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:
Paranormal activity has turned Smalltown upside-down! As the newest initiate of the Order of the Light, you must investigate why.
Overall rating
4
/
5
62 of 71 found this review helpful
Gadgets! Collectibles! Achievements!
PostedJanuary 18, 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 was put off a bit at first by the blurry graphics of the early part of the game. For a CE, I thought, this is not good enough. But either my eyes adjusted, or the graphics improved, because certainly for the rest of the demo (which took almost an hour on the easiest of 3 difficulty levels), the game looked fine.
I was put off a bit at first by the blurry graphics of the early part of the game. For a CE, I thought, this is not good enough. But either my eyes adjusted, or the graphics improved, because certainly for the rest of the demo (which took almost an hour on the easiest of 3 difficulty levels), the game looked fine.
The intro was engaging, though, and the promise of a story that included both living art and ghosts kept me from being too quick to judge. The story really does sound fun. A town is beset by strange occult phenomena, a group called the Order Of The Light has recruited you as a detective, and have sent you to Smalltown as your first assignment.
The phenomena do not fit neatly into one category – there are balls of fire, poltergeists, gravity-defying victims caught suspended in the air. All is confusion. Left to your own resources, you commence to explore the town, and find its inhabitants, who are none too obvious, except for a strange man who seems determined to block you at every turn. When you finally find the mayor, he is on fire, and your first task is to save his life.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The graphics, as I say, are initially pretty blah, but they improve. They are never spectacular, but they are certainly well done, and I like the animations and ghosts. The HOP scenes are clear, although fairly static and therefore a tad boring.
The graphics, as I say, are initially pretty blah, but they improve. They are never spectacular, but they are certainly well done, and I like the animations and ghosts. The HOP scenes are clear, although fairly static and therefore a tad boring.
The voiceovers range from okay to very good, there is some attempt at lip synch, which doesn’t really come off, but is not bad. The music ranges from great crashing sound to pleasant and unobtrusive, and the environmental sounds are very good. In all, the art is better than average, but not great.
GAMEPLAY
The game favours HOPs. There are quite a few in the demo. They are interactive lists, and are visited twice. There is nothing remarkable about them.
The game favours HOPs. There are quite a few in the demo. They are interactive lists, and are visited twice. There is nothing remarkable about them.
The puzzles are better, but fewer. Some are quite complex, others are straightforward enough, but need 3 rounds to complete. I skipped a couple, not because they were hard, but because they would take too long to complete for me to do in a demo. But they were interesting and I certainly would play them out in the full version.
The adventure aspects of the game are pretty simple, although there is a lot of toing and froing, many inventory items to be found and used, and a lot to remember. There is a interactive jump map that unfortunately only tells you which scenes are completed and which not. The hint, however, gives a precise instruction for the next step. It will be too helpful for some people’s taste – first time I used it, it told me the code to input as well as where I should do it! There is also a notebook which keeps a summary of events so far and shows your collectibles progress.
A special tool is used to find and eliminate the 35 ghosts that are scattered throughout the game. What I like about it is that the suspicious phenomena that suggest a ghost may be in the area are not always the same, so using this gadget does require attention to location, and judgement. I suspect this will be one set of collectibles that is also in the standard edition.
CE BLING!
This is one of those games that is as much about the Bling! as it is about the game itself. You will be kept very busy trying to find the 50 collectibles, which are 10 sets of 5 each, of which each instance is an individual. For example, one set is Fruit. There are 5 pieces of fruit to be found, but each is different – a pineapple, a pear, etc.
This is one of those games that is as much about the Bling! as it is about the game itself. You will be kept very busy trying to find the 50 collectibles, which are 10 sets of 5 each, of which each instance is an individual. For example, one set is Fruit. There are 5 pieces of fruit to be found, but each is different – a pineapple, a pear, etc.
There are achievements (32), which are mixed story-based and performance based. There is also a statistics page. The game has a timer, points are issued for each collectible found, achievement reached, etc. Things like the number of skips are listed. HOPs and puzzles also get up to 3 stars based on your performance. There is, in fact, a mind-blowing number of things to keep track of if that is your thing.
As well, there are the more standard extras: bonus chapter, SG, Wallpapers (9) – good ones, showing the characters of the game in their settings, Concept Art, Music, and replayable Mini-Games.
COMBINED IMPACT
This game that is only special, I think, because of all the extras. Without them, it is a fairly average game, certainly not bad by any means, but not inspiring either. Which means I’d recommend the CE in this case, over the SE.
