In the midst of a battle for the Academy of Alchemy, a young promising student, Eliana, is sent on a dangerous mission of retrieving three powerful artifacts, the Dragon Crystals.
OVERVIEW: Congratulations Eliana Marcius! You are now a full-fledged alchemist! Unfortunately, your first assignment will require you to save the magical world in this 5-star game. The Dragon Lord has resurrected and is using his gargoyles to attack the kingdom. To save the kingdom you need to locate three Dragon Crystals. However, that won’t be easy as they are protected by an evil queen.
Since I don’t play this type of game, I am assessing this game based on the quality of its construction. This game should appeal to beginning and intermediate gamers, children, those who love Harry Potter books and movies, fantasy games, or those who love magic. The story is based on a “Harry Potter” theme with your base of operation the Zora Academy of Alchemy. You will create potions and use an amulet to give you powerful magical abilities. Fight gargoyles, a dragon and a witch as you try to restore the kingdom. The graphics are breathtaking. There are quite a few collectibles including crests, hats, and figurines. There are morphing objects as well.
HELPERS: You do get a helper fairy, Dahlia, from the Fae Realm. She has a high-pitched nasal voice which I found irritating. However, in the demo, she is used infrequently. This is my only complaint about the game. You will also use your graduation present from your mentor, a magic amulet, frequently in the game. Each time you use it you will play a Simon Says puzzle. It will help defeat the evildoers in the game.
HOP SCENES: The are creatively designed. The scenes are lists of items and silhouette in the demo. There is a scene which has the player search for items in a stain glass window (used frequently by another developer in most of their games). In at least one scene there are morphing objects. You can play a matching game in lieu of the scenes.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are easy. I found none which was even slightly difficult. They include several types of matching puzzles. There are several storybook puzzles which are more like HOP scenes than true puzzles. In those puzzles, you search for items while listening to a tale about the kingdom. There are a couple of assembly puzzles in which you create a potion.
LEVELS: Casual, Advance, Expert, Custom Hints in HOP scenes: 5 to 50 seconds Hints within the game: 5 to 90 seconds Skips: 5 to 120 seconds
EXTRAS: Strategy Guide: 57 Pages Map is given to you at the beginning of the game. 21 Achievements Collect 42 crests, 16 hats and 8 figurines (ghosts) Morphing objects Replay of HOP scenes and Puzzles 6 Wallpapers, 6 Concept Art, Music,
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: You can opt to play a matching game in lieu of the scenes. A. List of items located on a stain glass window. At least one morphing object in this scene B. List of items. C. Silhouette. Interactive and there is a morphing object as well.
Amulet puzzle. Every time you need to fight an entity you must charge your amulet by playing a Simon Says game. Follow the sequence of lights on the amulet.
A. Matching. Match up symbols on a door as per directions given. Rating: 1 B. Assembly. Follow directions to create a potion. Rating: 1 C. Matching puzzle. Match up tokens on a large wheel by color and number of flames on the token. Rating: 1 D. Maze puzzle. Move your balloon high into the sky to the Sun while avoiding clouds and eagles in your path. Must do this twice to reach your destination. Rating: 2 E. Matching puzzle. Get Dahlia, the fairy helper to choose the right symbols so that thorns release you. Rating: 1. More of a HOP scene than a puzzle. rating: 1 F. Storybook puzzle. Locate 3 symbols within 4 scenes while hearing the tale of the Dragon King. Rating: 1 G. Assembly puzzle. Assemble items to create a potion. Rating: 1 H. Same as F. Another storybook sequence locating symbols within a scene. Rating: 1
OVERVIEW: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Scottish town of Dreadmond! Enjoy your stay within this 5-star plus game. Enjoy the dark mysterious ambiance of the Galloway Estate. As you play this game, you may begin to feel a little drained of energy. Take warning! Residing in this game may affect your longevity. Many dark secrets reside in this town all centering on the mysterious Richard Galloway.
Play a game with many twists and turns, with many puzzles to solve before you reach the final curtain. Or is there a final curtain in this sequel? Just remember, by entering this game, you are entering a world where your concepts of time, life, death, and immortality will be questioned. Magnetic anomalies abound and can distort your perception – at least in the demo. What is the story of Richard Galloway? That is for you to discover. This is an automatic purchase. I surveyed the beta and have been looking forward to the actual game!
