mrm2006's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:10,688
- Reviews Submitted:813
- First Review:April 8, 2013
- Most Recent Review:August 22, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Step into the shoes of investigator Frances Keegan and track down a tax evader suspected of murder.
Overall rating
3
/
5
37 of 49 found this review helpful
Strictly an HOG Game.
PostedOctober 13, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
There is no story line. NONE. These police are suspicious of someone for something and, therefore, an undercover investigation ensues.
Graphics are good but NO voice overs. Everything is "click and read". It's just too much reading. Gave me a headache.
There is NO choice of difficulty that I could tell. No diary, notes or map. You DO get a series of items to use such as a camera, flashlight and binoculars.
HOGs. This is an HOG (hidden object game) game. In every scene you're looking for pieces of clothing, "x" number of files, etc. The few mini games were match 3, find the pairs and several that would have been fun IF there had been instructions.
This game has no flow or consistency to the story. I had no idea what I was doing and/or why. There was also too much "click and drag" for my old hands and I got a cramp. Many of the mini games did not have any instructions - AT ALL. For these reasons and more, this game is not a purchase for me.
If you're interested in a truly incredibly easy investigative game you should definitely try the demo. I recommend it for beginners only. Intermediates and Experts would get incredibly bored.
Enjoy!
I don't recommend this game.
Shrouded Tales: The Spellbound Land
Your magical powers have finally awakened. Now you have the strength to free your mother from the Shadow Realm!
Overall rating
5
/
5
71 of 88 found this review helpful
Are YOU Afraid to go Into the Shadow Realm?
PostedOctober 12, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I have now played both the CE and SE versions of this game. And I MUST say, I STILL love it. Must be why I purchased the CE version as soon as it came out! lol
As a young girl, your mother was banished to the Shadow Realm and your city was placed under a dome (sounds like a t.v. show I know and love - hah!). Your character has now reached an age where her magic is maturing and she is destined to go find her mother, save her from the Shadow Realm and bring her City back into the light.
The graphics were amazing - no over zealous colors (devs kept their magic crayons away - thank you). Music was turned down so can't comment on that. Disappointed that lip syncing was in opening cut scene and then stopped throughout the rest of the game (should have given a lesser rating for that but I'm feeling generous today).
As you move through the game play, you discover runes - can't miss them because they are like big, bright lights whenever you spot one - which in turn leads you to create various spells. Handy ones, too, such as "repair anything" and "rejuvenate/dispel greenery/plants, etc." I wouldn't mind having a few of those in my life - lol. You also move, quite frequently and, sometimes, dizzyingly (is that a word?), from real life to the Shadow Realm and back again. Sometimes, just for one little item - say, for instance, to recover the human remains. How'd you like to carry THAT around in your inventory????? Hmmmmm?
3 modes of difficulty (sorry, no "custom"), the hint button on "casual" recharges remarkably fast. No journal, but there is a Spellbook, once you find it. And, your inventory or completed spells is kept at the top, center of the screen.
The HOGs (hidden object games) were incredibly different. Nothing I've ever seen before - no lists, nor silhouettes (kind of) - just not telling - play the demo to find out. lol Mini games weren't too difficult, some needed a little thought.
Going by download time, and the map, this game appears to have ...... LENGTH! YAY! One of the major components in purchasing a game ... period.
All in all, this game definitely gave me my personal "wow" factor - which is what made it a definite purchase - definitely. Also, I found myself talking to the computer ("huh?", "what?" "seriously?" and "hmmm") so who wouldn't want a game that makes you do that? Hmmmm?
I do encourage EVERYONE to try this demo. It's a great game, even with all the back and forthing (but that's why we have a map!). Would YOU be brave enough to rescue YOUR mother from .................. the Shadow Realm???
Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Every second counts in this breathtaking paranormal adventure!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 22 found this review helpful
Not Quite as "Paranormal" as I Expected.
PostedOctober 12, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hmmmm. This is a bit embarrassing. I KNOW I played the beta of this game and thought I posted a beta review .... somewhere. Now, I didn't take ANY notes playing the demo because I figured I just read my beta review and take what I needed from there. NOW I HAVE TO POST WITHOUT NOTES! ARGH! Ok, that's over.
