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 save Netville from a dangerous artifact before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 8 found this review helpful
The SE will be a Keeper.
PostedSeptember 20, 2017
LunaNik
fromDon't go in the house!
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
4
/
5
SUMMARY
Based on the demo, this is a unique haunted house storyline with a terrific pace and mood, the best HO scenes I’ve seen in a long time, and amazing graphics and music, marred only by a lot of logic fails and too easy puzzles.
Based on the demo, this is a unique haunted house storyline with a terrific pace and mood, the best HO scenes I’ve seen in a long time, and amazing graphics and music, marred only by a lot of logic fails and too easy puzzles.
THE AWESOME
The Collectibles—Each scene includes a morphing object, and artifact, and a puzzle piece (which combine to create character profiles).
The Collectibles—Each scene includes a morphing object, and artifact, and a puzzle piece (which combine to create character profiles).
The Graphics—Extremely well done with minutely-detailed textures. I swear, when a character gets close to you, you can see every wrinkle and pore! The palette changes appropriately with the scene: brighter colors outside, more somber ones inside the house.
The Storyline—Not merely a haunted house story, and not a simple evil artifact story. I don’t want to say too much for fear of ruining the surprise, since we have no spoiler tags. Suffice it to say that, as a Keeper, you’ll have your hands full with this one.
The Music—A soundtrack of fifteen compositions guarantees your ears won’t be either bored or annoyed. There’s lots of variation, and the music accents the game theme perfectly.
The Mood—The pace of the game is excellent, and you really feel the pull to rush forward, the danger inherent in the situation, and your own fear at what might happen next.
THE GOOD
The HO Scenes—Surprisingly, most of the objects are actually hidden in various ways. Sometimes, they’re partially behind other items in the scene. Other times, the actual object isn’t what you expect from the description, although it does match it. Still other times, the difficulty lies in the cleverness of the interaction.
The HO Scenes—Surprisingly, most of the objects are actually hidden in various ways. Sometimes, they’re partially behind other items in the scene. Other times, the actual object isn’t what you expect from the description, although it does match it. Still other times, the difficulty lies in the cleverness of the interaction.
THE MEDIOCRE
The Voiceovers — I list the voiceovers here because, while some are really professional, others are pretty awful.
The Voiceovers — I list the voiceovers here because, while some are really professional, others are pretty awful.
THE BAD
Challenge Level of the Puzzles—So far, at least, they’re too easy. I’m hoping the level of challenge increases, because jigsaw puzzles, Simon Says, and following simple recipes aren’t really puzzles at all, at least not for adults.
Challenge Level of the Puzzles—So far, at least, they’re too easy. I’m hoping the level of challenge increases, because jigsaw puzzles, Simon Says, and following simple recipes aren’t really puzzles at all, at least not for adults.
The Extras—No replayable HO scenes or puzzles, which should be standard for a CE. So, bonus chapter, performance achievements, the strategy guide, and the dev’s portfolio which includes wallpapers, screensavers, concept art, and downloadable soundtracks. Not enough to justify double the price, IMO.
THE HORRIBLE
Logic Flaws—There are a few. A serrated saw can’t be sharpened with a couple swipes across a whetstone. A safety pin really doesn’t make a good lockpick. First aid kits are never locked; it defeats the purpose of emergency supplies. (Mail boxes aren’t locked either; how would the mail carrier deliver the mail?)
Logic Flaws—There are a few. A serrated saw can’t be sharpened with a couple swipes across a whetstone. A safety pin really doesn’t make a good lockpick. First aid kits are never locked; it defeats the purpose of emergency supplies. (Mail boxes aren’t locked either; how would the mail carrier deliver the mail?)
BEST GAMES BY THIS DEV
• This game
• Mayan Prophecies: Ship of Spirits
• Fear for Sale: Nightmare Cinema
• Witches’ Legacy: The Charleston Curse AND Hunter and the Hunted
• This game
• Mayan Prophecies: Ship of Spirits
• Fear for Sale: Nightmare Cinema
• Witches’ Legacy: The Charleston Curse AND Hunter and the Hunted
Can you save your friends from the sins of their past?
Overall rating
1
/
5
15 of 20 found this review helpful
1½ stars...for monkey checkers and hidden crystals
PostedSeptember 20, 2017
LunaNik
fromI was hoping that the Cube would attract Pinhead and his squad of Cenobytes, which would have been less painful than playing this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
SUMMARY
Based on the demo, this game has too many gimmicks and jigsaw puzzles and hardly any creative gameplay. Also, it’s blinding, as every scene includes far too many unnaturally neon colors.
