CathyCatfish's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:2.6
- Helpful Votes:413
- Reviews Submitted:20
- First Review:February 18, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 9, 2013
- Featured reviews0
The Fog
Don't be afraid of The Fog. Fear what lies within it!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
a good, solid SE offering!
PostedDecember 9, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
i knew 15 minutes into this game that i would be buying it.
the second level of difficulty is fine for me... still have a hint if i need it, but no sparkles, not even on HOS.
there is a map, but it is not a jump map, which i actually prefer!
it does tell you where there is something to be done and it also tells you when you have finished all activities in a particular scene.
it does tell you where there is something to be done and it also tells you when you have finished all activities in a particular scene.
there is a journal, but it records only the story, not hints you find in various scenes, so pencil and paper is necessary for me and i LOVE that! there is a "secret box" that has items in it when you find the keys, that's fun, too.
puzzles i met were not difficult, but were fun and HOS are slightly interactive. nicely done!
the music and ambient sounds are very spooky and add to the mystery and creepiness. love them!
the graphics are old style, but if i have all the rest of the above, i don't care. graphics are less important to me than the storyline, the lack of cutesy [stuff] and fairytales. i'm SO done with fairytales and cute, fluffy animal helpers. this game is a breath of fresh air after my near-drowning in treacle.
the best part? no animal helpers at all, cute or otherwise... and no bells and whistles, but i don't need or want them.
the only helpers are just your brain, a map, a journal and a secret box. i will enjoy figuring it out for myself!
the only helpers are just your brain, a map, a journal and a secret box. i will enjoy figuring it out for myself!
i did find an apparent glitch in one HOS that others have complained about in the game forum's tech thread, so i am taking a star off for that. won't stop me from buying the game, though!
but, this game may not be for those who love the cute fairytales, so be sure to demo first to see what you think of it.
i LOVED it but you might not.
i LOVED it but you might not.
I recommend this game!
Haunted Halls: Nightmare Dwellers Collector's Edition
You thought this would be just like any other investigation. But now you find yourself lost in a mysterious mansion brimming with strange creatures, comatose colleagues, and mysterious tentacles around every corner…
Overall rating
1
/
5
28 of 49 found this review helpful
yes, ERS HAS done it again, and that's too bad.
PostedNovember 21, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
i played the beta of this game (which nowadays anyone can do), and, after reading the reviews, it's obvious that they have changed nothing, so i will not bother with the demo because it's exactly what i played in the beta and i *certainly* don't want to play it twice.
i will say that THE ONE thing that ERS has improved since the first haunted halls game is the custom difficulty level. i really appreciate that. and, when i set the custom to get rid of the black bar tips, it does improve the experience.
that's where the improvements stop.
as i have said before, i'm done with cute animals. for all of us who have stated over and over and over... and over again, begging... saying that we are TIRED of them, it seems like this game was designed just to make us mad... because i have never seen SO MANY animals in so little time. they are in *every* scene, including zoom ins... and if there isn't an animal in residence in the zoom in, then you must USE an animal to "fix" or "solve" whatever the zoom in requires.
and the puzzles are, once again, too easy.
and the glasses... over and over and over....
and the music.... over and over and over...
and the glasses... over and over and over....
and the music.... over and over and over...
ENOUGH ALREADY.
i own... and LOVE... the first two haunted halls. they were truly creepy, scary and, at times, almost disgusting... in a good way. this game is SO far removed from what the original games were like it's almost unbelievable.
but, it remains in the realm of believability because it is what ERS has become. and, since i don't care for it, it's a NO BUY for me.
again.
not CE, not SE. i had to struggle to finish the beta!
but, it remains in the realm of believability because it is what ERS has become. and, since i don't care for it, it's a NO BUY for me.
again.
not CE, not SE. i had to struggle to finish the beta!
so, for those of you who LOVE LOVE LOVE this game... good for you! but, if you don't have the first games and buy them in the bundle sale, boy HOWDY are you going to be in for a shock! the third game, the revenge of doctor blackmore, is more like this game, but... the first two? other than doctor blackmore himself, there is NO resemblance to this game at all. none. even the artwork is better in the first two games.
so, my streak of disliking ERS games continues. still have not purchased a game since before what they did to phantasmat.
more's the pity because i loved the first haunted halls and i love dark alleys. but, i guess this dev does not make those types of games anymore. i keep hoping and will keep checking on every new release, whether by beta or demo. and while i *will* keep hoping, i won't be holding my breath.
more's the pity because i loved the first haunted halls and i love dark alleys. but, i guess this dev does not make those types of games anymore. i keep hoping and will keep checking on every new release, whether by beta or demo. and while i *will* keep hoping, i won't be holding my breath.
