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:
Follow the trail of the mysterious woman in white and discover the secret behind her terrible task!
Overall rating
4
/
5
135 of 175 found this review helpful
4.5 - Very enjoyable game - bonus review at bottom
PostedFebruary 21, 2013
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*REVIEW OF FINISHED GAME on hardcore* (all ratings are out of 5 - so 3/5 for hardness)
Very pleasant elephant game – great sharp graphics (and recently they haven’t always been like that especially in HOS) nice variety of hardness in puzzles, achievements and collectables.
The hallowed legend is about Hel – a mythological being and as it’s Nordic – expect lots of ice and snow. As I don’t know any of this fable I have no idea how many fables are mixed up or how ‘true’ it is. The plot is told through your helper the raven (whose voice is excellent) as well as some, but not many live actors and some more ‘static’ cutscenes. Taking comments about lip synch not matching, here they don’t speak but go into static non moving lips dialogue boxes.
The story was nice enough but a bit too much of Hel for my liking as I never warm (pardon the pun) to creatures/ice queens/witches like that, it’s not my favourite storylines but I enjoyed the 'people' side of the plot.
Gameplay is exactly the same as elephant’s usual – black bar tips on hardcore, map tips, change mode during play, never repeating HOS, not that many of HOS and no random click penalty.
I do wish the black bar tips they would disable in hardcore but they rarely if ever do, sometimes it’s more noticeable than others and here it is.
HOS (hidden object scenes)
They have two different types of HOS. One was the typical interactive list type and the other was the same kind as in the MCF latest games – the small fragment of a scene and you have to find the scene and put the fragment back into it. While I don’t mind the latter if there isn’t much of it – it was on the formulaic too much side for me – find all of them in a set which activates the fire book to melt ice throughout the game.
There were 12 list HOS and 7 sets of the small picture type. I appreciate it was something a bit different (for them) but coupled with the list type and a lot of find “2” parts of items throughout the game, it felt slightly more HOS heavy in the balance of puzzle/hos ratio and it’s not my favourite kind. I did appreciate they were back to the bright, sharp colourful scenes that sometimes they don’t have.
11 Puzzles (there was one that didn’t have a hint button on it)
Sometimes they give us very simple puzzles and while some weren’t hard and very straightforward to do, some of them have a nice facelift to them and a couple I was at for a while. While gameplay wasn’t hard (especially if you use map with those tips) because the puzzles weren’t so simple it didn’t feel as easy which was good. Put that with the harder to see collectables (I think one in each scene) it was a nice laid back game for me.
Sometimes they give us very simple puzzles and while some weren’t hard and very straightforward to do, some of them have a nice facelift to them and a couple I was at for a while. While gameplay wasn’t hard (especially if you use map with those tips) because the puzzles weren’t so simple it didn’t feel as easy which was good. Put that with the harder to see collectables (I think one in each scene) it was a nice laid back game for me.
Reading all this – nice puzzles, great graphics, it all sounds wonderful but if you only buy the occasional HOPA, this isn’t the first one that would come to mind – the must have, it’s more of a nice to have. I don’t know why, I just wasn’t enthralled with it but then again, do you have to be with every game?
There was a scene at the very end and I thought the imagination and thought that went into was so clever – so whimisical that if they brought more of that throughout the game, it would have risen this game up to the wow type level of gameplay.
CE extras
Achievements (these are hidden and the game won’t tell you what they are but I did get them all. Spoiler – It’s just your typical – don’t use hints in HOS and don’t skip puzzles, get all collectables, play bonus. You don’t need to play on hardcore and I think you can even use hints in gameplay and the rest is pure gameplay.)
22 Collectables
Music
Screensavers
Concept art
Bonus game
SG
Music
Screensavers
Concept art
Bonus game
SG
Bonus play
4 puzzles, 4 list HOS (no small picture type hos)
It was a bonus (not needed to finish the main story and was a 100% complete ‘bonus’ story) plot, everything tied up in SE main game. Most of it was in old area – slightly changed – more ice etc. About 4 locations were new. It was along the samelines of the main game, quality was there. It took me 1hr 20 mins but 15 mins (? ) must have been in one puzzle. While I enjoyed it, bonus plots and gameplay on it’s own rarely excite me, it’s the ‘trappings’ of the CEs that make me want it.
I will say that the previous Hallowed legend extras (achievements) were in the SE, so I’d say wait and see or get it in a sale.
Very pleasant game, just not jumping up and down about it, ie saying it could be one of the best games of the year.
Time 4hrs 20 mins (at least 30 mins were on 2 puzzles) playing hardcore
Bonus another 1hr 20 mins (15 on one puzzle?)
Bonus another 1hr 20 mins (15 on one puzzle?)
I recommend this game!
Emerald City Confidential
Help Petra explore the seedy underbelly of Emerald City, and find Dee Gale’s missing fiancé. Mysteries abound in this dark tale.
