LunaNik's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.8
- Helpful Votes:12,435
- Reviews Submitted:670
- First Review:November 2, 2012
- Most Recent Review:August 19, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you stop a malevolent force from stealing souls in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 15 found this review helpful
Cookie cutter gameplay set in a whitewashed storyline.
PostedAugust 6, 2018
LunaNik
fromEven mythical, supernatural creatures have cell phones now, apparently. Who knew?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I'm curious as to how this storyline was developed, because it seems that AMAX just mashed together a bunch of Central and South American cultures. Santa Muerte is a personification of death in Mexican Catholicism. Xibalba isn't an entity; it's the Mayan word for "underworld." And Kalaka isn't an entity in either belief system, but it is Arawak for "chicken." So, the plot is a poorly researched and badly executed "good versus evil" theme, which has been done to the death (pun intended) in the HOPA genre.
Plan on finding and using at least five shaped keys per game scene, along with the usual laundry list of boring tasks. Santa Muerte provided us with a raven to acquire things out of reach…and her cell phone. It's not possible to suspend disbelief and remain immersed in a game that's so silly. I mean, a supernatural personification of death…with a cell phone? Give me a break.
The HOs have varied presentations, but are too easy. Actually hiding the objects would have improved them. The mini-games are unimaginative and insipid:
• There were three jigsaws, about one every ten minutes.
• Match skulls to their silhouettes, then match keys to skulls.
• Rock/Paper/Scissors with a skeletal hand (random guessing).
• Arrange gems by color and number. Really? Who thought this was challenging?
• Repair a doll by clicking the needle when it crosses the target zone, then dragging a skull along a line without touching the sides.
• Light candles; lighting one affects others.
• Choose symbols from the most simple to the most elaborate.
• Move tokens to their goals; they move like chess knights.
• There were three jigsaws, about one every ten minutes.
• Match skulls to their silhouettes, then match keys to skulls.
• Rock/Paper/Scissors with a skeletal hand (random guessing).
• Arrange gems by color and number. Really? Who thought this was challenging?
• Repair a doll by clicking the needle when it crosses the target zone, then dragging a skull along a line without touching the sides.
• Light candles; lighting one affects others.
• Choose symbols from the most simple to the most elaborate.
• Move tokens to their goals; they move like chess knights.
The CE bling is comprehensive. However, I was unable to acquire any of the collectibles, regardless of how many times I clicked on them. And the game crashed on me. Twice. The graphics and animation are okay, but not phenomenal, blending the darker colors of a cemetery at night with the brighter tones typically seen in Day of the Dead festivals. With only four soundtracks, the music became repetitive quickly. Lastly, and this may just be a pet peeve of mine, but the children were voiced by a adult in falsetto.
CONCLUSION ★★
Just another cookie cutter, I'm afraid. I'll pass. And why release a Day of the Dead game in August? I strongly suggest that AMAX end all its existing series and work on something new, preferably original and creative.
Just another cookie cutter, I'm afraid. I'll pass. And why release a Day of the Dead game in August? I strongly suggest that AMAX end all its existing series and work on something new, preferably original and creative.
I don't recommend this game.
Turn back the hands of time to free the Lost Lands!
Overall rating
4
/
5
27 of 33 found this review helpful
A far better game than any the Cookie Cutter Club has offered lately.
PostedJuly 29, 2018
LunaNik
fromCreated a virtual machine to run an older OS. Now enjoying all those amazing older games: Ravenhearst, RTR, 13th Skull, etc. They're MUCH more challenging, immersive, and fun than today's cookie cutter games.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Susan, the resourceful and brave heroine from our own world, seems destined to spend her life saving the Lost Lands from evil. This time, Cassandra and her giant arachnoids have taken over the Lost Lands. Once a white witch and Maaron's teacher, Cassandra contracted an incurable disease that rapidly began making her evil. She begged Maaron to kill her, but he could not. Instead, he put her into a deep sleep to give himself time to discover a cure. Before he could do so, Cassandra awakened as an evil witch…and captured Maaron.
