Lao_Zi's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:1,882
- Reviews Submitted:86
- First Review:May 24, 2012
- Most Recent Review:October 28, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Find the ancient book of legend, Pahelika! Prove your mind, body, and soul worthy by advancing through unique tests.
Overall rating
3
/
5
18 of 18 found this review helpful
I lost interest
PostedAugust 16, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
What at first seemed to be an interesting, promising and challenging adventure game, finally turned out to be an empty shell.
I raced through the first chapters... no challenge, no difficulty at all ... and then the same puzzles came back again and again ... everything repeated itself, chapter after chapter.
I don't mind the absence of hint buttons, maps or other "goodies" to guide you through a game - there were none of these in Myst or Syberai - as long as everything is logical and doable. The only idea the dev's of Pahelika thought of to make their game more "difficult" is to face the player with three digit locks without indication anywhere of how to deduce the solution... which leaves you with nothing but a tiresome trial and error.
Same story with other "puzzles" where the logic is totally absent.
Add to this the poor graphics and a non existant storyline, and it is clear why I didn't finish the game a second time... I lost all interest.
I raced through the first chapters... no challenge, no difficulty at all ... and then the same puzzles came back again and again ... everything repeated itself, chapter after chapter.
I don't mind the absence of hint buttons, maps or other "goodies" to guide you through a game - there were none of these in Myst or Syberai - as long as everything is logical and doable. The only idea the dev's of Pahelika thought of to make their game more "difficult" is to face the player with three digit locks without indication anywhere of how to deduce the solution... which leaves you with nothing but a tiresome trial and error.
Same story with other "puzzles" where the logic is totally absent.
Add to this the poor graphics and a non existant storyline, and it is clear why I didn't finish the game a second time... I lost all interest.
I don't recommend this game.
Return to the world of Pahelika as there is trouble brewing in the land of Dhara! Go on a whole new Adventure in Pahelika: Revelations!
Overall rating
1
/
5
23 of 29 found this review helpful
No excuse for a game that leaves you STUCK!
PostedAugust 16, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I thoroughly enjoyed Pahelika Secret Legends and was looking forward to the next installment. When it arrived, I eagerly set out on this new adventure. All was well and perfect until...
I don't mind the absence of a hint system;
I don't mind the absence of maps, notebooks or whatever thingamajigs to guide you through the game.
(I played all the installments of Myst + Lighthouse + Syberia, Amerzone, Paradise, etc. etc. ....)
BUT I DO resent the fact that the game allows you to make an error, but doesn't allow you to undo that error in one way or another to get on with the game. In other words, you are STUCK and the only way to finish the game is to start all over again!
Dev's, you may want to develop a tough game, but if you don't get your programming straight, please refrain from publishing.
I don't mind the absence of a hint system;
I don't mind the absence of maps, notebooks or whatever thingamajigs to guide you through the game.
(I played all the installments of Myst + Lighthouse + Syberia, Amerzone, Paradise, etc. etc. ....)
BUT I DO resent the fact that the game allows you to make an error, but doesn't allow you to undo that error in one way or another to get on with the game. In other words, you are STUCK and the only way to finish the game is to start all over again!
Dev's, you may want to develop a tough game, but if you don't get your programming straight, please refrain from publishing.
I don't recommend this game.
After Shaban's sheep are stolen by thieves, he sets off on an epic adventure to get back what belongs to him. Help Shaban on his journey in this intriguing hidden object adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
You are definitely not going to speed through this one
PostedAugust 15, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
What beautiful graphics! What exquisite drawings! What gorgeous colours! Absolutely great cartoon work. And I absolutely adore that Balkan music.
Shaban is the eighth month in the islamic calendar and it means "seperation". So, the main character, a shepherd, gets seperated from his flock and does everything he can to get his sheep back.
You have to figure it out for yourself, and I can understand that people who don't want to use their brains - or who don't have any brains for that matter - get totally frustrated over this game. My advice to them is: stick to easy HOG and abstain from bashing on a perfectly good game that is beyond your mental possibilities.
