Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator Case 2 – The Lost Galleon of the Salton Sea offers classic point-and-click mechanics that will feel instantly familiar to fans of old Sierra adventures. You’ll navigate a detailed world by clicking to move, examine, and interact with your surroundings, all while managing a simple inventory. The controls are intuitive, and a contextual cursor clearly indicates when an object can be picked up or a character can be spoken to, eliminating needless trial and error.

One of the most welcome additions in this installment is Ben’s notebook, which automatically logs all crucial clues, NPC statements, and unsolved leads. This feature streamlines the investigation process, allowing you to focus on piecing together evidence rather than juggling scraps of paper. Whether you’re tracing footprints in the dunes or deciphering a cryptic map fragment, the notebook keeps every detail organized and accessible.

Puzzles strike a comfortable balance between logic and exploration. You’ll find yourself manipulating mechanical contraptions in a deserted mine, delicately combining found artifacts, and interpreting local lore to unlock new areas of Dunesberg, California. While some puzzles lean toward the brain-teasing side, generous in-game hints and the auto-noting notebook prevent you from feeling stuck for too long. Altogether, the gameplay loop of investigate, discover, and deduce remains consistently engaging.

Graphics

Visually, The Lost Galleon of the Salton Sea captures the spirit of early adventure titles with crisp pixel art and richly detailed backgrounds. The dusty streets of Dunesberg, the weather-worn docks at the Salton Sea, and the shadowy caverns beneath the dunes all come to life with carefully chosen color palettes. Each scene feels hand-painted, encouraging you to linger and soak up environmental details that might hint at hidden secrets.

Character sprites are expressive and varied, from the anxious widow who first contacts Ben to the eccentric local historians you’ll interview. Subtle animations—like shifting sands or flickering lantern light—add a dynamic touch that keeps static screens from growing stale. Though the resolution is modest by modern standards, the artistic flair and atmospheric touches more than compensate, providing an immersive sense of time and place.

Interactive elements are highlighted clearly without resorting to garish outlines, preserving the sense of discovery when you uncover a new clue. The user interface is clean and unobtrusive; inventory items appear neatly at the bottom of the screen, and dialogue boxes use a legible font that evokes classic adventure games. Overall, the graphics enhance rather than distract from the game’s investigative focus.

Story

The narrative kicks off with a desperate call from a woman whose husband has vanished without a trace. Your trail leads to the dusty coastal town of Dunesberg, where locals whisper of a centuries-old Spanish galleon that sank in the shifting sands of the Salton Sea. As Ben Jordan, you’ll uncover a web of secrets tying the missing man’s research to ghostly shipwreck legends and occult rituals.

The game’s pacing is excellent, alternating between tense discovery sequences and moments of eerie ambience. You’ll question witnesses in a rundown saloon, examine cryptic journal entries, and explore subterranean passages rumored to hold relics from the lost galleon. Each revelation raises new questions, and the plot weaves folklore with real-world mystery in a way that keeps you hooked until the dramatic final confrontation.

Dialogue is well-written, with scientist Ben Jordan maintaining a perfect balance of skepticism and curiosity. Supporting characters—from the reclusive historian obsessed with the galleon to the panicked relative convinced of a supernatural curse—add depth and variety to your investigations. The story culminates in a tense blend of historical intrigue and paranormal suspense, leaving you satisfied by its resolution yet eager to dive into Ben’s next case.

Overall Experience

Case 2 of Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator stands as a shining example of modern homage to classic adventure gaming. It offers a self-contained mystery that welcomes newcomers while building on the character development established in the first case. The included notebook streamlines clue-tracking, making the experience approachable even for those who worry about losing track of details.

The blend of atmospheric graphics, thoughtful puzzles, and a compelling storyline creates an engrossing detective journey that rarely overstays its welcome. Sound design is subtle but effective, featuring ambient creaks, distant water lapping, and an understated musical score that enhances tension without overpowering dialogue. These audio touches deepen the sense of immersion as you explore every corner of Dunesberg and its sun-bleached secrets.

For fans of point-and-click adventures, The Lost Galleon of the Salton Sea is a must-play. Its respectful nods to Sierra classics, combined with modern interface improvements and a memorable maritime mystery, deliver hours of satisfying gameplay. Whether you’re motivated by puzzle-solving or storytelling, you’ll find this case a rewarding addition to Ben Jordan’s paranormal investigations.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10