biscuitsmama's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:67,036
- Reviews Submitted:1148
- First Review:July 13, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 16, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you find your Maestro’s murderer in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
116 of 149 found this review helpful
MUSIC COMPETITIONS CAN BE DEADLY
PostedApril 1, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromA game with twists and turns so I will need to be very careful if I want to find out who killed my teacher
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Music competitions can be deadly as you soon learn when you play this new Danse Macabre game – Florentine Elegy. You play the game as a student of the famed Maestro Benedetti who is one of the leading composers in Italy and you are very fortunate to be his student. Even though he is at times arrogant and self-absorbed, he is like a father to you. When he is murdered after a competition you become the prime suspect and face death by hanging. One of Maestro Benedetti’s long-time friends Maestro Tonelli comes to your rescue and helps you escape from the prison. As you search for the killer you find a tangled web and have no idea who you can trust. Will you be able to navigate the streets and alleys of Florence as you search for answers and find out who really is behind the death of your beloved teacher?
Florentine Elegy has beautiful graphics even though they sometimes appear a bit misty but I think that it is intentional. The characters seem to be a bit cartoonish early in the game but do improve. Your only tool is a map that is found early in the game and at least during the demo there is no special amulet or animal helper so you are on your own to solve the mystery.
The HOP scenes are very familiar but well-designed. Personally, I found some of the HOPs to be very tedious because the scenes are junk piles and the required items are very small, muted or well-hidden. Fortunately some of the HOPS offer an alternative game rather than searching for the items. At one time this developer created beautiful HOPS that were excellent because the items were larger and much easier to spot. The puzzles were nothing new but I really don’t expect developers to constantly come up with new ideas. After playing HOP games for well-over ten years I have seen most of the puzzles and still enjoy solving them. Some of the puzzles in this game are easy while some have a bit more challenge. There are a couple of puzzles included that I skipped right away since they are ones that I don’t like and won’t waste time trying to solve them.
The HOP scenes are very familiar but well-designed. Personally, I found some of the HOPs to be very tedious because the scenes are junk piles and the required items are very small, muted or well-hidden. Fortunately some of the HOPS offer an alternative game rather than searching for the items. At one time this developer created beautiful HOPS that were excellent because the items were larger and much easier to spot. The puzzles were nothing new but I really don’t expect developers to constantly come up with new ideas. After playing HOP games for well-over ten years I have seen most of the puzzles and still enjoy solving them. Some of the puzzles in this game are easy while some have a bit more challenge. There are a couple of puzzles included that I skipped right away since they are ones that I don’t like and won’t waste time trying to solve them.
If you prefer the CE version of the game Florentine Elegy offers the following goodies: collectible grape clusters hidden in each scene, morphing objects found in HOPS, strategy guide, bonus chapter, concept art, wallpapers, music, replay of HOPS and puzzles, play Match 3, and the souvenir room.
Florentine Elegy has an excellent storyline and I need to know why Maestro Benedetti was murdered and who or what is behind the recent murders of other musicians. Even though I found the HOPS to be a bit tedious, I did enjoy most of the puzzles and believe that the full game will be even better. When the demo ended I had to hit the buy button so I could solve the mystery. In spite of the difficult HOP scenes, I know that Florentine Elegy is a game that I will enjoy with my only concern being that it might be a fairly short game. There are only four chapters and a bonus game with the strategy guide having only 32 pages. Even though it might be short it is still a game that seems interesting. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if you will enjoy this seventh game in the Danse Macabre series.
I recommend this game!
Can you find your long-lost brother in time?!
Overall rating
5
/
5
97 of 117 found this review helpful
BEWARE OF LITTLE OLD LADIES WHO MIGHT NOT BE AS SWEET AS THEY SEEM
PostedMarch 30, 2017
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Tales of Terror Art of Horror is the fourth game in the series. I must say that this has been a series where every game has been excellent and from only playing the beta and demo it looks like Art of Horror will be just as terrific.