Based on the demo, this game has too many gimmicks and jigsaw puzzles and hardly any creative gameplay. Also, it’s blinding, as every scene includes far too many unnaturally neon colors.
THE AWESOME
The Checkers-Based Puzzle—Depicted in the third screenshot above, this was the sole challenge if you chose the “hard” difficulty level. Eliminate all your opponent’s pieces by moving any piece one space along the connecting lines or jumping over one or more of your opponent’s pieces. If a jump is available, it must be taken. Well-designed, original, and creative.
The Checkers-Based Puzzle—Depicted in the third screenshot above, this was the sole challenge if you chose the “hard” difficulty level. Eliminate all your opponent’s pieces by moving any piece one space along the connecting lines or jumping over one or more of your opponent’s pieces. If a jump is available, it must be taken. Well-designed, original, and creative.
The Collectibles — Extremely difficult to spot “crystals” even when you’re looking right at them.
THE GOOD
The Photo Secrets—I do like the photograph gimmick characteristic of this series; when you find a photo, match it to the scene it depicts and reveal a hidden cache.
The Photo Secrets—I do like the photograph gimmick characteristic of this series; when you find a photo, match it to the scene it depicts and reveal a hidden cache.
The Extras—Two bonus chapters, performance achievements, strategy guide, collectibles that are difficult to spot, replay both HO scenes and puzzles, and the dev’s portfolio which includes wallpapers, videos, concept art, and downloadable soundtracks.
THE MEDIOCRE
The Soundtrack — Eight compositions which were varied, but the majority were based on vaguely Arabian motifs.
The Soundtrack — Eight compositions which were varied, but the majority were based on vaguely Arabian motifs.
HO Scenes—Great presentations, but no objects were hidden, as is usual nowadays.
THE BAD
The Cube—Good example of a bad gimmick. Basically, it’s an artifact you have to repeatedly charge by using a lens to find hidden symbols in the scene. Boring and done to the death.
The Cube—Good example of a bad gimmick. Basically, it’s an artifact you have to repeatedly charge by using a lens to find hidden symbols in the scene. Boring and done to the death.
The Storyline — Your friend and her partner, a fellow student, are archaeologist-napped by a sand spirit that looks and acts like an escapee from Scooby Doo. This apparition demands the return of its Cube, the above mentioned gimmick, or your friends are goners. Apparently, your soul is “too pure” for him to directly threaten you.
Most of the Puzzles—Make a continuous line without retracing your path, matching pairs, dress mannequins by copying the clue, untangle the ropes, “moving one affects others” puzzle, plus too many jigsaw puzzles.
THE HORRIBLE
The Palette — Not a single swatch in the entire Pantone collection was omitted from the palette. Generally, all of them were used on the same screen, and at full saturation and brightness. I think my retinas were scorched.
The Palette — Not a single swatch in the entire Pantone collection was omitted from the palette. Generally, all of them were used on the same screen, and at full saturation and brightness. I think my retinas were scorched.
Jigsaw Overload — In 44 minutes of demo, I encountered four jigsaw puzzle variations, which does not bode well for the quality of puzzles in this game. Two had rotating pieces and two had swappable pieces. No thanks.
The Stereotyping—All the Western people were depicted as modern, while all the Middle Eastern people were depicted as if they just stepped out of a Disney version of Arabian Nights. Yikes.
BEST GAMES BY THIS DEV
• Whispered Secrets: Everburning Candle
• Reflections of Life: Equilibrium
• Whispered Secrets: Everburning Candle
• Reflections of Life: Equilibrium
I don't recommend this game.
Can you uncover the truth behind a string of strange thefts?
Overall rating
2
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Fictional universes collide & destroy your childhood...
PostedSeptember 20, 2017
LunaNik
fromUnfortunately, "third time's the charm" is not a truism.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
SUMMARY: Based on the demo, it’s a cookie cutter Eipix game with a storyline that comes across like someone dropped a library into a blender and too easy gameplay that we’ve seen a million times.
THE AWESOME
The Production—As always, the graphic, animation, and music are excellent.
The Production—As always, the graphic, animation, and music are excellent.
