synthesis1's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.2
- Helpful Votes:44
- Reviews Submitted:5
- First Review:January 8, 2012
- Most Recent Review:September 6, 2013
- Featured reviews0
synthesis1's Review History
Finders
Carve a path through an unforgiving wilderness to rescue a hero trapped by a villain!
Overall rating
2
/
5
12 of 12 found this review helpful
The Fatal Flaw
PostedSeptember 6, 2013
synthesis1
fromGeorgia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Skyborn
(87)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I will start off saying 1) at the outset, I thoroughly enjoyed this game, enough so that I purchased it and 2) I quit playing right before the 3rd area of exploration.
Why did the game go downhill? The first area was unique, a constant build-up of materials, quests, and the need to buy things/expand the camp. I was quite engaged with these aspects, engaged enough not to notice that the plot was a bit underplayed.
Then I got to the second area and found myself basically starting over and repeating everything I'd done in the first area. I soldiered on, looking for a story to draw me in enough. On top of repeating everything I'd just done, the only way to move all the supplies gathered from the first area was to pay exorbitant amounts of money to have them flown in. By the time you had that much money, you really didn't need the supplies, but what the heck, I moved them anyway.
As I neared the end of the second area, I realized that the story just hadn't drawn me in enough to want to repeat, for a third time, everything I'd built in the first and second areas. Nor did I want to pay, yet again, to move all my accumulated supplies. Frankly, I was just bored with the game.
This game could have been much better if the story were more developed and more engaging, and if, rather than simply repeating things in each area, you instead started with the basics you had in the previous area and built on those. There was not much new between the first and the second areas, other than the setting. Additionally, don't force players to wait and pay huge amounts of money to move things they've already spent time and money collecting or cooking or even buying. It's just frustrating.
I don't recommend this game.
Skyborn
Join Claret and a lovable cast of characters explore, build and battle your way through a tale of magic, metal & mystery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Beautiful RPG
PostedJune 24, 2012
synthesis1
fromGeorgia
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Skyborn
(87)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love rpgs, and in my opinion, Skyborn was one of the best released in the past year. In the game, there's a division between those born with wings (Skyborn) and normal humans, with the Skyborn ruling all, and halflings marked for eradication. Clarice joins the rebel side who are trying to overthrow the "status quo" and save haflings.
The game itself is visually beautiful, the storyline engaging, and the gameplay flawless. I believe the developers of this game also were responsible for the Deadly Sin series (another set of excellent rpgs). RPG fans will love this game, and I can't wait to see future games from the same developers!
I recommend this game!
Gravely Silent: House of Deadlock
Save your sister from the grave! After receiving a troubling phone call from your brother-in-law, you’re off on an adventure!
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
Wanted to tear my hair out by the end
PostedApril 7, 2012
synthesis1
fromGeorgia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The storyline in this game was excellent and intriguing, which is what made me keep playing. However, by the end, I just wanted to be done!
My problems with this game were:
1) Way too many hidden object scenes, and toward the end, you had to find multiples of at least of third of the items. It felt like a lot of filler.
2) A lot of very tiny objects, mostly hidden objects (as in they're tucked away behind other objects and unidentifiable in hidden object scenes), and a lot of overly camouflaged items.
3) The first half of the game was way better developed than the second half of the game
4) Many of the puzzles were just plain tedious, and, like the hidden object scenes, felt like filler.
1) Way too many hidden object scenes, and toward the end, you had to find multiples of at least of third of the items. It felt like a lot of filler.
2) A lot of very tiny objects, mostly hidden objects (as in they're tucked away behind other objects and unidentifiable in hidden object scenes), and a lot of overly camouflaged items.
3) The first half of the game was way better developed than the second half of the game
4) Many of the puzzles were just plain tedious, and, like the hidden object scenes, felt like filler.
By the end of the game, I was using the hint button, walking away and doing other things, then coming back to use the hint button again, just because I was so sick of the hidden object scenes. I also skipped a lot of puzzles because I just wanted the story to reach its culmination, not rotate another set of objects into the correct slots.
Granted, I'm not the biggest straight hog fan, so take this review with a grain of salt. Also, while it is not a straight hog, there wasn't a single area that didn't have one, if not more, hidden object scenes.
I don't recommend this game.
Vagrant Hearts 2
Valmor has been defeated and the Brotherhood has restored its reputation, but difficult times are approaching in Vagrant Hearts 2!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
Engaging Story
PostedMarch 20, 2012
synthesis1
fromGeorgia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Fated Haven: Chapter One
(10)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'm a huge fan of old-school rpgs and have played a lot of them. Warfare Studios does an amazing job creating stories and worlds for their rpgs, and Vagrant Hearts 2 is another great example.
The Pros for this game were:
1) excellent story, continuing where the first game left off and leaving a great set up for the next in the series.
2) Very well-developed characters
3) I love the crest system--rather than simply gaining more and more powers, you gain crests, and have to carefully think about which characters (who may or may not be a part of the next section of the story) to equip the crest and their powers on.
4) Battles can be extremely simple or difficult depending on party/crests
1) excellent story, continuing where the first game left off and leaving a great set up for the next in the series.
2) Very well-developed characters
3) I love the crest system--rather than simply gaining more and more powers, you gain crests, and have to carefully think about which characters (who may or may not be a part of the next section of the story) to equip the crest and their powers on.
4) Battles can be extremely simple or difficult depending on party/crests
Some of the cons were:
1) While much better edited than other games, the second half of the game lapses, and there are numerous grammatical/mechanical errors
2) No quest journal. This isn't a biggy since there aren't any sidequests in this game, but jot down the name of the place and the direction you need to go on a pad of paper, otherwise you are roaming a fair bit.
3) This second game, while still very engaging, was quite a bit shorter with fewer places to explore than it's predecessor.
1) While much better edited than other games, the second half of the game lapses, and there are numerous grammatical/mechanical errors
2) No quest journal. This isn't a biggy since there aren't any sidequests in this game, but jot down the name of the place and the direction you need to go on a pad of paper, otherwise you are roaming a fair bit.
3) This second game, while still very engaging, was quite a bit shorter with fewer places to explore than it's predecessor.
I recommend this game!
Grimoire Chronicles
Join Myra, a young witch, on a fantastic journey to save her best friend in Grimoire Chronicles, an incredible Strategy game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 14 found this review helpful
Story vs. Tedious Battles
PostedJanuary 8, 2012
synthesis1
fromGeorgia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Fated Haven: Chapter One
(10)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
The biggest problem with this game is that the battles take forever, and there are a lot of instances where you have to backtrack through areas. This factor alone can make you grit your teeth if you're playing for a longer amount of time :P
However, despite the grammatical errors, the story itself become very engaging, plus the humor in the dialogue is often very entertaining. For that reason, my review is very skewed. For the battles/backtracking, I'd give this rpg about a 1.5. It gets really old! But the story and dialogue are usually very good, and I'd actually give the game a 4 for that.
I recommend this game!