Aqutalion's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:60
- Reviews Submitted:19
- First Review:October 20, 2014
- Most Recent Review:November 24, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Dreamscapes: Nightmare's Heir
The Sandman is back for revenge! This time his victim is Tim, Laura's husband. Will you succeed in pulling him out of this nightmare?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A fun game
PostedMarch 7, 2015
Aqutalion
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I found this to be a fun, enjoyable game. Not exactly groundbreaking, but worth playing.
Graphics are nice, with some interesting scenes. The character animation was pretty good. The characters were cartoony style, rather than realistic, so those who insist on realistic characters probably won't like them. I prefer the cartoony ones, though, so they were just fine with me.
I wasn't particularly impressed with the voiceovers. I thought they were rather awkward. But you can turn them off (thank you!).
The gameplay is almost all adventure-type stuff. Find stuff, use it elsewhere. There are a few HOs, and an occasional easy puzzle. I would have preferred more puzzles. There are a bunch of collectibles to find, and some of them are tricky.
The only thing I really didn't like was the music. The overly trembly violins and "AAAAaaaaaah" got on my nerves pretty fast.
Overall, it was fun.
I recommend this game!
Adelantado Trilogy: Book Two
Get ready for new adventures and unexpected twists in Book Two of the Adelantado Trilogy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
More like this, please!
PostedFebruary 26, 2015
Aqutalion
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
These sim adventure games are my favorite genre of casual game, and there are precious few good ones available. The Adelantado series is definitely one of those!
Music, graphics, etc., are basically the same as book one, as are the basic mechanics. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. There are some new building types to build, and you can now demolish up refresh existing buildings.
The levels are nice and long, allowing you to really put in some thought and sink your teeth into it. Strategy and planning, rather than fast clicking, is the name of the game. Yum!
Book two has more interaction with the natives than book one, allowing for more storyline to be developed. Some of the levels are cleared through finding things and trading, rather than building, which gives some nice variety (although I still preferred the building ones).
So try this game! You won't be disappointed!
Now I'm waiting with bated breath for them to get the Mac version of book three done, already. Come on, guys!
I recommend this game!
Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition
You've been called to investigate a strange purple tide. And that's when the mermaid shows up...
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
An unwelcome departure
PostedFebruary 26, 2015
Aqutalion
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I've been binge-playing the whole Dark Parables series, since the Snow Queen got me hooked. This last one, unfortunately, was my least favorite of the bunch. The rest of the series is wonderful. This one was just OK.
The basic game mechanics is more-or-less the same as the rest of the series. You play FROGs for put together pretty things, then use them to unlock other pretty things. However, in terms of graphics style, music style, storyline, and overall feel, this is definitely an Eipix game, not a Blue Tea one. Those who like Eipix's style probably won't mind, but I found it to be a downgrade.
The storyline, especially, was an irksome departure from the others. A single journal page is the only reference to the fairy tale source material in the entire game. Other than the presence of mermaids, there's no resemblance to the Little Mermaid story, at all. The bonus chapter has no fairy tale elements at all.
One thing Eipix did get right was including the option to turn off voiceovers. Please start adding this option, Blue Tea. There's really no reason not to have it.
Overall, if taken on its own, this is a solid enough game. When compared to its predecessors, however, it doesn't quite measure up.
Sorry, Eipix. Y'all have done good work on other series, but I have to hope your involvement with Dark Parables was a one-time thing. Otherwise, I fear DP may suffer the same fate as MCF, Azada and Hidden Expedition.
I recommend this game!
Nightfall Mysteries: Haunted by the Past Collector's Edition
Track down the truth about your grandfather's death!
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 14 found this review helpful
What a disappointment
PostedFebruary 25, 2015
Aqutalion
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
To be fair, this review is based on only the demo, as the game was so meh and unengaging that I couldn't be bothered to go farther.
I was initially excited to see another Nightfall Mysteries game, and was looking forward to another chapter in Catherine and Viggo's struggle to defeat and/or escape the Vansig family. Instead, I was presented with a bland soap opera. The other entries in the series were dark, creepy, occult-ish mysteries, with stylish graphics and interesting stories. This… is none of those things. What happened, Vast? Did your story notes get lost in a HD crash? Did the writing staff all come down with amnesia?
The nifty drawn characters are gone, replaced with boring, generic "realistic" ones.
The voiceovers are bland and lifeless. You can tell the actors are just reading their cue cards, putting as little effort into it as possible. Viggo was especially disappointing.
