All the Big City Adventures are pretty standard and formulaic to be quite honest. When you purchase or demo one, you know exactly what you're getting if you have played one previously. But if you are in the mood for just plain 'ol HOG fun, than these should fit the bill.
I kept thinking, man they really need to change it up a bit. Maybe the developers were thinking "why mess with success?" But in this collector's edition #the only one they've offered as near as I can tell# there was effort to change it up and add more features.
All the stuff from the regular games are still there, in the exact same format I believe. I think what makes it a collector's edition are the walkthrough, extras, and bonus rounds #of which there are only 2 or 3 but nothing to get excited about#. There are about 4 or 5 mini games that occur after each HOG. Super easy they are, and super boring about halfway into the game. Unfortunately you can only skip so many times in timed mode.
So in summary, good job developers for adding something new. Let's take it up a few more notches in the next game. Something we haven't seen before. Add a bunch of new mini games. Change the look and feel of the whole, postcard, "continue" page, little steps routing to the next location.
To the players, if you want a solid 98% HOG + mini games. this is one of the better choices.
As a side note, I also played "Family Vacation: California" at the same time, and game play/mini game-wise they are pretty much the exact same game with a different look/feel. I found that strange.
Pros: Nice, sharp, colorful graphics. Good game play (smooth and fast swapping speed), Timed or relaxed. Combos, bombs, boxes, fog, key's & locked boxes, At least 100 levels. (I had finished building the town but could still play levels, I stopped at 100 due to lack of challenges).
Cons: There are only 5 inhabitants. 2 types of puzzles randomly occurring between gameplay. One is a seek and find. The other is a mahjong. Towards the end you only get mahjong. It gets really boring as they become more frequent.
It's a step above most, so I recommend it. But it's just an average M3 game. Maybe by it with your free game.
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
2/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
2/ 5
IMHO this is one of the best M3 game series out there. My favorite was the Ancient Alien Makeover. Another review wrote that this came out much earlier in the series. I sure hope so because it lacks all the things that have been fun in the other games.
So this one is super boring. I stopped at level 2 game 5 because nothing changes or progressed. You play the level, remove all the tiles then a number 7 stone shows up and you must maneuver it to the appointed glowing portal, however you must follow the path outlined. This requires rotating the board in different ways. So that part is actually ok. BUT THAT IS ALL THERE IS. It's just doing that over and over, you don't build up or use external bonuses. If you match 4+ some row/column wipeouts bombs appear, and so does a "dice" tile that blows up random tiles. But that is all on the game board. There is no hammer type of bomb, and no progressively better bombs as you progress. I found nothing progressing at all. There is nothing to do between playing the levels. You don't have any involvement in the buildings actually being built, you don't really get to see the finished product even.
I may be missing something. But this was a very monotonous, boring game. A big disappointment considering some of the other games were so good. However I would definitely play the next one that comes out.
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
3/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
I've been on a M3 kick lately. Just played Imperial Island: Birth of an Empire, and if you are a M3 fan, that should be on your list.
I digress. I really liked this game. Cute graphics, cute story, decent power-ups, fast swapping. It had everything I like in a M3....UNTIL...I achieved all the challenges (buying/renovating buildings in a park# with 50+ levels remaining! WHAT!? That was so bizarre. What would propel you to keep playing if you have no goals or challenges? M3 can get monotonous enough without removing the challenges. I'm surprised more reviewers haven't mentioned this. #Kudos to Starsmark though, we are on the same page). If the developers are reading this, I say unto you......Please make another one, improve the graphics, keep the length, have another thing to achieve in addition to buying buildings, and for Heaven's sake please, please keep all the challenges until the very end where a "super" challenge can lead players out with a bang. But thanks for this game as well, I did enjoy it.
IMHO M3's are often quickly thrown together without much thought to story, graphics, challenge. Certainly lacks the effort seen in most of the newer HO games. The graphics in this are unlike anything I see before in a M3, they are gorgeous. Although as you get most of the town built everything gets so crowded it's difficult to really appreciate each building/area. But it's still definitely worth a look. Also good gameplay, fast swapping and can swap during falling tiles. Bonuses are plentiful. I commend the developers for taking the time to create a really excellent M3.
pros: A decent story. Nice background graphics (everything but the actual match board). Ok music. Has a little something different than the typical match 3. Nice jigsaw puzzle when starting a new land. cons: Slow swapping, have to wait until all activity is complete before making your next swap. The swapping itself is not smooth, very herky jerky. This is almost a deal breaker for me. Power ups are not very exciting, if you buy one you have to use it in that level. Tile pics are too busy, made worse by a dark and busy match background. By the second land I could barely focus (luckily the end of the trial occurred because I didn't want to play anymore). Not many levels, I think there are only 50.
If the swapping were improved, the match board and tiles MUCH easier to see, more and better bonuses and lots more levels, then I would definitely buy. Maybe in the sequel?
This was a very solid game. No extras, maps (which would have been nice because at times there is too much back and forth), collectibles, etc. However a very solid and interesting story, a little sci fi action. A nice change of pace from the normal romance, fairy tale, detectives, period pieces, and so on. Other reviewers have provided the game details. I just wanted to say Bravo to the developers for finally providing an ending worth playing for. Much more than the typical "the end" after your final task.
Passable M3, nothing new going on here. There is no time limit however the faster you can complete a level the more stars you will get per level. It does get quite challenging if your goal is to get all three stars each level. You will likely have to rely on the power ups that you can earn. This game is just ok.
My only complaint is that randomly during game play a window will pop up reminding you that you can change to another type of game (even mid game) ie: chain, group, etc. The option is great but I don't need to have my game play continuously stopped for it. I have to admit I am wondering if I am doing something to cause this, I don't think so but please let me know.
I was hoping this was a sequel to the "Call of Atlantis." As I played it, it was all to familiar. So I went back and checked the old game I bought in 2011 and it was the exact same game only this one has an extended title ":Treasures of Poseidon". I like the game fine, but am not happy that I almost bought a game that I already own under the guise of a slightly modified title.
Thank you Elephant Devs for giving us a Mary Poppins bag of a game. Once your done with the main game, there is a lengthy bonus chapter, and then wait till you see how ingeniously they incorporated a third installment. Where most games just let you replay the puzzles, the devs here actually made the replays into a whole other game. Genius. Plus everything else we like. They captured 99.99% of all the stuff I'm always complaining about. I feel like finally devs have read our posts and delivered what we've been asking for. This is the first truly worthy CE I've ever bought. I'm soooo impressed.