Nilosh's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:33,798
- Reviews Submitted:395
- First Review:November 20, 2011
- Most Recent Review:May 3, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Travel to South America to investigate a deadly cosmic force. Can you uncover the secrets of the missing research team?
Overall rating
5
/
5
107 of 139 found this review helpful
Yes! I am a Sci-Fi Geek and Loved this Game!
PostedMay 3, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I have to admit; at first I was really skeptical about this game. I faintly recall playing the first installment so the storyline was unfamiliar and I just smiled every time I read the word Homunculus which incidentally I had to look up. Homunculus: an artificially made dwarf supposedly produced in a flask by an alchemist. After the hour was up and I was still in the first chapter, I knew this game was for me!
As for our storyline, a compelling Sci-Fi adventure that begins with you taking on the role of Sasha, who is on route to save a futuristic world from an alien substance called the Cyan Plasma. After the mysterious disappearance of your parents, you begin to have recurring nightmares and discover that your Homunculus is actually an amulet with great powers. It leads you to an island where you meet up with Daniel, who is searching for his lost Mother. Your adventure begins as you take on a multitude of tasks, collect clues and follow a trail that will hopefully lead you to find the missing research team so that you can uncover the secrets of the plasma before it spreads across the globe.
The graphics are excellent, sharp with good resolution and very good lighting. I especially loved the artwork although characters were a well drawn but lack a certain degree of realism with their cartoonish effect. Voice-overs are a bit amateurish and animation cut scenes were adequate, nothing outstanding like some games in the past. Nevertheless, being a Sci-fi fan, I found the storyline to be intriguing and I was very surprised and pleased to discover that the game has more complexities that meet the eyes. It comes with a fair amount of challenge that requires you to have a good memory, some logic and patience as you are required to do a lot of back-tracking. At one point, I had collected around 15 inventory items and had to figure out or better yet remember where I needed to use them. There are many tasks to fulfill, and every scene has several areas of interests to visit.
The developers did an excellent job with the adventure aspect of the game and as a HOPA, it ranks high on my meter. Hidden Object scenes were somewhat challenging and actually had two dimensions within one scene. Once you trigger the plasma ball, you are transported to another point of time or origin and are required to play the same scene with different sets of items to locate. In short, each HO scenes is played twice at the same time and some items were difficult to spot. There is slight interaction involved but basically you have a standard Hidden object scene that are slightly junk-piled but nevertheless, I enjoyed them.
Puzzles are plenty and there are a lot of them to solve in every scene. Mini-games were unique; I especially loved the first one I came across: moving a bug with 35 actions to be taken. KUDOS to the developers for creating some very interesting mini-games, something we rarely see these days. In addition to the standard puzzles and games, you have collectables, thirty-five plasma flasks hidden throughout the game. There are also a set of achievments to be earned which really was not necessary.
Actually I think this game really is a standard edition game and the only thing that qualifies it to be a CE is the strategy guide which I think I may need. There are no extras that we see in many of the CE games, but to be honest, you don’t need them here; the adventure in Phenomenon: Outcome is good enough without a set of belles and whistles. Besides, there is a MAY DAY sale today and I for one will not hesitate in the least in making this game my own. Have a good week-end everyone.
I recommend this game!
After searching for five years, Princess found her mother – only to have her kidnapped right before her eyes!
Overall rating
3
/
5
84 of 101 found this review helpful
Not A Great Sequel!
PostedMay 1, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
To be honest with you this doesn’t come close to its predecessor, Lord of Statues which incidentally I remember how much I raved about. It seems that our pachyderm friends continue to take that step backwards and are not upholding to their usual standards of excellence. I found the graphics subpar and other features a bit disappointing.
Let s begin with our story; our Princess who has redeemed herself from our previous adventure now is reunited with her Mother when suddenly they are pulled apart from each others’ grasps and once again, her mother is taken away from her by the evil trees that have come to life. As Royal Detective, you are summoned to help our Princess as her powers are not yet strong enough to come against the Evil Kind and his brothers. As far as plots go, we have another fairy tale fantasy with goblins and dragons and wicked looking tree stumps that come to life.