You play the game as a young woman whose brother Adam was kidnapped twenty years ago when he was only an infant. You receive a letter informing you that Adam is alive and has been living at the Artem Estate. When you arrive at the estate you are greeted by Joanne Artem, a sweet grandmotherly type lady who invites you in and offers a warm cup of tea. Your first mistake is to trust this sweet little old lady and your second is drinking the cup of tea. You soon awaken to find yourself a prisoner who must now escape the estate and find a way to take Adam with you. Are you ready to face the challenges ahead and free yourself as well as other prisoners you might encounter? There is still the lingering question of where Adam can be found or if he is still alive. Play this excellent new Tales of Terror as you encounter the true Art of Horror as you forge ahead with your quest.
This game has it all for me with wonderful graphics, an excellent sound package, great HOPS and Puzzles and a thrilling storyline.
The HOPS are very creative and feature one that I love where we must locate items on a playground merry-go-round. I have seen variations on this type of scene in the past but this one is very well-designed. We do visit some scenes twice but they are always a bit different and not boring. The puzzles are mostly quite easy but the story is so interesting I didn’t want to have to solve a difficult puzzle every time I turned around as has been the case with a lot of recent games. I do enjoy puzzles but I am primarily an HO lover and truly enjoy creative HO scenes in in games more than a ton of puzzles. Puzzles add to the enjoyment and gameplay but not when there are too many and perhaps too challenging to be enjoyable.
If you prefer the CE version of a game, this one includes collectibles, morphing objects, achievements, wallpapers, artwork, video, music, a strategy guide, and the bonus game.
I loved the beta for the game and I’ve been waiting for its full release for months. It made my day when I checked the week’s upcoming games on Monday and saw that Art of Horror is finally here. As soon as I went to BFG this morning, I hit the buy button. Now I can spend the day happily playing my way to finding Adam and escaping the dreadful Artem Estate. It might seem like an easy game to some but I find it enjoyable with a terrific storyline that held my attention and made me want more. As always, please try the demo to see if Art of Horror is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
In the midst of a battle for the Academy of Alchemy, a young promising student, Eliana, is sent on a dangerous mission of retrieving three powerful artifacts, the Dragon Crystals.
Overall rating
3
/
5
45 of 57 found this review helpful
QUEENS QUEST 3 IS A POTENTIALLY GREAT FANTASY GAME THAT QUICKLY NOSE-DIVES INTO TEDIUM
PostedMarch 25, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromMy oh my, will someone please take my fairy helper away and hide her where she won’t be found or heard – ever again!!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
You play the game as Eliana who was brought to the Jora Academy of Alchemy for safekeeping when she was an infant. You have been raised by the school’s headmaster and under his care you are now ready to become a full-fledged alchemist. As soon as you pass the final test and receive your Alchemist’s Amulet the school is attacked by gargoyles. The Headmaster is injured during the attack and he asks you to go to the castle in the City of Thorns to find the special Dragon Crystals since they are the only way to destroy the gargoyles and rid the realm of the evil Dragon Lord.
The graphics are colorful but I don't care for the overall effect of the characters in the game. The sound effects produce a lot of background noise that I find distracting and the high-pitched baby voice of the fairy has me hoping that she will disappear very early in the game. Although there is a custom setting included when setting up the gameplay, you cannot turn off the misclick penalty button. Your tools include an interactive map, Alchemist’s Amulet and the annoying fairy.
The HOP scenes are interactive and some have a bit of a twist. Some items are well-hidden and I had to use the dreaded hint button more than once, particularly in the first HOP. Although there is variety in the type of HOP scenes many are the standard list type. The puzzles include some that we have seen many times in previous games such as mixing potions and opening locks. Although they might technically be classified as HOPS since we must find items, I absolutely hate those blue-toned storybook puzzles where we must locate almost invisible runes. I only call them puzzles since they have a skip button but be aware that if you skip the puzzle, you miss the story.
If you prefer the CE version of a game this one includes collectible items – 16 hats, 42 crests, and 8 ghosts hidden in various scenes in the game. There are morphing objects and achievements included as well. Other standard extras include a 57 page in-game strategy guide that provides some extra help if needed. The remaining extras are standard with the bonus game, concept art, wallpapers and music.
