kerith90angel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.1
- Helpful Votes:5,113
- Reviews Submitted:326
- First Review:November 24, 2011
- Most Recent Review:November 26, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Can you help stop an ancient evil in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
25 of 27 found this review helpful
based on completed game
PostedSeptember 14, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I've determined my end rating to this game is a 3.5*.
The main portion of the game took me 3 hours to complete.
The main portion of the game took me 3 hours to complete.
I loved the demo to this game. I loved the beautiful blue green water, each scene prettier than the next, the calming music and the game play.
But my overall opinion of this game, in a seashell, is if you don’t like the demo you probably won’t like this game as a whole. I felt the demo was the best chapter in this game. I especially liked the first few scenes. Chapter 3 has a beautiful waterfall and lagoon area. Aside from the scene at the beginning with the cool sharks this lagoon area was my 2nd favorite spot of the game.
But my overall opinion of this game, in a seashell, is if you don’t like the demo you probably won’t like this game as a whole. I felt the demo was the best chapter in this game. I especially liked the first few scenes. Chapter 3 has a beautiful waterfall and lagoon area. Aside from the scene at the beginning with the cool sharks this lagoon area was my 2nd favorite spot of the game.
*******Slight spoiler~ I describe a HOS in Chapter 3*********
In this same location of chapter 3, you get to swim in the lagoon in one of the best HOS in the game. Fish swim past you and you move through plants. It was so fun, and you feel like you are actually in the water! It is a brilliantly clever HOS and I adored it.
********end potential spoiler*******
In this same location of chapter 3, you get to swim in the lagoon in one of the best HOS in the game. Fish swim past you and you move through plants. It was so fun, and you feel like you are actually in the water! It is a brilliantly clever HOS and I adored it.
********end potential spoiler*******
I think my favorite thing about the game as a whole, is playing in the bright sunlight with consistently natural & just gorgeous colors. There is NOT any that weird nighttime teal, purple, garish hot pink or royal blue, we see so much of in these games lately that I've really grown to dislike. Even the indoor areas have a bit of outside to make them pretty.
I liked the geographical location we played in too. We seldom see realistic, Caribbean/Tahiti-like, places like this much in casual gaming so that was so appreciated. My least favorite and the darkest chapter in the game is #4, as you play in some cave-like areas. Each of those have some pretty elements to see too though. This Dev. has great special effects.
My favorite task in this game was feeding an awesome chicken in the demo! He was so cool I wanted to scoop him up and take him with me the rest of the game. I loved how he came up so close to the screen with so much attitude.
I liked the geographical location we played in too. We seldom see realistic, Caribbean/Tahiti-like, places like this much in casual gaming so that was so appreciated. My least favorite and the darkest chapter in the game is #4, as you play in some cave-like areas. Each of those have some pretty elements to see too though. This Dev. has great special effects.
My favorite task in this game was feeding an awesome chicken in the demo! He was so cool I wanted to scoop him up and take him with me the rest of the game. I loved how he came up so close to the screen with so much attitude.
I also loved the HOS in the demo where you feed some baby birds but why on earth did they make my character bend a tree back like a sling shot and just leave the tree the nest was in in the “sling off” position? Especially when the lava man was coming! Arrg.
I didn’t mind the gadget seashell; which is a match game. It’s only used a total of about once a chapter. It is not used in the CE bonus play.
They didn’t need to add the ridiculous Lava man or fantasy earth, wind, fire, and water characters either, to this realistic setting. I just feel it would have been better without them.
Thankfully, these characters are only seen when you use the shell so you don’t see them much more in the game compared to the demo.
I wondered if the game takes place in the 1700's to save production time. The notes and articles all look exactly the same on brown parchment. They were so bland. I always notice these details that make a game better and to me, obvious things, that would take a game longer to make --such as reactive items in a scene and/or a good diary/journal holding story notes and cut scenes.
They didn’t need to add the ridiculous Lava man or fantasy earth, wind, fire, and water characters either, to this realistic setting. I just feel it would have been better without them.
Thankfully, these characters are only seen when you use the shell so you don’t see them much more in the game compared to the demo.
I wondered if the game takes place in the 1700's to save production time. The notes and articles all look exactly the same on brown parchment. They were so bland. I always notice these details that make a game better and to me, obvious things, that would take a game longer to make --such as reactive items in a scene and/or a good diary/journal holding story notes and cut scenes.
Generally, I prefer HOS to MG but I liked a couple of the game related type in the demo like the one where you navigate a hot air balloon and one you set up and "ride on" a zip line.
I actually bought the CE to this game on sale and outlined the bonus content and what unlocks under the CE title in case you want to compare details of the longer version.
I actually bought the CE to this game on sale and outlined the bonus content and what unlocks under the CE title in case you want to compare details of the longer version.
This Myths was a beautiful and relaxing game. A similar game to this, in beauty and relaxation -reminds me of this game in that way. I'll add a link to try the demo to is:
Mythic Wonders: Child of Prophecy
I liked chapters 1~ 3 the most, in this episode of Myths of the World, but by the last chapter it fizzled out for me.
In this hidden object murder mystery, a single page from a journal leads a woman down a dangerous path of deception to track down a murderer.
Overall rating
3
/
5
16 of 18 found this review helpful
Not bad, not great.....