This said, I have to admit that Shaban is not an easy game. The HOS are hard, definitely hard, espicially because you have to move the screen in four directions which hides or exposes bits and pieces of the objects that you are looking for.
Puzzles are few and easy... same for the matching games... interactive scenes can be tough to figure out... arcade games require the use of a mouse, also because the cursor movements can be a bit jerky.
Anyway, after all is said and done, I am glad to have spent my time with this delicious game. I can only regret that it is finished.
Dev's, more of these, please.
Shaban is the eighth month in the islamic calendar and it means "seperation". So, the main character, a shepherd, gets seperated from his flock and does everything he can to get his sheep back.
You have to figure it out for yourself, and I can understand that people who don't want to use their brains - or who don't have any brains for that matter - get totally frustrated over this game. My advice to them is: stick to easy HOG and abstain from bashing on a perfectly good game that is beyond your mental possibilities.
This said, I have to admit that Shaban is not an easy game. The HOS are hard, definitely hard, espicially because you have to move the screen in four directions which hides or exposes bits and pieces of the objects that you are looking for.
Puzzles are few and easy... same for the matching games... interactive scenes can be tough to figure out... arcade games require the use of a mouse, also because the cursor movements can be a bit jerky.
Anyway, after all is said and done, I am glad to have spent my time with this delicious game. I can only regret that it is finished.
Dev's, more of these, please.
I recommend this game!
Become a Hunter of darkness to cope with possessed owner of theater and revived shadows. Help other people by correcting their wrong fulfilled wishes!
Overall rating
5
/
5
31 of 31 found this review helpful
A beautiful and challenging HOAG
PostedAugust 13, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I have said it before and I say it again: people should not be allowed to send in reviews based on a demo. I had read all the bad reviews of this game and really hesitated to purchase it. But then again, I was intrigued, and having a free credit, I said to myself: "Why not?", and oh my, how glad I am I did it, because this is a very good game.
OK, the cutscenes are blurry, so what? I don't mind, as long as the graphics of the game are good, and these are GORGEOUS. Bright and saturated with colour, sharp and neat, detailed to the highest degree... yes, the graphics are absolutely fantastic.
Yes, the game could do with VO's... their absence is a - minor - setback. On the other hand, the soundtrack is beautiful; nice, soothing background music which nevers annoys.
Challengewise, the game has what it needs to keep your braincells at work. There are few HOS and they are easily doable. The puzzles are nice and innovative. Just try to figure out what it's all about, and if you can't figure it out for yourself, just hit the HELP button to get the necessary instructions.
As for those critics who say that the active zones are too small, well, I don't know what they expect. Maybe they want active zones that stretch over 1 yard beyond the object?
About the HINT button, well, I didn't even need any hints to keep me going through the game... just use your brains!
So, what else? Well, nothing really ... HOS lovers and those who don't want to use their brains, should not buy this game. Adventure game lovers and those who are not afraid to train their brain cells, go for it!
I have played over 400 games from BF and this is one of the best.
OK, the cutscenes are blurry, so what? I don't mind, as long as the graphics of the game are good, and these are GORGEOUS. Bright and saturated with colour, sharp and neat, detailed to the highest degree... yes, the graphics are absolutely fantastic.
Yes, the game could do with VO's... their absence is a - minor - setback. On the other hand, the soundtrack is beautiful; nice, soothing background music which nevers annoys.
Challengewise, the game has what it needs to keep your braincells at work. There are few HOS and they are easily doable. The puzzles are nice and innovative. Just try to figure out what it's all about, and if you can't figure it out for yourself, just hit the HELP button to get the necessary instructions.
As for those critics who say that the active zones are too small, well, I don't know what they expect. Maybe they want active zones that stretch over 1 yard beyond the object?
About the HINT button, well, I didn't even need any hints to keep me going through the game... just use your brains!
