Although things don't always go well for Nick, this is not his first rodeo. Nick Chase and the Deadly Diamond follows the first of Nick's detective adventures in "Nick Chase: A Detective Story". Now begins his new task, which will involve an adventurous race to locate a special diamond.

Players will enjoy the scenes in this game. The graphics are impressive as the scenes are accurately reminiscent of classic detective stories. Nick's office is in disarray, stereotypically accurate for an "old school" type investigator, and the other scenes such as the gas station and bar are just what you would expect from the era and genre in which the game is based.

The sound effects are great too, with the exaggerated smacking, banging, punching and other sounds just like you would hear in a cartoon scene. The background music is a smooth beat, consistent with the environment. The characters are remarkable, their personalities blending perfectly into the story. Players will appreciate and be amused by subtle humor as they make their way through the game.

Players kick off the game in Nick's favorite bar as he is presented with a bizarre package. It's a clay tablet containing a curious image. As it drops and breaks, game play begins with cleaning up the pieces. Players will search hidden object scenes and solve several short mini-games. The scenes require you to solve puzzles and any other sub scenes in order to advance through the story. Just as with most all HOG's you will use your mouse and click to navigate through the game, making sure to further investigate items when the cursor changes into a magnifying glass.

Check the "Task" tab if you need to, to see what needs to be done next. Nick Chase and the Deadly Diamond is sure to please hidden object game lovers with its authentic looking scenes and various puzzles that are not overly dominated by finding hidden objects. It offers a good blend of other puzzles and assures that the game does not become monotonous. It is sure to keep you busy, challenged, and entertained for hours.

• Authentic looking scenes and various puzzles
• Cartoon-like sound effects
• Play Nick Chase: A Detective Story
• Get the Strategy Guide!