Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
As the game begins you are on your way to help an old colleague, Jesse Whitecloud who runs the Center for Native Cultures. As an expert in the field of Native American symbolism, Jesse has requested your help with strange glyphs that have begun to appear around the center grounds. As you approach the center you notice that your amulet, a family heirloom, has begun to glow – something it has never done in the past and you soon understand why Jesse is very concerned. Not only are there glowing symbols everywhere, but the mushrooms have grown to one-hundred times their normal size. What on earth is going on?
The graphics are great quality and really very beautiful using the color palette of the American Southwest and Native American culture. The only complaint I have about the graphics is that at times the developer used a smoky mist that I believed compromised the clarity of some scenes. The sound package in Spirit Wolf is wonderful and one of the reasons that Eipix recommends using the sound in their games. The music includes the sounds of the Native American culture with drums and flutes adding to the overall ambience.
You have a diary and a transporter type interactive map that are located on the lower left of your screen along with your amulet that you will use throughout the game to interact with the symbols that you find on your journey.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. If you don’t want to search for items in the HOS you can change to a bubble shooter type game that is quite a bit of fun. It looks like this game has an equal number of each HOPs and mini-puzzles if I counted correctly. At least in the demo portion of the game the puzzles were not overly complicated or difficult but I am sure that they will become a bit more challenging as the game progresses.
As with all EIPIX games we have tons of extras that contribute to the CE Content. Usually I don't care about the wallpapers but since this game has such awesome graphics I may actually use some of the wallpapers on my desktop. There are collectibles to find and achievements to earn, some of which will be used after you complete the game. All in all, this is definitely a CE worth adding to my collection.
Because I have always had a deep interest in Native American culture, I knew this game would grab me and it has. It is a visual feast complete with all the sounds that I have come to associate with Native American culture. The story is very interesting and captured my attention from the beginning, and since I know the quality of games that come from EIPIX and the way their games can sweep me away to another time and place for several hours of immersive entertainment, I knew that this game would be a definite buy for me. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if Spirit Wolf is a game that you will enjoy.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
It’s been a while since Dr. Sylvia Burns (you) saved a dying world in Tree of Life. You have become restless in the years since your last adventure and now even your students have begun to laugh at your theories of portals to other worlds. Where is your proof that these portals and other worlds exist? It seems that one of your students, Jonathan Ferguson, did believe in you and now he has gone missing while trying to prove your theories. Jonathan’s father arrives at your home with a package that contains proof of Jonathan’s discovery and he believes that you are now the only one who can find his missing son. And so begins our new journey to The Living Mountain. Will you be able to return Jonathan to his father and find tangible proof that the portals do indeed exist?
In recent years the developer of this game has emerged as one of the top casual game developers on the scene, and each game they bring us is top quality. The developer continues to surprise us by always adding something new and innovative to each game.
The Living Mountain has incredible graphics and, IMHO, they are so much better than the graphics in Tree of Life and we have a crisp clarity to the graphics rather than the graininess that existed in the previous game. The artwork is stunning and the art team has created realistic characters that seem to come alive on the screen. The sound package only adds more realism to the game and makes playing the game truly enjoyable. Combine the sound package with this visually stunning game and we have the total experience – a place where we can be immersed for many hours in a new world. Needless to say, only fifteen minutes into the demo and I was hooked. No need to wait for a weekend sale on this one.
You have the standard tools that we find in most HOPA games such as a journal and an interactive map that you find very early in the game.
There are varying types of HOPs in The Living Mountain including the standard list type. One of the things I liked a lot was the interesting twist on the silhouette type HOPs – again something new from the developer. If you have difficulty finding objects, or if you would rather not bother looking for items in the HOP, you have the option to switch to a “bubble-shoot” type game.
There are achievements to be earned as well as different types of collectibles to find, but I’m not going to spoil your fun by telling you what to look for. As far as CE content we have the usual bag of tricks but it looks like there are some surprises in store once we complete the game.
