gingergal's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:15,535
- Reviews Submitted:193
- First Review:November 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:July 23, 2013
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Save the besieged alpine village of Martlet and rescue its residents from the mysterious living statues in this exciting Hidden Object Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
266 of 317 found this review helpful
Lighter, easier game from elephant, although shorter CE vs SE differences at bottom
PostedJuly 13, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I didn't recommend the CE which I played because of the super short bonus play, although it did have everything else.
It’s an elephant game, my favourite DEV. I love their graphics – crisp, sharp* and beautiful. This game like all their recent games, give you a transporter map (instant jump) and here give you helpful different coloured icons on the map ‘things to do now, later etc’. They never repeat their hidden object scenes, have plenty of puzzles and it’s a great adventure.
But this is the shortest game I have played from them, 4hrs 45min, this is just on the cusp of a normal length SE game. Other games by them – surface, black aisle, legacy were around the 8hr mark and over for me (on middle play). I really am a bit surprised at the length of this game purely because they are known for long, quality games.
I think this could be another new series from them, it’s easier than the others and I think has more hidden object scenes than most of their other games, as they are known for not having many. But compared to other HOPAs it would be about min-medium amount.
I love that this game has humour throughout, is whimsical and has a completely different plot. All I will say is that statues come alive, I won’t say any more about the family in this story as it would be a spoiler. It has a very well done voiceover – a gnome who is also your hint guide. There is no journal and the plot unfolds through cutscenes which was good and they have upped the amount of plot in this game compared to their others. This makes it a good balance of plot, adventure, puzzles and HO scenes. The pace was excellent and kept my attention throughout.
They have a choice of 3 settings in gameplay – middle (advanced) has no sparkles but still has hint and skip buttons, the hardcore has no hint and skip buttons and you can change them mid game.
They have a choice of 3 settings in gameplay – middle (advanced) has no sparkles but still has hint and skip buttons, the hardcore has no hint and skip buttons and you can change them mid game.
If you were playing hardcore I could imagine you not liking the hint if you just wanted to use the transporter map, as the coloured icons indicating you could or not do something in an area didn’t go away on hardcore. Also in HO scenes and in adventure there still was black bar tips. I liked the information and some comments but if they had separated out the tips for hardcore players it would have been better, although it wasn’t bad compared to other games. They didn’t have any black bar tips for the puzzles in both middle and hardcore gameplay, which was great. If you wanted a hint on the objective of a puzzle you had to hit the ‘I’ button which brought it up.
The hint button you will love as it basically is a spoiler as to what to do next. I didn’t use it as it was too helpful, and if I wanted a hint I just looked at the map.
The hint button you will love as it basically is a spoiler as to what to do next. I didn’t use it as it was too helpful, and if I wanted a hint I just looked at the map.
It's not like surface mystery of another world where every new chapter is brand new and you never go back to old areas. Although most of the play you kept to new areas you discovered.
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES
17 hidden object scenes well spaced out, non were repeated but they were mainly far too cluttered/junk pile for my taste. Although mystery tracker raincliff had the same amount because it was longer it didn’t feel like there were as many as here.
17 hidden object scenes well spaced out, non were repeated but they were mainly far too cluttered/junk pile for my taste. Although mystery tracker raincliff had the same amount because it was longer it didn’t feel like there were as many as here.
While most of the game and even HOS were sharp quite a few objects weren’t as sharp and could have been better*. While there weren’t tiny items some were small and others blended but not super hard to find. I just wish in a few scenes they zoomed in on it a bit more.
I loved the non random click penalty and there was two scenes one all gold, and one all blue/silver which were good and I loved the shop window scene most of all. Sadly they were only mildly interactive.
PUZZLES
No handholding, but help if you wanted it (press ‘i’) Mostly unoriginal and on the easy side but they were beautiful and well done, making even the easy ones enjoyable. None were mind boringly easy and there were quite a lot of puzzles but were well spaced. There were a couple of trickier ones thrown in. For my taste they were mostly too easy but I loved the amount of them.