A little boy is shoved into a basement room and told to stay there because "they" will be there to "get you soon". Uh-oh.
The graphics of the game are really very good. I was impressed with the realism of everything, especially the characters. Music was good but I tend to tune it out so I can't comment more than it wasn't annoying. lol Voice overs were great! And LIP SYNCING! Love a game with moving lips! Sound effects were also spot on!
There are 3 modes of difficulty - no "custom" setting here. You have a diary filled with your notes (it does NOT light up, sparkle or go "BOO" when something new is added), and a transportable map, which did come in handy.
The HOGs (hidden object games) were the usual - silhouettes with interactive properties. Nothing was too difficult to find or figure out what to do with. The mini games were varied but fresh and fun, even the not-so-fresh ones. I think I had to skip one (boo-hoo to me).
The concept of the game seems fairly simple. Remember, I said "seems". Your character is a worker at Child Protective Services who receives an anonymous call that only gave a minimal report ("I'd like to report a case of child abuse") with an address. I (stress the "I") noticed something right before the man made the call .... did you??? So, off you go to investigate. You find a boy, locked in a basement by his step-father and you ... well ... let's NOT say "kidnap", but rather, .................... attempt to take to safety. And, THIS is where your adventure begins!
CE Bling:
Aside from the usual wallpapers, music, etc. there is a Bonus Game and an Extra Bonus Game. Collectible coins (although I don't know how many in total but there are several with different pictures on them) and not much else. I even clicked on "Guide" during game play and nothing happened so not sure if there's even an accompanying Strategy Guide. Hopefully, another reviewer can provide that answer.
Aside from the usual wallpapers, music, etc. there is a Bonus Game and an Extra Bonus Game. Collectible coins (although I don't know how many in total but there are several with different pictures on them) and not much else. I even clicked on "Guide" during game play and nothing happened so not sure if there's even an accompanying Strategy Guide. Hopefully, another reviewer can provide that answer.
Who exactly is the little boy? Why DOESN'T he have parents? Why is the step-father raising him? Or is he? Maybe he just "has" him??? Who are the men in black masks chasing the CPS Investigator AND the boy? All these questions, and I hope more, will be answered in the game.
Although I enjoyed this game, it is definitely not CE worthy to me. It was ..... interesting ..... and that's about it IMO. Nothing really "Paranormal" about it. Yes, the boy can do some major telekinetic moving of really big objects ... but, otherwise?
I'm going to hold out for the SE, read some other reviews and see what's up at that time. I DO, however, encourage everyone to try the demo. I only had 24 minutes left when it ended and I think it might actually have some good length to it. Come along and help your character save this little boy and find out what's happening in Paranormal Pursuit.
Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Match objects, colors, and quantities while enjoying tranquil music and delicate paintings.
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
A Unique Strategy Game
PostedOctober 12, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Four Houses an interesting game of strategy involving items AND color.
The graphics are nice, though nothing earth-shattering here as it is the game board you concentrate on. The music is typical Oriental in nature. No real sound effects and no voice overs.
There are 2 modes of difficulty - Journey (which is generally "relaxed" and tells a story) and Timed. Interestingly enough, the only "journey" you go on is the path you take on a map of dots to mark your game progress. The ONLY "story" being told is ........... nothing. Each level begins with a nice little Chinese proverb. That DOES NOT a story make - IMO.
Game play is interesting. You start off with 4 different items, each having 1 of each color (red, green and blue). You goal is to turn the tiles to "used" by making rows of either like items or like colors (any item). Later on, as you level up, you'll get different items (never more than 4 at a time) but no different colors (at least not up to level 28, where the demo ended for me).
There are obstacles as you level up. Nothing too awful. There are no bonuses, except for earning additional lives.
It was an okay game. I am not into strategy games. I do, however, encourage everyone to try the demo, as it is a "different" sort of game play.
Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
High in the mountains, in a mysterious ice cave, an ancient civilization hid their treasurers. Find the treasure in this match 3.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Move colored balls around to make matches
PostedOctober 11, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Another strategy game - makes the 3rd today!!!!
Snakylines is another take on the "move the colored balls around the game board to make lines/rows of 4 or more like colors either diagonally/vertically or horizontally, then they disappear" game. That's exactly what you do. You can gain various types of bonuses to help you destroy balls on the board. But, beware, because for each colored ball you move, several more pop up.
I found that if you haven't got a GOOD grip on the level by the 3rd move, you're sunk and might as well start over.
I found this game slightly less than NOT entertaining as I do not like strategy games. So, while it's not a purchase for me, it might be for you. So, please try the demo. Go ahead, get those balls MOVING!
Enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Diva's dark talent claims another victim – can you stop her before the curtain falls?
Overall rating
4
/
5
25 of 30 found this review helpful
Is the Diva's Singing Voice Deadly?
PostedOctober 10, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Maybe not Deadly, but she sure is a control freak! LMAO
In the Opening Scene, skeletal ghosties have robbed the grave of the "Diva", bringing her back to life in a gorgeous young body.
The graphics were done really well. The music and sound effects were excellent. I was disappointed, however, because we got voice overs but no lip syncing. Seriously? In this day and age of computer gaming ....... how hard is it to make a mouth move????
The HOGs were varied, interactive, and fun. I did not find any of them difficult. There IS an alternative game you can play instead of the HOGs. It's a bit like those games where a row of "balls" or whatever is moving towards a "pit" and you have a "shooter". This "shooter" moves in a stationary circle and whichever color "ball" is showing, you shoot it into the moving chain of multi-colored balls to make a match of 3 or more like-colored balls so they'll disappear. In this particular game, there is no "pit", just a never-ending continuous circle of colored balls. The mini-games were also varied and while some were quite easy, there were others that required the old "patience and perseverance" - lol. I do, however, really enjoy the "story" ones.
You meet a "knowing one", who seeks your help in destroying the Diva because her singing affected affected the audience. Before he can speaking, he is also grabbed, by whitish-grey matter ................... and arms! OH NO! The Diva drains the life energy out of her audience. She's been banned from other towns and cities that recognized the danger associated with her. As a result, she went into exile ........ until .......... now.
This is amazing game! Fun, interactive games, suspenseful storyline. But, the rumor mill, water cooler crowd, gossip-mongers, what have you (people I trust, in other words), say this game is way too short. So, for ME, it's not a purchase. But, I encourage everyone to play the demo and make your own decision.
Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Someone – or something – is stealing the children of Blake’s Mountain!
Overall rating
5
/
5
76 of 108 found this review helpful
Evil Scarecrow! Crazed Healer! Disappearing Children!
PostedOctober 9, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
All the makings of a great Halloween-inspired game. Be prepared for the over-use of words like "PERFECT" and "LOVE".
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this game! There is NOTHING about it I didn't like ... well ... there was ONE thing but you have to read on to catch what it is.
The opening scene shows a little girl in a snow globe looking thing, all alone and crying for help. Uh oh, already doesn't bode well for her.
The graphics are absolutely PERFECT! No complaints regarding color use, clarity or anything else. Down to the individual blades of grass. And the way the colors blended so well into each other - PERFECT! The voice overs were also PERFECT! Totally in sync with the lip syncing (pet peeve of mine). Body movements, everything. Music was unobtrusive. Sound effects were PERFECT, from the crows cawing to the sound of the babbling brook.
There are 4 levels of difficulty - casual, experienced, masterful and custom. In "custom", I was a little surprised that we could only change the recharge time on the "hint" and not the "skip". Hmmm. But, to appease us, I suppose, the "hint" could go all the way down to ONE SECOND!
You get a diary, of sorts. It contains images that you click on to get more info about THAT particular item/picture/image and movie clips of the cut scenes. A map that has way too many legends (undiscovered area, open area, locked area, you are here, here is a task) Your inventory will contain a lot of PLUS items. You also get a crystal ball (seeing eye) in order to keep in touch with someone throughout the game - however, I didn't during the demo.
