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:
A mysterious plague casts a dark shadow on the people of Persia. The young apothecary Tara must discover the cause of the illness before it's too late!
Overall rating
4
/
5
18 of 21 found this review helpful
Enchanting rainy day game with beautiful story development.
PostedMay 21, 2018
LunaNik
fromEnjoying this magical mystery tour.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
POV of my reviews: Gamer since 1980. Currently own 656 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
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Tara, a young but skilled apothecary, is on a quest to rid Persia of a mysterious plague. On the way, she discovers that the Grand Vizier (of course) is hatching an evil plot to free the Shadow Lord. Tara must band together with Darius, swordsman extraordinaire, and Minu, a junior genie. Beautifully immersive storyline!
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Tara, a young but skilled apothecary, is on a quest to rid Persia of a mysterious plague. On the way, she discovers that the Grand Vizier (of course) is hatching an evil plot to free the Shadow Lord. Tara must band together with Darius, swordsman extraordinaire, and Minu, a junior genie. Beautifully immersive storyline!
The production is just lovely. The realistic palette contrasts nicely with the bright magenta of the plague. Characters are drawn well and their personalities are developed sufficiently for them to be relatable. Close up, objects are ornately detailed and textured. Music, environmental sounds, and voiceovers are all excellent.
Gameplay is not overly challenging, but the HO scenes are not only more beautiful than those we've seen lately, but a bit more challenging. There are lots of short puzzles; none are difficult, but the unique presentation and sense of involvement in the story make up for that, IMO.
Periodically, Tara will resort to her apothecary bag, which includes a recipe book and all the accoutrements for making potions with the ingredients she finds along the way. Yes, it's a gadget, but it's not remotely gratuitous and not used frequently.
The map is interactive and transports, and there's a tasks list to keep you on track. The inventory panel is wide and I never had to page through a billion mysterious items with complex names.
I recommend this game for everyone from elementary school to retirement, for gamers from beginner to expert (because it makes a great rainy day game), and for those looking to learn a bit about Persian mythology. Man, it's enjoyable to write a positive review for a change!
I recommend this game!
Just beyond human sight lies an ancient city of magicians, giants, and dwarves. Now you must solve a murder mystery that threatens to destroy it.
Overall rating
2
/
5
40 of 54 found this review helpful
Another cookie cutter, made even worse by a million banners, cutscenes, and slow conversations.
PostedApril 28, 2018
LunaNik
fromI challenge all devs to throw away their cookie cutter playbooks and develop a unique story integrated with challenging gameplay. Good luck…you'll need it.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
POV of my reviews: Gamer since 1980. Currently own 643 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
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NOTE
If you have a slow internet connection or an older computer, you'll be waiting forever for this game to download. Mine took 11 minutes at 229 Mbps. The file size is over 2 Gb.
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NOTE
If you have a slow internet connection or an older computer, you'll be waiting forever for this game to download. Mine took 11 minutes at 229 Mbps. The file size is over 2 Gb.
IMMERSIVE STORYLINE?
No idea. It didn't develop much in the time I played, and was slowed down by an infinite number of ridiculous tasks. The detective I played was, once again, woefully unprepared to take on a serial murder case. I showed up at the crime scene empty-handed…and immediately needed a knife, a screwdriver, money, a source of fire, a wrench, and so on. Frankly, I wonder why people keep hiring me.
No idea. It didn't develop much in the time I played, and was slowed down by an infinite number of ridiculous tasks. The detective I played was, once again, woefully unprepared to take on a serial murder case. I showed up at the crime scene empty-handed…and immediately needed a knife, a screwdriver, money, a source of fire, a wrench, and so on. Frankly, I wonder why people keep hiring me.
INNOVATIVE EXPLORATION?
No. The usual laundry list of ridiculous tasks came at me at light speed.
No. The usual laundry list of ridiculous tasks came at me at light speed.
ACTUALLY HIDDEN OBJECTS?
No. I played two scenes, and all objects were in clear view. One was a "words in the narrative" and the other was a zoom box with silhouettes.
No. I played two scenes, and all objects were in clear view. One was a "words in the narrative" and the other was a zoom box with silhouettes.
CHALLENGING PUZZLES?
No. They were either too easy or just annoying. Rotate two outlines to match their pictures, and moving one affects the other. This isn't challenging; it's just irritating. Three levels of "find the symbol fragments." *yawn*
No. They were either too easy or just annoying. Rotate two outlines to match their pictures, and moving one affects the other. This isn't challenging; it's just irritating. Three levels of "find the symbol fragments." *yawn*
TOP NOTCH PRODUCTION?
Given the file size, I expected perfection. And some aspects were perfect, but others were truly awful. The NPCs were drawn exceptionally well. Up close, you could discern individual hairs, wrinkles, and pores. Really well done. Still graphics were quite good as well.
Given the file size, I expected perfection. And some aspects were perfect, but others were truly awful. The NPCs were drawn exceptionally well. Up close, you could discern individual hairs, wrinkles, and pores. Really well done. Still graphics were quite good as well.
