A BREATHTAKING FAIRY TALE – AN AWARD-WINNING CLASSIC
PostedApril 20, 2019
sunnyglow
fromCongratulations to Artifex Mundi on an award-winning game! This game demonstrates an excellence in gaming few developers achieve. Hopefully there will be more games like this from this developer’s own studios in the future.
This game is a classic, a masterpiece! Its story is set in a fairy tale kingdom depicted with breathtaking cartoon-like graphics! The story is a heart touching tale of an older brother dealing with his little sister’s illness. He enters a fantasy world to cope with the fear he feels for his sister. In this world he is a rabbit, carrying his sister from location-to-location attempting to save her life in the only way he, as a child, can envision – in a world of fantasy where the impossible can become possible.
In the world of gaming, the impossible has become the possible for Artifex Mundi as well – a new style of HOP game. This game is what I consider a hybrid – combining the elements from a standard HOP game with those of an adventure game. It is a point-and-click adventure in which it is necessary to examine scenes to uncover necessary items or uncover areas which need to be acted upon. There is NO dialogue – rather actions and puzzles are indicated with visual references. The game itself is one ingenious large puzzle, requiring logic to deduce what actions are necessary to proceed within the game.
There is no strategy guide; however, there is a hint button to help you with the game. You can replay four (4) search and seek HOP scenes which require searching for parts to create four (4) whimsical machines which make noises as parts are added. There are other quasi-HOP searches in which a specific number of an item must be located to proceed in the game. Unlike most HOP games, different scenes must be searched to locate all the items. Some are well-hidden within those scenes. At times the player must complete some puzzle to gain access to them as well.
There are twenty-five (25) puzzles within the game. Most range from easy to medium difficulty. Unfortunately, you cannot replay the puzzles from this game. This is one aspect of this game I wish BFG had provided. The puzzles are thematic, and most are of middle difficulty. However, I found none terribly difficult. Puzzles can be skipped in this version of this game.
One nice feature provided by BFG is a digital copy of the artwork which can be downloaded. There are three (3) wallpapers along with a soulful, melodic soundtrack. I do hope this developer will continue to create more games from their own studios. This game is a perfect example of why they stand out in comparison to other game developers. This is an award-winning game not to be missed!
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SAMPLES OF THE PUZZLES WITHIN THE GAME
A. Connection puzzle. Connect two like colored tokens without crossing lines with other connections between tokens B. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate three rings so that 3 different colored critters are situated on their same colored ring. C. Sequence puzzle. Press on crystals to repeat a given sequence as to when they light up. 3X D. Matching puzzle. Match up like symbols by clicking on germs to portray the symbols. E. Jigsaw puzzle. Create a picture by placing pieces into their proper locations. F. Pipe puzzle. Connection puzzle. Connect pipes so they allow water to flow from one end to the other. G. Sequence puzzle. Remove mushrooms from a grid in the proper sequence until all are removed. Moving one affects the others. H. Gear puzzle. Connect gears within a grid so they mesh with each other. I. Tangram puzzle. Place irregular pieces into a grid so that all fit and mesh within a grid. J. Mathematical puzzle. Turn keys on a circular grid by moving 3 spaces clockwise or two spaces counterclockwise until all keys are turned. K. Connection puzzle. Connect pots with spouts so that the spouts connect to allow fluid to be transferred. L. Domino puzzle. Place beetles with dots on their backs and fronts so that beetles next to each other match up with the number of dots on either the back or front with the beetle next to it.
FINAL TRIBUTE TO ARTIFEX MUNDI: In 2013, I played my favorite game by this developer, “Nightmares from the Deep: The Siren’s Call.” I was in awe of that game at the time with its beautiful graphics, wondrous activities, and beautiful storyline. Although now somewhat dated, to me, it is a classic and still one of my favorite games. Now years later, I am experiencing the same awe I felt back then. I do believe this game will become a classic as well. Thank you for reminding me that, although they may be rare, there are still some fantastic games being developed out there in the gaming world!
ESCAPE IRON ROCK IN A GAME YOU WON’T WANT TO ESCAPE
PostedApril 18, 2019
sunnyglow
fromThis game provides a new method for ice removal which could see an explosion in the use of hair spray. With a lighter and a can of hair spray you can create your own flame thrower, removing not only ice but everything else in the area as well.