The HOGS (hidden object games) were varied and interactive. None were difficult and there was no apparent alternative game to play. The mini games were fun, some old, some new, ALL so much fun. Don't give up! Some require a little patience and perseverance. Of which I have NEITHER and skipped 1 - and I was at the end of it but just could NOT figure out the last step. DRATS! IMO mini games were more prevalent than the HOGs but not by a whole lot.
GUESS WHAT GANG??? You get ............... a HELPER! The cutest little helper you could ever imagine in a Halloween based game. AND, you get to give it/her/him different types of clothes/items to use so it/she/he can better assist you in finishing your tasks (what? Are you lazy?) and reaching things you can't. I LOVE this thing/gal/guy. Gotta keep you guessing about something, haven't I?
You have been sent to Blake's Mountain, Ireland. As you're reading the plea for help to find the children who are disappearing, your carriage falls through a rotten bridge and is hanging above a river of water. You fall into the water and swim downstream to find a mother and daughter in distress. Of course, there's also a creepy looking huge scarecrow you have to pass, and an equally spooky looking house. Someone is in this woman's house and she is SCARED. But, all you see is a shadow ..... of a pumpkin??? OH NO! All I can say, is BEWARE of that creepy scarecrow by the river!!!!!
CE Bling includes the usual wallpapers, music, blah, blah. But, HOLD ON! So much more! Lots of Achievements - and earn your first one before you even start the game! Here's a clue .... you get there FROM the "profile" page. Another clue? Read the 2nd line of this paragraph - LOL! Collectibles - 25 hidden owls - which are sometimes hidden quite well. 7 statuettes/figures - I found 4 by the end of the demo. Not done yet! A Bonus Game AND an Extra Bonus Game! Works for me!
The ONE thing I wish they had added. I sooo wanted to thank my little helper whenever it/she/he helped me. Just give it a little tickle in the .... nope! Just ..... Awww.
This game had me at the little helper, who I DIDN'T know was going to be my helper until later. But, when I saw it/she/he early on, I was HOOKED! No, maybe it was the creepy and spooky atmosphere. Or, maybe it was ... does it matter? I WAS HOOKED! And continued to BE Hooked! This game is sooooo gonna be mine! Now, if I can just convince someone to purchase it for me. Hmmmm.
I encourage EVERYONE to try the demo. It's cute, fun, not really difficult but definitely has that Halloween flair. Come along and help ME help the children of Blake's Mountain!
Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Save your kidnapped daughter Jessica by solving the secrets of the castle. Rescue the trapped souls from captivity and defeat Groth!
Overall rating
3
/
5
22 of 44 found this review helpful
Can you Find Little Jessica?
PostedOctober 8, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There really is NO opening scene, per se, it just goes right to the "Play", "Options", "Exit" screen. There is a creepy little fellow in the "Play" mirror but I never see him again. In "Options", you can choose an "animated" cursor, although it's not animated as WE know animation. It's just the game''s big, huge, unwieldy cursor. I also had to choose my difficulty mode from "Options".
The graphics were pretty interesting. The atmosphere was suitably creepy for a Halloween-month released game but I thought it too bright, should've been darker. I mean, who's ever seen a well-lit (almost blindingly) dungeon? Seriously. Then, when the bad guy shows up it becomes more like a comic book scene which then melds into a more cartoon like scene and continues to flip back and forth. Hmmmm.
There are voiceovers. And, although the only characters I met so far were spirits, their lips did NOT move - no lip syncing. Is this to say that when we pass on and if our spirits remain behind for whatever reason, we can talk but our mouths are immobile? Hmmmm.
There are 4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Intermediate, Expert and .............. wait for it ....................NOT "Custom". HAH! GOT YA! Nope, it's Hardcore. Sorry, couldn't resist smirk. There is no journal, but things are so simple, you don't need one. There is a "task" scroll that you can click on to unravel (seriously, it unravels across the entire screen) to find out your task. But, it's redundant as it unravels itself every time you get a new task. Only one task at a time. If you choose the tutorial, it tells you the Gargoyle you find is your "helper". EEK to those who dislike "helpers". It's NOT a helper as WE know it, it's just the hint icon. There is no map. None is needed as we collect a million, gazillion inventory items (ok, not quite THAT many, but a few) in one general area and use them all before moving on.
