__LJ__'s Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:20
- Reviews Submitted:8
- First Review:July 5, 2016
- Most Recent Review:January 29, 2020
- Featured reviews0
__LJ__'s Review History
Solve a series of devious puzzles to escape Arcana manor and uncover the dark secrets of the mysterious magician once lived there.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
A Puzzle Lover's Dream
PostedJanuary 29, 2020
__LJ__
fromClarksville, TN
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
This game is unlike most of the HOGs and adventure games I buy on Big Fish. You won't find any HOPs here - just puzzle after puzzle.
You arrive at a spooky, Gothic mansion where you are immediately given a choice: turn around and leave or choose to solve all the puzzles inside the mansion. If you fail, you will be locked in forever. The spooky voice taunts you throughout and grudgingly gives you back-handed compliments when you succeed. I have heard that he insults you if you use a skip or hint, but I never did so I can't tell you about that.
The puzzles get harder and harder as you progress. One took me DAYS to accomplish. I had to try for a while and quit and come back, but I was determined NOT to skip it. (If you're curious, it was the one with the scarab and the little golden balls).
This is not so much a scary game as a creepy one. The artwork is gorgeous and the music is compelling. It's old-school point and click and very easy to navigate. Hint: Look at EVERYTHING! Take your time and just enjoy the experience with this one.
What a feeling of accomplishment to complete this fiendish game! I was never sadder to complete a game before. Where is the next one?!
I recommend this game!
Can you stop the Revenant before it's too late?
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
Doesn't Live Up to the MCF Name
PostedNovember 30, 2017
__LJ__
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I purchased this without playing the trial first - shame on me. I trusted the MCF name but this one was not up to par.
I couldn't follow the story line. Maybe it was because I could only spend a few minutes at a time on it and had a lot of interruptions, I don't know. But I never knew what was going on.
The HOS were easy, the mini games were mildly challenging, the door locks with multiple parts (my favorites) were too simple and were solved with minimal effort.
The "helpful hints" tell you exactly what to do. I prefer to work it out for myself.
The graphics and background music were good, but I miss the cinematics.
The best part was the voice actors. They were top-notch!
I don't recommend this game.
A magical egg is about to turn one girl's world upside-down.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A New Favorite!
PostedOctober 13, 2017
__LJ__
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this game. I didn't want to stop playing it.
Pros: Great graphics
Story line easy to follow and not too convoluted
Puzzles not ridiculously easy as some, but not too hard
Hops were the type where you find an item to use to
get the next.
Story line easy to follow and not too convoluted
Puzzles not ridiculously easy as some, but not too hard
Hops were the type where you find an item to use to
get the next.
Cons: The main character's voice was a little annoying to me
The very last scene at the end gave me chills and made me say, "oh $#*%!
I recommend this game!
Can you escape your fate as a human experiment, or will you comply?
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Yes! Yes! Yes!
PostedMay 8, 2017
__LJ__
fromSacramento, CA
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 am a huge fan of Mystery Case Files and tend to hold all other games to that standard (which is quite a high bar in my opinion). This game surpassed it for me!
There are more puzzles than HOS which suits me just fine. Even the HO scenes are varied, have morphing objects to find and sometimes puzzles within the scenes. That keeps it very interesting to me since the usual HOGs to me are as tedious as finding where I left my car keys THIS time. The puzzles are challenging and best for intermediate to advanced players. I'm not sure this would be a good game for beginners. Besides, if a first-timer played this game, all others will pale in comparison.
The whole premise in this game is just as creepy as can be. It is not for the faint of heart if you are disturbed by such things as torture and dead bodies. I found myself talking to my computer screen: "Ewwwwww" or "Oh, no!"
You will be asked to make choices here and there, and sometimes they don't always turn out well for you. Choose wisely!
The music is perfect, the voice of S.A.R.A. is chilling and most of the rest of the voice-overs are good. My only criticism would be that in the beginning, the main character (the one you play) seems to have a more mature voice in the beginning, and a babyish voice from somewhere in the middle until the end. I found it annoying and popped me out of the experience more than once.
I highly recommend this game!
I recommend this game!
There's a terrible secret hidden deep within Lockwood Manor!
Overall rating
2
/
5
Boring
PostedMay 2, 2017
__LJ__
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I only made it halfway through the trial before I found myself wondering how much longer until it was over. Then I decided life is too short to play a boring trial and quit.
The HOGs were simplistic, typical puzzles with nothing unique about them. Although, perhaps the series improves in later versions?
The music doesn't seem to fit the darker story line and there are no voice-overs. Make sure you like to read because there is a lot of it: Dialogue, notes, letters, etc.
