In Witches’ Legacy The Tie That Binds - the 4th game in this series – Lynn and Edward are about to be married when Edward suddenly goes off on a search related to his family. Lynn suspects it is a trap so we are off and running to save Edward and find the truth about what happened to his family. With our friend Imp in tow, it looks like we may have a sometimes dangerous and rather entertaining time ahead.
The graphics follow the same style as in the other Witches’ Legacy games and although very good they are not very crisp. I think that the artwork is generally good with a varied color palette; however, the pink, blue and purple tones have been used too much in recent games is becoming a bit too much. The voiceovers are much like those in the other games in the series but Lynn’s voice seems rather stilted and flat for a young woman who is approaching her wedding day. Although the voiceovers may leave a lot to be desired, the other sound effects in the game are excellent, particularly the thunderstorm at the beginning of the game.
You have a diary that keeps track of the story and other information you might need at a later point in the game. Early into the game you will piece together your interactive, transporter type map that shows areas of interest and other information as well. Of course we have our pal Imp to accomplish some tasks that we can't.
There are various types of interactive HOPs to be found but most are the list type. If you don’t want to search through junk piles to find objects on the list, you do have an alternative matching puzzle to play. As I have mentioned in other reviews, developers now include puzzles that seem very easy with less challenge to solve. This is a trend to perhaps attract some of those who don’t like puzzles in HOPA games.
The CE content does include achievements to be earned, 35 puzzle pieces to collect, and also 35 morphing objects to find. It looks like we also will need to find objects for our cute little Imp scattered throughout the game that can be used to fix up his special abode or keep him entertained. The remainder of the CE content is standard fare with nothing exceptional in the package.
Did I like the game? Not sure because the story is becoming old. I think the game is not nearly as exciting as the first game in the series, but that is often the case with series that go on and on and on. For me the game seemed more of the same old thing, however it was still entertaining since I can’t seem to get enough of this type of game. For those who are new to HOPA games I can recommend it as an excellent game, but as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
+35points
53of71voted this as helpful.
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
A father returns home to find his children missing - all but one, who refuses to say a word...
Overall rating
5/ 5
103 of 119 found this review helpful
A Graphically Beautiful Fantasy Game - Very Entertaining
I must admit that when I purchased the CE of Ominous Objects and heard the dialog, I thought give me a break! The dialogue was so far-fetched for the eighteenth century that I had to laugh. That being said, if you can check your sense of reality at the door and realize that Ominous Objects is just a game, then you may end up liking it. Since the game is from an excellent developer who has brought us extremely good games in the past, I knew it would be a great game, and it was!
The game has excellent graphics that are quite colorful, gorgeous and exceedingly crisp. Given the wonderful graphics in Ominous Objects it would seem logical that the developer would also include a wonderful sound package but that is not the case since the voiceovers certainly miss the mark and are the weak point of the game. It is not so much that the voices are terrible, but coupled with the dialogue that is so out of character given the time period, the overall effect is almost laughable. However, if you can get past the obvious time period flaws, then the rest of the sound package is excellent.
Very early in the game you will find your interactive, transporter map but there is not a journal or diary. When you click the circle on the lower left it will open other circles for the map, goals, achievements and the Kitty Playroom. Although I do prefer having a journal during a game, I didn’t really feel that it was needed in Ominous Objects. Oh, yes you do have a cute and cuddly fur-ball who joins you on your adventure and who will help you when needed. Some gamers hate pet helpers in games but I rather like them once in a while.
The HOPs are very interactive and many of them include mini-puzzles that must be completed in order to earn your “prize.” IMHO, the puzzles are this game’s strong point and although they are not difficult, some do take a bit of time and thought to complete. This is a game where the HOPs, puzzles and adventure fit together making Ominous Objects Family Portrait the total package and a great game to play.
Yes the story is a bit far-fetched (I don’t think castles were purchased as if they were tract homes in the eighteen century) but I still had a great time playing due to the good puzzles and HOPs. Overall the game is very entertaining, enjoyable and quite long. In the end it was a wonderful game and one well worth adding to my collection. If there happens to be a great CE sale you might like to consider the CE as well, but no matter which version of the game you decide to get, I hope you will find it to be as enjoyable as I did. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
You play the game as the new sheriff of Meadows Town and you are on your way to investigate a murder and the disappearance of the former sheriff. You arrive in town just as a major storm is approaching and the area is being evacuated, so I wonder what else can go wrong. Well, the answer is quite a bit since there is the inevitable car crash and you must extricate yourself right off the bat. The storyline turns out to be a bit intriguing although very similar to others, and of course there is the angry female spirit that we need to deal with as the story unfolds. However, there are still a few twists and turns to be found along the way.
