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:
Scale the heights of Sunhook Spire, rescue the Enchantress and uncover the tower's mysteries as Queen Sophia's journey continues!
Overall rating
5
/
5
128 of 139 found this review helpful
Our Saga Continues......
PostedAugust 17, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
OMG, will it never end? Poor Princess Sophie, still trying to wake her parents from a rather over-extended nap. Our story takes up where we last left Sohie, now Queen of a Kingdom that was once cast into darkness by a wicked curse. The Bane of her existance is none other than the nasty Lord Dredgemyer and his league of loyal followers who are trying to stop Sophie from her quest to awaken her parents from their slumber. Now Sophie is after the powerful Enchantress who could undo the spell. Naturally she is attacked by treacherous mercenaries so your job is to help her escape, climb the heights of Sunhook Spire and if that wasnt enough, you now need to rescue the Enchantress, help restore artifacts by breaking the curses in all corners of the Spire. An Epic journey awaits you in this breathtaking HOPA by the BZ group of developers who have been nothing but outstanding since the beginning of this series.
As always, Main menu offers exciting extras which most are locked during the demo trial. You have three play modes to choose from. Graphics and artwork are impecable with breathtaking scenes, gorgeous use of colors, all enhanced by a haunting musical score. You have voice-overs, a journal that has a task section along with a recount of your journey.
Once again you are joined by your two clever companions, the stuffy English accented Owl that will act as your guide when needed as well as provide you with hints, and ofcourse your cute miniature dragon that offers you fire and wind which you will be using alot during your quest. You also have a map that will allow you to travel.
An excellant HOPA game with interesting HO scenes that come vary and mini-games that are pleasantly challenging and fun to play. A rather long adventure game filled with puzzles and at times, I found that a keen memory was necessary. Prepare for some back-tracking but you do have a map to help you do that.
There are extras like morphing objects which you need to collect and a list of achievements that you earn while playing the game. Achievements are mostly completing a chapter within an hour or not using hints or guidance from your owl. Ofcourse if you play advance, you have no hints or guidance which makes the game even more challenging.
I love the series and I love this game. A fairy-tale fantasy that keeps you on your toes as well as manages to entertain you. I hope for a happy ending but something tells me that this will not be the last we see of Sophie. Have a great week-end with this one.
I recommend this game!
Release the characters from the witch's curse and find the portal home!
Overall rating
3
/
5
188 of 224 found this review helpful
Oh My, Such a Dissapointment!
PostedAugust 15, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Siren's Call Collector's Edition
(114)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I remember the first installment of the Echoes of the Past series which came out in 2008. HOPA games were relatively new and I found the first game quite challenging and fun to play. Since then we have come a long way and HOPA games have progressed with outstanding graphics and technical enhancements. The Kingdom of Despair unfortunately missesthe mark from being an outstanding game due to the poor graphics and sounds. I was rather disappointed at some of the artwork and found voice-overs and musical track to be slightly out-dated. Since this is the fourth or fifth game of the series, my expectations were rather high and it just seems to pale in comparison to some of the HOPA games that are being developed with truely outstanding graphics and aound effects.
I found the story started off weak and if you havent played the earlier games, it really wont matter. However, I felt that there could have been some continuity in the plot and I really found the opening scen rather off-putting. Our storyline continues with the Evil Witch who has returned and now has captured several people in the Kingdom. It is up to us to liberate them from her curse. This means we travel from one scen to another, helping out various charaters by undertaking various tasks and solving puzzles.
Gameplay offers three options in difficulty and game features include a map that will allow you to jump and a journal. Hint system does refill quickly and is quite helpful. Inventory is located at the top of the screen which I really do not like so much. Im a creature of habit and my cursor still moves to the bottom of the screen on pure reflex. There are achievements to earn and you need to collectpotions throughout the game which jump out at you while you search a scene.
Despite the quality of graphics, gameplay is a bit slow moving but nevertheless challenging. There is alot of backtracking to do and the map is there to help you. HO scenes are crowded and come in two styles. Find 12 of the same items or search for items on a list. There is slight interaction but some items are so tiny, they can be difficult to spot at times.
I really enjoyed the mini-games as there are plenty along the way. Some were easy to solve as others required some patience and were rather time-consuming which I do enjoy.
