JustTheFacts's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:33,148
- Reviews Submitted:681
- First Review:December 7, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 4, 2018
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Your sister disappears the night of her star debut – and there are ghosts in the theater! Will this dance ever end?
Overall rating
5
/
5
175 of 222 found this review helpful
Deadly Romance
PostedFebruary 20, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I’ve played this demo twice now (did the beta) and still got so caught up in the game that I forgot to takes notes! Wonderful introduction gives you all the backstory you need, and a fair indication of how this story is going to go. No dramatic train crashes or air disasters, but a good old-fashioned love-crazed villain with a taste for fire.
I’ve played this demo twice now (did the beta) and still got so caught up in the game that I forgot to takes notes! Wonderful introduction gives you all the backstory you need, and a fair indication of how this story is going to go. No dramatic train crashes or air disasters, but a good old-fashioned love-crazed villain with a taste for fire.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
As usual with this developer, the graphics are superb. This is a somewhat darker game than is their usual, but they handle it well and most locations are in fact very well lit. The darkness is more an atmospheric thing. There is a certain glossy shine to the theatre scenes that I find a bit off putting personally. But then I’m not European and am therefore not used to seeing that much gold gilt! All items are easy to see and not small.
As usual with this developer, the graphics are superb. This is a somewhat darker game than is their usual, but they handle it well and most locations are in fact very well lit. The darkness is more an atmospheric thing. There is a certain glossy shine to the theatre scenes that I find a bit off putting personally. But then I’m not European and am therefore not used to seeing that much gold gilt! All items are easy to see and not small.
The voices are excellent fun, done in pseudo-Italian (?) accents, that fit wholly with the characters and the story. The flautist is my personal favourite. The characters in the location are still, while there is a smaller pic beside the speech box where lips do move. I always like this feature. The music is a little different, though don’t ask me to describe how. But it is low key ominous and quite pleasant. As the game is about ballet, I was a little disappointed not to hear any classical stuff.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
You are meeting your sister after her performance as star of the most popular ballet, written for the love of the composer’s life. It was performed here for the first time 30 years ago, immediately prior to the theatre burning to the ground. Having watched the intro through, we know that the composer burnt the place down in revenge for finding his loved one, the prima ballerina, with another man.
You are meeting your sister after her performance as star of the most popular ballet, written for the love of the composer’s life. It was performed here for the first time 30 years ago, immediately prior to the theatre burning to the ground. Having watched the intro through, we know that the composer burnt the place down in revenge for finding his loved one, the prima ballerina, with another man.
Your sister does not show, and you are outside wondering what to do when the stage manager opens the door. No, he says, the theatre is empty, there’s no one here. But there is a light in an upstairs window, and voices. You must get in and find your sister! In keeping with demo tradition, we finish with a cliff hanger, but how we are going to get out of this particular predicament totally escapes me! Can’t wait to find out!
GAMEPLAY
The play is dominated by HOPs. So far, there have been several, either interactive lists or simple silhouettes, which are introduced four at a time only, which requires a slightly different search strategy. What may have been irrelevant before could be needed now. As an alternative, there is a bubble popper game, in which each sparkling bubble you pop removes an item from the list. Again, an somewhat unusual strategy is required.
The play is dominated by HOPs. So far, there have been several, either interactive lists or simple silhouettes, which are introduced four at a time only, which requires a slightly different search strategy. What may have been irrelevant before could be needed now. As an alternative, there is a bubble popper game, in which each sparkling bubble you pop removes an item from the list. Again, an somewhat unusual strategy is required.
The puzzles so far are incredibly easy. I hope they get harder later on, because if I think they’re easy, a lot of people will think they are laughable. One puzzle got on my nerves. A simple follow the notes memory game. But if you missed once you had to go right back to the start from one note again.
There is an interactive jump map that shows objectives as well as active tasks and current location. I don’t like how long it took to unfold it each time we use it. Hint is directional. The journal has a diary and objectives. The tutorial is particularly well written.
CE BLING!
*Takes a deep breath* In-game SG, and bonus chapter. The gallery includes a ‘making of’ movie, game movies, 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art, 16 Photos, Music. There are replayable HOPs (17) and puzzles (28), as well as bonus HOPs which are played for a separate achievement. Two types of collectibles, 44 yellow roses for Marie’s Bouquet (a mini-game where you can go back to the places where you missed the roses). These are easy to spot, and 12 morphing items, which are a lot harder to find. There are 18 Achievements, all performance based. There is a Souvenir Room, another mini-game, where you go back through the locations finding one new item.
*Takes a deep breath* In-game SG, and bonus chapter. The gallery includes a ‘making of’ movie, game movies, 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art, 16 Photos, Music. There are replayable HOPs (17) and puzzles (28), as well as bonus HOPs which are played for a separate achievement. Two types of collectibles, 44 yellow roses for Marie’s Bouquet (a mini-game where you can go back to the places where you missed the roses). These are easy to spot, and 12 morphing items, which are a lot harder to find. There are 18 Achievements, all performance based. There is a Souvenir Room, another mini-game, where you go back through the locations finding one new item.