I love ERS graphics and can always identify an ERS game simply because of the graphics style and artistry. The voiceovers are very good and, yes, lip-sync is back - thank you ERS! One of the enjoyable things about Bones of Meadows Town is the tongue-in-cheek dialogue and humor in the game, which is quite funny at times. Of course the rest of the sound package is quite good with the music and ambient effects that are quite spooky at times.
Rather than having a journal or diary, we have an evidence board that will help us deduce what exactly is going on and who the culprit(s) might be. There is a folder located in the evidence area that contains our objectives or tasks. We find our GPS interactive/transporter type map very early in the game. There is another familiar tool that we acquire fairly early in the game – a device called a “Spirit Detector” that helps locate ghostly energy that can be used to help us get rid of certain obstacles that we might encounter.
The game seems to play more like an adventure/puzzle game with only two HO scenes to be found during the demo. One HO scene was a match type, while the other scene was one where you replace items. I actually wasn’t sure if it was an HOS as it was very subtle. In any event if you choose not to locate items in the HOS then there is a Tetris style puzzle available to play. Of course the puzzles that I encountered were nothing too difficult as is the current trend, which is a bit sad.
In the CE version of the game you will collect runes that will be used to interpret ancient scrolls. Although the beta of the game did indicate that there were achievements to be earned, those seem to be missing from the full release. The remainder of the CE content is standard fare with all of the expected content. I always purchase the CE since I happen to like the integrated strategy guide that is included, but that is a personal choice.
Well, I must admit that it didn’t take too long before I was afraid to open doors for fear of what might be lurking behind and more than once I had a bit of a scare. I admit that I am an ERS super-fan and so the game was an instant purchase for me. IMHO, this developer always a presents games that are what I personally find to be the complete package and ultimately playable. Whether or not you buy the CE, the SE or decide not to purchase at all is a personal choice, but as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
It was a dark and stormy night and you guessed it, something evil is afoot. A neighbor has called the police as she is concerned about the new family that has recently taken up residence at what is believed to be a cursed castle. When police arrive at the scene the family is nowhere to be found, that is all except for the youngest child. You have been called upon by the police (since you just happen to be in the area) to help with their investigation.
I find the graphics to be quite good although a bit “jumpy” at times, meaning that when the characters move it is not always fluid. The overall sound package in the game is very good, including the voiceovers that I think are terrific. The whole presentation fits nicely together to create a game that is very appealing. We have a nice mystery on our hands and the developer has created just the right atmosphere with the spooky music and effects that help bring the story to life.
You have a diary that contains various sections for tasks, memos and record, which is a video replay of certain scenes. The interactive, transporter map indicates tasks to accomplish and areas of interest that should be explored. The map is set up in a way that I happen to like with pages or tabs for each of the different areas of the castle and grounds.
Most of the HOPs are interactive but the progressive ones were a bit tricky, although once you find the first item they are easier. Then there is the little “surprise” that comes with some HOPs that is not to be missed. The puzzles are interesting and I struggled with the first lock puzzle but that is just because I am not great at “mousing” – LOL, and once I got the pattern it was okay. I don’t hold out hope for too many difficult puzzles because the recent trend has been to include very easy puzzles in HOPA games.
We have only 16 collectibles to find in the game – fragments of photos that complete at least one portrait but I think with the way it is set up we will have more than one in the end. The remaining extras in the CE are fairly standard but recently some of the developers have been adding that extra touch where we see the team. In this game we have photo drawings of the team along with their name and title. IMHO, this is quite a nice little extra that I happen to enjoy, and do hope that more developers start adding this gallery to their games. As far as the CE version goes, IMHO, there is nothing to knock the socks off.
