I don't remember coming across Cha Yowo games before, and it's always nice to discover a new developer. I almost bought this game after the first HO puzzle - one of the interactive parts involved a printer and the clue said: The button has been ripped off, probably in frustration. We've all been there!! Having said that, I personally prefer games set in fantasy worlds, but this one will definitely stay on my "to buy one day" list.
I notice one reviewer thought the graphics too bright but the main reason I bought this was the design, and particularly the large variety, of the tiles. I found myself wanting to see which ones would be in the next level.
The first Laruaville, and another FRH game Floria, have been favourites of mine since they came out, and Laruaville 3 takes an original idea to a new level. The basic gameplay is to collect coins, clear fog, etc. by making adjacent matches. The really innovative bit is the use of bonuses. They are created in the usual way by matching 4 or more tiles, but can then be moved in any direction by making adjacent matches, or exploding another bonus nearby. On some levels the only way to clear obstacles is by manoeuvring a bonus near to them. The story is unconvincing - the friendly ghosts are looking for a new place to live, the place they find is supposed to have no seasons or weather, but there are patches of snow on the ground! But that's not important, it's the play that's special. There are also occasional levels of Mahjong, which I like, and Spot the difference, which I don't - both can be skipped. The boards have a larger number of smaller tiles than a lot of games, so not so relaxing. Highly recommended if you want to try a new kind of challenge.
I'm just as addicted to the first Claws and Feathers as the first reviewer is - and thanks biscuitsmama for the tip about it being possible to turn off the tutorial, it was beginning to bug me, and I never thought to look in Options! Something else I noticed in Options was Vertical Synchronization. No idea what it means but I checked it anyway, and discovered that it cures the annoyance of birds not always going where you want them to - sometimes been quite a problem, at least on my computer, with the pink birds in C & F 1, especially on timed levels. Maybe a little more difficult to get golden eggs than C & F 1, or maybe it's just that I've played C & F 1 so much I've forgotten how hard I had to work at first!
The object is to clear tiles and lower object fragments at the same time, rather than the more usual having to clear all tiles before the objects to be lowered will appear - although some of the fragments are under wooden tiles. You can do it the easy way using lots of powerups, or try a bit of strategy as the timer is generous, at least in the demo levels. Not bought it yet but it will stay on my list of possibles for the future.
Can't understand why some reviewers found the game difficult - the hints, at least in casual mode, tell you exactly where to go and what to do. Quite enjoyed it for half an hour, but although the story started well it failed to hold my interest, and the minigames were not the kind which I like. The deciding factor for me was the lack of a lock on the inventory - I hate it when they bob up and down.
I bought this game over 3 years ago, along with Azkend 2, and recently rediscovered it when looking through my Game Manager. It still looks original and beautiful - oriental scenes are gently washed with a section of colour at the end of each level. Timed, but still relaxing, apart from perhaps the very last levels where a change of Talisman may be needed to complete them.
I recommend this game!
+5points
5of5voted this as helpful.
Subliminal Realms: The Masterpiece Collector's Edition
Albert's worst nightmare becomes reality when a creature from his grim paintings kidnaps his family. What does she want?
Based on the demo: Unlike other reviewers I found the HO and particularly the FROG puzzles clever and interesting - more than one action needed to get the final parts. Some of the minigames are very simple, and the workshop for which you collect slides seems to be just copying colours from a key picture. Not decided yet whether to buy the CE, but sometime I will want to find out what happens next.
During the trial I enjoyed the varying levels of difficulty - sometimes you only have few large pieces to choose from, sometimes a lot of small ones, but almost as soon as I'd bought the game I reached a level which I may never get through, though every two or three days I make another attempt.