The Brothers Grimm have assigned the task of revealing the truth behind missing children in the town of Arbourshire; it is up to you to discover the secrets of the Fairy Tale Mystery, before it is too late.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
I enjoyed the demo. But I'm wondering if the game is worth the CE price. I'd say **only** if the game lasts longer than most. Because... No map. No achievements. No hidden extras to find while navigating through the game. No extra anything except SG and Bonus Chapter. That being said, if I don't buy the CE I will get the SE because this is a well done game. The story line is presented in a way that keeps you interested. The HOS are not cluttered. No click penalty. Many objects are hidden in plain sight. You'll spend a few minutes looking for something only to find it right in front of your eyes. I really, really like the graphics. I found myself 'mousing' all over the screen just because the scene was that intriguing. I wanted to see if something was hidden in every corner. By the way, you should mouse all over the screen, because you might miss something. ;) I also like the voice-overs. They are believable. And I enjoyed the environment sounds. Custom difficulty menu!!!! Choice of Short - Medium - Off for Hint/Skip. Tutorial on/off. Visuals on/off - I assume that means sparkles. Speaking of sparkles: HOS are indicated with sparkles, but nothing else. (I left the Visuals off.) OK, back to the length: The SG shows 4 chapters + Bonus. It follows you as you play, but I wasn't able to scroll beyond my point in the game. I was trying to see how many pages were in the guide to give me an idea of length. Because I really really like this game. I just don't want to plunk down CE price for the usual 3 or 4 hours of play. I could care less about wallpapers, screen savers and concept art. I will be checking back to look for reviews from players who have bought and completed the game. Because if I find out the game has good length I probably will get the CE.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
This one has a few twists (no pun intended). The game description mentions "interactive cinema". I was curious about that and I won't spoil it for you. Plus 1 for that.
As the previous reviewer mentioned, there is a box, which has a map and from what I can tell, you will interact with that map as you accomplish certain things in the game.
The in game narrative uses voice over which is nice. The dialog also uses voice overs.
For me, the best thing about this game is the story line. I am already involved enough to want to know what happens next.
"Full Screen" doesn't fill my monitor. There are black bars on either side of screen. This doesn't bother me, but many of you mention this in reviews and comments, so I thought I'd note it here. There is a compass in the lower left hand corner. From what I can tell, you click it and directional arrows appear. Click it again and they disappear. This seems redundant because when you put the cursor towards the bottom the the screen, these arrows appear anyway.
The journal includes: another map, indicating current location and locations with tasks to perform; a task list, and notes.
I like the style of the graphics and I like the background sound effects. I always turn music volume to zero, can't comment on that.
I like the fact that it is an SE offering. I do purchase a lot of CE's, but only because I am impatient and don't want to wait. I really don't consider CE games worth the price. A few are, but very few.
Cargo flight 821 has crashed on an uncharted, beautiful and deadly planet. Your only companion is the trustworthy robot, Oscar and together you must escape.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
This game doesn't exactly hold your hand. But there are hints and clues. Once you assemble the robot, you can click on "DATA" and you'll have tasks, a map and "data" available. The map shows where hidden object scenes are, as well as where you are but you can't use it to jump to another scene. No click penalties in the HOS. The hint button doesn't work outside of the HOS. Some of the hints are provided through what I'll call cut-away shots. They show you when something has changed in another area after you've completed a task. So, of course, you know you need to go there next. I think the game deserves a better rating than what it is being given, but as another reviewer said, "You'll either love it or hate it." For this game, I suggest actually leaving the tutorial on until it finishes. There are just enough things about this game that are different, that I think the tutorial makes game play better. Please try this game.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