I loved the non random click penalty and there was two scenes one all gold, and one all blue/silver which were good and I loved the shop window scene most of all. Sadly they were only mildly interactive.
PUZZLES
No handholding, but help if you wanted it (press ‘i’) Mostly unoriginal and on the easy side but they were beautiful and well done, making even the easy ones enjoyable. None were mind boringly easy and there were quite a lot of puzzles but were well spaced. There were a couple of trickier ones thrown in. For my taste they were mostly too easy but I loved the amount of them.
ENDING – You may think you would know what the bonus plot in the CE would be and might feel the story wasn’t complete. But the bonus plot doesn’t go where you think it would, so it doesn’t finish one side of the story either. There is a “to be continued” feel about it.
There is a choice of two endings to the story (the very last cutscene is different) depending on what item you choose from your inventory.
The bonus story in the CE had none of the characters in it and was completely a bonus plot, it also was super short.
TIME - Took me 4hrs 45mins (In essence I played hardcore as I didn’t skip or use hints, I tell you to help you gauge how long it might take you if you played on casual etc)
CE vs SE differences (below is what is in CE that isn’t in this game)
-Achievements
-26 miniatures you collect throughout the game (see them in achievements area)
-Bonus play
-SG
-Video is 8 cutscenes that was played throughout the game
-Music - 4 soundtracks that you can save
-16 concept art
-11 wallpaper
-26 miniatures you collect throughout the game (see them in achievements area)
-Bonus play
-SG
-Video is 8 cutscenes that was played throughout the game
-Music - 4 soundtracks that you can save
-16 concept art
-11 wallpaper
I recommend this game!
Be careful what you wish for... A deadly bargain has been made, and it's up to you to set things right before your nephew pays the terrible price!
Overall rating
4
/
5
168 of 201 found this review helpful
SE will get 5 stars, see bottom for bonus info and play and time.
PostedJuly 12, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This latest grim tales, in the series from elephant, I enjoyed the most. Like most other games from elephant it’s long but as it’s a chapter less than grim tales: the legacy it’s shorter, and I think a bit easier as here they gave you the tips in the transporter map in hardcore, which I played.
The transporter map becomes available a short while into the game. This has a dark story line, so for those of you who don’t like demon, child in peril storyline you may want to give this a miss.( It wasn't that heavy with it.) Although because of the daytime graphics (thank you!) it doesn’t feel like a dark game.
The plot takes place a few years after our last encounter with Brendan, here you find him growing older and you soon find out why. In your journey you will find a magic quill which you can then go into his memory and change the past (or you relive what you did in the first place, I wasn’t that clear with that side of the plot.) But I enjoyed the plot way better than the last grim tales.
Initially the graphics were gorgeous and sharp like usual for the DEV, but quickly I found out that quite a few HO scenes were frankly not great quality compared to other really well done HOS. Some were blurry while others lovely and sharp, it’s like an intern worked on some and experts worked on the others. But it wasn’t just the HO scenes a very few scenes (only a couple) in the game looked flat and unfinished and it was only noticeable because most of the scenes were really stunning.
Hint button is the usual mini SG but there are also automatic immediate hints with the map (which this time doesn’t go away on hardcore, last game (legacy) there were no hints (or I didn't know how to bring them up!). I got spoilers when using the map and as I hate backtracking like poison, I did use it as I love transporter maps. Although I appreciated the map tips sometimes, I wish there was an option to bring up the map tips and not automatically give it to us.
They also had the black bar tips and tips when you clicked on anything on hardcore – please don’t do this!
They also had the black bar tips and tips when you clicked on anything on hardcore – please don’t do this!
Hidden object scenes –
21 HOS, quite a few were junk pile, all list type but interactive. They were well spaced out and I didn’t feel like I was playing one every 5 mins. There was the odd tiny item and some scenes had a lamp/light shining on parts which I know some don't like.