This game that is only special, I think, because of all the extras. Without them, it is a fairly average game, certainly not bad by any means, but not inspiring either. Which means I’d recommend the CE in this case, over the SE.
I recommend this game!
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...X
Overall rating
5
/
5
84 of 95 found this review helpful
Most Exciting Adventure!
PostedJanuary 17, 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
Spectacular. A really clever use of sepia drawings, merging into colour video, to futuristic impressions of astral bodies, to mechanical clockwork and a compass. This also covers, as you realise only after you play the game, the themes and icons of the story.
Spectacular. A really clever use of sepia drawings, merging into colour video, to futuristic impressions of astral bodies, to mechanical clockwork and a compass. This also covers, as you realise only after you play the game, the themes and icons of the story.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
I could write about how much I enjoyed the sights and sounds in this game. But you’ll be faced with pages of it, when a quick look at the promo video can give you an idea of just how good it is, and I have much more to say. The music is very well suited to the game, very exciting stuff. Trust me, you will not be disappointed with the artwork.
I could write about how much I enjoyed the sights and sounds in this game. But you’ll be faced with pages of it, when a quick look at the promo video can give you an idea of just how good it is, and I have much more to say. The music is very well suited to the game, very exciting stuff. Trust me, you will not be disappointed with the artwork.
One comment on the voiceovers. These were well done, and Eipix have this thing they do which I think is the best answer yet to the problem of lip synch. Below the still image of the speaker, in whatever the current location, there is a bar for the subtitle, and a close up of the speaker’s face and a pretty fair attempt at greater voice synch. We have the option, then, to choose whichever we are most comfortable with. Excellent innovation.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Fun story, that starts with you jumping out of a moving train. Yup, it is going to be an exciting adventure worthy of Indiana Jones. The people from H.E.L.P. (Hidden Expedition League of Preservation) are impressed with your previous adventures (the previous 5 Hidden Expedition games), and after testing you by throwing you in the deep end (of a sewer). Then, you and your mentor are off to find the missing shards of the Smithsonian’s Hope Diamond before a nasty bunch of thieves get their hands on them.
Fun story, that starts with you jumping out of a moving train. Yup, it is going to be an exciting adventure worthy of Indiana Jones. The people from H.E.L.P. (Hidden Expedition League of Preservation) are impressed with your previous adventures (the previous 5 Hidden Expedition games), and after testing you by throwing you in the deep end (of a sewer). Then, you and your mentor are off to find the missing shards of the Smithsonian’s Hope Diamond before a nasty bunch of thieves get their hands on them.
GAMEPLAY
The great thing about Hidden Expedition games is their wide variety of HOP styles. Yes, there are a lot of HOPs, but no two are alike. I counted roughly 20 HOPs (and about the same number of puzzles), and among them were more than half a dozen different styles, often 2 or 3 types appearing in the same puzzle. This breaks up the HO action nicely for people who feel it slows down the momentum. For example, you might have 6 silhouettes to find, followed by 3 multiples of 5 or 6, followed by a short word list. In the one HOP scene – in the one visit.
The great thing about Hidden Expedition games is their wide variety of HOP styles. Yes, there are a lot of HOPs, but no two are alike. I counted roughly 20 HOPs (and about the same number of puzzles), and among them were more than half a dozen different styles, often 2 or 3 types appearing in the same puzzle. This breaks up the HO action nicely for people who feel it slows down the momentum. For example, you might have 6 silhouettes to find, followed by 3 multiples of 5 or 6, followed by a short word list. In the one HOP scene – in the one visit.
The puzzles and mini-games were also varied. There were some we know, quite a few I didn’t, and some we see rarely. Occasionally, a puzzle appeared more difficult than it was, and none of them were ludicrously impossible. But patience and concentration were definitely an asset. For me, this game was just right, challenging me, without frustrating me.
This game rivals Fate’s Carnival for the top spot in my list of all-time greatest HOPA games, but I actually prefer playing this one. It is geared toward a less expert player. Fate’s Carnival made me feel incompetent. There is an enormous gap between Fate’s Carnival and most games, and this game fits nicely around the intermediate level. For those experts who can actually play Fate’s Carnival without tension headaches, there are, of course, 4 levels of difficulty, including custom settings.
Other features of note include:
The H.E.L.P. kit which includes a journal and objectives. An interactive jump map. A hint system that hints. Items that can be altered or combined in inventory.
The H.E.L.P. kit which includes a journal and objectives. An interactive jump map. A hint system that hints. Items that can be altered or combined in inventory.
VERDICT
This is a splendid game, featuring excitement, variety, challenge and beauty. The developers covered all the bases splendidly, and have given us a game worthy of a very popular series, and their own growing reputation.