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 11 found this review helpful
Great interactive comic/novel pure adventure game (no puzzles!)
PostedFebruary 1, 2013
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 has been well over a year since I've come across an old gem here at big fish and thankfully found this game. How to describe it? Think wizard of oz meets nick chase meets avenue flo and it's put into a comic strip in which you can interact and you get the idea.
It's obviously dialogue heavy but you can click to get through it faster - you get "choices" of how to respond but after replaying it and picking different choices it doesn't make a difference only to you playing it and how you would want to respond.
The story is that you play as Petra a bit hardened, cynical private detective in the land of Oz. but this isn't the land of Oz that you might think! Whoever came up with the details of the characters (tin man and oil!) and areas is pure brilliant as it was witty, funny and clever.
You have 50 quests in the game and hidden buttons to collect throughout and there are medals/ achievements. I had a glitch when I replayed the game and all my medals disappeared at the end. The buttons are actually three different coloured sparkle in some scenes (so are easy to see and I wish somehow it could have been buttons you were looking for) you can change it into concept art in the game in a store but you don't have to as it gets auto changed for you later in the game.
At the beginning it was very straightforward hence the 3/5 for hardness, the middle to the end was more medium hardness and at the very end scenes you had to try a few things but as the inventory was limited you aren't lost.
New locations open up when you unlock them through conversation triggers so it's very obvious where to go and explore next. Later in the game just keep talking to people exhausting all dialogue and if you concentrate on it, it will give you clues as to who you have to speak to next.
Under options you can speed up how quickly people walk, thus speeding up the game, you also have a journal.
I will say that the one weak point in the game - as often you did exhaust the dialogue but it didn't go away under the choices of dialogue so it kept repeating needless dialogue. if they removed ALL the choices after you heard it the first time or put it in a different colour to show you had listened to it that would have been better. The part at the university with the knowledge machine was also slow.
Also I would have loved if you could also manual save in places as I had to replay the game to get all the medals and in the end got a technical hitch!
Time was about 4hrs, if you speed up a lot of dialogue it probably will take 3hrs.
If you don't mind a lot of dialogue, want an easier (not very easy just easier) adventure game with no puzzles, don't mind banner pop ups of the quests then I recommend this game to you. I really loved it, something quirky, different and quality - bravo playfirst.
Here's hoping for a sequel.
I recommend this game!
Uncover a secret that lies beneath the surface of a traditional ryokan! Stop the terrifying ghost before it has its revenge!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 25 found this review helpful
A Japanese puzzle/adventure game
PostedJanuary 30, 2013
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
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love that most Nancy Drew adventures are so different from each other while still retaining elements that make them distinctly 'nancy drew.' Some ND games set around homes or castles etc end up being quite alike and rely on different plot or puzzles to be different, although they are good.
This feels different from the people being widely dispersed - two on phone, one elsewhere and three within the Ryokan. There is a theme in this game and it's very strong throughout - Japanese culture from modern to traditional and I thought how they did this was excellent. Even the puzzles are mostly Japanese or are well known in Japan, little things like that make this a very well-thought out game.
Sometimes ND games are more adventure with only a couple of puzzles, here there are a lot and as usual you can't skip them. The puzzles you have are -
suduko (quite a few)
nonogram
renogram
memory skills
origami
cryptogram type
tangram
bento boxes (picture puzzle)
couple of timed puzzles
Pachinko
suduko (quite a few)
nonogram
renogram
memory skills
origami
cryptogram type
tangram
bento boxes (picture puzzle)
couple of timed puzzles
Pachinko
In ND games you always get a couple of games that you can play as much as you want - here it was pachinko which is an arcade/pinball type game and bento boxes which if you don't like the picture you get just back out and go in again and it gives you a different configuration.
If you don't like suduko, nonogram, and renogram puzzles I found out after playing that if you get an easter egg in the game (there are 4) you can actually skip those that are given by one person (although you will have to do a couple later in the game.) There is one timed colour in type puzzle near the end and thankfully I got it on the third try or would have got frustrated as I don't like timed things.
I love learning things and learned quite a bit about Japanese culture by doing a couple of puzzles and by reading things in the game.
There were a good variety of locations and sometimes it's just set in one place - here you go to an arcade parlour, a mall (I think) an apartment, and the ryokan which has gardens, baths as well as the main area.
As it was a bit more complex the plot there was slightly more dialogue in it than other games but it wasn't a dialogue heavy game at all factoring in all the adventure, exploring and puzzles although it would be great if you could skip dialogue once you had read it. I loved it and wouldn't have changed the amount at all as I thought it was interesting.
If anyone has seen "the ring" I think you will appreciate one aspect of it - I loved the nod to that movie with that but if you haven't seen it (and I do recommend the Japanese version much more creepy) it isn't necessary but an added layer of 'very clever and creepy' if you have. Also the obvious nod to 'the grudge' movie and like those movies this, especially at one part actually made me jump and no game ever does that with me. I so loved that Japanese ghost theme throughout (so different from other ghost stories.)