The HOP scenes are interactive and some have a bit of a twist. Some items are well-hidden and I had to use the dreaded hint button more than once, particularly in the first HOP. Although there is variety in the type of HOP scenes many are the standard list type. The puzzles include some that we have seen many times in previous games such as mixing potions and opening locks. Although they might technically be classified as HOPS since we must find items, I absolutely hate those blue-toned storybook puzzles where we must locate almost invisible runes. I only call them puzzles since they have a skip button but be aware that if you skip the puzzle, you miss the story.
If you prefer the CE version of a game this one includes collectible items – 16 hats, 42 crests, and 8 ghosts hidden in various scenes in the game. There are morphing objects and achievements included as well. Other standard extras include a 57 page in-game strategy guide that provides some extra help if needed. The remaining extras are standard with the bonus game, concept art, wallpapers and music.
The previous two games in the Queen’s Quest were very good but Queen’s Quest 3 End of Dawn seems to suffer from tedium that takes over as soon as the game begins. Of course the demo ends on a cliff-hanger but I am still not sure that overall the game is one that I will enjoy enough to buy. Even though there are some good puzzles in the game, I think that I might just have to pass on this one. Many of you will like the game but please try the demo to see if Queen’s Quest 3 End of Dawn is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop the townspeople from mysteriously aging?
Overall rating
5
/
5
243 of 315 found this review helpful
MYSTERY CASE FILES IS HERE AND IT ISN'T THANKSGIVING, OR DID I MISS IT?
PostedMarch 23, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromWhat a terrific surprise to find a Mystery Case Files game months before its tradidional Thankgiving release
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In a surprise move BFG has given us our much anticipated Thanksgiving game eight months early. It is anyone’s guess as to why the departure from the norm but I am thrilled to get a Mystery Case Files game earlier than anticipated, and even more so after last year’s excellent game The Broken Hour. The new MCF game The Black Veil begins with a cut scene showing a gravely wounded soldier on the battlefield who reaches out to touch an apparition in the moment before death. As he pulls back in surprise he finds a feather in his hand that soon turns to gold as his mortal wound is miraculously healed. The actual game begins when we see Alison Sterling (yes, our old friend from Dire Grove) reporting on a viral outbreak in Dreadmond, Scotland that that has people fleeing the city in fear of their lives. The virus causes people to age at an accelerated pace and everyone who comes in contact with the virus soon dies of old age. As you delve into this latest mystery you find things are not always as they seem.
As is always the case with this top notch developer, the graphics and the Mystery Case Files world created are absolutely wonderful. Everything about the game is exactly what I expect and look forward to in this wonderful series. At least from what I have played in the early part of the game, the Dalimar saga is not present – thankfully! You have an interactive map that is present at the beginning of the game.
The HOPS and the puzzles are incredible. I don’t want to say more because you need to experience them and find out exactly what is awaiting you in the game. I thought I had just about seen everything there is to offer in HOP scenes but EIPIX takes creativity a step beyond and has given us a new twist. The puzzles are terrific and yes, they are a challenge. When the first MCF game appeared and we encountered the Rube-Goldberg puzzles I was amazed. It probably took weeks to get through that game and I needed help to complete some of the puzzles that were found at each level. Now, I look forward to finding those Rube-Goldberg puzzles in the MCF games and I am happy to say there is a good one early in The Black Veil.
If you prefer the CE version of a game this one offers the following extra content: 6 Morphing Objects, 7 Trophies, and 39 Puzzle Pieces to find. There are 20 achievements to earn and some of them have additional parts. Other extras include the standard fare wallpapers, artwork, movies and music. You can replay the HOPS and Puzzles, Knights Dire Fate, Trophy Room, Strategy Guide, and Bonus Chapter.