This is a splendid game, featuring excitement, variety, challenge and beauty. The developers covered all the bases splendidly, and have given us a game worthy of a very popular series, and their own growing reputation.
I recommend this game!
Excursions of Evil
Audrey makes her living writing about her extreme adventures. But will she be able to retell this tale?
Overall rating
4
/
5
44 of 56 found this review helpful
Weirdly, I’m Hooked
PostedJanuary 15, 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
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Definitely for a niche market, this game is ultimately an almost pure HOG (Hidden Object Game), and a very primitive one at that, yet I defy anyone to say they’ve ever come across anything like it before. It had much that annoyed me, and not enough of the things I like, but I was totally caught up in this unique game.
Definitely for a niche market, this game is ultimately an almost pure HOG (Hidden Object Game), and a very primitive one at that, yet I defy anyone to say they’ve ever come across anything like it before. It had much that annoyed me, and not enough of the things I like, but I was totally caught up in this unique game.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Basic. Basic. Basic. The low-def graphics are a bit cartoony, oversimplified and cheap-looking. But you can see everything clearly, despite a tricky little number in the HOPs. There, the background is blurred a little, to give a false sense of depth, but it doesn’t affect the visibility of the objects. They are very clear and colourful, but sometimes craftily hidden.
Basic. Basic. Basic. The low-def graphics are a bit cartoony, oversimplified and cheap-looking. But you can see everything clearly, despite a tricky little number in the HOPs. There, the background is blurred a little, to give a false sense of depth, but it doesn’t affect the visibility of the objects. They are very clear and colourful, but sometimes craftily hidden.
The music is almost not there. You hardly notice it at all. The same is true of the background noises. But there are voiceovers, and they are excellent.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
You, an eXtreme traveller, are invited to tour a spooky English mansion by a travel agency called “Excursions Of Evil”, whose idea is to visit places where acts of eXtreme evil have taken place. In this one, the butler (who else could it be?) killed everyone and then himself. Or did he? That seems doubtful from the minute you get there.
You, an eXtreme traveller, are invited to tour a spooky English mansion by a travel agency called “Excursions Of Evil”, whose idea is to visit places where acts of eXtreme evil have taken place. In this one, the butler (who else could it be?) killed everyone and then himself. Or did he? That seems doubtful from the minute you get there.
Love love love this storyline! Something truly new and fascinating!
GAMEPLAY
Here we also have something truly unique. This is a HOG, there are lots of HOPs and only a few puzzles, and most of the adventure component is just getting to the next HOP. But getting there! No map. No hotspots or black bar hints. Instructions on the (difficult) puzzles, only if you click hint. And then it’s the bare minimum. Puzzle boards.
Here we also have something truly unique. This is a HOG, there are lots of HOPs and only a few puzzles, and most of the adventure component is just getting to the next HOP. But getting there! No map. No hotspots or black bar hints. Instructions on the (difficult) puzzles, only if you click hint. And then it’s the bare minimum. Puzzle boards.
The hint gives hints. Which unfortunately isn’t much help when you can’t find your way back to the bathroom! Or when you have one item that is part of a pair needed to activate a new location. The hint will tell you to use it, but it won't leave your inventory no matter what you do. Here's hoping there's a walkthrough!
Every step of the way has been a battle for little intermediate me, even on easy mode. If they can forgive all the HOPs, the “no pain, no gain” crowd should have a ball with this one.
BUT...You do have a cell phone. On it you keep the emails, voicemails and games you receive. The games crop up as part of the story, and are of the arcade sort where speed counts – drop matching(?) kind, and a “paddle” one, and a “zuma” kind of game. These are then playable at any time for ‘fun’. Again, no instructions.
As well, there are jokers to be found and collected, which you can use to keep going after failing in one of these games. At some point, it seems, high scores on these games will become important, but I haven’t figured all that out yet.
There are some really annoying things about this game (aside from its general unhelpfulness). Using an inventory item, you don’t just click on it and then on where to use it, you must drag it there. HATE that.
And the odd ways of going into and out of a location had me wandering in and out all over the place, unable to orient myself without a map to help me. And there is usually only one thing to be done in each room, boorriing.
The opening of the game forces a tutorial on you, but it is the digest version and is relatively quick and painless.
COMBINED IMPACT
Irresistible! I must be getting sick or something, I actually spent precious demo time improving my score on one of the games! And I get a very “Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome” vibe from the bad guy.
Irresistible! I must be getting sick or something, I actually spent precious demo time improving my score on one of the games! And I get a very “Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome” vibe from the bad guy.