As there was a lot going on, if you are new to ND games to even to LF then do choose junior mode. As you get a task list to check off, and I do secretly miss that playing senior! Also you get to phone Bess or George for a hint and I think the puzzles could be easier so if you don't like puzzle then do choose junior mode as you can't skip them.
The second chance is here as usual, which brings you back to a time before you make a mistake or timed puzzles. It's a manual save game and load game, so you can go back if you make a mistake so save often but don't overwrite old saves.
This is one of the games that have achievements but you don't know what they are till the end of the game if you do want to know what they are beforehand, do a search so you know what to try or just leave it to chance to see how you did! I love them.
I thought this was a very clever, involved plot, and hard (but not in the very hard range) puzzles with interesting adventure game. It's not one of their 'easier' games and if you don't like a lot of puzzles it might not be for you but what a well-done game that I learned a lot from - what more can I ask?
I recommend this game!
When your daughter, Emily, is taken over by a mysterious force, you must travel to the Nightmare Realm to search for a cure. But nothing could have prepared you for what you find there…
Overall rating
4
/
5
51 of 60 found this review helpful
Dark adventure game (literally and figuratively) 4 HOS
PostedJanuary 30, 2013
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
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I finished the CE but the ratings etc are for the SE (especially as it seems the SE has collectables). Main plot is 100% tied up in this main game the bonus was a backstory.*
This is a sequel to nightmare realm which I really recommend that you play first or I think you would be lost and also I think you would miss out on a lot if you play this game then the first game.
This other strange world which you can go into because your child dreams and paints pictures. Your child is now grown up (although doesn’t look it) and you play as the mother again.
If I hadn’t played the first game I would feel differently about this game but in two aspects that I feel they did so much better – colour in graphics and plot there is no way around it, that I could ignore it.
Comparing between the two, the first one wins hands down in plot, even graphics (colour in the darker scenes) and fun factor. I can’t quite put my finger on it but this is missing the spark of the first and I think it is to do with plot, and for me when the scenes were grey (although not all of them where) it made me feel depressed although some pictures and scenes were of course lovely and had some colour to them.
I felt there was a lot more grey scenes in this compared to the first game which I always remember as being a visually lovely game in the dark scenes although here it’s well done. I just like some colour in dark scenes – rich midnight blues but make the next dark scene, dark oranges etc.
So that’s why I’m not all excited about this game as I realised afterwards I actually felt a bit depressed by the end of the game which stuck with me, due to the dark grey scenes and to a lesser extent the dark theme. And it's doesn't have that super sharp graphics that I love either.
Although the puzzles were good, and the adventure aspect was very good. The interactions were different, and loved that adventure side of it.
I don’t like saying anything about the plot as it’s a spoiler but I miss the suspense, charm of the first game. Even though the first game was dark it still was charming and it was more the lack of a plot or story that I also really missed in this game and in places how it was edited.
I loved the plot in the first game. There are but a handful of games that I even remember the plot and how it stands out and the first game in this series, was so well done but this wasn’t. The reason why I didn’t like the plot in the bonus in the CE is completely different to why I didn’t like the plot in the SE. The interaction between the mother and the first prisoner – really that’s it? No explanation re Uncle and it just ended up being another ‘meh’ plot because of HOW it was done. If those two things were the same as the first game, I’d give the SE 5 stars.
*If I was a SE player I may think (using that word to be none spoiler) that the bonus may give a different ending to one aspect but it doesn’t the ending you see is the ending for CE players as the bonus went back in time trying to explain the ‘why’ of it all.
This is a far darker game than the first one, with more references to demons although I thought the other realm was to do with more evil men and imaginings, so I couldn’t figure that part out.
If you have played drawn then you understand the concept and gameplay. It plays as an adventure game (the first one didn’t), with some puzzles (21) and only 4 HOS in main game.
I did enjoy a lot of this game – it had some very good adventure aspects to it along with a wide range of puzzles from easy to more involved. On the hardest setting of three (which I played) there is no hint button but there is a skip button. There is a map indicating things to do but it’s not a transporter map. I liked that the inventory bar you can unlock it so when you don’t need it’s not in view.
4 HOS
All were list and one you repeated. They were very interactive and some nearly every item you had to do things with. No tiny items, I thought most were clear – the first one in the forest was the least clear of all of them. There is a random click penalty but it is very forgiving.
