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:
After inheriting a manor in England, you begin to explore the Kangale Estate and discover its history!
Overall rating
2
/
5
15 of 16 found this review helpful
Far too short and no extras which was a shame
PostedOctober 25, 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
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
First of all I can’t recommend either the CE or the SE. The CE had nothing in the extras other than the usual (concept art, wallpaper, SG) and main game took me 3hrs! Bonus took me less than an hour.
But I can’t recommend the SE (apart from super short main game) you need the CE to complete the story. So if you can get the CE at half price like I did and don’t mind all of above let’s look further into the game itself…
It is trying to be an atmospheric game and mostly succeeds with this although in the middle it lost its way with this and with bog standard gameplay even the occasional good cutscene got lost. Game opens with a girl at the top of a lighthouse with a fire behind her and a cloaked figure rowing away. Plot is all told by finding notes around the place – you are having a boring life when you find out you have inherited this old manor in an English island; intriguing opening, lonely eerie manor with only the butler as you arrive. If you want voiceovers you need to keep the music on.
Sadly the occasional ‘spooky’ cutscene and there were some good ones, especially the rare first person ‘movement’ scenes but gameplay was so boring and bog standard at the middle it was unbelievable. At the very end the plot got interesting and was well done but it actually spelled out the things you didn’t know yet and was a literal cliffhanger so you would want to play the bonus.
If you love HOS but hate puzzles then this is your game as there were only 6 puzzles in the main game so it seemed there were more HOS than they really were (14 HOS). Graphics were lovely and sharp sometimes but in HOS it was that faded, hard to see mostly junk pile with only mild interaction scenes which I can’t finish fast enough and that was hampered by the random click penalty. What was lovely to see though, was that the HOS weren’t repeated. Puzzles were easy, one was arcade target, have to look in diary for codes for a couple of others.
There are 3 choice of hardness and even the hardest had sparkles on HOS and black bar tips but hint and skip were not available. You can change settings mid game. Sometimes in the inventory there are items that are in a small box – this can mean either puzzle or you need another inventory item on it.
There was no transporter map so there is a lot of backtracking. You can replay the cutscenes in main menu which was good.
BONUS
Bonus play was in all new area and the plot, and suspense and quality I thought was all good it was just very short. I could imagine if you weren’t playing on hardest setting it wouldn’t be much over 30mins I was daft at one point so took me longer about 50 mins. There were 4 additional HOS and only 2 puzzles.
If you can pick up the CE at half price and don’t mind how short it is and above information then I do recommend it to you if you like quite a few straight list HOS and no puzzles and like ghosts and don’t mind in TOTAL it’s only 4hrs.
But I was disappointed with bog standard game play in middle, far too short, too many HOS for my taste and no extras and felt like they relied too much on the plot ending to try and make up for it and nothing irritates me more with "having to play CE" to finish the story.
There's a terrible secret hidden deep within Lockwood Manor!
Overall rating
2
/
5
29 of 41 found this review helpful
Not even a good 'same old' HOPA - bit below average
PostedOctober 24, 2012
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
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
*all my reviews are based on completion of the game*
If you are looking for a typical HOPA heavy on the HOS, nothing new and love dark stories then you will like this. It does have quite a few puzzles as well, mostly on the easy side with just a couple of medium/ hard ones.
Nothing about the game really interested me or excited me, everything seemed so mechanical from location of areas, to puzzles and HOS. Too much monochromatic scenery with obvious paths to follow even the story wasn’t that interesting but demon possession wouldn’t be my favourite plotline anyway!
The plot is demon possession and a love triangle and the plot is semi-finished but doesn’t resolve one aspect of the plot which I guess the bonus in the CE will do. I finished it in 4hrs and the ending was a bit abrupt without explaining everything.
I did find the beginning the most interesting part in the game but quickly realised it was ‘same old.’I play so many HOPAs and this is the perfect example of how one game blends into another and you have to check what game you’re playing as you could be playing one of many as it’s so formulaic nothing is captivating, neither the graphics, different puzzles, HOS, setting or gameplay.
The graphics are mostly dark but not crystal clear, if you do dark do sharper graphics. There were two settings on the hardest there are sparkles on HOS scenes.