Kudos to EIPIX! This game is a vast improvement from last year’s game, “The Broken Hour.” The story is excellent – so good, I could see a movie based on this game. I like the puzzling aspect of this game, the various subplots within the game, the pace, and the well-constructed puzzles. The dark, brooding graphics in the stuffy Scottish estate within the small town, add to the ambiance of this game. Death and decay just ooze from this game. The themes of Death and Immortality are well depicted in this game from the symbols, items, puzzles, to the quickly aging people.
HOP SCENES: They are principally lists with puzzles inserted within them. I do feel that if the HOP scenes were varied and included silhouette or matching pairs, etc., it would overkill. The use of simplistic lists of items lends itself to the inclusion of some innovative puzzles. I do like that there are several puzzles incorporated into the HOP scenes. This tends to break up the monotony of just searching for items within a scene.
PUZZLES: I am in awe of the amount and quality of puzzles. More kudos to EIPIX for providing not only quite a variety, but also varying degrees of difficulty in these puzzles.
PLAYING ON THE MOBIUS STRIP. My favorite part of the demo is the interactive gameplay in the first part of the game between three statues – all related to death and immortality. Looking for items, interacting with them and replacing them on the three statues of the Egyptian mummy, the Aztec warrior, and Death itself, is exquisite. This sequence illustrates the creative genius of the EIPIX. I hope to see this type of gameplay in more of their games. This sequence is so creative and well-done.
LEVELS: Casual, Hard, Insane, Custom Hint: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS: Strategy Guide: 42 Pages Map is given to you at the beginning of the game. 19 Achievements – Some with 3 parts Collect 39 jigsaw puzzle pieces Morphing objects Quill (feather) used throughout the game Wallpapers, Concept Art, Screensavers, Music, Videos
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE:
NONE. You should discover this game yourself!
FINAL THOUGHT: Enter at your own risk! This is a game you should enter blind. Half the fun of this game is navigating your way through the maze of puzzles and enigmas never knowing what is around the corner. However, I will give you a little information about the game - It is a masterpiece! Despite all of their faults, no developer on BFG can compare to the production of outstanding classic games as EIPIX - that is, when their heart is in it!
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Large File, Word
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
OVERVIEW: What a wonderful 5-star Monday surprise from my favorite dev for this type of game! The adorable Penguin family has returned for another much anticipated visit. This time, Mr. Penguin and Uncle Aaron are off to an ancient castle looking for more colors. A BIG THANK you to BFG for offering a game in one of my favorite genres. This is another excellent game from Match Gems. I have been anxiously awaiting a new game from this developer. I have played every one in the series and this game displays the same excellence as the others in the series.
I LOVE these games and Match Gems is one of the BEST developers for this type of game. This puzzle has many different names (AKA O’Ekaki, Griddlers, Paint-by-Numbers, Pic-a-Pix, Nonograms or whatever you call them); however, no matter the name they are a fun puzzle game.
HOW TO PLAY: This is variety of a Sudoku puzzle. In this puzzle, create pictures by filling in squares in a grid. The grids in this game will vary in size. Each side of the grid will have numbers for each line of squares indicating the number of squares which are to be filled in for that row of squares. Squares are filled in where the squares intersect between the two sets of numbers on each side.
GAME FACTS: • Levels: Casual and Advanced. • Colors: The game has up to six colored screens which can be switched at any time while playing the puzzle. There are new colors in this game as well, at least that is what is stated. • Autofill: There is autofill so you do not have to fill in the unused boxes. However, you can use your mouse to right click “X’s” for unused spaces. • Hints: Hints are given as you proceed and are based on the difficulty of the puzzle and how well you perform in solving the grid • Number of Levels and Puzzles: There are 100 puzzles – 20 levels with 5 puzzles per level in the game. • Aids: You have a pickax as an aid in the game • Awards: There are 3 trophies: a gold trophy for no mistakes, a silver trophy for 1 mistake, and a bronze trophy for two mistakes. If you make 3 mistakes, you must start the game over again. • Collectibles. When you complete one level of 5 puzzles, you receive an item to place in your garden. • Pressing on the sun at the right side of the screen, you can see the figure without the grid. Rather cool! No other developer provides this feature.
I highly recommend this game if you like Sudoku games or any type of mathematical puzzle.
OVERVIEW: Hey “pumpkin!” Congratulations! You are now a commander – all decked out in shiny armor in this boring cookie cutter 3-star game. Get ready to kick down a few doors and perhaps shatter a few glass ceilings as you, a female commander, take on your first assignment, defeating a shapeshifting basilisk. This is no ordinary shapeshifting lizard, he also petrifies people, turning them into stone. Armed with a supercharged hammer, the Protector, you are off to stop this beast. Act quickly! You only have two days, during a solar eclipse to stop this beast intent on revenge.