So, what else? Well, nothing really ... HOS lovers and those who don't want to use their brains, should not buy this game. Adventure game lovers and those who are not afraid to train their brain cells, go for it!
I have played over 400 games from BF and this is one of the best.
I recommend this game!
Battle evil forces from the future and help Vera save her fiancé Tom in this time-warping Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
25 of 29 found this review helpful
A long HOG, not free from becoming tedious
PostedAugust 13, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
No reason to attack this game on its stroyline... it's whacky, which makes it kinda funny.
What about the gameplay? It is quite a long game; you have to go through 23 chapters with HOS and puzzles. But it sometimes gets kind of boring to go rummaging through the same scenes again and again, pushing aside the same objects, opening the same lockers, drawers and curtains, now to look for pills, then to look for something mice, then to look for something else again... the novelty soon wears off.
The puzzles are not difficult, same old stuff: disentangling wires, wordguessing, matching pairs, reconstructing images, etc. ... not much of a challenge.
All in all, if you want to spend a day or two doing this kind of thing, buy this game... but don't if you are looking for something new and challenging.
What about the gameplay? It is quite a long game; you have to go through 23 chapters with HOS and puzzles. But it sometimes gets kind of boring to go rummaging through the same scenes again and again, pushing aside the same objects, opening the same lockers, drawers and curtains, now to look for pills, then to look for something mice, then to look for something else again... the novelty soon wears off.
The puzzles are not difficult, same old stuff: disentangling wires, wordguessing, matching pairs, reconstructing images, etc. ... not much of a challenge.
All in all, if you want to spend a day or two doing this kind of thing, buy this game... but don't if you are looking for something new and challenging.
Go on a journey which will take you everywhere from damp prehistoric forests to the sultry deserts of ancient Egypt!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
A long and complex game
PostedAugust 12, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
After finishing City of Fools, I just HAD to come back to Green Moon.
And yes, it IS a great adventure game, but oh so complex, due to the fact that the dev's really did nothing to make life easier for the player... no map, no notebook, no hint button, no nothing to tell you in which direction to look, what to use and how to use it. Moreover, there are tons of objects to be found, but you can only carry 14 of them around, so you are left with no choice but to drop some in order to pick others up, without even knowing where and when you are going to need them.
After playing the game twice, I still feel that you cannot do without de BF walkthrough, unless you want to spend weeks searching around and trying everything out - which is exactly what playing Myst was all about.
Nevertheless, Green Moon is a great game which any lover of adventure games should try his hand at.
My advice: keep a record, save your game now and then - on thop of the autosaves - don't loose heart... and in the end, you will be rewarded with a message that all of us should take at heart: why want to turn the moon into the beautiful planet that we all share, instead of taking care of our own homestead?
And yes, it IS a great adventure game, but oh so complex, due to the fact that the dev's really did nothing to make life easier for the player... no map, no notebook, no hint button, no nothing to tell you in which direction to look, what to use and how to use it. Moreover, there are tons of objects to be found, but you can only carry 14 of them around, so you are left with no choice but to drop some in order to pick others up, without even knowing where and when you are going to need them.
After playing the game twice, I still feel that you cannot do without de BF walkthrough, unless you want to spend weeks searching around and trying everything out - which is exactly what playing Myst was all about.
Nevertheless, Green Moon is a great game which any lover of adventure games should try his hand at.
My advice: keep a record, save your game now and then - on thop of the autosaves - don't loose heart... and in the end, you will be rewarded with a message that all of us should take at heart: why want to turn the moon into the beautiful planet that we all share, instead of taking care of our own homestead?
I recommend this game!
Guide Pengoo from hatching in the Antarctic, all the way to his first flight!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
A nice kid's game
PostedAugust 12, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Good game for kids, full of fun, good morals and sweetness... and why not? Better to confront our children with this kind of game than with guns, shooting, killing and all kinds of evil.
Adults might find it childish, although sometimes the game may prove to be more challenging than it seems.