I don't recommend this game.
Queen's Tales: The Beast and the Nightingale Collector's Edition
To save your father from a hideous monster, you've decided to sacrifice your own freedom. Now you must journey through a strange and magical land before time runs out!
Overall rating
2
/
5
13 of 23 found this review helpful
not my cuppa tea...
PostedNovember 1, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
even though i have not bought an ERS game since before crucible peak, and even when the games veered from scary/spooky/eerie to straight-up fairy tales, with LOTS of cute animals/creatures, i vowed i would continue to demo every game they put on the market. i have not broken that vow to myself and i have played the full demo every time.
i appreciate the fact that ERS is including a custom setting for difficulty level... both for game mechanics AND for puzzle difficulty! any puzzle that has "casual" and "hard", i click "hard". and the boat to port puzzle took me several tries... that's GOOD! i like it!
HOWEVER, for the game mechanics difficulty, i un-ticked "tutorials" and still GOT tutorials when i received the nightingale AND when i went to play the first HOS.
so much for "no tutorials"!
grrrrrr...
so much for "no tutorials"!
grrrrrr...
i also un-ticked "black bar tips" and while *some* were gone, most were still there.
i guess "custom mode" isn't very custom, is it?
i guess "custom mode" isn't very custom, is it?
i also appreciate that they have added a different kind of "4 square" match 3 that you can switch to for HOS which was fun, for a match 3.
yes, this is a HOG, but i'd rather play adventure without the HOS (but those games are few and far between, so i must tolerate HOS to get the puzzles and adventure i crave!) so the change to match 3 (or other alternative) is very welcomed.
yes, this is a HOG, but i'd rather play adventure without the HOS (but those games are few and far between, so i must tolerate HOS to get the puzzles and adventure i crave!) so the change to match 3 (or other alternative) is very welcomed.
i didn't care for all the "cute" creatures... weepie got on my nerves right away, even when it started laughing.
i wasn't crazy about the VOs... as some have commented, the child sounded like an adult... but for me, the worst one was "the beast" which didn't sound very "beast-like" at all. just ho-hum... you've got til midnight! la-de-dah. i was kinda expecting more of a growl sorta voice... something more scary! isn't the beast supposed to be scary, at least at the beginning?
but, i will say that i can see why the folks who love ERS games are enamored of this one. it's colorful, bright and happy. easy to just wander through and enjoy without worries!
but that's *not* why i play these types of games!
i want CHALLENGE, not a nice walk through a fairytale land.
i wasn't crazy about the VOs... as some have commented, the child sounded like an adult... but for me, the worst one was "the beast" which didn't sound very "beast-like" at all. just ho-hum... you've got til midnight! la-de-dah. i was kinda expecting more of a growl sorta voice... something more scary! isn't the beast supposed to be scary, at least at the beginning?
but, i will say that i can see why the folks who love ERS games are enamored of this one. it's colorful, bright and happy. easy to just wander through and enjoy without worries!
but that's *not* why i play these types of games!
i want CHALLENGE, not a nice walk through a fairytale land.
so, a no-buy for me, not surprisingly.
ERS, i'll say it one more time and i'll keep saying it until you listen:
put out another one like dark alleys: penumbra motel WITHOUT one cute animal and i will be the first in line to buy it.
until then, no sale. sorry.
but, i'll keep hoping. and keep demoing on the off chance that the next dark alleys really ARE... dark alleys...
put out another one like dark alleys: penumbra motel WITHOUT one cute animal and i will be the first in line to buy it.
until then, no sale. sorry.
but, i'll keep hoping. and keep demoing on the off chance that the next dark alleys really ARE... dark alleys...
I don't recommend this game.
Enigmatis: The Mists of Ravenwood Collector's Edition
Enter Ravenwood Park and discover the secrets hidden in the mists...
