When I use to participate in writing reviews for the BF Games, I always tried to point out the positives, but this game is such a dud, that I cannot tell a lie- LOL!! First of all, a Big Admiration goes out to Biscuits Mama for her wonderfully descriptive and humorous reviews!! I always look for hers for all I need to know about a game. But what I have to add is nothing but disappointment that I wasted expensive gigs even downloading this poorly done game! There are absolutely NO options sound either on / off, music the same! No level of expertise to choose from. And the most frustrating portion of what little of the demo I could tolerate to play, was the fact that the game had to load after every, single interaction. This game isn't even a rainy day keeper in my book!! Sorry fellow Fishies, but I would advise everybody to save your gigs- if you have to pay for them like I do- and money, here at budget crunch time- Christmas Time, and wait for a release of ANYTHING that could be more entertaining than this lemon!! I do NOT recommend this game, but wish everyone a Happy Holidays!!
Hi BF friends! It's been a while since I wrote a review and I use to write a Book. I wanted the reader to know the greatest and most specific details of the game. Well I also got to play the Beta version on Haunted Hotel; Death Sentence and even at that time I could find no faults at all in this game as well as being captivated with he game from the onset. This game has had me waiting on pins and needles for its release and definitely gets my vote for game of the year!! Now, I am sort of an oddball and usually turn the music off when I play because after a while it becomes redundant and a distraction, not with this game. I do listen to all the effects, except certain ones in moderation, because this game was thought out so well out- down to the last detail that everything it has to offer combined makes for a 5 star plus rating. Everything is great about it. The prologue, the voiceovers, the awesome graphics , the originality (novice HOS and mini-games. There is not a minute of down time in my opinion anywhere in this game. I had gotten so burned out on the repetition of storylines, cluttered HOS, no originality or freshness in anything released in so many games this year. Curiosity killed the cat and I implore you to go with your curiosity-if nothing else and try the demo. You will not be disappointed!! This is by far the Best Game of 2014 to this player!! Have fun and Enjoy!
WOW!! This one fellow gamers comes with a warning for a good reason! If you like psychological thrillers, scary or thriller movies that you can be a part of this game is for you. There are not an over abundance of bells and whistle but the realistic visual and sound effects that put you right there throughout, are well worth overlooking no morphing objects or cute pets to dress up, etc! You're story (intro) starts out seeing a newspaper story of an asylum where there are mysterious deaths and disappearances . Then you see security cameras in black and white of dead bodies laying around and some of them being dragged off by who knows who or what?! All of a sudden you wake up and realize that it was all a nightmare but there is a knocking at the door in the middle of the night. You look through your peep hole and see a delivery man with a letter. You must sign for it for it is registered. It's from your sister whom you haven't heard from in 10 years. She apologizes for the no contact but tells you it's time for you to know the truth about your mother and YOU. You must come to the enclosed address ASAP! So off you go and arrive at a very boarded up and eerie Dark Falls Asylum. Thus the story and the game play really begin. Let me say that the voice overs, music ( which is just like what you hear in horror movie backgrounds) just add to the amazingly realistic sound effects! There is a journal throughout that compiles the story and what to do and a transporting map for the active areas. You also get achievements and collect figurines of people whose story you will find out about in the bonus play. I didn't see a strategy guide folks but the hint button is a creepy old doll that belonged to your sister you find. If you like what you've read or your interest is now peaked I strongly recommend giving at least the demo a try! Then if there is another Collector's Edition you've been meaning to buy but haven't yet, take advantage of the great special this weekend. I do stress that this is NOT a family game or for any people that are squeamish or faint at heart but if that doesn't sound like you and you feel like participating to something like being in an Alfred Hitchcock movie this is a must. I love it!