Overall, I was blown away by The Living Mountain and decided that it was just too good to wait around for a weekend sale. I purchased the game after playing the demo for only a short while since that was enough to convince me that this is probably one of the best games to come our way in recent months. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
The story is the third installment of the Witches’ Legacy series and begins with a good recap of the previous two games so, although it is not necessary to play the previous games, you might consider doing so simply because the games were good and because it will give you the background story to this game. The game begins as you and Lynn have finally settled into your home at Charleston Manor and have built a new life for yourselves. Lynn is well-respected in the community for her healing abilities and for helping those in need and life is wonderful. Lynn also has a new young man in her life and all seems well but you have a foreboding sense that something is wrong. Just when life seems perfect, are things about to change? Team up with an old nemesis and find an unexpected ally to save Lynn from the Witch Hunters.
Graphics are very good and IMHO better than in the previous Witches Legacy games. The artwork is very good but sometimes a bit grainy and at others crystal clear and crisp. So depending on the scene, the graphics quality can change or appear different. The game has lip-synced voiceovers that are very good and fit the characters well.
Speaking of characters, our little friend Imp is back and he is a cute as ever. Our other “helper” is a doll of the witch Elizabeth from the past. While Imp is cute and funny, Elizabeth is rather ugly and just as we picture the storybook witches of yore – warts and all.
The game has the interactive HOS that we have come to expect in more recent games. If you would rather not look for all the objects on the list you have the option to play a matching type game and unfortunately I ended up choosing the matching option more than usual because I did find it very difficult to find some of the items in the scenes. The puzzles are nothing new but are fun and not overly challenging at this point. I expect the puzzles may become more difficult as the game progresses.
You have a journal and a map to help you navigate the game. The map is a transporter type that indicates where you have available tasks.
Throughout the game you will find collectible puzzle pieces that will unlock a story of the game’s hero. And for those of us who love them, we also have an abundance of morphing objects to find.
We don’t see too many games from this developer in a year and that indicates, at least to me, that the ones they bring to market are top quality. Witches Legacy Hunter and the Hunted is proof of that, with this being one of the best installments in the series. Because I found the demo so enjoyable and because I know the quality of games from this developer, it was a no brainer and an instant purchase. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if you agree.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
You play the game as Emma and the story begins with a dream or is it a nightmare. You dream that your Uncle Alfred is in trouble and awaken knowing something is wrong. When you call him and get no answer, then you know your uncle is in trouble and take the next train to visit him to see for yourself that he is okay. When you arrive at his home, Uncle Alfred is not there and you suspect that perhaps he has activated the portal that you and Uncle Alfred have been working on. Who knows what l lies beyond the portal and if Alfred has indeed entered the portal, then your dream has become reality. Step through the portal and into the magical realms beyond as you try to find your uncle and discover the mysteries awaiting you.
The graphics are excellent and depict the magical worlds that exist beyond the portal. The sound package is very good including voiceovers, excellent music and environmental sounds. The voiceovers are not lip-synced and the devs get around this with lots of self-talk as most of the initial dialogue is Emma speaking her thoughts. Maybe later in the game there will be some actual conversation with others.
You have a journal located on the lower right of your screen. When you open your journal you will see tabs for notes, objectives and map so your journal is where you will want to go to easily access all three types of information. You can also access the map by opening the map scroll on the lower left if you wish.
There are various types of interactive HOS, some are the standard list type while others may include find certain numbers of specific items or find the item pictured somewhere in the scene. I really enjoyed the HOS and found that the ones where we need to find a specific number of items also include some interaction but you are left to your own devices to figure out the interaction required, which is a puzzle in itself. Now, IMHO, where The Philosopher’s Stone becomes an excellent game is with the puzzles. Although we will find some of our favorite type puzzles, there are many that are different. Some puzzles are cryptic in nature and they are excellent. For me the game was an instant buy based on the quality of the puzzles I encountered. I particularly enjoyed solving the logic type puzzles required to activate the portals.
Throughout the game you will find 20 morphing objects and earn 25 achievements. The remainder of the CE content is standard fare.