21 puzzles (has a skip button on it)
I loved a lot of the puzzles, even some easier ones if it’s interesting, different and fun I enjoy them. Wide range of hardness. I do class puzzles that are harder in a HOPA if it takes me a while to do. So there were a couple ‘hard’ ones for a HOPA but not ones you would never work out, it just took time. I loved some of the puzzles – the multi layered ones especially, as it’s more interesting. Taking each aspect of the puzzle was actually easy but putting them together into one made it more interesting. Some of the types of puzzles – Hanoi tower (which I hate as done it so often), tangram, rotate ring, move people across river, 2 jigsaw types, balance puzzle, arcade, move water around between bottles/ 3x3 slider, photo fit, paint puzzle, mosaic swap tiles. There are a lot that we have seen before (see the list) but I thought the graphics or how they did them were really good and just seem to change them completely. Most did have the fun factor.
TIME – about 4hrs 30mins – pure playing time not including breaks etc (on hardest mode but I did skip one puzzle as didn’t like the type)
I recommend this game to people that don’t like a lot of HOS, don’t mind dark games, or grey scenery a fair bit in the game. If it wasn’t as dark, had the plot, suspense and more charm of the first game, some colour in the grey scenes then it would be a near perfect game for me. I went in to so much detail so you can see if that is something that would affect you.
I recommend this game!
What dark and powerful secrets are hidden within the A.R.C.A.N.E. agency's old research base? Kiera Vale returns to find out.
Overall rating
4
/
5
59 of 64 found this review helpful
CHALLENGING LONG DARK ADVENTURE GAME (1 HOS)
PostedJanuary 26, 2013
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW OF FINISHED GAME
I can’t remember much of the first game which I played and I recommend you play first but it’s not vital as there is a recap in a journal by the bed giving you a recap and there is a ‘story’ button; which was enough for me to vaguely remember the plot. I’m not going to give a comparison review as I don’t remember that much except that I really enjoyed it but I did think I preferred the adventure side better in the first game.
It leaves of from the first game and the ending in this game ensures there will be another game in this series. I actually don’t like that type of ending and I don’t like the dark witches or that side of the plot at all but I play this series as I love the puzzles and gameplay.
This is a very dark game, one of the darkest here at big fish, but thankfully the scenes with the witches etc aren’t in every scene or chapter. While I don’t like that side of the story, the overall story is very well done, with a lot of journal notes as well as cutscenes, so do read everything.
This overall is a very challenging game so if you usually play casual on a HOPA and like a bit easier games then I wouldn’t recommend this for you. There is no choice of modes to play but there is a skip and hint button and I thought both seem to charge quickly. There is a choice of a tutorial at the beginning. While the beginning of the game may even seem easy or straightforward, this game is hard for the average person.
There is no transporter map but as each chapter is quite contained you aren't hitting the back button for long periods of time but there are quite a few 4 or 5s in there. It would be nice to have one. The hint button is a "shows you if there is something you missed in a scene" type.
I’d class this as a 60/40 puzzle ratio to adventure game if you count the amount of time doing puzzles. Of course this ratio will change from person to person but I seem to have spent a huge amount of time doing puzzles. The ratio of hardness of a HOPA of puzzles is switched here as most puzzles were hard with only a few about medium and only a couple were easy and even then not that easy.
There were a couple of very hard puzzles in there but I think most would be able to work them out (as only those who like more of a challenge will buy this game.) But don’t despair if you don’t like that as I thought how they technically did the puzzles was brilliant as there was a multi-layer help system.
The hint button turned into a puzzle info button during puzzles giving you an over-view if you want it. On a lot of puzzles you either clicked on the photo or story button to give you a clue sometimes or the actual objective/what the puzzle should end up looking like or even the solution.
I loved this as you can get more of a challenge if needed but by using all of these ‘hints’ most of the puzzles although took me a while (most were 5 mins+) were comfortably solvable. Sometimes when I got round to hitting the hint button or the buttons on the left hand side, they were easier than I thought! And if you are really stumped there is a skip button or a walkthrough.
When you view each puzzle individually I don’t think many were real stompers but when put all of them together and some within a short period of time, that’s what made the game hard for me.
I don’t know if the gameplay itself from the middle to the end was actually hard, as I thought at the beginning it was very straightforward but because I played this game through in one sitting and must have expended my brain cells on the puzzles, the gameplay seemed to get harder!
The puzzles even ones that are well known are so different that it takes a while in a puzzle to realise the goal sometimes. Some are so well thought out and actually not hard at all once you realise the goal and that’s clever.
Even once it was making fun of hard puzzles - if anyone worked out the “integrate with respect to g” puzzle well done as I find it hard to count 2 + 2, I didn’t do it, but for the average person they weren’t supposed to and you might appreciate the humour when you come to it.
I usually hit the windows key in games and go out to record all numbers for reviews but this game is very slow in returning in and would take me about 30 secs to get back in, so be aware of that if you look at walkthroughs.
So my numbers for puzzles (has a skip button) are so far out and I mean really roughly there were about 38 puzzles. Quite a few interactions didn’t have any skip buttons.