Puzzles –
At the beginning there weren’t that many and they were easy but overall there was a good mixture of hardness, mostly medium hardness. There seemed to be more puzzles in the middle to the end. They tried to bring us a couple of new ones for a HOPA but the execution on a couple were bad. Any fun I had in playing foosball was taken away by how to play it, and the planets one I know they were trying to put a spin on it as we’ve seen it before but putting those items on the puzzle was annoying.
Although I enjoyed most of them.
You click on the info button to bring up the objective of the puzzle was good and if you didn’t play hardcore you can skip them.
Although I enjoyed most of them.
You click on the info button to bring up the objective of the puzzle was good and if you didn’t play hardcore you can skip them.
The interactive, adventure was side really good and I thought was well done although there were the usual completely illogical interactions for HOPAs - boats and ice picks!
This continues in the grim tales theme of having nothing to collect (morphs etc) or achievements in the CE which is why I can’t give this CE 5 stars, but I will give the SE 5 stars.
SE players with the hint button, the tips on the map I don’t think you would miss not having the SG.
Also the plot is 100% tied up in the SE version and the bonus plot is a ‘bonus’.
Also the plot is 100% tied up in the SE version and the bonus plot is a ‘bonus’.
Length main game – 6-7hrs - nearer 7hrs on hardcore (obviously no skipping puzzle or hint button,)
Bonus another 1 hr (hardcore) no SG etc (roughly)
BONUS
It only is unlocked once you finish the game and it’s just the usual –
4 music tracks
8 concept art
8 wallpapers
There is no achievements, collecting things, unlocking of HOS or puzzles etc like some other elephant games.
It only is unlocked once you finish the game and it’s just the usual –
4 music tracks
8 concept art
8 wallpapers
There is no achievements, collecting things, unlocking of HOS or puzzles etc like some other elephant games.
Bonus play -
Mostly new areas and even the couple of old areas where changed. 4 HOS, 4 simple puzzles - 1 slider, 3 small mine sweeper. It took me an 1hr on hardcore, if you play with sparkles and SG etc it’s going to be shorter.
Even though I loved it, my marks are out of 5 and I do try and be as objective as I can with how many stars I give.
I recommend this game!
Purchase real estate in different cities, and make your company a fantastic success story in Trade Mania!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
So addicting, great board game
PostedJuly 4, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
If it wasn't for a tip in the forums, going by the title I would have passed this gem by. If you love monopoly but with a good twist then do try it.
The campaign mode has a choice of 3 settings - Seattle, Paris and New York (I live in Seattle area so it was fun to see it) and you are rated out of 5 stars. Seattle was really easy, Paris easy and New York slightly harder.
There is also a custom mode where you can play with your friends, or play against the computer and have a choice of 3 settings - easy, medium or hard opponents or mix and match hardness styles! You can choose which city you play in as well or the number of players you want to play against.
It's not monopoly as you can build on individual property but the other aspects are sort of the same. The twist is that when you land on a property you have an opprtunity to buy a commodity. Underneath each commodity it tells you the price range - the cheapest it will be or the dearest. So if you buy when it's cheap and sell when it's the most expensive you make your money and that's where the real money is. You can also land on a car, when you do you can upgrade your vehicle which gives you more boxes in which you can buy and keep items. The same commodity isn't offered at each turn so you have to keep some, and some for a while if the price doesn't go up.
There is also side tasks you get in campaign mode, if you do different things you get rewards.
CONS -
The fast forward button isn't very fast
It does have black bars down my non widescreen monitor.
If you want a game to play with your kids, teaching them very basic stock tips at the same time or a game your young child can play as you can set the computer to play on easy (and hard isn't that hard) then this is it.
I found this so addicting and have been playing this for hours on end. The replayability factor is great as it is a board game, but has 3 different cities for you to play in.
And I loved the tading aspect of it, I didn't need to do it on a turn if I didn't want to.
And I loved the tading aspect of it, I didn't need to do it on a turn if I didn't want to.
I recommend this game!
Choose a character you connect with and help them live their life! Find a suitable mate and start the perfect family.
