I was really excited about this game and the two others I found in the series. But unfortunately I was left disappointed.
The graphics are alright and its quite spooky (that cat scared the heck out of me!) but the game play isn't what I was expecting. The whole thing is one big hidden object scene. Instead of an adventure inventory based game with some hidden object scenes in it, you've got a hidden object based game with some inventory based action in it. Every location you enter has items to find which are displayed at the bottom of the screen and you have to find them all before moving on, and some of the objects are tiny so they're really difficult to find.
If this sounds like your kind of game, then by all means go ahead, but I couldn't get past the demo unfortunately. Just not for me.
I've loved all the previous Dark Tales games so was excited to play this one. However I've been left disappointed if I'm honest.
I liked the usual detective style and looking for clues etc. HOPs were fine, mini-games were fine (some quite difficult) and general game play was good. You've got a small amount of Achievements to get (which I like) and cards to collect, along with all your usual CE extras.
However the game suddenly ended without warning. Its like the developers forgot to finish it! One minute I was playing, and then the next a short cut scene and the credits were rolling. The story just did not end. I was watching the credits thinking this can't be the end, I've only been playing for about an hour and a half. I can't even be bothered to play the extra game play as I'm a bit annoyed that I payed money for such a short, unfinished game.
I don't recommend this for the more hardened game player, you will be left disappointed.
I had mixed thoughts about this game when I started. Yes, the game play is very old school, but it was fun and fairly challenging; I actually had to the use the Hint button on a few occasions to know what to do next.
There are no hidden object scenes which I liked as they can distract from the game play. Not too much tooing and froing to get things. Nice, non-cartoony, graphics. Subtle, quite eery, music.
No lockable inventory which was a down point for me as it gets annoying when it keeps popping up and down when you accidentally move your cursor to the bottom of the screen. Also, there was no Custom difficulty option which is something I like to play with.
However, the really low point for me is that it is sooooo short. I completed it within an hour and a half and feel like I've wasted money buying it.
I wouldn't recommend for more advanced game players, but if you want a fun hour or so and have a game coupon, then go for it.
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?
Annoying cut scenes every 2 minutes which disrupt the game, and just 30 minutes worth of demo......two things which instantly put me off a game. Sorry, just not for me, won't be buying.
You’re on a train in the middle of nowhere, and a band of dangerous thieves demand you tell them where to find the Hope Diamond’s shards. As the newest Hidden Expedition recruit, you’ve got to find the shards before they do…
Absolutely adored this game! Its a lot of fun with so much to do and locate. This is definitely now my current top favourite game.
STORYLINE/GAMEPLAY You've just been recruited by H.E.L.P and your mission is to find the hidden Hope Diamond shards, but of course there's trouble along the way. You start on board a train where you've been captured; you play a short time and are then transported back several hours earlier which explains how you got to be captured. After several chapters, you end up back at the train scene and it then continues the story. You encounter a few dodgy characters on the way, and there's your friend, Sam. There's also a tiger, called Baby. There's one scene in particular I like where Baby is in a cage in the corner, and the heroine quotes a famous phrase from Dirty Dancing.......you know which one! Graphics are really nicely done; colourful and detailed. Gameplay is also good; transitions between locations is smooth and quick. The inventory is lockable, and some items you collect can be changed to make different items. Music isn't wonderful, but I turn that off anyway; however if you turn the music off, it does then mute the sound on cut-scenes, so if you don't like music playing, I'd probably recommend turning it down to the lowest so you can just still hear it, and then you should hear the sound in cut-scenes.
HOS/PUZZLES Hidden object scenes are well scattered; hate it when there's one every time you move to the next scene. They each have a combination of different ways to collect items, e.g first you need to collect shapes, then 4 of something, then a list of items. There's also morphing objects in each HOS to collect. The good thing is though that if you miss a morphing object, there is the option to go back and play the HOS again from the Extras menu to make sure you pick it up. The morphing objects contributes to an Achievement, so make sure to get them all! Puzzles are fairly easy in my opinion. Usually I can't get through a game without skipping a few puzzles, but I didn't skip any in this one. Having said that, they are still quite fun and it didn't bother me that they were easy. Its always a bit distracting from the game, if you end up spending ages on an impossible puzzle.
WHAT DO YOU GET? You have a map and a journal which is in the shape of your H.E.L.P box; this also shows you information you've picked up and you can access the Achievements from here. There's the usually hint and skip buttons too. No fuzzy cute animal helpers though I'm pleased to say! There's 20 Achievements, 49 Smithsonian emblems to collect (1 in each scene), Fact cards to collect, and the morphing objects. In the EXTRAS, you get the bonus game, souvenir room (haven't looked at that, so not sure what that is), re-playable HOPs, re-playable puzzles, movies, pictures and music.