There are no little gears turning to show you that you need a tool for a specific area. Just a close-up after you click on the magnifying glass.
The whole thing just seemed as if it was put together in a hurry.
I'll be passing on this one. Not my cup of tea, but perhaps it is yours. I recommend trying the trial version first to make sure it meets your expectations.
The HOGs were simplistic, typical puzzles with nothing unique about them. Although, perhaps the series improves in later versions?
The music doesn't seem to fit the darker story line and there are no voice-overs. Make sure you like to read because there is a lot of it: Dialogue, notes, letters, etc.
There are no little gears turning to show you that you need a tool for a specific area. Just a close-up after you click on the magnifying glass.
The whole thing just seemed as if it was put together in a hurry.
I'll be passing on this one. Not my cup of tea, but perhaps it is yours. I recommend trying the trial version first to make sure it meets your expectations.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop the townspeople from mysteriously aging?
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 10 found this review helpful
Mini-Game Lovers Delight!
PostedApril 10, 2017
__LJ__
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I noticed mixed reviews from other gamers. It seems we are split into two groups: the ones who love HOPs and those who prefer puzzles and mini games. I fall into the latter category, therefore I loved this game! It was full of puzzles inside of puzzles. If you are a HO lover who tends to skip the mini games, you might be advised to choose a different game.
The opening scene really caught my attention from the start. I enjoyed the graphics and music throughout and the story line was easy to follow. While the story wasn't especially exciting or unique, it wasn't as convoluted and confusing as some I have seen.
Along the way, you can collect jigsaw puzzle pieces in each location. There is a helpful icon near your inventory tray that shows you if one is available to collect and fills in when you have found it. I was disappointed at the end to learn that I didn't get to do anything with them afterwards, such as putting together a jigsaw puzzle.
There is also a morphing object in each of the few HOS. Again, an icon will show you if one is available to find. I really like that feature as I find it frustrating to search for something that isn't there or that I have already inadvertently found.
A few of the puzzles are the type I love most. These are where you see a lot of switches and slides and things to click on and you have no idea where to even begin. In this game, you can click on the info button and it will tell you where to get started, such as: "click the buttons to turn on all the lights. Some buttons will activate more than one light". Once you have solved that portion, you can click on the info button again and it will tell you what to do next. For extra challenge, I like to refrain from clicking the info button unless I'm really stuck. I get a lot of satisfaction from solving the entire puzzle within a puzzle will no help.
For those who dislike HOS as I do, there are few HOS than usual, and to make them interesting, besides the morphing objects, there are often mini puzzles inside the HOS!
There wasn't a single HOS, puzzle or mini-game that I did not enjoy and that is unusual for me.
For the Mystery Case Files junkies, challenge yourself to find every reference to past games such as Dire Grove and Madam Fate. Some are directly mentioned, but others are just alluded to. I found that added another fun dimension for me.
MCF remains my favorite series!
I recommend this game!
Find a kidnapped teenage girl and save yourself in Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek, a fun Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Mini-Game Lovers Beware
PostedApril 3, 2017
__LJ__
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The music is nice. Um.... I'm trying to think of a few more positives.
Negatives, all HOs, no mini games. A couple of puzzles. Tired story line, a LOT of back and forth over numerous scenes and not just one or two scene-jumps with no ability to travel via the map.
Very disappointing and could hardly wait for it to be over. It took me 8 days to finish because I could only stand to work on it a few minutes at a time before becoming bored and frustrated.
I don't recommend this game.
Guide little Emmy through her fears and back to the real world!
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Not Well Made
PostedJuly 5, 2016
__LJ__
fromWillamette Valley, OR
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is one of the few games I didn't like. I was actually looking forward to it being over.
I purchased the game without playing the demo because I really like voice artist, Lani Minella. She does at least two voices in this game, the lead role which sounds a lot like Nancy Drew and and a minor role (Mary) who sounds a lot like Nancy Drew with a cold.
I hit a bug in the game and went to the forums to search for an answer. There, I found that others had the same problem along with others and the cure was to start the game over again with another profile. Luckily it was within the first hour or so of playing so it wasn't too bad, but I wasn't happy about it.
I like the music and voice overs, but I was annoyed how the voices didn't even come close to the movement of the characters' lips.
The puzzles were too easy for me. I enjoy more puzzles and less HOs. The HOs were easy as well, but I don't mind that since I don't care for them anyway and just like to get through them as quickly as possible to find the next puzzle.
I wish I hadn't wasted the money on this one.
I don't recommend this game.