Overall rating
3
/
5
53 of 70 found this review helpful
3.5 although I really enjoyed it there are a few cons
PostedJuly 4, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I loved the sims, all the upgrades, expansion packs things to do so I know I am a bit hard on this game regards to those things. If you are a sims player you may be disappointed in the following -
cons -
-They never go out, speak to anyone, have anyone over.
-The things they can do aren't that much- work (kitchen, workshop and office) watch TV, cook, work out, play chess etc, pull weeds, water flowers etc. Even with the swimming pool it's very small and they don't change clothes!
-You don't even have to get your friendship meter up with your partner to have a baby.
-You can't decorate* the home - choose what wallpaper or carpet you want, or place things you buy in your home. It is what it is and you are stuck with it.
-There is no phone to employ a maid, gardener.
-Your family grows really fast and within (I think) 4 days my first couple were dead.
-You don't play this for long periods of time as it then gets like watching paint dry.
Now the good.
It's not the sims so as long as you don't expect that, then it's a good start. The premise of the game is 'have you ever wondered if people live in your computer, what they are up to.' So if you view this as a quick go and see how they are doing twice a day for 5 mins at a time you begin to understand how to play the game.
What is REALLY good about it is that they continue to make money and live while you are not playing so you can save up money for things at the store.
STORE - There is food that you can buy, always something on sale. There is a section that changes every 4 hrs for things you may need in the game and a section for medicines. Another section for luxury goods like treadmill, swimming pool etc. And lastly there is a choice of upgrades for your 3 work place - *new kitchen (choice of 2 preset).
There is a praising glove and a scolding glove to try and encourage behaviours. I love that concept.
There are achievements (trophies) which do pass down from generation to generation so you can accomplish them all.
Things to collect (pieces of photograph, old coins, bugs and twigs) which pop up around the grounds but do disappear if you don't collect them quickly enough.
This is a very simple game which is good for kids or if you are like me and just like to pop into a game for 5 mins it's good that it is simple. If you remember to stock up your fridge so they don't get hungry, you should have a happy family. Just don't stock up too much or you get some funky odours!
If you get this on a DD or coupon you will get a very long lasting game that keeps going as long as you want, it need never end! As long as you don't expect to sit down and play it for hours at a time or expect sims choices, I think you will enjoy it for what it is.
I recommend this game!
Save animals and solve a mystery in this action puzzler featuring the beloved Professor Fizzlewizzle.
Overall rating
3
/
5
16 of 17 found this review helpful
Arcade fun for all the family
PostedJune 27, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I don't know why this is listed under adventure games as it's an arcade game. It's very addicting this game and for me who is useless with arcade games it was nice to always get new fizzballs even when game was over (it just put you back to the screen you were on) so you never had to redo much.
There are two modes of play and the kids level you can't lose the ball and they give you quizzes in between levels.
It's a long game and I would recommend it more if you just want a quick 5 mins play rather than seeing this game as one you would sit down to for the a'noon, as I did get dejavu a few times as most levels looked the same.
It's nothing like the other Professor fizzlewizzle games which are puzzles games, here you try and rescue animals from aliens by launching a bubble ball from your machine at the bottom which you control going side by side with your mouse. After you break some barrels and fences if your ball rolls over money or acorns etc it gets slightly larger the larger it gets the more animals it can collect when the ball hits them. Then you are eventually able to catch big animals. You have to keep the ball in play and you collect bags of money and different power ups during play. You can collect butterflies as extras. If you don't catch the ball it just immediately gives you another ball, you get 4 per scene (level) and if you lose all of them it restarts that scene.
The powerups gives you faster ball, direct aim, shield etc.
Some levels feature the alien, he is a UFO aiming at you when you destroy the ship you have to catch him with the ball.
Some levels feature the alien, he is a UFO aiming at you when you destroy the ship you have to catch him with the ball.
It's a mindless type of game for the most part which is good if you want a quick destress. Every few levels it's broken up by either a timed level or try and get as many animals as you can.