THE GOOD
The Extras—Bonus chapter, performance achievements, strategy guide, collectible stars that are easy to find, morphing objects in the HOs, replay both puzzles and HOs, souvenir room, and the dev’s portfolio of wallpapers, concept art, videos, and downloadable soundtracks.
The Extras—Bonus chapter, performance achievements, strategy guide, collectible stars that are easy to find, morphing objects in the HOs, replay both puzzles and HOs, souvenir room, and the dev’s portfolio of wallpapers, concept art, videos, and downloadable soundtracks.
THE MEDIOCRE
Exploration—The usual unimaginative devices for hiding inventory items: locked inside something requiring a shaped key, submerged in water, tangled in vines, etc.
Exploration—The usual unimaginative devices for hiding inventory items: locked inside something requiring a shaped key, submerged in water, tangled in vines, etc.
HO Scenes—Mostly multi-layered presentations including combinations of straight lists, interactive lists, drawings, multiples, riddles, and capitalized words in a narrative. Sadly, very few actual hidden objects.
THE BAD
Convos & Cutscenes—Too many!
Convos & Cutscenes—Too many!
Challenge Level of Puzzles—Of the eight puzzles, three were throwaway time fillers, four were childishly easy, and only one offered a modicum of challenge.
THE HORRIBLE
The Storyline—The Vermillion Watch is joined by Order Zero. Dorothy has time-traveled from Depression-era Kansas to Victorian London, and she raided Annie Oakley’s closet on the way. Toto has morphed from a small Cairn Terrier to a huge Airedale. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are equally unrecognizable. So, two secret societies to fight Captain Nemo and the Red Queen…who are stealing a statue of Ra. This hurts my childhood.
The Storyline—The Vermillion Watch is joined by Order Zero. Dorothy has time-traveled from Depression-era Kansas to Victorian London, and she raided Annie Oakley’s closet on the way. Toto has morphed from a small Cairn Terrier to a huge Airedale. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are equally unrecognizable. So, two secret societies to fight Captain Nemo and the Red Queen…who are stealing a statue of Ra. This hurts my childhood.
CONCLUSION
As usual, Eipix offers incredibly high production values, but very little in the way of coherent storyline or challenging, thoughtful gameplay. And those two elements are most important in a game. Here, they’re sadly lacking.
As usual, Eipix offers incredibly high production values, but very little in the way of coherent storyline or challenging, thoughtful gameplay. And those two elements are most important in a game. Here, they’re sadly lacking.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you delve into a dangerous past and escape in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
32 of 36 found this review helpful
There’s only ONE Phantasmat. And this ain’t it.
PostedSeptember 15, 2017
LunaNik
fromI'd love to know what prompts devs to think up these illogical tasks and insane ways to use items.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Review based on: 51 minutes of demo. My character’s rank stupidity made me quit.
Overall rating: ✭
What my rating means: Needs work on gameplay, storyline, and logic.
Overall rating: ✭
What my rating means: Needs work on gameplay, storyline, and logic.
SHORT & SWEET SUMMARY REVIEW
Sparse storyline interspersed by too easy gameplay and no logic whatsoever, all wrapped in excellent production. Suggest the dev spend less time on cinematic effects and more time on story and gameplay development.
Sparse storyline interspersed by too easy gameplay and no logic whatsoever, all wrapped in excellent production. Suggest the dev spend less time on cinematic effects and more time on story and gameplay development.
More details on the specific elements of the game below the fold…
————————————————————
THE GOOD
The Production: It’s Eipix’s usual top notch graphics, animation, and music.
————————————————————
THE GOOD
The Production: It’s Eipix’s usual top notch graphics, animation, and music.
The Extras: Bonus game, strategy guide, performance achievements, collectible dolls, morphing objects in the HOs, replay both puzzles and HOs, an extra HO, a souvenir room, and the dev’s portfolio of wallpapers, concept art, videos, and downloadable soundtracks.
THE MEDIOCRE
The Storyline: What kind of half-rate hospital lets you go home after you’ve suffered a concussion so severe that you can’t remember who you are? But you have no problem running around a farmhouse with a serious head wound? The plot was transparent nearly from the beginning, mainly because the “husband” was such a horrible actor. The idea had promise, but the pieces were not integrated well at all. And the creep factor was missing completely, especially when compared to the original Phantasmat.
