Abra Academy Review

Abra Academy Review (by Gamezebo) 

Hidden-object games are a hot commodity thanks to Big Fish Game's Mystery Case Files. And, like most wannabe products, they run the gamut in quality. Hidden Expedition Titanic, Travelogue 360: Paris, Hide and Secret, Paparazzi and Dream Day Wedding, to name just a few, depict the wide spread.

What sets Abra Academy apart from the rest? Well, at its base element, a spell-concocting storyline.

A training ground for witches, Abra Academy is populated by instructors and students of the magical arts (for Harry Potter fans, it's akin to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry). In the guise of Wanda's assistant, your job is to help this fledgling sorceress pass her tests and graduate Witch Extraordinaire. How? By guiding Wanda through the various locations at the academy and helping her locate numerous hidden objects, which (as opposed to witch) become the ingredients in a special potion. The more quickly she finds these items, the sooner she receives her diploma.

If you've played any of the aforementioned games, you know the gist of Abra Academy. Each scene is packed with a menagerie of unrelated items, reminiscent of the homes of those suffering from major compulsive hoarding disorders. Mixed in with all this accumulated "junk" are the items you need to locate based on a spell ingredient list. Click on each required item, once located, and it's added to a bubbling cauldron. Simple enough, right?

Well, a few additional factors need to be considered. Click too rapidly four times in a row and a gargoyle with a water pistol appears to douse your fire. So, careful selection is a must. Nevertheless, it takes more than a dozen trips for him to quench the fire. But, if he succeeds, you can easily rekindle it. Four matches are hidden in each scene. Click on the ones you find to get the fire going again.

You also have a built-in hint system. Fairies, when released (kept in a bird cage until needed), point out a remaining item from your list. You start with three and can earn more via several mini-games. Serving as short interludes between levels, these diversions are mostly similar in design. For example, in one you must find words hidden among a conglomeration of letters on a stone tablet. When you spot a word, catch the correct letters to spell it as they meander their way across the screen, dragging them into place on the tablet. In another mini-game, objects flow by that you grab and drag into the cauldron in the order in which they appear on a list.

One other point, unlike most games in this genre, there's no real urgency. The count-down timer, taking the form of a fire under your cauldron, moves so slowly (depicted by dwindling flames) that you can literally take a lunch break and when you return still have time to complete the scene. So, you can pretty much take it easy. You'll only lose significant time when you cause the gargoyle to appear. Even then, it's just a matter of finding a match or two to get the fire going again and, in essence, add time back on the clock.

As for the items you need to locate, they cover a whole range from regular household stuff like pencils and pens, various fruits and vegetables, dolls, toy cars and keys to the more unusual such as crossbows, magic wands, scrolls, swords and a smattering of various animals, birds, reptiles and insects. Don't anticipate, however, that these items will always look exactly as you expect. Sometimes they appear in an unnatural color to blend into the background (gray broccoli anyone?).

In all, Abra Academy features 24 levels of play spread out over a four-year school term, six levels for each year. A near-zero learning curve means it's easy to get started, while the built-in hint system aids in locating hard to find objects (though, you'll seldom need it). Attractively-detailed scenes and highly-atmospheric music round out the high points in this magical diversion.

But, loose bricks and mortar also abound at this sorcerer's institute. Play is incredibly easy. Some levels can be cleared in under a minute if you're even moderately competent at hidden-object games. The same is true with its mini-games, which also lack diversity. Further, objects always appear in the same place. So, as you return time and again to a location, you quickly learn where most objects are hidden. Add to the above a single game mode and replayability is basically non-existent. As for the storyline, it's relatively juvenile and punctuated with childish banter.

Due to its pronounced simplicity, Abra Academy is suitable to play for younger children as well as adults. It's not without charm and is fun to play. Just don't expect its magic to last much longer than four or five hours at best.

Abra Academy Review (by Gamemile) 

Viva Abra Academy!

Mysterious things have always attracted people of all ages and interests. Magic is an unresearched field of our life; and what is unknown is extremely interesting. Somebody fears it, somebody is fond of it, but nobody is indifferent to it.

The plot of Abra Academy is rather exciting and totally depends on you. You act together with the title character - a young girl Wanda, who dreams of becoming a real witch. But firstly she has to study thoroughly in the Witch Academy, called Abra Academy. Wanda is to acquire all skills and mastery in it and you are supposed to help her with such a challenging task...

Complete each academic year in Abra Academy by passing the corresponding levels successfully.

As the game is a "hidden-objects" type, your primary task is to find hidden things in the different rooms. But let's drop into the game's mysterious intrigues one after another...

The first person you'll see after having started the game is a majestic old Wizard Constantine.

This aged magus will explain you your mission and prove the whole seriousness of your task.

Be very attentive during the game because this Wizard together with his parents will be keeping an eye on you and your actions.

Now you are ready to acquire an honorable status of Witch, let's get inside the game.

First of all you should choose the room you want to start with.

The ominous dark map will present you a scheme of an old Academy with the highlighted rooms.

As all preparations are done, start your search!

Be ready to endeavor greatly, because there are many dark corners in the rooms and all objects are hidden very skillfully.

Besides seeking for things, you are given one more important task.

The point is that there is a great fire with boiling huge cattle in the middle of the room. It may be witches' poison, perhaps

The fire is under the constant threat of the damping and if it dyes, you'll fail.

This trouble may occur if you lose your temper.

Don't click on objects too fast or you will call the Gargoyle's attention. This awful small devil will fly in the window and try to put out the fire with his water gun.

But don't be upset too much even in such case! The game creators decided to help you and scattered matches about the room.

Four wooden matches are hidden in each scene. You should find them to rekindle the fire and get extra time.

If everything is ok with your boiling poison, you may concentrate on the hidden objects themselves.

As usual, it is a list of them on the right of the playing field. There are not too many things to find in this game, so you may complete this task more successfully.

The hints are presented in a very unusual and attractive way. It is a fairy cage with the nice flying and sparkling fairies-birds in it.

So, if you need help, click this cage to release a fairy, which will show you one of the hidden items. But use them wisely you have a limited number of them.

If you and your young protege do everything properly and rather quickly, you'll graduate from Abra Academy successfully and will get got a chance to practice acquired magic skills.

The higher score you earn while playing, the better certificate you'll get. Good Luck!