COMBINED IMPACT
I loved this game. It is not, however, my favourite Eipix. But it is up to their usual excellent standards. My enthusiasm is tempered, I think, by the lack of anything unique to this game, and all that golden gilt!
I loved this game. It is not, however, my favourite Eipix. But it is up to their usual excellent standards. My enthusiasm is tempered, I think, by the lack of anything unique to this game, and all that golden gilt!
I recommend this game!
Your grandfather disappeared while searching for Inuits' legendary treasure. Travel to the Arctic to find your missing grandfather and solve the Inuit mystery.
Overall rating
4
/
5
91 of 116 found this review helpful
Pretty Cool!
PostedFebruary 19, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The opening movie is great. A ‘history’ of the expeditions to the north pole, done in old movie grain, with a very professional narrator. The title graphics are so sharp, man, was I impressed!
The opening movie is great. A ‘history’ of the expeditions to the north pole, done in old movie grain, with a very professional narrator. The title graphics are so sharp, man, was I impressed!
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Then reality sank in. The graphics thereafter are excellent, the cut-scenes are not. They are heavily pixelated. But the impression was already made, so from the first, it felt like a very classy game. The HOP scenes are clear and bright, not too jumbled, of the pseudo-realism variety. The location graphics change. Some are as sharp as the titles, some are just alright, others are cartoony.
Then reality sank in. The graphics thereafter are excellent, the cut-scenes are not. They are heavily pixelated. But the impression was already made, so from the first, it felt like a very classy game. The HOP scenes are clear and bright, not too jumbled, of the pseudo-realism variety. The location graphics change. Some are as sharp as the titles, some are just alright, others are cartoony.
The ambient noise, being the Arctic is suitably the dominant sound. Lots of ice breaking and winds that are trying to freeze-dry you. Music, was there music? I honestly can’t remember, and I’d go back to check, but I ran out of time before I realised it! Voiceovers are good, very professional.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Your grandfather was the sole survivor of a doomed expedition to the north pole, and came back obsessed with the legends of Inuit treasure – some god or other that granted your every wish. You fund an expedition to follow in his tracks, and accompany the group as their doctor. This expedition is likewise ill-fated. The engine blows up and leaves you stranded in the ice, in the middle of nowhere. No hope of rescue.
Your grandfather was the sole survivor of a doomed expedition to the north pole, and came back obsessed with the legends of Inuit treasure – some god or other that granted your every wish. You fund an expedition to follow in his tracks, and accompany the group as their doctor. This expedition is likewise ill-fated. The engine blows up and leaves you stranded in the ice, in the middle of nowhere. No hope of rescue.
But that is not your main problem. The captain and crew decide that Inuit gold sounds good and toss you down a ravine! Somehow, you survive. And find the missing information about the Wish God. In exchange for whatever you want you must give your soul! Now, as you make your way back to the stranded ship, you discover that those who have touched the gold have gone mad. How are you to survive? Well, I ran out of time, so I can’t tell you where this is leading! Lol
GAMEPLAY
Fairly standard gameplay. Although the HOPs, interactive lists, can be swapped for a very fun jigsaw, each scene has a different pic and a different cut for the pieces. They are tricky icy almost one colour jigsaws. The HOPs do have some smaller items in them, but I don’t think it is too bad. The puzzles are easy enough so far, but a bit time-consuming in a couple of cases.
Fairly standard gameplay. Although the HOPs, interactive lists, can be swapped for a very fun jigsaw, each scene has a different pic and a different cut for the pieces. They are tricky icy almost one colour jigsaws. The HOPs do have some smaller items in them, but I don’t think it is too bad. The puzzles are easy enough so far, but a bit time-consuming in a couple of cases.
There is a map in the journal, where you take down important info and clues, and it is just a small crowded thing taking up one page. But it gives you your position, the cleared locations, and the important task locations. I don’t think it was a transporter, but I could be wrong on that. Hint is directional, and there are 3 levels of difficulty.
There is an amazing amount of bling with this standalone SE, certainly enough to make it worth your while. There are 10 missing relics, 18 beyond (morphing) objects, and an uncountable number of coins to collect. The coins can be used in your igloo to buy toys for your resident penguin. This dude is not with you for the gameplay itself, so no cute companion. There are also achievements which are displayed in your igloo.
COMBINED IMPACT
I like this game. I’m impressed in the general production standards, even if the graphics seem to have been put together by different artists. For a standalone SE, it is really quite exceptional.
I like this game. I’m impressed in the general production standards, even if the graphics seem to have been put together by different artists. For a standalone SE, it is really quite exceptional.
I recommend this game!
Travel from the deepest trenches of the Atlantic Ocean to the awe-inspiring wonders of Mars as you solve the greatest archeological puzzle known to man: the origin of Atlantis.
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
True Sci-Fi
PostedFebruary 18, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This isn’t one of those games where science and magic get all kinda jumbled up together. This is a classic science fiction story, with suitably space age locations and objects, music and mini-games. I love the initial few seconds, out in space among the planets.
