Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Word
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
What a surprise! I seldom give a main page review, but this game is getting poor reviews I felt I had to add to the good ones. There will be a few slight SPOILERS below, about the puzzle mechanics and what the HOS are.
I love the mix of live action scenes (the first is long, but really set the scene well, so well what happens came as a big shock to me!) and the well-done graphics. When lightning lights up a scene for an instant you see your shadow. Great detail.
The HOS are fun. Interactive lists, and recharge the crystal through finding morphing objects, unlisted. That took some time. Unfortunately, sparkles indicate their location even on the Expert mode. PUZZLES are some simple tasks (cutting out jigsaw puzzles pieces, putting the puzzle together, then painting the whole). Play a concentration game and move branches from top to the one on the bottom to clear a space.
Some of the tasks are so well done. You know the ol' tape up the electrical cord task? Well, here it takes a sensible and logical first step most games leave out.
True, the translation is quite poor at times, but I can ignore that in the case of small developers. It's when the "big guys" get it wrong it bothers me.
If you want to play without thought, following a map from place to place, to rely on a hint feature to tell you what to do and where to go, then play today's game (or any of the "big guy" games that are becoming indistinguishable from each other). If you want something different, something that will make you do the figuring out, then give this one a try.
+77points
83of89voted this as helpful.
Mystery of Neuschwanstein
Accompany Sarah and Professor Adler through the stunning rooms, halls and cellars of the historical castle of Neuschwanstein!
Overall rating
4/ 5
42 of 52 found this review helpful
Different, Entertaining, and Educational! I like it!
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
It's not a game for everyone. It isn't the traditional hand-holding HOG. Good. We get several of those a week already!
This one takes time to play. It takes time to carefully go over each scene, clicking on small objects to see if you need them. Often you do. You aren't given a lot of help with where to go or what to use when you get there. Good!
The HOS are, alas, ordinary. I would have liked the game if it contained no HOS. Let it be a puzzle game, an adventure light.
The PUZZLES were nice, well integrated into the game. Many are part of the story, which is a welcome change from puzzles for puzzle's sake, just stuck in the game just to say they're there. A wide variety of puzzles. Concentration. Making an electric circuit. Push switches in the correct order.
The "tablet" computer we have holds all our information. From our notes to tasks, we also have a camera with an email "photo app" to send photos for analysis. The Professor's notes are interesting educational tidbits about the locations and people from the castle's history.
The graphics are very nice. I found them clear and crisp. The game loads quickly between scenes. There is a jump map which shows areas with current tasks.
If you want a change from the ordinary HOG, this might be it. Definitely better than most Monday games or soft releases! I was waiting for BFG to release this game since I discovered it existed a few months ago! Thanks BFG!
+32points
42of52voted this as helpful.
The Big Secret of a Small Town
Find out what is hidden behind the mysterious disappearance of the Mayor.
Finally, a game that is different from all the others!
To enjoy this game you need to slow down and explore. If you depend on a lot of hand-holding sparkles to direct you and tell you exactly where to go and what to do when you get there, then this will be a challenge! I encourage you to give it a try though. The hint doesn't give too much information, just enough to help you, not leading you to the spot needed.
That's the fun here! Search each scene carefully for objects to add to your inventory, or puzzles to complete. The puzzles are terrific and plentiful! After all, it's a puzzle game, not a HOG! Some puzzles have puzzles within them (find the parts, then figure out the code), and while the puzzles aren't all "new" in type, they do offer a welcome change with challenges.
Some of the items were rather hard for me to find, but usually that was my fault. Watch for the directional arrows, some are different from others! I kept going backwards until I noticed a different sort of arrow, then all was good!
There are achievements, so I suggest you look into the "extras" on the main menu before playing so you know what counts!
Since this is the developers first game (WOW!) I eagerly await what they come up with next! For a first attempt they managed to create a game world that really interested me! From the graphics to the characters, the puzzles and all, it's just what I have been looking for and so seldom shows up!
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
3/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
If you are used to traditional HOGs... if you like sparkles to show you the way... if you want to race through each scene... if you depend on lots of dialogue and black-bar tips instead of reading... if you think cartoons are just for kids... this isn't the game for you. I like it!
There are no HOS, but you still search for items. You search for reasonable items in reasonable places (for instance, look for the tool in the basement not the refrigerator). Take your time, look around, see what you can add to your inventory.
There are puzzles, some simple and expected, others harder and more original. I wish the inventory was available without clicking the backpack, but I can live with that.
The demo was a lot more fun than buying a husky a stereo system (alluding to one of last week's CEs)! Cartoons are NOT just for kids!
You've been asked to cover a highly anticipated competition in New York City when something goes terribly wrong. Can you escape the world of illusions?
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
3/ 5
Level of Challenge
2/ 5
Storyline
2/ 5
Another ordinary game, with ordinary puzzles and hidden objects scenes. Another ordinary evil doer kidnapping the innocent. Another ordinary journalist investigating. Ordinary predictable objectives. Really... who didn't expect a get a scrapper when they saw that poster had something under it?
Lots of HOS. Various types from FROGs to put-objects-in-their-places storybook, lists, silhouettes, find so many ofs... A few junk-piles and nothing outstanding in the interactive area.
Lots of puzzles what weren't very puzzling. Arrange cards to match the suits shown in the corners. Use magical "goggles" to recreate geometric patterns. Put tokens on a clock to match the other clock's bird life cycle (?). Perfect opportunities for puzzles were missed, like a target with throwing knives. That would have been fun!
