apraurore's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:58
- Reviews Submitted:7
- First Review:November 26, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 6, 2015
- Featured reviews0
apraurore's Review History
Midnight Mysteries: Ghostwriting Collector's Edition
Characters from classical literature are coming to life!
Overall rating
2
/
5
21 of 23 found this review helpful
Very Disappointed
PostedJanuary 6, 2015
apraurore
fromParis, France
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Midnight Mysteries: Haunted Houdini Deluxe
(232)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I would like to start by saying that I write reviews extremely rarely and that Midnight Mysteries used to be my favorite HOG series up until this one. I have all of the others starting from the Poe one. I felt so strongly after having played the demo of this one that I just had to write a review to get my disappointment off my chest.
At the end of the previous installment, we got a teaser in one of the end cutscenes that pointed distinctly to a Charles Dickens theme in the upcoming one. Since I enjoy this particular author, whose life was extremely full and colorful, I was very eagerly awaiting this game thinking that it would be about his life, his acquaintances and any outstanding mystery of his life/death like in previous MM games.
Wow was I wrong! Now that I have finally played the demo. I can't even bring myself to buy this game whereas all previous ones since the one about Poe were automatic buys. I do not know why I opted to try the demo rather than flat out buy it, but I am glad I hesitated this time for the following reasons, some of which repeat what other reviewers have said:
- The "mojo" is gone and for me this is the most important one since the whole reason why I loved this series was for its distinct eery, ghost story feel that set it apart from all of the other HOGs, even ones with spooky horror themes. In the earlier games you see dark, gothic scenes with threatening gnarled trees, stark lines in how the architecture of the houses and other buildings are depicted, and the in a way minimalistic yet poignant, clean harshness in the artwork. The graphics in the Abe Lincoln one were ever so slightly different but the artstyle and overall ethos were the same. I was shocked to find that that eery, supernatural feel is gone from this game. The main characters do not show up as ghosts like in all of the previous episodes, which rubbed me the wrong way from the get-go. Not only that, the colors are bright and warm. Singing statues aside, this is ok in other games but in my opinion does not belong in an MM game.
- The storyline is another low point for me. In the previous MM games, you are a writer who helps famous peoples' ghosts resolve something that happened to them in their lives or something that involved the circumstances of their death that are keeping them from being able to rest in peace. In the case of the famous authors, some of their books are used to help resolve whatever these issues were. This was a fairly unique aspect to the MM stories in comparison to other HOGs. Not so in this one: this one is only about some of the famous works of Dickens and Irving and have very little to do with their real lives. You only really start figuring out who the nemesis is towards the end of the game in the older installments. In this game, you see him from the start and you have to chase after him and he does things to block your progress just like in many, many other similar games. I believe that an MM game should stick to its previous format and ethos since that is what a lot of players expect from this series. However, the storyline could have been good for some other game, but the execution was poor. It did not have to copy the many, many games already out there in the way it was told.
- The graphics are ok. Overlooking what I mentioned about the feel of the game in my first point, the artstyle is ok, about on par with one of these types of games. However, what I don't get is why I have such irritating cursor lag. I can play games by other devs that look just as good, or even better, and that have entirely smooth gameplay, so what gives? It also took too long to consult especially the map. It was so irritating to use that I stopped bothering after a point.
- Fun factor is ok, average for this sort of game with some new additions to the MM series in the shape of + items, some scenes you can magnify to search for parts of an object that then gets put together, puzzle-like HOGs where you have to do a series of actions to try to get to an end object, silhouette HOGs, and even the little mini-HOG books that tell you the story. I think the jury is out on whether these embellish the gameplay in comparison to the other MM games. I personally do not feel that they do, it just makes this game seem more like the usual current fare. One thing I think they could have definitely done without is the Raven Room, which breaks immersion. I would have preferred the devs to not put it in at all and go back to the tried and true ravens that recharged your hints instead of the silly raven coins.
- Level of challenge is ok, again average for this sort of game. I did not find it that particularly difficult.
Other reviewers have more specifics on how many HOGs, puzzles, and other features this game has.
In summary, do I think this game was terrible? No, it is an average HOG, but to me this is very bad as the MM series stood out to me as being one of excellence. I did not write reviews for the previous ones but I would have rated them all at 4,5 to 5 stars. This one is more of a 2,5. I think if someone wants to get into the MM series as a new player, they should get the one on Houdini over this one.
I don't recommend this game.
House of 1000 Doors: Serpent Flame
Return to the House of 1,000 Doors to save mankind from annihilation!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Storyline Not as Good
PostedJuly 7, 2013
apraurore
fromParis, France
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Dark Parables: The Final Cinderella Collector's Edition
(192)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I guess I am a lonely grinch here but even though this is overall a top knotch game with high production standards, I felt that the storyline was not as good as in the previous two House of 1000 Doors games. The first two were incredibly creative and I liked how you go about solving mysteries related to each individual you meet in the house and quite literally the thousands of different situations the developers could come up with related to each door.
