A Sci-Fi Fantasy story that takes us to a mysterious world filled with Hidden Objects, Puzzles and Adventure. You play the role of an Archeologist who has recently stumbled across an artifact that seems to have a link to the Tree of Life. After your airship crashlands, you discover the the Tree is no longer just a myth and there are strange beings who are trying to take the artifact from you. Your mission begins as you travel through a dying world and uncover the mystery of the artifact.
A beautifully rendered game that should have qualified for five stars but unfortunately just missed the mark due to some annoying features. First off, the graphics are beautiful to look at but were blurred. At times it seemd like there was a mist that covered your screen, making everything look ethereal. Still, the artwork is stunning and real actors are used during the cut scenes. Be prepared for what seemed to me to be alot of cut-scenes at the beginning. Voice overs are good as is the music.
Game features two play modes however much to my disapointment, you get sparkles and black bar tips in the advance mode. What really was annoying was the constant objective tip-bar that kept popping up on the screen. Way too much hand-holding in this game which is a pity. Also included are a journal, again with a list of objectives and tasks as well as a map that also indicates objectives and tasks. It seems that the game really wants you to know what your objectives and tasks are. The map offers indicators but does not allow you to travel so be prepared for alot of back-tracking.
I got through the demo and found the game entertaining. The HO scenes are crowded and interactive. Again graphics were a bit blurred and some items were difficult to make out. What I did like was that you are given a riddle for your final inventory object and some of them were not that easy to figure out. Mini-games were relatively easy and the ones that I came across were the usual games we have seen so many times. Adventure game play is your standard point and click to find your invetory tools that either open, unlock or repair.
As for extras, this game offers alot of extras like achievements and two types of collectables Also I noticed that there is a mystery included in your list of acheivements that you need to figure out what it is. That definitely will make the game interesting. Also include in your extras are HO scenes and puzzles to play along with the bonus game.
Tree of Life should have been a five star game and I so wish I could rave and rant about it. Unfortunately where visuals are concerened and the constant tips and objective that keep popping up in both play modes just atook away the fun. The storyline also moves rather slowly and I actually found that I did not pay too much attention to it. All in all, a game that offers everything including the kitchen sink but seems to lack substance. I will nevertheless buy the game as it does seem to be of a good length and does offers re-play value. I guess it is true what they say, sometimes less is more.
Our story continues from where we left off and Kiera must once again battle wits with A.R.C.A.N.E and uncover the secrets within the agency's old base. The really creepy looking Witch with the rather large teeth is back and I do look forward to settling the score with her.
I bought the first of the series when it came out in 2010 and after having played the demo, I found it not unlike the first game: same style of graphics, same game features and same game mechanics. What you have here is adventure light with lots of puzzles and mini-games. For those who are new to the genre, the game is not as complex as the large files adventure games but mostly point and click gameplay with many different mini-games to solve. I would recommend that you do take advantage of the sale today and buy the first installment so as to get the background story on Kiera Vale.
The storyline is spooky and interesting, the graphics are dark but sharp, the voice-overs are passable and game play at times can be frustrating due to all the pointing and clicking. There is no map but and inventory bar, a journal that will also give you a synopsis of the first story and a catalogue of photos that will hold your clues. The hint system does tell you where to go but basically you are on your own. There are no levels of difficulties to choose from and no handholding. If, like me, you enjoy these types of adventures and also take guilty pleasure from dark and spooky stories, then this would be a definite treat to be played at night with all the lights turned off. A fun and challenging game that personally, I thought could have been done a lot better. After all, it has been three years since the first game and alot of changes have taken place with game techniques. However, I really enjoyed the demo and absolutely love mini-games, so I guess I have a date with the nasty Witch later on tonight.
From one of my favorite developers, a 5 star game that offers a fast paced game with a fascinating story, wonderful visuals and sounds, a level of challenge that will suit everyone and a whole lot of extras that make the game extra fun and also gives you replay value.