Anyway, playing the game can be great to pass some quality fun time with your kids.
One drawback: the objects are really tiny and difficult to find.
Adults might find it childish, although sometimes the game may prove to be more challenging than it seems.
Anyway, playing the game can be great to pass some quality fun time with your kids.
One drawback: the objects are really tiny and difficult to find.
I recommend this game!
The Heart of the Kingdom has been destroyed and now it’s up to Munchausen to save the day in this fun Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
YUMMY!!!
PostedAugust 11, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I absolutely love a good cartoon, and when a good cartoon is combined with a totally interactive, humerous, delicious, adventure game, then it's topnotch all the way!
Wish there were more games like this one.
Get into your adventurer's frocks, keep your eyes peeled for those hidden objects and sharpen your creative wits ... don't disappoint Baron Von Munchausen.
Wish there were more games like this one.
Get into your adventurer's frocks, keep your eyes peeled for those hidden objects and sharpen your creative wits ... don't disappoint Baron Von Munchausen.
I recommend this game!
Clarence Flatt, an expert clockmaker, has asked for your help and has offered you the chance to explore the Timeless Tower!
Overall rating
2
/
5
15 of 21 found this review helpful
At first interesting, but in the end quite boring
PostedAugust 11, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I had purchased Timeless Tower before buying the first installment of Enlightenus, and first off, I was charmed by the beautiful graphics of the game, the gentle music and the fact that the HOS were not the usual stuff... in fact, they are the reverse: you have to apply objects in a scene.
After finishing Enlightenus II, I tackled the first episode and was immediately struck by the tremendous tediousness and repetitiveness of the game.
Now, I tried my hand again at Enlightenus II and yes, it IS boring: five levels in the tower and for each level, you go back to the same nine scenes to do again and again and again the same thing, which is to put things back in the scenes.
Now and again, you are presented with a minigame which lifts the burden of boredom for a few moments, and then it's back to the chaingang. I finished two levels, the second time I attacked the game, and then called it quits.
After finishing Enlightenus II, I tackled the first episode and was immediately struck by the tremendous tediousness and repetitiveness of the game.
Now, I tried my hand again at Enlightenus II and yes, it IS boring: five levels in the tower and for each level, you go back to the same nine scenes to do again and again and again the same thing, which is to put things back in the scenes.
Now and again, you are presented with a minigame which lifts the burden of boredom for a few moments, and then it's back to the chaingang. I finished two levels, the second time I attacked the game, and then called it quits.
I don't recommend this game.
Travel to the mysterious world of Enlightenus and use your detective skills to track down Edgar Lee`s missing novels!
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 14 found this review helpful
Tedious... and luckily, short.
PostedAugust 11, 2012
Lao_Zi
fromOstend, Belgium
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
No reason to get all ecstatic over this one.
It may be "different", but it is far from "unique" and "interesting", etc.
OK, you don't have to rummage through junkpiles of rubbish, looking for objects... yes, you have to use objects in a scene, but if this may be interesting and new at first, it gets boring and tedious after the umptieth time.
In between this, you open a few doors by putting an object in a slot... and once, yes once, you get to use a screwdriver to find an object... and that's it.
Luckily, the "game" is short enough to keep you going all through the very end.
Yawn.
I am used to something with more of a challenge.
By the way, thanks all the same for the three or four interesting quotes by famous authors.
It may be "different", but it is far from "unique" and "interesting", etc.
OK, you don't have to rummage through junkpiles of rubbish, looking for objects... yes, you have to use objects in a scene, but if this may be interesting and new at first, it gets boring and tedious after the umptieth time.
In between this, you open a few doors by putting an object in a slot... and once, yes once, you get to use a screwdriver to find an object... and that's it.
Luckily, the "game" is short enough to keep you going all through the very end.
Yawn.
I am used to something with more of a challenge.
By the way, thanks all the same for the three or four interesting quotes by famous authors.
I don't recommend this game.