Now, Susan must complete Maaron's quest, either curing Cassandra…or killing her. Not only will Susan need to journey through the vast landscape of the Lost Lands, but also travel back and forth in time via the Time Hexagon, powered by the ashes of ancestors.
Exploration is chock full of a variety of different tasks, some simple, some complicated. The HO scenes are all silhouette lists in which objects found are used sequentially to acquire the final object. Generally, this presentation is much more challenging than other types, as the solutions are often not obvious.
Mini-games are varied in type and level of challenge, and include:
• Place boards across the supports to create a staircase. Boards must meet without overlapping. EASY
• Unscramble the gravestone's letters to create a familiar name. EASY
• Arrange the dancing figures in a circle around the center so that all their hands are joined and touching the circle. MED
• Randomly guess the order in which to open the four clamps. EASY
• Set the appropriate date and time on the Time Hexagon. HARD
• Use boards to make paths connecting the three purple dots. MED
• Rotate the logs to make a continuous path across the swamp. MED
• Drag the magnet over the tall grass to find the door knocker. EASY
• Restore the pattern on the chest by rotating the pieces. MED
• Catch fast-moving swamp moths in the net. MED
• Restore the pattern using the two stone disks to move pieces horizontally and vertically. MED
• Turn the four magnets to propel the ball to the center hole. EASY
• Place boards across the supports to create a staircase. Boards must meet without overlapping. EASY
• Unscramble the gravestone's letters to create a familiar name. EASY
• Arrange the dancing figures in a circle around the center so that all their hands are joined and touching the circle. MED
• Randomly guess the order in which to open the four clamps. EASY
• Set the appropriate date and time on the Time Hexagon. HARD
• Use boards to make paths connecting the three purple dots. MED
• Rotate the logs to make a continuous path across the swamp. MED
• Drag the magnet over the tall grass to find the door knocker. EASY
• Restore the pattern on the chest by rotating the pieces. MED
• Catch fast-moving swamp moths in the net. MED
• Restore the pattern using the two stone disks to move pieces horizontally and vertically. MED
• Turn the four magnets to propel the ball to the center hole. EASY
Production is a mixed bag. The graphics are beautifully realistic with a natural palette, and the animation is top quality. Characters move in a lifelike manner, making the arachnoids truly creepy. Unfortunately, this dev has the bad habit of reusing soundtracks from previous episodes. Voiceovers were mixed; Maaron's was excellent, but Susan's lacked affect, and Fiona's was too childish for her apparent age.
A larger inventory panel would have been helpful, especially since there was plenty of room for it. Excellent, interactive map transports, shows available actions, and indicates the location of collectibles. The CE bling is fairly comprehensive, although there are no replayable HOs and the soundtracks are not new.
In conclusion, Mistakes of the Past is a worthy entry in the Lost Lands series, and I not only recommend this episode, but the entire series. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you and your beloved escape a mad composer in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
44 of 65 found this review helpful
Just another cookie cutter with absolutely nothing new.
PostedJuly 26, 2018
LunaNik
fromWhat's with the palette?! Candles don't give off neon red light. Gas lamps aren't searing orange. Go outside and look at real life once in awhile!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Another kidnapped loved one.
Another masked antagonist.
Another alternate reality.
Loads of shaped keys.
The usual laundry list of silly tasks.
Unhidden object scenes.
Stupidly simple mini-games (yes, even in "hard" mode).
Truly ugly graphics in unnatural, overly bright colors.
Repetitive music.
Amateur voiceovers.
Badly-designed user interface.
Easy-to-find collectibles.
Another masked antagonist.
Another alternate reality.
Loads of shaped keys.
The usual laundry list of silly tasks.
Unhidden object scenes.
Stupidly simple mini-games (yes, even in "hard" mode).
Truly ugly graphics in unnatural, overly bright colors.
Repetitive music.
Amateur voiceovers.
Badly-designed user interface.
Easy-to-find collectibles.
Not the worst game ever, but not worth spending money on, unless you like to run around performing the exact same tasks that are in every game, completing easy uHO scenes and wicked simple mini-games, all whilst listening to repetitive music and amateur voiceovers, and burning out your retinae viewing the nuclear palette.