I got tired of the evil magician's constant threats. They became humorous after a while, they are so over the top. He even tells us, at the end of the demo time, "I tire of this game."
Speaking of demo time, this was the shortest I have ever had. I know... I know... if you buy a game in a box at a store there is no demo. But, on BFG we have come to expect an hour demo time.
I would have given the game 2 stars, but I didn't actually "dislike" it, so much as found it boring. If you are on the fence, I suggest you wait a bit to see if the other illusionist game (by a different developer) is released soon. It's much more fun!
Based on the demo...Gorgeous game! Absolutely stunning graphics. Beautiful sounds, very faint music at times, with the songs of birds. Soothing and fitting the scenes. The morphing objects are not our only collectible, but they are the trickiest!
COLLECTIBLES: Three types! There are 35 morphing objects, "Beyond Objects," and you can set the option to show their locations. Then there are 35 parts of the "Magic Machine," which is in the hermit's backroom. Also, collect 20 manuscript pages.
HOS: Incredible! I wasn't impressed with the quality of the silhouettes, it was very hard to tell what they were. But, mostly it's a matter of finding things in a sequence to do the next thing to find the next item. There are puzzles within the HOS. You have to take your own notes for some of the HOS puzzles! That's the way it should be, not the automatically in the diary, or on a note that glues itself in place! This small detail sold me on the game!
PUZZLES: Nothing new, but nicely done, and beautifully rendered. Rotate circles to place animals in their proper habitats. Make figures all touch. Concentration.
I don't care if it's yet another "chosen one to save the world - portal - wizard (he calls himself a hermit)" game, the demo of this one is the best game I have played in months!
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
3/ 5
If you like portals to other worlds... If you like science fiction settings (instead of a haunted amusement park)... If you like stories where the character's, well, characters are drastically changed...
you just might like this final game in the series. If it's really the final game, at least they knew when to stop.
I found this game to be nowhere near the fun of the others. The others were creepy. The setting of those was eerie (who isn't a bit creeped out at the idea of an abandoned amusement park?), and in the second the different "lands" were brilliant. Peter Pan, Cinderella, etc. This one misses by a mile.
I found the story ridiculous and not along the same lines as the other games. It would be a spoiler to mention what I find the silliest, but it ruined the game for me.
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
2/ 5
Storyline
2/ 5
It's probably impossible to meet the expectations of MCF fans, to live up to the hype. I don't think this game come anywhere near what was expected. It's just nothing special. It's pretty much an ordinary game, in the style of all the latest Elephant games. They are capable of better games, of games with more challenge and original ideas. One review mentions that they can do it, but chose not to do it. I agree. And that's a shame. The graphics are nice. But, the HOS and PUZZLES are what we've all seen before. Even the MCF maxi-puzzle (you know the ones, where you do things in sequence!) was not as good as the last game's. I did appreciate the in-puzzle hint feature that would give hints for each segment of the puzzle. There are collectible puzzle pieces, and morphing objects in the form of Dire Grove buildings. I felt that the storyline was left behind as soon as I got to Dire Grove, where my time was spent wandering around, picking up items, needing items, and ignoring the man laying prone in the snow (while thinking that can't be good for his health). A weak offering that may just show this series has left it's better days in the past.
I expect more from BFG. I would think they would expect more from the companies that provide them games. The entire premise is ridiculous. You play an investigator for a fictional version of the IRS, specializing in the oil industry. Shady goings on there, especially when your colleague disappears. First task? Find your tights. Maybe they ended up on a chandelier or something, as it seems your garter is hanging on the light fixture. That must have been one wild time last night!
The objects to find are given to you one at a time. The hint has an odd way of functioning, which they proudly inform us is "parallaxe mode." Unless we are programmers that means nothing. The game page states there are "several mini-games and puzzles." I don't buy a game that admits to containing only "several!" The scenes are not clear, and the close-up areas are foggy. No voices, just text.
This game is NOT up to the standards expected by today's players, and should not have been up to BFG's standards either. The developers of this game are capable of much more, they are not new. Mondays aren't known for high quality games (a shame, everything BFG releases should be of the same quality, just different genres), but this should embarrass both BFG and the developers.
Enjoy this beautiful adventure set in a unique interactive 3D Thailand! Complete mysterious puzzles and find hidden objects. Prepare for an unforgettable experience!
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
2/ 5
Storyline
3/ 5
Yes, it has collectibles (I didn't find any myself, but if others say they're there, I believe them). Yes, it has achievements (some meaningless, such as using the hint, or getting to a point in the game anyone will have to reach). Yes, it's "different." But, unfortunately, none of that made it an interesting game, for me. Maybe you'll like it. It seems to be one of those games you really have to try for yourself.
Originally a game for iPads, iPhones, and iTouch, I wonder if it is better suited for those formats. The infrequent 3-D movement did not nauseate me, which usually happens.
The puzzles are much too simple. If you make an error in the concentration game it shows all the images before you try again, so no memory or note-taking is needed. That is not a good thing! It's a memory game after all! I ran across one FROG. The items were clear, if teeny.
We do indeed get a "helper," in the form of a gecko. The hint fills almost immediately after use, even on the hardest play mode. Too much running around, and very slow to play. Not the mechanics of the game, just the game and how it plays out. I wanted to just be done it was so tedious.