There is one list HOS (and I think it’s the same in the first game how it’s done but not sure) and for people who hate HOS, even you I think will appreciate the humour of how it’s done. I thought that whole bit was so funny as I have just recently finished a game like that. There is a lot of humour throughout this game, and as this game is aimed at those who like a challenge I thought some of the sarcastic comments if you were trying something wrong were really funny.
The not so good –
Reviews aren’t for recording tech issues as the guidelines says but will mention the first chapter was a bit buggy and once when I entered the game again all the inventory went white. I played through it all which is why I am recommending it but try it first.
I will say that if ever a game was crying out for unlockable puzzles after the game, this one is. As there were puzzles I didn’t want to do at the time but knew if I didn’t do it, I couldn’t replay them later.
There are voiceovers sometimes in the game, the only exception is the small boxes cutscenes which I think is weird.
The graphics look really dated as if the game had been made years ago but were awaiting all the puzzles to slot into the game, as those puzzles most have taken ages to work out and do. I did not like the graphics but then again I thought it looked the same as in some recent games and some people were raving about the graphics, so it depends on your taste. I didn’t like them but the gameplay and difference of the game and the puzzles kept me engaged.
Time –8-9hrs. It was over 8hr could have been over 9hrs, but it depends on how quick you are with puzzles. Some types I’m not that quick at. I’m just giving my time, some may finish in 5 others over 10hrs etc. I do think that even if you skip quite a few puzzles it is quite long.
If the graphics were better, and had unlockable puzzles I’d have no problem giving this 5 stars especially for a straight SE.
I recommend this game!
Your brother is kidnapped during an air show. Search for him in a beautiful world where the sky is as wide as your imagination.
Overall rating
5
/
5
81 of 89 found this review helpful
Surface is back and this is what a CE should look like - bonus review is at bottom
PostedJanuary 24, 2013
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
Review as usual of finished game - CE extras and bonus at bottom
Elephant is back at the flagship of the series – surface. I say that over MT as they always seem to have put more effort into surface – never repeating old areas, new transporter maps as well as achievements, collectables etc. See below all the extras they have.
I did love this game, surface has a different feel than their other games and even from each other. Although the first one IMO is the best and the second one was close - this for me didn’t beat them.
After having so many fairy tales recently it’s good to see them back at this type of game, even though I enjoyed some of them and it was different this is my favourite type of game from them and I am glad they haven’t forgotten their old customers.
After the fairy tales this may seem more male driven with elements of steam punk but it’s very clever as there is a more feminine thread of a storyline throughout so again it appeals to both sexes. I’m not at all mechanical and I don’t think there is much of that at all in it as I don’t like that and I as a woman loved it. This is not for men only!! Although I'm sure after all the fairy tales they must be relieved with this game!
There are no witches, demon possession or anything like that in this game.
I was a bit disappointed as they did go back to a short bit of an old area, although some added things were in it. The transporter map is a bit different as it’s not entirely new ones, but more a scrolling one with old areas locked and then hidden. So you need to look for all your collectables as you go as you can’t go back.
The live actors which I love they still need to work on the lip synch. If the game is going out in English can’t the lip synch be in English? The voiceover is in English.
25 PUZZLES (all the ones that had a skip button on them)
I nearly despaired at the puzzles in the demo as they were so easy and so mundane and also at the small screen most of the puzzles seem to be in. I like full screen puzzles. As the extras says all puzzles unlocked and there are only 15 there, I think if they put a skip button on the interactions as some people might get stuck and they aren’t really puzzles.
It wasn’t till a fair bit through it, I found a couple of fun not that hard puzzles. I loved the hamster one. Most of them though were just OK only a few I thought was really fun. I do wish most of them were either a bit harder as the first surface had more puzzles that were about a medium in them or more that were different. At least there were a few that were different later.
Challenging game seems to be dying out as more devs are catering for a wider range of people. So those of us who like that have now nowhere to go to although later on the gameplay did get more challenging as it went on but that was more memory but the puzzles mostly weren't (a couple were.)
12 HOS
As usual, no repeats, no random click penalty, no sparkles on HOS on advanced and here it’s all lists and you need inventory items on them. If you are a stuck at one come back later when you have more inventory items. I’d say all of them were junk pile but at least colourful. Most were well defined but I have noticed of late that some items don’t have as sharp edges to them which is a shame.
GRAPHICS
Cutscenes were mostly very pixalated, I don’t know if that is because they are trying to get the game into the smallest download but I do wish they would then offer two different games – one uncompressed for us who have unlimited broadband. They haven’t had that in previous MT or surface games so don’t know why that is. Also some outdoor scenes aren’t their usual sharpness and plain WOW that I remember, but some were. I love the colourful, very sharp graphics than the fuzzy kind – and some of the scenes outside stone buildings were a bit like that.
I don’t give 5 stars out to CEs even if I love them if they don’t have all the bells and whistles as what do I do then when a CE comes along like this and does?