I don't recommend this game.
Your grandfather disappeared while searching for Inuits' legendary treasure. Travel to the Arctic to find your missing grandfather and solve the Inuit mystery.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
How did I miss this gem? It's an SE but has collectibles.
PostedJuly 24, 2018
LunaNik
fromChecking out older games. You know, when HOPAs were still good.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
We're on a quest to discover the fate of our grandfather, who disappeared on his last expedition to the Arctic in search for the legendary treasure of the Inuit peoples. Unfortunately, forces are working against us, including both people and supernatural creatures.
This game is chock full of things to do, including exploring our surroundings, helping (or repelling) people, fixing parts of the ship, finding the missing pages of our grandfather's journal, solving puzzles, and searching HO scenes.
The HO scenes are quite good, especially since the objects are actually hidden, something we rarely see in 2018. The puzzles vary from relatively easy to truly challenging. Also, there are collectibles! Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for beyond objects, ancient relics, coins, and more. The coins can be spent at the igloo.
The graphics and animation are excellent, realistic in style and with a natural palette. The textures are lovely. And there's a bonus…live actors! I much prefer them over drawn characters. The music accents the gameplay, and voiceovers are decent.
Overall, I found this game incredibly immersive. I was drawn into the storyline immediately, and the gameplay was fun. Recommended!
I recommend this game!
This original adventure game explores a love story between two beautiful souls through ingenious humor and a bizarre, hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation style.
Overall rating
5
/
5
66 of 70 found this review helpful
Definitely the weirdest game I've ever played!
PostedJuly 24, 2018
LunaNik
fromTuesday's gone with the wind.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Karma is strictly an adventure game. That generally means you don't get a lot of instruction. However, I found the in-game tutorial helpful enough to get me on my way. After that, it was up to me to figure out what to do. I get that a lot of gamers don't like to be left alone to figure things out, but I do.
You begin as an amorphous blob in love with another blob, but your love is eaten by a dark and terrible creature. When you complain to your creator, it sends you down to a planet to be reborn and evolve to the point where you can rescue your sweetie. And this begins your journey through a surreal environment populated with odd creatures. Some will help you, while others will hinder you.
CONTROLS
• Click on the ground at the point you wish to move to.
• Click on things in the environment to interact with them. The game will note which items and creatures are interactive by displaying thought bubbles. Often, the bubbles tell you what is required; generally it'll show you a mouse action, an inventory item, or an animation of the problem you need to solve.
• Roll the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
• Click and drag on the background to view areas that are off-screen.
• Keep an eye on the bottom right corner of the screen, which will change from a revolving hourglass during animations to a lightbulb during gameplay. If the lightbulb lights up, click it to get a hint.
• The inventory drops down when you mouse over the top of the screen. You don't take things from it; instead, the game will offer you places to put your items as appropriate.
• At one point, a vortex will appear in the bottom left corner of the screen. When you click on it, it changes the environment around you to brilliant color, often allowing you to see something that needs to be done.
• Click on the ground at the point you wish to move to.
• Click on things in the environment to interact with them. The game will note which items and creatures are interactive by displaying thought bubbles. Often, the bubbles tell you what is required; generally it'll show you a mouse action, an inventory item, or an animation of the problem you need to solve.
• Roll the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
• Click and drag on the background to view areas that are off-screen.
• Keep an eye on the bottom right corner of the screen, which will change from a revolving hourglass during animations to a lightbulb during gameplay. If the lightbulb lights up, click it to get a hint.
• The inventory drops down when you mouse over the top of the screen. You don't take things from it; instead, the game will offer you places to put your items as appropriate.
• At one point, a vortex will appear in the bottom left corner of the screen. When you click on it, it changes the environment around you to brilliant color, often allowing you to see something that needs to be done.
Karma is not an easy game overall. It has moments where the solution is obvious, and others where the answer is more complex. If you pay attention to your surroundings and the contents of the thought bubbles, you shouldn't have any problem figuring out what to do.