No more ornate mansions or creepy asylums. No mad scientists. Just an ordinary modern town full of ordinary people.
No mention of anything in the previous games. No Vansigs, no Detective Thomas, no stagehand character. If it weren't for the character names, you'd never know this was a Nightfall Mysteries game.
The voiceovers are bland and lifeless. You can tell the actors are just reading their cue cards, putting as little effort into it as possible. Viggo was especially disappointing.
No more ornate mansions or creepy asylums. No mad scientists. Just an ordinary modern town full of ordinary people.
No mention of anything in the previous games. No Vansigs, no Detective Thomas, no stagehand character. If it weren't for the character names, you'd never know this was a Nightfall Mysteries game.
So, like I said, I didn't make it past the demo. Does it get better? Do the Vansigs show up? Does the nonsense with Birdie somehow tie in to the pre-existing storyline? If not, there's really nothing to recommend here.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Strokes: The Legend of the Snow Kingdom Collector's Edition
Enter the enchanted realm of the Snow Kingdom!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Just what I needed
PostedDecember 30, 2014
Aqutalion
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
If you're looking for something pretty and light to destress with, this fits the bill. Yes, it is easy, but I found it to be the relaxing kind of easy rather than the boring kind.
The only major complaint I had about it was that you can't turn off the VOs. Most of the VOs managed not to be too irritating, but I wish the option had been there.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, Sacred Grove Collector's Edition
A deadly secret lurks in the woods of Dire Grove!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Good, but generic
PostedDecember 14, 2014
Aqutalion
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
While this is generally an enjoyable game, it is basically just another generic "dark" HO. The distinctive style of the earlier MCF games is completely missing. There's nothing remarkable here. It's the same graphics style, storyline and puzzles you can find in at least a couple dozen other games here. MCF was what originally got me into HO games, and it's disappointing to see it jump the shark like this.
That said, if you're not a big MCF fan, and you like generic dark HO's, you'll enjoy this nicely. The graphics and sound are decent. The voiceovers aren't too bad, but there are so many of them that they got annoying. The devs make an effort to replicate the Rube-Goldberg-machine style of puzzles found in the Ravenhearst and Madame Fate games, although they fall a little flat.
You can pick your character's gender, which is nice, but the only thing that changes is which voiceover you get. They could have saved some disk space and left the gender undetermined, like in previous games. It wouldn't have mattered.
You can pick your character's gender, which is nice, but the only thing that changes is which voiceover you get. They could have saved some disk space and left the gender undetermined, like in previous games. It wouldn't have mattered.
MCF fans probably won't like the bonus chapter. They try to shoehorn in a connection with the previous games in a way that makes no real sense. That alone irked me enough to make me knock a star off the rating.
I recommend this game!
Surface: The Pantheon Collector's Edition
It should have been a tremendous achievement, but the tunnel through the Ridge of Leviathan became the site of a great disaster. What really happened that day?
Overall rating
2
/
5
Stolen artwork? Really?
PostedNovember 20, 2014
Aqutalion
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I'vr played the other Surface games, and this one was my least favorite. It wasn't *bad*, exactly. It just irked the bejeezus out of me.
The good:
Pretty graphics for the scenes and objects, even if they were cluttered and overcomplicated at times.
Interesting premise
Good music
Good puzzles for the most part
Pretty graphics for the scenes and objects, even if they were cluttered and overcomplicated at times.
Interesting premise
Good music
Good puzzles for the most part
The bad:
As a whole, it was, for lack of a better word, overdone. The heroine's overwrought angsting got on my nerves. Scenes tended toward clutter, and the HO's were too junk-pile-y for my taste. I was way tired of the color orange by the time it was done.
As a whole, it was, for lack of a better word, overdone. The heroine's overwrought angsting got on my nerves. Scenes tended toward clutter, and the HO's were too junk-pile-y for my taste. I was way tired of the color orange by the time it was done.
But the real reason I can't give it a higher score- stolen artwork. I recognized several of the mechanics and costume pieces as the work of artisans on deviantArt and Etsy, and one obvious piece lifted from a Disney movie! I wonder if the people who actually created these pieces even know their designs are being used here, without crediting them. Not cool, devs. Not cool. Design your own stuff, don't steal it! And hope that Disney doesn't find out you used their Thern medallion.
I don't recommend this game.
Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown Collector's Edition
Your librarian friend wants your help as a journalist – he’s found an ancient book that is still unfinished. Can you save the world in the book before their story ends?
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Disappointing, but it was pretty to look at, at least.
PostedOctober 28, 2014
Aqutalion
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Overall, this game had a nice premise, but was not well executed. I didn't think it was worth the CE price.
Graphics: Very nice. Standard ERS style, and it wasn't as cloyingly cute as some of their previous games. I liked it.
Music: Meh. Not bad enough to be irritating, not good enough to really be noticed.
Voiceovers: BAD! Most were simply bland, but the villain's VO was laughably awful. AWFUL. You can turn off the VOs for the dialogs, but you still have to hear them during the cut-scenes. The next time someone gives me grief for always turning off the VOs, I think I'll play them the final scene of this game to let them hear just what I'm gladly missing.
Puzzles: ERS usually brings good puzzles, but they dropped the ball a bit here. There was a good variety of puzzles, but they were rather easy. I managed to do them all on the first try.
Story: Good premise, bad execution, terrible ending that completely ruined it. The story seemed to skip around nonsensically in places, making it hard to follow. The journal was no help.
Length: Very short. It took me about 3-4 hours to complete the main game, and about 1 for the bonus chapter.
Bonuses: It was impossible to *not* get all the collectibles, which kind of defeats the purpose of them, IMHO. No achievements, other than ones given for reaching points in the game.
The bonus chapter, though, was my favorite part of the game. I actually enjoyed it more than the main game. IF the main game had been about cleaning up after the silly rabbit rather than trying to defeat a badly-written generic baddie, I might have given this game more points.
The bonus chapter, though, was my favorite part of the game. I actually enjoyed it more than the main game. IF the main game had been about cleaning up after the silly rabbit rather than trying to defeat a badly-written generic baddie, I might have given this game more points.
The verdict: Don't bother.
I don't recommend this game.
Echoes of the Past: Wolf Healer Collector's Edition
Warriors of darkness have just attacked your people. Now you alone can defeat them and save your fellow Healers!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
More of the same. Literally, in some parts.
PostedOctober 20, 2014
Aqutalion
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I found this game perfectly enjoyable, as I have the previous entries in this series. There's nothing really new here, but that's not always a bad thing. If you liked those, you'll like this. Unfortunately, this (and the previous one?) have nothing to do, story-wise, with the earlier games, which was a disappointment for me.
The transforming main character was a nice touch, but it could have been handled better. It was all but forgotten after the first half of the game. How exactly did my character manage to operate a pickaxe while in wolf form?
The graphics were good. The character animations looked oddly outdated, though. I did notice some slowness at the beginning, but the later parts ran okay.
The music was the exact same music as in previous games in this series. I didn't mind it, although it seemed a but lazy.
The music was the exact same music as in previous games in this series. I didn't mind it, although it seemed a but lazy.
The puzzles were pretty good, for the most part. There's no explanation for what to do, but most are pretty easy to figure out with a little experimenting. There was a good variation in the type of HO scenes, rather than just the standard find-stuff-on-this-list.
The voiceovers were not particularly good, but at least you can skip them. You cannot turn the VOs off without turning off the sound entirely, and that cost it some points with me. I'm one of these weird people who don't like VOs in games.
Although I do recommend this game, I don't necessarily recommend the CE version. The extras really aren't all that great. The achievements are few and easy to get. The extra puzzle unlocked by the collectibles is disappointingly short and easy. The bonus chapter is simply an alternate version of the main ending, so you're not missing anything.
But the main reason I recommend the SE over the CE is that most, if not all, of the non-HO puzzles in the bonus game are recycled from previous games. Not just the same type of puzzle, which would be understandable, but LITERALLY THE SAME PUZZLE. It's like they simply copy-pasted the code and graphics for them into the new game. The chapter was an exercise in deja vu. Were they too pressed for time to make new puzzles (or at least new graphics for existing ones), or is it just massive laziness on the part of the devs?
But the main reason I recommend the SE over the CE is that most, if not all, of the non-HO puzzles in the bonus game are recycled from previous games. Not just the same type of puzzle, which would be understandable, but LITERALLY THE SAME PUZZLE. It's like they simply copy-pasted the code and graphics for them into the new game. The chapter was an exercise in deja vu. Were they too pressed for time to make new puzzles (or at least new graphics for existing ones), or is it just massive laziness on the part of the devs?
I recommend this game!