catbag8717's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:8,793
- Reviews Submitted:584
- First Review:April 27, 2012
- Most Recent Review:September 23, 2020
- Featured reviews0
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Ghostly warnings in the water are terrifying a grieving family. What's causing them, and what really happened to Julia White?
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
You're Getting There Elefun, But You Still Have A Lot Of Work To Do
PostedApril 5, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I've never really been fond of this series, or this developer for that matter, so I had low expectations for this game. I did enjoy the game, but I won't be buying it. There were some good elements, but others let the game down a little.
The story was one of the good elements. The title definitely lives up to its name. The game is scary! It's a new kind of creepy that sounds like it should be in a Stephen King novel. The story is scarier than most out these days and the demo ends on a cliffhanger, with a really exciting moment. I'm not sure how I'd categorise this story; it's sort of murder mystery/fantasy/sci-fi. All three elements of that are done well.
The story does have a couple of twists and turns. One of those was unexpected, but it was the only one that excited me. My only criticism of the story is its excitement level. It was good, but it wasn't great. A little more work and it could've been wonderful.
The story does have a couple of twists and turns. One of those was unexpected, but it was the only one that excited me. My only criticism of the story is its excitement level. It was good, but it wasn't great. A little more work and it could've been wonderful.
The gameplay was just basic. The usual HOS, the usual puzzles, etc. I'm beginning to tire of the same old, same old. I want something new!
That being said, even though the gameplay is old, it was still enjoyable. The HOS were good, and even had a little variation to them. They are the standard junkpile and include extra step objects, but some of the objects needed two extra steps to complete. This was a nice feature to an otherwise plain and simple HOS. There weren't many HOS in the demo. I think I counted about three in the forty-five minute period. For a hidden object game, there weren't many HOS! I would have loved to see a few more HOS in the game. The good news is, for those who don't like HOS, there is the alternative of a puzzle. I personally did not like this new feature, but that's only because I'm not very good at them. For those who prefer puzzles over HOS, this is the one for you!
That being said, even though the gameplay is old, it was still enjoyable. The HOS were good, and even had a little variation to them. They are the standard junkpile and include extra step objects, but some of the objects needed two extra steps to complete. This was a nice feature to an otherwise plain and simple HOS. There weren't many HOS in the demo. I think I counted about three in the forty-five minute period. For a hidden object game, there weren't many HOS! I would have loved to see a few more HOS in the game. The good news is, for those who don't like HOS, there is the alternative of a puzzle. I personally did not like this new feature, but that's only because I'm not very good at them. For those who prefer puzzles over HOS, this is the one for you!
The puzzles were also nothing new. They were what we'd seen before. For once, the puzzles were actually pretty easy. I was able to solve all but one, I believe. Those who are expert players will be annoyed at how easy they are, but I enjoyed them.
I think the ratio of HOS:Puzzles was good. There were a few more Puzzles than HOS. Those who like HOS a lot may be annoyed at this.
There is one new feature in this game, which I was pleased about. This is the “water shell” which has the power to control water. It can get rid of it, or create it, which saves a lot of time having to run around collecting buckets of water when trying to put a fire out (or whatever else you do with water). This is a really nice feature. It is not used often, which makes it better. There's nothing worse than a new feature being over-used!
As well as this, there were some collectible tapes, which is not necessarily new, but it was still enjoyable. These tapes documented the time before Julia's death and were a great addition to the mystery.
I think the ratio of HOS:Puzzles was good. There were a few more Puzzles than HOS. Those who like HOS a lot may be annoyed at this.
There is one new feature in this game, which I was pleased about. This is the “water shell” which has the power to control water. It can get rid of it, or create it, which saves a lot of time having to run around collecting buckets of water when trying to put a fire out (or whatever else you do with water). This is a really nice feature. It is not used often, which makes it better. There's nothing worse than a new feature being over-used!
As well as this, there were some collectible tapes, which is not necessarily new, but it was still enjoyable. These tapes documented the time before Julia's death and were a great addition to the mystery.
Other than that, this is your standard HOPA. It's got a custom difficulty (new for this developer, I believe), diary, map and all the other standard features. I really do want to see something new! I hope the developer takes this on board... New gampelay= happy Catbag!
The graphics are good. Elefun uses real people instead of cartoon people in the game for the first time. This is limited to a couple of cutscenes, however. The scenes and HOS are all clear and drawn with some good detail. Overall, a good job from the developers.
My main issue with the game is with the voices/music. The music was really, really annoying. It was just ruining my experience with the game. So much so, I turned it off about 20 minutes into the demo. The worst music was when you collected a collectible, and when you entered the bonus content section in the main menu. This rock music started playing. I love rock music, but here it was out of place and annoying.
My next issue is with the voice-overs. Firstly, I found the voice of the girl (Katie) rather annoying and whiny. Secondly, I hated the voice of Mr. Taylor. The voice-over was emotionless and boring and almost put me to sleep. The voice-artist seemed bored when he did it. Bad voice-overs are small problems, but they do drag down the fun rating of a game.
My next issue is with the voice-overs. Firstly, I found the voice of the girl (Katie) rather annoying and whiny. Secondly, I hated the voice of Mr. Taylor. The voice-over was emotionless and boring and almost put me to sleep. The voice-artist seemed bored when he did it. Bad voice-overs are small problems, but they do drag down the fun rating of a game.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game the way you want it, although this is limited. Differences in difficulties are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint and Skip- both recharge at a reasonable speed for the difficulty. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Used quite often.
Collectible tapes- sort of like a backstory: documents the time before Julia's death.
Water shell- Has the power to control water; can create or get rid of it. Very good feature. Not used often.