The Visuals were not as amazing as there was in the first game. We have 2D images with a hint of realism yet our characters are flat and surrounded by dark and at times blurred graphics. Artwork was good yet overall visuals were dark and there weren’t any outstanding special effects. Voice-overs were done well but not used as much; the game is rather silent and music a bit too obtrusive in the background. No sound effects that these developers are famous for and the entire game fell a bit flat, not only in visuals and sounds but also in the game play. This game so far proved to be a disappointment and I am worried about the fate of these developers who were ranking on top of my list.
A standard HOPA game with four modes of difficulty. Game features include a map with indicators, no journal and a skull that acts as your hint. I miss Rooster from the previous game and so far during the demo, you have only the Princess guiding you.
The hidden object scenes were standard lit of twelve items to collect and only two interactive items to find. No variety in that area which tells me that some people are getting lazy. Graphics were poor in the scenes and I could hardly make out some items. Mini-games were somewhat interesting but again my complaint has to do with graphics. There is a lot of back tracking involved but then the map helps you with that. There are cut scenes that are hand drawn pages with voice-over reciting to you as I said, no outstanding animation cut scenes here.
The hidden object scenes were standard lit of twelve items to collect and only two interactive items to find. No variety in that area which tells me that some people are getting lazy. Graphics were poor in the scenes and I could hardly make out some items. Mini-games were somewhat interesting but again my complaint has to do with graphics. There is a lot of back tracking involved but then the map helps you with that. There are cut scenes that are hand drawn pages with voice-over reciting to you as I said, no outstanding animation cut scenes here.
You have collectables which are 18 dragons that morph and due to the dark visuals, some were difficult to spot but I still managed to find 8 of them during the demo. There is a list of achievements which mostly requires you to achieve success during the HO scenes and mini-games.
I wasn’t thrown by this game and not really impressed by the overall effects. It lacks continuity and the story seems to loose ground with me as I played on. Game play involved merely going back and forth picking up objects and using them. It may be that things might get more interesting as you move further into the game but to tell you the truth, if I am not excited within the first hour, I tend not to go forth just yet. I won’t be rushing out to buy this one and will just wait for the SE version as finding morphing dragons and achievements is just not enough for me to pay CE rates. Although there is a sale today, I am still not tempted just yet which tells me a lot about the impact that this game has failed to achieve with me. Dear Developers, Should I worry?
I don't recommend this game.
Professor Ashmore, the same man who so kindly took you in and raised you as his own has been murdered. It’s up to you to find out why, but are you prepared for what truths may be uncovered?
Overall rating
4
/
5
47 of 58 found this review helpful
A Very Good Standard Edition Game
PostedApril 30, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Obviously Demon Hunter: Chronicles from Beyond was meant to be a CE but lucky for us it is being offered as a Standard Edition game which reminds me of the earlier days when many Standard Edition HOPA games were both interesting and entertaining to play.
We begin with a very interesting storyline involving the late Professor Ashmore who took you in as a child and raised you as his own on Iowa Island. Years later you learn of his death which is shrouded by mystery and only you seem to be having a feeling of unease about the circumstance. Your past is shrouded in secrecy and now you set forth to unearth the truth behind your past and reveal the cause of your beloved Professor’s death. This mission takes you back to the Island of Iowa where the supernatural is waiting for you and soon you will learn the truth about yourself.
Although the graphics are dark and blurred at times, the game has a unique graphic novel look to it, with hand-drawn artwork and cartoon like images; very much reminiscent to earlier games we used to have. There are voice-overs and mouths do seem to be in sync but not very well done. The music is quiet in the background, no elaborate special effects and the animations involved are slow and not very sophisticated. Yet the overall look still manages to create an ominous atmosphere and it actually works with this game.