The Mystery Case Files games have for the most part been quite terrific. There was a point when I reached my limit with the Dalimar saga and I am quite happy that maybe they have gone away for good. The Black Veil is creepy and has an excellent storyline. I knew that the game would be a no-brainer purchase for me so I hit the buy button immediately. I’m am so thrilled to have an exciting MCF game to play and that it is one to stimulate the brain as well as provide the fun I look forward to in a challenging mystery game. Please try the demo to see if this Mystery Case Files is a game you will enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a stone-cold monster before it's too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
146 of 193 found this review helpful
WHEN IS A LIZARD NOT A LIZARD
PostedMarch 18, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromGosh I am not sure where I am going but I don’t want to end up petrified
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It’s a big day for you Pumpkin as you’ve just returned home after your training as a member of Lunden’s Guard. You have been assigned a new post to investigate the disappearance of the town’s former commander and to serve as the temporary commander during his absence. Your father, a retired guardsman, is proud of your accomplishments and overjoyed to welcome you home. To celebrate your arrival he has a special gift for you but you must find it first by following the clues that he has left for you. While you are searching you hear noise and find that your father has been attacked by some sort of creature who is looking for someone. Your father refuses to say anything and you rush to save him but you are overcome when the creature destroys the stairs. After you free yourself from the rubble you find that your father has been turned to stone, and one of the happiest days of your life becomes a nightmare. Now you must seek a way to return your father to his former human state and learn who or what the creature was looking for when he attacked your father.
The graphics are excellent as are the voice overs and sound package in the game. There is a custom setting available so that you can set up the game for the way you like to play I think that this developer offers one of the best custom settings available because the hint and skip settings include very acceptable time ranges that most of us prefer. Your tools include an interactive map that you find early in the game and the special gift from your father called the Protector that will help you when evil is near.
The HOPS are interesting and done with some creative touches although nothing is really new. I realize that it is very difficult for developers to always come up with something new so what I look for are the scenes that are entertaining and keep me thinking. I believe that the developer has made great efforts to try to give us some well-designed HOPS that are a bit challenging as well as fun. Along with the HOPS there are some interesting puzzles that, while not too different from what we have seen before, contain some challenge. There were some easy puzzles but I did skip maybe two during the demo because I didn’t want to take the time to figure out exactly what to do. Each time we use the Protector we of course need to play a puzzle or two before it is ready to zap the enemy or perceived danger. I am not a fan of those where we drag a marble along a crooked path but they are not too difficult in The Black Sun.
If you happen to prefer the CE version of a game, this one includes the usual suspects – find collectible lizards and morphing objects, achievements to earn, wallpapers, screensavers, artwork, videos, music, replay of HOPS and Puzzles, Souvenir Room, Skipping Stones, a Terrarium, Strategy Guide, and a bonus chapter.
Myths of the World The Black Sun is a game worth playing if you can manage to get into it. I think in an effort to make the game seem more difficult than it really might be it starts off very slow and is filled with so many tedious and mundane tasks that I almost gave up. I say almost, but I am glad that I stuck it out because the game does become better by the time the demo ends. Of course I will say the same thing here that I said about the puzzles and that there might not be too much that it new because it is a HOPA game after all, and the premise is the same – find missing items to complete other items so we can move forward. Where The Black Sun becomes a very good game is with an interesting storyline that while similar has a different spin on the bad guy. By the time the demo time was coming to an end I was so into the storyline that it was a surprise. It seemed like it took me quite a while to get to the point but when I did, I didn’t want to quit so had to buy the game. I love HOPA games and have played almost every game released here at BFG in the past ten years and I still manage to find something to love about most of them. Of course, you might not be so easy to please as I am, so please try the demo to see if you might just find that you like the game a lot.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a mystical murderer in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
160 of 192 found this review helpful
UNSEEN FEARS BODY THIEF IS DIFFERENT AND CREATIVE
PostedMarch 16, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromIt is good to see the unseen world if you are a paranormal investigator
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Unseen Fears Body Thief is one of those games that you will most likely either love or hate. Although I found the storyline rather odd I did like the mix of fantasy and good old-fashioned crime mystery. There is an effort by the developer to bring something new to the table and I appreciate the result.
You play the game as an investigator with special psychic abilities. You had a near death experience from drowning as a child and you were rescued by a mystical being you named Khepri. Over the years he was your only family and your mentor who taught you to see the unseen world. Then one day Khepri vanished and you have been searching for him since that day.
