DonQuijote's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.4
- Helpful Votes:137
- Reviews Submitted:10
- First Review:September 21, 2012
- Most Recent Review:November 27, 2022
- Featured reviews0
DonQuijote's Review History
A ski resort high in the mountains hides a dark past!
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Meh
PostedNovember 27, 2022
DonQuijote
fromGermany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is only based on the demo.
I´ve given up on MCF and HOPAs in general a long time ago, so I´ve played this expecting not very much.
It looks and plays like someone once heard of Dire Grove and watched someone play Sacred Grove and thought "I can do that!".
The storyline seems to be really similar (with a helping of Phantasmat thrown in (maybe?)). The graphics are fairly lazy, the two intricate-ish door puzzles are fun-ish but much too easy.
In short: If you really have nothing better to do and 20$ you don´t know what to do with, give it a go, but otherwise replay some of the old and good ones.
I´ve given up on MCF and HOPAs in general a long time ago, so I´ve played this expecting not very much.
It looks and plays like someone once heard of Dire Grove and watched someone play Sacred Grove and thought "I can do that!".
The storyline seems to be really similar (with a helping of Phantasmat thrown in (maybe?)). The graphics are fairly lazy, the two intricate-ish door puzzles are fun-ish but much too easy.
In short: If you really have nothing better to do and 20$ you don´t know what to do with, give it a go, but otherwise replay some of the old and good ones.
I don't recommend this game.
A unique puzzle game inspired by sliding puzzle and platformer games. Explore a toymaker’s mansion and solve tricky slider puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
Loads of fun!
PostedNovember 25, 2021
DonQuijote
fromRomania
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
So that´s a nice surprise... It´s a wonderful brainteaser that looks great and has fun effects and music. Apparently there is a story in there somewhere about a toymaker, but playing the demo it didn´t seem essential, just a nice extra on the side. In each level you need to get to the door by sliding around parts of the mansion. Usually you have ladders and teleporters to cross between the rooms. That starts easy enough, but already in level 6 I got stuck longer than I wanted to. I made it to level 15 or so before I bought it. You get between 1 and 3 gear pieces as a reward for each level - and if you only collect one, you also get a snarky remark from your helper the lamp - something like "Not bad, but you could´ve done better". Which you can because you can replay the levels. Those gear pieces add up to trophies and to open other mansions like in any other level based game.
Now, this just might wear thin or become repetitive after a while, but until then it´s heaps of fun... just don´t start playing if you have some work to do... ;-)
Now, this just might wear thin or become repetitive after a while, but until then it´s heaps of fun... just don´t start playing if you have some work to do... ;-)
I recommend this game!
Pendle Tower was once a lavish high-rise hotel, but a new renovation has awakened a long-dormant secret within its foreboding halls.
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 9 found this review helpful
It´s better than the last one...
PostedNovember 24, 2021
DonQuijote
fromRomania
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Drawn: The Painted Tower
(183)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
... which isn´t saying a lot.
Based on the demo only. It sort of looks ok, and it sort of has a story line - some experiment gone funny, maybe?
But overall it is more like a Phantasmat than a MCF. The riddles and puzzles are on the really easy side, there is no challenge to the game what so ever - and I´m out of practice! At the end of the demo there is this "intricate" doorlock which by the look of it brought back memories of the Ravenhearst games or Sacred Grove and faintly raised hope ... aahmmm, no. You can do that one pretty much with your eyes closed...
If you´re a beginner, you might get a kick out of it. But then again, if you´ve never seen the original Star Wars movies, you might like the prequels or the sequels...
Based on the demo only. It sort of looks ok, and it sort of has a story line - some experiment gone funny, maybe?
But overall it is more like a Phantasmat than a MCF. The riddles and puzzles are on the really easy side, there is no challenge to the game what so ever - and I´m out of practice! At the end of the demo there is this "intricate" doorlock which by the look of it brought back memories of the Ravenhearst games or Sacred Grove and faintly raised hope ... aahmmm, no. You can do that one pretty much with your eyes closed...
