The Secret Order 7: Shadow Breach

The 7th installment of The Secret Order series takes a turn back towards the original storyline (as opposed to the 5th and 6h part ) as it sheds light to the origins of the Dragon and Griffin clans, although instead of actually going back in time, we experience the past through flashbacks. Sadly it can't reach the high standards of the mentioned previous entries, but it still manages to be an above average mobile-based hidden object game.
As opposed to the other parts of the series, a catastrophic event hasn't occured yet, we live at a new address, (the 5th and 6th parts are mentioned in a note in our new home) to hide away from the Dragon clan's possible attacks. This time around our adversaries are planning to invoke a demonic sorceress whose spirit was imprisoned in a tome. Our friend, Maggie calls us to help strengthen the barrier around the book, but it still fails to contain the demon within and she gets possessed. Of course it'll be our job to banish the demon and free our friend.

Right at the start we find a magical bracelet, which functions as the game's unique artifact - used to reveal the locations of special relics marked by glowing runes, which are necessary to defeat the demon. We must acquire these magical items by visiting different continents to seek them out, before the demon finds and destroys them. Whenever we find one we have to solve logic-based minigames - involving matching/connecting similar objects.
As usual from the series, the number of actual hidden object scenes (where we have to find and click on 12 listed items on the screen in order to gain an essential item) isn't as numerous as in some other titles, which tends to be a common problem - having just HO scenes and barely any other puzzles or minigames. The ones here are from the easier kinds including pathfinding-, pipe-, cogwheel-, but mostly just (related) pair-matching minigames and even the dreaded rotating rings puzzle returns, but this time it is super easy (unlike in the previous part). There are also interactive storytelling sequences, which reveal the details of the plot, instead of just simple cutscenes (of which we also get a fair amount).
We may alternatively choose to switch to a pair-matching game instead of the regular hidden object scene, although in other similar games it usually breaks the progression of certain achievements - don't know whether that's the case here.
It's not the demon itself, but a summoned "shadow beast" which we have to face before getting the mentioned artifacts and each time we have to chase it away by using a strong source of light. We often have to collect several similar looking or fragmented pieces, before we can actually assemble and use certain items, which may be tiresome (it's also an inherent element of the series).
Then there are several weird content elements (present in many other hidden object games as well), such as freezing (?) an ivy (a common 'enemy' in numerous HOGs, although it's not poisonous, just its berries are toxic somewhat) to progress, our heroine being afraid of cobwebs or using a sharp-toothed skull to cut some ropes when there were other more convenient items around.
There were a few occasions with wrong descriptions, like when trying to open a box, the game referred to it as if it was a knife (which was used to open it). These are minor errors though, nothing that would actually affect the gameplay.
What I didn't like was that there's no diary this time around and our objectives are just briefly listed.
After playing through the main game, we also get a bonus one, where we have to destroy the relics and purify the bracelet in an alternate, elemental world. It's mostly just a half an hour long series of fetch quests though.
Scrolls and morphing objects serve as collectibles and some of them are located in the bonus game. There seem to be way too many achievements, with a little exaggeration we get one after completing every minor task.
The graphics are well done and the various locations (not specifically named, but places looking like Tuscany and Nepal) we visit are great to look at.
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3532738341
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3532738766
There's some reused action music from previous entries, but otherwise it has an excellent, suspenseful soundtrack. Our protagonist is voiceless unfortunately - only at the end of the bonus game can we hear her talking.
Secret Order 7: Shadow Breach is a fine game and fits more into the series than the previous 2 parts, but it still can't deliver the highlights of the 2nd part. As a standalone game it's an enjoyable one and recommendable to the lovers of the genre.
PROS
+ large number of minigames (rather easy ones though)
+ colourful locations
+ eventful storyline
+ great soundtrack...
CONS
- ...but parts of the soundtrack are reused from the previous games
- too many fetch tasks with multiple pieced items
- the bonus game could have used a bit more variety
RATING
6.5/10

Steam User 8

Reviewed last year

The 7th and........... If this was just a game by itself and not in the series? It's actually fine. EXTREMELY EASY, but fine.
You see, if you have a book or a game series... I expect it to follow the plot that was created in the beginning! >.>
There is no more sexy ship, so no time traveling. There is no finding out history. There is no challenge and worst of all? THERE ARE NO HELPING CUTIES! Yeah... They put previous ones into this... But for like a few seconds. You feed them and then f off. Sigh.
The designs are nice and everything worked well. That isn't the issue. Even if you can forego that the ONLY link to this SEVENTH GAME in the series are the "Griffins Versus Dragons"... And even then you will forget that as you play... Lol...... The puzzles are still a snooze.
Some of the puzzles are even 80% complete. You wanna have fun solving only 20% of the puzzle? Tsk tsk!
But.......! They did bring back a guy I thought was dead from the sixth... We actually got his name and he immediately got "disqualified" (no, not killed) in the next scene. PFFT. There is also some other guy... And I am like... "Who the hell is this.......?" You only see his full person in the end of the Bonus game... Okay...........
So uhh... Achievement Hunters will LOVE this game... People who like H.O. games and hate thinking? Will LOVE this game... Everyone else... It all depends.
Umma rate it as a "standalone game". Which means "FINE".
Which also has a message attached to it: WE. ARE. NOT. STUPID!!!
After this... One more remains. Then we can bury a few games in the series. Deep, deep underground....
Steam User 4