The game is technically not the best work by this development team and at time the graphics seemed downright cartoonish. The first scene in the game had me searching my past games because I know I have seen that same warehouse that was most likely recycled from another game. A very creative touch in the game is that at the beginning you make a choice on how realistic, or perhaps graphic you want the game to be. I chose the more realistic mode and personally I didn’t find anything too gross that upset me. Aside from the standard interactive map your tools include a special ability that as a psychic investigator you can use to see what is generally hidden from those with “normal” vision.
There is nothing new in the HOPS or the puzzles although there is a great deal of creativity used when looking over and categorizing the information from the crime scene. That was a nice touch and I did enjoy figuring out exactly what I should do. We have the same building potion mini-game that is quite often used in fantasy type games so there was nothing new with that. All in all there are portions of the game that are quite well designed and do show an attempt at something a bit different.
If you prefer the CE version of a game, this one includes spotting 77 symbols that are hidden throughout the game. Standard extras in the game include achievements to earn, a strategy guide and the bonus chapter. Of course you will also find wallpapers, artwork, videos, music, replay of HOPS and puzzles.
Unseen Fears Body Thief was a game that I have been waiting for since playing the beta a few months ago. It does have some twists in the plot and I do like the creative touches for solving each crime. It remains to be seen where this game will go as it moves forward. I generally enjoy the games from this developer and if I can get over the bit of oddity in the story, then it may turn out to be an excellent game. Please try the demo to see if Unseen Fears Body Thief is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Open a puzzle box to unlock four extraordinary worlds!
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 29 found this review helpful
NOT THE GAME I EXPECTED
PostedMarch 12, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromA good game but a bit of a let down after loving The Masterpiece
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Subliminal Realms series, The Call of Atis, is the second game in the series and one that I have been waiting almost two years to see. When Subliminal Realms the Masterpiece was released in 2015 I thought it was one of the best games thus far in that year. I think I enjoyed every minute of playing through the painting portals and solving puzzles along the way. Now in the Call of Atis the game is much better.
Albert is on a diving trip when he finds an object that is definitely much more than he should handle. You play the game as his fiancé, Samantha, who just happens to be nurse at the hospital where Albert is recovering from his accident. After assuring Samantha that everything is okay, Albert is whisked away through a portal and Samantha is off to rescue her man.
Although the graphics might appear cartoonish to some, I still find them okay because the hand-drawn artwork in the scenes is terrific. The characters do appear flat but I can get over that because the game itself is terrific. You have all of the other technical features we have come to expect such as a custom level and an interactive, transporter type map that proves to be very helpful. There is another tool that you receive early in the game and it is a special box that will get rid of the evil fog you encounter in the game. In order to use the box you must solve a mini-puzzle but most of them are fairly easy.
The HOPS are interactive and items are well-hidden or you must solve a puzzle to find them. I hardly ever use the hint button but I did so many times in Call of Atis. You might have to use it as well since some items are difficult to find. The HOPS are very creative and you need to think about where to find items in the scenes.
I found the puzzles enjoyable but not really too difficult. I don’t do well with the hand-eye coordination puzzles and didn’t particularly care for those. One of the stinkers had three levels and I made it through the first two but finally hit the skip button on the third level. The other puzzles were terrific and some were even challenging.
The CE version of the game has 90 crystals and 15 morphing objects to find in various scenes in the game. Other extras include achievements to earn, posters, concept art, videos, music, replay of HOPS and puzzles a strategy guide and a bonus chapter.