If you´re a beginner, you might get a kick out of it. But then again, if you´ve never seen the original Star Wars movies, you might like the prequels or the sequels...
I don't recommend this game.
Can you stop the townspeople from mysteriously aging?
Overall rating
1
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Miserable Careless Fail
PostedMay 4, 2021
DonQuijote
fromRomania
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove
(355)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The only good thing you can say about this "game" is that it´s not Dalimar-ing around (they really should have stopped with that right after Escape).
The story is non-sensical and incoherent, and puzzles border on the disrespectful, there´s not one among them that was a headscratcher, but quite a few face-palms. All too often the "task" is pushing a button and ta-daa "pussle" solved. While I have mixed feelings about "Sacred Grove" and "Broken Hour", and don´t really like "Key" or (even less) "Unlocked" (both unecessary and rip-offy), most puzzles there at least treated you as an intelligent player. This one? Just... don´t waste your time with it. Replay "Return" or "Dire Grove" or "13th Skull" or even "Broken Hour" - that´s time much better spent.
The story is non-sensical and incoherent, and puzzles border on the disrespectful, there´s not one among them that was a headscratcher, but quite a few face-palms. All too often the "task" is pushing a button and ta-daa "pussle" solved. While I have mixed feelings about "Sacred Grove" and "Broken Hour", and don´t really like "Key" or (even less) "Unlocked" (both unecessary and rip-offy), most puzzles there at least treated you as an intelligent player. This one? Just... don´t waste your time with it. Replay "Return" or "Dire Grove" or "13th Skull" or even "Broken Hour" - that´s time much better spent.
I don't recommend this game.
A visit to Manchester Asylum takes a dangerous turn into madness!
Overall rating
1
/
5
40 of 46 found this review helpful
This is just sad
PostedNovember 29, 2019
DonQuijote
fromRomania
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
A sequel to 13th Skull? Really? Now, 13th Skull was a good game. This sequel is not good. Not by a long shot. In fact, it´s pretty tragic. The graphics are pre-13th Skull, the game play is lacklustre and - woohoo and triply yayyy - we are going to an ASYLUM! An old one!! Isn´t that grEAAAATTTT?
And after that we are going to a SPOOOOKYYYY CASTLE! Isn´t that even greaterer? With shadows and stuff. And there´s a CAR CRASH! In the RAIN!
Good god, I only played the demo but just like the last ones I couldn´t find a single original idea. The puzzle with the clock hands - I am fairly sure that I have played exactly that with the exact arrows and the exact solution years ago.
And that says it pretty much about the Eipix MCFs - years ago (like 7 or so) I would have been impressed and would have enjoyed them a great deal.
Now, I rather replay Shadow Lake - because that´s one good thing coming out of the EIPIX MCFs - they make Shadow Lake look good.
And after that we are going to a SPOOOOKYYYY CASTLE! Isn´t that even greaterer? With shadows and stuff. And there´s a CAR CRASH! In the RAIN!
Good god, I only played the demo but just like the last ones I couldn´t find a single original idea. The puzzle with the clock hands - I am fairly sure that I have played exactly that with the exact arrows and the exact solution years ago.
And that says it pretty much about the Eipix MCFs - years ago (like 7 or so) I would have been impressed and would have enjoyed them a great deal.
Now, I rather replay Shadow Lake - because that´s one good thing coming out of the EIPIX MCFs - they make Shadow Lake look good.
I don't recommend this game.
The Emptiness
Depression... You are looking for light, but darkness already has you... Your soul is engulfed by THE EMPTINESS!
Overall rating
1
/
5
19 of 33 found this review helpful
DON´T BOTHER
PostedJanuary 29, 2015
DonQuijote
fromRomania
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I was a few minutes into the game when I realized that the warning at the beginning - "... not recommended for people with an unhealthy state of mind, blablabla" - was actually to be taken seriously. Seriously, this game has all the potential of driving people (even healthy ones) into a mad rage because it´s so bad. Bad graphics, good witch, bad witch, been there, done that. Sloppy, self-indulgent and BOOOOOORING. An insult to any self-respecting gamer.
