Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Legends of Atlantis: Exodus
(68)
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
I love elephant games. It seems they are always trying to push the envelope of what they can do. This is the 3rd installment in this series and it keeps getting better. Hallowed Legends Samhain is when I first noticed Elephant and they have continued to wow me for the past few years. This game was not only well done but well told in the story line and very inventive. I really enjoyed playing it.
The best thing about elephant games is that you only visit each hidden object scene once. It makes the game fresh and never gets stale because of it. All the hidden object scenes are interactive and some more so than others. There is one with a skeleton that you push around the room so you can fetch objects beneath him. The only thing about this scene is that I had a glitch and could not pick up the lipstick and had to start a new profile. Luckily, I was not that far along but it did upset me a little but this game made up for it later.
There is a fire book that melts the ice but needs pieces of the game to require it to work. Its very much like MCF escape to ravenhearst and shadow lake with the little bits of picture you find and apply to scenes in the game. The thing is, elephant does it where it works better and makes more sense. The scenes are easy to find because the map is so well done. Even on hard, the map lights up when there is something to do there. Its very subtle and I didn't notice until I was almost done but it helps nudge you along in case you get stuck so you don't have to spoil it with an actual hint. I found that going back to find the scene pieces made the game more fun unlike the MCF games where I did not care for it. It was nice in this game to take a break from moving forward to going back to find these. MCF does them before you even get to the scenes so its hard to find whereas elephant gives them to you after you've been through the scenes multiple times and the graphics are so detailed in this game that I always knew where I had seen them. It was a really good aspect of this game. One I hope to see more of.
The raven's voice really bugged me at first but then he grew on me. I enjoyed him telling me the story. It was interesting helping the skeletons and making the town right. Lots of places to discover and the ending was awesome. It wrapped everything up without needing the CE bonus chapter like some games do. The actual ship of bones is quite breathtaking to watch. I completely recommend this game as the only glitch I had was with that one hidden object scene and starting a new profile made it go away. This is truly a special game. Kudos to elephant for always creating work that is out of the box.
I personally love this series however this one is probably my least favorite. I base that on difficulty and the story line. The hidden object scenes were list and also put the item back (my fav) .The puzzles were all unique twists on the same ones we always see. I only skipped a couple. The last one you have to do 5 times as it gets harder as you proceed. I did it 4 times and then skipped. Enough was enough. The voiceovers and visuals were done well and it kept my interest throughout the game with the different powers you get from each kid.
Where it fell apart for me was the difficulty. Even in the hardest mode, there were sparkles on the hidden object scenes. The story line was kind of strange and disjointed. I either missed a journal entry or it was abrupt where it ended. There is an ending but I felt like I had missed something about Dr. Weiss along the way. The story also was not scary in the least. Id assume a game about children in a run down orphanage would be creepy but this game was not. Also, I would have liked to see more put the object back type scenes, those are so unique and fun.
I would give this game a 4 for a fun time, unique hidden object scenes and puzzles as well as good sound/visual quality. However, the level of challenge wasn't up to par and the story line was a bit disjointed which made this game about a 3.5. I rounded up because this series is fantastic but there are better ones in this game. The first one in the army hospital is super creepy. xx
I recommend this game!
+2points
2of2voted this as helpful.
Masquerade Mysteries: The Case of the Copycat Curator
Help P.I. Joy Black find items and turn them into disguises and gadgets to catch a corrupt curator that is stealing from her father!
First of all, this game is by Elephant Games and its one of the first games ever released by them. That being said, for a click and find game, its an oldie but goodie. Playing this and seeing this was elephant, didn't surprise me in the least. This was released in 2010 and back then a lot of hidden object games were just finding random objects, however this game was ahead of its time.
The best part of this game is that you get to dress up in costumes and make different gadgets that help you advance in the game. You are a Private Investigator who stumbles upon some art thieves who are painting over expensive paintings, selling them to cheap to each other and then re-selling them to art dealers for an expensive profit. It is your job to stop them however you need to get past a few locations and need different clothes to do so. You actually get to dress the character and put together the gadgets from hidden objects you find. I found this part of the game to be the most enjoyable.
Then there are the hidden object scenes. Some items are darkened meaning you need to venture into another room or there will be a magnifying glass instructing you to look in drawers and boxes for the items that are now highlighted. Some of the items are quite small and the sound it makes when you hit the wrong item is quite annoying however this game is so good that I looked past it. There are a number of locations but no backtracking since its mostly a pure seek and find game.