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 18 found this review helpful
the puzzles may be easy, but this time i don't care!
PostedSeptember 26, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
wow! i did the beta for this game (and it was a nice long one, close to an hour and a half!) and i was very impressed! i’ve become very jaded, so it’s getting harder and harder to impress me.
i LOVED the graphics, the hummingbirds zipping around, the raccoons and various other wildlife… until things *change*! the graphics are still excellent, but there’s evil afoot!
i loved the morphing objects (“illusive objects”) which are much easier to see because they’re quite big… but still easy to miss some if you don’t watch closely… SPOILER (highlight to read): and it *might* not be the old “one per scene” you’re used to!
we have an evidence board like the first game in the series, which is a fun feature. there’s also someone who wants to help with the investigation, giving us clues… but those EYES… that VOICE… is he really to be trusted? we can judge him only by his eyes, voice and words… we can’t see his face…
guess we won’t know for a while, possibly only when it is too late….
guess we won’t know for a while, possibly only when it is too late….
speaking of the first game of the series, you don’t need to play it for this one to make sense. i do, however, highly recommend it as it is also a very fine game.
the music and ambient sounds are nicely done.
the puzzles could be a little harder for me, or a mix of difficulties to keep everyone happy. perhaps they will become more difficult as i play along and i *will* find out soon as this game is a definite buy for me, even though i seldom buy CEs anymore.
yes, I’m jaded and yes, it’s that good. a definite 5 stars… no… BEYOND 5 stars! 10 stars!
try the demo yourself… i’m going to buy the game right now to see if they changed any of the things i had issues with. should be interesting to see if my input helped tighten up the game!
but mainly, i must buy the game to find out if our helper is friend or foe... seems like friend, but those eyes.....
I recommend this game!
Flights of Fancy: Two Doves Collector's Edition
Someone has stolen two powerful magic doves from your kingdom, and the consequences could be disastrous. Embark on an extraordinary journey to stop the thief.
Overall rating
2
/
5
17 of 27 found this review helpful
fairies and elves and... cute [stuff], OH MY!
PostedSeptember 14, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
i made myself a promise when i fell out of love with ERS that i would do the full demo on every game they put out for sale, and so far, i have not broken that promise. but, if they keep up with the cutesy fairies, elves, magical fairytale kingdom [stuff], i may end up breaking that promise.
and, i'm glad i kept the promise this time because i see that, for me, ERS is at least doing SOME things right!
here's what i liked about this game:
** custom difficulty level. i could still have the hints and skips (set to long reload times), i could turn off the hated sparkles completely and get rid of the black bar tips. this helped make the game a *little* more challenging. i liked that.
** while i have tired of the same-old same-old ERS graphics, these seemed a little bit better... sharper and less cartoony, i guess would be how i would describe it.
** the puzzles seemed a *little* better, with a *little* more challenge than previous games. still not mind-bending puzzles i crave, like the MCF's puzzles of days gone by, but a little better than ERS' latest offerings.
** the HOS with the silhouettes were good, took a little thinking, which is why i play these games.
** while i have tired of the same-old same-old ERS graphics, these seemed a little bit better... sharper and less cartoony, i guess would be how i would describe it.
** the puzzles seemed a *little* better, with a *little* more challenge than previous games. still not mind-bending puzzles i crave, like the MCF's puzzles of days gone by, but a little better than ERS' latest offerings.
** the HOS with the silhouettes were good, took a little thinking, which is why i play these games.
here's what i didn't like:
** the fairy helper, the elf helper, and having to name them. (you don't want to know!) i'm sick to DEATH of cutesy helpers! can we *PLEASE* have ONE game without them?
** the level of SWEETNESS... made my teeth ache just playing the demo.
** the plot. i want a nice, hard-boiled detective story... or a murder mystery... or a film-noir style plot... or even someone under an evil spell... or a spooky mansion to explore... i just *don't* want CUTESY.
** harder puzzles, please. yes, i know i said i liked the puzzles better... and these were better, but they were still too easy. there are LOTS of us out there who would buy your games if you made the puzzles harder. they're SUPPOSED to be *puzzling*, aren't they? these are barely that.