This isn’t one of those games where science and magic get all kinda jumbled up together. This is a classic science fiction story, with suitably space age locations and objects, music and mini-games. I love the initial few seconds, out in space among the planets.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The graphics aren’t wonderful, they’re a little on the blurry side, and of the less popular realism style, but they are up to the task of depicting the underwater excavation site of Atlantis, and all that follows. The cut scenes are excellent, playing the entire intro as if it were a movie. The voiceover of our heroine/narrator is perfect. It is only in the intro that it is used, for reasons consistent with the story. The background sounds are very space age, and the music is electronic and contemporary. In other words, as annoying as heck half the time ( *grin* Sorry, kids! *grin*), but exciting and very atmospheric.
The graphics aren’t wonderful, they’re a little on the blurry side, and of the less popular realism style, but they are up to the task of depicting the underwater excavation site of Atlantis, and all that follows. The cut scenes are excellent, playing the entire intro as if it were a movie. The voiceover of our heroine/narrator is perfect. It is only in the intro that it is used, for reasons consistent with the story. The background sounds are very space age, and the music is electronic and contemporary. In other words, as annoying as heck half the time ( *grin* Sorry, kids! *grin*), but exciting and very atmospheric.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
As an archaeologist and linguist, we are working with our fiancé, an underwater builder, at the site of an Atlantean temple deep below the surface. You are determined to find an ancient artifact, Bellona’s Locket. Getting inside the temple is not as difficult as expected, but as you reach out to grasp the locket, the temple itself begins to collapse, you and everyone else in the dome are drowned. I’ll let you find out for yourself how you end up on Mars!
As an archaeologist and linguist, we are working with our fiancé, an underwater builder, at the site of an Atlantean temple deep below the surface. You are determined to find an ancient artifact, Bellona’s Locket. Getting inside the temple is not as difficult as expected, but as you reach out to grasp the locket, the temple itself begins to collapse, you and everyone else in the dome are drowned. I’ll let you find out for yourself how you end up on Mars!
GAMEPLAY
A kind of old-fashioned HOPA in structure. There are a lot of puzzles, mini-games and HOPs, but there is also a lot of adventure style action, finding and using a myriad of inventory items throughout an enormous gamescape. The HOPs are standard interactive word lists. Each is visited twice, once in the course of the story, and again near the end.
A kind of old-fashioned HOPA in structure. There are a lot of puzzles, mini-games and HOPs, but there is also a lot of adventure style action, finding and using a myriad of inventory items throughout an enormous gamescape. The HOPs are standard interactive word lists. Each is visited twice, once in the course of the story, and again near the end.
I found the puzzles particularly easy, which suited me, because there are plenty of them, and I would have been bogged down if they were too difficult. Which doesn’t mean they are boring. Most are quite fun. The interactive jump map is essential for travelling around the very large and confusing game area. There is also directional hint, and a journal with tasks and there are 2 difficulty levels. There are no special gadgets, but there are 12 digital memory cards to collect. I got 3 of them. They are definitely not easy to find.
The options menu has a selection of resolutions to choose from, as well as full screen, wide screen, etc.
COMBINED IMPACT
Took me a while to get into it. Quite a while, really. But it is a longish game, so for the bulk of it I was riveted. The story is complex and involving – and original! - and the atmosphere is decidedly creepy. The ending is very satisfying, one of those games where you sit back when you finished, and have to wait a while before returning to the world.
Took me a while to get into it. Quite a while, really. But it is a longish game, so for the bulk of it I was riveted. The story is complex and involving – and original! - and the atmosphere is decidedly creepy. The ending is very satisfying, one of those games where you sit back when you finished, and have to wait a while before returning to the world.
I recommend this game!
Hit the beach for the sea, the sun, and solitaire like you’ve never played it before - in a unique country bowling-hotel setting!
Overall rating
4
/
5
34 of 37 found this review helpful
What Fun!
PostedFebruary 18, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Never could stand 10 pin bowling, me and the gutter – way too familiar. I never could get into bowling games either, because I STILL spent most of my time in the gutters. Finally, I am achieving strike after strike in this jolly little solitaire game sufficiently of the beaten track as to really stand out.
This game’s got everything I need to put me in a good mood (oh, okay, I had to supply the chocolate myself). The scenery is warm and bright and fresh – we’re playing indoor bowls outside in a tropical resort! And the music is cheerful rather than relaxing, but not jaunty enough to spoil my zen moments. And how am I miraculously scoring? By playing solitaire!
I never heard of the first Strike Solitaire so this totally zany idea is new to me. A solitaire game where if you match up all the special cards, you score a strike in your bowling game. This is so wacky it actually works!
Basically, we have a standard solitaire game, with the usual power ups and bonus cards - shuffle, joker, and add an extra card slot to the deck. You score points as you normally would by making the matches as quickly as possible to increase your multiplier, finishing the round with no cards on the table, that sort of thing.