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME: 3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 41 Pages
OPINION: Although this is not my favorite series from this developer, I found this game one of the better ones within this series. The story behind the game is a sci-fi delight with a twist of suspense. The graphics contain sci-fi elements and there are gadgets galore within this game. I found the game somewhat short, but creatively designed. There is some traveling back-and-forth between scenes; however, it is not excessive. I found the pace decent with plenty of activities. This is a great easy breezy game for those who love this series.
There are an equal number of HOP scenes and mini-games – twenty-two (22) of each. There is a variety of styles for the HOP scenes, but most of the scenes are lists of items and silhouette. Nevertheless, there are matching, storybook, and pattern scenes as well. There are few multiple-step ones with two different styles of scenes. They are somewhat interactive. There are a couple of scenes which I found creatively designed, including one which requires searching for items to build a hairdryer.
The mini-games vary in style, but most are thematic and easy with a few which are moderately difficult. There are some which are multiple-step as well. I enjoyed the puzzles, especially the nonogram (griddler) puzzle, which is not seen in many HOP games.
ELF RETURNS: For those who are dog lovers, Elf returns. Nevertheless, he is used sparingly within the game. He is used to retrieve needed items. I feel this game would stand on its own merit without this gimmicky pooch; however, I know there is a huge fan base for Elf. It is a personal preference; however, I would prefer to see helpers and other gimmicks removed from these games.
MECHANICS: • Four (4) levels of play including a customized version. • Twenty-three (23) achievements. • Collect thirty (30) postcard pieces for three (3) postcards • Collect twenty-seven (27) morphing objects • Collect twelve (12) gemstones and minerals • Eight (8) wallpapers along with concept art and music. • Helper Elf returns to retrieve items. • Replay thirteen (13) mini-games and fourteen (14) HOP scenes contained in a Secret Room.
STORY/OVERVIEW: Grab your hard hat as you enter the sparsely populated mining town, Iron Rock. After crash landing your plane, you are off to locate a missing agent. The few inhabitants of this burg possess special abilities provided by the special properties of Eternal Iron. There are hidden secrets in this town and a masked mayor who keeps its inhabitants under surveillance, using robots to imprison them within its borders. Now you must not only locate the missing agent, but also must tackle this mayor and plan your escape.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a sequel. As Rachel, a new trainee for the Mystery Trackers, return to Iron Rock. The Dark Trackers have invaded this town and are up to their usual nefarious activities. When your mentor, Agent Shade, becomes injured, it will be up you to save her and stop the Dark Trackers from their dastardly deeds. The chapter is of decent length. There are six (6) HOP scenes and five (5) mini-puzzles. Collectibles continue to be collected within the chapter. However, alas! Elf disappears and is no where to be seen!
SPOILERS: HERE ARE A FEW OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Tracing puzzle. Move a chip on a grid to recreate a mirror image of a given image B. Multiple step. (1) Mathematical puzzle. Decipher a code based on mathematical principles (2) Logic puzzle. Press on squares on a 4 x 4 grid so that all squares are changed from green to blue. Pressing a square will change the color of the ones in the same row and column as the square (3) Sequence puzzle. Press on lights so all are lit. Lighting one affects the others. C. Sequence puzzle. On a clock, push on “fingers” which move the clock hand either three spaces clockwise or two spaces counterclockwise to light all numbers on the clock. D. Nonogram puzzle. Push in numbers on a grid so that the number of squares pushed equals the number listed at the top of the columns and rows. E. Multiple step. (1) Bullseye. Zap psychic rays with your super-duper psychic ray device. (2) Rope puzzle. Untangle lines so they don’t cross each other. BONUS CHAPTER: F. Connection puzzle. Create a path from the town hall to a house by creating a path by clicking arrows. You cannot retrace your steps. G. Maze puzzle. Plot steps before moving through a set of mazes. Use arrows at the top. There are a specific number of moves to traverse through each maze. 3X
fromLocation? An ark. In attempt to win the “Gamer of the Year” award, I am doing my “good deed” by designing and building an ark to pick up all “cutesy” animals and those doggone (an appropriate adjective) animal helpers from this and future HOP games..
OPINION: This is a fantastic game for animal lovers (including dog aficionados) and children. It is an easy breezy game with simplistic puzzles. This game does not appeal to me. There is no “wow factor” (in this case, more of a “bow wow” factor) within the demo to entice me to purchase it. For me, this is the worst game to appear this year. Just dreadful!