** the fairy helper, the elf helper, and having to name them. (you don't want to know!) i'm sick to DEATH of cutesy helpers! can we *PLEASE* have ONE game without them?
** the level of SWEETNESS... made my teeth ache just playing the demo.
** the plot. i want a nice, hard-boiled detective story... or a murder mystery... or a film-noir style plot... or even someone under an evil spell... or a spooky mansion to explore... i just *don't* want CUTESY.
** harder puzzles, please. yes, i know i said i liked the puzzles better... and these were better, but they were still too easy. there are LOTS of us out there who would buy your games if you made the puzzles harder. they're SUPPOSED to be *puzzling*, aren't they? these are barely that.
so, due to the cutesy factor and the sweet, sweet little helpers and having to name them... it's a no buy for me. not CE, not SE. never.
i have not bought a game of yours for over a year... the trend continues.
i have not bought a game of yours for over a year... the trend continues.
I don't recommend this game.
Haunted Legends: The Curse of Vox Collector's Edition
Uncover the true murderer as you investigate a haunted house!
Overall rating
3
/
5
50 of 113 found this review helpful
played the beta, i'm sure nothing changed... because it never has before.
PostedJune 20, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
i played the beta version of this game and, thankfully, didn’t see a cute pet to dress up or name anywhere! yes, i did see a cat, and he seems to be following me around, so perhaps he needs something from me, but hopefully it won't be clothes and a collar and a food dish....
the game is still very easy and fairly linear, but at least it’s a relief from the cutesy stuff that we have seen in the last few games from ERS.
i'm not sure what's up with "the garden" as i didn't want to spend much time in there during the beta... i wanted to progress in the game instead.
the music is fairly typical ERS. a variation on a theme, says the musician in me.
the graphics are typical ERS
the game mechanics are typical ERS
i did like most of the HOS... and i'm not usually a fan, especially of junk piles and lists. in the beta, it was find *this* to get... *this*. use it to get the next item... kind of like a rube goldberg contraption in some places.
black bar tips ARE disabled in the hardest mode, which is where i played. that helps the challenge level a bit. but only a bit. it's still a game with very little challenge for those of us who have been playing these types of games for years.
i certainly would not buy the CE and probably not the SE as i have seen it all before. i'm bored to tears with ERS games and this one is right there in the pack.
i used to love ERS! where has the challenge gone?
i'm hoping for a game to CHALLENGE me! ERS? can you do that?
i'm hoping for a game to CHALLENGE me! ERS? can you do that?
JMHO. please play the demo and decide for yourself. i will.... maybe i'm wrong. i doubt it.
I don't recommend this game.
Reveries: Sisterly Love Collector's Edition
In order to save your life, your twin sister traded her soul to a witch. Now you must race through the looking glass to rescue her!
Overall rating
2
/
5
36 of 57 found this review helpful
ERS does it again.
PostedMay 30, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
for me, this is a 4/10 game. (4, not 0... which means i DO like some things about it!)
and, for those wondering, this is game number EIGHT this year... five months... i listed them on the third page of the "our 50th game for you" thread on this game's forum page.
so, doing the math, that's one CE every 2.708 weeks!!
how can they keep up this break-neck pace? i think we all know... many of us have said it. and we keep repeating it to no avail: same, same, same. cookie-cutter.
anyway, i keep asking for no more cute animals... i get more instead of less.
10n more! that's like... infinite numbers of animals, or so it seems to someone who wants NONE.
10n more! that's like... infinite numbers of animals, or so it seems to someone who wants NONE.
the graphics are so loud and busy they almost vibrate.
game mechanics are fine... no lagging cursor, no pause between scenes, jump map (never used it, but i hear it jumps) etc.
i played on the hardest mode and there were, indeed, no black bar tips, at least not by the end of the beta or demo. i like that!
but, level of difficulty? non-existent. gee, the little (cute, furry?) mole is blinking cause we all know moles don't live above ground, soooo... yup, sun glasses. that was hard!
but, level of difficulty? non-existent. gee, the little (cute, furry?) mole is blinking cause we all know moles don't live above ground, soooo... yup, sun glasses. that was hard!
there are some major leaps of logic.... as in the logic regarding the use of the comb the first time (outside of the HOS). it made me laugh out loud! really? a comb for THAT?