PostedSeptember 3, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on the finished demo
What I liked:
I LOVED the diary that kept track of the story AND doubled as a MCF-type of clue reference. Too bad they didn't incorporate the cut scenes to watch again in this book.
~I liked the storyline. Psychological thrillers are always a hit with me.
~The options menu had a separate slider for game effect sounds and environmental sounds. I play so many games that sound effects such as pick ups, can make or break a game for me, so it was a great option to have.
~It has a good portal task map that was easy to read but there is no portal hint, and no blog walkthrough guide on this games BFG home page which I always reference to see where I am in a game.
I LOVED the diary that kept track of the story AND doubled as a MCF-type of clue reference. Too bad they didn't incorporate the cut scenes to watch again in this book.
~I liked the storyline. Psychological thrillers are always a hit with me.
~The options menu had a separate slider for game effect sounds and environmental sounds. I play so many games that sound effects such as pick ups, can make or break a game for me, so it was a great option to have.
~It has a good portal task map that was easy to read but there is no portal hint, and no blog walkthrough guide on this games BFG home page which I always reference to see where I am in a game.
What I didn't like:
The characters were super jerky in the cut scenes and I had just finished a game called Lost Lands #2, where the cut scenes and characters are perfect.
~Some of the scenes graphics look like concept art to me; especially in the areas referred to as "gallery" and "attic" of the demo ( the picture frames in the gallery are the best example).
There is not enough detail in the scene and not enough deep shadowing vs. light. These scenes look like they needed "part 3" of development.
~ The perspective was really off in the second scene as well as the room called "gallery". If a ball was placed on the floor in the gallery it would roll down towards the hint button.
~At the beginning it is raining over a couple of scenes and the rain & special effects can't be shut off in the Options Menu. It makes it so hard to see a scene clearly with it raining that way and no way to shut it off.
~The voice over that did the main character (Ellen)... sounded a bit robotic to me.
The characters were super jerky in the cut scenes and I had just finished a game called Lost Lands #2, where the cut scenes and characters are perfect.
~Some of the scenes graphics look like concept art to me; especially in the areas referred to as "gallery" and "attic" of the demo ( the picture frames in the gallery are the best example).
There is not enough detail in the scene and not enough deep shadowing vs. light. These scenes look like they needed "part 3" of development.
~ The perspective was really off in the second scene as well as the room called "gallery". If a ball was placed on the floor in the gallery it would roll down towards the hint button.
~At the beginning it is raining over a couple of scenes and the rain & special effects can't be shut off in the Options Menu. It makes it so hard to see a scene clearly with it raining that way and no way to shut it off.
~The voice over that did the main character (Ellen)... sounded a bit robotic to me.
All in all, this game just needs a bit of work. It's not awful, but it's not great either. I just didn't feel compelled to finish it.
Can you break free from your nightmares in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 16 found this review helpful
My favorite game of 2017.... based on completed game
PostedAugust 30, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I bought the CE version of this game and did a more involved review there if you are interested in that version. I highly recommend the CE to this but the SE is independent on its own.
SE portion took me: 3 hours 50min.
CE bonus play: 1 hour 15 min.
Total play: 5 hours 5 min.
The chapters in this game are broken up into different places and times so the color scheme also changes from night to day, indoor to out. I love when a game changes the time of day to mix things up a bit. I adored visiting aspects of the prior games in this series because I’ve played them all and the references to prior games felt familiar. If I could I’d rate it higher than 5 stars I would.
The fear factor in this game is perfectly balanced. You are lulled by a beautiful garden scene with happily chirping birds and Bam! The shadow people are scary! This game kept making me jump in my chair!! This is what I loved most about this game because it is so scary when you are caught off guard. Most horror light games are in dreary, ugly locations or the entire game is at night. When a game can still be scary during bright light AND night, it is just ingenious! The amount of thought and detail that went into this game is obvious from beginning to end. I tried to play other games during this one so it wouldn’t end.
SE portion took me: 3 hours 50min.
CE bonus play: 1 hour 15 min.
Total play: 5 hours 5 min.
The chapters in this game are broken up into different places and times so the color scheme also changes from night to day, indoor to out. I love when a game changes the time of day to mix things up a bit. I adored visiting aspects of the prior games in this series because I’ve played them all and the references to prior games felt familiar. If I could I’d rate it higher than 5 stars I would.
The fear factor in this game is perfectly balanced. You are lulled by a beautiful garden scene with happily chirping birds and Bam! The shadow people are scary! This game kept making me jump in my chair!! This is what I loved most about this game because it is so scary when you are caught off guard. Most horror light games are in dreary, ugly locations or the entire game is at night. When a game can still be scary during bright light AND night, it is just ingenious! The amount of thought and detail that went into this game is obvious from beginning to end. I tried to play other games during this one so it wouldn’t end.
Even the 3D map is a work of art. This portal, task map is easy to read and transports you quickly to the next area needed.
When I got to chapter 5 “Forest Road” I was thinking to myself what a power house Daily Magic has become to BFG.
Most of the HOP were very detailed rooms and organized. There is a HOP in Chapter 5 called “The Toy store”. It leaves you to just stop and stare at all the detail and effort that went into this scene. I can’t believe it wasn’t in the demo. Whoever was responsible for this amazing scene, so well done!
Chapter 6 has an area called “The Old Church”. It is just so beautiful with sun rays streaming through the forest and fireflies bouncing around. I was happy to see this scene is Wallpaper that is offered with the CE.