3/ 5
I exited the one hour trial to purchase this game. I have done that only two or three times ever. Even in casual mode, this game doesn't do a lot of hand holding. Hints are collected by finding "lamps". If there is a map, I didn't see it. So far, the journal only details what you already know, but the tutorial says that "important information" will be recorded there. By the way, the tutorial can be skipped. VO's are good. The story line seems a little weak to me and that is the sole reason I gave 4 stars instead of five. A weak story line is not a deal breaker for me. If it were, I would buy very few games. What this game lacks in a compelling story, it makes up for in challenging and innovative game play. There are more HOS than I like to see, but again, this game makes up for that. There are HOS inside of HOS. I know we've seen that before, but you don't see it often. There are also mini games inside of HOS. A welcome variation. I always mute the music, so I can't comment on that. But the background sounds are suspenseful and very much contribute to the mood of the game. The game has a bit of a sci-fi theme. During the demo, I encountered one person and one creature. Both seem to be the result of a lab experiment gone wrong. What I appreciate most about this game is its challenge. Had I opted for expert mode, I bet I'd be tearing out my hair. Items in the HOS are not easy to find. Probably half of them require interaction to locate. Items are not to scale. Some are found at the edge of the screen, where we normally don't have to look. All of this serves to increase the challenge for me. At the risk of contradicting myself, I have to say the mini games, so far, were not extremely challenging. I didn't mind that because the rest of the game is making me think. Besides, I am guilty of skipping puzzles/games. I am trying to cure myself of that bad habit. So for me, it feels good to solve them without skipping. One thing: I purchased and intended to write this review while the game downloaded. The activation was immediate. It was so fast, that I thought I had a glitch on my hands. I don't know if this means you get the entirety of the game on the demo download or not. Also I don't know how many of you care about that, but I thought I'd mention it. :) I recommend this one. It is better than average, in my opinion.
Reveal the twisted plan of a deranged magician who has his own Vendetta against the world! And uncover a secretive world of magicians and discover the power they have held and passed down through the centuries!
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3
Fun Factor
3/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
3/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
3/ 5
I played on Advanced level (medium). I believe I only skipped one puzzle/mini game. I did check the walk through a few times only because I needed to understand the puzzle instructions. Some of them were obtuse. It's an OK game. For whatever reason, I did not become invested in the story line. The one thing I did appreciate is that I was not looking for a kidnapped relative. I finished the game in 3 hours with little to no use of the hint button and only skipping the one puzzle. Try it, of course. Personally, I advise waiting until it goes on sale.
+50points
59of68voted this as helpful.
Pride & Prejudice: Hidden Anthologies
Explore the rich world of Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, Pride & Prejudice! Enjoy this Hidden Object Adventure and get a new perspective to the classic story.
Overall rating
2/ 5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
When I want to read this much, I will pick up a book.
I could not finish the demo on this. I appreciate that they wanted to follow the plot of Pride and Prejudice - and it is a classic for a good reason. I recommend reading it. I can not, however, recommend this game. Hints are limited. The game pairs "narration" with the music so you must accept both or have neither. Graphics look like cartoon panels and not well done at that. Tutorial instructions can't be skipped. To give you an idea: In a 5 minute span of "game play", I spent 3 minutes reading and 2 minutes doing a hidden object scene. I will be interested to see a review from someone who had the patience to stick out the demo in its entirety. No buy for me. Not even with a free game credit. By the way, the only reason I rated the storyline at a 5 is because it's Pride and Prejudice and if the devs say the game "closely follows" the plot, then I believe them.
After Shaban's sheep are stolen by thieves, he sets off on an epic adventure to get back what belongs to him. Help Shaban on his journey in this intriguing hidden object adventure game!