Since I loved the first game in the series, it was a given that I would purchase the game as soon as it was released. I played the beta of the game several months ago and have been waiting for Call of Atis. Unfortunately, I gave the game a 5-star review based on the demo but after finishing the game I felt a bit disappointed. The first game in the series was so complex that I held out hope for Call of Atis and, by comparison, the game fell flat and could in no way compete with the first Subliminal Realms game. The changes over the recent year or two have resulted in games that are pared down and abbreviated in size. We no longer have games that provide hours or days of gameplay but are quickly thrown together and left hanging at the end. I guess until we are willing to pay full price for CE games, we can continue to get half the value that we once enjoyed. In the end, Call of Atis was a minor disappointment but was still a very good game – just not what I expected. Please try the demo or maybe enjoy this SE version of the game that is worth one of those free gameclub coupons that members acquire.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious exhibit sends a young woman into a parallel world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
159 of 195 found this review helpful
AN AMAZING MAYAN ADVENTURE
PostedMarch 11, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromWhere am I? I don't remember Earth having two moons.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Legacy Forgotten Gates is a new game from a developer whose games I love! This excellent creative team has brought us the incredible New York Mysteries as well as other award worthy games such as the Lost Lands and House of 1000 Doors series and one of my favorite older games Forbidden Secrets Alien Town. All of these games can be found here at BFG and I highly recommend that you give them a try if you are new to the HOPA genre and looking for some wonderful games.
In the opening cut scene of Forgotten Gates we learn that you (playing the game as Diana) are finishing up your work in the Mayan display at a museum when you hear a noise and go to investigate. No sooner do you reach the large Mayan stone calendar than it splits and you are sucked into a portal that lands you in an ancient land. Before long you begin to wonder where you actually might have landed. During your adventure you meet a host of interesting characters who will either help or hinder you as you survey the land.
This game is full of gorgeous graphics and wonderful gameplay. The technical features include a custom level that allows you to tinker with the settings. Your tools include the best maps ever designed for HOPA games and are familiar if you have played other games by this creative team. I like the multi-tabbed sections of the map that appear on the right as they let you know where you have active tasks and also indicate where collectibles still need to be found.
The HOP scenes are mostly done with items being shown in silhouette but there are not too many of true HOP scenes. Since this is a light adventure style game most of the items you need to find are available as you survey the landscape and you will simply pick them up as you find them. The puzzles are easy but they are a lot of fun. I didn’t feel the need to skip any of the puzzles during the demo but sometimes we do find a few more difficult puzzles as we progress in the game. Because I own almost every game from this developer, I am familiar with the puzzles they include but that doesn’t mean they are boring. I happen to like the fact that they do not include those toggle or inter-related spin type puzzles that I generally hate.
If you prefer the CE version of the game this one includes collectibles and morphing objects to find. The collectibles will complete 5 different set with sets of between 7-12 items in each? There are 30 morphing objects to spot as well as achievements to earn. The other extras are the standard items found in most CE games including a strategy guide and the bonus chapter.
If you read the first paragraph it will come as no surprise that I purchased the game as soon as I saw it offered this morning. Since I love the gameplay in the other games I mentioned, I know that The Legacy Forgotten Gates is a game I will love. Not only have I played the games mentioned above but I have replayed them several times during the past years. In many of the games from this team there is a hint at sci-fi, a theme I happen to enjoy. In this game I get to explore the beautiful artwork from a culture I have always loved. When I was young we lived a few blocks from a museum and I would spend every moment I could exploring the treasures hidden inside. That museum set the tone for my love of other cultures and is most likely why I chose to study anthropology in college. Even though I love this game, we all have different tastes, so please try the demo to see if The Legacy Forgotten Gates is a game you will enjoy as well.
I recommend this game!
The citizens of Bordeaux are outraged after eight monks are murdered.
Overall rating
5
/
5
174 of 258 found this review helpful
FINALLY A TERRIFIC HAUNTED LEGENDS - DWARF AND ALL!
PostedMarch 9, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromMaybe his excellency should have continued with the execution. But then we wouldn't have this terrific game to play
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Last year we visited France in a terrific game - Haunted Legends the Iron Mask and here we are again with a cast of somewhat familiar characters. Yes, that rascally cat is gracing us with his presence and causing some minor roadblocks to our progress. I am not a cat person but I can’t help but love seeing this cat, or his cousins, show up in some of the other games by this developer as well. In the opening cut scene of Haunted Legends Black Hawk we see Stephan Astor on his way to the gallows but it is not until later that we learn why he was sentenced to death or why there is a last-minute reprieve that commuted his sentence to twenty years in prison. As you play this wonderful new Haunted Legends game you soon learn more about Stephan and his past. Of course what would a Haunted Legends game be without that nasty little dwarf who seems to create havoc at every turn?