Now the awful: The in-game animation was consistently blurry and pixellated to the point where it was a waste of time, since what was animated quickly became unrecognizable. The regular cutscenes were crisp and clear, so I don't understand why in-game animation was so low quality.
Voiceovers were excellent. Music was neither memorable nor torturous. As usual, the palette was unnaturally bright as if the entire game had been doused in nuclear waste. Don't get me wrong; I like bright colors…when they're where they belong.
USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACE?
Rather crowded with unnecessary links, I thought. I prefer a clean interface with a widescreen inventory, and only what's actually necessary. The map, while lovely, seemed to focus more on being lovely than being functional. I prefer to see how the areas are connected so I have context for my location.
Rather crowded with unnecessary links, I thought. I prefer a clean interface with a widescreen inventory, and only what's actually necessary. The map, while lovely, seemed to focus more on being lovely than being functional. I prefer to see how the areas are connected so I have context for my location.
There were banners for everything, which I absolutely hate. When I'm playing a game in hard mode, I don't want to be told I just accomplished a goal when it's blatantly obvious. I don't want to be told what my next goal is…let me find out for myself! And I certainly don't need to be told I picked up an item when I literally just watched it swoosh into my inventory.
I had to click twice to continue every conversation, which was intolerable. The first click sped up the pathetically slow typing from one letter at a time to all at once. The second click actually moved forward to the next bit. Why? I'm guessing to artificially extend the length of the game.
CE-WORTHY?
Surprisingly, yes. Although I wish this much effort was put into the actual game.
Gameplay: bonus chapter, 18 HOs, 19 mini-games
Collectibles: artifacts (all different), newspapers, evidence (all different), crystals (to "upgrade your boudoir" *rolls eyes*)
Portfolio: 16 wallpapers, 9 concept art, 28 cutscenes (that explains the file size), 5 soundtracks
Other: strategy guide, performance achievements
Surprisingly, yes. Although I wish this much effort was put into the actual game.
Gameplay: bonus chapter, 18 HOs, 19 mini-games
Collectibles: artifacts (all different), newspapers, evidence (all different), crystals (to "upgrade your boudoir" *rolls eyes*)
Portfolio: 16 wallpapers, 9 concept art, 28 cutscenes (that explains the file size), 5 soundtracks
Other: strategy guide, performance achievements
BOTTOM LINE?
Cookie cutter, for the most part. I'll pass. Give the demo a try; it might be your cup of tea even if it isn't mine. But if you're tired of the same gameplay in every game, this one will disappoint you.
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WAY BETTER GAMES WITH "ALTERNATE UNIVERSE" THEMES
Series: Botanica, Green Moon, Invasion, Lost Lands, Lost Souls, Margrave, Nevertales, Nightmare Adventures, Nightmare Realm, Secrets of the Dark
Cookie cutter, for the most part. I'll pass. Give the demo a try; it might be your cup of tea even if it isn't mine. But if you're tired of the same gameplay in every game, this one will disappoint you.
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WAY BETTER GAMES WITH "ALTERNATE UNIVERSE" THEMES
Series: Botanica, Green Moon, Invasion, Lost Lands, Lost Souls, Margrave, Nevertales, Nightmare Adventures, Nightmare Realm, Secrets of the Dark
Partial Series: Amaranthine Voyage (The Living Mountain, The Shadow of Torment, Winter Neverending), Redemption Cemetery (Salvation of the Lost, Clock of Fate), Surface (Mystery of Another World, The Noise She Couldn't Make, The Soaring City, The Pantheon)
Single Games: Bridge to Another World: Alice in Shadowland, Calavera: Day of the Dead, Dangerous Games: Prisoners of Destiny, Dreamscapes: The Sandman, Kuros, Living Legends: Uninvited Guests, Mystery of Mortlake Mansion, Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher's Stone, Nearwood, Portal of Evil: Stolen Runes, Subliminal Realms: Masterpiece, The Silent Age, The Others
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop a strange disease from another world?
Overall rating
2
/
5
31 of 44 found this review helpful
Everything is broken or missing necessary parts.
PostedApril 27, 2018
LunaNik
fromIs this all we can expect from HOPA devs? Childish jigsaw puzzles and matching pairs? Shaped keys? *sigh* We all know they can do MUCH better.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
POV of my reviews: Gamer since 1980. Currently own 643 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
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Gameplay can best be summed up by my character repeatedly saying, "Perhaps it'll work if I find the missing part." After 25 minutes, I was ready to call a handyman and go home.
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Gameplay can best be summed up by my character repeatedly saying, "Perhaps it'll work if I find the missing part." After 25 minutes, I was ready to call a handyman and go home.
If Michael expected me to research and formulate a cure, why did he break both the lenses AND the focusing knob on the microscope? Why was everything I needed locked up behind silly puzzles or shaped keys? Why on earth am I collecting love letters? Differently shaped and colored microbes would have fit the theme better.