The Storyline: What kind of half-rate hospital lets you go home after you’ve suffered a concussion so severe that you can’t remember who you are? But you have no problem running around a farmhouse with a serious head wound? The plot was transparent nearly from the beginning, mainly because the “husband” was such a horrible actor. The idea had promise, but the pieces were not integrated well at all. And the creep factor was missing completely, especially when compared to the original Phantasmat.
THE BAD
The Gameplay: The usual offerings including sliding tokens to their matching spaces, swapping tokens to match the spots at the other ends of a tangle of strings, jump over tokens until only one remains, copy the clue that’s right in front of you, etc.
The Gameplay: The usual offerings including sliding tokens to their matching spaces, swapping tokens to match the spots at the other ends of a tangle of strings, jump over tokens until only one remains, copy the clue that’s right in front of you, etc.
The HO Scenes: Presentation was mostly lots of badly-drawn silhouettes. No objects were hidden (except for those requiring a minor interaction).
THE HORRIBLE
The Lack of Logic: The inevitable coin used as a screwdriver. It must have been the concussion that prompted filing off an antler to reach stuff under the bed. I couldn’t take the teapot off the stove to fill it with water; I had to find another container. Have you ever encountered a dart stuck so tightly in a dartboard that you couldn’t pull it out? If so, did the thought “I’ll oil it” cross your mind? Award for most inane use of a nutcracker that no sane person would think to do. Oh, and why didn’t I lock the car doors?
The Lack of Logic: The inevitable coin used as a screwdriver. It must have been the concussion that prompted filing off an antler to reach stuff under the bed. I couldn’t take the teapot off the stove to fill it with water; I had to find another container. Have you ever encountered a dart stuck so tightly in a dartboard that you couldn’t pull it out? If so, did the thought “I’ll oil it” cross your mind? Award for most inane use of a nutcracker that no sane person would think to do. Oh, and why didn’t I lock the car doors?
BEST GAMES BY THIS DEV (✭✭✭✭ or better)
• from this series: none (by this dev)
• from the Amaranthine Voyage series: The Living Mountain CE, The Shadow of Torment CE, Winter Neverending CE
• from the Dark Parables series: The Swan Princess and the Dire Tree CE, Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow CE
• Myths of the World: Black Rose CE
• Off the Record: Linden Shades SE
• Saga of the Nine Worlds: The Gathering SE
• Sea of Lies: Mutiny of the Heart CE
• from this series: none (by this dev)
• from the Amaranthine Voyage series: The Living Mountain CE, The Shadow of Torment CE, Winter Neverending CE
• from the Dark Parables series: The Swan Princess and the Dire Tree CE, Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow CE
• Myths of the World: Black Rose CE
• Off the Record: Linden Shades SE
• Saga of the Nine Worlds: The Gathering SE
• Sea of Lies: Mutiny of the Heart CE
BEST GAMES WITH THIS GENERAL THEME (✭✭✭✭ or better)
I’m just going to call the theme a ghost story to avoid revealing the plot.
• New York Mysteries: High Voltage CE
• from the Mystery Case Files series: The 13th Skull CE, Fate’s Carnival CE
• Timeless: The Lost Castle
• Phantasmat (the original by Codeminion)
• Dark Dimensions: Somber Song CE
• Gothic Fiction: Dark Saga CE
• from the Redemption Cemetery series: Salvation of the Lost CE, Clock of Fate CE
• from the Nancy Drew series: The Ghost of Thornton Hall, Secrets Can Kill
• Fright
I’m just going to call the theme a ghost story to avoid revealing the plot.
• New York Mysteries: High Voltage CE
• from the Mystery Case Files series: The 13th Skull CE, Fate’s Carnival CE
• Timeless: The Lost Castle
• Phantasmat (the original by Codeminion)
• Dark Dimensions: Somber Song CE
• Gothic Fiction: Dark Saga CE
• from the Redemption Cemetery series: Salvation of the Lost CE, Clock of Fate CE
• from the Nancy Drew series: The Ghost of Thornton Hall, Secrets Can Kill
• Fright
I don't recommend this game.
Snow, Ice and the deadly wind blowing from the Frozen Mountains! The Lost Lands have been overtaken by ice in the middle of summer!
Overall rating
4
/
5
17 of 23 found this review helpful
Susan's in the house, y'all! 4½ stars
PostedSeptember 14, 2017
LunaNik
fromSusan should think about keeping a Mission Bag packed and ready to go, you know?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
All right…stop. Collaborate and listen.