First I'ld like to start by saying hi again to my fellow fishies. Been under the weather for quite some time, but am back again to give my 2 cent opinion of what I think is a very good SE game. Our story begins with a dying Count Giles de Brais laying in the woods when a dark spirit approaches him with an evil proposition. Immortality in exchange for the heart of someone he loved. One for every year. In dying desperation the Count agrees and immediately returns to life stronger and sinister as ever. Also his beard grows out blue, hence the name Bluebeard is born. The intro is narrated by his long lost son Jack who has been experiencing terrible nightmares and decides to ask his Aunt about them and that's when he learns that in"the curse" if Bluebeard has not kept his end of "the deal" someone in his family will die a young death. Upon hearing this Jack is told that he needs to get to Bluebeard's Castle and destroy the evil Heart or he will ultimately die soon. So thus our journey begins. We have been given 3 game play modes: Casual, Challenge and Expert. The music is very professional and booming! Symphonic and very dramatic. I had to turn it down a bit. The graphics are very well done and captivating along with some heart pounding sound effects. I love voice overs in a SE and these were very well done. You are given a journal and a separate circled area with your immediate objective. No map, but the hint button just shows you where to go and the area of action. There is quite a bit of back and forth and no transport. So a decent memory is a plus for this game. The HOG's I played were all interactive lists. A lot there- but clear and large enough to not need a magnifying glass! Nothing novel about the mini games (in the demo anyway) but fun none the less. In conclusion, I found my self excited about this SE and truly believe that it is well worth the time to try and then take advantage of the sale price or use a promo code, like me:) Have fun!
I really don't know where to begin my review of this so totally different, that I don't recall ever playing one like it! Let's see you are given 4 game play modes- Easy, Medium, Hard and Custom. The music is symphonic and booming! Even loud like at a dramatic movie! Graphics are really good- not CE level but real people are utilized a little. The voice overs are good. Your intro starts out with an investigator driving in a storm (of course) responding to a request to come to an estate that someone had just inherited but believed that the "owners" were still "there" From then on the storyline is piecemeal. Periodically you are given a bit of the story of the past in a narrated booklike reading. There are several types of HOG's - lists,find a certain number of one particular object and find the "real" objects from hand drawn pictures (different)! I didn't make it to any mini games/ puzzles, but trust me if they are anything like the HOG's they should have quite a twist too. I'ld like to add to any fellow clutter haters that the HOG's do have a lot of objects, but they are large enough to find. Fellow gamers "Shadow Shelter" is definitely one you HAVE to try the demo and then come to your own conclusion. For once I'm pretty much at a loss for words! Wink:) Personally, I think I just might give it a shot with a promo code. Let me know what you others think. I have one adjective to leave you with-"Creepy"!
Welcome to the Any Wish Hotel, where guests don't check out – they simply vanish! You've been called in to investigate a perplexing disappearance. Can you solve the case before you become a permanent guest?
Here we go....You are an investigator asked by the owner of the Any Wish Hotel to help with the disappearance of one of his guests. This guest has just vanished- owing money and all his belongings are still in his room! While waiting for the appointment time with the owner you are across the street having a cup of coffee when all of a sudden a strange glowing butterfly lands on your table. As you watch it fly away, it soars straight across the street to the hotel to a window where a very sinister man is staring down at you. Upon entering the hotel you read the sign in list which is made up of some very "eclectic" clientele. You make your way to the owner's office where you see that sinister man and the owner discussing him being the bait to get you to the hotel. (Note to reader- we are about this time told that the odd butterfly will play a role in this story). Now the basic info: You are given 3 game play modes- Casual,Normal and Expert. There is no vocal dialogue.- reading only. There is some periodic light background music which I appreciate. I can concentrate on the game and not blasting, sometimes noise! Graphics are good but not specialized and there are a few scenes that are cartoonish. But that doesn't bother me. I look for the fun factor and lack of getting bored half way through. The puzzles are standard- but with their own twist. The HOS are interactive lists . I didn't come across any other styles in the portion I played. They are bright and not too cluttered! Oh yes, you are given a diary with your objectives and notes. Also you are provided with a transport map which indicates where there are tasks still to be done. To sum everything up for a SE HOPA I had a good time and rated it as such, but as I always suggest, because everyone's tastes are different, give it a try and you be the judge. Have fun fellow fishies!
The fabled land of Agartha awaits your discovery in Esoterica: Hollow Earth! Experience a sci-fi adventure that will take you to the depths of the Earth.