I recommend this game for those who love adventure games, those willing to challenge their problem-solving and strategizing skills, and those looking for something completely different from the daily boredom of cookie cutter HOPAs.
I recommend this game!
The peace in the White Kingdom is marred by the appearance of the mysterious Black Knight who has stolen your only son! Can you save him in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 8 found this review helpful
5-star game for kids, but too easy for adults.
PostedJuly 20, 2018
LunaNik
fromFriday…I'm in love.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is an adorable game for kids, but it's much too easy for adults. The HO scenes are interactive lists, and the mini-games seem to be geared toward children, given that the repeating puzzle to activate the magic scrolls is a simple connect-the-dots.
The production is quite Disneyesque. While the graphics aren't photorealistic, scenery, characters, and objects are well-drawn and recognizable. Voiceovers are excellent, except the child, who was clearly voiced by an adult. The music is perfect for a light fantasy like this.
The storyline is a classic good versus evil fairy tale. I recommend this game for kids, beginners to the genre, and those looking for a lighthearted, relaxing game.
The killer from an unsolved case returns for more blood!
Overall rating
1
/
5
46 of 52 found this review helpful
I hunger for an immersive, challenging game without shaped keys.
PostedJuly 20, 2018
LunaNik
fromElephant should change their name to Shaped Keys Games. That's literally all this game is...over and over again.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I only wasted 11 minutes on this cookie cutter, because there were 6 shaped keys in the first scene and 12 in the second. So, if this game is 3 hours long, that means there are 295 shaped keys to find and use. No thanks. I'd give this zero stars if I could.
I played 2 HO scenes: a full-screen words in the narrative and a zoom box find 6 of the same. No objects were hidden. The one mini-game I encountered was the usual…swap tokens to their rightful places. The laundry list began with a rusty typewriter carriage and a missing drawer pull. Nope. This isn't gameplay for adults.
Frankly, if I were Anna Gray, I'd take an extended ocean cruise and let the Gray family blunder to their deaths without me. Further, I'd take Richard's skull with me, fill it with cement, and drop it in the Marianas Trench.
Lastly, this is not CE-worthy; the only extra gameplay is the bonus chapter. I wish I knew what was going on with these devs, because none of them seems capable of writing a quality game like they used to do.
I don't recommend this game.
Make your way by clearing tiles as you jump your way to victory in this beautiful and unique puzzle game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
15 of 15 found this review helpful
Lovely puzzle game requiring strategizing.
PostedJuly 18, 2018
LunaNik
fromA 5-star game! First time I've awarded a perfect rating in 8 months!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Now this is how a puzzle game should be designed! While the concept seems simple—eliminate all tiles from the board—the execution is rather brilliant. Basically, you begin with the active tile, the one with the white dot. You may move to diagonally adjacent pieces one or two spaces away. Sounds easy, right? It's not.
Gameplay gradually increases in difficulty, both by presenting more complex patterns and by adding new tiles with special properties. For example:
• The black tiles are standard; visit them once to clear them.
• The tall, orange tiles are walls you cannot jump over.
• The white tiles remain on the board, so you may visit them multiple times.
• The grey tiles must be visited twice before they're cleared.
• The magenta tiles are inactive until all tiles around them have been cleared.
Basically, you must strategize to discover the correct pattern to move around each board. The game will notify you if you've maneuvered yourself into a dead end.
• The black tiles are standard; visit them once to clear them.
• The tall, orange tiles are walls you cannot jump over.
• The white tiles remain on the board, so you may visit them multiple times.
• The grey tiles must be visited twice before they're cleared.
• The magenta tiles are inactive until all tiles around them have been cleared.
Basically, you must strategize to discover the correct pattern to move around each board. The game will notify you if you've maneuvered yourself into a dead end.
Wisely, this dev avoided overlaying the gameplay with an unnecessary, silly storyline. The graphics are simple, but modern. And the music is not intrusive or annoying, but relaxing. Lastly, the options to customize your game are excellent.