And you get trophies for these various achievements. There is also a shop to purchase more of these power ups. You can play either for the Junior Cup or the Pro Cup. There are 12 locations, with 10 frames in each, which makes a lot of variations. There are also 3 face card options, and 12 card backs.
The only difference between this and any other solitaire game really is this fun form of presentation – as frames in a bowling game, and the extra goal of collecting all the gold (strike) cards. Yet it feels so different! I have all the solitaire games a sane person could possibly want, but I am still tempted to get this one!
It’s just plain fun!
I recommend this game!
A series of robberies takes a deadly and supernatural turn!
Overall rating
5
/
5
72 of 88 found this review helpful
A One-Man Crime Wave
PostedFebruary 16, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Delightful & unusual start to this game. Delightful for its excellent cut scene graphics. Unusual because it starts with a renaissance man preening before a mirror – hardly stirring stuff? No, but then things go downhill fast!
Delightful & unusual start to this game. Delightful for its excellent cut scene graphics. Unusual because it starts with a renaissance man preening before a mirror – hardly stirring stuff? No, but then things go downhill fast!
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Lovely hand painted graphics. Excellent colour palette ranging from bold to subtle, light to dark. Everything clearly lit and wonderfully detailed. The music is awesome, authentic (to my uneducated ears) and melodic. The voiceovers are very good, but there is no lip sync.
Lovely hand painted graphics. Excellent colour palette ranging from bold to subtle, light to dark. Everything clearly lit and wonderfully detailed. The music is awesome, authentic (to my uneducated ears) and melodic. The voiceovers are very good, but there is no lip sync.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
After your last case in Paris, you gained some notoriety, so it is not long before you hear from another policeman in need of your skills. Off to Rome for another mysterious series of crimes. This time someone is robbing nobles blind – literally, in one case. Not only does he rob his victims, he also leaves them suffering inexplicable ailments. Your investigation starts with the jeweller who has made all the pieces stolen so far. But you arrive too late to question him... and the masked villain gets away.
After your last case in Paris, you gained some notoriety, so it is not long before you hear from another policeman in need of your skills. Off to Rome for another mysterious series of crimes. This time someone is robbing nobles blind – literally, in one case. Not only does he rob his victims, he also leaves them suffering inexplicable ailments. Your investigation starts with the jeweller who has made all the pieces stolen so far. But you arrive too late to question him... and the masked villain gets away.
GAMEPLAY
This game has an interesting modification to some of its HOPs, which are mostly interactive lists. In the modified ones, every item listed is interactive! That’ll keep you busy! There is also at least one multiples HOP. I barely noticed the puzzles. There are not a lot of them, and those in the demo are easy enough for me to feel comfortable. There is a directional hint, notebook and interactive jump map. You can choose from 3 modes of difficulty plus a custom option, in which you can toggle the indicators for the map, black bar comments, and sparkles, among other things.
This game has an interesting modification to some of its HOPs, which are mostly interactive lists. In the modified ones, every item listed is interactive! That’ll keep you busy! There is also at least one multiples HOP. I barely noticed the puzzles. There are not a lot of them, and those in the demo are easy enough for me to feel comfortable. There is a directional hint, notebook and interactive jump map. You can choose from 3 modes of difficulty plus a custom option, in which you can toggle the indicators for the map, black bar comments, and sparkles, among other things.
Signature feature. Like the first European Mystery, Scent Of Desire, this game has a unique mixing kit. In this case, it is a jewellery creation box. You must find certain ores or gems, collect and charge (with rays of sunlight) powerful crystals, then follow a blueprint to compose the item you wish to create. Actually more fun even than the alchemy box in Scent Of Desire.
Something to note. The inventory bar can be locked by clicking on the lion face in its centre. It had me believing there was no lock for a while.
CE BLING!
There are the sunlight rays mentioned to collect, along with 35 hidden masks, and a collection of journal notes. All 3 have related achievements. There is also an achievement for using a helper. This seems to be a beautiful ermine, but it’s possibly more than one. It’s not clear. There is also the usual gallery items, bonus chapter (set in Dresden), and an in-game Strategy Guide.
There are the sunlight rays mentioned to collect, along with 35 hidden masks, and a collection of journal notes. All 3 have related achievements. There is also an achievement for using a helper. This seems to be a beautiful ermine, but it’s possibly more than one. It’s not clear. There is also the usual gallery items, bonus chapter (set in Dresden), and an in-game Strategy Guide.
COMBINED IMPACT
I had a wonderful time playing this game, and I love the way this series takes us to different cities of Europe. It is reasonably easy, so the expert crowd won’t like it, but for most of us, this is a great way to be entertained.
I had a wonderful time playing this game, and I love the way this series takes us to different cities of Europe. It is reasonably easy, so the expert crowd won’t like it, but for most of us, this is a great way to be entertained.
I recommend this game!
Your strange travels continue in this sequel to the exciting game that took you on an Amaranthine Voyage...
Overall rating
5
/
5
74 of 99 found this review helpful
Voyage Between The Worlds!