What we have here is a standard HOPA game with only two modes of difficulty to choose from. Unfortunately if you do decide to play the regular mode, you will get some sparkles and glints. In advance mode, you get no sparkles, no glints and no map indicators. In addition, characters offer little help as way of black bar tips so the game does become more challenging. Hidden objects scenes that are played twice and they are classic: a list of twelve items, some require interactions and some morph within the scene. The graphics are not as sharp as I would like them to be which made some items difficult to spot mostly because of poor lighting; nevertheless I still enjoyed playing them. Adventure game requires you to search for inventory items and at times you either find yourself with a full inventory or nothing at all. There is a lot of backtracking to do but luckily you have the jump map to help you with that. Mini-games were interesting, at least the ones I managed to get through during the demo. Overall the game does play a bit slowly, some actions were cumbersome and the lack of sound effects and special effects dulled the overall atmosphere, not quite supporting the sinister storyline.
There are extras that involve collecting green leaves throughout the game which I haven’t discovered the reference for them as of yet. There is also a list of achievements to earn and some will prove to be difficult, especially when you don’t have a SG under your belt. There are extra HO scenes as well as a bonus game to play as part of your Extras.
Despite some of the elements that made this game seem dated, I still enjoyed the demo. I found the storyline interesting and I really did like the fact that you needed to use your wits along with your memory to solve some of the puzzles. It is a good game, entertaining at times but does run a bit slow. Nevertheless I liked it and as far as the usual standard edition games go, this really gives you a good game play. It really took me back to earlier games that we use to get and sometimes, classic is good. I give it four stars and will definitely be spending one of my free game credits.
I recommend this game!
Dark shadows are rising, the spirits are restless and Lord Strix is back! Travel to his hidden lair and defeat him once and for all—but hurry; he grows stronger by the minute!
Overall rating
4
/
5
49 of 64 found this review helpful
Delightful Adventure Game
PostedApril 28, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Tales From The Dragon Mountain 2: The Lair is a delightful Adventure Puzzle game suitable for all ages. There are no hidden object scenes to be found here, just an array of puzzles and mini-games to solve as you make your way through various quests that ultimately lead you to your final goal; to stop Lord Strix from taking over the Dragon Mountain and all its inhabitants.
Our story is the continuing saga of your character, Mina Lockheart who had once defeated the Evil Lord Strix with the help of her trusted companion, the cute little sprite called Malik. Now years later, trouble is once again brewing in the Sphere and Lord Strix has returned, this time with a new army of trolls, serpent dragons and other wasteland beasts, all marching, burning and destroying everything that gets in their way of enslaving the creatures of the Dragon Mountains. Your help is needed and together with Malik, you set out on an adventure of a lifetime as you use your wits to find a way to enter the lair of Strix and defeat him once again.
I actually loved playing the demo and am anxious to play the rest of this terrific adventure game. Although graphics are a bit dated, they are nevertheless, sharp and clear. Voice-overs are very well done but at times dialogues do tend to ramble on. You have three modes of difficulty and your only tool of the trade is your journal that holds your clues, outlines your tasks and shows your current stats in the game. There is no map to rely on so be prepare for a bit of backtracking. You have a directional hint system as well as walk indicator that will point you to available access points. Other than that, you are alone to figure out the puzzles and decipher your clues.
There are no Hidden object scenes in this game but plenty of inventory items to locate, tools to be combines and a variety of mini-games to solve; some were easy while others required a bit more effort on my part. I loved the characters that you meet along the way and Malik, the green sprite does offer comic relief but does tend to ramble at times. Some puzzles do require you to check your journal for clues and that at times did get tiresome. I do love playing adventure games and surprisingly, I found The Lair to be both entertaining and delightful to play. Fun for the family and fun for grown ups who like a bit of fairy tale and fantasy in their lives. Not exactly a five star game but definitely worthy of a purchase on my part.
I recommend this game!
The city fears the return of the infamous Fire Knight – but is Rosa Ramirez really responsible?
Overall rating
3
/
5
115 of 177 found this review helpful
Very Mediocre Game!
PostedApril 24, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Well it looks like these developers took a step back with this game, way back; graphics and artwork are rough around the edges, no elaborate special effects, animation scenes are blurred and limited, close ups to areas of interest are so dark, you cannot see what needs to be done and most importantly storyline is rather trite. We all know the signature look with these developers, it just seems that this dates back to their earlier years.