26 HOS
Most had to be played twice some nearly back to back.
Some items were well defined others not. All were completely non interactive list, very cluttered type. There was a random click penalty on the hardest setting. I found many to be so blended or tiny, or so hard to find. And for my taste there were too many for even enjoyment of a ‘same old’ game.
Some items were well defined others not. All were completely non interactive list, very cluttered type. There was a random click penalty on the hardest setting. I found many to be so blended or tiny, or so hard to find. And for my taste there were too many for even enjoyment of a ‘same old’ game.
22 PUZZLES
Puzzles had auto tips on them none original most very well known, but a couple of nice ones. Mostly very quick or very easy with a couple of medium hardness.
I know a lot of people like ‘same old’ like it’s a comfy pair of slippers and they know what they will be getting – so if you are like that then do try it out especially if you like a lot of HOS.
I don't recommend this game.
The Legend of Crystal Valley
Help Eve find her missing father and learn all about The Legend of Crystal Valley! Solve complex puzzles in this Adventure game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 14 found this review helpful
Perfect game for beginners
PostedOctober 23, 2012
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
2
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a pleasant mystical adventure game by Cateia games (hotel, where angels cry, captain brawe) made in 2009 but it does feel like an older game.
The plot was intricate, well thought out and got some humour and it is very much plot driven with quite a bit of dialogue in it. What was weird to me was there was voiceover at the very beginning and with the tutorial and then suddenly none for the whole rest of the game. I kept changing the controls in options as it felt like there should be especially with some cutscenes but there aren’t any.
The ending although I liked was abrupt and not wanting to spoil anything I didn’t think it would be that as the rest of the game didn’t make me feel it would be that. It does feel like there could be a sequel to explore the story further but there is a end to the game, you aren’t left hanging as in ‘to be continued.’
I loved the detail and humour in the story from cats, how pyramids were built to what happened to ‘melvis.’ As ever if you don’t like the type of mystical storyline then you won’t like this game.
The graphics are a weird mix between some nice scenes and the feel of a much older game and movement could do with a bit more finesse.
You play as Eve who gets a letter from here Dad asking her to meet him back at the farm and thus the adventure begins. This is an easy adventure game and a shortish one – it was the time of a short HOPA (4hrs 15mins – if you look at your saves it tells you the time you’ve played.) so don’t go expecting a large file usually long type game.
There are but a handful of puzzles in this game, all easy if you remember to take notes during the game for one. So this is an excellent adventure game for beginners and also a tutorial at the beginning of the game explaining things.
Game mechanics –
-Top right is inventory and menu or you can access the inventory by right clicking.
-Manual save, which if you right click you can save it from your inventory area or the menu. So remember to save often.
- Can't skip puzzle but they are not hard and only a few
-Later in the game you get spells to use, which you access from your inventory (hit magic tab) to access it.
-Sometimes clicking on it and then on item to use it on didn’t work and I had to double click on it in the inventory. Some items I had to double click in inventory to use them as well.
-Combine things in inventory by clicking and dragging things onto each other.
-Diary tab in inventory which conversations are recorded so you can go back if you need to refresh your memory.
-Double clicking on blue curser mostly worked to instantly move her but you can also use spacebar for her to run.
-Click on go back button in conversations to open up all dialogue.
There are loads of different types of adventure games, even the games by this developer are very different, just as there are loads of different types of books. I have quite a wide range of taste in games and sometimes I want something easier, relaxing and don’t mind that it’s not as long as a LF game. While the movement, graphics and the ending could all be improved, I really enjoyed the change of pace. It’s not one of the best by any means but it doesn’t have to be for me to appreciate and have fun with it. It’s a good game if you have a coupon code so try it out.
TIME – 4hrs 15mins.
(I rate hardness for LF games differently than HOPAs I would say it's about the same hardness as most HOPAs)
I recommend this game!
Use your botany skills to survive the strange new planet of Botanica. Can you find your way back to Earth in this thrilling Hidden Object adventure?
Overall rating
5
/
5
68 of 73 found this review helpful
Whimisical different setting, quality all the way (bonus review at bottom)
PostedOctober 23, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Boomzap just gets better, this it seems will be their next series (?) I have never really been a fan of hand drawn graphics although boomzap does it very well. Here I’m glad to see that they have sharpened their pencils and brought some colour to the graphics. This makes a huge difference in HOS as they are sharp and easily recognisable what an item should and nothing is faded or washed out looking like some other DEVs do.