This game will appeal to all levels of gamers, those who love European myths and legends, hiking and yodeling through the Alps, and perhaps lizard lovers. The graphics are nicely done as usual for this developer. The story is another assembly line version of a dozen other of this developer’s games. However, the puzzles and HOP scenes are creatively designed.
HOP SCENES: The HOP scenes are the best part of the game. They are well-crafted and include scenes in which you locate items and then interact with them within the scene. There is an impressive story book scene in which you locate items using a potion book as you answer questions about the beast.
PUZZLES: THE EASY: The puzzles vary in design and difficulty. In the demo there are several easy puzzles. There is a matching puzzle involving keys. There are two puzzles which are more HOP scenes than puzzles. There is a storybook scene in which you locate items and place back into the proper position within the scene. There is also a puzzle in which you use a telescope to locate items hinted at within the story. THE MODERATELY CHALLENGING: For those more experienced gamers, there are two challenging puzzles. One is a maze puzzle in which you must pop up three crowns using worms. You must angle them into position which requires some strategy on your part. The other puzzle is one you must move a wheel from one end to the other. The difficulty here is that although some keys may be numbered as to spaced moved; there are others which are not. You need to figure out the space sequence logically.
SUMMARY: Ho-hum! Sorry to say I am disappointed at the direction of this series. The series is named “Myths of the World;” however, a more apt name would be “Myths of Europe.” With most of these myths being centered in Europe, they are now becoming cookie cutter versions of each other. It is yet another lackluster werewolf tale – in this case the wolf has been replaced by a basilisk, a were-basilisk no less. Although the graphics, HOP scenes, and puzzles are beautifully created, to me, it is still a boring game.
POTION WEARY! I dislike the weird theme of this game. I also am tired of creating potions in all the games recently. This will be a pass for me. For those love this series – enjoy!
LEVELS: Animal Tracker, Beast Hunter, Monster Expert, Adventure Seeker (Custom) Hints: 10 to 120 seconds Skips: 10 to 400 seconds
EXTRAS: Map is provided as you play the game Your helper is a hammer “The Protector” used throughout the game. 27 Achievements Replay 13 HOP scenes and 23 Puzzles Collect 39 lizards 8 Wallpapers, 4 Concept Art, Video, Music, Souvenir Room, Skipping Stones game,
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: A. Multiple step. (1) List of items. Locate 3 of each item. (2) Silhouette (3) Replace items back into the scene. B. List of items. You must match up two items to remove them. Rather unique C. Storybook. Quite creative. Use a potion book to find the items. You are asked questions as to the description of the beast. D. Silhouette. Search, replace and interact with the scene. Mini-HOP scene – list of items is within the scene.
When you use “The Protector” hammer you will play a matching game. Match up symbols, followed by a tracing puzzle.
A. Matching/Sequence. Match up keys connected by strings in sequence. Rating: 1 B. Manual dexterity game. Ready, aim, fire. Center a crossbow to fire at the beast. Rating: 1 C. Storybook. Search and replace. Look for misplaced items and return them to the proper location. D. Maze puzzle. Lead mechanical worms into the proper position through a type of maze to pop up three crowns. Requires some strategical moves Rating: 3 E. Sequence/Logic puzzle. A little toughie in which you must figure out the amount of moves to move a wheel from one end to the other. The difficulty is that some of the keys are not marked as to the spaces. Rating: 3 F. Sequence puzzle. Remove a string from a parcel through a series of holes in the package. They must be pulled in order through the parcel. Rating: 1 G. HOP puzzle. Using a telescope, look for items hinted at In the story. Rating: 1
7 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide 47 Pages
OVERVIEW: GrandMA – what big teeth you have! Big enough to take a big bite out of the horror gaming market. What a great 5-star plus game! I LOVE this game! Play a paranormal detective on the case investigating a case of a serial killer who is targeting a specific type of victim. The murders are occult-based with the victims still clothes but missing their skin. Your immense psychic powers, developed by your mentor, Kephri, will help you in this case. Interact with the hidden world of ritualistic magic, orchestrated by a Master of Dark Arts. Along the way, meet shapeshifters Sorrel and his wife Marjolaine and help them avoid the Hunters.
