowers gross. Even though these things might not yield a hidden item, they are tiny rewards in and of themselves.
Being honest, there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with Sophia’s travels, but I can’t help making the comparison to Hidden Through Time, and how better that experience is. There are two key features missing here with Sophia’s game: the lack of a soundtrack and there is no map making feature. The calming, ambient tunes of Hidden Through Time are these beautiful, sweeping tracks that were so good, I just wanted that music to play in the background throughout my day regardless of what I was doing. Here, there is nothing other than birds chirping or waves crashing. Without a convincing soundtrack, the entire experience just seems a little empty.
Although each of the 10 stages grow in scale and complexity, not having the ability to make your own stages and then upload them seems like a missed opportunity. To be fair, this sub-$10 price point easily justifies this but enjoying custom made map from your friends and randoms was part of the fun, especially if you purposely made hints that have nothing to do with the items that you need to find.
Like I said, there isn’t anything wrong with Sophia The Traveler, I just sort of wish there was a little more to it. However, even though there is no dedicated multiplayer mode, this is one of those perfect games to play with your spouse, child, or someone who doesn’t necessarily play games but can still participate in finding objects. It is a casual, friendly, and wholesome experience that is calming and enjoyable.
SCORE: 7/10
Also Try: putting together a physical or digital puzzle
More Cost Friendly Than: buying Where’s Waldo books
Don’t Forget About: the Steam bundle that combines Sophia with Hidden Through Time
By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com
Twitter: @ZackGaz
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