This is a classic and a reminder of how far Elephant Games have come although if this is where they started from, kudos, because not all developers were up to this standard of game in 2010. I recommend this to people who like pure hidden object games, who like costumes, the telling of a good story and putting together various gadgets. I personally enjoyed this game very much. It was relaxing to play before bed and I really enjoyed it.
I really love this developer, VAST, so I can look beyond some of the imperfections of this game like the length. This game took me 2.5 hours. It was not a long game but it was a fun game. It had a different idea than most and it was a great game to play after a long CE or huge adventure game.
The hidden object scenes were well done and there weren't too many. There were regular interactive lists but also silhouette type where you pick up an item and it helps you do another thing to get another item. Those were fun. I liked the puzzles too because they were doable but also unique.
There is an actual ending in the SE that is satisfying however it leaves the player wondering if the bonus chapter completely ends it or if there will be a sequel however I do not feel this game is worth buying the CE for. Its very short and had I bought the CE I probably wouldn't have rated it so high BUT for a fun game with fun puzzles and a unique theme, I highly recommend this game.
and for all you Hidden Object Fans out there, it plays just like one but just doesn't have the HOG scenes. It took me a minute to realize this was in fact an adventure game because it reminded me so much of a game that was going to give me a bunch of random things to find. Instead this game gave me hope for more like it.
What I liked: No HOG scenes. Everything you got in the inventory, you either picked up, put together or had help from *benny* (cute little critter) to get. There was no finding 12 horseshoes, a rake and 5 feathers to get the item you need. In fact, a lot of the actions you did were logical but also creative. I don't think I ever used a wine opener to get a cork, a broom to get something underneath it. This game just had inventive thinking behind it...
Puzzles-There were a fair amount but not so much it overtook the game. They were all pretty doable. I only skipped the arcade one and one other because I had a headache and didn't feel like messing with it. Headache was not from the game mind you. Puzzles were mostly unique and had a fun spin to them. I enjoyed stumbling upon them.
Locations-Each chapter is a different location sooo if you need to stop, its easy to figure out what you are coming back to because it doesn't have a lot of backtracking except in the main area after you return from dreamland. That makes it easy to navigate. There is no map, but you don't need one.
Collectibles-There are over 60 creepy crawly *beholders* to find throughout the game. It tells you on a sidebar how many are in each scene and once you find them, sidebar disappears. I found a lot of them but you can't find them all in the SE unfortunately. Some were pretty tricky to find though and you can't go back to worlds! so make sure you get them all before you leave said dreamworld.
What I didn't like....is not this developer's fault...its BFGs because for some reason they didn't sell the CE. BFG says they have high standards for what they demand to be in CE's...well this game has collectibles, achievements and from what I hear wallpapers & a bonus chapter.. so Im not quite sure why this wasn't up to par...There are a lot of CE's that get released with a short bonus game and nothing else special to offer from developers I won't name...BFG you really dropped the ball on this one..I would have loved to purchase the CE of this game. I am becoming a HUGE fan of Playrix games...I just wish they would release a little faster for mac fans.
Even though there is a to be continued ending, it was still satisfying enough and not abrupt like some games AND I definitely recommend it. I especially recommend it to players who are hesitant to try adventure games...this shows that even without HOG scenes, a game can still be excellent. Kudos developers for something new.
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
I was in disbelief when I read the reviews and decided I'd get this game but as an SE anyways because I liked 13th Skull and also loved the creepiness factor of Escape From Ravenhearst. I also love dire grove and return to ravenhearst as well as many of the list hidden object original ones but this one is just a sad state of affairs. This game is NOT up to par with games that have been released in the past year. This is one of those series that is heavily awaited each year, an event that most people look forward to and I can say this game is just one huge disappointment.
My reasons for 1 star:
-Hidden Object Scenes- They are NOT interactive. They are in dark, dismal locations making items extremely hard to see. There is nothing new or innovative about them. Its a run of the mill type style. Even their old style games have more character and style to them then these ones.
-Graphics- This game is dismal, dreary and not fun to look at. Im all for misty, foggy, dreary locations but this game makes it almost impossible to play. Its ugly and because of that, its hard to focus on the task. Rooms are dark and dingy. Can't see where you are or what to do. Not up to MCF standards.
-Level of Challenge- MCF games are known for being challenging, thats what makes them so fun. You have to take notes and literally be your own detective. This game was dumbed down. It is NOT hard, it is NOT up to par with previous games. Playing on the hardest mode was not hard. It has too much handholding. I don't even need a strategy guide and Im just playing the SE version. Usually Id need to buy the CE but there was no need especially with no bonus game.