HOGs (hidden object games) are standard lists with some interaction. You revisit these same places REPEATEDLY! Like 3x repeatedly in one instance. Enough already! And NOTHING in the scene changed so ultimately, you find just about everything there. The mini games were something old, something new and something frustrating.
The story line comes to play in the beginning of the game (not an opening cut scene). Little Jessica asks her mother to read her a story. Mom begins to read "Little Red Riding Hood" when a costumed man appears and absconds with Little Jessica. Of course, mom follows, but even THAT is confusing to me. Suddenly, a mirror explodes and you're in that brightly lit dungeon, where a spirit abides who is nasty in attitude, even after you free him. Mom brushes off and looks at a picture, sees Jessica and is immediately in that room - after Jessica leaves it - with no portal or anything to show a "change". Another hmmm. It's not until near the end of the demo that an actual "portal" is seen. And, it's not called a portal. Can't WAIT til you hear what this game calls it - lol.
For an SE game, this has a lot of CE Bling. There are Achievements, Morphing Objects (don't know how many) - more on the morphs in a bit, Collectibles (mirror pieces) - more on that in a bit too.
Ok - it's been a bit too long. When there is a morphing object around, the mirror next to the hint button lights up, as opposed to being lit anyway. YOU figure it out. There are also morphs in the HOGs. I BELIEVE you need to collect the mirror pieces (I counted around 15 but don't hold me to it) in order to assemble the mirror (where you go every time you find a mirror piece) to complete the game. Again, don't hold me to it, this is a guess. In fact, this game has me guessing a lot.
Who is this "bad guy" in the worse costume ever? Why does he want Jessica? What does the dungeon have to do with it? OR, the spirits who don't seem to coalesce either with the story (what story?) or each other? What is going on here? And I don't mean in a "this is a great story what the heck is going on?" way. I mean in a "nothing makes any sense, what is going on?" way. All the little tidbits of info you're supposed to get at the beginning of any game to draw you in, make you interested, are not here.
The story has no meaning or flow or consistency. Nothing about the game makes any sense. There are way too many "hmmm" moments for me. Even calling things what they aren't is ..... strange. For instance, a "helper" who isn't a helper but IS a "hint" button, or an "animated" cursor that isn't animated at all just the game's cursor as opposed to the system cursor .... and there's more like this throughout the demo.
For all the above reasons, this won't be a purchase for me. I think it would be a great game for older children, family night and beginners. I think experts will find it less appealing. I do encourage everyone to try it for themselves. This is just MY interpretation of the game, yours might be different (probably will). So, go on, hop YOUR way into a picture and see if you can follow the story. NO! I mean, find Jessica!
Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Margaret's soul has been broken into fragments and strewn across multiple worlds. Can you find them all and save her?
Overall rating
5
/
5
42 of 60 found this review helpful
Can you Piece Back Together Margret's Soul?
PostedOctober 5, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Margret, a kind, pure of heart soul has had her soul taken and broken into several other worlds by her boss, a scientist. Why other reviewers call him "mad" is beyond me. Perhaps he's overly zealous or overly obsessed with his latest invention. But, that doesn't make him "mad". The hero of the story is her brother, who not only has to restore her soul from these other worlds but save the worlds as well. A story within a story. Plus, there's this whole damsel in distress thing going on. Yeah, I'm a romantic at heart.
The graphics come across as a little too bright gold and orange for me but I thoroughly enjoyed the CE demo I purchased it then and there. Can't speak much of the sound, music, etc. as my puppy (now an amazing 6 months old) was napping by the computer).
There are 4 modes of play including "custom". You get the usual diary/journal that has a special section for each character in the story. A transportable map that shows not just one objective area but several at a time - love that. Your sister leaves you her "assistant" in the form of a Harlequin she's invented. She fixes things. She's not a pet, is kept in the inventory and was only used twice in the demo.
