Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
Although I didn't enjoy this as much as the first Enigmatis, this is a very high-quality HO/Adventure game with excellent graphics, music and cutscenes and a good variety of gameplay types. The story is fairly straightforward and the locations are not all that varied, and some people may be put off by the mix of religious imagery, but otherwise, this game is worth your money.
This year, little Mike and Emma visit festively decorated mundane settings including a warehouse, their grandparents' home and the perennial favourite, a shopping mall. Finally, they get to fly to the North Pole, where they chill with the elves and dine al fresco with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Many of the silhouetted and listed objects take a bit of effort to find. Some terminology is broadly inclusive, so click on something related to the keyword even if it doesn't make complete sense.
The gold reindeer you collect as a bonus aren't terribly well camouflaged. Nativity scenes this year are relegated to the junkpile, and the 12 Days of Xmas characters have apparently gone on vacation. Points can be exchanged for adorable and cool gift items which you can view at any time.
While the graphics and gameplay continue to improve in these holiday games, the same music tracks, in the spirit of the park ranger series, get recycled.
About two-thirds of the game consists of relatively realistic scenes of family activities, such as choosing a pumpkin, visiting relatives and touring a museum. Things gradually get a bit creepier with the Halloween decor, and a few scenes have a more fantastical setting, with ghosts and slightly gorier items. Not really scary.
Some of the puzzles were a little bit more challenging than the ones usually found in this type of game.
This game has a wider variety of music than the other Casual Arts games-bluegrass, orchestral, along with a reprise of those hokey 1950s-style horror themes from the first Halloween Trick or Treat.
The length was about the same as the other holiday games-just long enough to get through the actual holiday.
Just adding another 5-star vote for this one. Nothing original or groundbreaking here if you've played a lot of this kind of game, but the huge variety of rooms you must visit and revisit keep boredom away. The game seemed to go on forever, in a good way.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
Equal in quality and main story length to the other similar Playrix games. Strongly recommended for those who enjoy cheerful, moderately challenging hidden object games. My only complaint is that you can't seem to save a partially completed scene if you need to exit before you finish it.
+2points
3of4voted this as helpful.
Escape Whisper Valley
A sudden rockslide has left you trapped in an abandoned mountain village. Can you find the clues that will lead you back home?
Overall rating
3/ 5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Where have all the people gone
PostedApril 7, 2013
Nijimasu
fromCanada
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
3/ 5
Graphics, music and searching challenge are pretty good. Slightly spooky atmosphere. Match 3 mini-games are something to look forward to. My biggest dislike of SpinTop H O G's is that the settings are interesting until you find you have to visit the same locations over and over again.
Due to the ridiculously high encounter rate, I played this in short bursts over several months. It is not the kind of RPG you play in one weekend or so. I liked the art style (the backgrounds are similar to those in Vagrant Hearts) and the music. A couple of the towns and dungeons were cleverly designed.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
Similar to the Aveyond and Ella's Hope games, this is a straightforward RPG with tons of sidequests, some of which are time-sensitive. A choice of familiars (pets) encourages you to replay the game. The story ending gives a feeling of completeness. If going to school every day turns you off, keep playing until you are let loose!
I recommend this basic, but decently designed RPG to players who enjoyed the first VH. Nothing terribly exciting happens, but I liked the art style, the crest system, the just-right-sized dungeons, and the variety of characters. The final boss took me a few tries.