I was surprised that I was unable to complete the first chapter within the demo time as I got stuck on one of the mini-games. Unfortunately I have no idea how many chapters are in this game from the SG. I really which developers would not do this, I find it very misleading and the ambiguity prevents me from an immediate purchase.
In my opinion, Kingdom of Despair is a good game but hardly a great game. It lacks a strong story, Visual and Sounds are rather poor, it runs at a slow pace and most of all, it lacks the WOW factor. Although I found some of it challenging and did enjoy the various puzzles and mini-game, there lacks a cohesiveness to the gameplay which made some of it tedious.
I am really on the fence with this game and will most probably wait for either a sale of some sort on CE games or the SE version. I will however recommend it as it does have merits with the various puzzles and mini-games. Gameplay just did not excite me as much as the previous installements and I feel somehow let down with this story. However I do recommend you go back to the earlier installments, especially the first game, Royal House of Stone which in my opinion was the best of the entire series.
I recommend this game!
The quaint mountain town of Hochwald hides a deadly secret. Defeat a mechanical mastermind and save your friend before another earthquake strikes!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 27 found this review helpful
A Awesome Adventure for Everyone!
PostedAugust 10, 2013
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
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Our story begins with us taking on the role of Agent Evangeline Glass and our mission is to investigate a series of unatural earthquakes terrorising the mountain town of Hochwald. Dr. Ambrose Ink, a famous scientist is also looking into these disruptions and it seems clues point to the castle of Barber. Shortly after you arrive, Dr. Ink is kidnapped by a giant mechanical Golem and now it's up to you to save him. Your quest will take you deep into the world of a maniacle evil genious and as always, it is up to you to save the day.
These game developers have brought us many great games in the past like The Abyss and Nightmare in the Deep; once again they have produced a very entertaining HOPA game with gorgeous graphics, awesome voice-overs that match each character and stunning artwork created by a group of talented artists who have brought to life a humourous- fantasy world filled with interesting characters, mechanical vlllains and attention to details that animates throughout the entire game.
An entertaining HOPA that offers three modes of difficulty, a journal that outlines your tasks and holds a map that will allow you to travel. Adventure game has you looking for inventory items and playing HO scenes that are mostly fragmented. Some HO scenes require actions to unlock or solve puzzles and are fun to play. Mini-games are interesting, well conceptualized but lack a certain degree of challenge. There are collectibles thoughout the games, a set of steam bugs and there are achivements as well, very easy to earn and most of them very basic pertaining to actions taken within the game.
ALthough not very challenging to play, it certainly makes up with the story along with game mechanics that are both interesting and entertaining. Visually, the game is 5 stars, imersing you into a world that is both thrilling and amusing to play. KUDOs to everyone involved and thank you BFG for a great week of games.
I recommend this game!
The fate of the magical world is in your hands – free it from evil!
Overall rating
5
/
5
186 of 199 found this review helpful
A Beautiful Game
PostedAugust 8, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Your mother dies when you were a child and your father disappeared under mysterious circumstances leaving you to be raised by your Aunt. Following her death you learn of the secret that your family has hidden from you for all these years: the fate of a magical world is in your hands and you are the key to freeing Nearwood from an evil magic as well as finding your father. You begin your journey into a mysterious world of adventure, danger and magic, not only to reunite with your long-lost parent, but also to save an ancient race of wise and majestic beings, the Time Keepers.
An adventurous fantasy game with graphics that are beautifully hand drawn. I would have preferred a higher resolution as at times some scenes got blurred. However the details and colors are certainly georgous to look at. Especially take the time to look at the menu graphics with the traveling camera through the scenes, very well done. There are voice-overs and environmental sound and a haunting music in the background.
An adventurous HOPA, heavy on adventure with the odd HO scenes that are mostly find 12 of the same items or silohettes. Gameplay offers three modes to choose from, a map that will allow you to jump but there is a catch, you need to wait for it to charge which was a bit discerning. You have a jounal and a bag that holds clues for you. You have your sidekick, an elf like gentleman whose name escapes me and acts as your guide and hint. At times he does ramble on but still, a jovial road companion to have.
You also need to collect these adorable little SNOO-SEEs that are not always easy to locate. By finding these little guys, you unlock pages of their story from a book. The strategy guide is helpful but unfortunately the photos are rather blurred making it difficult to look at details.
