I was able to purchase the CE at SE prices and am glad I did. I felt like this was the first Phantasmat by Eipix where I felt like I was playing a Phantasmat game. Great spooky atmosphere and intriguing story line.. (the ghosts appeared as though they were actual people ?? I loved that.. real people makes the game more real for me) Nobody does silhoutte progressive HOs like Epix. I usually breeze through them but often have to use at least one hint to progress. Especially loved the one in the boys room. Puzzles.. hate them anyway but was able to do a few. More than a few steps (in guide) and I opt to skip. Knowing that the bonus chapter has been criticized, I wasn't expecting much and that's what I got. I was especially interested to see what was in the extras, however. Pleased to see match 3 until I realized it was just an endless loop with no end. (I like some satisfaction of completing a level !!) I still miss journals from most developers but especially miss "the making of" in the extras where we get to meet the gang who worked on the game. One more thing... this game was high on my creep factor.. as all Phantasmat games should be. Please, Eipix, be consistent! The next game should not be a step backward!
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
I was able to purchase the CE at SE prices and am glad I did. I felt like this was the first Phantasmat by Eipix where I felt like I was playing a Phantasmat game. Great spooky atmosphere and intriguing story line.. (the ghosts appeared as though they were actual people ?? I loved that.. real people makes the game more real for me) Nobody does silhoutte progressive HOs like Epix. I usually breeze through them but often have to use at least one hint to progress. Especially loved the one in the boys room. Puzzles.. hate them anyway but was able to do a few. More than a few steps (in guide) and I opt to skip. Knowing that the bonus chapter has been criticized, I wasn't expecting much and that's what I got. I was especially interested to see what was in the extras, however. Pleased to see match 3 until I realized it was just an endless loop with no end. (I like some satisfaction of completing a level !!) I still miss journals from most developers but especially miss "the making of" in the extras where we get to meet the gang who worked on the game. One more thing... this game was high on my creep factor.. as all Phantasmat games should be. Please, Eipix, be consistent! The next game should not be a step backward!
Knowing I'm late to the party I will just state what I loved about this game. As soon as I met Maaron in his hut I was taken back to the very first game which I also loved. And meeting my old friend Folnur I was excited to be working again with him, too.
I was a long game for me and thank you dear developer for giving me a DIARY that told the story elements but one that I also had to consult for some clues/hints!!!!!! fabulous!
The bonus game tells us what happened to Maaron once and I'm hoping the next one will help bring back the character at the end of the main game.
Adore the hidden object scenes some of which were HARD and I had to use a hint or two. Loved it!
Will follow this developer wherever they go.. wonderful game as noted by the almost complete 5 star rating.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
It was a long game for me, worth the wait and was lucky to get it on sale. I am not a puzzle person but there were quite a few mini games I enjoyed. Especially the one to make the bears fall to the bottom. The HOs were well crafted, interactive and FUN. (although Daily Magic does Match 3's are always fun and I wish I had had the option to do a Match 3 instead of some of the puzzles.)
Sure was hoping to see a Match 3 game in extras but there was nothing in extras to play/replay. I enjoyed looking at the Developer's Diary and seeing the staff of Daily Magic looking all spooky. :)
I used to be so excited to see a new one in the series and have played and replayed games 1 through 4 over and over again because of the unique challenges in each of those games.
Starting with number 5 we are given bombs galore and I find the main challenge now is in NOT making bombs.
Basically, now they are all cookie cutter games with the same bombs, the same layouts, only the title/story are different.
For me, I will continue playing 1 - 4 for all the unique challenges that I never get tired of.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
In the mood for a relaxing, easy game I put this on my "buy as an SE" list and glad I did! Found our detective a little irritating as he stood around doing nothing until later in the game when it was revealed his true purpose.
Loved my little helper... he was quiet and performed his actions in a cute way.
I felt it was a long game.. several times I thought it was the end only to discover there was more. I am not a puzzle person so was pleased to be able to actually do them without automatically skipping. HOs were great.. varied.
Wishing now I had purchased the CE.. better than most.
I will probably replay this game in the near future.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
I know there were a lot of negative comments about things such as inaccuracies of treating a wound but I didn't care! It was a fun and creative way instead of finding a saw to cut a branch, grabbing some smelling salts, etc. Whoever wrote the first aid manual was certainly creative. This Dark Dimensions had some creative new ideas and the gameplay was fun and the puzzles were a good mix of ones I liked and ones I hated (toggles!! mirrors and light beams, math) and the really good news was that I was able to set skip and hint to ONE second! I didn't play their match 3's because I was having too much fun playing the HOs.
So glad I gave this present to myself for Mother's Day.
I rarely buy CE games anymore so had this on my list to buy as a Standard Edition. When this came up for purchase the CE was on sale so purchased it and I’m SO glad I did !! What a fantastic game.. one I didn’t want to stop playing and was happy for that extra hour of gaming in the Bonus chapter.
Thanks, Eipix, for a great new series and proven to me that sometimes the CE is definitely worth the price.
Where’s the Christmas magic? Certainly nowhere to be found in this game. While this series is one of the most anticipated of the year, I was shocked to see how far the mighty had fallen.
In the first place this had to be the shortest game in Christmas Stories history! We are having to do good deeds for people in normal scenes, in normal habitats .. and don’t we do that in almost all games, anyway?
Most noticeable by me was the lack of interactivity in all the scenes except where there was something to do. (remember when you clicked on things and almost everything moved in some way?) And there wasn’t much to do in each scene anyway.
And where have all the evil elves gone? There is ONE and only one evil elf which we rarely even interact with but is a slight hindrance. We have one reformed elf who is our helper but the tasks he performs seems clunky and didn’t make me smile at all.
I really didn’t mind all the easy mini games and HOs.. I expect them in this series.
So why did I buy this game? For one reason only… a super Sunday sale and I needed to fill up my punch card.
Elephant, take note… I have a feeling it was more than me who was disappointed.