The Secret Monster Society - Chapter 1: Monsters, Fires and Forbidden Forests (PC) Review

When the voice of the main character of a game sounds rather like the infamous lead from Conker's Bad Fur Day, then clearly levels of excitement go through the roof. Whilst not on the compelling level of Rare's classic squirrel, Blithe Dalrich is a beast of a different variety, complete with his own magnetism. He is a 'Dream Monster' from the Underworld and is about to go on the adventure of a lifetime. Except that in Chapter 1 of The Secret Monster Society, it is more of an introductory sequence to familiarise players with his various cohorts. Bright, colourful and well-voiced throughout, whilst enjoyable, sadly Deceptive Games' effort is all over within 45 minutes to an hour, tops, and that is not even just for veteran adventure fans.

Thankfully, though, its charisma carries it through and, thus, rather than feeling deflated at the end, there is a desire for the next episode. Overly studious, slow and deliberate, high pitched and giggly, stubborn - Blithe has a wide range of weird and wonderful friends to interact with during this bite-sized first part of the four-chapter, apparently eight-hour long, journey. Puzzles within include routine efforts like grabbing different items and returning to the source, navigating through a multi-pathed maze, remembering specific codes, following chain-like events to progress, mix-and-matching items to craft new ones, logic conundrums, plus more. The selection on offer so far is indeed very pleasing, although not exactly taxing in any particular way.

The Secret Monster Society - Chapter 1: Monsters, Fires and Forbidden Forests is brimming with character - it simply cannot be argued otherwise - and its breezy soundtrack, plus the hand-drawn HD, cartoon-esque characters and world make for a well presented effort, although drawbacks come in the form of Blithe's walking pace being too slow, double-clicking to 'warp' through doorways not seeming to be present, and skipping text also appearing to be temperamental right now, sometimes not working at all, meaning that accidentally repeated conversations must be endured in full.