THE FRIGHT FACTOR! To what degree do you wish to be scared? Our creative GrandMA provides an option never seen in the games on BFG – the ability to choose your level of “fright” You can choose between “Grim” versus “Brighter” while playing this game. Of course, I chose “Grim.” The “Grim” option exposes you to more realism in the dark work of the occult. For the maximum effect – play in a dark room.
What can I say except that the story is a brilliant portrayal of ritualistic serial killings. This game should appeal to everyone except the weak of heart! The graphics well display modern-day Amsterdam. The pace is excellent, keeping you on your toes investigating this case. Your “helper” is a seal at the side of your inventory bar. It allows you to access supernatural powers to see the unseen. You will also collect evidence as you proceed in the game.
HOP SCENES: HOP scenes are a natural fit to detective games, and these are exceptional. They include the usual silhouette and lists of items. In some you locate the items and then replace them back into the scene. There are two which I thought extremely well-crafted. In one you fight a zombie by locating items in silhouette. Ever feel that suffocating feeling while a dance partner hold you too tightly, this game takes it to a whole new level. While a girl is dancing, you switch her from front-to-back searching for items to recreate a VERY LARGE BOA CONSTRICTOR who is acting as her dance partner! You can play a Match-3 game in lieu of the scenes. (Also, making her appearance is a girl in this scene who looks a lot like Jennifer Anniston)
PUZZLES: All the puzzles are easy. They are not as challenging as I would like; however, they are decent and fit into the story. Some of the puzzles include a rather unique matching puzzle which has you matching up clues with cases. Other puzzles include a connection puzzle which involves connecting tokens without crossing wires, a rope puzzle of the same vein, and a matching puzzle which replaced another puzzle in the beta. The beta puzzle was better in my opinion. My favorite puzzle involves placing jacks into a circuit board so that all lights on the board are lit.
FINAL THOUGHT: GrandMA, you are a natural in the production of this type of game. I am astounded at the quality of this game. For your first attempt into the world of the occult, you are a true natural Master Gamer for the Dark Arts! Hope to see more of this type of game from you! A BIG THANK YOU!
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, Custom Hint: 10 to 90 seconds Skips: 10 to 180 seconds
EXTRAS: Map is given to you at the beginning of the game. 14 Achievements Collect 77 symbols Replay HOP scenes and puzzles 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, Music, and Videos
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES:
A. Multiple-step. (1) Locate 8 symbols (2) Silhouette. (3) List of items B. Very cool. (1) In a fight scene with a zombie, locate items in silhouette. (2) Locate 6 valves. C. Silhouette. Locate teeny snakes and replace parts on a snake. Realistic and awesome
A. Connection puzzle. Connect 4 like-colored tokens so that lines do not cross with other tokens. Rating: 2 B. Matching: 3 Scenes. First wo scenes - Match up evidence in five cases with the clues provided. Final scene - place clues into the correct packet. Rating: 2 C. Matching: Match up symbols then rotate all gems within the symbols so they light up. Rating: 1 D. Rope puzzle. Untangle ropes so they do not cross. Rating: 1 E. Manual dexterity puzzle. Ready, aim, shoot! Center a ball within a bullseye to hit a driver with sleeping potion. 3X. Rating: 1 F. Logic puzzle. Select four wires and connect them to jacks on a circuit board to a series of lights at the top of a circuit panel so that all the lights are lit. Rather unusual puzzle. Rating: 2
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Review based on the Demo
Welcome to The National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City, home of the Sun Stone (Mayan Calendar) in a 5-star adventure game. Although its prophecy for the end of the world in 2012 did not occur, you probably did not know that the Sun Stone is a portal to other dimensions and worlds. As a Mayan researcher, find yourself transported to another world, similar, but not quite the same as the Classic Mayan civilization. In a world with two moons, find yourself on a quest to return home. As you traverse this planet’s Endless River Valley, you will get help from the locals of this alien planet. However, it wouldn’t be a game if there were not some peril in store for you. Some of those local natives are not as friendly as you might like.
What a great sci-fi adventure game! I LOVE this game! This was an automatic purchase for me! This game will appeal to those of us sci-fi and adventure game enthusiasts who have few games offered on the BFG site. The game is old-school in design; however, that is not a bad thing. The graphics are a little dated. However, the story is excellent. This is more of an adventure game than a typical HOP game, with very few HOP scenes. There are quite a few collectibles which are artifacts from the Mayan civilization including morphing objects. You can replay both the HOP scenes and the puzzles.