I found the demo boring and too mawkish for my taste. The story is absurd, appearing as if the writers stitched various unrelated themes together to create a venue in which to toss in a menagerie of animals. The game is set in Iceland, but the background music seems to have an Irish lilt to it. Oh well! Iceland and Ireland have similar spellings, so why not interchange the music well? The graphics feature many animals and animal images throughout
The extremely easy mini-games, gimmicky glasses, dog helper, and all sorts of animals scurrying about turned me off from playing this game. Since there are only two HOP scenes in the demo, it is hard to ascertain their quality. However, one of those is a junkpile with a list of items and the other is a storybook scene. I found the design of both lacking. Hopefully, there will be better games in the future from this developer. After some time without “game helpers,” I hope this game is not a portend of “cutesy” helpers making a comeback in future HOP games!
OVERVIEW/STORY: Welcome to Iceland! Your daughter Willow has always loved animals. Now, she has been nominated for the Person of the Year award for designing and building an animal shelter. You planned to attend the ceremony; however, upon arrival, you discover her missing and her apartment ransacked. She and others have been kidnapped. Adding to the chaos is the imminent eruption of a local volcano. Could it be these disappearances are somehow tied to this volcano? As an investigative journalist, you are off to rescue your daughter while dealing an ineffective town bureaucracy and hidden secrets involving the disappearances.
MECHANICS: • Four (4) levels of play including a customized version. • Fifteen (15) achievements. • Collect fifty-four (54) birds and morphing objects. There is an indicator bar at the left which indicates how many of the collectibles are within the scene. • Six (6) Wallpapers and five (5) screensavers along with concept art, music and video sequences • “Helper” dog to dig holes, act cute and provide that “sigh” factor. • Portfolio in which to keep evidence. • Gimmicky glasses with a ruby lens to disclose the truth. • There is a replay of some of the HOP scenes and mini-games
SPOILERS: HERE ARE THE MINI-GAMES FROM THE DEMO:
A. Logic puzzle. On a vending machine, click on items which relate to a given image. B. Matching puzzle. Choose between photos to answer questions. C. Switch puzzle. Switch 4 pieces on five photos to restore the photos. D. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces of animal medallions so they are restored according to the image of an animal beneath them. E. Match-3 puzzle. Remove specified tiles from the grid while matching up 3 or more gems of the same color. Play more than one scene. You have a specific number of moves for each scene.
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME 5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 47 pages
OVERVIEW: Sail off into a soul-wrenching adventure as you, detective, board a casino ship, the Princess Lolita. Your friend has been invited by the ship’s owner, William Gladstone, with you as her sleuthing companion. Don’t forget to pack your paranormal skills in your suitcase. You are going to need them in this game! Players will ante up more than money playing cards on this voyage. Ahoy! All poker players on deck! – a deck of cards that is.
OPINION: Domini has hit the jackpot with this game! Again, Domini Games has dealt us another winning game flush with those extras that other developers do not provide in their games. The story behind the game is well-written. This is a fast-paced game with top-notch HOP scenes, mini-games, and collectibles. The developer uses different formats for each HOP scene instead of the repetitive lists of items alternated with silhouette scenes used in other developer’s games. The graphics well-depict a casino environment. My only complaint is the overuse of neon green and purple. Perhaps these colors are now a trademark of this developer’s games; however, I would love to see this developer utilize other color schemes within their games.
MECHANICS: • Four (4) levels of play including a customized version. • Eighteen (18) achievements. • Collect fourteen (14) morphing cards, sixty (60) chips and fifteen (15) cocktails. There is an indicator bar to indicate if there is an item within a scene. Easy to locate • Chips collected can be used to purchase items for a VIP room • Ten (10) wallpapers along with concept art, music and video sequences • Choice between “Hard” or "Easy" puzzles in the menu • Gimmicky phone on the inventory bar which is a hotline to the spirit world. • Replay fifteen (15) mini-games and eighteen (18) HOP scenes.