Not a crowd pleaser, this game is nevertheless unique and clever and involving. Among the adventurous, it might well be a hit! However, this is one game you really do need to try before you buy!
I recommend this game!
Your daughter Cathie has been kidnapped by an evil creature! Solve the mystery of the elephant and bring Cathie home!
Overall rating
3
/
5
59 of 70 found this review helpful
Get Out Your Punchcard Coupons
PostedJanuary 14, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Don’t be mislead by the opening cut scenes for this game, which are basic, primitive, barely animated at all, just cartoonish art swirled around a bit really. The rest of the art is much much better. Still, it is a fairly cheaply put together game, and it is not a masterpiece. It does, as the blurb, remind me of older style classic HOGs.
Don’t be mislead by the opening cut scenes for this game, which are basic, primitive, barely animated at all, just cartoonish art swirled around a bit really. The rest of the art is much much better. Still, it is a fairly cheaply put together game, and it is not a masterpiece. It does, as the blurb, remind me of older style classic HOGs.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Apart from the intro, the graphics are beautiful. Extremely sharp even on my large monitor, very clear, but also very dark. Not dingy, there is plenty of colour, but darkness shrouds everything in this game. This fits the mood of the game exactly. It is a dark one. There is not much animation anywhere in the game, least of all in the HOPs, and I miss it.
Apart from the intro, the graphics are beautiful. Extremely sharp even on my large monitor, very clear, but also very dark. Not dingy, there is plenty of colour, but darkness shrouds everything in this game. This fits the mood of the game exactly. It is a dark one. There is not much animation anywhere in the game, least of all in the HOPs, and I miss it.
The voiceovers at first seemed quite reasonable but soon became, well... the girl’s scream was so poorly done I was embarrassed. And the mother has too many ‘statements of the obvious’ – “I must find my daughter!”, that sort of thing. The sounds in the background are pretty good and the music is harmless.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
A small boy wielding an elephant toy kidnaps your daughter into another world/dimension something, and you follow, of course. Trying to find your daughter you find an empty castle, and eventually the boy.
A small boy wielding an elephant toy kidnaps your daughter into another world/dimension something, and you follow, of course. Trying to find your daughter you find an empty castle, and eventually the boy.
He tells you a story about him and the elephant that seems to have no connection at all with the vampire (perhaps) master that makes him steal the children, or how he does it. The elephant’s story so far is only terribly sad and left me feeling quite depressed at the end of the demo. Although I admit, I am curious about what happened/s.
GAMEPLAY
Typical HOPA. Nothing very new or at all difficult. The HOPs are interactive lists where the interactive items are NOT highlighted. Or silhouettes. The puzzles balance the HOPs and are familiar. There is one puzzle at least that does not have a reset button that it really should have. However, when you run out of moves, it resets itself with a “you lose!”. Another puzzle is a simple match-3.
Typical HOPA. Nothing very new or at all difficult. The HOPs are interactive lists where the interactive items are NOT highlighted. Or silhouettes. The puzzles balance the HOPs and are familiar. There is one puzzle at least that does not have a reset button that it really should have. However, when you run out of moves, it resets itself with a “you lose!”. Another puzzle is a simple match-3.
The adventure is basic. Inventory items are found with HOPs and puzzles, with only a few lying around, and they get used quickly. There is a jump map that does not indicate anything about your tasks. There is no journal. Tasks are available by clicking a rather neat little question mark in the top right corner. The hint is directional, and I found it useful. The demo took me 35 minutes on the easiest of 3 difficulty settings.
The bad news? Well, the game does not hang together properly, partly because the story does not make sense at this stage, and partly because the integration of puzzles etc. isn’t handled very well.
There are occasional lapses in localisation (a lamp is not a light bulb). To close a close up window you must use the “x”. The cursor doesn’t change when you are going to another location. And the limited animation does drag the game down a bit.
COMBINED IMPACT
For me, this is a nothing-much kind of a game. The graphics are certainly a treat, particularly in a stand-alone SE, but the rest is pretty ordinary. It will not be on my wish list, simply because I couldn’t form any strong opinions about it – and my wish list is already too long!
For me, this is a nothing-much kind of a game. The graphics are certainly a treat, particularly in a stand-alone SE, but the rest is pretty ordinary. It will not be on my wish list, simply because I couldn’t form any strong opinions about it – and my wish list is already too long!
Many of you are going to like it, some will even love it. I’ll be interested in seeing the reviews on the completed game.
I recommend this game!
These nursery rhymes are cursed, and your sister’s been taken by the Crooked Man!