I loved the story a botanist your father finds portals to other worlds and you go and try and find him. It gives the plot originality as it does concentrate on plants and the HOS as well as puzzles are actually part of the game!
Let’s get the two negative things for me out of the way, there is no transporter map and they do what they’ve done in the past and made this game a sequel, there is no finish. I don’t like sequels.
Again boomzap makes all new chapters and you don’t ever go backwards and revisit old areas. I lOVE when that happens and it also cuts down on the time of backtracking so it’s not bad at all!
Don’t select ‘hard’ which is the hardest of 3 choices of gameplay unless you are very confident as you can’t change once you start (and I do wish you could). You don’t get skip or hint buttons and you don’t get info button on puzzles but you do get some black bar tips on them.
There is a journal with a to do list, a non interactive map and some fun ‘encylopedia’ on other world plants. You also get a botantical kit (when "i" appears you can do a puzzle in it)
If you love puzzles, not so much the HOS or just want HOS variety boomzap is your DEV.
16 HOS – Hidden object scenes
I never say this but where do I start in saying why I loved them? No junkpile and only one very cluttered scene. This not only makes them lovely to look at but also I always find non junkpile way harder. Graphics, really clear and sharp, no tiny items. Even though there was no random click penalty on hard (thanks!) I didn’t use it as I wanted to take my time on them, that’s a first! They also never repeated them – so rare but again shows they are not lazy. All but one list HOS were the highest interaction you can have.
9 list
Find items from a narrative 2 (love this)
2 pictures of item you have to find in scene
Reverse (put item back in scene)
Find x amount
Coloured pics at bottom and you find and colour it in the drawing
Find items from a narrative 2 (love this)
2 pictures of item you have to find in scene
Reverse (put item back in scene)
Find x amount
Coloured pics at bottom and you find and colour it in the drawing
Numbers may be out by a couple but I do try my best
41 PUZZLES (official)
If you do back out of them they will reset (did this once). Thankfully boomzap has listened and actually made more hard puzzles as so many games they give us so many puzzles but are so very easy. Overall it was a great variety mostly about medium. I felt the objectives in all of them were clearer than in the last awakening game.
It was the perfect hardness for me – hard enough as to not be bored by them but easy enough to be relaxing although a lot of them took me a while (perfect). A lot of them were standard fare but I liked how they were done, a couple were unique. Graphics were lovely and sharp and clear.
I did find this game way easier than the last awakening, as it was clearer where to go thus the 4/5 out of hardness rating.
CE EXTRAS (don’t know if collectables will be in SE)
Achievements
Collectables (butterflies – these were very hard to find and I wish a few where clearer as I felt I was pixel hunting a bit)
Cutscenes (replay them)
4 music
Concept art
Wallpapers
SG
Bonus play
Collectables (butterflies – these were very hard to find and I wish a few where clearer as I felt I was pixel hunting a bit)
Cutscenes (replay them)
4 music
Concept art
Wallpapers
SG
Bonus play
BONUS PLAY
All new area (feel with the floating islands it reminds me of awakening). Although the bonus follows on a different path with the boy from the story and doesn’t finish the plot in the main game, without wanting to do spoilers the bonus plot may be needed to understand the next game. Or it may not and just deepen a character story which I really hope the case will be.
HOS 4
2 list
1 reverse
Find 10 of something.
1 reverse
Find 10 of something.
9 PUZZLES
I think 3 of these were hard and took me a long time along with a couple of others. So if you don’t like hard puzzles or will skip them this bonus will be quite short.
Official in game time –
Main game 5hrs 30 min (hard mode, no skipping, no hints) I say this as me giving you a time without information with it isn’t that helpful.
Bonus another 1hr 15mins
Total -6hrs 45mins
I recommend this game!
Celtic folklore seems to be more truth than lore when the Samhain festival goers disappear! Find the missing people and save the day!
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
What a difference 18 months make...