-Storyline- It makes no sense. It doesn't follow through. Its not scary. I don't care about the characters or why I need to save them. This is not a real detective story, it doesn't pull you in or make you want to solve anything! There isn't much to solve anyways!
-Mini games- All of them are quite easy but the one in-between chapters is especially awful. Its tedious to maneuver the pieces. Its awkward and does nothing for the story. It repeats and gets larger each time making it more tedious.
-Acting/Voiceovers- This is a live acting type game. IF you are going to do that successfully, you need to have GOOD actors. Im sorry but Lea Thompson is beyond terrible and she's a pretty good actress so the fact she's that bad means it was bad directing or just a bad script. The rest of the characters are awful too especially that girl in the treehouse. The fact you have to keep returning to that psychic (lea) and her voice keeps coming into the game to tell you about her revelations and about what objects and readings she gets, makes the game even more annoying. I tried turning off the voiceovers but it doesn't help the game.
Overall, whoever came up with this game concept needs to trash it and start over. Id rather have a game closer to return to ravenhearst or Dire Grove then trying to go above and beyond everything and everyone in the developer world. Sometimes bigger isn't always better and this game sure proves that. I am halfway done and cannot handle the repetition this game has or the tasks. I feel like it is boring and a chore to get through so I am opting to not finish it which I rarely do. Even the most torturous games I own, I still finish because I like to have a sense of completion but this game is so bad, I don't care what happens. Id rather play an ERS game over this and I haven't been a fan of ERS in years. I clearly do not recommend this game.
Explore the vastness of a ship lost in time, what mysteries will you uncover amidst its Mayan idols, menacing sea creatures, and exotic treasures? Find out in this exciting new Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game on the open seas!
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Current Favorite:
Legends of Atlantis: Exodus
(68)
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
I played the ENTIRE game plus the bonus chapter and this is by far one of the best games I own. It is a MUST to buy the CE because there will not be a satisfying ending in the SE and all bonus achievements and/or collectibles go into the bonus chapter. Also the bonus chapter sets it up for a sequel and the bonus chapter itself is fabulous. The bonus chapter puts you into a lot of different locations and gives you the opportunity to finish the achievements. It is also engaging, fun and gives the story an ending it truly deserves however like I said, there will most likely be a sequel as it doesn't end it completely.
The reason this game is 5 stars: -Collectibles-There are hummingbirds to collect in the hidden object scenes and there are morphing objects. There are also calendar pieces you collect that are part of the game. It is a collectible lovers fantasy for sure.
-Achievements-There are A LOT of achievements to achieve in this game. One suggestion is IF you are trying to get through all hidden object scenes without a hint, you cannot do this by switching to the mahjongg mode. I obviously did that and didn't get the achievement for that one. Oops. (only one I missed btw)
-Hidden Object Scenes- There are a lot as people have said HOWEVER there is an option to switch to mahjongg and its not incredibly hard mahjongg where it takes a lot of tiles to get an object like some games BUT all you have to do is match 4 and it removes an object. Its a nice break from hidden object scenes and why I felt they were spread out nicely and not overly done.
-Options- There are 3 modes of play and also a customized level. I was able to put it on the hardest mode but make it so multiple clicks in HOG scenes didn't cause a penalty but you could put sparkles on hidden object scenes if you wanted or just places you need help. you can customize during the game. You can also set the difficulty you want for the bonus chapter.
-Strategy Guide & Map- Map is jumpable and labelled by location that matches what it says in the guide. Guide is easy to understand, not only gives directions but shows pictures. Shows location of all morphing objects as well.
-Graphics & gameplay- Beautiful, lifelike graphics and easy to manage gameplay. Its a large file and it shows but it doesn't lag like some games do. Its just all around a beautiful experience.
-Storyline- I am not big into Mayan things or ancient artifact games but this game managed to intrigue me in the plot but also the outcome. It isn't your run of the mill ancient artifact save the world game and I really enjoyed that.
made by Ele-fun games....NOT elephant games...looks similar but NO. I completely adore this game. I Recommend it to everyone but only as a CE and would nominate this for game of the year...although it may have come out last year... I am a little behind on my games LOL xx
I love this game and up until now I have never been a huge fan of TM games. I like the builder ones but I had never been so enthralled with a TM game like I was playing this. This game is out of the box, unique and has lots of comical aspects to it.