BONUS CHAPTER: This chapter is another story involving your friend, Virginia. While visiting her on the set of a new film, “The Puppet Witch,” a spirit hiding within an old doll is released. This spirit, a puppeteer, is out to cause havoc by trying to resurrect his wife, Greta. Now, using your paranormal abilities, you must stop him. The story is decent; however, I found the theme identical to the one in the main game. There are eight (8) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. Continue searching for collectibles within the chapter. I found the quality equal to that of the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are eighteen (18) scenes in the game. They are varied, creatively designed, and interactive. There is a Match-3 puzzle which can be played in lieu of the scene. I love the scenes which have sliders at the top and along the side used to move silhouettes to matching items within the scene. Other scenes include rebus clues, spot-the-differences, storybook, and replacement.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-five (35) mini-games. Most can be played in either a “hard” or “easy” mode. Although this designation can be set in the menu, the difficulty of a puzzle can be changed while playing the puzzle.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Switch puzzle. Switch the location of 4 bottles on the left with 4 on the right using a middle grid with paths to move the bottles. B. Physics puzzle. Adjust the angles of 8 valves regulating steam, to push a ball through a maze. C. Connection puzzle. Place flowers on a grid so that the petals of the flowers connected with branches are the same. D. Physical puzzle. Move a car down the road avoiding obstacles within its path using left and right arrows. If you hit anything you start over. E. Beat the computer. Domino puzzle. Place dominoes on a grid. If your end matches that of your opponent, you capture that domino. Continue until all are used and you have more dominoes than your opponent. F. Let’s play war! Card puzzle. Play against the computer. Play to win cards from your opponent. Play until one of you gets the most cards. G. Ye Old Queens 8 Chess Puzzle. Place stars on a grid on a chess-like grid so no star is in the same row or column as another star. BONUS CHAPTER: H. Assembly puzzle. Using a planchette from a Ouija Board, choose symbols which comprise a symbol in the middle of the board. 4X I. Assembly puzzle. Dress dolls with the proper attire. J. Matching puzzle. Match up keys with their proper keyhole.
fromTired of the high price of electricity? Instead of power lines, search for ley lines near your home and with an amulet – collect enough power to control the whole world!
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME: 6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 67 Pages
OVERVIEW: As part of the Myth Seekers, you, Amelia, are off to help your friend, Marlene. After discovering an amulet during an expedition, Marlene’s colleague becomes comatose and is returned to the Myth Seekers headquarters in Paris. This amulet contains hidden power and secrets tied to an ancient civilization, Ys. Now you and Marlene are off to learn the history of this sunken kingdom and its rival, Lutetia. Along the way, you will save Paris and the world from an evildoer out to harness this power for personal reasons.
OPINION: The story behind the game is excellent. The demo does not go into much depth concerning the story. There are more characters added and more history disclosed after the demo. The pace is decent although there is a great deal of back-and-forth action between scenes retrieving inventory items. The game is beautifully illustrated with some breathtaking scenes. Despite the number of chapters and lengthy strategy guide, the game is of average length.
MECHANICS: • There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. • There are twenty-eight (28) achievements – eighteen (18) for story and ten (10) for skill. • Collect twenty-seven (27) masks - one per scene (Very large and easy to locate) • Eight (8) wallpapers along with concept art and cutscenes. • Replay eight (8) HOP scenes and eight (8) mini-games
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Join a young apprentice baker with a pet ferret, Miffy, as he plans his escape from the island of Ys. Continue collecting the masks in this chapter. There are four (4) mini-games and two (2) HOP scenes in this chapter. The whimsical style of this chapter (with the inclusion of the “cutey” ferret) provides a contrast to the life-and-death struggle from the main game.
HOP SCENES: There are only thirteen (13) HOP scenes in the game. Two of these are questionable as to whether the developer considered them HOP scenes. Most of the scenes are lists of items or silhouette. They are somewhat interactive. There is one FROG scene. A matching puzzle can be played in lieu of the scenes.
MINI-GAMES: There are thirty-one (31) puzzles within the game. They vary in difficulty and style. Most of the puzzles are those seen in other games. However, for the most part, they are creatively designed and thematic to fit the theme of the game. There are some puzzles which involve interacting with pages within a storybook which seemed more like HOP scenes than puzzles.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sliding tiles puzzle. Slide Druids into position so that the emblems on their torches match the two emblems on both sides of them. B. Dot-to-dot puzzle. Connect dots on a grid without retracing steps. C. Rotating tiles puzzle. Rotate triangular tiles to restore an image. D. Map puzzle. Follow instructions to lead a ship to its port. E. Logic puzzle. Choose between 3 musical notes (each of which has a specific number of spaces assigned to it) to move a bird to a space with an amulet. There are only 8 moves. BONUS CHAPTER: F. Map puzzle. Move through the streets of a town to a bakery while avoiding wolves. G. Paint-by-number: In this case, color the icing on a cake according to given directions. H. Physical puzzle. Navigate through water to shore while avoiding rocks. Use left-and-right arrows to steer the boat.