Our story is set against a small Spanish town (name unknown) and apparently you are a detective and are hired to stop the fearsome figure of the headless knight who has been terrorizing our fare city. Rosa Ramirez is suspected of stealing his sword (not a euphemism for anything else folks, I really mean his sword!) and she had mysteriously vanished so now the knight is on a rampage. It is up to you to solve this rather inane case and stop the Knight from burning the city down to the ground.
There was no introduction scene and you go straight to the main menu where there are three modes of difficulty plus customized settings to choose from. Extras include a very limited list of achievements, butterflies to collect along with gold tokens whereby you purchase tools from a vendor and also furnish the pen where you keep your pet bull, no, Seriously! Game features include a jump map and a journal.
As always the most interesting features with this game are the Hidden object scenes and some of the mini-games. HO scenes come in variations which include placing items back into the scene, finding items according to written clues and a series of actions that are required within a scene. Mini-games somewhat interesting and they come in casual or hard mode. I just wish some of the instructions were clearer.
A lot of adventure game play and characters that you meet along the way. To be honest, I barely survived the demo and found the game lacking in any form of challenge and with just no WOW factor. I am sure some Fishies will give this game 5 stars but to be honest with you, I wasn’t impressed, not in the least. We have just had a round of superb CE games recently and I am still enjoying them. This installment of the Grim Facade series is weak and pales in comparison to games like New York Mysteries, Cadenza or Off the Record. I will definitely wait for the Standard version and recommend you do so the same.
I don't recommend this game.
Summer camp: a place for good memories, new experiences and… ghosts? Capture the spirit of a dead witch before she claims another victim!
Overall rating
3
/
5
27 of 39 found this review helpful
Spooky Story, Easy Game
PostedApril 22, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Shtriga: Summer Camp is an ideal game for beginners who have yet to dive into the HOPA genre and fans of Hidden Object games who enjoy the classics. Our story today is a creepy one with dark and grainy graphics that actually enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
As Brenda Livingston, you are asked to help find a missing boy who disappeared under some rather mysterious circumstances from camp. He is not the only one to have vanished and apparently several other children and adults have been stricken with an illness. The camp is locked down and its premises become your searching ground and clues seem to be leading you to a dead witch that seems to be out for vengeance.
I actually loved the artwork but have to admit that graphics are dated as are the animations. Still, the overall atmosphere with the spooky music makes for an entertaining game. There are voice-overs, tools or maps that will help you except for a journal. The hint system is only directional and works faintly within the Hidden object scenes, and there are plenty hidden object scenes to appease appetites of HOG fan; all standard with a list of objects and no interactions. If you are looking for challenging puzzles and mini-games, there are none to be found here, all very standard and all very easy to solve.
So what exactly is appealing about this game? Nothing really that stands out except for the brooding atmosphere and the sinister storyline. It is either from the archive or just from new developers who have tight budgets and a yen for the classics. Shtriga is not a bad game at all and to be honest, I enjoyed the basic game play so far, I just don’t think it is worth paying for. I recommend you use a left over game credit if you do enjoy a spooky camp time story with haunting music and murky scenes and are a fan of the Hidden OPbject game. I am sure there will be some who give this game 5 stars but to be honest, at best, it gets only three stars from me and that is because I sometimes enjoy the classics. However I am in no hurry to buy.
I don't recommend this game.
Lost in the city at night and surrounded by zombies, Dan is relying on your match-3 skills to help him rescue his fiancée and make it home safe and sound!
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 29 found this review helpful
Mediocre Game!
PostedApril 21, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It was supposed to be a quiet night in the city, but somehow Dan has found himself lost slap bang in the middle of a Zombie apocalypse. Now he must rescue his girlfriend Zoe and make it home alive with the help of some kindly residents who’ve seen their fair share of Zombie Apocalypses! You’ll need quick wits and a keen eye in this fun-packed match-3 adventure crammed with 100 challenging levels! With the help of your newfound friends, a bunch of cash and loads of crazy power-ups, success is within reach—but so are you, and these zombies are grabby! Consider yourself warned!
Being a fan of the M3 game I immediately downloaded today’s game to play the demo and after 30 minutes of game play, I decided to just call it a day.