While the first HO scene was actually creative, the rest were basic interactive lists. The puzzles I encountered included a jigsaw puzzle and matching pairs…no thanks.
Sure, the graphics and music were top notch. However, this is a GAME, not an animated video. How about some gameplay for thinking adults instead of the usual running back and forth to complete ridiculous tasks? I really don't feel compelled to spend a ton of time on a review when every game is the same simplistic disaster. When devs start putting in some effort, so will I.
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WAY BETTER GAMES BY THIS DEV
Reflections of Life: Equilibrium, Dark Architect
Whispered Secrets: Everburning Candle
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WAY BETTER GAMES BY THIS DEV
Reflections of Life: Equilibrium, Dark Architect
Whispered Secrets: Everburning Candle
I don't recommend this game.
Save the town of Blackhill from an army of shadows!
Overall rating
1
/
5
51 of 59 found this review helpful
1½ stars…Oh, goodie. Monsters made of black fog with glowing red eyes. Again.
PostedApril 22, 2018
LunaNik
fromUnless you like playing the exact same game repeatedly, it's impossible to fill in your punch card. I can't even remember the last time I found six games worthy of purchasing within one month, but I'm pretty sure it's been years.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
POV of my reviews: Gamer since 1980. Currently own 643 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
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I'm not sure I can adequately convey my feelings when I see "another thrilling supernatural mystery" and "army of shadow monsters" in the blurb. If you combined heart-wrenching disappointment, eye-rolling contempt, and yearning nostalgia for the long gone Years of Amazing HOPAs, you'd come pretty close.
——————————
I'm not sure I can adequately convey my feelings when I see "another thrilling supernatural mystery" and "army of shadow monsters" in the blurb. If you combined heart-wrenching disappointment, eye-rolling contempt, and yearning nostalgia for the long gone Years of Amazing HOPAs, you'd come pretty close.
I know I'm in for yet another "game" with an irrational and silly storyline, toddler-level gameplay, and hundreds of shaped keys. This latest offering from Elephant fulfilled my expectations in the first 30 minutes. Basically, if you've played an Elephant game any time during the past five years, you've already played this one. The entire laundry list of ridiculous tasks is thrown at you, one after the other.
In 30 minutes, I used a magnet to retrieve an object from a sewer, picked the lock on my own bike basket with a cast-off wire, repaired a broken zipper pull using a conveniently placed safety pin, found the missing drawer pull, fixed a broken light switch with electrical tape, brushed away icky cobwebs, used Elf to scare a spider, and had to find 17 shaped keys in the first four scenes. Does Elephant put any thought into this anymore? Or do they just plug in the same subroutines for every game?
I also played four unhidden object scenes in various presentations. The food cart was the final straw, as the objects on the list were not hidden by any definition of the word; they were huge and right at the front of the scene. Do any devs understand the meaning of "hidden?"
I also played four mini-games, all easy and all retreads from previous games. Three levels of "all lights on" to copy the pattern. A jigsaw puzzle where the pieces are mounted on spokes that rotate. An electric box version of pipes. And dragging concentric disks around to reveal all hidden dots.
Lastly, there's insufficient bonus gameplay to qualify this as a CE. You'll be paying double for a bonus chapter and a secret room, plus a few jigsaw puzzles. No replayable HOs or mini-games. The portfolio contains only 8 wallpapers, 8 concept art, and 4 monotonous soundtracks you'll never listen to again. Collect easy-to-find pictures of elf, puzzle pieces, and morphing objects.
My recommendation is that you read the reviews; don't rely on the stars alone. You work hard for your money, so make these lazy devs earn it. Don't reward them for copying their own work.
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WAY BETTER GAMES BY THIS DEV
From this series: The Void (2010), Raincliff (2011), Black Isle (2012), Four Aces (2012)
From the Surface series: Mystery of Another World (2012), The Noise She Couldn't Make (2012), The Soaring City (2013), The Pantheon (2013)
From the Royal Detective series: The Lord of Statues (2012), Queen of Shadows (2014)
Others: Chimeras: Tune of Revenge (2013), Unfinished Tales: Illicit Love (2012)
——————————
WAY BETTER GAMES BY THIS DEV
From this series: The Void (2010), Raincliff (2011), Black Isle (2012), Four Aces (2012)
From the Surface series: Mystery of Another World (2012), The Noise She Couldn't Make (2012), The Soaring City (2013), The Pantheon (2013)
From the Royal Detective series: The Lord of Statues (2012), Queen of Shadows (2014)
Others: Chimeras: Tune of Revenge (2013), Unfinished Tales: Illicit Love (2012)
WAY BETTER GAMES WITH SHADOW CREATURES
Bridge to Another World: Alice in Shadowland (2016), Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden (2013), Sable Maze: Nightmare Shadows (2017), Amaranthine Voyage: The Shadow of Torment (2014), Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow (2017), Nightmare Realm series (2011-2013), Mystery of the Ancients: Black Dagger (2018), Enigma Agency: The Case of Shadows (2013), Mystery of Mortlake Mansion (2010)
Bridge to Another World: Alice in Shadowland (2016), Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden (2013), Sable Maze: Nightmare Shadows (2017), Amaranthine Voyage: The Shadow of Torment (2014), Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow (2017), Nightmare Realm series (2011-2013), Mystery of the Ancients: Black Dagger (2018), Enigma Agency: The Case of Shadows (2013), Mystery of Mortlake Mansion (2010)
I don't recommend this game.