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME: 6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 34 Pages (It is a short game)
OVERVIEW: Anna Gray is back with more family drama. Anna’s sister, Louisa, needs help in retrieving a valuable artifact, stolen from a local museum. CCTV cameras have not been able to identify the culprits, only that they appear to be in their teens. Using her unique abilities to travel back in time, Anna discovers some shocking family secrets related to this crime. Return to the past with Anna to stop a wayward family member from entering the world of crime.
OPINION: I love this series; however, I was somewhat disappointed by this game. There are some good aspects of this game. The story is well-written with Anna’s ghostly father, Richard returning to provide some comic relief. The graphics are consistent with the previous games.
There are aspects which I feel are not of the same quality as the previous games. The game is shorter. There are fewer activities making the game slow paced in some parts. Unlike previous games, there is a great deal of time filler with back-and-forth movement searching for items in one scene to be used in yet another scene. There are fewer HOP scenes and mini-games, with the HOP scenes lacking variety and creativity.
I recommend this game with reservations. It is one which may appeal to those who like HOP scenes with straight lists of items and/or do not like a game with lot of puzzles. I bought this game and then regretted my decision.
MECHANICS:
• There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. • There are twenty-two (22) achievements. • Collect twenty-seven (27) morphing objects and twelve (12) figurines of the characters from the game. Easy to locate • Collect forty-eight (48) jigsaw pieces which create 3 screensavers. Easy to locate • There are eight (8) wallpapers along concept art, and music selections • There is a Secret Room available at the end of the game in which the player searches for morphing objects from the scenes of the game. • There are Archives which contain 13 HOP scenes and 13 Mini-games which can be replayed. • Richard Gray, Ana’s father, makes an encore appearance providing comic relief and assistance to his daughter in the case.
BONUS CHAPTER: Time for a new generation of Grays to display their talents! Join Jared Gray, who, with his power to create illusions, has found himself in a world of distorted reality. Enter three periods of his life which he must correct in order to return to the real world. Returning in this chapter is Vincent to help Jared. The story is excellent. There is a good pace with the addition of three different stories within the chapter. There are six (6) mini-games and five (5) HOP scenes. It is consistent in style and content as the main game.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes should appeal to those who love straight searches for items. They lack variety and creative design. There are only twenty-one (21) in the entire game. Most of the scenes are either lists of items or silhouette. Search for items within messy junkpiles in drawers, cabinets, cellars, tool boxes, chests or closets. They lack creativity and most are not interactive. Many of the scenes only have a few items to locate. I found them boring. I only found one I enjoyed, a scene in which jewelry items are returned to a jewelry box.
MINI-GAMES: The mini-games are better designed than the HOP scenes. Nevertheless, there are only twenty-four (24) in the entire game. There are few scenes which offer a series of puzzles in a row. They vary in style and difficulty.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
Rube-Goldberg puzzle (3 sequential puzzles – A to C) A. Jigsaw puzzle. Restore an image by placing the pieces in the proper location. B. Paint-by-Number puzzle. Paint a picture according to numbers which each represent a color. C. Switch puzzle. Switch slats of a picture to restore the image. D. Sequence puzzle. Turn gears to uncover three to four symbols which, when combined, create a picture in the center of the screen. You must turn each gear before seeing the symbol associated with it. The gears must be turned in sequential order or you must start again. 5X E. 3-Part Map puzzle. Restore a road to save a family from a car accident. (1) Jigsaw puzzle. Place pieces back into the proper position. (2) Assembly puzzle. Click on pieces of a road sign until it presents the proper image. (3) Sequence puzzle. Push down barriers to shut down parts of roads which have obstacles. Pushing one affects the others. BONUS CHAPTER: F. Switch puzzle. Switch plates to create 3 given keyholes on a diagram. G. Matching puzzle. Place tokens onto a grid according to a guide – which is upside down! H. Rotating tiles puzzle. Using four circles, rotate 4 tokens with figures upon them so they align with the same figure on the side of the grid.
fromThis game has revitalized my interest in playing AMAX games. Let’s hope AMAX will never resurrect those animal sounds which are missing from this game.
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME: 5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 35 Pages
OVERVIEW: Detective! Join forces with Auguste Dupin to solve another case. A hooded evildoer has emerged and is on the prowl. This time, the jurors from the trial of a scientist, Dr. Brian, have been kidnapped. Witnesses believe Dr. Brian himself is involved with these abductions; however, how can that be possible when he was executed? Now, as a juror in the trial, Dupin is a target as well. Help him escape the clutches of the person(s) involved and investigate the motive behind these kidnappings and apprehend the culprit(s).