PostedOctober 19, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played the CE version but as you get achievements here in the SE version, there was no other extras (just the usual wallpaper etc) and bonus play was just under the hour and the plot was tied up here (although you could guess where it might go in the bonus.)
This isn’t elephant’s first HOPA, I think that was MT: the void but this feels and plays like their first (the lost games I put in another category). Comparing it to their recent games what a difference! It doesn’t feel or plays like their other games.
There is no transporter map, graphics are a weird mix of grainy to OKish although there were a couple of nice scenes. There are also a lot of HOS and even more puzzles. Plot was OK you are off to try and find what happened to your ex, with of course twists to it. But don’t expect even templar’s quality of cutscene. The difference between this game and the hallowed legends templar is big but it shows how far elephant has come, especially in recent games.
Here there are only two modes of play which is changeable during the game but advanced does still have faint sparkles sometimes and has sparkles on the HOS. There is also black bar tips. You can hide the inventory bar but hint button is in middle with diary to the right and inventory to the left.
Hint button isn’t their usual mini guide just shows you in a scene and if it’s not in the scene just one back button won’t keep going back to show you where you should go. There is no voiceover just dialogue boxes.
It’s hard to describe but something you have to see for yourself why the quality isn’t here compared to their other games. Apart from graphics, plot isn’t really there and I feel they put in a lot of HOS and puzzles to pad the game out without being part of a game. Here I felt like I was picking up one thing in one scene to use it in next and the backtracking is huge here. I know all HOPAs are like that but the really good ones don’t make you feel like you are doing that.
24 HOS
At least it’s their usual never repeat, and no random click penalty on their all list types. Most were junk pile or very nearly, some weren’t. Some were quite good in clarity and sharpness but others were more grainy. Some tiny items but not many. Don’t think any were interactive.
34 PUZZLES
Quite a few were very easy so very quick to do. Others were all varied hardness and some hard ones. Most of them were really old school but a couple were new.
TIME - It did take me a fair bit over 5 hrs and I did skip about 3 puzzles (as was bored and didn't want to do them)
If you are looking for a good enough game with length and a lot of HOS as well as puzzles and don’t expect a recent ‘elephant’ standard game then I do recommend it especially with a coupon or DD. But if you are expecting their usual type of game – of amazing graphics and sharpness in HOS, not many HOS, transporter map, wow cutscenes then keep walking!
I recommend this game!
Celtic folklore seems to be more truth than lore when the Samhain festival goers disappear! Find the missing people and save the day!
Overall rating
2
/
5
28 of 29 found this review helpful
(SE will get 3 stars and a recommendation) What a difference 18 months make...
PostedOctober 19, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This isn’t elephant’s first HOPA, I think that was MT: the void but this feels and plays like their first (the lost games I put in another category). Comparing it to their recent games what a difference! It doesn’t feel or plays like their other games.
While this would be a good enough straight SE (and I don’t recommend the CE as bonus wasn’t long and apart from achievements there are no extras and you get achievements in the SE) if you are expecting an ‘elephant’ game then I think you will be disappointed.
There is no transporter map, graphics are a weird mix of grainy to OKish, there are a lot of HOS and even more puzzles. Main story was OK you are off to try and find what happened to your ex, with of course twists to it.
Bonus story didn’t understand it but it was a bonus. The difference between this game and the hallowed legends templar is big but it shows how far elephant has come.
Here there are only two modes of play which is changeable during the game but advanced does still have faint sparkles sometimes and has sparkles on the HOS. There is also black bar tips. You can hide the inventory bar but hint button is in middle with diary to the right and inventory to the left.
Hint button isn’t their usual mini guide just shows you in a scene and if it’s not in the scene just one back button won’t keep going back to show you where you should go. There is no voiceover just dialogue boxes.
It’s hard to describe but something you have to see for yourself why the quality isn’t here compared to their other games. Apart from graphics, plot isn’t really there and I feel they put in a lot of HOS and puzzles to pad the game out without being part of a game. Here I felt like I was picking up one thing in one scene to use it in next and the backtracking is huge here. I know all HOPAs are like that but the really good ones don’t make you feel like you are doing that.
24 HOS
At least it’s their usual never repeat, and no random click penalty on their all list types. Most were junk pile or very nearly, some weren’t. Some were quite good in clarity and sharpness but others were more grainy. Some tiny items but not many. Don’t think any were interactive.
