This is a review of the demo. It's more like a 2 and a half star rating. The game so far hasn't completely grabbed me, but I like the photography approach to hidden object scenes. It gives a purpose to searching for random objects.
The graphics are good but not great. The people are not wonderfully drawn. They are paper doll cut outs for both the cut scenes and the game play, but the cut scenes have pretty decent voice overs. However, their lips don't move in the cut scenes.
The game play scenes also have paper doll cut outs of the characters for mono/dialogs, but in these scenes their lips move, but there is no voice over. This I found distracting, but it can be ignored after awhile. I think they should have reversed the scenes when the lips move.
The puzzle scenes are interesting and not that challenging. They are designed for a timed play, and you can choose timed play or relaxed mode. In relaxed mode the puzzles are quite easy. The game gets points for having a choice of modes.
The hidden objects are variant in size and tend toward "life size". So, insects or some symbols can be quite small. The graphics are generally OK, if a little fuzzy at times, and I found myself using the hint button (which is quite innovative with how it becomes part of a camera flash) a little too often for my taste. It takes 30 seconds to refresh.
Sound FX are good and music is not intrusive and set at a low volume by default. I think the music fit with the locations well.
The story draws you in slowly and plays kind of like a travelogue. If you like to travel you get to see some loosely interpreted scenes of exotic places, which makes the game more fun. There's danger hinted at in the beginning before the game flashes back to play through the events leading up to the apparent danger. Game play hints at being average in total length, with each chapter having several levels to complete.
Overall I recommend this game, if you're hard core and like to find different ways to approach HOGs.
I loved this game. It has fun, likable characters, delightful retro, yet crisp graphics, awesome sound effects and music.
The adventure is a fun story, and your character's tasks are not tedious, although many of the hidden objects are "life size", so if you are looking for a snail, you will be looking for a really tiny object. I did find myself using the hints a little more than I would have liked, but your hint option is a charming companion on your adventure, and you almost want to have him more involved in the story.
The game is simple and your character is under very little danger, even though there is the suggestion of danger in the scenes. I like that there is no timer, but would have liked to have had a little more actual character interaction. I kept running into places in the game where I wanted to add more to the story, so I really hope there is a sequel, or maybe many of them. I ended up liking the characters that much.
The main character, Brunhilda started out with very little emotion to her voice over, but it got a little better as the game went on. She was a little too nonchalant and flat and I would like to see a little more emotion and tension in her voice. She sounded a bit too much like she was reading cue cards, especially in the beginning of the game. Her companion and many of the other characters had better voice overs.
I did not go back to play the unlocked mini-games yet, so I can't review those.
Overall, a very clean, enjoyable game. Simple and fun for an escape into a fairy tale fantasy realm without creepy junk piles to dig through.
For me, this game was too short. I think it is because I skipped most of the puzzles because many of them were of the putzy unlock directional kinds that I really dislike. One or two are fine, but do not fill the entire game with them, please, especially when there is little direction and no hint button during the puzzle. You either do the puzzle or you skip it.
The scene puzzles where the characters are trying to find the things they need to advance the story are well done, with the weakness being you usually have to click on everything in the room in order to find the items. If you are experienced with games like this, you would be able to use that experience to know what to click on and save you some mouse clicking time.
There are no sparkles in this game, and the hint book during searching puzzles gives some direction, but not a lot. The game does require thought which is a strength.
Other strengths include very attractive graphics, appropriate music that is well played in the background, and fun spunky characters.
There needs to be more mystery and story, fewer putzy, "turn the object in the right direction" puzzles that take forever and drove me to the skip button, and more adventure style puzzles that advance the story.
Overall, this was another one of those games that felt like a prequel ad teaser for more to come. Fun, short, romp with cute characters and nice graphics. I recommend this game if you like directional object puzzles and need a short game for a rainy afternoon.
By far my favorite game so far. I didn't think I would find a resource/strategy game like this on Big Fish Games. The city planning is challenging, the characters are fun, and the story is light and enjoyable. Best of all there is a free play mode so you can go back and just build things once you have played through the "missions." The free play mode opens after you build the first city, I think. I am not sure exactly when it unlocked. I recommend this game for the ease at which you get lost in the game, the lack of "zug zug" comments from characters, and the lush graphics that make you want to actually go visit the places, even though they are done in cartoon style. I hope there is a sequel that will be just as good and in the same style.
I recommend this game!
+19points
19of19voted this as helpful.
Blood and Ruby
Use ancient magic, alongside your wits, as you hunt for your missing brother in a haunting city possessed by vampires!
Overall rating
3/ 5
20 of 21 found this review helpful
I've Played Better Games
PostedJanuary 23, 2012
risurocket
Fun Factor
3/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
3/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
This game was ok. There are definitely better games out there. The sound is cheesy gothic, and the game play is short. The hidden object scenes are short and not too challenging, and there are not a lot of puzzles. It feels almost like a teaser of a game compared to the bigger games out there. That said, it was still a fun break from the darker, creepier, more in depth games. I recommend this game if you want a short little jaunt into some cheesy vampire slaying fun. It would be nice to see a more in depth story done with the hero characters.
I am torn about this game. I loved playing it both times I went through it, and I have a weakness for the Phantom story in most of its versions. If this had been a book, however, I would have thrown it across the room upon reaching the end. It was annoying to see the bonus level on the map of the non collector's edition. And I felt compelled to buy the CE because I wanted to know if the story continued, but then *that* one had a disappointing ending as well. Knowing the original story, I could make some sense of why the developers did what they did, but I didn't like feeling like I was bribed into a cash grab. A little more authenticity to the original story would have been nice. I still recommend this game for its tension, challenging puzzles, atmosphere and gorgeous graphics. And if you are a Phantom buff like me, that's sometimes all you need for a fix.