PostedFebruary 14, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The first Amaranthine Voyage blew me away, and this one is even better yet. From the opening to the credits you are kept involved and intrigued by this delightful fantasy adventure.
The first Amaranthine Voyage blew me away, and this one is even better yet. From the opening to the credits you are kept involved and intrigued by this delightful fantasy adventure.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
This developer makes brilliant games with excellent graphics, which is why I can’t understand why the cut-scenes are so pixelated and blurry. The rest of the game is a visual delight. Much of it is light and airy, as befits a world that floats among the clouds. There is a delicacy to the scenes that make them feel as though they have been created out of gossamer. Lovely.
This developer makes brilliant games with excellent graphics, which is why I can’t understand why the cut-scenes are so pixelated and blurry. The rest of the game is a visual delight. Much of it is light and airy, as befits a world that floats among the clouds. There is a delicacy to the scenes that make them feel as though they have been created out of gossamer. Lovely.
Early on, the music bothered me a bit, it left me feeling a little on edge, but as I progressed it was replaced by some wonderfully ethereal tunes. Loved the ambient sounds! Voices are very good, and I love the way the speakers are given a close up window with lip synch, while there is still the main scene where the lips are not moving. A word here too for the actors. Both professional and amateurs achieve a high level of realism and believability.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
A student of yours has found a way of operating a portal that leads to the world of The Tree Of Life, from the first game of this series. His father is concerned and has asked you to return there and bring him back. Well, the world you arrive at isn’t like anywhere you’ve ever seen, floating dreamily through clouds, with 4 satellites in the sky, and some really defective gravity. It turns out, there’s a really defective king as well, and lucky you, you will wed him this very day and fulfil prophecy! Oh joy! Guy’s old enough to be your father! (Apart from that, he’s a bit of alright, with a wonderful voice!)
A student of yours has found a way of operating a portal that leads to the world of The Tree Of Life, from the first game of this series. His father is concerned and has asked you to return there and bring him back. Well, the world you arrive at isn’t like anywhere you’ve ever seen, floating dreamily through clouds, with 4 satellites in the sky, and some really defective gravity. It turns out, there’s a really defective king as well, and lucky you, you will wed him this very day and fulfil prophecy! Oh joy! Guy’s old enough to be your father! (Apart from that, he’s a bit of alright, with a wonderful voice!)
GAMEPLAY
This game has a nice variety of (15) mini-games and puzzles. Although some of the puzzles are familiar in concept, they are presented in a new and interesting form. There are 3 levels of difficulty as well as a custom level. And you have a interactive jump map and a hint that allows you to travel to the next actionable area. So getting around is not a problem. The map is unusual to look at, 3D, with some of the locations being under the ground of others. Interesting.
This game has a nice variety of (15) mini-games and puzzles. Although some of the puzzles are familiar in concept, they are presented in a new and interesting form. There are 3 levels of difficulty as well as a custom level. And you have a interactive jump map and a hint that allows you to travel to the next actionable area. So getting around is not a problem. The map is unusual to look at, 3D, with some of the locations being under the ground of others. Interesting.
The 16 HOPs come in many varieties. The standard interactive word lists come with a riddle for the final (inventory) item, and you can choose to play a lightweight bubble popper game (not the same as others in the Eipix stable). There are also some silhouette HOPs, and a few one-offs of the related pairs and identical pairs category, and 1 that is purely riddles. One addition I love is making the HOP scenes scroll. So a list of 6 silhouettes, you find them, the scene scrolls down, with another 6 silhouettes in the neighbouring area. Beautiful to play!
Other features include a dog companion and helper, and a bow and arrow for reaching difficult faraway objects. I also like that skip shows you how the solution is achieved, where it can.
COMBINED IMPACT
Wonderful! I couldn’t bring myself to stop to eat! Enjoyed every minute of this game, right through to its satisfying ending, and its hilarious credits. I love this game!
Wonderful! I couldn’t bring myself to stop to eat! Enjoyed every minute of this game, right through to its satisfying ending, and its hilarious credits. I love this game!
(Pss... don’t forget to watch the credits)
I recommend this game!
With over 500 cute photos and more than ten hours of gameplay, Holiday Jigsaw Valentine's Day will have you falling in love all over again!
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 18 found this review helpful
“Puddycat, Puddycat, I Love You”! *sigh*
PostedFebruary 13, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
The developers have found a new formula for their jigsaws, and they’re sticking to it! The third in the Holiday Jigsaw series is almost identical to the others in the series. Except for 2 vital points. All new images of course, and now increased to over 500.
There are 4 boxes with roughly 128 photos each. There’s all sorts of stuff in them and no individual theme to the boxes that I could see. The photos are good, clearly professional (this is an improvement over the first game too), but nothing sensational.
They are mostly in theme – plenty of hearts, flowers and couples. There are also oodles of cats, and bucket loads of dogs. I don’t know, I just never saw my cats as the romantic types! *snicker*
The game seems pretty standard for the better sort of jigsaw game, you can edit the puzzles by number of pieces (from about 15 up to 345) or degree of irregularity of the cuts. Some of the games have pieces that must be rotated, others not. And you can toggle to your preference.