It uses the same drag the person style as other TM games but some TM games like this make me feel out of control and crazy but this one was just my speed. I played it timed and was able to get Expert goal level every time. It wasn't until the last locations when I realized you could get a "perfect" score meaning all the zombies have 5 stars when they get sent to the morgue but with all the power ups near the end and the upgraded machines, it makes sense that would suddenly appear. Therefore I have even more game to complete as I like to get all medals.
There were a few things that were rather annoying. Firstly, I was not a huge fan of the mini game that appeared after each location and sometimes in the middle of said location. There were no directions except on the main menu page which had a help section but I think most people would expect that to be in game? At least I did so some of the levels I completely lost as I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing. Also, there are achievements but I cannot find a place to go view them. I got a lot but I know there are 20 according to the guide but cannot locate a room to see what Im missing. So thats kind of a bummer.
In every level especially during the end, I felt like I wasn't going to be able to get enough money to make it to the next level but I was wrong because it was always enough. As long as you use the power ups to your advantage this game is very doable and fun. I loved the zombie side effects and how some had different personalities. It got progressively harder as it went on. You start only needing to help like 5 zombies but by the end you are helping 20 of them and since it has lots of locations, its easy to keep up with the pace.
I really enjoyed this game and I do recommend it to hard core TM players but also beginners as there is an untimed level too. Its hard to get a perfect score so this will appeal to just about everyone. I love this game. Kudos developers, I hope you make more!
I got this game for free a couple years ago and just now decided to play it. I like playing pure hidden object scene games right before bed because I find it relaxing. I own and have played Return to Ravenhearst and Escape from Ravenhearst and while I love the adventure in both of them, I can't argue with the fact that this is a classic hit game. I remember when this first came out, there were no games quite like it. The puzzles for the doors are so out of the box, unique and fun. There really aren't puzzles like this out there in other games. I was able to complete a good handful of them. There is a relaxed mode which I played and I enjoyed it more as I hate being rushed.
To really enjoy this game, you have to put yourself back in the year it came out. When this came out, it was the first of its kind. It really set the bar high for hidden object scenes and to this day, its still a game most people speak fondly of. The 4 MCF hidden object scene only games are what the rest of this franchise is built upon and I wanted to play the original because I have always been kind of lost on the actual story of Ravenhearst and now I know. I loved the jigsaw puzzles between each scene and the interesting door puzzles. You play a lot of the same scenes and have to find the same objects but I just felt like it never got old. I played it at night in installments over the course of a week or so.
Keep in mind, this is NOT a modern adventure game BUT if you go in with an open mind and remember when it was released and how big of a thing it was back then, you'll still enjoy it today. I now would like to play Return and Escape again to really see the plotline unfold. Kudos BFG. I see now why so many bought this as their first game and got hooked.
This game was a huge surprise for me. I really just thought it was going to be another "save the kids" game and you do save the kids but it was way different than I thought.
There are 55 masks to collect. I only collected 40 and I double checked every room so Im thinking they were in the hidden object scenes and I just never realized they were there but then this game will get replayed by me at some point because I like finding ALL the collectibles. This game had a great soundtrack, scary when it needed to be and creepy. The story line flowed nicely and made sense. There were lots and lots and lots of locations to discover. There was no map but it didn't bother me because once you completed an act as this game is set into 5 acts I believe, then you leave the area you've been in and don't return to it to do anything unless you are looking for the masks. Someone pointed out after I finished that when you are in an area with a mask, the mask icon next to the journal blinks green and when they are all found in said area, it turns black. The only time you backtrack to a previous location is near the end when you go back for "the perfect show" but it really didn't need a map.
This game clocked me at 4 hours 37 minutes. I really felt that I played this game for longer than that so that means its a good length. There were a lot more locations than I realized and there were lots of tasks within each act. The voiceovers were good until the ending. Near the end, the little girl you are saving didn't really sound upset when she's saying "im so scared". Instead she just sounded monotone but this game is so fun that I didn't care.
This game has an actual ending in the SE although I would have loved to know what happened in the bonus chapter. The hint button was helpful. The only two things that bugged me were the directions to the puzzles were in picture form only, no dialogue except the main objective like "match" or "connect". Then it showed a diagram example of what to do but I find things like "match the objects" works better than just a picture. Also, this was not widescreen presentation but its an older game so I guess I wouldn't expect it to but had it been widescreen, it would have really been stunning as it was pretty stunning already.
I have never heard of these developers but I do see they released a new one in this series this past week which I will have to check out. All in all, I really enjoyed this game. Id probably give it 4.5 stars but rounded up due to how much fun I had playing this and I definitely recommend it! Kudos to new developers who have great ideas and succeed with a winning formula. I look forward to more =)