CE extras
Achievements
Collectables
“Philanthropy”
Screensavers
Wallpaper
Concept art
15 unlockable all mini-games
4 music
4 bonus video (don’t miss that)
Bonus chapter
SG
Collectables
“Philanthropy”
Screensavers
Wallpaper
Concept art
15 unlockable all mini-games
4 music
4 bonus video (don’t miss that)
Bonus chapter
SG
The philanthropy area was very clever, each area you had been to which was run down you restore. It’s a place where you can spend all your collectables. I love collectables as games are getting less challenging so it’s an added layer to my gameplay to make it more interesting, the same with achievements if they are good. I love it when elephant not only gives us collectables but places we can spend them on. Saying that I didn’t get them all, so it’s a great way to play again and try and get them. It’s not “x” amount of collectables you have to get which is good.
BONUS
You still collect your ‘collectables’ throughout the bonus which I love. It was all new area, which makes a HUGE difference for me. The plot was completely different with a slight twist in the end. The main bonus plot wasn’t about fighting bad guys anymore and to do with restoration, I don't want to say more as it would be a spoiler.
I actually thought most of the graphics in the bonus was better than the main game – most were lovely and sharp. The 6 puzzles were good (loved a couple) and the 3 HOS were the same kind as the main game. I loved the bonus and it was about 1hr 20 mins (hardcore).
main game was over 5 hrs. I did think the others were a bit longer.
I loved it all - really recommend the CE.
I recommend this game!
Dark things bubble to the surface when the past invades the present!
Overall rating
2
/
5
82 of 101 found this review helpful
Bit dreary but good story
PostedJanuary 23, 2013
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
My REVIEWs ARE OF FINISHED GAMEPLAY here it's the SE.
I didn't like this game, when the demo ended I was so-so about it so decided to use a free coupon on it. I thought the graphics in the demo was about the best at least some scenes had colour to it even if most scenes seem to be drudge and dreary but shortly after the demo the graphics got a bit more grey (most still had some colour to it but some didn't) but I just don't like that kind of graphics - bit washed out, not sharp so that didn't help either. I get it's supposed to be an eerie game but don't understand why the cafe for instance in the demo just looks dirty and unkempt - why eat there? For me that's how it came across instead of atomspheric, and basically I find these kind of graphics depressing.
I know graphics have a huge impact on a game so if you don't find that at all about the graphics you'll probably like it.
I found the 15 puzzles mostly to be easy, I didn't like most of them not just because of the ease of them but either the type or how it looked. Most were uninspiring except for a couple. I think I counted some 'interactions' at the beginning which weren't technically a puzzle with a skip button. So the numbers are rough.
There were 18 list HOS - mildly interactive. I would class at least 2/3rd in the junk pile realm and quite a few were dark and dingy looking in the middle but at the end they were better. There is a random click penalty which is annoying but no sparkles even for HOS on the hardness I played on. You do have to backtrack and check on the HOS as they repeat about half of them (you play them twice).
You can change settings midgame. There is a hint button and skip button on hard.
There is no transporter map but a map in the journal which does gives hints as it tells you places there are things to do in, I did use this especially half way through to the end as wasn't liking this game. As there is a fair amount of backtracking in it, don't know why it wasn't a transporter map as that was another thing I didn't like.
The opening of the game re story had me interested, the graphics at the beginning were OK to quite good but with how it turned out with graphics, gameplay, hos, puzzles I couldn't wait for the game to end. The one good thing about the game was the story, it was interesting but I didn't like how the characters zoomed in and out. You play as Henry the fiance, don't want to say anymore as it's a spoiler. I did think how they did the story - through some letters, film and cutscenes was very well done and how I like a story to be told.
The ending I would say is sort of finished although at the very end it's trying to create suspense with the ending, having you wonder but it may continue into the CE. Either way I couldn't say it was 100% tied up for a SE player as it doesn't seem that way to me but a CE player may tell you if it was.
I felt OK with the ending for a SE player, even if I would prefer they didn't do that.
I felt OK with the ending for a SE player, even if I would prefer they didn't do that.
About 1-2 yrs ago I would have enjoyed this a bit more, but have played so many games with that type of graphics and strip away the story (after all it is a game not a novel) the gameplay is uninspiring, backtracking, bit blah puzzles, dreary graphics, not even the plot could hold it together for me.
But as I said if the graphics are OK for you, or if you don't mind that kind of thing, and if you love a bit different plot then it's certainly worth a DD or coupon. It just wasn't for me, but check it out for yourself.
Time about 4hrs - Used the map in the journal, and some hints in the HOS.
I don't recommend this game.
When a friend gets kidnapped in a historic theater, you, as Nancy Drew, are plunged into a desperate race against the clock!