I simply loved this game, puzzles and mini-games were not all very easy, some are time-consuming which for me is a plus. I love spending time on mini-games rather than whizzing through them. Not exactly a flawless game but certainly entertaining and there is the fun factor. With a strong story to support it, a game well worth being part of my collection today. Kudos to the developers who certainly have shown great improvements in style, content and technical up-grades and are well worthy of recognition with this game.
I recommend this game!
Crack codes, pick locks, comb crime scenes for clues and solve clever puzzles in this thrilling retro detective drama!
Overall rating
4
/
5
76 of 87 found this review helpful
SNAKES!
PostedAugust 4, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Warning: If you suffer from Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), then this game is defintely not for you.
I actually liked this game which is surprising since I do have a mild repulsion for snakes and this game certainly has alot of them. Our story takes place in Serpent Creek which should have been my first clue as the main topic of the game. As a paranormal private investigator, you get a frantric call from your reporter friend Helen, who begs you to come. Upon arrival you not only discover her missing but everyone else in town seems to be sleepwalking and worse, the the town's streets are crawling with snakes. A weird gentleman (with a very bad skin problem) offers his help as you begin to search the town and try to figure out what is happening.
A very standard HOPA game with no frills and no extras. It does however offer three play modes, cartoonish but sharp graphics, retro-like hand-drawn artwork, decent voice-overs, a journal with tasks and notes, a map that will allow you to travel and a captivating story that reminds me of the old Sci-fi movies of the fifties.
Game starts of with a tutorial that takes up almost half the screen. Standard HOPA gameplay whereby you need to locate items, pick up on clues, play Hidden object scenes that are junk-piled and only slightly interactive and solve the odd mini-game which so far during the demo were a breeze to solve. There is however on odd type of HO scenes which involves entering a scene and picking up on clues and finding out what happened. Your cursor will glow once you find a clue and the story will be outlined as to what occured at that paticular crime scene. I believe that in Advance mode, your cursor will not glow and you need to find the clues yorself by clicking away at everything that looks out of place.
Despite the cartoony look, the retro-50's feel and the lack of challenge, the game is entertaining and the storyline is certainly interesting. I for one will spend a lazy Sunday afternoon amongst the sepent- looking creatures that are lurking in the showdows. I am actually relieved that the graphics are catoony which makes the snakes look less harmless. A good game that that will apeal to HOPA fans and who enjoy a creepy crawly story. There is a definite nostalgic feel to this game which reminds me of the earlier HOPA games that got me hooked. Have a SSSSSSweet SSSSSunday......
I recommend this game!
Deep in the heart of an enchanted forest, a forbidden love blooms. Guide the human Eveline as she sets out to rescue her beloved from the clutches of a tyrant.
Overall rating
3
/
5
56 of 78 found this review helpful
Far from Puuuurfect!
PostedAugust 3, 2013
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
Despite the rather out-dated cartoonish graphics and annoying voice-overs that simply do not fit the characters, this game does have its merits. It does start of rather clunky at first and gameplay is mostly adventure with no HO scenes ( or so I believe as I did not come across any during the demo time) with alot of minigames and puzzles to solve along the way. You have two game difficulties to choose from and yet still I do see sparkles and quite a bit of hand-holding with the annoying balck bar tips that really provide too much information. However, despite the dismal cut-scenes, the too much reading of materials and the odd stroy line, I do suggest you give this game a chance. Once you progress further along, it begins to get interesting and I found myself slightly entertained and slightly surprised.
One note to the developers, not allowing gamers to view the SG and the bonus section is in bad form and will no doubt be a hinderence to immediate purchase.
Nevertheless, our story begins in this far off land and is a tale of star-crossed lovers between a young hunter's daughter and a Felize which is another word for were-cat. If you are a feline lover, this may not disturb you but then again it may. My first problem was with the voice-overs, all slightly annoying, especially for our handsome Aurelio who sounds rather creepy, a cross over between Bela Lagosi and Boris Karlofff. egardless of his voice, Evaline is madly in love with him but as her Father is the chief of hunters, she must face dire consequences stemming from this forbidden love. Soon events take fold and dark secrets are revealed about her past and she must first save her lover from her Father, then travel through a portal into the magical world of the Felize to rescue the abducted Aurelio.
