Behind the Reflection series

paklaat July 30, 2022

Behind the Reflection
Behind the Reflection 2: Witch's Revenge
Game Category: Casual - Hidden Object, Puzzle, Horror
Developer / Distributor: Veles Studio / Alawar Entertainment
Release Date: 8 Mar 2011 / 23 Feb 2012
Rating: ESRB - Not Rated

Witchcraft!

Beware the witch

Beware the Wicked Old Witch...
Imagine crossing paths with a witch who has evil designs on your son... that's exactly what you'll be doing in the Behind the Reflection (BtR) series of games. There have been two releases so far in the series, with the first game releasing last year, and the second game only coming out last month. Both games are developed by Veles Studio, and published by Alawar Entertainment.

I thought I'd also point out that the game is produced by Denis Sedovich, the person who has helped guide many other great Alawar games (like the Gourmania series, the Heroes of Hellas series, and the recent Natural Threats: Ominous Shores game) to see the light of day. If you've played those games before, then you know that Denis' games seem to contain that extra oomph that will grab your attention. And, this is no different in the BtR series.

Let's take a closer look at both games, shall we?

[Ed: All images on the left are from Behind the Reflection, while all images on the right (except for the Baba Yaga image) are from Behind the Reflection 2: Witch's Revenge]

The Story

Baba Yaga [source: Google Images]

Here's a theory - there's something really mystical and (yet) familiar about the antagonist behind the BTR series. Allow me to introduce to you a story making its circle in Russian folklore for ages past: it's about an evil witch who in all likelihood needs no introduction - Baba Yaga. The name chills you to the very bone, and the fact that she lives in a cabin which sprouts two huge chicken legs, flies around on a huge mortar and pestle, and loves to eat children, is not something you can easily forget.

And that is exactly what the BTR series tries to do: to scare you with the threat of a haglike crone who steals away your son. Although you won't find any cabin sporting chicken legs in both games, you will eventually find out that this (unnamed) witch has spirited your son into an alternate world - a world of magic and fantasy that lies behind an ornate mirror.

Oh oh...

Out for revenge

In Behind the Reflection, you play the role of a loving mother who visits a garage sale with her son, Jacob. While answering the phone, her son wanders off to play. With a blinding flash, her son disappears into a large ornate mirror. After some keen sleuth work on her part, the mother meets up with the witch. Unfortunately, she also gets zapped into the same alternate world as her son. After much trials and tribulations, she successfully rescues her son, and the witch gets her just desserts.

Immediately continuing from the first story, Behind the Reflection 2: Witch's Revenge follows the mother on her second adventure as the persistent witch returns to terrorize her family. This time round, the mother gets tricked by the witch and loses her son again. It will take all her wit and will to find a way to rescue her son from the clutches of the wicked witch one more time.

Now, that's Snail Mail [Ed: Pun intended]!

Lovely artwork indeed!

Game Play
As is typical of all casual games sporting a hidden object theme, you're going to have to explore a number of interesting locations. Very often, you will meet characters who will speak to you and tell you what you must do to move on to the next location in the game. These characters include the witch herself, or characters who know or have been imprisoned by the witch. While the three main characters (the mother, her son Jacob, and the witch) are found in both games, two extra characters also reappear in Witch's Revenge. This surprised me as I wasn't expecting to see them again.

There are four styles of game play in the BTR series:

The first type of task is the typical find-the-hidden-object from a lovely scene of artwork (see screenshots above). Hidden object scenes are easily recognized by the sparkling animation in several places in the game. There are twelve items provided in a list at the bottom of the screen which shouldn't take you too long to complete.

Find all the lovely vegetables for Jacob

Some of the keys are so well hidden

The second type of task has you finding a bunch of like objects (see screenshot above) - for example, find several pill bottles in an old lady's home, or find a bunch of zodiac signs guarded by a ghostly butler, or find a set of keys hidden all over a crypt, or even find several water receptacles for a thirsty tree.

