When I first started receiving game invites to Pearl’s Peril on Facebook, I wasn’t too into the idea of the game. It sounded like another damsel in distress scenario, and as a female gamer, I’ve played through more than enough of those games. However, my fascination with hidden object games eventually led me to try it out – and I’m glad I gave it a chance.
The Premise: Pearl’s Peril lets you help Pearl on her own Polynesian adventure. In the beginning of the game, Pearl is informed that her father has died and she must return home. Home is Artemis Island – aptly named considering the game features a female protagonist.
Pearl, the protagonist
About Pearl: Here’s the thing – our protagonist is a smart cookie. She knows something’s up. With your help, Pearl investigates various scenes on the Polynesian island, hoping to uncover the truth about her father’s death.
There’s also more to Pearl – our hero dominates the noir setting. She’s not the sidekick to a male detective. Pearl is her own hero, and the focus of her life is finding adventure and investigating issues close to her own heart. In the various scenes you uncover, you realize that Pearl is pretty fearless. You get the sense that Pearl and her family are in danger, but it’s up to YOU to empower Pearl to be the hero.
Additionally, Pearl and some of the other characters do not appear to be overly young. Pearl doesn’t look a day under 35.
Search and Find: As you’re searching for hidden objects in the game, you get additional clues and materials.
- Clues help you unravel the mystery in the overarching narrative, which gives you a really firm incentive to replay scenes (most scenes have multiple clues).
- Materials help you progress on your island, allowing you to build and upgrade stuff.
Build Your Island: You also get to build and customize your island.
Energy Levels: One complaint I have about most hidden object games is that you run out of energy too quickly and the game requires you to pay real money to access more. While this cash option stands in Pearl’s Peril, this game gives you plenty of energy and also sometimes rewards you with energy.
Graphics: The graphics are appropriate to the noir genre. They’re cartoony without being overly cute or kid-like. Additionally, the search and finds increase in difficulty the more you play the given scene – the increase is never impossible, and you get a timed magnifying glass to help you out (you don’t have a limited number of these like you do in some games). The interface is easy to use and everything is easy to find.
Social: There is a social aspect to the game as you can give and receive resources. Your friends appear on the bottom of your screen. Pearl’s Peril is a pretty popular game, so if you have a lot of Facebook friends, it’s likely that you already have several friends playing.
Pearl’s Peril is a somewhat social game.
Recommended Audience: This game is appropriate for teens and adults. If you’re into Nancy Drew novels, Agatha Christie’s works, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, ABC’s Castle, or The Great Gatsby, this might work for you.
Additionally, make sure to regularly visit the Facebook app page for Pearl’s Peril. The Pearl’s Peril team posts really engaging updates, including photos of their real life staff and lots of free goodies for you to redeem in the game. To get an idea of how immersive the story really is, you can check out the Pearl’s Peril Wiki to read about the characters.
Pearl’s Peril is is FREE. It’s available on Facebook and as an app in the Apple store. It’s made by Wooga.