Within the puzzle itself, you can choose to have the image pinned to one corner and use a magnifier or not, or you can have a ‘ghost’ . You can also have the pieces sorted or the edges separated. There is also a box for putting away some pieces manually, and you can have the pieces stick to the desktop when they are correctly placed. You also have a magnifier. And there is a choice of background colour.
The interface is clean and professional. The music is pretty non-descript, neither romantic nor relaxing. They could have done better here.
You can get scores based on speed and you can get trophies for completing jigsaws of specific sizes. There are only 7 of them.
There’s nothing original about this game, there are dozens like it floating around, most of them made by the same developer! But then, provided there are good and new images, and all the little options, a jigsaw game doesn’t need to be different.
I recommend this game!
Return to Raincliff, where what you see isn’t always what you get!
Overall rating
5
/
5
143 of 203 found this review helpful
Return To Raincliff
PostedFebruary 13, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The best game of one of the very best series, the original Mystery Trackers Raincliff was a brilliantly conceived and produced game. One of the best games ever produced in fact. So it is delightful to have the opportunity to return to a place of such vivid memories. And the Raincliff of today is just as exciting, involving, and don’t forget *cold* as the previous one. And a good bit creepier.
The best game of one of the very best series, the original Mystery Trackers Raincliff was a brilliantly conceived and produced game. One of the best games ever produced in fact. So it is delightful to have the opportunity to return to a place of such vivid memories. And the Raincliff of today is just as exciting, involving, and don’t forget *cold* as the previous one. And a good bit creepier.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
This is authentically Raincliff. You can see it all around you, the same taste of the town from the first game. The graphics, at least , are a little cartoony at the start, but otherwise, the visuals are clear and clean and cold. Yes, I do keep coming back to that, don’t I? But it was one of the qualities of the original game that, among dozens of icy games, made it a stand out. And this follows faithfully.
This is authentically Raincliff. You can see it all around you, the same taste of the town from the first game. The graphics, at least , are a little cartoony at the start, but otherwise, the visuals are clear and clean and cold. Yes, I do keep coming back to that, don’t I? But it was one of the qualities of the original game that, among dozens of icy games, made it a stand out. And this follows faithfully.
And nobody can criticise the marvellous way in which this game makes invisibility visible. You have a gamma slider for a perfect fit, as well.
The sounds add to the atmosphere. The bitter wind whines at you the whole time you’re outdoors. There are all sorts of weird and creepy sounds in the background, and the voices of the invisible chatting as if it was you who couldn’t be seen. Splendid. Some of the sound effects will catch you off your guard, too, and give you nasty shock. The music was sufficiently unnoticeable to allow the other sound effects to dominate. All have sliders to suit your taste.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
An increase in supernatural activity, a missing reporter, something is amiss in Raincliff again. Early signs are that she has been kidnapped, or worse, and the videos she leaves behind her are very disturbing. Evidence clearly points to an unknown number of invisible individuals living in the city, and they are not pleased to see you. But there does seem to be one almost angelic looking person prepared to help. Who is he/she? For fans of agent Elf, he is still with us.
An increase in supernatural activity, a missing reporter, something is amiss in Raincliff again. Early signs are that she has been kidnapped, or worse, and the videos she leaves behind her are very disturbing. Evidence clearly points to an unknown number of invisible individuals living in the city, and they are not pleased to see you. But there does seem to be one almost angelic looking person prepared to help. Who is he/she? For fans of agent Elf, he is still with us.
GAMEPLAY
Raincliff balances HOPs with other mini-games and adventure play well. It is a bit more challenging than most games, but not beyond the logical powers of most players. The adventure component is fairly obvious without being boring, and there is a hint button that takes you to the active area, and an interactive jump map. There is no journal, just a video camera so you can replay the journalist’s tapes.
Raincliff balances HOPs with other mini-games and adventure play well. It is a bit more challenging than most games, but not beyond the logical powers of most players. The adventure component is fairly obvious without being boring, and there is a hint button that takes you to the active area, and an interactive jump map. There is no journal, just a video camera so you can replay the journalist’s tapes.
CE BLING!
As well as quite different wallpapers (8) and concept art (8), music and the SG and bonus chapter, there is an Achievements room with beautiful masks, and the most amazingly sweet music! There are also collectible Mr Toad’s, (a feature from the original game and one of my favourite collectibles ever) each decked out to represent a different country.
As well as quite different wallpapers (8) and concept art (8), music and the SG and bonus chapter, there is an Achievements room with beautiful masks, and the most amazingly sweet music! There are also collectible Mr Toad’s, (a feature from the original game and one of my favourite collectibles ever) each decked out to represent a different country.
There is also a frost mode. This is a neat idea. A thermometer keeps track of how cold you are, which drops when you are outside. When it gets low enough, you must find a morphing object that will keep you warm, such as a pair of gloves that morphs to a book. There is an achievement for playing in this mode, but you can turn it off within the game.