34 PUZZLES
Quite a few were very easy so very quick to do. Others were all varied hardness and some hard ones. Most of them were really old school but a couple were new.
EXTRAS
14 concept art
10 wallpaper
Screensaver 5 music
Achievements
10 wallpaper
Screensaver 5 music
Achievements
Bonus play
Most of it was in old area but there were a few scenes that were new (70/30?) The ending was very abrupt and so quick I didn’t know what happened and wasn’t really following the bonus plot.
I counted 3 HOS and 7 PUZZLES (in addition to above numbers). It wasn’t quite the hour but very nearly but I skipped a puzzle (and didn’t spend much time on it).
The time is there for the main game - good bit over 5hrs and nearly another hour for the bonus. But I skipped about 3 puzzles in main game (was bored didn’t want to do them) and another in the bonus. But as this has a lot of puzzles if you are going to skip quite a few then I think it will be a short game.
This so isn’t worth it for a CE. If you are looking for a good enough game with length and a lot of HOS as well as puzzles then get the SE.
I don't recommend this game.
Strange figures have taken over a small town in Hallowed Legends: Templar! Stop the Knights of the Templar!
Overall rating
4
/
5
33 of 40 found this review helpful
Shorter than their more recent games but you do have collectables!
PostedOctober 17, 2012
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
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
(I played the CE, I would have felt satisfied with the ending here if I was a SE player but the bonus plot did further the story of two main characters)
The time before elephant giving us the transporter map and how I miss it here! But the good news it was in the days you get the collectables (here 50 doves) in the SE. They haven’t given any extras in SEs out since mystery trackers:raincliff.
Although this still is a very good quality game, and I really enjoyed playing it, it’s not their usual 5 star game and it is the shortest of any elephant game I’ve played at 4hrs. which was very disappointing.
The really good graphics and in the HOS are here, as well as their usual great cutscenes, although you can see how they have improved on the live actors (although lip synch here is good and later games it’s not) and tweaking in other areas. As well as live actors they have this dialogue box which comes up and on it static picture of the character speaking which I didn’t like.
Choice of 3 hardness which you can change mid game. There is also a diary, and you can replay all cutscenes.
Choice of 3 hardness which you can change mid game. There is also a diary, and you can replay all cutscenes.
The game starts of with your sister in law writing to you worried about your brother as he has gone missing and you have to find him.
If you are a fan of the knight templars you really have to play the whole game to understand what is going on, that’s all I will say as I don’t want to spoil anything.
If you are a fan of the knight templars you really have to play the whole game to understand what is going on, that’s all I will say as I don’t want to spoil anything.
21 PUZZLES
A couple are unique but quite a few are ‘oldies’. They are varied hardness but most are easy or easy/medium. I did enjoy them.
A couple are unique but quite a few are ‘oldies’. They are varied hardness but most are easy or easy/medium. I did enjoy them.
17 HOS
All list type quite a few were junk pile or really cluttered. All interactive and on top of that, you need an inventory item for the HOS so you may have to come back to the HOS if you haven’t found it yet. There is their usual no repeating of HOS and no random click penalty. A fair few were hard to find but didn’t find any tiny just some small items.
All list type quite a few were junk pile or really cluttered. All interactive and on top of that, you need an inventory item for the HOS so you may have to come back to the HOS if you haven’t found it yet. There is their usual no repeating of HOS and no random click penalty. A fair few were hard to find but didn’t find any tiny just some small items.
TIME – Main game just over 4hrs (but I did skip one puzzle which was a two part and that would have taken me a while)
Strange figures have taken over a small town in Hallowed Legends: The Templar! Stop the Knights of the Templar!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Shorter than their more recent games - bonus review at end
PostedOctober 17, 2012
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
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The time before elephant giving us the transporter map and how I miss it here! Although this has the bells and whistles of a CE and is a very good quality game, compared to their other later games it’s not a 5 star game although I had a good time playing this game but I think this is the shortest game I’ve played from them which was disappointing.