Susan’s back on a brand new mission.
Magic’s grabbed a hold of her tightly,
Pulled her through a portal so unpolitely.
Will it ever stop? Yo…we don’t know.
Lost Lands lookin’ like an ice show
To the extreme. She’ll rock the wand like a wizard.
Light up the cave and melt the snow off a blizzard.
Dance…past the wolves lookin’ backward.
Find the solution to the clue to the password.
Hero, like a knight in armor.
She got a squad ‘cause she’s such a charmer.
Better believe it. Get outta her way.
She’ll save us again ‘cause this woman don’t play.
If there’s a puzzle…yo, she’ll solve it.
Check the spell book and watch her dissolve this
Ice ice, baby.
Susan’s back on a brand new mission.
Magic’s grabbed a hold of her tightly,
Pulled her through a portal so unpolitely.
Will it ever stop? Yo…we don’t know.
Lost Lands lookin’ like an ice show
To the extreme. She’ll rock the wand like a wizard.
Light up the cave and melt the snow off a blizzard.
Dance…past the wolves lookin’ backward.
Find the solution to the clue to the password.
Hero, like a knight in armor.
She got a squad ‘cause she’s such a charmer.
Better believe it. Get outta her way.
She’ll save us again ‘cause this woman don’t play.
If there’s a puzzle…yo, she’ll solve it.
Check the spell book and watch her dissolve this
Ice ice, baby.
Already purchased it because I adore this series, and it's all-around quality gaming from the graphics to the level of challenge to the storyline. Spot on. (My only complaint is that the dev reuses the music.)
I recommend this game!
Can you save a young heir from Saint Germain in time?
Overall rating
1
/
5
13 of 14 found this review helpful
Same story. Same puzzles. Another endless series.
PostedSeptember 11, 2017
LunaNik
fromCould we possibly restrict game series to fewer than seven episodes? This is getting ridiculous.
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
Review based on: 37 minutes of demo
Overall rating: ✭
What my rating means: You might as well replay an ERS game you already own.
Overall rating: ✭
What my rating means: You might as well replay an ERS game you already own.
SHORT & SWEET SUMMARY REVIEW
Haunted house. Evil spirits. Young boy in trouble. Saint Germain causing trouble. *yawn* Puzzles with sliding tokens. Simon Says. Jigsaw puzzles. Matching pairs. *snore* Hidden Object scenes that fail to contain a single hidden object. *roll eyes*
Haunted house. Evil spirits. Young boy in trouble. Saint Germain causing trouble. *yawn* Puzzles with sliding tokens. Simon Says. Jigsaw puzzles. Matching pairs. *snore* Hidden Object scenes that fail to contain a single hidden object. *roll eyes*
This is becoming exceedingly frustrating and utterly boring. It's time someone raised the bar in HOPAs, because games like this are killing the genre. Go back and play some of the beautiful, well-written, and challenging games from five years ago, and you'll see what I mean.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you break free from your nightmares in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
17 of 20 found this review helpful
✭✭ for the CE, but ✭✭✭✭ for the SE, since the extras are almost nonexistent.
PostedSeptember 11, 2017
LunaNik
fromThe head honcho of the shadow people would make a terrific Halloween costume!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Review based on: completed demo
Overall rating: ✭✭ for the CE ✭✭✭✭ for the SE
What my rating means: I enjoyed the game and will purchase the SE, but the bare minimum of extras offered do NOT justify double the price.
Overall rating: ✭✭ for the CE ✭✭✭✭ for the SE
What my rating means: I enjoyed the game and will purchase the SE, but the bare minimum of extras offered do NOT justify double the price.
SHORT & SWEET SUMMARY REVIEW
Allen’s past is catching up with him as he’s having hypnagogic hallucinations. Then he’s plunged into a nightmare world of the childhood memories he forgot, but can he escape them? Or will they consume him? This episode is chock full of gameplay in a variety of difficulty. However, I do wish devs would realize they’re developing games for adults! If you’re making a horror game, make it spine-tingling, blood-curdling, and nightmare-inducing, please!
Allen’s past is catching up with him as he’s having hypnagogic hallucinations. Then he’s plunged into a nightmare world of the childhood memories he forgot, but can he escape them? Or will they consume him? This episode is chock full of gameplay in a variety of difficulty. However, I do wish devs would realize they’re developing games for adults! If you’re making a horror game, make it spine-tingling, blood-curdling, and nightmare-inducing, please!