COMBINED IMPACT
I don’t know whether it’s the frigid atmosphere of Raincliff, or the eerie feeling of being watched, but on a pleasant summer evening in Oz, I had the shivers playing this game. Either way, you can’t ask for a better demonstration of the success of this game.
I don’t know whether it’s the frigid atmosphere of Raincliff, or the eerie feeling of being watched, but on a pleasant summer evening in Oz, I had the shivers playing this game. Either way, you can’t ask for a better demonstration of the success of this game.
I recommend this game!
Charon's train has left the station, and you'll never believe who's on board!
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 24 found this review helpful
Huh? I Guess I Got It Wrong!
PostedFebruary 12, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
If you haven’t read my review of the CE for this game, please don’t. I don’t know where my head was that day, but clearly it wasn’t on the job! While the facts are correct, some of my responses to the game seem way off, having completed the game! *shame-faced teary-eyed *
If you haven’t read my review of the CE for this game, please don’t. I don’t know where my head was that day, but clearly it wasn’t on the job! While the facts are correct, some of my responses to the game seem way off, having completed the game! *shame-faced teary-eyed *
So. This game starts out with a wedding, but the honeymoon’s not all it could be. The bride is murdered at the altar, and we, the groom, are left unconscious. The graphics are fine, nothing brilliant, but quality. As are all aspects of this game. Except a couple of niggling bits.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The graphics are good, but not great, although the artwork is appealing and has that eerie magical ‘ectoplasmic’ green that works so well for anything supernatural. The HOPs are bright and colourful without seeming out of place. One thing I liked, we find a newspaper with a relevant story on the front page. The photo comes “alive” and the narrator tells us some back history, all with the newspaper still encasing the ‘photo’. I thought it was nifty.
The graphics are good, but not great, although the artwork is appealing and has that eerie magical ‘ectoplasmic’ green that works so well for anything supernatural. The HOPs are bright and colourful without seeming out of place. One thing I liked, we find a newspaper with a relevant story on the front page. The photo comes “alive” and the narrator tells us some back history, all with the newspaper still encasing the ‘photo’. I thought it was nifty.
The narrator/main character’s voice is used wonderfully. Some of the other voices are not so good, but none are bad. The music has a lot of crashing piano chords and other exciting stuff, orchestral for the most part – always at one extreme or the other. Sometimes, it is beautifully ethereal.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Your bride is killed on your wedding day, you are knocked unconscious, and wake with a train ticket in your hand. You just manage to catch it before it leaves the station. On board, the ghost of your bride begins the explanation of what has happened and what you must do.
Your bride is killed on your wedding day, you are knocked unconscious, and wake with a train ticket in your hand. You just manage to catch it before it leaves the station. On board, the ghost of your bride begins the explanation of what has happened and what you must do.
The train belongs to Charon – the ferryman who takes souls over the Styx. Caught up in a battle between Charon and a gang of evil doers, your wife and the others aboard cannot pass over until these men are lured to the train and disposed of . That’s where you come in. The game is broken up into the capture of 4 of these villains and thereby rescuing your wife.
Another reviewer called the story preposterous, and it is. But it’s also an involving story, that kept me playing. My problem with it is the inconsistencies. From the pronunciation of the name Charon, of which there are 3 variations, to the book referring to the train as the “Phantom (i.e. not the Haunted) train, to the villain who loudly declares he’s going to follow you onto “that train” - the train that he has spent hundreds of years avoiding in order to stay immortal - it seemed like someone else besides me was falling asleep behind the wheel.
GAMEPLAY
There seemed to me to be more adventure tasks than either puzzles or HOPs. Despite the fact that the HOP scenes are visited twice, they feel scarce. They are interactive lists with a greater degree of interaction than the norm, but they are still not all that exciting. There are more puzzles, and they are a problem for me. A lot are very well done original games, which unfortunately had vague or confusing instructions. Others required 5 steps of the same mini-game to open the lock. And some were just plain difficult. And the worst of all, where to me it looked as though the puzzle was solved, even after resetting and doing it all again, the game insisted I hadn’t solved. And without a SG, no way of knowing why/how!
There seemed to me to be more adventure tasks than either puzzles or HOPs. Despite the fact that the HOP scenes are visited twice, they feel scarce. They are interactive lists with a greater degree of interaction than the norm, but they are still not all that exciting. There are more puzzles, and they are a problem for me. A lot are very well done original games, which unfortunately had vague or confusing instructions. Others required 5 steps of the same mini-game to open the lock. And some were just plain difficult. And the worst of all, where to me it looked as though the puzzle was solved, even after resetting and doing it all again, the game insisted I hadn’t solved. And without a SG, no way of knowing why/how!
There is a journal, an interesting interactive jump map and directional hint to help you, and 3 degrees of difficulty to confound you.
COMBINED IMPACT
I did like the game. I am not as ecstatic about it as I was for the demo. The weird inconsistencies in story, the difficulty of the puzzles, detracted a bit from my enjoyment of it. But it is still a good game, worthy of an SE price.