I am only able to review what play time I could get in between all the reading about the story. However, another reviewer said it right, in my opinion, that if you skip the reading materials you will miss important aspects of the game and could possibly get lost on what's going on. Yes you are not given a lot to work with (extras) but there are 2 game play modes. Average graphics. Standard, slightly interactive HOP's which are fairly easy to read. But my chief complaint is that the reading (story,personal interactions and pertinent information) is extremely small. Even with my reading glasses on I found my face up to the monitor. I too, didn't get to the bulk of the story of getting to this mythical underearth locale because I guess I took too long, but I did feel disappointed when the game cut off. I am truly torn on whether to use my only promo code on this game or not. I am so curious to see what else happens next, but then again was it fun enough to hold my attention? Maybe you the reader can read faster than I did and can share more of the story(game) with us. Just keep in mind this is just a Standard Edition not Collector's. Good Luck!
Welcome to the Emerald Maiden- a HOS game with which I love the very unique and different storyline- Refreshing. This game offers you 4 modes to choose to play from- including one in which you can play anyway you want to. Once selecting your usual beginning choices the story starts out with a 25 year old young lady that was left abandoned as a baby. Twenty five years later she receives an invitation for a luxury cruise for the rich and famous where she believes she can finally meet her real mother Upon entering the ship- The Emerald Maiden -which by the way is underwater- there is literally no sign of life, just automation. A speaker greets you and the welcoming director of the ship is on film. Once you come across a ship employee you realize that he is a hologram. You are informed that you can go anywhere you dream to and encouraged to bring back a token as long as it's not alive! You are provided with an interactive map. The music is slow and symphonic-lilting at various peak parts of the game (this is based on the demo only. Your collectibles are 20 red roses. I found the graphics to be extremely realistic giving me the "feel" of actually being on the cruise boat. There's a section of glass ceiling where you witness a shark banging against the glass causing a crack- creepy! You do catch a glimpse of the back of whom you assume is the director- everything else is not "real". I had the pleasure of getting to play the beta version not so long ago and was truly waiting for it's release, however I am going to have to wait for my monthly check. The only slightly negative I feel I need to add is that I truly don't know if this CE deserves to be a CE- not quite enough extras. However the game and story are so much fun that even should I decide to wait for the SE- either way I will own it! Enjoy and have fun!
I just want to start out by stating that I usually just jump in and write reviews about games that blow me away or are worthy for me typing a review at six in the morning. This game however to me is a buyer beware. There is nothing wrong with the storyline. You play a detective and a pretty, young and distraught young lady comes to you to help her find her missing groom. The town they are in had been experiencing inexplicable drownings. So you off you go to begin your investigation. You are given a couple of play modes. Nothing spectacular about the special effects. I have to add that I am pretty much strictly a HOPA player and once I got to the first Hidden Object scene, there was one interactive play at the very end. I also encountered one FROG. But that's pretty much the extent of it. Oh, one more thing in the HOS the items are extremely small, which I thought we had finally gotten away from. There are a few inexplicable and confusing collectibles. This game reminds me of the CE's of several years back, but not now with the advances that have been made. If this game had been released as a SE I might consider buying it, but definitely not at $13.99 or wasting two credits on it either. But as with any of the games, I say try it and you be judge!
Yea, another fun and different who-dun-it with a little twist of it's own to capture this sleuth/mystery game fanatic! As in the synopsis, our game takes place in Boston, MA. in the 1930's and revolves around a crime writer and mysterious murders that start up, and are eerily similar to the crimes in his books! You and Robert, your writer/ husband have just moved in to a new house when the police come to see your husband the day after the death of a famous concert pianist!.. You go to his study to get him, and he is running away saying " Don't believe anything you hear!. At that moment the phone rings and a good friend of yours, Russell, asks you to meet him to confirm the fact that your husband is being set up. He also asks you to bring Robert's latest manuscript. So, with the help of your friend the two of you begin your own investigation to clear your husband. The game offers you quite a bit of perks! Voice overs are awesome and clear! Graphics are detailed and impeccable. The music is mysterious and daunting. You are given 4 game play modes, an interactive map and a journal for all notes, etc. HOS games are not cluttered, interactive and large:) Achievemnets are there to be earned as well as finding hidden symbols using a special magnifying glass! FUN! I was immersed in the game right from the start! Try it yourself and join us in trying to solve Punished Talents: Seven Muses! Think you'll enjoy!