HOP SCENES: There are only two in the demo and they are the same. They are silhouette in which you locate items and interact with them within the scene.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are of moderate difficulty and are varied in design in the demo. There are several matching puzzles. You will need to match up designs as per given codes. However, in most of these puzzles, the codes are NOT given to you to place in the inventory. You will either need to memorize them or look them up in the guide when needed. Other puzzles include a rather fiendish Simon Says puzzle which requires you to remember a rather long sequence of button pushing. There are also several rotating rings puzzles. They are similar; however, they do vary slightly throughout the game. You need to place gems, marbles, and tokens into proper position in these puzzles and the style for these puzzles vary slightly from one another.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom Hint: 5 to 90 seconds Skips: 5 to 150 seconds
EXTRAS: Strategy Guide – 45 pages Map is given to you at the beginning of the game. 21 Achievements Replay 18 puzzles and 8 HOP scenes Collect 8 scrolls, 7 pyramids, 7 deity statues, 8 skulls, 8 stone heads, 12 clay flasks 30 Morphing objects 9 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, 18 Videos, Music,
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: In the demo, the two scenes are the same. Silhouette. Search and replace. Locate items, then interact with the scene using those items.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy 2) Moderate difficulty (3) Difficult A. Matching puzzle. Rotate four dials to produce images as per a code on a temple wall. Rating: 1 B. Marble puzzle. Rotate a wheel containing 3 marbles so that a blue marble reaches a blue slot. Rating: 2 C. Assembly puzzle. Rotate three stones to restore images on four pillars. Rating: 2 D. Rotating rings. Rotate three interlocking rings so that all gems interspersed between the rings are situated in the middle ring. Rating: 2 E. Sequence puzzle. Press three buttons in correct order to unlock a mechanical device. F. Matching puzzle. Rotate three rings to that four balls are situated exactly as indicated in a drawing. Rating: 2 G. Simon Says puzzle. Repeat a sequence using scarabs to open a door. Rating. 2 (a rather long sequence) H. Moving tiles puzzle. Move four tokens attached to sliders on a wheel so that all tokens are placed into their proper slots on the wheel. Rating: 2
Welcome back, Agent! Prepare yourself for more murder, mayhem, mystical hocus pocus, and court intrigue in a 5-star plus game. You are off to 16th century Bordeaux, France. Eight monks have disappeared or been murdered and you have been summoned by Abbot Dominic. All the intrigue seems to point to Stephan Astor, a former prisoner, a shapeshifter, and a powerful magus. A true heretic, he was sentenced to death; however, he was pardoned, but why? Spending twenty years in the prison, he is out for revenge! Returning in this game are the Musketeers, the Cardinal, his nasty cat, and, of course, our little dwarf. Now what is that sinister grunting dwarf up to now? Somehow, Stephan is going to have to “deal” with this annoying little man in which a high price will need to be paid.
This game is an improvement from the previous ones in the series. The story is well-written. The pace is excellent and the activities varied to appeal to players of all levels of expertise – from beginning players to expert players. The graphics are consistent with those from previous games. The characters are realistic looking and the scenes are beautiful. There are two collectibles, tokens and morphing objects. The tokens are so large you cannot miss them. The morphing objects are not quite as visible. The HOP scenes and puzzles are amazing! ERS demonstrates they have invested time in creating better HOP scenes and puzzles. This game will be a definite purchase for me.
HOP SCENES: Exquisite! They demonstrate some new creative elements. There is a storybook sequence which has a new design in locating items. There is a scene which has a garden variety of vegetables to locate. There is a search and replace scene involving two scarecrows in which you must locate items and switch scenes back-and-forth interacting with the discovered items within the scene. There is a multiple-step scene and a mini-HOP scene as well.
PUZZLES: There is a variety of them in differing levels of difficulty. There are couple of manual dexterity puzzles. In one you must trace symbols to ring a bell. Have a swinging time in the other puzzle! You must swing back and forth to get a knife. There is a maze puzzle in which you must create a path for your fists to hit four shields. You have a choice between “casual” and “hard” settings for this game. Other puzzles are a sequence puzzle involving your fingers, a switch puzzles involving getting tokens to the correct position, and a sliding tiles puzzle to restore a picture.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: Open and shut case! You never know what you are going to find in a bureau of drawers. In this case, open drawers to locate a portrait. After you place the portrait in the correct location on a wall, another drawer opens. Continue until all drawers are opened and all pictures are on the wall in the proper location. However, also hiding within those drawers are items which, once found, must return to interact with the scene as well. Such a creatively designed puzzle!