For the most part I don’t like the tinker type of MG. I prefer the game related kind that is interactive and I don’t get frustrated with. I did play most MG in this game which says a lot for me to finish that many.
When I got to chapter 5 “Forest Road” I was thinking to myself what a power house Daily Magic has become to BFG.
Most of the HOP were very detailed rooms and organized. There is a HOP in Chapter 5 called “The Toy store”. It leaves you to just stop and stare at all the detail and effort that went into this scene. I can’t believe it wasn’t in the demo. Whoever was responsible for this amazing scene, so well done!
Chapter 6 has an area called “The Old Church”. It is just so beautiful with sun rays streaming through the forest and fireflies bouncing around. I was happy to see this scene is Wallpaper that is offered with the CE.
For the most part I don’t like the tinker type of MG. I prefer the game related kind that is interactive and I don’t get frustrated with. I did play most MG in this game which says a lot for me to finish that many.
The photos, notes and articles you see are the best I’ve seen in casual gaming. It is just another thing to show the amount of time and effort that went in to perfecting it.
If you liked this game, try the demo’s to these too as I feel they are similar in one way or another. I’ve also completed all the games I list below, and highly recommend them too.
1. Phantasmat #9 Insidious Dreams (similar story)
2. Haunted Hotel #14 Personal Nightmare (similar jump scare spirits like in this game)
3. Brink of Consciousness: The Dorian Gray Syndrome (It is older so use the blog wtg or ce strategy guide- great psyc. thriller like this.)
4. Fright CE (similar day-time fright vibe)
5. Mysteries of the Mind: Coma (chapters split like this, older game so may need the wtg).
2. Haunted Hotel #14 Personal Nightmare (similar jump scare spirits like in this game)
3. Brink of Consciousness: The Dorian Gray Syndrome (It is older so use the blog wtg or ce strategy guide- great psyc. thriller like this.)
4. Fright CE (similar day-time fright vibe)
5. Mysteries of the Mind: Coma (chapters split like this, older game so may need the wtg).
Here is some trivia. Did the Nightmare shadows in this game scare you? Imagine if you could really see them. There is a psychic named Amy Allen on a TV show called The Dead Files. She can actually see nightmare things like this game had. She has even seen the hat man described in this game! Then a retired NYPD does research to confirm her visions.
Thank you to each of you on the Daily Magic team who worked on this amazing game. I such a fan! The attention to details that continued from the demo right to the CE bonus chapter didn't go unnoticed. Excellent job.
I recommend this game!
Can you help stop an ancient evil in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
completed game & info on the bonus content
PostedAugust 30, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Current Favorite:
Phantasmat: Reign of Shadows
(18)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
My actual rating for this CE is a 3.5 and I think the SE deserves the 4.0 because I liked the beginning of the game better and wish this game had better bonus content.
The main portion of the game took me 3 hours
Bonus play took me 36 minutes (I skipped most the MG, so it would take most people longer).Total Gameplay for CE was 3hr 36 min.
I loved the demo to this game. I loved the beautiful blue green water, one scene more beautiful than the next, the moving fish, the calming music and the game play. But my overall opinion of this game, in a seashell, is if you don’t like the demo you probably won’t like this game as a whole. I felt the demo was the best chapter in this game.
Chapter 3 has a beautiful waterfall and lagoon area. Aside from the scene at the beginning with the cool sharks the lagoon was my 2nd favorite spot of the game. I didn’t mind the gadget seashell; which is a match game. It’s only used a total of about once a chapter. It is not used in the bonus play. I did not like the fantasy aspect of this game. They didn’t need to add the stupid Lava man or fantasy earth, wind, fire, and water characters either. I thought the storyline was absurd.
Thankfully, they are only seen when you use the shell so you don’t see them much more in the game compared to the demo.
Also, there is another great tiered type HOP in Chapter 3 where you are swimming under the water in a lagoon with moving fish, etc. It was so fun, and you feel like you are actually in the water! I also liked a couple of the MG in the demo (game related type), with the balloon and the zip line.
I will outline below the CE content, and what opens when, and what it does. Most of the extra content will only open after you have completed the bonus play. I wish the dev. would give us all the bonus content up front. If you pay twice as much for the CE I want the CE content accessible without having to complete the game again.
Bonus play took me 36 minutes (I skipped most the MG, so it would take most people longer).Total Gameplay for CE was 3hr 36 min.
I loved the demo to this game. I loved the beautiful blue green water, one scene more beautiful than the next, the moving fish, the calming music and the game play. But my overall opinion of this game, in a seashell, is if you don’t like the demo you probably won’t like this game as a whole. I felt the demo was the best chapter in this game.
Chapter 3 has a beautiful waterfall and lagoon area. Aside from the scene at the beginning with the cool sharks the lagoon was my 2nd favorite spot of the game. I didn’t mind the gadget seashell; which is a match game. It’s only used a total of about once a chapter. It is not used in the bonus play. I did not like the fantasy aspect of this game. They didn’t need to add the stupid Lava man or fantasy earth, wind, fire, and water characters either. I thought the storyline was absurd.
Thankfully, they are only seen when you use the shell so you don’t see them much more in the game compared to the demo.
Also, there is another great tiered type HOP in Chapter 3 where you are swimming under the water in a lagoon with moving fish, etc. It was so fun, and you feel like you are actually in the water! I also liked a couple of the MG in the demo (game related type), with the balloon and the zip line.