I repeat .... this is NOT a "pet".
There are several unique things about the game as well. For instance, periodically, there is this optometrist looking contraption that shows up and seems to take a picture. It's not something you actively do yourself. Also, as you enter the portal for each world there is, apparently, a "power" you accrue that is denoted in one of 4 circles located around the hint button. The first being "levitation" so you can to things too high to reach.
So, those are the mechanics of the game. Get it? Mechanics? Mechanical things? Oh, sigh, never mind.
Now, the guts of the demo. It was fun, enjoyable, an old story told in modern times. I was mesmerized, intrigued and wanted to know more at the end of the demo. How was the hero to save his sister? How was he to save each and every world? If he saves that part of his sister's soul entrapped in the world, doesn't he then destroy the world? How did the scientist rig that up? Guess all the answers are in the game.
I hope everyone will take the time to at least try the demo. I enjoyed it an I think you will too. Join me in losing yourself in this fantasy.
Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
People have been disappearing in the town of Ridleton for the past 15 years... Can you weather the storm and solve the case?
Overall rating
2
/
5
29 of 63 found this review helpful
A Lot of Same Old AND poorly made game.
PostedOctober 4, 2014
mrm2006
fromBelton MO
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'm probably going to be in the minority here, but reviews really are just our interpretation of the game, right?
In the Opening Scene, a father is seen calling on an evil being (the devil or a minion?) to "heal" his sick daughter, who we later learn is blind. A price must be paid, he is told, a high price. And he reaches for the evil being.
Graphics and Sound: So disappointed. Part good (not great) and then it gets grainy and hand-painted looking (especially at some of the character close-ups like the Policeman at the very beginning). Voice overs were less than par, lip syncing not consistent with mouth movement which made the entire game disconcerting to me.
There are 3 difficulty modes (in a day and age when most DEVS are giving us "custom" as a 4th). A journal that is absolutely useless! It says in the tutorial that it contains important notes so check it often. But, it doesn't sparkle or indicate when something is added. I checked it often, alright, and it contained pictures (like wallpapers) and newspaper articles you picked up on the ground, etc. that you can't even read. I was so surprised I rechecked to see if I was, indeed, looking at my journal. If you press the button at the bottom of the page, you get a "movie" of the picture where that particular one was from. So, keep your pen and paper handy because the first time I needed a "note" for a clue it wasn't in the journal and I couldn't go back to the mirror to get it again.
There is also a "magic" mirror you acquire to talk to the "Huntress".
The HOGs (hidden object games) I came across were same old, same old list items (with an alternative match 3 game) or find "x" number of whatever. Mini Games weren't challenging or entertaining to me.
Immediately at the beginning of the game play, I felt a strong sense of deja vu. I KNOW I had been to that same pond/lake area in another game. In fact, I was so sure I checked to make sure this was a NEW CE game and not an SE or remake of a game I already had. And, I did NOT do the beta on this.
The CE Bling includes the usual as well as a Bonus Chapter, a Hidden Chapter and collectibles (163 flames that don't look like flames at all and are found at various places in one scene - so, no, there are NOT 163 locations) and Achievements (for everything). I didn't notice a Strategy Guide.
The flow of the story was .and made no sense. Ok, dad disappeared years ago and now the daughter is the Huntress. Why is she a "Huntress" if all she did was look for missing dad? Overkill? Now there are others disappearing. Ok. Get it. But years of "hunting" for a missing person does not a "Hunter or Huntress" make. That implies searching for animals, monsters, vampires. Again, disconcerting. I also "get" the storyline started off well with the disappearing people after the dad/evil being thing. But, then, we add "monsters attacking the town", strange ghost kidnapping people, and wild animals! And now, to top it off, a Huntress. Too many stories in one.
I wanted to enjoy this game, especially with the sale going on. But this won't even be an SE purchase for me. It's just too .......... awful. Not a recommend either. Sorry, DEVS, but you missed a wide mark on this one.
I don't recommend this game.