Overall rating
3
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
Quite short, not as good as others but I enjoyed it
PostedJanuary 21, 2013
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
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I don't do love or like but out of 5
This doesn't have the polish, in depth, multi-layered puzzles or interactions of the other ND games. It's also about the shortest ND game and one of the easiest (but still not easy) of the series. It's one of the very early ones and it does show. But I still enjoyed it and actually more than a couple of others that had better graphics, locations etc.
I loved the story of your friend has been kidnapped in this old theatre that is about to be demolished and the background story which you can read about in the game as well as see one is about magic tricks and Houdini. It's not very involved re Houdini but I loved finding out how you do a couple of tricks and thought that side of it was fun.
There are four characters in this game and they are scattered throughout the theatre. Like all ND games you keep talking to all of them especially after you trigger other conversations or things you uncover.
I like this game as you didn't have to go to bed or put your clock forward but a day automatically ends when you have accomplished certain things. There are three days but days 2 and 3 are quite short. I found day 1 to be the longest as that's just pure exploring around the theatre, finding your bearings, talking to people. The whole game is set in the theatre.
Like all ND games you can't skip the puzzles but actually thought they were very straightforward, like you would get them in a HOPA. There was a slide to exit, press one tile others move, keep an eye on the 'ball' (item that is moved around), and move tile to exit in a path before you are captured which may be the hardest of them, a jigsaw (which you rotate each piece as well as move them) and make a key (which you do have to make notes and it is a bit tricky). I really recommend you to save before trying them as they don't have a reset button on them.
In senior mode the puzzles are apparently slightly harder I played senior so can't comment how easy the junior is.
Usually in ND games you can replay a couple of puzzles as many times as you want, this is weak here, as it is just the move in a path one which once you figure it out once I didn't see the point of playing it again and the move 'the ball'.
With ND games you do need paper and pen to jot down some things but really this is only about 2 different items which is very obvious when you come across them. This is what I like least about ND games as if you could record things it would save me wondering what needs to be recorded and what doesn't. I actually wasted 1-2 hrs of writing down stuff which I didn't need to.
It's a manual save game and like all the early ND games the load and save game is in the same place, you can click on the line to write down the name of a save but it's not that clear and the later games are far better and there is no chance of accidentally loading an old game when you want to write down a new save (I've done that in the past.)
It also has the old interface which takes up half the screen, it's annoying but I have gotten used to it and now don't really see it.
There are some things you don't have to do to progress in the game but it is weird as it assumes you've done them.
If you are methodical in sweeping each scene and examining everything and have a good memory where everything is in relation to each other I don't think this is a hard game. I actually do have problems with direction and that part takes me longer in finding my bearings but it's not actually that hard, and the puzzles aren't really stinkers.
There is a couple of timed elements in the game, but it's second chance which means if you don't get it the game automatically will take you back for you to do it again, so you don't have to worry about saving so often. There was one that was quite tight but once you figure it out what you have to do the timed element wasn't bad.
It is a good ND game for beginners but I'd be scared if I recommend this for someone new to ND games they might think this is it for ND games and most of them are way more better done in involvement, intricacy and all round. So don't judge all ND games on this one.
It's probably the die-hards who love ND games are going to be the ones who enjoy this and I must admit I am now one of them. But if you love tricks, or theatre and just love a good story and aren't looking for an A grade adventure game then it's worthwhile playing.
As I said I had more fun with this game than some others that are far better made and thought out but that's due to the setting and the story.
If you are just looking for one of the best ND games to play and you're not going to play them all, then I'd give it a pass.
But I liked it for what it is, and used a free coupon on it and enjoyed it so I do recommend it but as I said only for some people.
But I liked it for what it is, and used a free coupon on it and enjoyed it so I do recommend it but as I said only for some people.
I recommend this game!
Reality Show: Fatal Shot
After a man is murdered on a hit reality TV show, you are called in to uncover the truth behind the crime.
Overall rating
3
/
5
109 of 119 found this review helpful
Very short pure adventure game (no HOS)
PostedJanuary 18, 2013
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
REVIEW ON FINISHED SE GAME on hardcore
(I don't do like or love but all ratings out of 5, including challenge etc)
(I don't do like or love but all ratings out of 5, including challenge etc)
ERS can be the their own worst enemy sometimes as I have no idea how this could have been a CE purely on length alone. I knew it would be short so I played on hardcore - and didn't use skip or hint, or walkthrough and I didn't skip any dialogue even after I read it all as I want to be fair and it was under 3hrs. Having no HOS in it is no excuse as their Dark Alley's pure adventure game took me 5 hrs.
Saying that, the enjoyment factor was higher in this game for me than dark alley's, the plot, the different locations, the pace of the game, although if they had the length and the same level of 'hardness' (which wasn't hard) as dark alley I would have really loved this game.
This game was a bit infuriating as for once I was really enjoying the plot - simple, clear, straightforward no weird animals or out there insertions - like a junk pile plot. No witches, demon posession etc but it does have a bit of a dark opening so don't recommend young children to play this which is a shame as this game is easy think they could.