I will outline below the CE content, and what opens when, and what it does. Most of the extra content will only open after you have completed the bonus play. I wish the dev. would give us all the bonus content up front. If you pay twice as much for the CE I want the CE content accessible without having to complete the game again.
*******POTENTIAL SPOILERS******* I mention what unlocks in Extras…
1. WTG/Strategy Guide: 36 pg. (32 pages of gameplay and 4 pages of other) Chap.1/demo/Village =8pg, Chap.2-Dock=6pg, Chap.3-Treasury=6pg, Chap.4-Crypt=5p,
and Bonus Chap= 7pg.
2. CUTSCENES: There are only 8 in the game. Two are in bonus play. They are kept in the extras area to re-watch, and not in a notebook, in-game, like we see from some other dev. (which I prefer). This game didn’t need a notebook anyway. The story was too light and all the pick-up notes looked exactly alike on brown parchment. There were no news articles because the year is 1700 something.
3. REPLAY some MG & HOP: You can replay 21 MG (but I’m sure the game has more) There are 17 HOP to replay. When playing them in extras though, they are timed, have an accuracy %, and you can earn 3 gold cups each HOP.
4. MUSIC- 7 tracks can be DL to your Doc. file. The music is relaxing, with a lot of harps. I noticed at the beginning it looped a lot and for the most part turned it way down to hear environmental sounds.
5. CONCEPT ART & WALLPAPERS: The concept art has 3 black & white sketches- and 3 pictures of characters in different phases of dev. (concept art can’t be saved). There are 8 wallpapers x4 sizes that can be saved to the Doc. file. They don’t auto save to the desktop as wallpaper; you have to open them in the Doc. file first.
6. Collectibles & MORPS: The combos of 30 starfish, seahorses, and turtles you collect have a page. You can go back and get any you missed. The morphs you collect also have their own page but it’s bland; you can go back for any missed on those too.
7. SOUVENIER ROOM: It has its own page. You re-visit 15 scenes to find an item.
8. SKIPPING STONES: This is a drag type M3 with pretty bad instructions. You need to hold the left mouse and drag to connect them- you can also connect diagonally. There is more to this game that I won’t go into but I gave up on it rather quickly.
9. BONUS CHAPTER: You play as the handsome villager from the main game. There isn’t much story. There are only two cut scenes that explain it- one at the beginning and one at the end and both were too short. The character interaction you have doesn’t match the storyline. You are required to save a couple of people- but I have no idea how they got in their predicaments or why I had to help them. Thankfully, lava man doesn’t re-appear. I didn’t like the bonus play and hit hint a lot. Needless to say, I did it in record time (36 min.). I skipped almost all the minigames. They are the gadget/fiddle type and I just prefer the game related type such as doing the zip line in the demo. Bonus play felt really rushed to me.
There are a total of 9 areas of gameplay in the bonus play. 6 areas are old and we saw them in the main game. Only 3 areas are new. Scenes 1-7 didn’t have any morphs or collectibles but 8 and 9th had maybe one or two total. I counted 9 more MG and 4 HOP (one is in a zoom window).
The matching shell gadget is not used in bonus play.
There are 13 basic Achievements to earn that are located in the Menu.
Normally, I won’t buy a CE unless it has a Screensaver (not just wallpapers). The bonus content here was a bit unappealing but I decided to buy it with a game club sale. Chapters 1 through 3 are the best in the game and chapter 4 and bonus play fizzled for me.
1. WTG/Strategy Guide: 36 pg. (32 pages of gameplay and 4 pages of other) Chap.1/demo/Village =8pg, Chap.2-Dock=6pg, Chap.3-Treasury=6pg, Chap.4-Crypt=5p,
and Bonus Chap= 7pg.
2. CUTSCENES: There are only 8 in the game. Two are in bonus play. They are kept in the extras area to re-watch, and not in a notebook, in-game, like we see from some other dev. (which I prefer). This game didn’t need a notebook anyway. The story was too light and all the pick-up notes looked exactly alike on brown parchment. There were no news articles because the year is 1700 something.
3. REPLAY some MG & HOP: You can replay 21 MG (but I’m sure the game has more) There are 17 HOP to replay. When playing them in extras though, they are timed, have an accuracy %, and you can earn 3 gold cups each HOP.
4. MUSIC- 7 tracks can be DL to your Doc. file. The music is relaxing, with a lot of harps. I noticed at the beginning it looped a lot and for the most part turned it way down to hear environmental sounds.
5. CONCEPT ART & WALLPAPERS: The concept art has 3 black & white sketches- and 3 pictures of characters in different phases of dev. (concept art can’t be saved). There are 8 wallpapers x4 sizes that can be saved to the Doc. file. They don’t auto save to the desktop as wallpaper; you have to open them in the Doc. file first.
6. Collectibles & MORPS: The combos of 30 starfish, seahorses, and turtles you collect have a page. You can go back and get any you missed. The morphs you collect also have their own page but it’s bland; you can go back for any missed on those too.
7. SOUVENIER ROOM: It has its own page. You re-visit 15 scenes to find an item.
8. SKIPPING STONES: This is a drag type M3 with pretty bad instructions. You need to hold the left mouse and drag to connect them- you can also connect diagonally. There is more to this game that I won’t go into but I gave up on it rather quickly.