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
Crazy Cats & Crooked Fairy Tales
PostedJanuary 13, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Well, I had my reservations about this game when I wrote my review for the CE, and I am sad to say that they were justified. This is not a top quality game, despite some absolutely marvellous parts.
Well, I had my reservations about this game when I wrote my review for the CE, and I am sad to say that they were justified. This is not a top quality game, despite some absolutely marvellous parts.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The biggest sin, of course, is to take some of the most beautiful artwork you’ll ever see and produce it on such a low definition that it looks like something made 5 years ago (at least). The graphics are blurry all the time, and grainy some of it, and all around not pleasant to look at and difficult to focus on. The HOP scenes are generally a little clearer, but that is not justification for the poor quality through the rest of the game. Of course, if you are playing on a laptop, you probably won’t even be able to see what I’m talking about.
The biggest sin, of course, is to take some of the most beautiful artwork you’ll ever see and produce it on such a low definition that it looks like something made 5 years ago (at least). The graphics are blurry all the time, and grainy some of it, and all around not pleasant to look at and difficult to focus on. The HOP scenes are generally a little clearer, but that is not justification for the poor quality through the rest of the game. Of course, if you are playing on a laptop, you probably won’t even be able to see what I’m talking about.
The music is on a par with the visual art. Brilliant. In keeping with the dark fairy tale theme, but light enough not to bring you down. And had the unusual effect of feeling that it was almost familiar – a kind of musical déjà vu. Yet I’m quite sure it’s original. In any case, it begged for folk tale lyrics.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The crooked man and his crooked cat steal young women who foolishly venture into their woods. They should know better – these two have been at it for years and everyone knows the legend. Still, you and your sister blithely enter the danger zone and Sister gets herself kidnapped.
The crooked man and his crooked cat steal young women who foolishly venture into their woods. They should know better – these two have been at it for years and everyone knows the legend. Still, you and your sister blithely enter the danger zone and Sister gets herself kidnapped.
It is quite a complex story, based on a nursery rhyme, and actually quite compelling. I kept on with bated breath wanting to know how all this came to be and how it would all end. (Unexpectedly, is the answer to the 2nd question). There are some excellent twists and surprises along the way.
Which I would have enjoyed much more if I could have kept track of what was going on. With no diary, it was difficult to keep the various story elements clearly in mind, and I was unhappily confused about a lot of the back story and who did what to whom. I really missed the sort of story and character cards this developer has used so successfully in the Dark Parable series.
MAKING PROGRESS
This game is a little hard to classify. Most of the game play is puzzles. Far more general puzzles and mini-games than FROGs (fragmented hidden object games). And, like the FROGs, many are repeated. The puzzles range from very easy to very hard (by my standards), but they are all doable I think. They are beautiful, but not really integrated into the game and for a while, the game seems to consist of nothing but moving from puzzle to puzzle.
This game is a little hard to classify. Most of the game play is puzzles. Far more general puzzles and mini-games than FROGs (fragmented hidden object games). And, like the FROGs, many are repeated. The puzzles range from very easy to very hard (by my standards), but they are all doable I think. They are beautiful, but not really integrated into the game and for a while, the game seems to consist of nothing but moving from puzzle to puzzle.
At other parts of the game, the adventure side seems dominant. This is not overly difficult, but the interactive jump map telling you where the next step should be is very helpful. Hint is okay too, it is directional, but the map is easier to use. The map is really a wonder. A pop-up with little figures that move around when you open it. I like it a lot.
COMBINED IMPACT
Overall, I am disappointed in this game. With better graphics and a better structured story, it could have been brilliant. I also wish there had been a diary. Still, it is a mile ahead of many other games and many will like it without even noticing the poor quality graphics.
Overall, I am disappointed in this game. With better graphics and a better structured story, it could have been brilliant. I also wish there had been a diary. Still, it is a mile ahead of many other games and many will like it without even noticing the poor quality graphics.
I recommend this game!
With over 700 unique puzzles, Royal Jigsaw 2 is the choice of real kings!
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 48 found this review helpful
Lots More Puzzle For Your Dollar
PostedJanuary 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
BASED ON ONE HOUR DEMO
This game’s predecessor didn’t impress me much, but I am wow’d by this one. It has everything, including more great jigsaws than you can poke a stick at.
The jigsaw photos come in an apparently random set of 4 boxes, each with 88 photos in each, a total of over 700 pix.
They are all clearly professionally taken shots, and while many of them do have a regal theme – crowns, palaces, for example – it’s much more like they have been chosen for their beauty and glamour. There are many pictures of flowers, jewellery, landscapes and monuments. Everything from the Great Wall of China to a butterfly.