Overall the game is quite enjoyable, albeit the story line is one that has been “gamed” to death. We have a cursed castle with some unspecified ancient evil or ghosts lurking in the shadows. That doesn’t mean that I find it boring, it is just that the story is the same as always but with the developer’s own spin on the tale. I still had fun and found the gameplay excellent, and I do like the bits of fright that come along the way as travel through the castle. Just a curiosity though, have you ever wondered why we have policemen, inspectors, or other charming male figures in games but we are always the ones who do the actual work? I think it is about time we have a nice male superhero show up once in a while to actually provide some help along the way; maybe HE could replace our pet helpers – just a thought devs! Even though I really liked the game and purchased it early on, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
In Mayan Prophecies Blood Moon Alexis and her partner Gregory are back and once again in a cat (although it is a big one this time) and mouse chase with their nemesis Gomez. At the end of the last game they had re-captured Gomez but the tricky devil managed to slip away. Now, two years later, Gomez is back and up to his old tricks, this time with the aid of a powerful Mayan artifact – a sacred dagger. What will it take for you and Gregory to finally put a stop to Gomez’s reign of terror? We are in for a great ride and lots of adventure in Mayan Prophecies Blood Moon as we try to put a stop to Gomez’s evil antics.
The graphics are good and reminiscent of the graphics in the first Mayan Prophecies game but, unfortunately, the overuse of a worn out color palette in fantasy type games is becoming a bit tiresome. Aside from all the pink, purple, and blue (again) over wash in many scenes the graphics in general are very good but it is my humble opinion that they could have been a bit sharper. I don’t have a lot to say about the sound package except to note that the voice overs were very good.
We have the standard HOPA tools a diary and a map that is the interactive transporter type that indicates areas of interest and objectives. Early in the game you will acquire a special amulet that will allow you to make use of a unique helper.
The HOPs in Mayan Prophecies are usually the interactive list type with a twist in some of the puzzles but during the demo of this game I found one where we locate objects by their silhouette. Because of the way some of the HOPs in the Mayan Prophecies games are done I really like them. If you, however, do not want to search for items in the scenes, you have the option to play a mahjong game instead. I will comment that I chose the mahjong game frequently because the HOPs seemed very crowded with just way too many items to sort through to find what I needed.
The puzzles are really good and one of them in the demo had me ready to pull my hair out because I couldn’t get that dang-nabbit gem in the right place. I love the types of puzzles that this developer includes in its games because they are usually a bit more difficult than the norm. Some of you might find them easy but I found at least a bit more challenge than usual. Elefun has become one of my top favorite game developers and we can almost always count on a first-rate game from them.
Back again are the little collectible hummingbirds that can be found hidden in each scene of the game. Sometimes the petite little birds are obvious to find but keep your eyes open because you never know where they might pop up. Along with the collectible hummingbirds we also have 36 morphing objects as well as 19 horoscope pieces to find. The remainder of the CE content is the standard fare with the inclusion of wallpapers, concept art, screensavers and music tracks. Of course, don’t forget the strategy guide and bonus game that round out the CE extras.
When the first Mayan Prophecies Ship of Spirits was released I thought it was one of the best games of the year. I wasn’t blown away by the second game and felt that the developer missed the mark but with Blood Moon the series is back on track. Elefun is one of my favorite game developers and when they release a game, I know that I am sure to have hours of challenging fun ahead. Although Mayan Prophecies, Blood Moon was an instant purchase for me and I highly recommend the game, please at least give the demo a try to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
+50points
64of78voted this as helpful.
Hoyle Illusions
There is malice afoot on the eve of the awaited Battle Royale between two famous illusionists. Will you get to the theater on time and save the day?
You need to be a speed reader to figure this one out! The basic premise is that there is strong competition between two illusionists to be top-dog in the field. Quite honestly, the story dialogue was so fast that I missed a good part of it. Next thing I know I was knee-deep into the tutorial (another thing I hate) since there was no option at the beginning of the game asking if I wanted the tutorial or not.
The graphics are okay but items seem somehow indistinct. As with most HOPA games we will find items scattered about that will help us attain certain goals but in this game I had a hard time figuring out what I would need to do x, y, or z. The only redeeming quality of the sound package is the music since there are no voiceovers in the game. You just have to read the dialogue as we did in games pre-2010. So the question becomes has this game been sitting on a shelf somewhere and was recently found? The game is definitely old school from the style of the graphics and narrative right down to the HOS.
Tools include a magician’s wand that can be used to uncover some hidden items. How we determine where to use it certainly escapes me. Since the dialogue quickly disappeared from the screen the only way to figure things out would be to restart the game and pay closer attention and, quite frankly, I couldn’t be bothered.