More details on the specific elements of the game below the fold…
————————————————————
THE GOOD
The Graphics and Animation — A mostly subdued, but lifelike palette in the real world and its simulacra, while dark neutrals and blues predominated in the maze. The chief shadow person was utterly creepy with an “I’ve already got you, you just haven’t realized it yet” smile.
————————————————————
THE GOOD
The Graphics and Animation — A mostly subdued, but lifelike palette in the real world and its simulacra, while dark neutrals and blues predominated in the maze. The chief shadow person was utterly creepy with an “I’ve already got you, you just haven’t realized it yet” smile.
Part of the Horror Show — The ever-changing cast of creepies showed up at unexpected times and places, not so much gratuitous jump scares as frightening because of their context. I mean, you don’t expect to have eldritch horrors appear out of thin air when you’re in a place you consider safe…or suddenly transform from a person you trust.
The Variety of Gameplay — There’s something for every level of ability, from beginner to expert, including puzzles I generally label “throwaway” (not many) up to truly challenging ones. A welcome change from the simplistic fodder we’re usually offered. Of the puzzles I wrote down, I tagged four as easy, three as medium, and two as difficult, so that’s a pretty fair spread.
The HO Scenes — Most were interactive, requiring you to find and use items in the scene to acquire the final object, either in list or silhouette form. There was also a FROG, a miniature zoom box find multiple of the same object, and a journal scene where you had to find and restore two different types of images. Match-3 is available as an alternative.
THE MEDIOCRE
The Level of Horror — This is supposed to be representative of Allen’s worst nightmares, right? The creep factor should have been through the roof, IMO, with shadow people grabbing him from behind, or unexpectedly reaching out to grab his arm from the side, or morphing from normal photos, or breaking through the fourth wall to take stuff from his (our) inventory, etc.
The Level of Horror — This is supposed to be representative of Allen’s worst nightmares, right? The creep factor should have been through the roof, IMO, with shadow people grabbing him from behind, or unexpectedly reaching out to grab his arm from the side, or morphing from normal photos, or breaking through the fourth wall to take stuff from his (our) inventory, etc.
The Collectibles — Half good and half meh. The shadows were frequently difficult to find, since they were all different and appeared and disappeared. The family photos were easy to spot.
THE BAD
Pace of the Storyline — I did like the storyline, but thought a bit more information could have been revealed. For example, we really didn’t learn anything at Grandma’s House and, unless we return there later in the game, that segment of the game had no point; it added nothing to the story.
Pace of the Storyline — I did like the storyline, but thought a bit more information could have been revealed. For example, we really didn’t learn anything at Grandma’s House and, unless we return there later in the game, that segment of the game had no point; it added nothing to the story.
THE HORRIBLE
The Music — Only four soundtracks, a scant eight minutes of not very inspiring music.
The Music — Only four soundtracks, a scant eight minutes of not very inspiring music.
The Extras — This is really not CE-worthy. You can’t replay either puzzles or HO scenes, so the only real “extras” are the bonus chapter, collectibles, and strategy guide. The dev’s portfolio is simply a by-product of creating the game, so I’m not overly impressed with concept art, the developer “diary,” and wallpapers. Further, there are very few collectibles, and minimal performance achievements. I recommend waiting for the SE, which is exactly what I’ll be doing.
BEST GAMES BY THIS DEV
• In this series: Sullivan River CE, Norwich Caves CE
• In the Dark Dimensions series: City of Fog SE, Somber Song CE
• In this series: Sullivan River CE, Norwich Caves CE
• In the Dark Dimensions series: City of Fog SE, Somber Song CE
BEST GAMES IN THIS GENERAL THEME
• the Twisted Lands series (all three episodes)
• Surface: The Noise She Couldn’t Make CE
• the Nightmare Adventures series (both episodes)
• the Nightmare Realm series (both episodes)
• Maze: Nightmare Realm SE
• Dreamscapes: The Sandman (only)
• the Twisted Lands series (all three episodes)
• Surface: The Noise She Couldn’t Make CE
• the Nightmare Adventures series (both episodes)
• the Nightmare Realm series (both episodes)
• Maze: Nightmare Realm SE
• Dreamscapes: The Sandman (only)
Mysterious portraits are causing their subjects to transform into monsters!