Whether this game is a CE value or not is up to you to decide; however, I love it because of its many differences from the same types of HOPA games we normally see. With great puzzles, interesting HOPs and the gameplay, this is one of the best games to come along in recent weeks. I am sure the game will be at the top of my list of best games in 2014. As always, I recommend that you try the game to see if you like it.
You came to the town of Brownville, Louisiana hoping to find a new job. But you weren't expecting to stumble upon a strange adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger!
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
It seems like times have been rough lately in the big city and you find yourself without a job and no future prospects so when you receive an invitation from your college buddy Ben and his wife Louise to join them in Brownville, Louisiana for a job with Ben’s boss, you jump at the chance. It is not long before you realize that this might have been one of the worst decisions of your life and that things in Brownville are not what they seem. You find yourself trapped in a game with Ben’s boss, Simon, who is anything but a generous benefactor. Will you be able to survive Simon’s dangerous game and save Ben and Louise in the process? Enter a game within a game and travel to beautiful worlds as you attempt to defeat Simon.
The graphics are excellent, crisp and beautiful. The only fault I have with the graphics is that the characters seem cartoonish or reminiscent of Claymation figures and seem to lack personality, but aside from that the rest of the artwork is wonderful. The sound package is very good including lip-synced voiceovers, excellent music and environmental sounds.
You have a journal that contains notes to help you as you progress on your adventure. The interactive transporter map indicates where you have tasks to accomplish is located on the lower left of your screen along with your journal
The HOS I encountered during the demo are all the interactive list type and I did not find an option to skip the HOS if I didn’t want to wade through the list of items. Still, the HOS were full of beautiful artwork and I didn’t mind looking through all of the items to find what I needed. Although the puzzles were more of the same type that we generally encounter in HOPA games, they were still fun and some were a bit more challenging than others.
Throughout the game you will look for 30 puzzle pieces that presumably will be used to complete a puzzle in the bonus section. In addition to the collectible puzzle pieces the remainder of the CE content is standard fare.
Overall, this is a solid five-star game and one that the developers can be very pleased with presenting. I enjoyed the story and the gameplay so I will definitely purchase the CE version of the game. It is great to start off the year with a different type of storyline that holds my attention so when the demo ended; I wanted to continue playing, which means a trip to the BFG store for me. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy. Happy New Year everyone, enjoy this great game to start off 2014 with a BLAM!!
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
The game opens with a cutscene that shows you were abandoned by your mother at birth, and you have always wondered why she chose to leave you. Now, as a young woman, you receive a mysterious invitation for a dream vacation that only the very elite can often experience and one that offers you the opportunity to reunite with your mother. You accept the invitation and that is where our story begins.
Graphics are a blend of computer generated and hand drawn artwork and are really very crisp and clean. The overall feel is art deco that is supported with excellent graphics and the sound package. The game has voiceovers that are believable and very well done, with the voice of the narrator (in this case the story’s heroine) being quite excellent.
You have an interactive map that you find early in the game but you do not have a journal or diary to keep track of your notes. You might want to keep track of important information on a notepad as you progress so that you have it at hand when needed. The SG is located next to the map on the lower right of your screen.
As for the nitty-gritty of the gameplay we find several types of interactive HOS with some of them being lists of objects to find, while others are the progressive silhouette or replace the object types. The HOS scenes are really good and I was very entertained by the progressive silhouette scenes that made me think and not just go through the motions of finding an object. The developer was very creative with the HOS and they felt very integrated into the adventure. If like me you play a lot of HOPA games, it is difficult to find puzzles that are different, and this game is no exception. The puzzles are familiar but different in their own way, and none of them seem overly difficult to complete.
Aside from a finding some boring collectible, the CE content is standard fare with nothing exceptional in the package. Aside from the strategy guide, most CE content lately is negligible. Lately the whole CE concept has lost its luster and there have been very few true CE value games that have been released this year. It would be nice if BFG and the devs would rethink the whole CE concept and start including the extras in their CEs that would warrant the extra cost.