Trying to improve the star rating on this game, I decided to do a review and give it a 5 star rating - because I think it deserves it. (In honesty, I think it deserves 4.5 stars.) This game reminds me of the Samorost games, which I loved playing and which greatly challenged me. As other reviewers have mentioned, all the "dialog" is presented in picture forms....thought bubbles to be precise - thought bubbles with graphics instead of words. Both the story and the instructions are there, but you have to interpret both through deciphering/comprehending the visual presentation. I just earned a free game, so I used that code to get this game. So far, I have solved 6 or so puzzles/situations. I did skip one puzzle (actually, it was more of a mini game, requiring you to be quick with the mouse). It seemed impossible and I knew it would take me a very, very, very long time to accomplish it, so I skipped it because I'm not in the mood. The hidden object scenes are used to further the quest and they are FROGs and they scroll in all 4 directions. So far, as soon as you acquire the object, you have to use it to solve something. I have been playing HO/Adventure games for a few years and I am getting bored with what has become the standard format for these games. So I am really pleased to see this game. It will truly challenge you and you will probably spend more time getting through it than you spend on the typical HOG. AND we get it at a regular SE price. Someone mentioned having a concern about the length. I can't answer that. I would say the length probably depends entirely on how quickly you can figure everything out....or how much you "cheat". ;) I recommend trying it and I definitely recommend having an open mind. If you expect it to be like the majority of games out there, you will be disappointed.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
I bought this after trying it out. The demo is one that automatically stops at a certain point. Usually I don't like that, but in this game, I didn't feel cheated out of my hour. At first, I thought that the game did too much hand holding. Having bought the game and played for a bit, I realized that I was wrong. The hand-holding only happens during the hidden object scenes. They are interactive and you get sparkles to show you where the interactive objects are. But the game does not tell you where to use that interactive object. (i.e. - sparkes for a hammer, but you have to figure out where to use the hammer and etc.) It seems to me that the game gets a little more challenging as it goes along. More than once, I've said, "OK.....think!" Along that thought: The hints are actually hints. Some games tell you exactly what to do when you click the hint button. This game literally gives you a hint and you still have to think about what to do next. One thing that has made me smile: I have seen horse shoes in nearly every hidden object scene and not once !! have the lists included said horse shoe. Since we've all had to find horse shoes enough to shoe every horse that ever ran the Kentucky Derby, I was amused. It's as though the dev's said, "No, we're going to try to be a little different here." Kudos! The HOS use the entirety of the screen and some objects are well hidden. I didn't find anything spectacularly different about this game, but I think it is a very solid game. It will make you think, so if you are not in the mood for a challenge today, save it for another day, but don't let this one pass you by. 4 1/2 stars!
There is so much to say about this game that I am going to do a bullet point list. So, in no particular order:
• Access the Strategy Guide from menu, not in game. • Voice overs are superb • Two difficulty modes • Task "button" - just have to mouse over it to see it • Map shows "active" tasks and areas where you'll need to return later, but you can not use the map to jump around • I almost always keep music levels at zero. With no music, you hear ocean sounds and waterfall sounds. Quite soothing. • The very first mini puzzle reminded me of MCFs, but with instructions (and that did not necessarily make it an easy puzzle to conquer). ALL the mini puzzles so far are quite different. I have found none of the usual fanfare here. • How could I forget to mention? Sci-Fi theme!!!!! Yay! • The HOS are interactive, but you have HOS inside of the HOS and those are sort of kind of interactive with the main HOS. • Speaking of HOS: No penalty for fast or random clicking. • One last thing about the map: There's a little extra interactivity going on there, too. I'll let you find out on your own what it is.
A great game at a regular price? I think a whole school of fishies are going to be very happy this weekend.
I give this game 3 stars only because I thought the voice acting was better than average. I really want to give it 2 1/2.
Finished demo in 49 minutes. The story line is somewhat intriguing. I will buy this someday when it goes on sale - because of the storyline. That being said: It is still the same old tired ghost-related schtick, but being set in an old west town was at least different and I thought that setting offered some potential. I think they wasted a good opportunity. Demo it and see if you don't agree.
I was pretty disappointed in the HOS, as the dev's did not even attempt to limit items to the time period. Not. At. All. Yes, there are items from "the old west", but there are also LOTS of items that are 20th and 21st century.
I thought it was pretty easy. During the demo, I did not have to struggle or exercise the gray cells much at all.
Casual and Advanced mode. Zeroed out the music volume, so I can't say how good or bad it is. I opted for the system cursor and was becoming more and more frustrated because you had no "out" from one scene to the next. I had to click all over the screen, as the cursor did not change to show me that I could back out to the previous scene.
I finally decided to try changing back to custom cursor and that fixed the problem. I would think that the cursor setup would have to be one of the simplest set of commands and certainly among the most basic - to every point and click game.
I guess I was left with the impression that the game was created half-heartedly.
As I said, the voice overs were well done. The graphics are good. Not stellar, but good. But the cursor problem and the plethora of modern items in junkpiles in an old west town left me feeling disappointed.
I am not sure the story will really develop as the game progresses and I'm not going to spend any credits to find out.