9. BONUS CHAPTER: You play as the handsome villager from the main game. There isn’t much story. There are only two cut scenes that explain it- one at the beginning and one at the end and both were too short. The character interaction you have doesn’t match the storyline. You are required to save a couple of people- but I have no idea how they got in their predicaments or why I had to help them. Thankfully, lava man doesn’t re-appear. I didn’t like the bonus play and hit hint a lot. Needless to say, I did it in record time (36 min.). I skipped almost all the minigames. They are the gadget/fiddle type and I just prefer the game related type such as doing the zip line in the demo. Bonus play felt really rushed to me.
There are a total of 9 areas of gameplay in the bonus play. 6 areas are old and we saw them in the main game. Only 3 areas are new. Scenes 1-7 didn’t have any morphs or collectibles but 8 and 9th had maybe one or two total. I counted 9 more MG and 4 HOP (one is in a zoom window).
The matching shell gadget is not used in bonus play.
There are 13 basic Achievements to earn that are located in the Menu.
Normally, I won’t buy a CE unless it has a Screensaver (not just wallpapers). The bonus content here was a bit unappealing but I decided to buy it with a game club sale. Chapters 1 through 3 are the best in the game and chapter 4 and bonus play fizzled for me.
Uncover a conspiracy against the king!
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 13 found this review helpful
I loved the color scheme and color tones this dev used
PostedAugust 19, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED DEMO
Some things I liked more than others in this game.
Some things I liked more than others in this game.
GRAPHICS- I loved the fact this game used the gray-sepia color scheme. It reminded me of the beautiful (melancholy) tones we used to see in the first few games of the Shiver series. I've grown really tired of oversaturated royal blues/purple and teal/aqua tones that we see so much of these days, so that was a huge plus. I prefer graphics to be more realistic computer gen. though (like in Shiver: Poltergeist) Similar to PS2 type graphics you know? The graphics in this game were beautifully sketched, and with detail, but lacking the depth & deep shadowing that gives a game realism.
Compared to this game, I feel Artifex Mundi did them better with the games Enigmatis 3 The Shadow of Karkhala, and a gorgeous little game they did called, Faces of Illusion: The Twin Phantoms. My favorite graphics of all time are Midnight Mysteries Haunted Houdini, The Reincarnation Series & Fright.
I loved how the characters spoke from within the scene. At one point the King stayed in the carriage-- instead of a talking head in a text box. The English accent voice actors were superb ~A+.
I always love "reactive items" that when you click on them they react. I noticed in the demo of this game each new area had some little animal you could touch to make it move such as a squirrel and a crow. I always notice the little extra things that make a game look like the DEV put thought and interest into the details.
I liked the HOS in this game. I loved the one with the map where you circled items with a pencil and it made a cool pencil sound. I didn't like the MG as much. Most are the toggle or manipulate type and I just prefer the game related type.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE AS MUCH.....
SOUNDS/OPTIONS- This game had the vol. control for environmental sounds as the same slider as "game effect sounds". I wish they had separate options.
Compared to this game, I feel Artifex Mundi did them better with the games Enigmatis 3 The Shadow of Karkhala, and a gorgeous little game they did called, Faces of Illusion: The Twin Phantoms. My favorite graphics of all time are Midnight Mysteries Haunted Houdini, The Reincarnation Series & Fright.
I loved how the characters spoke from within the scene. At one point the King stayed in the carriage-- instead of a talking head in a text box. The English accent voice actors were superb ~A+.
I always love "reactive items" that when you click on them they react. I noticed in the demo of this game each new area had some little animal you could touch to make it move such as a squirrel and a crow. I always notice the little extra things that make a game look like the DEV put thought and interest into the details.
I liked the HOS in this game. I loved the one with the map where you circled items with a pencil and it made a cool pencil sound. I didn't like the MG as much. Most are the toggle or manipulate type and I just prefer the game related type.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE AS MUCH.....
SOUNDS/OPTIONS- This game had the vol. control for environmental sounds as the same slider as "game effect sounds". I wish they had separate options.
RAIN EFFECTS/OPTIONS- It rains over several scenes, especially in chapter 2. It makes it so hard to see the screen when you can't turn them on/off in the options.
I wasn't a huge fan of the CE content. I'll wait to buy this on sale as an SE. I wished it had a screensaver (not just wallpaper) for it to push me over into buying the CE.
I feel this game needed more actual cut scenes. I've seen many other reviewers over the years also say that the cut scenes still really matter. They are needed tell the story and involve the player by giving a vested interest into the game. I especially love when a DEV puts them in a notebook with notes & articles to refresh a story DURING gameplay and not just in the special features.
Well done cut scenes give a game a high budget feel in my opinion (again, like PS2, in a way). I reviewed another game here recently that has the best cut scenes I've ever seen in casual gaming.
ALSO....
RE: Artifex Mundi being listed together with Cordelia Games in opening credits. So I just looked it up. A mystery game by Cordelia (Artifex Mundi), came out last week at this site, called "Path of Sin: Greed".
To date, my favorite games by Artifex Mundi are the Enigmatis Series. I have completed the CE to all three, and highly recommend all of those as well :)
Well done cut scenes give a game a high budget feel in my opinion (again, like PS2, in a way). I reviewed another game here recently that has the best cut scenes I've ever seen in casual gaming.