If you click on achievements then animal sanctuary, you can visit the animals you have saved in a seperate area and 'feed' them by coins you collect throughout the game (I only found this at the end so maybe it's just after you complete the game as I never looked through the acheivements until I finished the game.) There are also acheivements and trophies.
cons -
Although some levels had snow and others had autumn scene, I felt I was replaying the same level over and over and would have loved something else than fences and barrels in each level that you have to destroy to get to some animals. I would have loved more and different types of levels like the ones scattered throughout. As it just got too much 'the same' after a while, but playing it just 5 mins at a time really helped.
If you are looking for an easy game, (none of the main levels are challenging) and something different then do check it out.
*I don't do ratings 'like' 'love' etc but out of 5*
I recommend this game!
Guide Ethan Black as he attempts to rescue his bride-to-be from a terrifying menace known as the Faceless Ones!
Overall rating
3
/
5
26 of 36 found this review helpful
It was OK nothing special but good length
PostedJune 25, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played the CE. The SE plot is 100% tied up here the bonus plot was a backstory and an actual bonus plot (it wasn't needed to understand or complete the story.)
At the beginning I was really enjoying it then it began to fall apart a bit for my taste. The map wasn’t interactive and quite frankly useless and there was quite a bit of backtracking. Then they started to repeat hidden object scenes, there was a sparkle eye on the HOS and I played on the hardest of two levels. They also had random click penalty and the items were not sharp, and blurry and some quite small or faded. There were black bar tips (tells you what to do if you click on an item). Some of the cutscenes were flat ‘cutout’ characters that pop up with non moving lips and dialogue at the bottom. There were voiceovers at the start and end but not throughout the game.
HINT
The hint button will say ‘I don’t have anything else to do in this location’ but will also keep showing you an arrow until you get to an area where you can do something.
The plot was OK (I never like saying much as it gives too much away) but you have to find and rescue loved ones and defeat the baddie. I liked some of the cutscenes as some of the story was told through drawings.
The middle with all the backtracking and quite a lot of hidden object scenes had me a bit bored, it did pick up in spots but oh for a transporter map. Puzzles a bit varied in hardness but nothing hard or unique but I don’t think any were mind numbingly easy or boring.
TIME took me 5hrs 30mins for main game, so it was a long game.
This is one of those games, that I won't remember and will blend into the next one. Nothing special but nothing bad either. If they had given me a transporter map, sharpened the HOS and didn't repeat them then I would have enjoyed this game a LOT more.
Guide Ethan Black as he attempts to rescue his bride-to-be from a terrifying menace known as the Faceless Ones!
Overall rating
3
/
5
13 of 14 found this review helpful
It was OK but the bonus was long - bonus pros and cons at end
PostedJune 25, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
At the beginning I was really enjoying it then it began to fall apart a bit for my taste. The map wasn’t interactive and quite frankly useless and there was quite a bit of backtracking. Then they started to repeat hidden object scenes, there was a sparkle eye on the HOS and I played on the hardest of two levels. They also had random click penalty and the items were not sharp, and blurry and some quite small or faded. There were black bar tips (tells you what to do if you click on an item). Some of the cutscenes were flat ‘cutout’ characters that pop up with non moving lips and dialogue at the bottom. There were voiceovers at the start and end but not throughout the game.
HINT AND STRATEGY GUIDE
The hint button will say ‘I don’t have anything else to do in this location’ but will also keep showing you an arrow until you get to an area where you can do something. If you use the SG you will want to strangle it as it isn’t available in game (you have to click menu then SG) and on top of that it doesn’t remember where you are.
The plot was OK (I never like saying much as it gives too much away) but you have to find and rescue loved ones and defeat the baddie. I liked some of the cutscenes as some of the story was told through drawings.
The middle with all the backtracking and quite a lot of hidden object scenes had me a bit bored, it did pick up in spots but oh for a transporter map. Puzzles a bit varied in hardness but nothing hard or unique but I don’t think any were mind numbingly easy or boring.