• Having trouble discerning the spacing of the tiles? (This was an issue for me in the first edition.) There's an option to overlay a grid.
• Are you color blind? No worries, because there's an option to add unique symbols to each color so they're easily distinguishable from one another.
• Don't want music or sound? You can control the volumes of both elements separately.
• Having trouble discerning the spacing of the tiles? (This was an issue for me in the first edition.) There's an option to overlay a grid.
• Are you color blind? No worries, because there's an option to add unique symbols to each color so they're easily distinguishable from one another.
• Don't want music or sound? You can control the volumes of both elements separately.
CONCLUSION ★★★★★
If you like games that challenge you to think your way to the solution, this one's for you!
If you like games that challenge you to think your way to the solution, this one's for you!
I recommend this game!
Can you solve the mystery of the murderous dolls?
Overall rating
2
/
5
28 of 37 found this review helpful
Didn't we just leave this party?
PostedJuly 15, 2018
LunaNik
fromLoading...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
STORYLINE ★
The offices of Fear for Sale magazine have been invaded by dolls which escaped from Friday's PuppetShow game. These dolls run around the office giggling and stabbing people, who drop dead almost immediately. We discover early on that they're being controlled by someone, and the attack began subsequent to the magazine winning an award. Seems like another contrived, overly complicated revenge plot.
The offices of Fear for Sale magazine have been invaded by dolls which escaped from Friday's PuppetShow game. These dolls run around the office giggling and stabbing people, who drop dead almost immediately. We discover early on that they're being controlled by someone, and the attack began subsequent to the magazine winning an award. Seems like another contrived, overly complicated revenge plot.
EXPLORATION ★
Go back and forth checking off the usual laundry list of tasks: cleaning inexplicably dirty items, picking up broken glass with a handy glove, repairing sparking wires with tape, etc. Unfortunately, there were numerous departures from rationality. Cellophane tape isn't the best way to insulate electrical wires. And a slotted screwdriver isn't the best way to unscrew Phillips screws. There's no excuse for this nonsense; Elefun could have just as easily drawn electrical tape and a Phillips screwdriver. It's hard to stay immersed in a game when it's not logical.
Go back and forth checking off the usual laundry list of tasks: cleaning inexplicably dirty items, picking up broken glass with a handy glove, repairing sparking wires with tape, etc. Unfortunately, there were numerous departures from rationality. Cellophane tape isn't the best way to insulate electrical wires. And a slotted screwdriver isn't the best way to unscrew Phillips screws. There's no excuse for this nonsense; Elefun could have just as easily drawn electrical tape and a Phillips screwdriver. It's hard to stay immersed in a game when it's not logical.
HO SCENES ★★★
The first HO scene wasn't bad, even though it was easy. Begin by finding the missing letters (which are in plain view). Then, rearrange them to form a sentence. Finally, find words in the narrative. The second was a zoom box find-and-replace; the 4 items were not hidden. Next came a minimally interactive list, following by copying a safe combination. Last, several pages of a journal with pieces to restore to the image. The design wasn't bad, but items weren't hidden…and that's the whole point of a HO scene.
The first HO scene wasn't bad, even though it was easy. Begin by finding the missing letters (which are in plain view). Then, rearrange them to form a sentence. Finally, find words in the narrative. The second was a zoom box find-and-replace; the 4 items were not hidden. Next came a minimally interactive list, following by copying a safe combination. Last, several pages of a journal with pieces to restore to the image. The design wasn't bad, but items weren't hidden…and that's the whole point of a HO scene.
MINI-GAMES ★★
Most were much too easy, and one had terrible instructions. Click the circles when they meet. Match 3 bricks that share 3 out of 5 symbols (2 levels). Click on 3 pieces of evidence of the attack. Copy the clue to correctly place the fuses, then connect them in a continuous line that cannot overlap, yet several of the fuses required more than 1 connection (awful directions).
Most were much too easy, and one had terrible instructions. Click the circles when they meet. Match 3 bricks that share 3 out of 5 symbols (2 levels). Click on 3 pieces of evidence of the attack. Copy the clue to correctly place the fuses, then connect them in a continuous line that cannot overlap, yet several of the fuses required more than 1 connection (awful directions).