LENGTH This game is easily 4-5 hours including the bonus chapter.
There's loads more to talk about but I'll let you play and see for yourself! I thoroughly enjoyed this game from start to finish. Highly recommended!
The game has a good storyline, nice graphics and smooth gameplay. It starts with black bars down the sides, which annoyed me, but once I'd figured out how to make it widescreen, it was much better. The music was a bit annoying, but you cannot turn it off without turning off the ambient noises too. Grrrr! Unlockable inventory, another Grrrr! However, the game was enjoyable and I liked playing it, but..... ....after reading the other reviews, it looks really short. I finished the demo and have saved four girls, so if the reviews are correct, I only have one more to get and then I'm finished! Won't be buying I'm afraid if I've only got one more task to do!
Even though this is yet another story about an evil queen taking over spring, summer, autumn, whatever....I actually really enjoyed it.
The scenes and locations are really pretty and even though all locations had been taken over by winter, it was lovely to move around in, despite some small delays in moving between locations.
The HOS were well scattered around and not on every location, which for me can get a bit boring. Some you play twice. The scenes themselves aren't cluttered and you can see the items quite easily. There's a mixture of list HOS and silhouette HOS. You also get the option of playing Match 3 instead. The puzzles, I have to say, were very easy, however that doesn't bother me at all! I HATE spending ages trying to figure out a puzzle and what to do, so I really enjoyed these puzzles. Just straight forward performing an action like zigsaws, matching pairs or unscramble knots, etc.
You get the usual hint and skip buttons and the difficulty can be customized to your liking. You've got a map, a notebook and also a fluffy friend helping you along the way, plus a 'Spring Brush' which helps you fight off the frost!
Really had fun with this game, however I haven't given it five stars because it was way too short. I finished in just over 2 hours which is just not long enough for a game. I would probably recommend getting the CE so you get the extra gameplay.
All in all, lovely fun game. Glad I bought and played.
I really wanted to like this game, and I was enjoying it as it had lots of good coloring, smooth transitions, and it had a feel of the Awakened games which I loved playing. But after I'd played the fifth Match 3 after five minutes game play, I was bored! Its just Match 3 games one after another after another after another! Sorry, this should be listed under Match 3, not Hidden Object. I only had one HO scene while I was playing. Uninstalled after 10-15 minutes. Recommended only if you like doing Match 3 games! Not for the higher level players who enjoy adventure games with a bit of a challenge.
This is an awesome game from Elephant games! How anyone could give this a low rating is beyond me. I'm sure some people just give low ratings for a joke. You can't be a true Big Fisher if you give this anything less than 4 stars.
Storyline is about two cults that are fighting against each other, not sure why in a hotel though. Good cut scenes and a nice opening. Proper voice overs rather than just text to read. Gameplay is quick and smooth, and there's loads of areas to investigate.
There's six chapters plus the bonus. I'm only just over half way through and I've been going for 3 hours already so looking like a good long game. There's three difficulties to choose from, a lockable inventory (a must for me!), strategy guide and the usual hint and skip buttons. There's no real note book, but you do have a book that logs interesting items throughout the game.
Not too many HOS which is good. Hate it when a game is crammed full of them as it distracts from the gameplay. Items are hidden at a good difficulty level; not too easy but not too hard, and there's some interaction in the HOS as well. The only bad point, if I have to pick one, is that the puzzles are slightly easy. I haven't skipped any and have completed them rather quickly. However, who wants to be stuck for hours on an impossible puzzle anyway. Not me!
Extras: Bonus gameplay, wallpapers, concept art, music, etc. There's 15 portraits to collect, and several achievements.
I bought this game after just 10 minutes. Excellent! First game I've thoroughly enjoyed for a while......and I've still got lots to do!
The game was alright, but I didn't play more than 40 minutes of the demo. Mainly because it moved a bit slow for me....I'm a bit of a speed demon and like to move locations or between puzzles, etc, quickly but there was a bit of black screen before going to the next location and that bugs me slightly.
However, it was nice to see some different styles of puzzle, albeit very easy puzzles. And the HO scenes had some interaction. One good Pro for this game is that it has achievements and collectables even for a SE game. There are about 12 or so achievements and yellow type bugs to collect in each location.
Probably a good fun game for beginners due to the low level challenge, but just not for me this time.