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Custom Hints and Skips: 5 to 200 seconds
EXTRAS: Map is provided as you play the game 12 Achievements – You will receive a figurine of a member of European royalty from the 17th Century. Collect 35 tokens to restore your ancestral estate. Collect 34 morphing objects Replay HOP scenes and puzzles Usual wallpaper, concept art, screensavers, music, and movies
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: A. Multiple step. (1) Silhouette. (2) Silhouette items to collect pieces to create a medallion B. Mini-HOP scene. Locate 8 iron weights. C. Storybook sequence. Unique! A unique approach in locating the items. You must locate three of each item. D. List of items. Time to pick those vegetables! They are a garden variety of vegetables which you must place in a cart. You must locate more than one of the vegetables to remove the item from the list. E. Search and replace scene. So creative. Interact with two “Musketeer” scarecrows locating items and replacing them in the proper location. What makes it cool is that the images rotate from one side to another after locating and replacing an item. F. Mini-HOP scene. Matching.
PUZZLES: (1) Easy (2)) Moderately difficult (3) Difficult A. Sliding tiles puzzle. Move three rings to create the image of a flower. Rating: 1 B. Manual dexterity puzzle. Trace a symbol to ring a bell. Rating: 1 C. Switch puzzle. Switch 8 tokens on an outer ring so they match up with those on an inner ring. You are limited as to the amount of moves you can make to switch tokens. Rating: 2 D. Sequence. Unlock fingers on two hands by pressing on them so that all fingers are released. Pressing one finger affects the others. Rating: 2 E. Sliding tiles puzzle. Rotate a row of 5 circles with symbols upon them so they match up with a given code. Rating: 2 F. Interactive puzzle. Beginning with a drawer with a portrait, open the drawer, remove a portrait and place it in the correct location to open yet another drawer. Do this until all drawers are opened. Within the drawers are tools which must interact with the scene. A very cool puzzle. Rating: 2 G. Manual Dexterity puzzle. Have a swinging time! Swing back and forth by pressing arrows to grab a knife. Rating: 2 H. Choice between Casual and Hard. Create a path for each of four fists by moving bars so that each one strikes a shield. You must move the bars up and down to create a path. Moving one affects the others. The hard level involves more strategy in moving the bars.
MIRROR, MIRROR IN A CARRIAGE – GUARANTEES ETERNAL MARRIAGE
PostedMarch 7, 2017
sunnyglow
fromTired of the same-old methods to contact your dearly departed? Do séances and Ouija boards leave you cold? Try another medium - Tvardovsky’s Mirror for that one-to-one connection you are looking for.
OVERVIEW: Looking for eternal love – a love which lasts forever? Do the words “Til’ death do us part” make you shiver when you think about the loss of that loved one? Then contact the wizard, Tvardosky in this 4-star SE game! For a few rubles, he will reconnect you with your dearly departed via a magic mirror he keeps in a carriage. This hotline to the afterlife keeps your loved one in limbo (neither dead nor alive) but in constant contact with you for a price much cheaper than Verizon or AT&T.
In this saga, you return as Mary, an auntie-to-the-rescue of your niece, Jenny. When you and your niece engage in some rock climbing, you both find yourself perched on the cliff – dangling between life and death! Through your heroic effort, you save both you and your niece, Jenny, only to have her kidnapped by a centuries old wizard and his henchmen. Lucky Jenny! It seems she is the spitting image of the deranged wizard’s bride who died centuries ago. Now, it is up to you, auntie, to save her before she is used in a ritual.
This game may appeal to beginning gamers, children, those of Slavic descent, or those who like easy-breezy games. However, it does not appeal to me. I got tired of going back-and-forth in the game from place-to-place looking for supplies. That fact, plus creating potions and medicines repetitiously throughout the demo, soon became boring and slowed down the pace of the game. I am shocked by the grainy graphics in some places within this game.
The choices you make in the game will give you alternative endings which is a rather novel concept. Unlike most SE games, you do have two collectibles – imp cards and mirrors. However, there is NO strategy guide. The game may be better after the demo; however, I found nothing to impel me to persevere in the quest to save this poor lass-in-distress. However, I must admit the Slavic music throughout the game was a nice touch.
HOP SCENES: The scenes are principally FROGS and storybook scenes in which you locate items listed in BOLD letters. The FROGS create inventory items. There is also a mini-HOP scene in which you collect herbs to create a medicine.