Survive a dangerous game of luck to uncover your past!
Overall rating
1
/
5
52 of 72 found this review helpful
1½ stars…easy and silly.
PostedApril 21, 2018
LunaNik
fromBack in the day, BFG Studios released a maximum of 4 games per YEAR. Today's devs are churning out 2-4 games a MONTH. Therein lies the problem. Innovation and creativity can't be rushed.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
POV of my reviews: Gamer since 1980. Currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
——————————
I don't get how an inane, irrational storyline and repetitive, easy gameplay translate into five stars. While this game lacks a princess, ghosts, and demons, it's as much a cookie cutter game as most that have been released in the last six years.
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I don't get how an inane, irrational storyline and repetitive, easy gameplay translate into five stars. While this game lacks a princess, ghosts, and demons, it's as much a cookie cutter game as most that have been released in the last six years.
It includes both a gimmicky gadget AND an animal helper (a seemingly immortal Corgi), throwaway elements that take the place of actual gameplay. Mousing over the screen is not gaming. Clicking on a dog, then watching it do the work is not gaming. Ravenhearst's super puzzles are gaming. And if Ravenhearst earns five stars, this game rates in the negative numbers as far as innovation, creativity, challenge, and fun.
There's nothing new here, only the same pro forma HO scenes and easy puzzles we've seen a million times from nearly every dev. "Find" objects in plain sight. Replace items in their blatantly obvious outlines. Assemble a five-piece statue. Match-3 to clear the board. Those annoying "moving one affects others" puzzles. I'm sure there will be more jigsaw puzzles, matching pairs, Simon Says, and other childish puzzles that require not even a modicum of brainpower to complete.
The graphics are ok, but inconsistent. And the music is reused from previous episodes. The challenge level is zero and the storyline is shallow and silly. An immortal Corgi? A poker chip imbued with magical powers? A secret gambling tournament for an unknown, but clearly supernatural purpose?
What happened to the brilliant, multi-layered plots like the Margrave, Nightmare Realm, and Surface series? Where's the challenging gameplay like the Nightmare Adventures, Secrets of the Dark, and early MCF series? I miss the days when there was a constant flow of amazing games, and I was able to fill up more than one punch card a month. As of now, I haven't filled even one up in the past few years. Devs need to step up their creativity instead of churning out two dozen games a year that are exactly alike.
WAY BETTER GAMES WITH GAMING STORYLINES
Azada (2007), Azada: Ancient Magic (2008), Dangerous Games: Prisoners of Destiny (2014), Reality Show: Fatal Shot (2013), Rooms: The Main Building (2015), Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle (2016), Nancy Drew: The Shattered Medallion (2014), Rite of Passage: Deck of Fates (2016), Eden's Quest: The Hunt for Akua (2010)
Azada (2007), Azada: Ancient Magic (2008), Dangerous Games: Prisoners of Destiny (2014), Reality Show: Fatal Shot (2013), Rooms: The Main Building (2015), Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle (2016), Nancy Drew: The Shattered Medallion (2014), Rite of Passage: Deck of Fates (2016), Eden's Quest: The Hunt for Akua (2010)
I don't recommend this game.
Step into the shoes of Emily Patterson, follow the trail of the captor and thwart his evil plans.
Overall rating
4
/
5
19 of 27 found this review helpful
Engaging storyline, fun gameplay.
PostedApril 17, 2018
LunaNik
from...at a masquerade ball with the Goblin King.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
POV of my reviews: Gamer since 1980. Currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
——————————
While the blurb makes it appear as if this game is yet another "kidnapped relative in mortal danger" plot, it's actually much more complex than that. Emily Patterson's father is one of the eminent scientists kidnapped from the Exposition Universelle. When the police commissioner orders the case closed, Emily begins her own investigation, and quickly learns there's a lot about her father she never knew. And that the perpetrator must be stopped at any cost.
——————————
While the blurb makes it appear as if this game is yet another "kidnapped relative in mortal danger" plot, it's actually much more complex than that. Emily Patterson's father is one of the eminent scientists kidnapped from the Exposition Universelle. When the police commissioner orders the case closed, Emily begins her own investigation, and quickly learns there's a lot about her father she never knew. And that the perpetrator must be stopped at any cost.