Our story is about helping Dan rescue his fiancé and make it home alive during a Zombie Apocalypse. At first I didn’t mind so much the Cartoonish graphics, no voice-overs and lack of special effects in the game, but after about 20 minutes, game play got tedious and I realized that there really wasn’t anything special about Zombie Jewel.
You have levels to play, power-up to purchase and that really is about it. There are no trophies or achievements to earn, each level has a timer on it but it just tells you how long a board took to clear. Graphics were sharp and icons and tiles were medium sized and easy to play. I assume the boards get more challenging as you move on but really, I didn’t stick around to find out. There are cute characters that act as power-ups but no great sound or visual effects.
I don't recommend this game.
Will you heed the director’s final casting call?
Overall rating
5
/
5
38 of 60 found this review helpful
Excellent Game, Recommend the CE
PostedApril 20, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Today I will keep this short, sweet and simple; if you havent played the Collector's Edition or purchased it, take advantage of today's Easter sale because this game is better with the extras. I also recommend that you check out the other games in the series of Final Cut as you will be revisiting some scenes from them. As it is a HOMAGE to the Father and his previous works, some scenes and characters are featured.
Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian : The Hope Diamond is by far one of my favorite games and now one of my favorite developers has returned with the continuation of the Final Cut storyline. Once again your family is in peril, this time from a twisted serial killer who calls himself “The Director” and is now targeting people connected to your Father, the famous film director, Morton Wolf. After a string of murders over the past six months, a reporter called Michael Harris contacts you with a mission, reveal the identity of the madman who is on a killing spree and stop him before he comes after you. “The Director” has a mission, to pay homage to your father by creating a magnum opus that involves staging each murder to look like one of your father’s films. Your father’s projector appears again as a game-play feature, allowing you to switch between real-life scenes and the Director’s movie sets as the fun begins in this brilliant Hidden Object, Puzzle Adventure game.
You still have the M3 games instead as an alternative for the Hidden object scenes but no collectables or souvenir rooms or trophies to be had. Ithink the CE was well balance and not over-produced also I enjoyed the Bonus game immensely. So if I had a choice, I personally would choose the Collector's version over the SE .
Happy Easter
I recommend this game!
Discover a story of mysterious kidnappings of both children and mafiosi.
Overall rating
5
/
5
108 of 138 found this review helpful
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
PostedApril 19, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
So if I am to be stranded on an island, what are my 10 favorite films that would be downloaded on my IPAD? Definitely Godfather 1 & 2, two of my all time favorite movies that I never get tired of watching. After having played the demo on this game, it looks like I may just add this to the list of things to take to the Island.
Our story takes place in NewYork, 1955 where organized crime better know as the Mafia is trying to seize power but something stands in the way and it isn’t the Law. There is something sinister on the loose and it targeting the Mob; so far five bosses have disappeared under strange circumstance and crime scene investigation reports a strange brown liquid and a butterfly were found at each scene. Now children are disappearing and butterflies seem to be the only link amongst cases. You are now commissioned by a Mr. Bishop from the Natural Museum to investigate and write an exclusive which means now you are on your own. As you begin to investigate, you find clues that lead to something far more terrifying and it seems to be the force behind this mystery. It is now up to you to dig deeper and uncover the truth behind the Secrets of the Mafia.
Our story takes place in NewYork, 1955 where organized crime better know as the Mafia is trying to seize power but something stands in the way and it isn’t the Law. There is something sinister on the loose and it targeting the Mob; so far five bosses have disappeared under strange circumstance and crime scene investigation reports a strange brown liquid and a butterfly were found at each scene. Now children are disappearing and butterflies seem to be the only link amongst cases. You are now commissioned by a Mr. Bishop from the Natural Museum to investigate and write an exclusive which means now you are on your own. As you begin to investigate, you find clues that lead to something far more terrifying and it seems to be the force behind this mystery. It is now up to you to dig deeper and uncover the truth behind the Secrets of the Mafia.