I don't recommend this game.
Death and Betrayal in Romania: A Dana Knightstone Novel Collector's Edition
Can you escape from the grasp of a lovestruck ghost?
Overall rating
2
/
5
18 of 25 found this review helpful
Cliches and Bad Translations in an Average Game
PostedAugust 31, 2014
DonQuijote
fromRomania
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia Collector's Edition
(100)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Based on the demo - which took us a relaxed 60 minutes.
It´s not as good as the other Dana Knightstone games, and even those don´t belong to the best ones out there.
The minipuzzles are on the very easy side, the map didn´t fit or match the rest of the game graphically, and the plot.... oh puh-leaaaaze.
On the plus side: Some of the backgrounds and details are very Romanian (the dishes, some interiors). The accents, however, are decidedly not so and the few Romanian texts seem to have been translated by google. That´s all very nit-picky, but still.
It´s ok(-ish), if you haven´t got any other games to play at the moment.
It´s not as good as the other Dana Knightstone games, and even those don´t belong to the best ones out there.
The minipuzzles are on the very easy side, the map didn´t fit or match the rest of the game graphically, and the plot.... oh puh-leaaaaze.
On the plus side: Some of the backgrounds and details are very Romanian (the dishes, some interiors). The accents, however, are decidedly not so and the few Romanian texts seem to have been translated by google. That´s all very nit-picky, but still.
It´s ok(-ish), if you haven´t got any other games to play at the moment.
I don't recommend this game.
Brink of Consciousness: The Lonely Hearts Murders Collector's Edition
Olivia has been kidnapped by the mysterious Lonely Hearts Killer who murders those suffering from a shattered love. Save her!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
A worthy succesor to Dorian Gray Syndrome
PostedNovember 25, 2012
DonQuijote
fromGermany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Nightmare Realm Collector's Edition
(24)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
One good thing right at the start: there are seriously no ghosts. I liked the serial killer and procedural approach. It looks fantastic, puzzles come along in a nice variety.
Totally recommendable then? Well, almost.
- the story is broken into chapters, which I didn´t really like.
- while the developers obviously put a lot of work into the story (which is pretty interesting), there are LONG (skippable) scenes of dialogue in between, which almost gives it a "I´m-watching-a-movie"-kind of feel. Good then, that the voice acting does not mutilate your ears.
- Detective Logan must be the most useless cop running around out there. All he did was stand around and let the player do the job. Man, he was getting to me.
- they repeated that in bonus chapter, only that now YOU are the detective and there´s another useless cop at your side.
Having said that, I enjoyed the bonus chapter almost more than the game itself. It´s long, there´s a bunch of fun puzzles. The end build a nice bridge to the first Brink.
All in all, a worthy successor (or maybe prequel) and fun to play.
Totally recommendable then? Well, almost.
- the story is broken into chapters, which I didn´t really like.
- while the developers obviously put a lot of work into the story (which is pretty interesting), there are LONG (skippable) scenes of dialogue in between, which almost gives it a "I´m-watching-a-movie"-kind of feel. Good then, that the voice acting does not mutilate your ears.
- Detective Logan must be the most useless cop running around out there. All he did was stand around and let the player do the job. Man, he was getting to me.
- they repeated that in bonus chapter, only that now YOU are the detective and there´s another useless cop at your side.
Having said that, I enjoyed the bonus chapter almost more than the game itself. It´s long, there´s a bunch of fun puzzles. The end build a nice bridge to the first Brink.