Main game took me 5hrs 30mins so it was a long game.
BONUS
The story was dark – the devil or ‘evil one’ was in it a lot and there was a quick mention of 666, and I know quite a few people don't like that.
PROS –
-Length – 1hr 45mins
-Plot, it was a backstory and went back in time. It was an actual bonus story and not needed for understanding of the main game although it was nice to have it fleshed out a bit more.
CONS
- no achievements
-nothing to collect
-repeating of hidden object scenes, couple were repeated 3 times.
- mostly was set in places that were in main game although some new areas
-nothing to collect
-repeating of hidden object scenes, couple were repeated 3 times.
- mostly was set in places that were in main game although some new areas
This is one of those games, that I won't remember and will blend into the next one. Nothing special but nothing bad either. If they had given me a transporter map, sharpened the HOS and didn't repeat them then I would have enjoyed this game a LOT more.
If time is one of the most important factors for you to get your money worth then with 5hrs 30min + another 1hr 45min on hard (I didn't skip puzzles) then have a look.
After Shaban's sheep are stolen by thieves, he sets off on an epic adventure to get back what belongs to him. Help Shaban on his journey in this intriguing hidden object adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
55 of 62 found this review helpful
Objectively it may not be 5 stars but it's getting it from me
PostedJune 20, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was not a short game, over 4 hrs for me and could easily have been 5 (I was taking notes at the time so it's hard to guage).
If you are familiar with machinarium type games then you will 'get' this game. It's a quirky adventure with a few silhouette fragmented object hidden object scenes. (all the HOS are this type) You play as Shaban a shepherd whose sheep have been stolen by bandits, one has been left behind and you go off to try and find them. Play switches between the sheep left behind and Shaban.
If you don't click on the keep ratio button you don't get black bar on your fullscreen.
There is a hint button on HOS (takes a minute to charge and it's on the inventory bar) as well as a hint button on puzzles, (takes 2 mins to charge) there is a skip button (4 mins to charge). Although later in the game a couple of puzzles didn't have the skip button.
The HOS have moving scenes - just keep your curser at edge of screen, and are interactive. If you are a straight HOPA or HOG player you will find them very different than what you are used to. Some of the scenes have a type of puzzle in them - find an animal that keeps moving when you click on them. There is a seperate hint button (bottom right) showing you all the locations within the HOS. Even with that, sometimes it was very hard to find the very small part of that animal.
If you are not ued to this type of game it does take a while to get used to but you are really rewarded with a very enjoyable, quirky adventure.
I love that your brain is made to think and that puzzles there is an actual hint button. Forget about what you think a hint button is, here it actually gives you that - just a hint. While sometimes it gives you the objective, other times it made you think and I loved that, even though my brain didn't work in one puzzle!
There is no dialogue or diary but instead the story is told in picture dialogue and cartoon style cut scenes.
PUZZLES
The puzzles did repeat themselves and were a variety of hardness and type. But some were unique, others a very nice twist on them - like the jigsaw which sometimes became another interactive puzzle.
There was an arcade fishing type game - very clever but hard (for me!) There was two arcade style shooting type (timed) puzzles. They repeated the "match one coloured end to the other coloured end" a few times.
I love quirky adventure style games like this and I think it's a new developer - PETAGAME and I wish them well and can't wait for their next game.
While one puzzle had me stumped (I actually was making it harder than it was) if you are used to this kind of game it wasn't a pull your hair out adventure but very straightforward, which I like.
cons -
-There weren't skip puzzles on some jigsaws and another puzzle so if people don't like them you are stuck on them.
- Some writing on the cutcenes didn't make sense but you got the gist of it.
So if you are looking for something different, quirky and really well done then do try it out.
I recommend this game!
Help Nancy go undercover at a high school to solve a mysterious murder and keep the culprit from claiming his next victim!
Overall rating
3
/
5
20 of 26 found this review helpful
Like easy cryptograms, or want an easy, short ND to start with?