As the third installement of the Surface Series, this time we take on the role of a male character which will be refreshing for male gamers amongst us. Our Brother Jeremy is a great scientist and inventor and we can not be more proud of him. It appears that he has crossed the threashold of his latest scientific discoveries, pushed the bounderies and invented a flying city. However, there are adverse counter effects and winged humans appear suddenly from the sky, attacking the city below and kidnapping Jeremy. It is up to us to save him and in the meantime, unravel the mystery behind his invention.
The graphics are georgeous and although slightly blurred at times, beautifully drawn. The music along with voice-overs, sound effects and environmental sounds really enhance the gaming experience. There are three game modes to choose from and game features include a journal and an interactive map that will allow you to travel.
Surface: The Soaring City is an exciting HOPA game, heavy on adventure with easy puzzles to solve and interactive HO scenes where you will also need to use a couple of your inventory items to solve. There are also collectables, achievements and you also get to repair and redecorate three locations with the flowers that you have collected.
I loved this game and found it both captivating and entertaining, well deserving five stars. Bravo to the developers and thanks to BFG for this week's awesome CE game.
After having played the demo I have decided to pass on this one. Although I enjoy the classics, this game was either produced many moons ago along with the first IHOGs that came out or the developers enjoy the nostalgia of the earlier HOPAs and are sticking to that format.
What we have here is a somewhat interesting Sci-Fi story that has us playing a delivery man who stumbles across a town that is threatened by robots gone amok. Apparently there is a parallel universe involved but I really didnt get that far to find out. I actually love Science Fiction but found this game out-dated.
Surprisingly the graphics are relatively good, sharp with good annimation although the HO scenes are dark and somewhat murkey making some items difficult to spot. There are no voice-overs which tells me that the budget for this game was very restricted. I liked the music, a cool jazz tune that does not suit the storyline but is not entirely unpleasant to listen to whilst you play. There are two play modes and although there are no sparkles in the second mode, the blackbar tips offer you too much information as to what you need to look for. Gameplay offers you adventure with alot of HO scenes that are slightly interactive. There is a journal along with a map that will allow you to jump and there is alot of jumping involved. Other than the zaps and the sizzles you hear from all the electricity around, the game has no other paticular sound effects.
If you enjoy nostalgia, are a fan of HO games and/or are a beginner to this genre, this game may just appeal to you. It offers an interesting story, quick pace in gameplay, lots of HO scenes, very few mini-games that are far too simple and an adventure that involves finding inventory objects and using them to either unlock, repair or apply. It isnt a bad game nor a great game but falls somewhere in the middle. Highly forgettable and if you have a spare credit to spare, it may offer slight amusement. By all means try the demo but my earnest recommendation is to wait for it to come out as a DD.
After having played the demo, I am faced with a conundrum: to buy or not to buy?
Death Pages is as ominous as the title suggests, a mystery that begins with the dissapearance of three teenagers who were last seen at the library. Without giving away too much of the story, our prime antagonist is a horrific looking madman and his equally horrific looking companion, a miniture puppet. If you do suffer from pupaphoia, this may just creep you out. Our three victims have been locked up and their souls have been extracted into a book where they are forced to take part in the infimous play, Romeo and Juliette. Well, we all know how that ends and now we must travel through alternative realities to change the outcome of the story and save them from an untimely death.
My first disapoinment begins with the graphics. I dont know if it is because of the resolution on my computor, but they are blurred and a bit askewed. The artwork is lovely with bright colors and well drawn. However, cut scenes are not as sharp or vivid as other games I have played. Voice-overs are well done and music is low-keyed and at times, you have complete silence as you play on. No outstanding effects or sounds that would have greatly enhanced the gaming expereince.
Game features include three modes of play, a jtask ilst, a map and a hint button that fully outlines where you have to go and what you need to do. The map is acutally the highlight of the game, it not only allows you to travel to locations of interest, but alos outlines the tasks that need to be done.
Gameplay is your standard HOPA, with emphasis on adventure play; picking up inventory items and applying them throughout various scenes. So far I came across three HO scenes and they were the standard HOG but reversed whereby you need to place the objects on your list and place them back in their appropriate places. I actually enjoyed the variation and a couple were challenging to play; I just wish the graphics were sharper. Mini games were entertaining, some very easy while others were time consuming and offered you some challenges.