All puzzles can be customised in the following ways:
• Number of pieces (from about 12 up to about 300)
• Degree of irregularity of the cuts
• Pieces can be rotated, or not
• Picture in the top left corner, or not
• Ghost, or not
• Sorted, or not
• Borders separated, or not
• Background colour, choice of 4
• Degree of irregularity of the cuts
• Pieces can be rotated, or not
• Picture in the top left corner, or not
• Ghost, or not
• Sorted, or not
• Borders separated, or not
• Background colour, choice of 4
You can get scores based on speed and trophies.
The music is pleasant and unobtrusive. The interface harmless, but boring, and I am not sure I like having no instructions regarding the customization, you just have to figure it out for yourself.
The music is pleasant and unobtrusive. The interface harmless, but boring, and I am not sure I like having no instructions regarding the customization, you just have to figure it out for yourself.
You are not given an option to stick the pieces to the desktop, which is my one criticism.
Otherwise, this game represents *years* of fun to me.
I recommend this game!
Solitaire Mystery: Stolen Power
The oldest deck of cards in the world has been stolen from the Museum of Ancient History. Find the magical cards and save the world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Hum Drum
PostedJanuary 11, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The visual quality of this game leaves a lot to be desired. But otherwise, it opens the way most of the older style Hidden Object games would. An intro to the story, followed a HOP scene, in this case collecting some cards. Then, we consult the cards and begin the solitaire part of the game.
The visual quality of this game leaves a lot to be desired. But otherwise, it opens the way most of the older style Hidden Object games would. An intro to the story, followed a HOP scene, in this case collecting some cards. Then, we consult the cards and begin the solitaire part of the game.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Not much to look at, the backgrounds are part of the story, so that we get a 3-set pan of the museum covering several rounds of solitaire. They are clear enough, in the pseudo-realistic style of an older game, but not detailed or interesting. The music is pleasant and unobtrusive.
Not much to look at, the backgrounds are part of the story, so that we get a 3-set pan of the museum covering several rounds of solitaire. They are clear enough, in the pseudo-realistic style of an older game, but not detailed or interesting. The music is pleasant and unobtrusive.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
A magical deck of cards has been stolen from the museum, and with the help of YOUR cards, you are searching for them. First in the museum where they were stolen, and then at various other locations decided by the clues you pick up. The story is told too slowly, though, to really enjoy it.
A magical deck of cards has been stolen from the museum, and with the help of YOUR cards, you are searching for them. First in the museum where they were stolen, and then at various other locations decided by the clues you pick up. The story is told too slowly, though, to really enjoy it.
GAMEPLAY
The HOP scenes include finding multiples of one item (e.g. cards) or find the items by silhouette. The solitaire games come in two types, the standard match-one-up-down, plus one where we must find pairs. Neither game is entrancing. You play a HOP in each location and have several rounds of each type of solitaire between.
The HOP scenes include finding multiples of one item (e.g. cards) or find the items by silhouette. The solitaire games come in two types, the standard match-one-up-down, plus one where we must find pairs. Neither game is entrancing. You play a HOP in each location and have several rounds of each type of solitaire between.
The cards themselves are ordinary, the games have only 2 spreads, one for each game type. The objective is to get to the special ‘magic’ cards in each deck, not clear it, so strategy is a bit different. There are some “power ups”. In the HOPs, you find inventory items that can be used in the solitaire games. For instance, a duster, which is then used to clear cards that show up dirty. I thought this would be nifty, but it turns out to be a pain, because it disturbs the flow.
There are a limited number of cards in the deck, and the spreads are both designed so only a few cards are face up to begin. This results in less chances of winning the round, and in fact, after the first few, it was taking me several attempts to move on to the next level.
COMBINED IMPACT
Okay. I wasn’t overly impressed because there are truly beautiful games out there that are easier on the eyes and more varied in the gameplay. However, this and the next Solitaire Mystery are the only games I know that combine HOPs and solitaire. Only if you really want to play that combination would this game be worth it.
Okay. I wasn’t overly impressed because there are truly beautiful games out there that are easier on the eyes and more varied in the gameplay. However, this and the next Solitaire Mystery are the only games I know that combine HOPs and solitaire. Only if you really want to play that combination would this game be worth it.
For the rest of us,
I don't recommend this game.
You're called to a health spa in the Alps, where an evil professor has something terrible in mind for his unwitting patients.