Game features include a journal which Evaline reads to you which also is slightly annoying. You also have a task list and notes which are collected throughout the game, 70 pages to be exact. You have a cute little dragon that acts as your hint and can be charged up by feeding him the odd fire ball that you will find in some of the scenes. Next you also have your magic potion pot and you will need to collect ingredients and make potions along the way. You also have a map which will indicate tasks as well as allow you to travel.
As I said, the game starts off cluncky with alot of directions and tasks to be done. Mini-games are not overly challenging but they were fun to do. I made it through the portal and have yet to come across any Hidden Object scenes therefore I conclude that this is an Adventure game which may displease some folks.
If you can get past the inter-species relationship (or is it???) and overlook the fact that the game does involve alot of back-tracking as well as alot of reading, the game does have merits. The developers well known for many exceptional game seemed to have missed the mark on this and I expect that I will either wait for the SE version or wait for a sale on CEs for this one.
A far cry from being a great game but it does have its moments and therefore I cannot entirely dismiss it. I will however not recommend it as a CE game and as I said, I am really more disappointed at not being able to have access to the SG.
Have a Purrrfect Week-end!
I don't recommend this game.
Save your niece from the evil presence haunting her school!
Overall rating
4
/
5
73 of 86 found this review helpful
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary...ahhhhhh
PostedAugust 1, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Siren's Call Collector's Edition
(114)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Being a fan of the horror genre, today our adventure brings us face to face with one of the most infamous urban legends, Bloody Mary. For those who may not be familiar with her, Bloody Mary is a folklore legend consisting of a ghost or spirit conjured to reveal the future. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is called three times. Usually she isn't very happy when she arrives as is in this case. Our story begins with a frantic phone call from our neice who is terrified at the recent events taking place at her school: Teachers gone missing, students acting strange. Once we arrive, we find the school has been overtaken by the evil entity and we need to save the day.
A very dark HOPA with three modes of difficulty ot choose from. The main menu shows various settings like ambient noise, sounds and effects. There are voice overs, great music that sets the mood of the game and a lot of great FX sounds to make you jump. The graphics are sharp, dark and I very much liked the artwork. You will find that red seems to be the pre-dominant color throughout the game.
Game features a journal with a list of tasks along with a map that indicates progress and allows for travel. There are collectables throughout the game, creepy looking like statues and films to watch as well. There is also a list of achievements that are more less related to the HO scenes.
Hidden object scenes are cluttered and some objects are either too miniscule or obscure by poor lighting. A bit junk-piled and only slightly interactive. Puzzles and mini-games are relative easy, and there is a bit too much hand hodling throughout the game. Unfortunately the balck bar cannot be disabled and it reveals to much for my taste.
Nevertheless, there is a gripping story and creepy things that jump out at you unexpectedly. This game will prove to be most enjoyable played at night with all the lights turned off. I look forward to it.
Our faithful pachyderm developers have brought us a solid game with extras that will please many. For me it was the lack of challenge and straighforward gameplay that has prompted me to give it a four star. While it does have atmosphere and visual surprises along the way, it will no doubt rank high with many gamers but still I prefer my games a bit more challenging.
I am looking forward to my battle with the sinister Bloody Mary curse and will be very careful as not to look at any mirrors tonight and say her name. Just to be on the safe side........
I recommend this game!
Natalie has unwittingly embarked on a dangerous and exciting journey! Can she prevent ancient evil spirits from awakening?
Overall rating
3
/
5
29 of 44 found this review helpful
Patience Required
PostedJuly 31, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Siren's Call Collector's Edition
(114)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Our cut scene opens up with cartoon drawings that recounts our story: Following the death of her father, a young novelist is trying to get home to America but misses her boat. Her luck changes when she is invited to board a cargo ship and gladly accepts as it is her only way home. Little does she know that onboard is an ancient relic that holds an evil presence and to her dismay, everybody seems to have gone missing. It is up to her to retrieve the souls of the crew and imprision the evil back into the amphora.
With graphics that are totally out-dated but nevertheless sharp. Unfortunately there are no voice-overs but some sound effects and soft music instead. You have two modes of difficulty which you can adjust during gameplay and game features include a map that really is of no help whatsoever and a journal. Thakfully the hint system does fill up quickly and it looks some gamers will be put off by the lack of direction in the game.
The Amphora Prisoner is a HOPA that actually is more adventure and does offer a certain amount of challenge. It reminds me of the early Escape the Room games where you end up clicking all over the place to retireve an item. Suprisingly I found myself enjoying the demo as I started entering one room after another, playing the odd HO scenes, the mini-games and collecting pearls along the way.