I do think that the multitude of tasks in each area contradicted the sense of urgency the plot demanded. Also, some artistic license was taken, although the anachronisms weren't as blatant as some we've seen. For example, the expo took place in 1889; both Ferdinand Porsche and Coco Chanel were children, not adults well into their lifelong careers. However, I didn't find it objectionable because it was done deliberately for the sake of the storyline.
Exploration was fairly intuitive and lacked most of the predictable tasks so prevalent in today's cookie cutter games. Also, shaped keys were rare, I'm happy to say. Many of the activities involved interacting with and fixing machinery, which I found enjoyable.
HO scenes ranged from fairly easy to somewhat challenging, and the interactions were thoughtful. Presentations included interactive list, silhouette list, and find-and-use.
Puzzles were few and far between, and ranged from easy stuff (sliding chips into place) to more challenging tasks (arranging invention cards in the order they were invented) to difficult ones that took some time (moving tokens to their proper places by rotating interlocking rings).
Production was quite good. Backgrounds and objects were beautifully rendered and the palette was subdued and realistic. There was a lot of attention to detail regarding textures, light, and shadow. The characters were more painterly than the scenes. I liked the music, but felt that Emily's voice could have exhibited more appropriate affect, especially since she talked a lot.
Personally, I don't find it CE-worthy, since the only extra gameplay consists of the bonus chapter, 8 HO scenes, and 8 puzzles. Collectibles are 30 atomic symbols, but there was nothing in the extras menu hinting that you receive anything special if you find them all. Lastly, the portfolio was rather sparse.
I'm going to wait for the SE, but I do recommend this game. Other enjoyable games by this dev include Graven: The Purple Moon Prophecy (2017), Royal Trouble (series), and Spirit Walkers: Curse of the Cypress Witch (2013).
I recommend this game!
Clear hexagonal tiles in this exciting puzzler. Featuring over 80 levels and 12 unique tiles, can you clear them all?
Overall rating
4
/
5
34 of 37 found this review helpful
Challenging puzzle game with (for me) a couple of issues.
PostedApril 16, 2018
LunaNik
fromWaiting out the heavy rain.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I've been a gamer since 1980, and currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
——————————
The goal is to clear the tiles from the board by clicking on them in sequence without backing yourself into a corner, so to speak. It's similar to both peg solitaire and fill the grid, but with different game mechanics. Obviously, the levels become progressively more difficult.
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The goal is to clear the tiles from the board by clicking on them in sequence without backing yourself into a corner, so to speak. It's similar to both peg solitaire and fill the grid, but with different game mechanics. Obviously, the levels become progressively more difficult.
Overall, it's a well-designed game with spectacular production, but I think a couple of changes would make it more appealing to a wider variety of gamers.
1. A brief tutorial showing which moves are valid and which aren't would have been fantastic. It didn't make sense that I could move diagonally, but not horizontally or vertically when the space between the tiles appeared to be the same. Which leads me to…
2. I found it difficult to discern exactly how much space was between tiles, leading me to assume certain tiles would be available when I reached them. If the spaces were identified, perhaps with a small circle for each space, it would have helped.
I only reduced my rating one star because of these issues, because I do think it's a thoughtfully designed game for the most part. So, I recommend you try the demo, since you may not have the same difficulties.
Unlock the secrets of the moor to save your niece from the banshee!
Overall rating
3
/
5
35 of 50 found this review helpful
Beautifully warped nightmare creatures. Fantastic soundtrack. Decent HOs, but easy puzzles.
PostedApril 14, 2018
LunaNik
fromWell, it WAS spring for a minute there. Brrrr.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
About my reviews: I've been a gamer since 1980, and currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
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IMMERSIVE STORYLINE?
Yes and no. On the one hand, there was the predictable vehicle crash and kidnapped relative needing rescuing. OTOH, I suspect there's an intriguing backstory to be revealed involving the bean sidhe, the MacConnell family, and Nora in particular, and I'm curious to discover it. I thought there was a good balance between relatively calm scenes and edge-of-your-seat scenes with jump scares.
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IMMERSIVE STORYLINE?
Yes and no. On the one hand, there was the predictable vehicle crash and kidnapped relative needing rescuing. OTOH, I suspect there's an intriguing backstory to be revealed involving the bean sidhe, the MacConnell family, and Nora in particular, and I'm curious to discover it. I thought there was a good balance between relatively calm scenes and edge-of-your-seat scenes with jump scares.
INNOVATIVE EXPLORATION?
Mostly not, since it included many of the typical laundry list tasks and too many shaped keys. On the plus side, there was a considerable amount of humor on the part of Sunward. The pouch inside Walter's bag had a broken zipper pull…with a safety pin already attached. And I scolded myself for dropping the lighter after using it once. I'm curious as to how many other jokes about cookie cutter gameplay were slipped in.
Mostly not, since it included many of the typical laundry list tasks and too many shaped keys. On the plus side, there was a considerable amount of humor on the part of Sunward. The pouch inside Walter's bag had a broken zipper pull…with a safety pin already attached. And I scolded myself for dropping the lighter after using it once. I'm curious as to how many other jokes about cookie cutter gameplay were slipped in.