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 21 found this review helpful
Mind Bending & Involving
PostedJanuary 11, 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
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
When it comes to paranormal expertise, there’s no one quite like The Agency Of Anomalies. This is the fourth game of the series and combines some of the best elements of the previous games. The cut scenes are well done and I liked the intro – but geez, developers, I really could have done without the close up of the woman’s pores.
When it comes to paranormal expertise, there’s no one quite like The Agency Of Anomalies. This is the fourth game of the series and combines some of the best elements of the previous games. The cut scenes are well done and I liked the intro – but geez, developers, I really could have done without the close up of the woman’s pores.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Bad to good to great art, depending on where are in the game at the time. This happens in exactly the same way as that other series Echoes Of The Past, made by these developers. The location graphics are awful, really. Pixellation, blurriness, graininess. Just unforgiveable in an upmarket game. Which this is in every other way. On the other hand, the HOP scenes look great. Clear, detailed, imaginative. I loved the way the mental interior environments were visualised.
Bad to good to great art, depending on where are in the game at the time. This happens in exactly the same way as that other series Echoes Of The Past, made by these developers. The location graphics are awful, really. Pixellation, blurriness, graininess. Just unforgiveable in an upmarket game. Which this is in every other way. On the other hand, the HOP scenes look great. Clear, detailed, imaginative. I loved the way the mental interior environments were visualised.
The music is so appropriate to the (gumshoe again) era. And is easily tuned out if necessary. The other sound, effects and ambient, made little impression upon me. The voiceovers were all excellent.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Well, you come to investigate a health spa, looking for the husband of the woman who hired you. What you find is a bit more sinister. It is the Seekers again, your enemy from previous games, up to their usual shenanigans. They are seeking the ultimate in mind control, and they want yours! Your first challenge is to escape the horrors you find in your own mind! You must then enter the minds of other victims to save them.
Well, you come to investigate a health spa, looking for the husband of the woman who hired you. What you find is a bit more sinister. It is the Seekers again, your enemy from previous games, up to their usual shenanigans. They are seeking the ultimate in mind control, and they want yours! Your first challenge is to escape the horrors you find in your own mind! You must then enter the minds of other victims to save them.
GAMEPLAY
The game offers more HOPs than puzzles, but both are very original and entertaining. There are several types of HOPs, including interactive word lists, replace the displaced items, find the small picture part on the whole, and find the outlined items. Some of the scenes are visited again, but using a different type of search.
The game offers more HOPs than puzzles, but both are very original and entertaining. There are several types of HOPs, including interactive word lists, replace the displaced items, find the small picture part on the whole, and find the outlined items. Some of the scenes are visited again, but using a different type of search.
The puzzles are very new and very clever and very hard. I had to skip more than half of them. I’m not good with puzzles, but even I can normally do better than that. Some of them are really fun, and I hope we’ll see more of them. Others were innovative and exciting new concepts about familiar games, so that they are a whole new type of challenge.
COMBINED IMPACT
This is an exciting and imaginative game, in the manner of the others of this series, but I found myself frustrated about those puzzles. I may even upgrade to the CE, just to get the help I need to solve them, but in the end, I am not so enthusiastic about this one as I was about the others.
This is an exciting and imaginative game, in the manner of the others of this series, but I found myself frustrated about those puzzles. I may even upgrade to the CE, just to get the help I need to solve them, but in the end, I am not so enthusiastic about this one as I was about the others.
I recommend this game!
Charon's train has left the station, and you’ll never believe who’s on board!
Overall rating
5
/
5
136 of 168 found this review helpful
Original All-Round!
PostedJanuary 11, 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
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Although subdued, the opening sequences are impressively high quality. The tale is told simply and well, and we are soon ready to take on the challenge.
Although subdued, the opening sequences are impressively high quality. The tale is told simply and well, and we are soon ready to take on the challenge.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
I am often of two minds about this developer’s art. The cut-scenes are exceptional quality – possibly the clearest I have seen. I particularly liked how the bride and groom looked.
I am often of two minds about this developer’s art. The cut-scenes are exceptional quality – possibly the clearest I have seen. I particularly liked how the bride and groom looked.
Yet the location graphics are grainy and visibly low definition (I have large monitor though). The HOP scenes are again clear and sharp and a pleasure to look at. Why this difference? I’ve never figured it out.
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, but otherwise did not make much of an impression.
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 rescuing your wife.
It’s an interesting and involving story, structured ideally for this kind of game.
GAMEPLAY
The emphasis is on HOPs of the interactive list and misplace items kind. With a couple of variations as well. A scene can be revisited, but with a new search method. They are exceptionally entertaining HOPs. The puzzles are also wonderful. Original and challenging, but not overly so, and they are kept nicely in context. I normally tolerate puzzles at best. These were a pleasure.