As you need to travel back and forth from the book, there is quite alot to do and at times you need a sharp memory in order to keep track on where to use your inventory object. The task list and map come in handy but there is no journal to record your story. You also have an owlet that keeps you company and retrieves items that are out of reach. I am not sure if he remains with you throughout the game or if there are other so called comapanions that you meet up with.
There are no other extras that I would like to have seen such as achiements, collectables or morphing objects. The SG tells me that there are four chapters and a bonus game.
I liked the game very much, I found it interesting, challenging and entertaining. However the graphics were at times very appaling which I find quite unexpected as these developers have always produced high quality games. Based on that and the fact that there are only four chapters to play with no extras, I will wait for the SE version to come or until I recieve my monthly credit and use it as a discount. I am sure many will find this game exciting and hard-core players will enjoy the challenges that it offers. I on the other hand will wait and in the meantime, Romeo and Julliette may have to suffer their fate until then.
I recommend this game!
+16points
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The Torment of Whitewall Strategy Guide
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Despite the I passed up on the CE, I replayed the demo and decided to spend one of my free game credits that I have been saving up for a rainy day. As it is actually raining outside here in Istanbul, I might as well spend it solving the mystery behind the dissapearance of young ladies from Whitewall.
Initially when the CE came out, the very short demo did not impress me to buy the game. I found that the resolution was off making for some slightly blurred graphics, I did not like the artwork and found it rather unassuming and really found the game looking drab and worn out. Gameplay was just too linear and not in the least challenging. I did however find the story somewhat interesting and am intrigued at finding out just who is responsible for the kidnappings. Although I do have a very good idea at who it is and why as there are too many hints and clues that are brought to your attention. As always, I predict that what we have here is the same storyline with different background.
This is a straight HOPA with three modes to choose from. Graphics are 2D animation that give the game a very out dated look. There are voice-overs that are well done and music that really does not bother you at all. There is a journal and a map that not only allows you to jump but also indicates if there is anything to do. HO scenes are junked- piled and slightly interactive. HO fans will enjoy the many HO scenes that do come up frequently. Mini-games are easy and over all the game is really not very challenging.
This certainly was not a CE game and recieved mixed reviews. Personally I do think it could pass as a somewhat interesting SE game if you have a credit to spare. The one thing I found amusing was the beggar in the first chapter; I wonder if anyone noticed the strong resemblance to Sean Connery?
It is still raining outside and I do have a free credit and some time to spare therefore I will return to this rather predictable, mildly entertaining and rather short game in order to solve a mystery that I am sure involves our friendly Count that we meet up with at the beginning. This is one of those games that you would play once and forget about it completely. My recommendation is either spend a credit or wait for the DD special , but do certainly give the demo a try if you haven't already. I also recommend it to beginners who will enjoy the many HO scenes and the adventure aspect of the game. Definitely a game well worth a try.
Dark Tales presents Edgar Allen Poe's famous tale of the Golden Bug. Once again we join the ever so handsome Dupin in his quest to help his friend LeGrand who is obsessed with finding Captain Kid's lost treasure; his only clue is the Golden bug. Your adventure begins as you follow the clues as well as solve the mystery behind the sinister masked figure who seems to impeding your investigation. Is he a Friend or Foe? That remains to be seen.
As always the Bunny Team brings us a good HOPA game with their usual standards that include good graphics, voice-overs, great storyline, along with three play modes. Extras include HO mini-games, puzzles, and something new: a collection of desktop calanders to choose from.
Game features include a journal and accompanying you is a georgous Newfoundland Dog that will retrieve hidden items with the use of his nose. I have noticed that the developers are getting more creative with HO scenes that are very interactive with puzzles to solve within each scene, making them both challenging and fun to play. The frequent minigames that are also interesting, not difficult but nevertheless entertaining.