I did like the game. I am not as ecstatic about it as I was for the demo. The weird inconsistencies in story, the difficulty of the puzzles, detracted a bit from my enjoyment of it. But it is still a good game, worthy of an SE price.
I recommend this game!
His mother escaped her murdering husband just before he was born. Now the son of Bluebeard must break his father's curse.
Overall rating
4
/
5
57 of 73 found this review helpful
Delightful If Unexpected Sequel
PostedFebruary 12, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I remember having a lot of fun with the first Bluebeard’s Castle, but I don’t think it was ever a big hit and I certainly didn’t expect a sequel. But then, who would have guessed Bluebeard would keep a bride alive long enough to have an heir?
I remember having a lot of fun with the first Bluebeard’s Castle, but I don’t think it was ever a big hit and I certainly didn’t expect a sequel. But then, who would have guessed Bluebeard would keep a bride alive long enough to have an heir?
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
This game is somewhat different in looks, but it is still clearly Bluebeard’s Castle that we arrive at, even if it is totally dilapidated. The intro shows us a marvellously clear image of ourselves, the unfortunate son of Bluebeard. This is followed by the complete backstory of Bluebeard and his curse, told in an almost graphic novel style. The graphics for the rest of the game are fantasy graphics – bold and colourful, surreal and a bit cartoony. It is not a bad choice, though I suppose many will criticise. But to me it was similar to the fantasy graphics in Nightmare Realm. In any case, they are clear and very high quality, whatever you think of the style.
This game is somewhat different in looks, but it is still clearly Bluebeard’s Castle that we arrive at, even if it is totally dilapidated. The intro shows us a marvellously clear image of ourselves, the unfortunate son of Bluebeard. This is followed by the complete backstory of Bluebeard and his curse, told in an almost graphic novel style. The graphics for the rest of the game are fantasy graphics – bold and colourful, surreal and a bit cartoony. It is not a bad choice, though I suppose many will criticise. But to me it was similar to the fantasy graphics in Nightmare Realm. In any case, they are clear and very high quality, whatever you think of the style.
The music in the intro is dramatic and arresting, but in the rest of the game so far, is eerie and non-intrusive, and in keeping with the first game, there are no voiceovers. One thing I do miss from the original is the rhyming hints. They added a little something different.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
You are having nightmares in which you are a monster, stealing the lives of innocent women. Your aunt is forced to tell you the truth about your father, and how she defeated him and saved your mother’s soul. (This is the character we played last time.) This has brought a curse down on the castle and on the heirs, who are all doomed to dying young. You must find the “dark heart”, which is the demon force of the curse, to save not only yourself, but also the castle inhabitants and the town below.
You are having nightmares in which you are a monster, stealing the lives of innocent women. Your aunt is forced to tell you the truth about your father, and how she defeated him and saved your mother’s soul. (This is the character we played last time.) This has brought a curse down on the castle and on the heirs, who are all doomed to dying young. You must find the “dark heart”, which is the demon force of the curse, to save not only yourself, but also the castle inhabitants and the town below.
GAMEPLAY
There are more puzzles than HOPs so far in the demo. The puzzles are easy, with the exception of a couple with unhelpful instructions. The HOPs are interactive lists, with a fair amount of interaction. You can click on an item in the list and see a silhouette of it on the side. The scenes are not animated, except for a specific item on the list which must be caught on the move. This fun and not hard. There are a lot of fun animated graphics outside the scenes to make up for their absence here.
There are more puzzles than HOPs so far in the demo. The puzzles are easy, with the exception of a couple with unhelpful instructions. The HOPs are interactive lists, with a fair amount of interaction. You can click on an item in the list and see a silhouette of it on the side. The scenes are not animated, except for a specific item on the list which must be caught on the move. This fun and not hard. There are a lot of fun animated graphics outside the scenes to make up for their absence here.
Adventure gameplay is not too difficult, the journal is useful. The hint shows you what item you need next and where it is, but you must go to the map if you want to jump. And the map does not indicate active tasks, so the two must be used in tandem. The game moves a little slowly at this point, but the exploration of the old castle holds many little quests.
There is a game timer, and achievements based on the statistics collected. These are all based on the time it takes to complete puzzles, including HOPs. Each achievement is awarded on a different time range, so you get awards of one sort for doing a puzzle under 1 min, and another for under 3 mins. Etc.
COMBINED IMPACT
I really enjoyed myself, despite the somewhat old-fashioned style of the game, and it’s slightly cartoony feel. I played the beta for this game ages ago, and am glad to say that specifics have been changed, obviously as a result of the survey. I love a developer that listens to its players! Extra brownie points for this entertaining surprise package!
I really enjoyed myself, despite the somewhat old-fashioned style of the game, and it’s slightly cartoony feel. I played the beta for this game ages ago, and am glad to say that specifics have been changed, obviously as a result of the survey. I love a developer that listens to its players! Extra brownie points for this entertaining surprise package!
I recommend this game!