PUZZLES: The puzzles are easy. In one you remove thorns in sequential order to pass through a gate. Another is a storybook puzzle which is more of a HOP scene than a puzzle. There is a connection puzzle in which you connect like-colored tokens without intersecting lines.
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Expert, Custom Hints and Skips: 10 to 120 seconds HOP Skips – 2 to 240 seconds
EXTRAS: Map is provided as you play the game 27 Achievements Replay 17 HOP scenes and 12 puzzles Collect 20 Mirrors and 14 Imp Cards 7 Wallpapers, 12 Concept Art, Music, 14 Cut scenes
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: A. FROG. Create a utility knife. (AKA Swiss Army knife) B. Mini-HOP game. Collect 18 herbs. C. Mini-HOP scene. Locate 10 pieces of wormwood. D. Storybook. Create a potion finding item listed in BOLD letters. E. FROG. Create a jewel encrusted broach
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Easy (2) Moderately difficult (3) Difficult A. Sequence puzzle. Remove thorny branches in proper sequence. Rating: 1 B. Storybook sequence. Locate items listed in BOLD letters. This is more of a HOP scene. Rating: 1 C. Connection puzzle. Connect like colored tokens without intersecting lines. 2X Rating: 2
OVERVIEW: Welcome to Magic Monday with a 5-star SE game which will put you under its spell. A kingdom is in turmoil and anarchy caused by a traitorous alchemist. You play an orphaned budding alchemist yourself who has been raised by this alchemist. However, now you are confused and not certain who to trust as you are torn between a man who raised you and a man who claims to be your long-lost father. With your book of spells and potions in hand, you are off to save the kingdom!
This is a decent SE HOP game. It is a good game to purchase with that free coupon you may possess as a BFG game member. The graphics are colorful and cartoon-like. It is an excellent game for all levels of players and those who like fantasy games. For the most part, the HOP scenes and puzzles are well-designed and thematic. It is a decent game, as good as any CE game, except it lacks the extras of a CE game. It does not have a strategy guide, collectibles, nor a bonus chapter.
I AM GOING TO PUT A SPELL ON YOU! As a budding alchemist, you receive a book of potions. In this game, you spend a great deal of time looking for items and interacting with them to prepare potions. Once you locate the items, you play a marble puzzle in which you rotate ten (10) marbles in two circles until they match a pattern given to you. The demo has three of these puzzles and they are all extremely easy.
HOP SCENES: In the demo there three and they are creatively designed. There is a standard list of items to locate which involves opening and closing drawers. There is a scene with cryptic clues which I thought was the best scene in the demo. The final scene is a creative scene involving searching and replacing items back within the scene, interacting with them as well.
PUZZLES: There are more puzzles than HOP scenes. There are a variety of puzzles. There are two which I felt were somewhat creative. There is a tangram puzzle which involves placing pillows into position so that no gaps remain between pillows. I found this to be an unusual use of a tangram puzzle format. The other puzzle I enjoyed is a gear puzzle at the end of the demo in which you must rotate three gears so that a set of three keys match up with openings within the gears for the keys. This was a little challenging because moving one gear, affects the others. It took me a little while to get those gears aligned with the keys.
VIKING CAT: Personally, I want the Viking cat. Yes, this game has a cat with curled goat horns on its head. If you poke him he growls and hisses at you. My type of feline – one with a “cattitude.” However, not even this cat, will entice me to play this game. I found the pace slow. However, if you want to see more golems, like creating potions with your own Wizard ‘R Us Spell and Potion kit, or like fantasy tales, you may like this game
LEVELS: Casual, Advanced, Expert, Custom Hints: 15/20 to 45 seconds Skips: 20 to 45 seconds
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: A. List of items. Very creative in which you open a series of drawers to locate items. B. Cryptic clues. Locate items based on cryptic clues. C. Search and replace. Locate items and interact with them in the scene.
POTION PUZZLES: After you get the necessary ingredients, create a potion by playing a puzzle. In which you rotate marbles to recreate a given picture .