Overall, the game has interesting moments and although lacking in challenge, I found that the story along with the HO scenes and mini-games make up for the fact that as always, our developers continue to forgo game features like collectables or achievements. Unfortunately the SG only shows you two chapters which begs the question as to how long this game is. I personally have no use for extras such as wall papers or screen savers and try to adhere to my own personal set of standards as to what qualifies a CE game. I am therefore reluctant to spend the extra pennies on this version and will wait for the SE version. Nevertheless, It is a good game with a different take on HO scenes that I expect it will become popular amogst many players. I do applaud the developers for their innovativeness and cannot wait for the SE version to come out. For now, Dupin will just have to make do without me.
I suppose many of us know the famous tale of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. The interesting thing about our storyline is that it is based on the Hollywood adaptation which starred Johnny Depp which is very different from the original short story written by Washington Irving. I actually loved Tim Burtun's film adaptation on Sleepy Hollow and found that the developers followed the story line pretty closely. In fact, suprisingly, Constable Crane does sound a bit like Johnny at times.
Our story opens up with Constable Crane (who incidently bares a slight resemblance to Johnny ) who is sent to Sleepy Hollow to solve three grusome murders using his knowledge of scientific investigation skills. Upon arrival he meets up with his first ghost as well as the Headless Horseman and is caught up in a crime that involves greed and revenge.
Cursed Fates has the feel of the classic HOPA games that were first introduced several years ago: good graphics that are sharp, good animation cut scenes, well acted voice-overs and sound-effects and a haunting musical score that I actually enjoyed. Although there is an out-dated look about the game, it is well developed with game features that include two play modes, interactive HO scenes, inventory items that at times require you to combine and a journal and a hint system that refills quickly. Thankfully the developers have also added collectables, achievements and trophies that are always a major plus to a game. The mini-games are not at all difficult and there is a bit too much hand-holding with sparkels and some items that glow when you click on them. The only thing that I found slightly disappointing was the lack of challenge in the gameplay but nevertheless, it does offer a good story and good entertainment.
Not a game to lose one's head over, but definitely well worth the extra pennies.
Who doesn't love Fairy Tales, especially the story of Cinderella. You are a detective hired by Prince Charming to find the girl who stole his heart at the ball. Can you guess what your only clue is? and can this story get anymore cheesier? So off you go, with a glass slipper on hand, a Unicorn to ride, a letter from the Prince and a camera to take the odd photo for your album, (There are 30 photos required to collect thropughout the game). Your adventure begins and once again I realise why these developers have become a favorite of mine.
This time we have a unique HOPA where the HO scenes are reversed and not as simple as one would think. Placing objects back to their place is fun and a break from your standard HOGs. . I loved the voice-overs and sound effects as well as the soundtrack which really amplified the gaming experience immensly. The mini-games started off simple but gradually they became more challenging and fun. You have inventory objects to pick-up and ofcourse the HO scenes to play.
Stunning graphics, georgeous artwork, captivating storyline adorable creatures you come across and entertaining gameplay are what you will get from this version of Cindarella. If you passed up on the CE then by all means, take advantage of the sale today and go back to get the CE!
For those who waited for the SE of this game, good choice. Unfortunately the CE fell short from being a great game and pales a bit in comaprison to the first Phantasmat. You do not miss much by not buying the CE as the bonus game did not really add to the overall storyline. If like me, you dont go after screen savers, wallpapers and music scores that are featured in CE games, then definitely this SE is well worth the pennies.
The storyline in Crucible Peak is similar to the first game: you find yourself trapped on a ski resort located somewhere in the Alps. You meet up with some dead people who are trying to stop you from finding a way out. I actually loved the first Phantasmat and from what I understand, the developers have changed. Although some features of the game are similar, something is amiss with this second installment. However, that is not to say that this one is without merits. Good graphics but not great, very well acted voice-overs, interesting story-line, adventure with hidden object gameplay and you also have the choice of switching to M3 with the HO scenes. Unfortunately no journal and no map so be prepared to do some backtracking in the snow. In the end I actually passed up on the CE but will definitely go for this one. I thought the pesky rodent who keeps popping up was a cute addition to the cast of characters that you meet up with. Off to go play with dead people!