I didn't care as much for the "epic" nature of this one. It is a shame that the protagonist becomes some sort of "chosen one" and that they insert some new age-y stuff into the game. I really preferred the older format where you don't know much about anyone in the game, let alone the protagonist, but they are quirky and interesting in their own way.
Difficulty level was also easier I feel this time round. The first two required some creative thinking, this one was more routine for this style of game.
It was still overall a fun game though. Four out of five stars is definitely not shabby, so I recommend it still, but it is a small let-down for me in comparison to the first two.
As an aside, I played the Collector's Edition. I think that no one really loses anything by not getting it, but the bonus chapter is actually quite good so I would recommend it.
I recommend this game!
Golden Trails 3: The Guardian's Creed
Track the treasure and solve the riddles of the past with Golden Trails 3: The Guardian’s Creed game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Pretty Good Third in Series
PostedDecember 11, 2012
apraurore
fromParis, France
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Midnight Mysteries: Haunted Houdini Deluxe
(232)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I really love this series since it is a cross-between HoG and arcade-style game where you often have to shoot bandits and rack up a high score. I like their emphasis on HoGs rather than adventure. This episode is not unlike the first two, but I found it less compelling than the others.
The story for one was not as good. To be a bit more specific, it started out great. It was a templar-style story with much intrigue and mystery. But I found the ending abrupt, in fact unlike in the other games, it only comes to its head in the bonus chapter. I don't really understand why it is a bonus chapter and does that mean that if you don't get into it (if that is possible), you won't see the end of the story?
The second reason why I found this one not as good is that the puzzles were not as fun as they usually are. I don't really like button-pressing puzzles and there were two, but also lots of swap puzzle pieces around which I also do not like. They were in the previous two games too, but they seemed to be less annoying than in this one for some reason.
And a pet peeve of mine, there were a lot of anachronisms in this game: items that should not have been in and were, costumes that were improbable for the time period of the game, etc.
This is still a highly playable game and I still overall enjoyed it even if less so than the first two.
I recommend this game!
Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Cursed Wedding Collector's Edition
After being called to Paris, you find yourself in the middle of a shocking mystery involving an ancient werewolf hungry for revenge.
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
A Bit Disapponted
PostedNovember 1, 2012
apraurore
fromParis, France
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I bought this CE with the bundle since I had missed this entire series, and I played them in order, one right after the other.
I thought the first game was the best since it had a spooky atmosphere, an immersive and decent story, and had enough challenge to make me scratch my head in some places. The second was not far off in quality to the first. This one was really quite a disappointment: it was really easy. As an intermediate player playing on the most difficult setting, I maybe had to use the hint once or twice, and very importantly for a CE, it only lasted me a little over three hours including the bonus material. It seemed like I played the demo, bought the game, blinked, and it was already over.
But also, I thought the storyline was pretty poor. It seemed to have very little sustenance to it, glossed over a few elements, leaving some loose ends hanging, only to end abruptly. I got the impression that the dev pushed this game very quickly out the door, which is a shame because they could have done more with the setting, the time period, and the fact that the first game at least was far more mysterious and had an interesting plot twist. I figured out who the baddy was 1/3 of the way through the story.
More irritatingly, the way the story ended, it also would seem that the bonus material is needed to flesh it out, as little as it does, however, the game is so short in general, I am not sure I can recommend the CE as worth the extra cash you have to pay for it.
The game seems to take place mainly in Montmartre between 1890 and 1910 since it is mentioned that the Eiffel Tower is new and you can see one of the famous moulins in the game, but nothing about the artists who were integral to the bohemian atmosphere of that area around that period of time. It is also not exactly the most logical place for a high born, "innocent", decent lass to set up her home, since it had a pretty notorious reputation, but nevermind.
So to summarize, if you like Montmartre and the Bel Epoque, this game might be good as a short SE, but I do not recommend it as a CE.
I don't recommend this game.
Paris 1925
Play as journalist Edgar Lance and solve a mysterious murder during the roaring twenties in Paris.
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 20 found this review helpful
Actually Not Bad
PostedOctober 9, 2012
apraurore
fromParis, France
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Having read all of the reviews, I was expecting the worst but decided to give the demo a try. This is a review based on the demo, which I finished after 1 hour was up. It is impossible to estimate how long this game is from the demo. I thought it was really not a bad game at all.
The game is slightly different in that the game is pretty much one big hidden object scene in which you have to solve some minor puzzles (and puzzles within puzzles) in order to advance through the story.
