Penny Dreadfuls Sweeney Todd
Game Review

Enter the world of 19th century London, based on the most famous story from the Penny Dreadful serials of that era. The story of Sweeney Todd has been told many times in different forms, and has been turned into a movie in the 1930's, a ballet in the 1950's and even a musical in the 1970's. Its latest incarnation is the 2007 movie musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

In the Penny Dreadfuls Sweeney Todd game, you start out by assisting the police in a missing persons case, helping young Miss Johanna find her missing fiance Mark. The case soon takes a sinister turn and you become entangled in a web of murder and treachery (and some tasty pies). Your task is to solve the case and arrest the culprits behind the disappearances (no surprises as to who they are...), and reunite Johanna with her fiance.

The gameplay in Sweeney Todd is primarily a point-and-click adventure style, with lots of hidden object scenes and mini puzzles thrown in. And in a nod to the musical and movie that it is based on, the various chapters in the game are separated by cutscenes that involve the characters singing their story. It is a refreshing change from the typical games where story elements are just subtitled or narrated to you.

At the start of the game, you are able to choose 2 different types of game styles. The more casual option is similar to other hidden object games where the hidden objects and puzzle pieces sometimes sparkle to let you know that they are objects of interest. The more difficult option will provide you with a more challenging experience, where some of the objects are so well hidden that it will take sleuthing skill and proper detective work to figure out which objects you need to find or manipulate.

The main interface of the game is an adventure-style platform, where you see locations made famous in the Sweeney Todd serials and movies. You get to visit Fleet Street in all its gritty glory, as well as Mrs. Lovett's cosy little pie shop. Your objective in each chapter of the game is to retrieve 3 items that are clues to help you solve the case. You can obtain these items by manipulating objects in the main interface, such as obtaining a lighter and firewood from different locations and using them in a fireplace to light its surroundings and find a clue hidden in the shadows.

Other objects will require you to solve the standard hidden object puzzles, with each scene brilliantly drawn with objects seamlessly hidden in the background. There are also logic, spatial and jigsaw puzzles that you will need to solve in order to discover more clues. A word of caution though: randomly clicking a scene hoping to find an object of interest will not work. Continuous clicking on wrong objects will reverse your progress and return previously discovered objects back into the scene!

The atmosphere, artwork and soundtrack in the game are a great package that beautifully illustrates the world of 19th century London and brings out the grit and suspense surrounding the Sweeney Todd case. You don't need to be a fan of the story (or Johnny Depp) to become totally absorbed in this thrilling story that unfolds chapter by chapter with plot twists at every corner.

Penny Dreadfuls Sweeney Todd has production values that are better than a lot of other hidden object games out there. The game also provides a higher than average challenge that will keep you occupied and absorbed for hours!

Get the basic edition of the PC game, or get the Collector's Edition which includes exclusive content such as additional scenes, more puzzles, a new "theatre mode" and more! Or get the basic version or the Collector's Edition of the Mac game.

Wiki