ALSO....
RE: Artifex Mundi being listed together with Cordelia Games in opening credits. So I just looked it up. A mystery game by Cordelia (Artifex Mundi), came out last week at this site, called "Path of Sin: Greed".
To date, my favorite games by Artifex Mundi are the Enigmatis Series. I have completed the CE to all three, and highly recommend all of those as well :)
I recommend this game!
Can you break free from your nightmares in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
This is my favorite game of 2017
PostedAugust 16, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME (and extras)
SE portion took me: 3 hours 50min.
CE bonus play: 1 hour 15 min.
Total play: 5 hours 5 min.
The Walkthrough Guide is 44 pages and the CE bonus play is 8 pages of gameplay.
CE bonus play: 1 hour 15 min.
Total play: 5 hours 5 min.
The Walkthrough Guide is 44 pages and the CE bonus play is 8 pages of gameplay.
The chapters in this game are broken up into different places and times so the color scheme also changes from night to day, indoor to out. I love when a game changes the time of day to mix things up a bit. If I could I’d rate it higher than 5 stars.
The fear factor in this game is perfectly balanced. You are lulled by a beautiful garden scene with happily chirping birds and Bam! The shadow people are scary! They are perfectly done. This game kept making me jump in my chair!! This is what I loved most. It’s so scary when you are caught off guard. Most horror light games are in dreary locations or at night. When a game can still be scary during bright light, it is just ingenious! The amount of thought and detail that went into this game is obvious from beginning to end. I tried to play other games during this one so it wouldn’t end. I haven’t done that with a game since Paranormal Pursuit The Gifted One.
Even the 3D map is a work of art. This portal, task map is easy to read and transports you quickly.
When I got to chapter 5 “Forest Road” I was thinking to myself what a power house Daily Magic has become to BFG.
Most of the HOP were very detailed rooms and organized. There is a HOP in Chapter 5 called “The Toy store”. It leaves you to just stop and stare at all the detail and effort that went into this scene. I can’t believe it wasn’t in the demo. Whoever was responsible for this amazing scene, hats off!
Chapter 6 has an area called “The Old Church”. It is just so beautiful with sun rays streaming through the forest and fireflies bouncing around. I was happy to see this scene is a Wallpaper that is offered with the CE.
For the most part I don’t like the tinker type of MG. I prefer the game related kind that are interactive and I don’t get frustrated with. I did play most MG in this game which says a lot for me to finish that many.
The photos, notes and articles you see are the best I’ve seen in casual gaming. It is just another thing to show the amount of time and effort that went in to perfecting it.
I mostly liked the music in the HOPs. There was one track that sounded like the theme to Charlie’s Angels (though it is not one of the 4 tracks offered with the CE).
Even the 3D map is a work of art. This portal, task map is easy to read and transports you quickly.
When I got to chapter 5 “Forest Road” I was thinking to myself what a power house Daily Magic has become to BFG.
Most of the HOP were very detailed rooms and organized. There is a HOP in Chapter 5 called “The Toy store”. It leaves you to just stop and stare at all the detail and effort that went into this scene. I can’t believe it wasn’t in the demo. Whoever was responsible for this amazing scene, hats off!
Chapter 6 has an area called “The Old Church”. It is just so beautiful with sun rays streaming through the forest and fireflies bouncing around. I was happy to see this scene is a Wallpaper that is offered with the CE.
For the most part I don’t like the tinker type of MG. I prefer the game related kind that are interactive and I don’t get frustrated with. I did play most MG in this game which says a lot for me to finish that many.
The photos, notes and articles you see are the best I’ve seen in casual gaming. It is just another thing to show the amount of time and effort that went in to perfecting it.
I mostly liked the music in the HOPs. There was one track that sounded like the theme to Charlie’s Angels (though it is not one of the 4 tracks offered with the CE).
RE: BONUS PLAY: This bonus play is worth your buck in my opinion! I loved it. You play as a male this time, named Henry Olney (Sc. D. Neuroscience Society) He is investigating Mr. Reynal (dude you played as in the main game). Henry is trying to verify the theory of the Dreamlands. Technically, it’s the study of Lucid Dreaming. You continue collecting all the same items in bonus play.
You play in 8 NEW AREAS in the bonus play. ALL OF THE BONUS PLAY IS NEW!
Usually, I will list “old revised” areas in a completed game compared to “new” areas in bonus. It is a rare thing to see all new areas. I counted 20 mini games (I only skipped 2). I believe there are only 3 HOP scenes in the bonus to play which was a bummer, because I prefer HOP to MG.
Bonus play takes up 8 pages of the 44 page strat. guide.
The end cut scene to bonus play is-- WOW! I highly recommend the CE for the bonus play.
If you liked this game, try the demo’s to these as I feel they are similar in one way or another. I’ve also completed all the games I listed below, and highly recommend them too.
You play in 8 NEW AREAS in the bonus play. ALL OF THE BONUS PLAY IS NEW!
Usually, I will list “old revised” areas in a completed game compared to “new” areas in bonus. It is a rare thing to see all new areas. I counted 20 mini games (I only skipped 2). I believe there are only 3 HOP scenes in the bonus to play which was a bummer, because I prefer HOP to MG.
Bonus play takes up 8 pages of the 44 page strat. guide.
The end cut scene to bonus play is-- WOW! I highly recommend the CE for the bonus play.