FUN FACTOR ★
Honestly, I was bored with the same old, same old.
Honestly, I was bored with the same old, same old.
CHALLENGE ★
There was no need to figure anything out, since we've seen this gameplay a zillion times, so we know exactly what to do.
There was no need to figure anything out, since we've seen this gameplay a zillion times, so we know exactly what to do.
VISUAL QUALITY ★★★★★
Photorealistic graphics were done quite well with a natural palette. Animation of human characters was lifelike, while dolls moved (appropriately) like dolls…a bit jerky.
Photorealistic graphics were done quite well with a natural palette. Animation of human characters was lifelike, while dolls moved (appropriately) like dolls…a bit jerky.
SOUND QUALITY ★★★★★
Voiceovers were professionally acted and 17 varied soundtracks meant the music wasn't repetitive.
Voiceovers were professionally acted and 17 varied soundtracks meant the music wasn't repetitive.
USER INTERFACE ★★★
The game itself took a couple minutes to load while I watched the spinning beach ball of doom. Every time I moved to another scene, there was another lengthy loading screen, which disrupted immersion. With today's hardware and software technology, plus a 1.43 GB file size, there's no excuse for a laggy game.
The game itself took a couple minutes to load while I watched the spinning beach ball of doom. Every time I moved to another scene, there was another lengthy loading screen, which disrupted immersion. With today's hardware and software technology, plus a 1.43 GB file size, there's no excuse for a laggy game.
CE BLING ★
I'm sorry to say that this game isn't remotely CE-worthy. The only extra gameplay is the bonus chapter. You can't replay either HO scenes or mini-games, so it's just not worth double the price.
I'm sorry to say that this game isn't remotely CE-worthy. The only extra gameplay is the bonus chapter. You can't replay either HO scenes or mini-games, so it's just not worth double the price.
CONCLUSION ★★
An uninteresting plot that we've seen multiple times, gameplay that was much too easy and offered nothing new, and the lack of CE bling means I can't recommend this game. The world of fiction is nearly limitless; it would be nice to see an original, creative storyline paired with challenging, innovative gameplay instead of yet another cookie cutter.
An uninteresting plot that we've seen multiple times, gameplay that was much too easy and offered nothing new, and the lack of CE bling means I can't recommend this game. The world of fiction is nearly limitless; it would be nice to see an original, creative storyline paired with challenging, innovative gameplay instead of yet another cookie cutter.
I don't recommend this game.
In 1950s Brazil, meet a cast of colorful characters and uncover a story of romance and intrigue set in the historic Tiradentes.
Overall rating
3
/
5
27 of 36 found this review helpful
Old school, but some redeeming features.
PostedJuly 9, 2018
LunaNik
fromSummer colds are the WORST!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Brazilian Adventure reads like an old school HOG. While the HO scenes are all straight lists, they are well-designed and not completed quickly. Exploration consists of looking for inventory items to overcome obstacles to your goal.
The storyline seems a bit confused. The opening cutscene involves an oligarch escaping the Russian Revolution for a new life in Brazil. Then, suddenly, we're in the 1950s, fixing our broken airplane MacGyver-style because our passenger refused to pay. Meanwhile, a KGB agent wanted by Interpol demands we fly him to his destination. Combine all that with the game description, which adds in tragic lovers, a rightful heiress, and a scheming villain, and it's hard to tell where this plot is going.
The graphics seem a touch outdated, but the scenes do evoke a retro flavor. The music is oddly lighthearted, and the voiceovers have over-the-top accents. Character animation is nonexistent; each character maintains an unnatural body position. For example, the spy's moll is clearly trying to be seductive, but she appears to have several broken ribs immobilizing her. It's a bit odd.
While this is a SE, there are four categories of collectibles…a nice bonus. And there is an interactive map that transports. Honestly, I don't know what to make of this game, so I suggest you try the demo for yourself. I'll wait for "completed game" reviews before making up my mind.