The really good graphics and in the HOS are here, as well as their usual great cutscenes, although you can see how they have improved on the live actors (although lip synch here is good and later games it’s not) and tweaking in other areas. As well as live actors they have this dialogue box which comes up and on it static picture of the character speaking which I didn’t like.
Choice of 3 hardness which you can change mid game. There is also a diary, and you can replay all cutscenes.
If you are a fan of the knight templars you really have to play the whole game to understand what is going on, that’s all I will say as I don’t want to spoil anything.
21 PUZZLES
A couple are unique but quite a few are ‘oldies’. They are varied hardness but most are easy or easy/medium. I did enjoy them.
17 HOS
All list type quite a few were junk pile or really cluttered. All interactive and on top of that, you need an inventory item for the HOS so you may have to come back to the HOS if you haven’t found it yet. No random click penalty. A fair few were hard to find but didn’t find any tiny just some small items.
CE EXTRAS
50 collectable doves ( there are over 50 but it doesn’t record the extra ones)
achievements
9 wall paper
12 concept art
4 music tracks
SG
Bonus play
achievements
9 wall paper
12 concept art
4 music tracks
SG
Bonus play
BONUS PLAY
The main story I felt was tied up in main game and would have been happy if I was a SE player, but I would have guessed where it was going. The plot was a bonus (over and above) and followed on from the end and two main characters were in it. I enjoyed the plot especially at the very end where you are giving a choice as to what to do, so you choose the ending of the plot!
Bar one scene it was all in old area. Good amount of quality cutscenes, and the quality was the same as the game.
5 puzzle (3d jigsaw, rotating rings, one unique, couple of others)
4 HOS
It was just on the hour for me, which is the bare minimum. I did not skip any puzzles in the bonus but if you do it will be very short as most of those puzzles took me a while.
TIME – Main game just over 4hrs (but I did skip one puzzle which was a two part and that would have taken me a while)
bonus - plus another 1hr
bonus - plus another 1hr
I recommend this game!
The entire town has been put into a deep, dark sleep by a mysterious evil force. Now young Lillian must find allies and uncover the dark secrets of voodoo in order to save her master and free her friends before it is too late.
Overall rating
1
/
5
21 of 24 found this review helpful
Reasons why I disliked this game so much...
PostedOctober 16, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*All my reviews are on 100% completion of the game (bar one TM game)*
I bought this undemoed as a DD and about the only good thing I can say is that cancer research will get $1! I am shocked this was ever a CE as the quality isn’t there.
I never play on casual but after trying variations of “GUI tool tips” on and off I had to as the navigation on this was so bad. Every time I tried to find where to back out the inventory bar came up and the side screens you had to be spot on where you clicked. So on casual mode at least I got ‘sneakers’ telling me where to click to move around.
I did get rid of the black bars on my non widescreen laptop by changing my resolution to 1280 x 700 and uncheck full screen but changed it back due to hard to find some items but it didn’t make any difference.
The graphics were actually quite good in some indoor scenes but in HOS and outside it was grainy really hard to see and a lot of time I was pixel hunting.
I don’t normally use hint buttons but here due to navigation and hard to see things I did and found it to be the most useless hint button! If there was nothing in a scene it went to the back button but then disappeared not keeping showing you where to go!
The couple of good things about this game were it showed ‘area clear’ when you were finished in it, and there was a spell book where you put inventory items and made spells. You also had ‘powers’ which you find during the game which you can use on items.
26 HOS (numbers are roughly, I do try my best)
They were all list type, junk piles, hard to see, some tiny items. On the left hand side of the inventory bar there is a built in magnifying glass you can use but I found it annoying.
A few of the scenes were all the same grey colour. All of them were covered in this cobweb and if you mis-clicked it slowly the web slowly got thicker and harder to see but you still could click and find items. You repeated most of them but didn’t have to play any more than twice. I do hate when you have to replay HOS and you’ve just played the scene 2 mins earlier! I really hated the HOS due to all above.
PUZZLE 13
Type and how many times you have to play them -
pipe 2, rotating rings 2, match pair x 4, billiard puzzle need to write down hard to see combination elsewhere, safe, jigsaw, combination,
There weren’t many and you had to repeat them and boring. Some I wouldn’t even class as a puzzle but an interaction and most were so easy apart from the billiard puzzle. This is a pet peeve as I don’t like writing down things and feel the combination should have been in the game (in a journal or document etc that I could look at) so I didn’t have to record it.