Overall rating
1
/
5
16 of 23 found this review helpful
1½ stars...solely for the polyjuice paint
PostedSeptember 11, 2017
LunaNik
fromI'm almost positive that a Skittles factory exploded in this game.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Review based on: A scant 17 minutes of mostly cutscenes and conversations.
Overall rating: ✭½
What my rating means: I couldn’t even last through the demo.
Overall rating: ✭½
What my rating means: I couldn’t even last through the demo.
SHORT & SWEET SUMMARY REVIEW
Loved one in danger via a ridiculous revenge scheme. Cutscene or conversation every other click. Puzzles that were old five years ago. Shaped keys galore. Banners for everything. And all this dressed in psychedelic neon.
Loved one in danger via a ridiculous revenge scheme. Cutscene or conversation every other click. Puzzles that were old five years ago. Shaped keys galore. Banners for everything. And all this dressed in psychedelic neon.
More details on the specific elements of the game below the fold…
————————————————————
THE GOOD
• The Characters were well-drawn.
————————————————————
THE GOOD
• The Characters were well-drawn.
THE MEDIOCRE
• The music (only five soundtracks) got repetitive only 17 minutes in.
• The voiceovers were the s-l-o-w-e-s-t ever, lengthening the already frequent and long conversations.
• HO scenes were typical for 2017…nothing hidden unless an interaction was specified.
• The music (only five soundtracks) got repetitive only 17 minutes in.
• The voiceovers were the s-l-o-w-e-s-t ever, lengthening the already frequent and long conversations.
• HO scenes were typical for 2017…nothing hidden unless an interaction was specified.
THE BAD
• Ridiculous storyline. Nigel’s former best friend turns his new bride partially into a cat using…polyjuice paint? As part of a blackmail scheme resulting from a situation that wasn’t even Nigel’s fault? Yeesh.
• Same old puzzles. Contrary to what some people might think, puzzle design is not limited to sliding tokens, jigsaws, matching pairs, and Simon Says. Truly, it isn’t.
• Ridiculous storyline. Nigel’s former best friend turns his new bride partially into a cat using…polyjuice paint? As part of a blackmail scheme resulting from a situation that wasn’t even Nigel’s fault? Yeesh.
• Same old puzzles. Contrary to what some people might think, puzzle design is not limited to sliding tokens, jigsaws, matching pairs, and Simon Says. Truly, it isn’t.
THE HORRIBLE
• Screamingly loud highlighter colors graced every surface, including ambient light.
• The animation was laughable, with characters floating in stop-motion movements from place to place. At one point, I unscrewed some screws, and the knife merely wiggled back and forth while the screws didn’t even turn.
• Screamingly loud highlighter colors graced every surface, including ambient light.
• The animation was laughable, with characters floating in stop-motion movements from place to place. At one point, I unscrewed some screws, and the knife merely wiggled back and forth while the screws didn’t even turn.
BEST GAMES BY THIS DEV
I have no recommendations from this dev, since I’ve only bought one game from them and I didn’t care for it. However, if you like games that include both romance and dark themes, I do recommend the following:
• Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden CE
• Subliminal Realms: Masterpiece CE
• Surface: The Soaring City CE and The Pantheon CE
• Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart CE and The Blacksmith’s Daughter CE
• the Nevertales series
I have no recommendations from this dev, since I’ve only bought one game from them and I didn’t care for it. However, if you like games that include both romance and dark themes, I do recommend the following:
• Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden CE
• Subliminal Realms: Masterpiece CE
• Surface: The Soaring City CE and The Pantheon CE
• Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart CE and The Blacksmith’s Daughter CE
• the Nevertales series
I don't recommend this game.
Mononino and the Treefruities are facing another disaster. With the leaves of their home tree once again scattered, your help is greatly needed.
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Brilliant! A wonderful, fun challenge and a worthy sequel.
PostedSeptember 9, 2017
LunaNik
fromMight I suggest "Leaves 3: Autumn" with multi-colored leaves? And more games like this one, please!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Review based on: completed game
Overall rating: ✭✭✭✭✭
What my rating means: For those who love a challenge, and detest having their hand held.
Overall rating: ✭✭✭✭✭
What my rating means: For those who love a challenge, and detest having their hand held.