ACTUALLY HIDDEN OBJECTS?
For the most part. Some scenes were finished fairly quickly, while others were more complex and better designed. I enjoyed the interactive list in the cart, the find-three-of-each in the fish market, and both multiples in the magpie's nest. The sequential find-and-use in Nora's room was less creative, being mostly finding and slotting shaped keys, and the words in the narrative on the wrought iron gate was too easy.
For the most part. Some scenes were finished fairly quickly, while others were more complex and better designed. I enjoyed the interactive list in the cart, the find-three-of-each in the fish market, and both multiples in the magpie's nest. The sequential find-and-use in Nora's room was less creative, being mostly finding and slotting shaped keys, and the words in the narrative on the wrought iron gate was too easy.
CHALLENGING PUZZLES?
Not in the demo. They seemed to become more challenging as the game progressed, but most in the demo lacked innovation and were much too easy. (Details provided below in case you'd rather be surprised.)
Not in the demo. They seemed to become more challenging as the game progressed, but most in the demo lacked innovation and were much too easy. (Details provided below in case you'd rather be surprised.)
TOP NOTCH PRODUCTION?
Mostly. A beautifully subdued palette colored panoramic backgrounds and thoughtfully detailed objects. The nightmare creatures were creative and well-rendered, being beautifully twisted versions of everyday items. I nearly jumped out of my chair when the teddy bear appeared, and my jaw dropped in admiration at the scarecrow vignette. It was delightful to see true creativity instead of the usual amorphous black blob with glowing red eyes.
Mostly. A beautifully subdued palette colored panoramic backgrounds and thoughtfully detailed objects. The nightmare creatures were creative and well-rendered, being beautifully twisted versions of everyday items. I nearly jumped out of my chair when the teddy bear appeared, and my jaw dropped in admiration at the scarecrow vignette. It was delightful to see true creativity instead of the usual amorphous black blob with glowing red eyes.
The human characters…didn't look human. However, there may be a reason, given the storyline, so I'll suspend judgment. (I'm thinking of Phantasmat here.) Animation had both high and low points. The cutscenes of the nightmare creatures were perfect, but the in-game animation of characters and creatures wasn't believable.
The soundtrack is among the best I've ever heard. Twelve complex, richly layered, and moody compositions were integral to immersion and accented the storyline perfectly. Voiceovers were a mixed bag. Environmental sounds were excellent.
CE-WORTHY?
Not in my opinion. While there are replayable HOs and puzzles, I've no idea how many since those menus were locked. Sorry, but I refuse to pay double the price when I don't even know what I'm getting. While I did enjoy searching out the jack-o-lanterns, because I appreciate collectibles that match the game's theme, the morphing objects just faded from view then reappeared. That's not a morphing object. I'll wait for the SE and decide after that demo, which is what I recommend.
Not in my opinion. While there are replayable HOs and puzzles, I've no idea how many since those menus were locked. Sorry, but I refuse to pay double the price when I don't even know what I'm getting. While I did enjoy searching out the jack-o-lanterns, because I appreciate collectibles that match the game's theme, the morphing objects just faded from view then reappeared. That's not a morphing object. I'll wait for the SE and decide after that demo, which is what I recommend.
GAMES IN THIS SERIES (release date-my rating)
The Minotaur's Curse (2016-★★★★½), Frozen Path (2017-★★)
——————————
PUZZLE DETAILS
• Activate Amulet (repeating puzzle) - find the symbol not shown in the clue. EASY
• Translation - transcribe the phrase, using the clue, and type the runes. FILLER
• Simon Says - repeat the order of symbols. EASY
• Sleight of Hand - follow the movements and choose which cup hides the dice. EASY
• Good Knight - move the knight according to chess rules to light up all squares. EASY
• Puppet Show - click to advance the puppet show's story. FILLER
• Jigsaw - swap the triangles to restore the image. EASY
• Musician - copy the clue to play the organ. FILLER
• Hello, Sailor - copy the clue to set the compass. FILLER
• Bonecrusher - move aside the skeleton's ribs; moving one affects others. MEDIUM
• Eyeliner - move the eye to light all lines without retracing your path. MEDIUM
• Turning Circles - rotate and swap the gems to match the background. MEDIUM
The Minotaur's Curse (2016-★★★★½), Frozen Path (2017-★★)
——————————
PUZZLE DETAILS
• Activate Amulet (repeating puzzle) - find the symbol not shown in the clue. EASY
• Translation - transcribe the phrase, using the clue, and type the runes. FILLER
• Simon Says - repeat the order of symbols. EASY
• Sleight of Hand - follow the movements and choose which cup hides the dice. EASY
• Good Knight - move the knight according to chess rules to light up all squares. EASY
• Puppet Show - click to advance the puppet show's story. FILLER
• Jigsaw - swap the triangles to restore the image. EASY
• Musician - copy the clue to play the organ. FILLER
• Hello, Sailor - copy the clue to set the compass. FILLER
• Bonecrusher - move aside the skeleton's ribs; moving one affects others. MEDIUM
• Eyeliner - move the eye to light all lines without retracing your path. MEDIUM
• Turning Circles - rotate and swap the gems to match the background. MEDIUM
Delve into the Morante family’s past to stop a murderer!
