As with any adventure game, there are three main gameplay elements: character interaction, searching for clues, and solving puzzles. These three elements are found in abundance here, and virtually all of them are presented in a very natural and believable way. This includes the puzzles, as they are embedded in the environment; it’s the solutions that can be quite ludicrous.

Once you arrive on a scene, you will be confronted with a variety of objects and an axis with which you will have to interact. Nina has some pretty deep pockets, so it’s to your advantage to collect all that you can. There’s a handy feature in the form of a magnifying glass that displays all of the interactive elements so that you don’t miss anything. At least half of the puzzles require trial and error, since no amount of forethought could possibly yield the desired solutions. Still, if you feel up to the challenge, be my guest, but I needed help on more than a few. As frustrating as they might be, the solutions are often humorous.

Often items will have to be combined to make one useful tool. It feels great when you can actually figure a few of these puzzles out, but if you’ve got the time, you can just continue experimenting with different combinations. Once you significantly change things within a given environment, it’s advisable to go back and see if any of the main characters offer more information. You don’t want to leave any stone unturned. A journal will help keep track of your progress as well as remind you of your objectives, something that can be obscure over the course of the plot twists.

Secret Files: Tunguska perfectly captures the adventure genre with plenty of passion, challenge, wit, and depth. This kind of game is certain to appeal to those bored with platform and action games. The interactivity and mystery surrounding the explosion will appeal to anyone looking for something different on their handheld.

By Cole Smith
CCC Senior Writer