In Haunted Legends Black Hawk you once again play a royal investigator who has been called upon by Abbot Dominic of the Marinite monastery to investigate the strange disappearance of eight monks. As you investigate and uncover the facts you get to experience the terrific graphics and gameplay created by this creative development team that led me to my love of the hidden object genre.
The HOP scenes include a very well-crafted storybook scene that I thoroughly enjoyed. Along with the standard silhouette-type scene there are some other types of scenes including a creative gardening scene where we fill a cart with various types of produce. All in all, the HOP scenes seemed better in this game than in some others. The puzzles were also enjoyable even the toggle type that I generally dislike. Maybe it is just me but everything about this game seemed a bit different and somehow a step-up from the previous Haunted Legends game.
The CE version includes morphing objects as well as collectibles and it looks like the rascally rabbit team has stepped up and finally included a package of extras that make the CE version worth the extra cost. Aside from the morphing objects and collectibles there are achievements to earn, wallpapers, screensavers, concept artwork, music, videos, replay of HOPs and Puzzles, the strategy guide and a bonus chapter.
In recent months I have seen an improvement in the games offered by this developer and I can say that I have found them much more enjoyable. I happen to like the Haunted Legends series that is overall quite good with only a few of the games being a miss. Black Hawk is definitely a keeper and a game that I purchased immediately when it was offered. As a personal note, it is so nice to see a game from this developer that doesn’t have the opening scenes splattered in blood only to attract attention. Black Hawk will stand on its own as a great game because of the story and the gameplay. As always, please try the demo to see if Haunted Legends Black Hawk is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Can you beat the clock and get your life back?
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 13 found this review helpful
ANOTHER SEQUEL THAT CAN'T LIVE UP TO THE ORIGINAL
PostedMarch 8, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromIsn't there a rock song with the lyrics run, run, run away?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Wow, what just happened here? In the words of the BFG marketing blurb writer – Fame, Theft and Murder is a “rockin’ new thriller in the Cadenza series!” Yes, the game is actually part of the Cadenza series but I am not sure about it being a rockin’ thriller – it is more like an annoying record that is stuck in a groove. There are so many things about the game that grated on me that I couldn’t get past the demo.
The premise of the game is just plain ludicrous and I had trouble even following the plot line. Okay so Adam (who really isn’t Adam at all) steals Mike’s body because he has worn out the one he currently inhabits. Poor Mike is now left in an old body and the only way to get his life back is to find his most precious item – his lucky guitar pick. Oh my and I have to do it quickly if there is any hope of regaining my own body. So with a time limit looming over my head I must complete one silly task after another and then break into my own home. My goodness what a mess!
Well, I am shocked because this game is just so amateurish for such a talented developer who generally gives us terrific games. The first Cadenza game was so awesome and it simply oozed the ambience of New Orleans and the great jazz clubs of the 1940s. Unfortunately after that stellar first game the subsequent games have dwindled to the drivel of Fame, Theft and Murder.
Others have written in-depth about the HOPs and Puzzles so I am just going to ignore them other than to say they were just time-fillers for a weak storyline. Most of the HOP scenes and the puzzles were recycled from other games by this developer and overall they lacked imagination and creativity.
If you like CE versions of games you will most likely find this one on a par with what we find in most CE games. There are Achievements to earn, Records to collect and Morphing Objects to find. Yippee we get to replay HOP scenes as well! There is a Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter as well as Wallpapers, Concept Art, and Soundtracks.
Unfortunately, this Cadenza simply fell flat for me on too many levels to be enjoyable. If I wanted to believe this storyline it might have been easier had the game been touted as a Fantasy game rather than part of the Cadenza series. I hate to see a developer whose games I generally enjoy present a game like Fame, Theft and Murder. Hopefully, they will take a look at the reviews and see where they went wrong. Perhaps it is time to put the Cadenza series to bed and move on to something new with a bit more creativity. Please try the demo before you buy. Who knows you might love the game.
I don't recommend this game.