SHORT & SWEET SUMMARY REVIEW
The adorable but grumpy Treefruities lose their tree’s leaves again, so you’re off through the surreal landscape of Mononino to gather them up, solving challenging puzzles along the way…with absolutely no hand-holding, hints, sparkles, or strategy guide. YES!
The adorable but grumpy Treefruities lose their tree’s leaves again, so you’re off through the surreal landscape of Mononino to gather them up, solving challenging puzzles along the way…with absolutely no hand-holding, hints, sparkles, or strategy guide. YES!
More details on the specific elements of the game below the fold…
————————————————————
THE GOOD
• Tons of puzzles ranging from medium difficulty to mind-bending. There are no directions, but if you’re observant, you’ll find plenty of clues to guide you. (I’m not going to describe any of the puzzles, because doing so would constitute spoiling the game. Part of the enchantment is discovering for yourself how the puzzles work.)
• The graphics and animation are variously bizarrely surrealistic (like a Dali painting), too cute for words (watch for the denizens of Mononino), and beautifully detailed.
• The music is soothing and and the sound effects are perfect.
————————————————————
THE GOOD
• Tons of puzzles ranging from medium difficulty to mind-bending. There are no directions, but if you’re observant, you’ll find plenty of clues to guide you. (I’m not going to describe any of the puzzles, because doing so would constitute spoiling the game. Part of the enchantment is discovering for yourself how the puzzles work.)
• The graphics and animation are variously bizarrely surrealistic (like a Dali painting), too cute for words (watch for the denizens of Mononino), and beautifully detailed.
• The music is soothing and and the sound effects are perfect.
THE MEDIOCRE
• There are a few puzzles that are repeats from the first episode. I would have preferred all new challenges.
• This episode seemed a bit shorter than the first one, but this may be entirely subjective and based on the fact that I didn’t have to learn how to play this episode; I was already familiar with the game mechanics from having played the first episode.
• The inventory mechanism is, perhaps, a bit cumbersome.
• There are a few puzzles that are repeats from the first episode. I would have preferred all new challenges.
• This episode seemed a bit shorter than the first one, but this may be entirely subjective and based on the fact that I didn’t have to learn how to play this episode; I was already familiar with the game mechanics from having played the first episode.
• The inventory mechanism is, perhaps, a bit cumbersome.
THE BAD
Nope. Nothing.
Nope. Nothing.
THE HORRIBLE
Only one horrible thing…I’m already ready for another adventure from this dev. *sigh* I guess I’ll have to console myself by replaying both Leaves games.
Only one horrible thing…I’m already ready for another adventure from this dev. *sigh* I guess I’ll have to console myself by replaying both Leaves games.
BEST GAMES BY THIS DEV
• This game and its predecessor, Leaves 1: The Journey, which I also gave five stars.
• This game and its predecessor, Leaves 1: The Journey, which I also gave five stars.
I recommend this game!
Gather balls of the same color in increasingly difficult levels in this action brain teaser.
Overall rating
5
/
5
14 of 17 found this review helpful
Challenging & fun strategic puzzle game!
PostedSeptember 6, 2017
LunaNik
fromMoving away from HOPA Land (because it lacks hidden objects, challenging puzzles, and adventure) and toward FPA Land (where functioning neurons are required).
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
The premise is simple: Click on a marble around the edge, and it will shoot toward the center until stopped by another marble. The goal is to shoot toward like-colored marbles until you clear the board.
Different icons appear on the grid from time to time, both in empty squares and on the marbles themselves. Some will help you; others will hinder you. The helpers include bombs that eliminate all marbles around them, fragmenting stars that shoot lasers to eliminate marbles around the grid, and a color-specific one that eliminates all marbles of that color. The only one that hinders (that I encountered during the demo) looks like a bunch of marbles; it will randomly add marbles to the board.
It seems like it would be an easy game, right? But the difficulty level increases by adding more marble colors, dividing up the grid with walls, creating difficult patterns, and limiting what shooting marbles are available. Sometimes, you have only a couple left, but none of the four marbles that line up with it match, so you have to be creative to reveal one that does.
The only downside, as is typical of puzzle games, was the music, which I turned off. However, I decided to rate it five stars anyway, because I generally play my own music during puzzle games, so I didn't feel that repetitive music affected the gameplay or my enjoyment.
One upside that I was happy to see is that there was NOT an unnecessary storyline adding time-wasting cutscenes. It's a puzzle game; it doesn't need a fairy tale land in imminent peril to muddle it.
I recommend this game!