Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
2/ 5
If this truly is classified as a HOG, it should be reclassified as Adventure only. Have only played the demo so far and I am on the fence about buying it, but I probably will. The hints are there. I find it interesting that the devs chose to incorporate most of the game direction into the game commentary. I know most reviewers here stated that the hint system was no help. You see, I also find it interesting that the hint system is an actual, honest-to-goodness hint system. I think many of us might be spoiled by having the hint system lead us by the hand. Or maybe that's just me. That said, you know that I definitely was cursing as I played. And then I used my little grey cells for a minute and tried a few things and usually, I said, "Oh, duh." Example, I took a hint after dealing with the mammoth and the hint was, "I can solve the mammoth puzzle." I said (yes, out loud), "What?!? Where in the (expletive) is the mammoth puzzle!?" And within a minute, I then said, (yes, again, out loud), "Duh!" If you do not like "adventure-only" games, you will not like this game at all. I agree that this is in no way the best adventure game out there. Once you figure out the game play, it is a bit repetitious; except you really have to think a little to reach the next portal. I thought the story line was weak. As a matter of fact, the weak story line is exactly what has me on the fence about buying this one. It is hard to finish viewing or doing any form of entertainment if you aren't invested in the outcome, let alone in the path leading to the outcome. (Note to developers) I don't think I have anything to add that other reviewers haven't already said. So maybe I'll go click Buy Now because I am bored and want to play a new game.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
3/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
I liked the fact that this game does not lead you by the hand quite as much as other games. I had to think a little more, but not so much that it hurt my brain. There is no journal/diary and so I jotted down notes for the clues and to remember which objects I needed to find to unlock doors and etc. The game is linear but not entirely. As usual, there is some running around, but not as much as in other games. Many times, the object you needed was found in the same scene and you didn't have to traipse back somewhere else to unlock that object. More puzzle than HO, which I like. My one complaint is that the HO scenes were too dark. Oh, wait, I have another: There was too much waiting for the game to load the next area. The screen goes black and sometimes you see a percentage indicator, but not always. The wait was just long enough to get me cursing and several times I wondered if the game had frozen. This game seems no more graphic intensive than other games so I wonder why you have this lag time and I also wonder if it actually would freeze up on older PCs. One thing I had to get used to: When you "create" an object you need (such as filling a container with water), it does not automatically drop into your inventory. It hangs there mid-screen and you have to click to pick it up. More than once I backed out of a scene only to have to go right back to pick up what I needed. All that said, I definitely enjoyed playing this game. The story is a tiny bit weak, but the game play makes you forget that. I did like how the clues were presented and since there was no journal recording them all, you had to pay attention and as I said, take notes - unless you have one of those really good memories, and I don't! :) Average length. I would recommend it, but it may not be to everyone's liking. Definitely better than many games out there. As always: Try the demo.