TIME-
This wasn’t a long game (thankfully for me) but you don’t even get a long game even if it’s not a quality game. I was playing casual so timing will be off compared to my other games – 3hrs 30mins.
This wasn’t a long game (thankfully for me) but you don’t even get a long game even if it’s not a quality game. I was playing casual so timing will be off compared to my other games – 3hrs 30mins.
The ending was dreadful - a literal “to be continued” but I read that the ending was the same in the CE so it’s not a ‘to be continued’ in the bonus in the CE version but more a sequel.
I don’t have many one star games as my reviews are on bought finished gameplay but due to navigation, hard to see items, some bad graphics, boring puzzles, repeating dreadful looking HOS and there is a lot of them in a 3hr 30min period (26!) and poor gameplay this game gets it.
Couldn’t even recommend it for a DD or if you got it free.
I don't recommend this game.
Track a mad man across time and investigate a gristly murder from the past!
Overall rating
4
/
5
29 of 38 found this review helpful
4 stars for a long game, great story and all the extras in a SE!
PostedOctober 13, 2012
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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Looking for a good plot, not that many HOS and would love ‘extras’ but you are on a budget and can’t afford CEs? Then look no further than this mumbo jumbo SE, as this game has all that and length as well.
I was going to buy this as a CE and held off because I didn’t know if the bonus or whole game could be short. On both accounts I need not have worried but I am glad I held off as the achievements, and two different types of collectables are here in the SE version! I realise by reading other reviews that there is a twist in the bonus plot and that it is long but I am contented with the SE version and was happy with the ending.
There are three modes of play which you can’t change mid-game. I choose the middle one – advanced as you can’t collect the dreamweavers in the expert mode. Dreamweavers are used for extra hints but if you run out you still can have hints. I love to collect things for hints as it makes games more interesting.
The plot is about a famous killer and you go back and forth between time zones a couple of times to gain clues and insight into the crimes. I don’t want to say too much re this to spoil the plot. Your character is a police detective who is also psychic and has visions about the deseased.
There is a journal which is helpful and a goal tab as well as in inventory tab.
CONS
-I didn’t like the scrolling screens too much as it does make me slightly nauseated but it’s not always there.
- I didn’t like a lot of the graphics, it was slightly grainy (especially outside) and felt like an old game. The character was very well done though and the HOS were clear enough.
-There were sparkles on the middle mode for HOS which I don’t like along with auto instructions for the puzzles.
-I also wish there was a transporter map but didn’t feel the backtracking was excessive but still was annoying.
- Repeat HOS
Ratio is slightly more on the adventure side with a lot of interactions and has slightly more puzzles than HOS which I like.
I had to replay this game due to tech problems and was playing fast to catch up so I may have missed some of the police badges, but I honestly thought I got at least 50 and I didn’t get unlocking of HOS. I forgot to look to see how many I got!
Dreamcatcher 52
Police badges 70 (apparently if you get 40 you unlock HOS)
Achievements 7
Police badges 70 (apparently if you get 40 you unlock HOS)
Achievements 7
12 Hidden object scenes
4 original list type, most you had to repeat once.
1 match pair, 1 match like pair (love these types) both weren’t repeated
1 match pair, 1 match like pair (love these types) both weren’t repeated
-All interactive and clear
- no random click penalty
- couple of tiny items.
- no random click penalty
- couple of tiny items.
15 Puzzles
A mixture of type; a couple were arcade style and timing had to spot on. I skipped two puzzles in this game – the chair one (which was in the demo) as I had no patience for the type. And at the very end the tarp puzzle again as I don’t like the type.
I did enjoy a lot of them, nothing really new. Variety of hardness.
I did enjoy a lot of them, nothing really new. Variety of hardness.
This game took me nearly 6 hrs (with 2 skips and some hints) reading everything as that is what this game is about – the plot. I love the extras that they give in the SE, which makes it a 4 star game for me. If it didn't have the extras I'd give it 3 stars but just because it maybe between a 3 and 4 star game, doesn't mean you can't have as much enjoyment as with a 5 star game!
I recommend this game!