If you liked this game, try the demo’s to these as I feel they are similar in one way or another. I’ve also completed all the games I listed below, and highly recommend them too.
1. Fright CE (similar day time fright vibe)
2. Whispered Secrets: Everburning Candle CE (different
storylines, and times of day)
3. Phantasmat: Reign of Shadows (similar story)
4. Mysteries of the Mind: Coma (older game,
but my favorite story of any casual game ever played,
with the exception of the Reincarnation series)
5. Haunted Hotel: Personal Nightmare
(similar amazing jump scares)
2. Whispered Secrets: Everburning Candle CE (different
storylines, and times of day)
3. Phantasmat: Reign of Shadows (similar story)
4. Mysteries of the Mind: Coma (older game,
but my favorite story of any casual game ever played,
with the exception of the Reincarnation series)
5. Haunted Hotel: Personal Nightmare
(similar amazing jump scares)
Thank you BFG, and each of you at Daily Magic who obviously worked very hard on this amazing game. I am such a huge fan of yours!
I recommend this game!
Turn back the hands of time to free the Lost Lands!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
The games made by 5-BN to date- Have a high quality + high budget feel...
PostedAugust 16, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED DEMO
The cut scenes alone are like watching a movie in this game. The character presentation is PERFECT. There are no weird hopping movements, no gliding... and to me it feels more like viewing a PS or PS2 game; absolutely incredible and positively perfect!
The characters speak from within the scene and I love how when each one is talking a very small thumbnail pic. appears in the left corner with text. It doesn't overpower the screen. I absolutely loved that they show you your own character during game play.
I did notice that some of the scenes are more "hand drawn" with less shadowing and detail, such as "Maaron's Laboratory". I didn't like the graphics in that room at all, in comparison with this DEV other games. I just tend to prefer more computer gen graphics that are clear and crisp. I did notice not all the rooms/areas were like Maaron's Lab though. Some were better, such as the area referred to as "Dried Swamp". Most scenes in the demo are at night. It feels realistic, very well done, instead of the night time aqua theme or blurple that has become so common in these games (which I hate now). So that alone was a huge plus.
The characters speak from within the scene and I love how when each one is talking a very small thumbnail pic. appears in the left corner with text. It doesn't overpower the screen. I absolutely loved that they show you your own character during game play.
I did notice that some of the scenes are more "hand drawn" with less shadowing and detail, such as "Maaron's Laboratory". I didn't like the graphics in that room at all, in comparison with this DEV other games. I just tend to prefer more computer gen graphics that are clear and crisp. I did notice not all the rooms/areas were like Maaron's Lab though. Some were better, such as the area referred to as "Dried Swamp". Most scenes in the demo are at night. It feels realistic, very well done, instead of the night time aqua theme or blurple that has become so common in these games (which I hate now). So that alone was a huge plus.
Sadly, I absolutely hated the attacking "spider robot" storyline. This is a rather involved fantasy based story that gets weirder by the minute. Over the years I am realizing the story in these games really does matter to me. The game play is so well done though, I actually would have overlooked that and purchased the CE if it had had a screensaver (I don't mean wallpapers). So I will wait to get the SE as the CE content wasn't enough for me.
I LOVED collecting the "diary pages" that go into inventory and they hold the story. I will often play more than one game at the same time and I love when a dev. puts the story in a book for review (and especially when they add the cut scenes WITH the diary in the same spot- as one other dev. does perfectly). The collections and morphs in this game are also fun and you get a bonus if you get them all :)
In my opinion Lost Lands The Four Horsemen is my favorite in this series.
This is a list of my favorites, by 5 BN. I have completed many of the full games listed. The quality of them is off the hook and well worth your money.
They are:
1. House of 1000 Doors series (completed them all except Evil Inside)
2. Darkness & Flame series
3. New York Mysteries series
4. Sacra Terra series (completed all the CE in this series)
5. Forbidden Secrets Alien Town
6. TM games- Pet Craze & Beach Party Craze
1. House of 1000 Doors series (completed them all except Evil Inside)
2. Darkness & Flame series
3. New York Mysteries series
4. Sacra Terra series (completed all the CE in this series)
5. Forbidden Secrets Alien Town
6. TM games- Pet Craze & Beach Party Craze
Try the demo to them and see if you love them as much as I do :)
I recommend this game!
You are sent to a remote island to solve a simple case that quickly turns into a cat and mouse game between you and the culprits.
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 11 found this review helpful
I thought it got a bit better by the end of the demo...
PostedAugust 12, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON THE COMPLETED DEMO
I was excited to see a new series. This is a crime based who done it, without any paranormal undertones. I know a lot of reviewers have been looking for just this type of storyline but I personally was a bit bored.
I might be in the minority, but I still love the paranormal games, the gimmicky devices are still a hit with me, and although some of them can be lame I still like helpers for the most part. Since this game has none of those things I'm sure many people will love it.
I found I was hitting the hint more often then I usually do. Within the first 20 seconds of cut scene #1 I didn't like the character tossing his smoked cigar in the water (maybe I'm just sensitive to littering, ha ha). All the locations are indoors with the same night time color scheme. The sound effects are similar to Eipix Games. I just happen to prefer games that are played outside in beautiful locations.