PostedJune 19, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This as you may know is the first ND game, with remastered graphics. It is also the easiest and shortest I’ve played of the series(but I haven’t played yet the other early games) so it’s the perfect game to start with.
If you have never played a ND game before, you have a choice of playing junior or senior mode. In junior mode you have a task list and some puzzles are easier, you can phone your friends and ask for hints (but no bess in this game just ned).
It’s not a 360 nausea type game, the controls when you go to the edge just move like static images till you turn around. It’s not free flowing 360 where you can look up, down etc in every scene – it’s all arrows.
You have to manually save ND games and you can’t skip any puzzle in any of her games.
This ND is a puzzle game with some adventure, it’s also the shortest ND I’ve played compared to the later games. The plot is you are undercover at a school where someone has been murdered. There are three locations – house, diner and school, the school is the biggest location.
There are people that you find when you explore and you have a choice of questions or responses, more questions become available when you trigger something else in a game. It’s non linear as there isn’t a set order to do things, but one thing will unlock something else and thus advances the story and what you can do.
#While playing you will find loads of different notes around (cryptograms) so take photos of them with the in game camera or write it down on paper. You will also see some sparkles and if you click on it (icon on mouse won’t change) you find that it’s money. Sometimes a scene will sparkle if you stay long enough in it, other times your mouse will have to go over an area before it triggers it.
The money can be used three ways in the game and if you find all the money– it’s one of the stars for achievements (I didn’t get it) At the end you get ‘stars’ with different achievements, these are sometimes a bit off the wall but it makes it more fun exploring everything as it could give you one of the ‘stars’ on your detective badge. The only thing is I didn’t know what an award was till I finished.
There are also two easter eggs in this game, an unexpected acknowledgment in game of finding or doing something a bit unexpected.
#I agree with Laflamme it wasn't till I had finished that I realised that I didn't need to decypher all those puzzles left, which was disappointing. *But I suppose if you hate them it's an equivalent of a skip button. I enjoyed them so had fun doing it but wish it was used. The puzzles were 99% cryptograms so if you don’t like puzzles or that type then this game isn’t for you*. I generally don’t like cryptograms as they are usually too hard for me but these were either easy or straightforward in working it out. If you didn't bother working any out then this game will be a very short LF game. This even with working out everything is a short LF.
While this game lacks the polish, depth and challenge of latter games it still was fun and I enjoyed it. To have a relative easy ND game for a change was nice and I love loads of smaller puzzles.
Recommend for true ND lovers, cryptogram lovers or those who want an easy LF game.
I recommend this game!
Save the besieged alpine village of Martlet and rescue its residents from the mysterious living statues in this exciting Hidden Object Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
192 of 213 found this review helpful
5 star whimsical game let down by a few things - bonus info at end
PostedJune 15, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It’s an elephant game, my favourite DEV. I love their graphics – crisp, sharp* and beautiful. This game like all their recent games, give you a transporter map (instant jump) and here give you helpful different coloured icons on the map ‘things to do now, later etc’. They never repeat their hidden object scenes, have plenty of puzzles and it’s a great adventure.
But this is the shortest game I have played from them, 4hrs 45min for main game plus another 45min for bonus.
While this is just on the cusp of a normal length SE game for me anything under an hour for bonus play, it’s too short. Other games by them – surface, black aisle, legacy were around the 8hr mark and over for me (on middle play). I really am astonished at the length of this game purely because they are known for long, quality games.
I think this could be another new series from them, it’s easier than the others and I think has more hidden object scenes than most of their other games, as they are known for not having many. But compared to other HOPAs it would be about min-medium amount.
I love that this game has humour throughout, is whimsical and has a completely different plot. All I will say is that statues come alive, I won’t say any more about the family in this story as it would be a spoiler. It has a very well done voiceover – a gnome who is also your hint guide. There is no journal and the plot unfolds through cutscenes which was good and they have upped the amount of plot in this game compared to their others. This makes it a good balance of plot, adventure, puzzles and HO scenes. The pace was excellent and kept my attention throughout.
