Review: Fishdom H20: Hidden Odyssey

Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey provides players with a unique opportunity to build up a virtual aquarium of their dreams. The goal is to find hidden items in numerous eye-teasing locations to earn cash that can be spent on fish, ornaments, and various supplies for their fish tanks. The aquarium environment is fully interactive and customizable which leaves plenty of room for imagination.

Pros:

• Hidden object game where you must find items on a list.
• Great use of 3D, Especially when viewing your aquarium.
• Allows up to 6 profiles on the game so everyone in the family can have there own.
• Auto saves regularly.
• FMV animations between levels. Kind of in a low budget cartoon art style.
• Finish levels and unlock new fish tanks in different parts of the world.
• Buy fish and accessories to decore and populate your very own aquarium. Be warned that this is not as easy as it sounds, For every item/fish affects the three bars that you must adhere to give it an almost sim management style introduction.
• Earn money by finding items and finishing levels.
• In game hint system with limited uses. I say hint system, it takes you to the exact location but.
• Two options for game play: Relaxed will take away the timer and remove all stress and pressure of the game. The normal mode will keep the timer and pile the pressure on but also grant additional money for quick time finishes.
• Top screen of the 3DS displays the list of items that need to be found and the bottom screen is the game window where you tap.
• Game types will change as you progress through the game. Such modes as find all gold items in the time limit or complete a list in a set time. Helps keep it all fresh and different.
• Fish will swim around and get in the way and try their best to put you off.
• You can zoom in and out of the game window with ease and is advisable when you get to the smaller items on the list.
• Almost endless list of items to find.

Cons:

• Placing of objects in your fish tank is done for you, No way for you to place things where you would like.
• Tap recognition can be a bit off at times, especially in built up areas.
• No 3D actually in game or anywhere else but your aquarium.
• Very repetitive even with the different modes.

In Summary, The game does offer a lot of gameplay for the money and will be a fun short distraction. Without any huge angle to keep you coming back for more, It will be a short lived experience. That said it is perfect for kids and will keep them quiet on a long car journey. Playing the game on relaxed mode may as well be called cheater mode. With no timer, you can just slowly work your way through. A timer overall in each level with a online leaderboard or even a local one could have kept the game going a lot longer. As is, It has its moments but its ultimately limited by its genre. Lovely to look at but short.