So far I love the game but do have one major complaint and that is the dark graphics. Visuals and sounds are excellent with 2D graphics that add certain realism to the game. Voice-overs and ambient sounds are very well done but lighting in certain scenes is too dark to make out some important items that need to be collected. The music sounds exciting in the opening sequence however that too begins to grate the nerves but definitely adds tension. A little bit over the top with the scoring but nevertheless, effective.
A very well put together HOPA game with extras to boot. The developers have really made sure that nothing is amiss with game options as they have included customized settings which are a big plus for me. Game tools include a journal with tasks and objectives outlined and jump map that indicate areas of interest as well as possible collectable items or morphing objects if so desired.
Hidden object scenes come in variations and I have to say that I wish the lighting was better with the first HO scene. Dark corners made it difficult to spot some items and it also hindered me trying to find the morphing objects as well. Unfortunately this problem will probably be an issue with many gamers. Mini-games were interesting, well conceptualized but not very challenging. Puzzles were plenty and be prepared to backtrack a lot.
There is nothing that is different in the overall game play; a standard HOPA with extras that include a series of collectables and morphing objects. Keep those eyes open because finding some of them was difficult. Still I enjoyed the game so far what with the 2D graphics and the story behind our adventure. Although at times animations and movement were a bit clunky, I loved the special effects and ambient sounds in the game.
Is it a game that stands out from the crowd? Not especially but there is something that made me wanted to buy it and I will say it was because of the story: I am definitely intrigued. I really cannot say that it is better than some games that have been released so far but it still does make the grade and will end up being my indulgence this evening.
I recommend this game!
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 72 found this review helpful
An Excellent SE GAME
PostedApril 18, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I wrote a 5 star review for CE version of this game and decided to play the demo for the Standard version as well. Unfortunately the RAT is back, perched right there in the left side of my screen, squirming around and occasionally nibbling on a seed. I know that graphics, sounds and visuals remain a constant with these developers, almost becoming a signature trade mark, but to tell you the truth, I don’t mind as much as I did. I have come to expect the same type of artwork, voice-overs and music and I have to admit, their games continue to entertain me and thrill me.
I have missed Dupin and his adventures and at last, I find myself assisting him in what is one of my favorite Poe tales: The Fall of the House of Usher. I recall reading this novel when I was very young and couldn’t sleep alone in my bed for two nights. I also remember Vincent Price’s version of the House of Usher and recommend it to fans of the classic Horror film. In this game, our story begins with a new case which involves the disappearance of Madeleine, twin sister of Roderick. We learn of the strange disease shared by the twins that is rather unsettling and soon discover that there is a link between the illness and the old estate. You also come across a mysterious power that is called the Reborn One that has the ability to bring stone to life and what that has to do with all that is going on is a mystery in itself. More people begin to disappear on your watch and so it is up to you and your colleague, Detective Dupin, find Madeleine and unlock the secret that plagues the House of Usher and all who are connected to it.
Once again, main menu offers you three game modes along with customized settings which is much appreciated. Game tools include your inventory bar that can be locked, a journal and a map that will allow for travel which now seems to be a given with most games. You have you also have the bottle with the Reborn One that has the power to being life to stone. What is missing is the FG and to tell you the truth, I enjoy playing a game without having easy access to help.
The game offers challenging puzzles along with interesting HO scenes that come in variations with the option to switch to a very cool and rather difficult M3 game instead. There are no extras which sometimes I do prefer if the game holds enough challenge which this game does. There are no coins to collect like in the CE which actually did not bother me. I loved the mini-games that come in hard or casual mode to choose when solving. Adventure game play was interesting and surprisingly challenging and somewhat confusing if you opt to disable your blackbar tips. As always, you have dark corners to explore and items to find in order to unlock doors and solve puzzles. You and Dupin occasionally exchange quips and in this version, there is no camera to take photos instead you come across them and no lab to buy equipment.
Mini-games were interesting and as customary with these developers, some were even challenging and required some time and effort to solve and I think that is what these developers excel in. What can I say, I love Dupin, I love Poe and I love these developers, and despite the RAT on my screen, I loved this game as a CE and for those who wish to try a simpler version without any distraction, they may find the game play a bit more challenging and interesting. Once again a five star game from our five star group and from our five star game site, BFG
I recommend this game!