OPINION: What a fantastic game! I almost did not purchase this game do to the lackluster demo. This game is much better after the demo. This is one of the best games I have played from AMAX in some time. The story is superb. The story in the bonus chapter is even better. The pace is excellent. Instead of time-consuming HOP scenes, this game has many mini-HOP scenes which help maintain a good pace within the game. The game is well-illustrated with beautiful graphics. There are some wonderful puzzles and fantastic HOP scenes within this game. However, all these goodies appear AFTER the demo.
MECHANICS: • 4 Levels of Play including a customized version. • 12 Achievements • Collect twenty-six (26) feathers and twenty-six (26) morphing objects • Nine (9) Wallpapers and five (5) Screensavers – Casual Art, Music and Movies • Replay fourteen (14) mini-games and fourteen (14) HOP scenes • 43 mini-games (10 of these are in the bonus chapter) • 38 HOP and mini-HOP scenes (12 of these are in the bonus chapter)
BONUS CHAPTER: This is one of the best bonus chapters I have played. The bonus chapter is long and to me, more creatively designed than the main game. It is a prequel with the story set three (3) years before the main story. Brian Marsh is on trial for murder. In a court of law, review the scene of the crime as seen by three (3) witnesses, one of which is Dupin. There is some comic relief provided by the character of Jerome Smith, a soothsayer, along with some whimsical scenes with an adorable cat. There are ten (10) mini-games along with twelve (12) HOP scenes and mini-HOP scenes. There are three puzzles in the bonus chapter which can be played in either a “casual” or “hard” mode. The best puzzles, in my opinion, are in this chapter.
HOP SCENES: Most of the scenes are lists of items. They are somewhat interactive. There are also storybook scenes, silhouette scenes, matching, and a few pattern scenes in which items are removed based on their pattern. My favorite is one in the bonus chapter which contains scenes on three different levels of a cabinet. This scene uses up-and-down arrows to change from scene-to-scene to not only remove items but to also move items to another level to be combined in some way.
PUZZLES: Most of the puzzles are superb. They vary in style and difficulty. There are some extremely easy puzzles as well as a few difficult ones. Most are creatively designed.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PUZZLES FROM THIS GAME:
A. Sequence puzzle. Strategize moves as you try to light all the lights on a hexagon-shaped grid. Choose between arrows to light all the lights in the direction the arrow points. Continue until all lights are lit or until you are blocked when there are no free cells to light. When arrows disappear, you must start over. B. Sequence puzzle. Remove 4 horizontal bars by moving vertical bars with openings within them - up-and-down until all the openings center on each bar so it can be removed. Moving one vertical bar affects the others. C. Assembly puzzle. Place tokens with curved ends into a jewel box so that all tokens are connected. Awesome puzzle. D. Map puzzle. 2-dimensional puzzle in which you plot a course to reach a destination in six (6) moves while avoiding obstacles in your path. Press start to test your plotted course. E. Assembly puzzle. Using buttons at the side, move, rotate and increase and decrease the size of segments of the image of a raven until they align with the bird. BONUS CHAPTER: F. Choice between Casual and Hard. Maze puzzle. Plot a path through a honey-combed maze moving from square to another while avoiding evil hooded ghostly specters in your path. G. Choice between Casual vs. Hard. Matching. Uncover cards and match like cards. If you make a mistake, the cards will move to other locations.
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME 5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 37 Pages (This is short game)
OVERVIEW: After suffering from Gulliver Syndrome, (a malady in which you experience being a giant in a world of miniature people), you seek the help of a therapist, Dr. Thumble. After the doctor puts you into a hypnotic trance, you find yourself in the land of Lilliputia surrounded by a group of antagonistic miniature people. Your only hope to escape this world is to locate Dr. Gulliver, a famous therapist from your world who is now trapped and imprisoned within this tiny kingdom. Your future, as well as his, rests in rescuing him from this tiny world.
OPINION: This is a very short game. I purchased the game based on the demo and then regretted doing so. In my opinion, the game falls short after the demo. All the creative elements of the game are in the demo. There are the same number of mini-games in the demo as in the remainder of the entire game, including the bonus chapter. The HOP scenes are disappointing as well, most being straight lists of items. The story is disjointed with threads going off in different directions without being tied together. The ending of the main game is shockingly abrupt. I also found the story from the bonus chapter not in sync with the facts from the main game. On the positive side, the graphics are well-designed in their portrayal of the miniature world of Lilliputia.