Early on I found myself drawn into the mystery and the story of The Emerald Maiden and really liked this game and knew before the demo ended that it was a “keeper.” Because there is a great sale today, I jumped at the chance to get this gem of a game along with another CE I wanted to add to my collection. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
It looks like Christmas Eve is definitely starting out strange for you. An owl smashes through your window and leaves a package on the table. The owl soon morphs into Koturi, your ancestor, who tells you the story of a jealous spirit who is determined to destroy his bloodline – and that includes you. This journey into the Redemption Cemetery will save your bloodline as you do battle with the jealous spirit who is bent on destroying your family.
The graphics are typical of ERS with wonderful, realistic artwork. The artistic team at ERS has outdone itself with the beautiful, crystalline depiction of winter. Bitter Frost seems so real I can almost feel the chill and want to reach out and touch the snowflakes. As great as the graphics are in this game, what really surprised me, and it seems to be a step back for the bunny team, is that there are no lip-synced voiceovers. Wow, what a departure from the norm for them since they led the field in lip-synced voiceovers.
You have an interactive map along with a diary both located on the lower left of your screen. Early in the game you will receive a magic feather that gives you the ability to make things larger.
The first HOS I encountered was the list type and there was a very fun twist at the end to finally “earn” my prize. There are differing types of HOS included into the mix as well but if you choose to not play the HOS you do have the option of playing a very interesting match 3 game. The mini puzzles are fun and are nothing new but they are fun. I haven’t found any to be overly challenging but I hold out hope that as the game progresses the puzzles will pick up in difficulty.
There is nothing earth shaking in CE content and it seems to be the standard fare so there is not a lot to say about it.
Redemption Cemetery Bitter Frost seems to be a welcome departure from a year or more of ERS games that have been jam-packed with cutesy animal helpers. Even as a huge fan of ERS games, I have to admit that I was becoming quite tired of the overwhelming use of animal helpers in some of the recent ERS games, so I was delighted to find that ERS has scaled back on some of the cutesy animals and is returning to the days of substance in gameplay rather than relying on cuteness. The demo of Bitter Frost was entertaining and enjoyable and I enjoyed the puzzles and the new twist on the HOS. However, since there is not a lot of CE content, I am not sure if I will purchase the CE or wait for the SE to appear - I guess that depends on what type of sale we have this weekend. After the demo of the game I am keeping my fingers crossed that Bitter Frost continues to be as entertaining and as promising as it was during the demo. As always, I recommend that you try the game to see if you like it.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
In a move that is uncharacteristic of your uncle Ebenezer, he sends you a letter at Christmas, asking you to come see him. Ebenezer tells you that he has been having strange visions and he feels “the breath of death like never before”. He has no one else to turn to for help and implores you to come to see him as quickly as possible. When you arrive at his home you find Uncle Ebenezer in a deep sleep. Soon the clock strikes midnight and you encounter the “ghost of Christmas Past” who tells you that it is not too late to save your uncle but to do so you must change the events of the past. Will you be able to fight off the “bad” Scrooge and change your uncle’s heart and life before it is too late? Enjoy this awesome Christmas adventure as you try to undo the past and put things right.
The graphics are beautiful – sometimes crisp and clear but at other times with a misty appearance. I love the music and the entire sound package in a Christmas Carol. What I didn’t like is that the music is choppy in that it will play briefly and then for no reason it abruptly stops and then may pick up again later. There seemed to be no consistency with the sound.
Although I didn’t find a diary or journal residing near the bottom of my screen, we find various notes and diary pages as we progress through the game. There is an interactive transporter type map which I found very helpful since there is a lot of back and forth during the adventure.
The HOS are the standard interactive list type with some items being difficult to find since they are either extremely well hidden or very tiny. The mini puzzles are fairly standard and include the scenario type that Elephant Games loves to create for their games. I personally don’t care for this type of puzzle but have to admit that they were fun and a bit different.