Overall rating
2
/
5
59 of 112 found this review helpful
Typical storyline. Gameplay for children.
PostedApril 12, 2018
LunaNik
fromMy OS 10.6 will arrive tomorrow! I'll be traveling back in time to play much better games than any released today.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
QUICK & DIRTY OVERVIEW
• 11th episode in this series
• Scooby Doo storyline
• very few HO scenes, all "unhidden"
• tons of "click through the story" gameplay
• extremely simplistic puzzles
• nice graphics and animation
——————————
I've been a gamer since 1980, and currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
——————————
STORYLINE
Reminiscent of every Scooby Doo episode ever. An alleged ancient curse and a vengeful ghost mask the motives of a greedy heir.
• 11th episode in this series
• Scooby Doo storyline
• very few HO scenes, all "unhidden"
• tons of "click through the story" gameplay
• extremely simplistic puzzles
• nice graphics and animation
——————————
I've been a gamer since 1980, and currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
——————————
STORYLINE
Reminiscent of every Scooby Doo episode ever. An alleged ancient curse and a vengeful ghost mask the motives of a greedy heir.
GAMEPLAY
Fewer shaped keys than usual for this dev, but loads of gratuitous "click to advance the storyline" filler. This isn't gameplay. Choose the conversation, move coins from your pouch to the boatman's hand, swipe rag to clean lock, load bullets into revolver, click vines to remove, etc. None of this is remotely challenging or fun.
Fewer shaped keys than usual for this dev, but loads of gratuitous "click to advance the storyline" filler. This isn't gameplay. Choose the conversation, move coins from your pouch to the boatman's hand, swipe rag to clean lock, load bullets into revolver, click vines to remove, etc. None of this is remotely challenging or fun.
HO scenes are few and far between with only 4 in the demo.
• Find bell fragments, then assemble them (12-piece jigsaw).
• Find negative words and suffices in the police report.
• In three scenes, find the pictorial list and replace them in the scene. Plus, matching paris and randomly guess the order.
• Find the snake heads and replace them in the scene. This isn't difficult, since there are convenient outlines.
• Find bell fragments, then assemble them (12-piece jigsaw).
• Find negative words and suffices in the police report.
• In three scenes, find the pictorial list and replace them in the scene. Plus, matching paris and randomly guess the order.
• Find the snake heads and replace them in the scene. This isn't difficult, since there are convenient outlines.
There were 14 extremely easy puzzles in the demo, some multi-layered.
• 9 variations on the jigsaw, ranging from 3-12 pieces. This isn't gameplay for adults.
• 4 incidences of copying the information from the clue in your hand. Not gameplay.
• 2 mazes, one with obstacles to avoid.
• 1 matching pairs that are in plain sight. Boring.
• Move spouts to direct water from the fountain to the fire.
• Drag the red eye to the goal, using the small eyes to move obstacles.
• Select the arrow in the correct order to remove them.
• Drag thread between hooks, creating a net where all threads cross in the center.
• Select claws to remove them; one affects others. Then remove bars in the correct order.
• Swap angels and demons, using free space and jumping them over one another.
• 9 variations on the jigsaw, ranging from 3-12 pieces. This isn't gameplay for adults.
• 4 incidences of copying the information from the clue in your hand. Not gameplay.
• 2 mazes, one with obstacles to avoid.
• 1 matching pairs that are in plain sight. Boring.
• Move spouts to direct water from the fountain to the fire.
• Drag the red eye to the goal, using the small eyes to move obstacles.
• Select the arrow in the correct order to remove them.
• Drag thread between hooks, creating a net where all threads cross in the center.
• Select claws to remove them; one affects others. Then remove bars in the correct order.
• Swap angels and demons, using free space and jumping them over one another.
PRODUCTION
Lovely graphics, painterly but realistic. Well-drawn NPCs that were animated in a lifelike way, including lip synching. Crisp, smooth animation. Music neither memorable nor annoying. Decent voiceovers.
Lovely graphics, painterly but realistic. Well-drawn NPCs that were animated in a lifelike way, including lip synching. Crisp, smooth animation. Music neither memorable nor annoying. Decent voiceovers.
CE BLING
Gameplay: bonus chapter, 14 HO scenes, 14 puzzles
Collectibles: gold coins, ginormous blue tokens, morphing letters
Portfolio: 12 wallpapers, 5 screensavers, 14 concept art, 20 cutscenes, 4 soundtracks
Other: achievements, strategy guide
Since there were fourteen puzzles in the demo, I'm not impressed with the extra gameplay, since there must be at least three times that number in the whole game. Collectibles were much too easy to spot.