There are lots and lots of HOS all with very indistinct items to be found. It seems that the items are small or somehow blurred as to meld into the background. Unless an item was fairly large, I couldn’t locate it among the jumbled up piles of stuff to sort through. The other thing that I found quite annoying is that the developer used the Lucida Handwriting font for the list of items in the HOS. Not only did the developer use that font, they chose a light color that made the list even harder to read. I think most HOPA fans tend to be the older crowd and our eyes don’t hold up to indistinguishable items to be found from an even more indistinguishable list. I didn’t play the game long enough to encounter even one puzzle - what I played was enough for me to know that this is a game that needs to go back to the drawing board or at least be put back on whatever shelf it came from.
With a bit more attention to detail and with the addition of voiceovers, Hoyle Illusions could have been a much better game. Maybe some of you who might be desperate to get rid of a PCC or those of you who like old school HO games might like it. As for me, the game definitely gets a “thumbs down.”
As I do every morning, the first thing I check on my computer is BFG to see what kind of fun might be on tap for the day and when I saw Crime Solitaire 2: The Smoking Gun this morning my first thought was, oh great – just what I need, another solitaire game. Although I have several solitaire games already, just for grins, I downloaded the game and, needless to say, it took less than five minutes before I was hooked. What at first seemed like the fairly standard one-up solitaire game soon became something special.
The game opened on my laptop with the dreaded black bars on the side but when I went to settings I was able to click stretch screen so the picture fit my screen. There are two options of gameplay – normal or tricky, and there are several sound settings. The graphics are excellent and yes, very cartoonish, but they so fit the style of the game. The music is a perfect gumshoe score and then there is the dialogue that is the huge selling point for me. Yes, I have seen this one-up or down solitaire game a hundred times but this one is special. The dialogue is hysterically funny and, if I hadn’t been firmly planted in my chair, I would have been rolling on the floor.
Yes, the gameplay is fairly standard but, IMHO, this is a solitaire game not to be missed. It is not difficult but it can be challenging if you want to collect all the stars and locate all the people and items that are to be found. If you want a light-hearted game to lift your spirits, then I would highly recommend that you at least try the demo of Crime Solitaire 2. I am now off to find the first Crime Solitaire to see if it is as funny as “The Smoking Gun.”
When Secrets of the Dark: Temple of Night was released, I was blown away by the innovation and creativity of the game. It was so different to find a game where the reality would change from real life (or perhaps perceived real life) to an alternate reality. The second game, Eclipse Mountain, was also very good. But by the time the third game came along, something changed and I found it boring and tedious to say the least. With Secrets of the Dark The Flower of Shadow we now have a game that is, IMHO, almost as good as the first game in the series. The storyline is interesting and since I think you should discover the story for yourself, I won’t give a recap here.
The graphics are very good and even though some scenes take place in a dark cave they are still beautiful. I found the graphics to be sharp and clear rather than having that misty washed out appearance that we find in some games. The Overall sound package including music, ambient effects and voice overs is really quite good, although there is no lip-syncing – always a disappointment to me now.
For tools you have a special device (looks like a robotic bull’s head) that allows you to dispel magic spells. You have to fiddle with your device frequently in order to use it but that only adds to the gameplay. The journal is set up so that it contains tabs where you can access your objectives, your map and the strategy guide. The map is interactive, which is great since in the last game in this series the map was virtually useless and it was a mess navigating. Fortunately the developer improved that feature for this game.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, which are quite different than the ones we normally see. I won’t go into what they are because I hate to give too much away. The puzzles in the game may seem familiar but they are really a bit difficult at times. Some of the puzzles I enjoyed but others not quite as much. I always have difficulty when it comes to those puzzles that require “mousing” expertise – lol.
I was very impressed this installment of the Secrets of the Dark series and enjoyed playing the game. The gameplay and story held my attention right from the beginning and that continued on through the bonus game, which is something that often doesn’t happen. The Flower of Shadow will be on par with the first two games in the series. Although I thought the game was excellent and held a lot of entertainment value for me, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
+60points
81of102voted this as helpful.
Witch Hunters: Full Moon Ceremony Collector's Edition
Defeat the evil witches and save the world from eternal darkness!
Overall rating
5/ 5
91 of 147 found this review helpful
Witches, Evil Minions, and a Ton of Fun. A Must Have Game!
In the opening cutscene of the game you receive a delivery of an antique dressing table and mirror. Unfortunately, it seems that the mirror comes with an unwelcome guest or two, one being a nasty little dwarf, who is the servant of some evil witches. Needless to say the witches’ nasty little minion soon wreaks havoc upon your home and it appears that you are up to your eyebrows in a heap of trouble. It isn’t long before you learn the root of the trouble and you are off on your adventure.