also got a chuckle out of the note from sybil (? the witch)... a mean, threatening note... signed "sincerely, sybil" like one would sign a formal letter! LOL!
also got a chuckle out of the note from sybil (? the witch)... a mean, threatening note... signed "sincerely, sybil" like one would sign a formal letter! LOL!
a singing main character? well, the witch did a sing-song-y "you'll never find your sister!" or whatever she "sang"... didn't get any further to see whether anyone else "sang".
rhyming dwarf? meh. doggerel.
the "puzzle"? a maze... i think i solved it in six clicks. not my concept of a puzzle.
the silly walnuts to collect... hidden in plain sight?
and the silly achievements that are SO easy to achieve...
bottom line? this is a kids' game. bright and shiny to keep their attention... evil witch... handsome prince, cute animals, talking trees.
i'm still waiting for an ADULT game... maybe even an adventure game (my preferred genre, but most adventures are HOPAs, so i have to settle) with difficult puzzles... that are, indeed, PUZZLES. my wallet stays shut until then. completely shut... no CEs, no SEs. quality, please... not quantity!
ERS, you've done it before... a year ago! why not again?
shall i say "dark alleys: penumbra motel" ONE MORE TIME? sure, maybe SOMEONE at ERS will listen.
I don't recommend this game.
Shiver: Moonlit Grove Collector's Edition
With your carriage broken, and a wolf nearby, you must find shelter. What awaits you in the village just ahead?
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 18 found this review helpful
i wish i could buy this game... but...
PostedMay 3, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Small Town Terrors: Pilgrim's Hook Collector's Edition
(89)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
this game, unfortunately, is a no buy for me.
it's WAY less than a 10/10... more like a 4/10.
it's WAY less than a 10/10... more like a 4/10.
three reasons:
*sparkles* in the hardest mode (-2 points)
black bar tips in hardest mode (-2 points)
tutorial notes even when tutorial is turned down (-2 points)
("when the cursor turns to a spinning thing, that means you can spin something" ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!)
so, in star ratings, i'll give it a two, which is the closest equivalent.
*sparkles* in the hardest mode (-2 points)
black bar tips in hardest mode (-2 points)
tutorial notes even when tutorial is turned down (-2 points)
("when the cursor turns to a spinning thing, that means you can spin something" ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!)
so, in star ratings, i'll give it a two, which is the closest equivalent.
seriously, how much sense does it make to take away the hint/skip buttons in the hardest mode and then LEAVE in the sparkles? isn't there something wrong with this logic?
at first, i thought the sparkles might be fireflies... or swamp gas... or something other than the dreaded sparkles. but no, my hopes were dashed. the sparkles were on *every* active area in each location.
i admit that i bought the other two shiver games long ago (the first one in june '11 and the second, i bought the CE when it came out, march '12) and i don't remember sparkles in the hardest modes of those games, but perhaps i wasn't as picky about them then as i am now? dunno.
i enjoyed the intro, i enjoyed the tasks at hand, i enjoyed the weather and especially the spooky music.
i liked the HOS's interactivity with multiple tasks to do (but is that REALLY where you place a stamp on a letter? )
i didn't mind the extra stuff in the inventory and liked that you had puzzles/combinations to do there, as well.
i didn't mind that there was no map, since i seldom use them.
i didn't much care for the fact that the vitruvian man "puzzle" had the answer right there, but at least it was hidden until you clicked on it. still... it WAS in the journal, where it should have stayed!
and the lockpick puzzle? that was *the EASIEST* lockpick puzzle i have ever seen. sad.
i liked the HOS's interactivity with multiple tasks to do (but is that REALLY where you place a stamp on a letter? )
i didn't mind the extra stuff in the inventory and liked that you had puzzles/combinations to do there, as well.
i didn't mind that there was no map, since i seldom use them.
i didn't much care for the fact that the vitruvian man "puzzle" had the answer right there, but at least it was hidden until you clicked on it. still... it WAS in the journal, where it should have stayed!
and the lockpick puzzle? that was *the EASIEST* lockpick puzzle i have ever seen. sad.
and, TG, there are NO cute, cuddly animals whose bellies "beg for tickling"!!
kudos to the dev for that!! i'm certainly glad that they didn't copy THAT unwelcome trend!
kudos to the dev for that!! i'm certainly glad that they didn't copy THAT unwelcome trend!
i really wish i could buy this game, but i know the *sparkles* would drive me BSC by the time i got to the end.