The task you will perform the most is to find parts of an artifact (see screenshot below). Artifacts include things like the seven parts of a map, or the four parts of a voodoo doll. You must click on certain objects in the game to start searching for missing parts; these objects are usually lit up by sparkles, so keep your eye out for them. What happens next is that a circular list appears around the object of interest. If you now find all items on the list, you will find the missing part you need. The items on the circular list are usually found at the same location, although there are certain items (marked by a blue box) that can only be found elsewhere.

The objects are usually hidden on the same screen

Can you handle it?

The final style of play in the game is to complete the puzzles you uncover after finding part of an artifact. The range of puzzles in the BTR series is quite astonishing in its variety and design. There are simple jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles, swapping puzzles, weighing puzzles, concentration puzzles, and even the rare action puzzle.

I found most of the puzzles to be quite easy only requiring your patience to complete them, but then, there are a small handful that are challenging. If you do find a puzzle to be too difficult, all you have to do is to wait for the Skip button to charge up at the bottom of the screen. Pressing the Skip button does not penalize you in any way.

Be prepared to exercise your brain

A botanist's nightmare

Graphics, Interface, and Audio
The graphics artwork and puzzle design are strong features in the BTR series. There's no denying that the graphics and puzzle design all look beautifully done. The artwork in the second game wins out over the first game, since everything looks more detailed, lively, and definitely more scary. The characters look good with the witch stealing the show. In the second game, the characters actually come to life in several short clips, which is a good step in the right direction (although there is no voice acting).

The sound effects generally give good feedback in the game, for example, you will clearly know if you've been given a new task. As mentioned earlier there is no voice acting, although you do hear the witch cackling in the second game. The music themes (four in each game) are either tense or serene depending on the situation you're in. One of the themes appears to be subtly changed in the second game, so you can feel like there's some form of continuity during play.

An ingeniously implemented puzzle

Elegant and simple

Pros
Behind the Reflection is a neat little hidden object game that targets true casual players.

The series tells an enticing story of an evil and wicked witch wanting to wreak havoc on the lives of an innocent mother and her bubbly son.
There's a great number of locations to explore, with the second game offering slightly more.
You get interesting hidden object scenes that are clear and beautifully drawn. The second game features artwork that is slightly more superior.
Both versions of the game feature an interesting mix of good puzzles to play.
The entire series is not overly difficult thanks to the Hints and Skip buttons.
There's a good sense of continuity when transiting from the first game into the second, although you could start playing from Witch's Revenge if you wanted to.

Where's the next hotspot?

Finding the missing parts of the armour

Cons
Although there is nothing too innovative in the game play, at least the Behind the Reflection series will appeal to those who are looking for a simple game and a bewitching story with at least some substance.

You often have to guess which objects in a scene hide a missing part of an artifact.
All we want is for the mother to find Jacob and beat the lights out of the witch, but some of her actions only make things worse, or the story just prolongs her suffering by placing more obstacles before her. Perhaps that's a way to say with great adversity comes great success... sorry, but I totally disagree - the story just intentionally drags it's feet for the sake of prolonging the game.
There's no way to play any of the puzzles from the main menu once you complete the game.
There's no replayability in the hidden object scenes, it's still the same search lists the next time you play.
Some of the scenes in the second game is rather macabre.
There's nothing new and innovative in the Behind the Reflection series that's already been done in other games.

Rather sparse

What's floating in them bottles?

Conclusion
Though not the best of hidden object games out there on the market, the Behind the Reflection series still make for a decent session of play on a lazy afternoon. And, I must say that the audience the developers are targeting are probably middle-aged female players who prefer games that are neither too easy (hidden object and puzzle-wise) nor too difficult (uhh... there's always the Hint and Skip button).

Do you know why I say this? It's because my mother totally went ballistic playing both games in consecutive order, completing them in just a few days, you could say she enjoyed herself playing them. And, you probably will too... if not, follow what I did and gift it to someone you love.

Here's hoping there will be a third game in an already good series!