Last year when “The Nutcracker” was released for the holidays, the game took my breath away it was so wonderful and gorgeous. I have been waiting for another Christmas game from the Elephant and here it is – a wonderful version of Charles Dickens’ classic – A Christmas Carol. I knew from the get go the game would be wonderful and I purchased the CE immediately – no need to wait for a sale because I had to get my hands on this game NOW. Yes, the story does take liberties with the Dickens’ classic but it is a game and the developer still did a great job. Needless to say, after playing the CE, I was not disappointed. I found Christmas Stories a wonderful game to add to my Christmas collection, and know I will enjoy replaying it for years to come. As always, I recommend that you try the game to see if it is right for you
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
Mysterium: Lake Bliss begins with a cutscene that shows a young man collecting a glowing pink substance from the swampy areas around Lake Bliss. It appears that the substance has some type of hypnotic effect since the young man follows the liquid into the lake and to his doom. As the gameplay begins, you have been hired by Molly Huggins, a bride-to-be, who was left standing at the altar when her fiancé didn’t show up for their wedding. Tommy hasn’t been seen or heard from in over three days and Molly is quite concerned. It seems that something very strange is going on at Lake Bliss with the disappearance of at least three other men and some strange spectral sightings.
What is odd about Mysterium: Lake Bliss is that it appears to be set sometime around the mid-1920s in a typical American town, with the voiceovers supporting that theory. However, we find that the streets are being prepared for a parade to celebrate a royal wedding. So I can’t quite get a handle on that part of the story – although, since it is a game, I guess anything goes.
The graphics are excellent being very clear and crisp. The artwork is very good, and although the initial cutscene did seem a bit cartoonish in nature, that soon disappeared. The music is really very good as are the voiceovers, however there is no lip-sync, which is something I still find weird. It’s crazy because when the dog is barking his jaws move – go figure.
The developer has given us varying types of HOPs including the standard list type and some FROGS. There isn’t an alternative match 3 puzzle or option to skip the HOPs, so you just have to suck it up and get through the scenes. The puzzles are good and there are a lot of them, which is something I enjoy in a game. Most of the puzzles are familiar with none of them seeming too difficult – at least the ones I encountered didn’t seem overly challenging.
There is a detective’s notepad, located on the lower left of your screen, which keeps track of your objectives and the many details of the case. It might be helpful to check your notepad often in case you have missed anything along the way. I found that checking the objectives often provided valuable information. Your transporter type map, located next to the hint button, shows areas of interest where you have an active task.
As far as the CE content goes it is fairly much standard fare with nothing exceptional offered. You do have collectibles to find and achievements to earn but that’s about it.
Where Mysterium: Lake Bliss excels is with the storyline and the puzzles. The gameplay is entertaining, and who doesn’t love a good mystery. I found that the spookiness and mystery factor drew me in from the beginning and I knew this was a mystery I had to solve. Since the game is fairly light on CE content, I believe that I would have passed on the CE if the story had not been so intriguing, but throw in a weekend sale and I hit the buy button. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if Mysterium: Lake Bliss is a game you will enjoy.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
The game starts off with a bang as we witness the murder of a concert pianist. As we get into the story the police arrive at your new home to speak with your husband Russell, a renowned novelist, who was a friend to the pianist and two other recent murder victims. Is this just a coincidence, or is Russell being set up? As the body count rises, can you figure out if Russell is innocent or is there something deeper to the mystery?
The graphics are very nice hand-drawn art and have a bit of the old-world appearance. The game has very good lip-synced voiceovers, and the music along with the environmental sounds set the mood for a good old-fashioned mystery game.
You have a journal that contains all the information you gather on your adventure and you also have a transporter type map.
The HOPs are for the most part the interactive list type and most of them were junkpiles so I did find it difficult to locate some items. There are some great puzzles in the game and although some of them seem to be familiar many of them are a bit different and challenging.
I purchased the CE version of Punished Talents and really liked the game a lot. It was a good mystery adventure and next moves were not always apparent. Because this is a game where you will need to think about what to do next, it makes the game a bit more challenging and entertaining. Throw in the puzzles and you have a really good game. Of course many of you may think it is the same old theme but I found it different enough that it wasn’t stale or boring. Who can help enjoying a good whodunit mystery? As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if Punished Talents is a game that you will enjoy.