A. Rotating rings. Rotate three rings so that two connecting mini-rings match in color. Rating: 2 B. Simon Says puzzle. Follow the sequence given to you to open a door. Rating: 1 C. Tangram puzzle. Arrange pillows so that no space remains between them. Once they are placed into position, they will remain. Rating: 2 D. Assembly puzzle. Move goggle lenses into position to create a picture on a piece of paper. Rating: 2 E. Storybook puzzle. Read a story (set to a terrible music track) and click a button corresponding to the correct character. This is the lamest “puzzle” I have ever played. Rating: 1 F. Matching/Switch puzzle. Switch bottles so they match the colored button on top of them. Rating; 1 G. Gear puzzle. Rotate three gears so that each gear matches up with a key opening. Moving one affects the others. Rating: 3
5 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Review Based on the Demo
“Grease” up your chassis, grab your saddle shoes, and rock the night away to the fantastic sounds of a game set in the 1950’s. Dreamboat Michael Vance is an up-and-coming Elvis, a true maestro of rock n’ roll. However, when he challenged to a battle of guitars, Mike gets more than he bargained for. An old man, Adam, steals his “body and soul” switching places with him. Now, with the help of a future heartthrob, Martha, he must locate and reclaim his magic guitar pick to regain his body. However, that is not going to be very easy. He will be dealing with a true evil entity in Adam. This game will get you under its spell. However, can you help reverse the spell on Mike? Just remember – rock n’ roll is immortal!
I LOVE this game. This is another fantastic game by Mad Head Games. Our mermaids have truly resurrected the 1950’s in this game. The story is well-written and incorporates the theme of soul transference. The graphics well-portray this period. It is a game which should appeal to those gamers of all levels, those who have muscle-cars in their garages, Elvis impersonators, or those who love 1950’s music. The HOP scenes and puzzles are creatively designed and incorporate the theme of the game. “Elvis lives” in this game. I have a “hunka, hunka, burnin’ love” for this game and have just developed a strange craving for a shake and fries.
HOP SCENES: They include some multiple step ones. They include lists of items and silhouette scenes. One of the list of items incorporates a pop-up book for the scenes. In another you locate items for your very own plastic ray gun (to fry that alien robot from Mars! – oops – another game)
PUZZLES: There are a few matching puzzles. In the first unique matching puzzle, you connect dots to match a series of figures given to you during a battle of guitars! Other matching puzzles involve a puzzle using a launch pad for a toy rocket ship and a puzzle in which you match up strings on a bass. Other puzzles include a sequence puzzle, a moving tiles puzzle, a connection puzzle moving a key through blocks from one end to another, and a Simon Says puzzle in which you play back notes in sequence. There is also an easy tracing puzzle.
FAVORITE PUZZLE: My favorite puzzle involves an old-time tape player in which you locate and match up the correct pictures to taped messages. After that, you splice them together to create a new message. Very creative!
LEVELS: Novice, Artist, Virtuoso, Improviser Hints and Skips: 15 to 90 seconds
EXTRAS: Strategy Guide 56 Pages You have a clock which ticks down the time you have left to survive. Map is provided as you play the game 9 Achievements: (Some with 3 segments). Replay HOP scenes Collect 38 Records and Morphing objects (no number given) Collect 8 Treasures in the Bonus Chapter 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art, 13 Soundtracks – Rock on!
HERE ARE THE DETAILS (SPOILERS) FOR THOSE WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE HOP SCENES AND PUZZLES IN SEQUENCE
HOP SCENES: The are nonchallenging. A. Multiple-step. (1) List of items. (2) Silhouette. (3) List of items. Very creative B. Silhouette. Locate plastic toy parts on a grid. Very creative. C. List of items – Pop right up in front of you. D. List of items.
PUZZLES: Puzzle Rating: (1) Extremely easy 2) Easy (3) A little difficult or time consuming (4) Moderately difficult (5) Difficult A. Matching puzzle. Jam session! A unique puzzle in which you copy designs by drawing a continuous line without crossing those lines. 3X. Increases in difficulty B. Moving tiles puzzle. Move tiles to recreate a club and a diamond on a grill. Rating: 2 C. Matching puzzle. Move colored levers to they match up with colored spot on a rocket ship launch pad. Moving one affects the movement of the others. 3X Difficulty increases with each scene. However, all are easy. D. Sequence puzzle. Place items in chronological order as per a time list. Rating: 1 E. Matching puzzle. Set the intersection of strings on a bass according to a given code. Rating: 1 F. Moving tiles puzzle. For 3 gems, move two levers and move gems up and down until each two of the gems are matched up in a vertical line. Rating 2 G. Simon Says puzzle. Follow a code and play a melody as per a code. Rating: 1 H. Connection puzzle. Move blocks out of the way to provide a path for a key part to make a connection at the end of the path. Rating: 2 I. Assembly puzzle. Create a fake interview choosing between four snippets. 4X. Then choose the correct snippets to put into one of three boxes. J. Tracing puzzle. Using a magnet trace a symbol. Rating: 1