They have a choice of 3 settings in gameplay – middle (advanced) has no sparkles but still has hint and skip buttons, the hardcore has no hint and skip buttons and you can change them mid game.
If you were playing hardcore I could imagine you not liking the hint if you just wanted to use the transporter map, as the coloured icons indicating you could or not do something in an area didn’t go away on hardcore. Also in HO scenes and in adventure there still was black bar tips. I liked the information and some comments but if they had separated out the tips for hardcore players it would have been better, although it wasn’t bad compared to other games. They didn’t have any black bar tips for the puzzles in both middle and hardcore gameplay, which was great. If you wanted a hint on the objective of a puzzle you had to hit the ‘I’ button which brought it up.
If you were playing hardcore I could imagine you not liking the hint if you just wanted to use the transporter map, as the coloured icons indicating you could or not do something in an area didn’t go away on hardcore. Also in HO scenes and in adventure there still was black bar tips. I liked the information and some comments but if they had separated out the tips for hardcore players it would have been better, although it wasn’t bad compared to other games. They didn’t have any black bar tips for the puzzles in both middle and hardcore gameplay, which was great. If you wanted a hint on the objective of a puzzle you had to hit the ‘I’ button which brought it up.
The hint button SG players will love as it basically is a spoiler as to what to do next. I didn’t use it as it was too helpful, and if I wanted a hint I just looked at the map.
It's not like surface mystery of another world were every new chapter is brand new and you never go back to old areas. Although most of the play you kept to new areas you discovered.
HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES
17 hidden object scenes well spaced out, non were repeated but they were mainly far too cluttered/junk pile for my taste. While most of the game and even HOS were sharp quite a few objects weren’t as sharp and could have been better*. While there weren’t tiny items some were small and others blended but not super hard to find. I did find sometimes some of the items weren’t as well done as others (looked flat and not well integrated).
I loved the non random click penalty and there was two scenes one all gold, and one all blue/silver which were good and I loved the shop window scene most of all. Sadly they were only mildly interactive.
PUZZLES
No handholding, but help if you wanted it (press ‘i’) Mostly unoriginal and on the easy side but they were beautiful and well done, making even the easy ones enjoyable. Non were mind boringly easy and there were quite a lot of puzzles but were well spaced. There were a couple of trickier ones thrown in. For my taste they were mostly too easy but I loved the amount of them.
Ending for main game – If you were a SE player you may think you would know what the bonus plot would be and might feel the story wasn’t complete. But the bonus plot doesn’t go where you think it would, so it doesn’t finish one side of the story either.
TIME - Took me 4hrs 45mins on middle setting but I didn't skip any puzzles (I tell you to help you guage how long it might take you if you played on casual etc)
BONUS (all unlocked at start apart from video and bonus game)
-Achievements
-26 miniatures you collect throughout the game (see them in achievements area)
-Bonus play
-SG
-Video is 8 cutscenes that was played throughout the game
-Music - 4 soundtracks that you can save
-16 concept art
-11 wallpaper
-26 miniatures you collect throughout the game (see them in achievements area)
-Bonus play
-SG
-Video is 8 cutscenes that was played throughout the game
-Music - 4 soundtracks that you can save
-16 concept art
-11 wallpaper
Bonus play
All in new area and doesn’t feature anyone from the main story, (apart from your gnome) I felt the ending was abrupt. There was 3 hidden object scenes and a few puzzles. One puzzle I spent 20 mins on and it was random and I ended up skipping it – (I like logical puzzles that you can work out so skipped it). So you can take that into consideration when I say TIME for BONUS PLAY - 45mins.
While elephant games CE usually impress me, and with extras here they do (although no unlocking of puzzles in this game) the bonus game and collecting things is the main reason why I buy CEs, so I am not recommending this CE version.
If you don’t think that bonus is short then you will love it but I would recommend waiting for the SE version and you will get a 5 star SE game with built in mini SG. (hint button!)
If it was a normal length elephant game I would have no problem giving this 5 stars.