Reviewed last month

The 7th installment of The Secret Order series takes a turn back towards the original storyline (as opposed to the 5th and 6h part ) as it sheds light to the origins of the Dragon and Griffin clans, although instead of actually going back in time, we experience the past through flashbacks. Sadly it can't reach the high standards of the mentioned previous entries, but it still manages to be an above average mobile-based hidden object game.
As opposed to the other parts of the series, a catastrophic event hasn't occured yet, we live at a new address, (the 5th and 6th parts are mentioned in a note in our new home) to hide away from the Dragon clan's possible attacks. This time around our adversaries are planning to invoke a demonic sorceress whose spirit was imprisoned in a tome. Our friend, Maggie calls us to help strengthen the barrier around the book, but it still fails to contain the demon within and she gets possessed. Of course it'll be our job to banish the demon and free our friend.

Right at the start we find a magical bracelet, which functions as the game's unique artifact - used to reveal the locations of special relics marked by glowing runes, which are necessary to defeat the demon. We must acquire these magical items by visiting different continents to seek them out, before the demon finds and destroys them. Whenever we find one we have to solve logic-based minigames - involving matching/connecting similar objects.
As usual from the series, the number of actual hidden object scenes (where we have to find and click on 12 listed items on the screen in order to gain an essential item) isn't as numerous as in some other titles, which tends to be a common problem - having just HO scenes and barely any other puzzles or minigames. The ones here are from the easier kinds including pathfinding-, pipe-, cogwheel-, but mostly just (related) pair-matching minigames and even the dreaded rotating rings puzzle returns, but this time it is super easy (unlike in the previous part). There are also interactive storytelling sequences, which reveal the details of the plot, instead of just simple cutscenes (of which we also get a fair amount).
We may alternatively choose to switch to a pair-matching game instead of the regular hidden object scene, although in other similar games it usually breaks the progression of certain achievements - don't know whether that's the case here.
It's not the demon itself, but a summoned "shadow beast" which we have to face before getting the mentioned artifacts and each time we have to chase it away by using a strong source of light. We often have to collect several similar looking or fragmented pieces, before we can actually assemble and use certain items, which may be tiresome (it's also an inherent element of the series).
Then there are several weird content elements (present in many other hidden object games as well), such as freezing (?) an ivy (a common 'enemy' in numerous HOGs, although it's not poisonous, just its berries are toxic somewhat) to progress, our heroine being afraid of cobwebs or using a sharp-toothed skull to cut some ropes when there were other more convenient items around.
There were a few occasions with wrong descriptions, like when trying to open a box, the game referred to it as if it was a knife (which was used to open it). These are minor errors though, nothing that would actually affect the gameplay.
What I didn't like was that there's no diary this time around and our objectives are just briefly listed.
After playing through the main game, we also get a bonus one, where we have to destroy the relics and purify the bracelet in an alternate, elemental world. It's mostly just a half an hour long series of fetch quests though.
Scrolls and morphing objects serve as collectibles and some of them are located in the bonus game. There seem to be way too many achievements, with a little exaggeration we get one after completing every minor task.
The graphics are well done and the various locations (not specifically named, but places looking like Tuscany and Nepal) we visit are great to look at.
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3532738341
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3532738766
There's some reused action music from previous entries, but otherwise it has an excellent, suspenseful soundtrack. Our protagonist is voiceless unfortunately - only at the end of the bonus game can we hear her talking.
Secret Order 7: Shadow Breach is a fine game and fits more into the series than the previous 2 parts, but it still can't deliver the highlights of the 2nd part. As a standalone game it's an enjoyable one and recommendable to the lovers of the genre.
PROS
+ large number of minigames (rather easy ones though)
+ colourful locations
+ eventful storyline
+ great soundtrack...
CONS
- ...but parts of the soundtrack are reused from the previous games
- too many fetch tasks with multiple pieced items
- the bonus game could have used a bit more variety
RATING
6.5/10
Steam User 0

Reviewed last year

Its very short, i completed it in 4 hours but its fun. Definitely pick it up when its on sale.
Steam User 0

Reviewed last year

Bóng Tối Đã Bắt Đầu Trỗi Dậy
Steam User 0

Reviewed last year

Find items, it make brain werk gud.

The Secret Order 7: Shadow Breach

Game Discussion

Anonymous

Steam User 8

Steam User 4

Steam User 0

Steam User 0

Steam User 0