Although the graphics are sharp, HO scenes are quite challenging as some items are very well hidden. Mini-games are relatively easy but a certain patience is required for some and I actually enjoyed that. The entire game moves slowly reminding me of adventure games and as the map is of no help, there were times that I found myself walk around aimlessly and resorting to usingthe hint which merely points to a direction.
For fans of adventure games, this may please you but be warned, it does move rather slow and does not offer much excitement at first. Unfotunately due to the dated graphics and no voice-overs, the story seems to lose its impact on the game and you cant seem to get emotionally invested in an empty boat and cartoon characters. My recomendation is not to spend your money on this but rather spend a free game award if you have any sitting around. It is not a bad game, it runs slowly and at times can be a bit frustrating what with all the backtracking. However I do enjoy a mystery and finding those little pearls along the way was challenging. Some of the puzzles were interesting and I am a fan of adventure games. It does not look to be a long game but as I do have some time to spare, I will splurge a credit myself and see if I can save the day. I expect many may pass but do play the demo and see if you have the patience to do the full run. Regardless of my own personal taste for the odd adventure game and the fact that I do have club credits piling up, I will not recommend this game for those who are looking for a fast paced HOPA with some of the more up-to-date features. In my opinion, this is really not worth an SE price tag.
I don't recommend this game.
Nightmares from the Deep: The Siren's Call Collector's Edition
Face off against Davy Jones and his nightmares from the deep!
Overall rating
5
/
5
141 of 162 found this review helpful
A Fantastic Sequel!
PostedJuly 25, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I too cannot believe it has been a year since we helped Mrs Black save her daughter from the derranged Captain Remington and the curse of Davy Jones. Our adventure begins again when we are asked to help a stranger who shows up in the middle of the night with a mysterious package. Suddenly we find ourselves under attack by these strange sea creatures that walk on two legs and end up in the town of Kingsmouth where our story begins. Be prepared to face again the mythical sea devil, Davy Jones and his new evil accomplace, Mayor Murray!
Brilliant story, brilliant graphics and brilliant sound effects that truely warrwnt 5 stars; this is the standard I often expect from CE quality games. Three modes of game play, a journal with alist of objectives and a map that will teleport you to areas of interest. Great adventure gameplay with unique Hidden Object scenes that are interactive. The ones I came across were finding the silohettes and using them on other items; puzzles within puzzles, a streatch from the standard HO scenes that are now becoming passé. Great mini-games, multi layers and well conceptualized with just enough challenge to wet the appetite.
Nightmare of the Deep is an excellent sequel that maintains the high standards expected from a CE game by offering a range of extras that include a list of achievements along with a set of collectables, from morphing parrots, golden octopi and seahorses, not to mention playing a series of mahjong games.
Beautiful to look at, entertaining to play and a great time to be had. Kudo to the developers for delievering the goods with what I would say is one of the best sequels in along time.
AAAAARGHHH! off to battle wits with the notorious Davy Jones!
I recommend this game!
Giant mutated plants have sprung up across the city! It's time to save the day!
Overall rating
4
/
5
96 of 105 found this review helpful
Brilliant Story
PostedJuly 24, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love the old SY-FI films, you know where some mad scientist or meteorite causes some giant plant or animal to mutate and start attacking our world. That is how our story begins as we take on the adventure of Iris, who dicovers her city over-run by giant mutated plants that are munching on anything that gets in their way. It is up to you to find family and save the day.
From one of my favorite developers that got me hooked on HOPA games way back when they first came out, Natural Threat offers good sharp graphics, art-work that is wonderful with vivid colors and plenty of drama with the music. With only two modes of play, you have only a journal that belongs to Iris to keep track of events. Not eactly sophistacated when compared to many of our recent games but certainly offers great fun and entertainment. With a solid story, gameplay offers plenty of adventure mixed with a generous amount of Hidden object scenes that are junk-piled and interactive. I love some of the mini-games, especially the first HO scenes where you need to decorate the birthday cake with items you need to find.
There is a bit too much hand holding with the black bar tips and HO scenes are rather challeng,ing as items are either too small or well hidden but other than that, I am big fan of these adventure games and look forward to spending this evening with this well done SE game.
I recommend this game!