The mehs:
Slightly different story set in the 1920s of Paris, though the dress of the character named Milie is more like that of today (miniskirt not at all like those of flappers, overly long hair rather than bobbed, big modern boots). Other than that quibble, I thought that the atmosphere was pretty alright with a distinct art déco feel, though despite the views of the Sacré-Coeur, Notre-Dame, and Père Lachaise, as a Parisian I can say that the interiors are far from what you usually have here, especially from that time period.
Slightly different story set in the 1920s of Paris, though the dress of the character named Milie is more like that of today (miniskirt not at all like those of flappers, overly long hair rather than bobbed, big modern boots). Other than that quibble, I thought that the atmosphere was pretty alright with a distinct art déco feel, though despite the views of the Sacré-Coeur, Notre-Dame, and Père Lachaise, as a Parisian I can say that the interiors are far from what you usually have here, especially from that time period.
The other meh is that at least so far from the demo, the storyline is very similar to other storylines of games on this site, but I do not want to go into the details and spoil it for other players who have not tried the demo.
The pros:
The gameplay feel is definitely of one being a reporter, trying to figure out what is going on. I like the fact that there is little hand holding in this game and you have to play around with things. I did not have the issue at all of objects being too small. Instead the challenge was right on for someone who likes to investigate things. I also appreciated having to figure a few things out for myself, and having to photograph what I thought was important and organizing myself my articles that I wanted to publish in the newspaper to make as big of a splash as possible. Choosing what you can ask the people you meet is fun as well.
The gameplay feel is definitely of one being a reporter, trying to figure out what is going on. I like the fact that there is little hand holding in this game and you have to play around with things. I did not have the issue at all of objects being too small. Instead the challenge was right on for someone who likes to investigate things. I also appreciated having to figure a few things out for myself, and having to photograph what I thought was important and organizing myself my articles that I wanted to publish in the newspaper to make as big of a splash as possible. Choosing what you can ask the people you meet is fun as well.
The cons:
For those who like several modes of play, well, you are stuck with one, and I would call it expert mode level in that there are no sparkles anywhere. There is no map, and very little is noted down in the reporter's notebook so some memorization of numbers is required. Also for those who like cinematic cutscenes, there are really very little and they are spartan, but I rather liked the ones that were put in, running a bit like a old-fashioned film. I have a widescreen monitor and this game did not fill it entirely, and there was no option to change its resolution.
For those who like several modes of play, well, you are stuck with one, and I would call it expert mode level in that there are no sparkles anywhere. There is no map, and very little is noted down in the reporter's notebook so some memorization of numbers is required. Also for those who like cinematic cutscenes, there are really very little and they are spartan, but I rather liked the ones that were put in, running a bit like a old-fashioned film. I have a widescreen monitor and this game did not fill it entirely, and there was no option to change its resolution.
Other comments I can make is that I didn't experience most of the problems other people encountered. Cutscenes were not slow, changing of scenes was not slow on my computer, even though I am playing on an average laptop. I have no comments to make about the hint button since I didn't need it. No comments about music since I turn it off. I did not notice a lot of French, though for a story set in Paris, it does make sense...
So in summary, this is really not an awful game and I hope that people give it a chance since it does play differently from the usual fare on this site. In that sense I recommend it for those who want something a little different.
I recommend this game!
House of 1000 Doors: The Palm of Zoroaster Collector's Edition
Guide Kate Reed as she searches for the artifacts that can break the power of a cursed gem in House of 1,000 Doors: The Palm of Zoroaster!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Just as Fun as the First One
PostedMay 1, 2012
apraurore
fromParis, France
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Midnight Mysteries: Haunted Houdini Deluxe
(232)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is only the second time I am reviewing here, but I liked this game so much, I can't give it enough praise. My only tiny quibble was that even on the hardest setting it was still pretty easy. However, the great atmosphere, interesting storyline (it is one of the coolest of the "mansion-discovery" game storylines), and fun HoG scenes more than make up for it. This is definitely worth the money, even for the CE version.
I recommend this game!
Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
Excellent Third Game in the Series
PostedNovember 26, 2011
apraurore
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This game continues with the excellent Dark Tale's both in quality and in style. Some better visuals have been added to enhance the story, which is well written and executed. I still find the second game in the series, The Black Cat, to be the best overall, but this is an excellent addition and I really recommend it to those who liked the first two. Only quips I have are: addition of anachronistic items in some of the hidden objects scenes, and we get no clue what city we're actually in. Dupin lived in Paris, but it is definitely not Paris. Getting back to gameplay, it is easy to get into, perhaps a bit easier than the Black Cat but harder than the Murders in the Rue Morgue (I have played all three games on expert mode). There is nothing really to say there. The music is good, sounds are good, etc.
I recommend this game!