The Secret Order 6: Bloodline

Another fun title if you need a fix for your HOG itch
The sixth instalment of The Secret Order does have a sequel feel to it, as the antagonist of TSO 5 makes a return here. As such, I'd say it's worth playing at least that one before playing this one.
This game's central mythology is the Flower of Life - a play on the old 'cure for all diseases' theme that permeates our culture, and is something of a pipe dream in our own fantasies. Here, the plot is simplified to the bare bones of finding it, and creating a cure to the antagonist's poison.
Like so many of these games, the simple story and fantasy elements, combined with rich environments, magical creatures, and vibrant colours, is well suited to a younger audience. The tame language and lack of violence works towards this end too. As such, it may also be suited to the very old. So if I get to 80 years old and I'm worried I'm losing my marbles, I might come back and see if I can still complete the minigames and puzzles, just to make sure my brain is still working.
While TSO 5 had its pipe connector puzzle gimmick, this one takes on a bit more variety with the cube and its three different 'spot the matching symbols'. Sometimes you'll need to find another symbol that is the same, other times you'll have to build the right symbol out of bits - all the while searching the screen with a magnifying glass as the symbols are invisible otherwise. It gave the game some good variety compared to the previous title, but once again most people are probably going to find the puzzles way to easy for any decent challenge.
As before, collections are something you will have to follow very carefully, as there are several points in the story that lock you out of previous areas. Thankfully, all the collectables are tracked in the menu under 'achievements', and everything is listed in order, so you know what to expect next in the case of morphing objects. Only 3 of the animal collectables are in the main story - the crocodile-shaped objects are only in the extra story. There is also one poster in the extra story, and some morphing objects. If you do miss anything you'll have to restart the whole thing all over again, so don't do that. Yeah.
One gripe (and it's a minor one) I always have with these HOGs is the quality of cutscenes, videos, dialogue and overacting. These games never seem to get any better, or improve over the years. The same old warped images assault our vision as we try to watch people talking. Sudden and unexplained objects dissolve away into the air like they never existed at all. Whole house loads of treasure are seen by our faithful protagonist with her batting an eyelid. It just doesn't do a very good job of suspending disbelief - a core feature of any good storytelling.
But apart from these points for us gamers between the ages of 12 and 79, I guess it does the job of providing an experience that is still overall a bunch of fun, and keeps our brains in some semblance of operation.
Just watch out for that beads-on-a-chain puzzle in the extras - I confess I skipped that one. What, it didn't affect the achievements ;)

Steam User 0

Reviewed last year

Good fun and nice sounds, plus the animals are actually cute instead of being somewhat abominations! It also has a pleasing amount of destruction as the puzzle solution. I'd love to have more - just let me kick the door in, pretty please - but melting locks is pretty good, too.
Steam User 0

Reviewed last year

A shorter HOG, finished both the main game and the bonus chapter in about 2.5 hours. I'm playing these games in order and this is the best so far. I'm glad to see these getting better and better. I think that I would start on game 5 if I were to discover this series for the first time. 7/10
Steam User 0

Reviewed last year

Yeah, this one is an okay one... with some annoying mini-games, that are confusing af, unable to reset it, and then if you "Use the Skip" then you don't get the achievements, unless it's for the "Bonus Content".
But overall, the game is fine, no game breaking issue, just a FYI, this is the 1st time that "Collectibles" carry over to "Bonus Content" chapter.
On a Sale is worthwhile
Steam User 1

Reviewed last year

Another fun title if you need a fix for your HOG itch
The sixth instalment of The Secret Order does have a sequel feel to it, as the antagonist of TSO 5 makes a return here. As such, I'd say it's worth playing at least that one before playing this one.
This game's central mythology is the Flower of Life - a play on the old 'cure for all diseases' theme that permeates our culture, and is something of a pipe dream in our own fantasies. Here, the plot is simplified to the bare bones of finding it, and creating a cure to the antagonist's poison.
Like so many of these games, the simple story and fantasy elements, combined with rich environments, magical creatures, and vibrant colours, is well suited to a younger audience. The tame language and lack of violence works towards this end too. As such, it may also be suited to the very old. So if I get to 80 years old and I'm worried I'm losing my marbles, I might come back and see if I can still complete the minigames and puzzles, just to make sure my brain is still working.
While TSO 5 had its pipe connector puzzle gimmick, this one takes on a bit more variety with the cube and its three different 'spot the matching symbols'. Sometimes you'll need to find another symbol that is the same, other times you'll have to build the right symbol out of bits - all the while searching the screen with a magnifying glass as the symbols are invisible otherwise. It gave the game some good variety compared to the previous title, but once again most people are probably going to find the puzzles way to easy for any decent challenge.
As before, collections are something you will have to follow very carefully, as there are several points in the story that lock you out of previous areas. Thankfully, all the collectables are tracked in the menu under 'achievements', and everything is listed in order, so you know what to expect next in the case of morphing objects. Only 3 of the animal collectables are in the main story - the crocodile-shaped objects are only in the extra story. There is also one poster in the extra story, and some morphing objects. If you do miss anything you'll have to restart the whole thing all over again, so don't do that. Yeah.
One gripe (and it's a minor one) I always have with these HOGs is the quality of cutscenes, videos, dialogue and overacting. These games never seem to get any better, or improve over the years. The same old warped images assault our vision as we try to watch people talking. Sudden and unexplained objects dissolve away into the air like they never existed at all. Whole house loads of treasure are seen by our faithful protagonist with her batting an eyelid. It just doesn't do a very good job of suspending disbelief - a core feature of any good storytelling.
But apart from these points for us gamers between the ages of 12 and 79, I guess it does the job of providing an experience that is still overall a bunch of fun, and keeps our brains in some semblance of operation.
Just watch out for that beads-on-a-chain puzzle in the extras - I confess I skipped that one. What, it didn't affect the achievements ;)
Steam User 0

Reviewed 11.2023

awesome game ...plenty of challenges love it and i would highly recommend
Steam User 2

Reviewed last year

A very nice Artifex Mundi hidden object game.

The Secret Order 6: Bloodline

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