I don't recommend this game.
The Secret of the Nautilus
Unlock the secrets of the famous Nautilus submarine in this exhillarating Hidden Object Adventure game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
might have liked this game...
PostedApril 21, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
if the graphics were clearer, i might have liked this game. they were completely blurry which made my eyes go wonky. they were also very dark, which just added to the difficulty seeing through the blurriness.
if there was a little more interaction, i might have liked this game. as it is, you are SHOWN with a little hand what you can pick up. and i don't mean that your cursor *changes* to a hand, no the hand is there when you scroll around the room. so, don't bother to click on anything that isn't *shown* to you to click on, be it an item to pick up, a task to do or a door to go through.
if it wasn't a 360º degree pan, i might have liked this game. instead, i felt sick to my stomach. worse yet, i had to figure out how to get "back" from the first door i walked up to... i kept putting my cursor at the bottom of the screen, waiting for the back arrow. i thought my screen had frozen, so i went out, replayed the opening sequences and... same thing. it was totally by accident, a slower mouse click and accidental movement at the same time.... WHOA.... it's 360º panning....
and, due to the panning and the blurry graphics, i kept going through the same doors and getting lost... and when i did find a new room to explore, there wasn't anything to do! no little hand or nut, just a few arrows to navigate over to the walls, where there was... nothing to do.
and, due to the panning and the blurry graphics, i kept going through the same doors and getting lost... and when i did find a new room to explore, there wasn't anything to do! no little hand or nut, just a few arrows to navigate over to the walls, where there was... nothing to do.
if the game had different music, i might have liked it a little better. instead of something kinda creepy and fitting to the tone and wonderment... and mystery, we have some strange harp music... didn't seem to fit at all.
the closest games this one seems comparable to are the myst, riven and syberia styles... but those had such stellar graphics that the comparison to style falls flat.
if you don't get sick from the 360º panning to get around and you don't mind blurry graphics and getting lost easily, you might like this game more than i did.
I don't recommend this game.
Empress of the Deep 3: Legacy of the Phoenix Collector's Edition
An ancient phoenix summons Anna to explore a drifting ocean city, confront the Evil Colossus and save her lost tribe.
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 8 found this review helpful
after the first game, ever hopeful... but...
PostedApril 11, 2013
CathyCatfish
fromNear (but not *in*) Puget Sound...
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove
(355)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON THE DEMO
i bought and played the first two games of this series. i was blown away by the graphics of the first game, so "myst-like" in their other-worldliness and clarity. brilliant colors! i enjoyed the storyline and not knowing who to trust.
the second game was similar in graphic quality, not quite as good, but i HATED the storyline. "save the whales" and "save the children" type preachy stories are not for me. i guess living near puget sound, the "greenpeace-ers" have gotten to me! i get enough preaching in real life, i don't need it in a game, thank you!
this game? the graphic quality is lower, not quite as sharp and clear as the first game, plus i really don't care for the hazy, sunset colors i've seen so far. perhaps that changes as one gets further into the game.
one of my major gripes is that, even playing on hardcore, as i did, it is still SO simple with too much explained and not enough left for me to figure out. i wish i had written down the quotes, but, for instance, at one point, we discover "something" and anna says "oh, this must be the answer to such and such!"
seriously?
seriously?
and then, there was the tutorial, even on hardcore, when we are given the journal/map/whatever. no way to stop the tutorial and i *think* i can figure out what a journal is and what the [heck] it's for!!
i don't mind the wandering around because i enjoy the scenery. just wish the graphics were more like EOTD 1.
since i don't care for M3 games, there is zero reason for me to buy this in the CE version, and therefore, because of that and all the above, i do not recommend this game. i also think it's wrong that we have to "earn" the right to play the bonus game! i mean, doesn't playing the entire game usually "earn" us the right to play the bonus chapter? perhaps i am missing something here?
but, i *will* buy this game as an SE just to see how the story unfolds and if the sun ever comes up to give us sharper graphics.
I don't recommend this game.