MECHANICS: There are four (4) levels of play including a customized version. There are twenty-one (21) achievements. Collect thirty-three (33) morphing objects and twenty-seven (27) keys. At the end of the game, if all keys are collected, a chest is unlocked providing a few switch puzzles to play. There is a bar at the side which indicates if all the collectibles have been collected within each scene. There are twelve (12) wallpapers and four (4) screensavers, along with concept art, music and movie sequences. There is a replay for fourteen (14) mini-games and twelve (12) HOP scenes.
GIMMICKY ORGAN: There is an organ which requires cylinders to be placed within it. These are collected throughout the game and once placed within the organ, a video plays providing background information about the characters.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Play two characters, Gulliver and Rose, a Lilliputian. In this chapter, Gulliver is a prisoner, shackled so he cannot escape. Rose must enter the human world to locate a plant to create a potion to free him. The chapter is short. Collectibles are still collected within this chapter. There are seven (7) HOP scenes and four (4) puzzles, with the final two puzzles interconnected with each other.
HOP SCENES: There are only twenty-one (21) scenes in the entire game. There are also a few mini-HOP scenes as well. After the demo, most of the scenes are straight lists of items with a couple of silhouette scenes, a couple of matching scenes and one scene in which you must replace items back into the scene. They lack creativity and most contain junk piles.
MINI-GAMES: There are twenty-one (21) mini-games within the entire game. After the demo (which contains eleven mini-games), there are only eleven (11) puzzles within the rest of the game. This number also includes the four (4) puzzles from the bonus chapter. They vary in difficulty, and to me, although there are few within the game, most are well-designed.
SPOILERS: THESE ARE SAMPLE OF THE MINI-GAMES AFTER THE DEMO:
A. Sequence puzzle. Press down buttons on a lock mechanism so that all are pushed down. Pushing one affect the others. B. Matching puzzle. Match up pairs by turning over cards to reveal the pictures underneath. Match up items which are related to each other. If you make the wrong choice, the cards will switch places. C. Logic/Sequence puzzle. In an underwater scene, locate a seal hidden beneath some seaweed. You begin with 5 moves. You must collect all seaweed before you run out of moves. Each time you uncover seaweed you receive more moves. Strategize your moves before you run out of moves. D. Escape puzzle. Get to the top of a segmented grid while avoiding cannons shooting at you. If you get hit, you must restart the puzzle. BONUS CHAPTER: E. Assembly puzzle. Create a series of potions by following a given recipe. F. Sequence puzzle. Follow a sequence of numbers from top to bottom repeating the sequence as you descend the grid.
Get prepared to enjoy the “champagne” of clutter games. What fantastic game! This is what a clutter game should look like! If you like this genre of games, this one you will not want to miss. This developer provides those extra touches and creative genius not seen in the copycat games from other developers.
Always innovative, this developer has provided some new features within this game. The slats puzzles have been modified with more and skinnier slats making them somewhat nerve racking to solve. If you are a shoe addict, like me, you will love matching up like-shoes from dozens of them. Many of those shoes are very similar in design and color. If you opt to be timed while locating those shoes, it might take you several attempts to locate them all! However, I do believe shoe aficionados will have no problem grabbing up all those pairs!
Seeing double? The “eyes” have it – within the cat scenes. If you are a cat lover, you might be amazed by the different variety of cats – many with different colored eyes. Being a cat person, I enjoyed these scenes; however, there are some with dogs as well for all the dog lovers out there! Another one which have you do a double take are the whirling circular matching scenes. Matching items while two interconnected circles are quickly whirling around each other might have you seeing double!
Returning are the scenes we have grown to love in previous clutter games. There are matching of two or three items by size and color. There are also scenes matching halves of two items. My favorite scenes are matching up items which are amassed in the center and must be moved to locate them.
For the money, this is a steal. This game is also a keeper, which cannot be said bout many games. Between HOP games, I replay some of these timed puzzles. This is a game you can replay and never feel it loses its sense of newness!
fromAs a seafaring adventurer, I have a joke for Collins to add to his repertoire: What do you get when you cross a parrot and a shark, matey? - A bird that will talk your head off.
REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME 3 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages (This is a long game)
OVERVIEW: After receiving an urgent request from your mother, Isabella, you are off to the City of Mists to take her an amulet she desperately needs. Your mother has spent her entire life in search of this mystical site, and now that she has discovered it, she wishes you to share in its secrets. As you sail away to join her, you will encounter another seeker of this city, the devilishly handsome, rapscallion Collins, who will torment you throughout the trip – mainly with his irritating personality and bad jokes. However, once on the island, you will both need to work together along with your mother and Collins’ professor, to learn the secrets of an ancient civilization who hid their treasures within a vault guarded by the monstrous Iron Protectors.
OPINION: What a fabulous game! The story is exquisite. The character Collins, with his self-aggrandizing, devil-may-care attitude provides comic relief. He creates an atmosphere of levity which adds to the enjoyment of the game. The tongue-in-check repartee between the roguish Collin and Rebecca is priceless. Although the game has only three (3) chapters, it is a long game. The graphics are cartoon-like. It is a fast-paced game with many activities, including many well-designed puzzles and three collectibles to locate. My only disappointments are the HOP scenes and the inability to replay the mini-games.
MECHANICS: There are five (5) levels of play including a customized version. There are ten (10) achievements, most with three (3) parts. Collect twenty-seven (27) morphing objects within the scenes and eighteen (18) morphing objects within the HOP scenes. Also collect twenty-seven (27) pillars. There are indicators on the inventory bar to indicate if a collectible is within the scene. There is an ultimate puzzle offered at the end of the game. It requires placing colored stones in a grid without any column nor row having more than one of each color. There are four (4) wallpapers along with concept art, music and video sequences. Replay eighteen (18) HOP scenes.
TOOL BELT. A tool belt is provided with an assortment of tools to be used within the game. One of these is a “remote control” (amulet) to maneuver the iron robots. The other two tools are a knife and a pair of needle-nose pliers.
BONUS CHAPTER: It is a prequel. Return to the week before the expedition. In this chapter, play Collins. After receiving a letter informing him that he has not been inducted into the Adventurer’s Guild, Collins is off to find fame and fortune by searching for the City of Mists. Join him on a comical adventure as he prepares for this trip. Continue to collect the collectibles within this chapter. The tool box is gone, replaced by a joke button, which, when pressed, provides an endless array of Collins’ terrible jokes. There is also another button called “Break the Wall.” There are five (5) HOP scenes and fourteen (14) puzzles. This is a long chapter which I found comical and worth the price of a collector’s edition.
HOP SCENES: This is the only part of the game which I did not like. I found the HOP scenes disappointing. There are eighteen (18) scenes in the game along with some mini-HOP scenes with a small number of items to be located. For me, this could have been one of the best games of the year if Mad Head had provided a little more variety and creativity in the scenes. Most are either lists of items or silhouette. Most contain junk piles.
MINI-GAMES: There are forty-one (41) mini-games. They vary in style and difficulty. With such well-designed puzzles, why didn't Mad Head provide for a replay for some of them? There are puzzles I wish I could replay from this game.
SPOILERS: HERE ARE SAMPLES OF PUZZLES WITHIN THIS GAME:
A. Tangram puzzle. Place irregular-shaped pieces onto a grid so that all pieces are used and there are no spaces between the shapes. B. Mathematical puzzle. Figure out the number of drops needed for each of 3 vials of colored liquid by solving a mathematical puzzle involving the liquids C. Connection puzzle. Connect the dots. Move a gem through a circular grid by visiting each node (dot) once. You cannot retrace your steps. D. Logic puzzle. Paint a figure with three different colors so no two of the same color are next to each other. E. Super-duper maze puzzle. Set up a 3-part maze (by using arrows at the side of each section) so that a ball at the top can proceed freely from the top to the bottom of the 3-part maze when a start button is pushed. Awesome puzzle F. Physics puzzle. Bullseye. Complex puzzle in which you must first turn a wheel to set the strength and another to set the angle before releasing an arrow to hit a target. 3X BONUS CHAPTER: G. Assembly puzzle. Look at five sections of rope under a magnifying glass. Choose three pieces, which, when combined would produce each section of rope H. Colorful creature. Sequence puzzle. Place scales on an armadillo’s tail as per a given diagram. I. Maze puzzle. Move two gems out of a maze by using arrows. The gems do not move at the same time. J. Switch puzzle. Switch tokens so that four rows are created with 4 items each in ascending order from smallest to largest.