Gameplay: bonus chapter, 14 HO scenes, 14 puzzles
Collectibles: gold coins, ginormous blue tokens, morphing letters
Portfolio: 12 wallpapers, 5 screensavers, 14 concept art, 20 cutscenes, 4 soundtracks
Other: achievements, strategy guide
Since there were fourteen puzzles in the demo, I'm not impressed with the extra gameplay, since there must be at least three times that number in the whole game. Collectibles were much too easy to spot.
SHORT & SWEET CONCLUSION
Storyline predictable, since we've seen it a gazillion times. Gameplay so easy that children would be bored. CE bling sparse. I'll pass. Honestly, I'd rather replay a quality game from 5 years ago than any of these cookie cutter stories with their childish gameplay. This dev can do better.
Storyline predictable, since we've seen it a gazillion times. Gameplay so easy that children would be bored. CE bling sparse. I'll pass. Honestly, I'd rather replay a quality game from 5 years ago than any of these cookie cutter stories with their childish gameplay. This dev can do better.
GAMES IN THIS SERIES
Mystery of Venice (2011), Sinister Obsession (2012), The Cost of Jealousy (2013), A Wealth of Betrayal (2014), The Artist and the Pretender (2014), Hidden Sins (2015), Monster in Disguise (2016), The Red Cat (2016), A Deadly Dowry (2017), The Message (2017), Broken Sacrament (2018)
Mystery of Venice (2011), Sinister Obsession (2012), The Cost of Jealousy (2013), A Wealth of Betrayal (2014), The Artist and the Pretender (2014), Hidden Sins (2015), Monster in Disguise (2016), The Red Cat (2016), A Deadly Dowry (2017), The Message (2017), Broken Sacrament (2018)
BETTER GAMES FROM THIS DEV
Gothic Fiction: Dark Saga (2012), Haunted Halls: Green Hills Sanitarium (2010), Redemption Cemetery: Salvation of the Lost (2013) and Clock of Fate (2015), PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville (2009) and Souls of the Innovent (2010) and Return to Joyville (2012) and The Price of Immortality (2015)
Gothic Fiction: Dark Saga (2012), Haunted Halls: Green Hills Sanitarium (2010), Redemption Cemetery: Salvation of the Lost (2013) and Clock of Fate (2015), PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville (2009) and Souls of the Innovent (2010) and Return to Joyville (2012) and The Price of Immortality (2015)
I don't recommend this game.
Build and construct to your heart’s desire! Will your bridges be able to pass the stress test?
Overall rating
3
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
Needs some fine-tuning of game mechanics, a more in-depth tutorial, and more detailed information about the game elements.
PostedApril 12, 2018
LunaNik
fromWhen the little bluebird, who has never said a word, starts to sing: "Spring!"
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
QUICK & DIRTY OVERVIEW
• interesting concept
• inadequate tutorial
• necessary info not provided
• steep learning curve
• rough game mechanics
——————————
I've been a gamer since 1980, and currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
——————————
While I found the concept interesting, I think this game needs some polishing to smooth out the rough edges. The tutorial left a LOT to be desired, given the steep learning curve…you're sort of thrown into gameplay without adequate information.
• interesting concept
• inadequate tutorial
• necessary info not provided
• steep learning curve
• rough game mechanics
——————————
I've been a gamer since 1980, and currently own 638 computer games. An immersive storyline and challenging, innovative gameplay are most important to me.
——————————
While I found the concept interesting, I think this game needs some polishing to smooth out the rough edges. The tutorial left a LOT to be desired, given the steep learning curve…you're sort of thrown into gameplay without adequate information.
The idea is to build a bridge with a specific weight tolerance while staying within your budget, something I found exceedingly difficult after the first few levels. It would have helped to know the structural specs of the materials and how much they cost.
It was hard to find the perfect balance between spending money and creating a sturdy bridge. If I built on the cheap, my bridge failed. If I built a solid bridge, I exceeded my budget. I'm sure there was a sweet spot for each level, but I didn't have the information to find it.
The game mechanics could have been designed better. Left click was used to attach materials to anchor points, one after the other. Right click to stop building or to delete a previously-built segment. The issue is that it was rare to build multiple segments from the same material, so the "building in series" design was more annoying than helpful. And I accidentally deleted segments when I merely wanted to stop the series and switch materials.
Once you've managed to build a bridge, it's time to test it by choosing a vehicle to cross the bridge. You get more points if your bridge can support a truck, less for a car. I did like this part, because it let me see exactly where the flaws in my design were, and where I needed more or less support.
Graphics were mixed in style. The backgrounds were standard Unity-generated shapes while the game elements were more cartoonish. I turned off the music, which doesn't affect my rating since the music for these types of games is generally repetitive and annoying.
My recommendation for fishies is to try the demo, as you might like it. My recommendation for the dev is to change the game mechanics, create a better tutorial, and present more information about materials, goals, badges, and the like. If the design were better, I would buy it.