If you liked this game try:
Dead Reckoning: Death Between the lines
Dead Reckoning: Death Between the lines
This may be one of those games that gets better as you get past the demo and possibly the location changes to outside with a different time of day, and a more varied color scheme. But if it stays the royal bluish tones with dark yellow lighting I don't think I would be able to finish it.
My favorite game by this DEV is Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala which is also a mystery, with the same beautiful graphics but takes place in gorgeous outdoor locations. I highly recommend that game instead.
Can you keep the past from destroying the present?
Overall rating
2
/
5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
Did they rewind too far?
PostedAugust 5, 2018
kerith90angel
fromNew England, USA
Skill Level:Expert
Based on demo
If this series were ever to rewind again, I would hit the stop button at the original Dire Grove. Observe that game and add a portal task map- maybe call it Dire Grove Fast Forward. :) The other game I’d stop the rewind at in this series is The 13th Skull.
Listed under HOPA, this MCF Rewind- has no A for Adventure....
This seems to be the type of game players will either love or hate so I highly suggest you try the entire demo first.
The funny thing is, I am more of a HOP fan than a MG fan regarding the HOPA, and even I don't like this game (which is HOP heavy).
This seems to be the type of game players will either love or hate so I highly suggest you try the entire demo first.
The funny thing is, I am more of a HOP fan than a MG fan regarding the HOPA, and even I don't like this game (which is HOP heavy).
I really loved the initial cut scene that showed all the other past MCF games quickly and was excited to play it, but the monotony of seeing the repeated door cut scene to bring us from one HOP to another grew annoying. I absolutely hated that you couldn't "walk" from one room to another.
In my opinion, all of the newer Eipix games have great graphics, perfectly presented characters, etc. so I hated the "rewind" on character development in this game, as well, because overall I prefer realistic looking characters.
In my opinion, all of the newer Eipix games have great graphics, perfectly presented characters, etc. so I hated the "rewind" on character development in this game, as well, because overall I prefer realistic looking characters.
Even though I disliked this game, I highly suggest these in the MCF series instead:
1. The first Dire Grove (the mystery was amazing)
2. The 13th Skull (with its live characters, just perfect)
3. Shadow Lake (I know a lot of people didn't like this one but after playing the whole thing, I still love it)
2. The 13th Skull (with its live characters, just perfect)
3. Shadow Lake (I know a lot of people didn't like this one but after playing the whole thing, I still love it)
This game may pick up after the demo as I know some games do but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I don't recommend this game.
Visit some of the world's greatest cities as you play mosaic puzzles!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
If only they would address the technical flaws....
PostedJune 21, 2018
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on completed demo
I play Mosaic games every day (at least 3 grids). I buy every title of the FM series. It's become a test for me to see how fast I can complete them, and in order to do that some fundamental aspects need to be in place with this series.
I hope this developer knows how devoted I am to helping this series become the best it can be when I offer my suggestions to perfect it.
1. I would change the outer grid area color, where the numbers are-- from black--to a light color. The SHADOW GUIDE needs to extend from the row all the way INTO the numbers. I keep losing my place and mis-click due to this problem.
I have to completely agree with CyndiLouWho2's review of this game (but I didn't have the WS issue, and I didn't have Pennmom36's issue because I play on Windows 7 64 bit).
1. I would change the outer grid area color, where the numbers are-- from black--to a light color. The SHADOW GUIDE needs to extend from the row all the way INTO the numbers. I keep losing my place and mis-click due to this problem.
I have to completely agree with CyndiLouWho2's review of this game (but I didn't have the WS issue, and I didn't have Pennmom36's issue because I play on Windows 7 64 bit).
I wrote a 5 star review for it's 4th installment and see that several of the problems I had with it then still exist. As I said before, this series SHINES because of 2 of the puzzles offered... the ones with water, grass, stone & flowers that has moving items (an absolute blast), and the Labyrinth type puzzles. I wish they would make MOST of this series with those 2 types. Personally, I feel the 3rd type this game offers, The ORDINARY colored puzzles fall flat to the competition. (The colors are bla, not enough 3d appearance, and the mosaic pictures aren't detailed enough). So I'd either offer this series with only the 2 other types and do away with the ordinary mosaic, or really observe how the competition has truly perfect this type.
Please, please, label the what the picture is, if you are going to keep the ordinary type of puzzle.
This game series is set aside and above because of the innovative use of moving graphics and the maze type puzzles.
Because I buy and play this type of game so often, I would call myself an expert of them and even I had trouble with some of these grids. I would make some of the row numbers a higher increment (as FM does) because I would not suggest this series to newcomers to the genre. It is split into so many increments of 1, 2 and 3 that you have to stop every minute and switch the color/texture.
Because I buy and play this type of game so often, I would call myself an expert of them and even I had trouble with some of these grids. I would make some of the row numbers a higher increment (as FM does) because I would not suggest this series to newcomers to the genre. It is split into so many increments of 1, 2 and 3 that you have to stop every minute and switch the color/texture.
If these flaws were fixed, this could be the top of the Mosaic type of series, but because of the mentioned technical flaws it's falling a bit short for me now and it's not as fun as it could be.
I hope the DEV takes my suggestions to heart with the intent it was meant; to make this the best of it's type at BFG. It has SO much potential for a blue ribbon :)
I hope the DEV takes my suggestions to heart with the intent it was meant; to make this the best of it's type at BFG. It has SO much potential for a blue ribbon :)
I recommend this game!