I'd class this as a filler game - short, simple but sweet. I like filler games as I play them between hard games but some of those puzzles were so simple it's annoying. The gameplay is easy and very contained so the lack of a transporter map is no loss.
There is 3 choice of modes and you can switch them during gameplay and I strongly suggest everyone should try hardcore.
Hardcore was annoying as it said no black bar tips but I still got some, there is hint and skip button (I think) but it does take a long time to fill.
I was annoyed as especially at the beginning, it's insultingly simple the puzzles and it's infuriating as they had some lovely ones which by minor tweaking could have been easy to medium. They have some great thoughts to puzzles but either technically how they do them or by making it so boringly easy, it takes any joy out of some of them.
At the end it was more medium but of the 36 (roughly) puzzles I counted most of these were very easy to easy. Only about 4 or 5 I could class as medium and even those everybody can do so have no idea why they didn't make all of them that hardness. I did love a couple - the yeti and the ball, not hard but fun, that's all I ask.
My play time is including the long time I took with the word puzzle which said it was counter clockwise which I did and it was fiddly only to find out it was clockwise!
I thought they missed out on a great opportunity with the red balloons. When you see a red balloon you use your UV light on it. There were only 8 red balloons in the whole game but if they made them less obvious, it could have been like a collectable but still part of the game, make the clues more extra like a background story with the UV light so if you miss one it doesn't matter. I did enjoy it but thought they missed a brilliant opportunity with them.
Thanks to CE reviews saying it had a tied up ending, it's the only reason I bought this as with this DEV I've been burned too often re this, but I felt the ending was satisfactory as a SE player. I think I could guess where the bonus may go but it was tied up enough for me to be happy with it.
I only recommend it for a DD or free coupon which I used because of the length. Unless you are looking for a filler game (simple gameplay and mostly simple puzzles) and don't mind that it's short, then I'd pass.
I normally wouldn't put an active recommendation on a game under 3hrs but as it was very close, and I liked the plot and gameplay even if the puzzles were mostly too easy, I will.
I recommend this game!
Stop the evil Vansig family before they point their vengeful wrath at your friend Christine in Nightfall Mysteries: Black Heart!
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
2.5 - good for a DD
PostedJanuary 17, 2013
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
REVIEW OF FINISHED GAME - I don't do like or love but out of 5 for each aspect, so I didn't dislike this game.
I'm surprised this is less than a year old as it looks so much older with the graphics. It is typical fare, darkish storyline (at end) nothing new re plot, or gameplay and this game I will not remember. It's not bad at all and I liked most of it, it's just about average but the graphics let it down. I love the type of graphics they are trying to do - clear and sharp but it just looks old.
There are three modes of play which thankfully you can change midgame. I thought the choices were weird as if you don't want sparkles you have to play with no skip or hint button which is hardcore and that's daft, you should be able to play with no sparkles in middle mode. The hardcore still has auto tips on puzzles and black bar tips which is bad.
There is no transporter map, just a map in the journal which annoying sparkles when it's updated. The map does have "i" on it when you can do something in an area. More at the end there is a fair bit of backtracking but it's about medium and not excessive.
There is voiceover but the characters are static in the dialogue scenes but move in the cutscenes.
There are 15 tapes you find in the game (like the last game in the series) but these are obvious and not collectables like how you think collectables are as they are obvious, you can play them in your diary and can do things while you are listening which is good. I do like them as it is a bit different.
30 HOS
All list, mildly interactive. There is a random click penalty. I thought they were bad purely because of the very faint or hard to see with some items and most of this is due to the graphics. About half of them I'd put in the junk pile realm.
You have to replay most of them - so most HOS you have to play twice. There are no sparkles on the HOS which is good but it's annoying that on hardcore you have to keep checking on the HOS to see if you have to replay them. If they didn't repeat them it would solve the problem!
You have to replay most of them - so most HOS you have to play twice. There are no sparkles on the HOS which is good but it's annoying that on hardcore you have to keep checking on the HOS to see if you have to replay them. If they didn't repeat them it would solve the problem!
14 PUZZLES
Most were easy a couple weren't but one was just pure fiddly to do. Most were well known - pieces on rings to make a picture, move things up and down - get a green light when in right position, slide to exit.
I did like most of them but it all got a bit boring.
It's not a bad game, but for today I feel it's just slightly below average but it's certainly worthwhile playing for a DD and I think most would enjoy it. I know I play too many of these games as it's just melding in with the crowd, plot at end been done so many times. I am going back to being a bit harder on games to try and make it clearer what games are standouts.
I do prefer less HOS and at least the same amount of puzzles but if you like quite a few HOS and not so much the puzzles then it's a good enough same old game and I got about 4hrs 30mins out of it on hardcore so do recommend it for a DD.