The graphics are actually very good but in some instances I felt they could have been sharper. One of the things I really enjoyed is the beginning cutscene that is very well done and quite entertaining. Although our witches’ minion is a nasty little creature he is quite hilarious to watch. NOW, AS A WARNING FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO FEAR SNAKES, BEWARE - THERE IS A HUGE, IN YOUR FACE SNAKE EARLY IN THE GAME.
The only thing that I dislike about this game is the lack of options for customizing gameplay and sound. We have only three basic modes of gameplay and two controls for sound and that’s it. Oh, there are a few controls for video as well. I guess I am spoiled because I really like the custom mode of gameplay that we see in almost all games that are released now. Another thing that threw me off was that the game opened with black bars on the side and I had to remove the check next to widescreen to actually have a full widescreen picture. I find it odd that a game doesn’t automatically open in widescreen since that is what most gamers want. As I mentioned earlier there are only two sound settings and I found myself constantly fiddling with the volume for either the music or overall sound.
The game does come with the standard tools found in almost all HOPA games. The diary is located on the lower left of the screen and it contains tabs for notes, tasks and the SG. Your interactive, transporter type map is located in the same area on your screen and is accessed by clicking on the compass.
The HOPs are mostly the basic list type with some minor interaction required to find some items, and unfortunately many of them are small making them difficult to find. The puzzles from this developer are always very good and are quite fun very challenging.
There are 35 morphing objects to be found throughout the game and the assorted gameplay achievements to be earned. For those of you who like collectibles, sadly there are none in Full Moon Ceremony. The other extras in the CE are the standard bonus chapter, strategy guide, wallpapers, music tracks, concept art and replay of puzzles. I happen to purchase CEs because I like the in-game strategy guide that is always at-hand if it should be needed.
Since I love other games by this developer, with one of them being a favorite of mine, Witch Hunters Full Moon Ceremony was an instant purchase. I have been eagerly awaiting the game’s release since playing the beta and I was so happy to find out that it was being released this week. Although I like the game it may not be your cup of tea so, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
The expedition continues... Track down the fragments of King Solomon's crown and foil a madman's plot in this exciting follow-up to the bestselling series!
The Story begins with finding a priceless artifact and then a murder. It looks like we are in for a great ride with this exciting new adventure in the Hidden Expedition series. Hidden Expedition The Crown of Solomon is a tale of treachery, loaded with mystery and secret agents. We will travel to exotic locations on our journey to solve the mystery of the missing Crown of Solomon – are you up to the challenge and will you be able to finally restore this ancient artifact?
With this being a game from EIPIX, one of the premier game developers today, the game has wonderful graphics. The artists have done an excellent job creating the characters in the game, although I wish they did have a bit more personality as they seem a bit dull. The game does have lip-synced voiceovers which are now standard with this developer. The sound package is awesome including the voiceovers, music and ambient effects, which combined create a feeling of excitement and realism in the game.
Your H.E.L.P. box contains your video messages, fact cards, and a section that shows your achievements. You also have an interactive, transporter type map that can be quite helpful. The one thing that I dislike about the recent Hidden Expedition games is that with the H.E.L.P. box we no longer have a journal. It would be very helpful if the developer would add a section for notes that we could review when needed. I don’t want to replay the emails or videos when I need to look up some information in the diary.
I am not going to go into all the HOPs but will note that you should keep your eyes open. Discovery is half the fun – right. I happen to like the HOPs that EIPIX includes in their games since there is always a lot of variety. I like what EIPIX has done with their HOPs because they are different but, and here is the biggie, by the time I finished the game I was a bit tired of going through all the multi-levels of the scenes to find items and found them a bit tedious. I think there is some point, that when no matter how great something might seem at first, it becomes a bit too much. This is just my opinion and others may well disagree. The puzzles are good and my favorite part of all HOPA games. EIPIX does not disappoint with the variety and number of puzzles included. Most puzzles are what I consider easy but a few can be a bit tricky and require some thought to complete. The recent trend has been to include very easy puzzles in games and solving them is a bit like being on auto-pilot. My request to the developer is please add more difficult puzzles to your games, not all of us like very easy puzzles that require no thought.
Overall, this new Hidden Expedition game is wonderful and is right at the top of my list of favorite games. I found the beginning of the game in the airplane and the sudden descent to be exciting and very well done. I purchased the CE version and found it to be an extremely enjoyable Hidden Expedition, one that held my attention throughout the game. However, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.