All in all, a worthy successor (or maybe prequel) and fun to play.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake Collector's Edition
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Makes 13th Skull a good game
PostedNovember 25, 2012
DonQuijote
fromGermany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Nightmare Realm Collector's Edition
(24)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I had high hopes for that game, having been a MCF fan for years. After the demo I wasn´t really convinced, but I still bought it - mainly because of the 50% discount deal for other CEs. Was it worth it? Well, the other games I bought are pretty good.
It looks good (but by now that´s like saying - hey! great! color TV!).
The story isn´t any more preposterous than other games. The inclusion of live actors works. However, you are confronted with some serious hammy acting. One scene at the end in particular managed that rarest of treats in that it made me laugh and cringe at the same time. It is SO bad, it has to be seen.
What I didn´t like:
- you´re constantly chased around by this psychic, which breaks the story into chapters and disrupts the flow of the game (or better: never really gives it rhythm). Now, they did the same thing in 13th Skull (which I thought was ok), but at least there was some variety. Not so much here.
- the psychic was SERIOUSLY getting on my nerves.
- Puzzles are few and far in between with only the "fuse box" as a standout.
- there is no journal to speak of - I miss the summaries and comments of the detective.
- the bonus features are a joke (for a good bonus chapter, play the new Brink of Consciousness).
All in all, it´s not a total desaster, but the CE isn´t worth the money. Wait for the SE, and then wait for another Thanksgiving-, X-mas-, etc- offer.
It looks good (but by now that´s like saying - hey! great! color TV!).
The story isn´t any more preposterous than other games. The inclusion of live actors works. However, you are confronted with some serious hammy acting. One scene at the end in particular managed that rarest of treats in that it made me laugh and cringe at the same time. It is SO bad, it has to be seen.
What I didn´t like:
- you´re constantly chased around by this psychic, which breaks the story into chapters and disrupts the flow of the game (or better: never really gives it rhythm). Now, they did the same thing in 13th Skull (which I thought was ok), but at least there was some variety. Not so much here.
- the psychic was SERIOUSLY getting on my nerves.
- Puzzles are few and far in between with only the "fuse box" as a standout.
- there is no journal to speak of - I miss the summaries and comments of the detective.
- the bonus features are a joke (for a good bonus chapter, play the new Brink of Consciousness).
All in all, it´s not a total desaster, but the CE isn´t worth the money. Wait for the SE, and then wait for another Thanksgiving-, X-mas-, etc- offer.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Parables: The Red Riding Hood Sisters Collector's Edition
Discover the Red Riding Hood Sisters and defeat the nefarious Wolf Queen!
Overall rating
3
/
5
29 of 37 found this review helpful
Replay Exiled Prince instead!
PostedSeptember 21, 2012
DonQuijote
fromGermany
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3
Current Favorite:
Mystery Trackers: Black Isle Collector's Edition
(150)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I bought the CE of this one after playing the demo hoping it would meet the standards The Exiled Prince and Snow Queen have set. Production-wise I wasn´t disappointed. It´s beautiful to look at, the voices don´t annoy and the music is fine.
HOWEVER: it is WAY short. I went through it in under 3 hours (casual mode) without having to refer to the SG. I´m not complaining about the FROGs (even though I´m not really a fan of them, but hey - you play Dark Parables, you should know what you´re in for), but they seemed a lot easier than The Exiled Prince. The puzzles don´t really deserve the name. Either they are ludicrously easy or trial-and-error.
The story... well, let´s skip that one.
The bonus chapter is definitely not worth the extra money.
All in all, it´s not a massive desaster, but the Standard Edition is all you need.
HOWEVER: it is WAY short. I went through it in under 3 hours (casual mode) without having to refer to the SG. I´m not complaining about the FROGs (even though I´m not really a fan of them, but hey - you play Dark Parables, you should know what you´re in for), but they seemed a lot easier than The Exiled Prince. The puzzles don´t really deserve the name. Either they are ludicrously easy or trial-and-error.
The story... well, let´s skip that one.
The bonus chapter is definitely not worth the extra money.
All in all, it´s not a massive desaster, but the Standard Edition is all you need.
I don't recommend this game.