The emphasis is on HOPs of the interactive list and misplace items kind. With a couple of variations as well. A scene can be revisited, but with a new search method. They are exceptionally entertaining HOPs. The puzzles are also wonderful. Original and challenging, but not overly so, and they are kept nicely in context. I normally tolerate puzzles at best. These were a pleasure.
As well as the directional hint, notebook (which replays movies) and an interactive jump map that gives you quite a lot of information, there is also a magic monocle. This glows when it can be used, and reveals the truth behind magic glamours. Special effects are used, giving the scene an ethereal green glow, and highlighting the hidden information. It’s used quite a lot for this type of feature, but each time is different and interesting.
There is also a game timer, and in the 45 minutes it took me to do the demo, I completed roughly 20%, or 2 out of 12 chapters. And there are 3 choice of difficulty. I played the simplest.
CE BLING!
There’s little here except the bare bones. Wallpapers x8, Music x6, and an unknown number of Concept Art sketches that are locked until you buy the game. And the obligatory bonus chapter and strategy guide.
There’s little here except the bare bones. Wallpapers x8, Music x6, and an unknown number of Concept Art sketches that are locked until you buy the game. And the obligatory bonus chapter and strategy guide.
I am tempted to say this game should not be a CE, but the quality of the art and story are there, just not the bells and whistles. So it’s a tricky choice.
COMBINED IMPACT
Either way, I think this is an excellent game with lots of appeal, in either edition.
Either way, I think this is an excellent game with lots of appeal, in either edition.
I recommend this game!
Soul and machine are one in Motor Town, where a stunning mystery awaits!
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Wildly Original Story
PostedJanuary 10, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Despite being a relatively new game, this one looks and feels like a much older. The quality is there, it is just the style that seems older. And the story is freaky! Cars with souls? That’s really out there.
Despite being a relatively new game, this one looks and feels like a much older. The quality is there, it is just the style that seems older. And the story is freaky! Cars with souls? That’s really out there.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The art is pseudo-realism, which is part of that ‘old’ feeling. Sometimes the quality could be better, but in the HOP scenes the graphics are clear, colourful and well drawn. Although the scenes are grungy and very junk-piled, the items are clearly visible. The various ghosts look great.
The art is pseudo-realism, which is part of that ‘old’ feeling. Sometimes the quality could be better, but in the HOP scenes the graphics are clear, colourful and well drawn. Although the scenes are grungy and very junk-piled, the items are clearly visible. The various ghosts look great.
Voiceovers are mostly awful. They sound like someone reading a script (yeah, I know they are, but we’re not supposed to notice!). Except for the assistant, who is really excellent. The music is light but suspenseful. The jukebox in the diner seriously impressed me with its “bobby sox” number.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
You are a journalist sent to get an interview with a reclusive inventor who believes he can make cars with souls. You got to admit, full marks for originality!
You are a journalist sent to get an interview with a reclusive inventor who believes he can make cars with souls. You got to admit, full marks for originality!
The trouble is, the financial backer just isn’t working out, the disagreements between the reclusive scientist and the ruthless entrepreneur have led to unforeseen catastrophes, and the living have deserted the town.
You need to get to the professor, stop the investor, and save the souls of those trapped in town. The ghost of Dr Camping’s assistant offers to help you, and gives you a strange box for storing amulets.
GAMEPLAY
What you’d expect from a standalone standard edition some time ago. Mainly HOPs, all of which are interactive word lists, visited twice each. The HOP lists don’t show all the items at once. There are not so many puzzles. The adventure components mostly follow common sense, a lot of the mechanical, find the missing bits and repair the engine kind.
What you’d expect from a standalone standard edition some time ago. Mainly HOPs, all of which are interactive word lists, visited twice each. The HOP lists don’t show all the items at once. There are not so many puzzles. The adventure components mostly follow common sense, a lot of the mechanical, find the missing bits and repair the engine kind.
Items do not stay in inventory long, and it is emptied at the end of each chapter. The hint is directional, a bit slower than most. The journal records codes etc. There is no map, despite the promising document you get early on. The black bar comments tend to be overly helpful, and there are only 2 modes of difficulty. I found the cursor to be annoyingly sensitive in both HOPs are close ups.
COMBINED IMPACT
An old-fashioned game. Nothing overly noteworthy but pleasant enough if you fancy a change.
An old-fashioned game. Nothing overly noteworthy but pleasant enough if you fancy a change.
I recommend this game!