Map- the map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where available tasks are.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game the way you want it, although this is limited. Differences in difficulties are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint and Skip- both recharge at a reasonable speed for the difficulty. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Used quite often.
Collectible tapes- sort of like a backstory: documents the time before Julia's death.
Water shell- Has the power to control water; can create or get rid of it. Very good feature. Not used often.
Map- the map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where available tasks are.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Achievements- these gave you “points”, which was annoying and useless. These points seemed to have no value.
Collectibles (35)- There are seven sets of five collectibles. This is a lot for a game. Again, these gave you “points”, which I hated.
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed.
Strategy Guide- helpful for puzzles
Concept Art
Wallpapers- a lot more than usual
Screensavers
Music
Achievements- these gave you “points”, which was annoying and useless. These points seemed to have no value.
Collectibles (35)- There are seven sets of five collectibles. This is a lot for a game. Again, these gave you “points”, which I hated.
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed.
Strategy Guide- helpful for puzzles
Concept Art
Wallpapers- a lot more than usual
Screensavers
Music
Overall, I think this game is getting there. It's not overly terrible, but it's not fantastic either. It's one of those average games. A lot of work needs to be done in order to put this developer up there with some of the great ones. I'm not going to purchase this game, but I recommend that those who want to should wait for the SE. I did not care for any of the CE extras and do not see it as worth the extra money. Elefun are yet to blow me away. Here's hoping that'll change in the next game...
The best I can do is three stars. I still recommend you download the trial though.
The best I can do is three stars. I still recommend you download the trial though.
I recommend this game!
The town of Green Hill has really gone to the birds!
Overall rating
2
/
5
17 of 18 found this review helpful
A Real Disappointment
PostedMarch 31, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I don't know how long this game has been out for, but I finally got to playing it today. After seeing the high ratings, I was expecting something amazing. I'm very disappointed.
The story is very boring. It's boring for two reasons. Number one, everything in the story is predictable. It went along exactly how I thought it was going to. Everything that the developers put in there to excite me didn't work because I knew it was going to happen. Number two, there's nothing exciting in the story! There's no twists, nothing to make me jump out of my seat, nothing to make me rush to the game page and click the 'buy' button so I can find out what happens next... You get my point. The story didn't interest me once. It's all been done before, and when you pick a storyline that's been done that many times, you have to make it exciting and include something new in it. This game did not have that, and thus, the story just sunk. I loved the story of the last game in this series, but this one pales in comparison.
The gameplay is only slightly better than the story. I really enjoyed the HOS, for one. There were two different kinds: silhouette and junkpile. Both HOS were awesome and I enjoyed playing them. There aren't many HOS in the demo. There were only three, so I'm guessing this is more aimed at the adventure side of things. In the silhouette HOS, there was a puzzle in each HOS.
There weren't many puzzles either, but it didn't matter to me, because I don't really like puzzles all that much. There were a couple of easy puzzles in the HOS, and a couple outside. Nothing we haven't seen before. That being said, I didn't mind attempting them, and I could actually solve the puzzles for a change. I think I had to skip one.
I definitely think this game is about the adventure and the story. There aren't nearly enough HOS to make it a HOPA, as it's advertised. Developers, one or two HOS here and there does not make a game a HOPA!
On the plus side, this game has a timer, so you will know how long you've been playing the game for.
There weren't many puzzles either, but it didn't matter to me, because I don't really like puzzles all that much. There were a couple of easy puzzles in the HOS, and a couple outside. Nothing we haven't seen before. That being said, I didn't mind attempting them, and I could actually solve the puzzles for a change. I think I had to skip one.
I definitely think this game is about the adventure and the story. There aren't nearly enough HOS to make it a HOPA, as it's advertised. Developers, one or two HOS here and there does not make a game a HOPA!
On the plus side, this game has a timer, so you will know how long you've been playing the game for.
There are no new features here- this is your standard HOPA. There's no animal helpers, no fancy collectibles, no plus objects... nothing. The gameplay is good as it stands, but having some extra features in there would have taken it to the next level, and possibly made me forget about the awful story.
The graphics are good. They're well drawn with quite a good amount of detail. The scenes are very clear, and the character designs are good. The lips move when the character talks, making the game a bit more realistic.
The voice-overs are standard. They appear a lot more than they usually do, which was good. I have no issue with any of the voices.
The voice-overs are standard. They appear a lot more than they usually do, which was good. I have no issue with any of the voices.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. The differences are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty chosen. The hint is helpful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where there is a current task.
Timer- this lets you know how long you've been playing the game. This is good for those who want to time their gameplay.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. The differences are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty chosen. The hint is helpful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where there is a current task.
Timer- this lets you know how long you've been playing the game. This is good for those who want to time their gameplay.
Overall, given how good the last game in this series (Cure of the Black Water) was, this game is a real disappointment. I struggled to finish the demo. I can't recommend this one.
I don't recommend this game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Almost Flawless....
PostedMarch 30, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
...Except for one tiny problem,
BASED ON BETA
WOW! Daily Magic's newest game is a hit! I know I said Somber Song was the best Daily Magic game ever, but this one takes the cake! I've just finished the beta. I can't wait for this game to come out so I can buy it and know how it ends!
The story... wow. It's very interesting and had me gripped from the beginning. It's strange, but a good type of strange. It's different from most games you see; it's got evil paintings, a family in need... what more could you want?
The game had its fair share of exciting moments, twists and turns, and even had a little backstory. The backstory tells us the story of the villain, which is actually a nice twist. As I heard this story, I began to understand where this guy was coming from. It's a great story when you can feel sorry for the villain!
The demo ended on a cliffhanger, so I can't wait for this to come out so I can finish it!
The game had its fair share of exciting moments, twists and turns, and even had a little backstory. The backstory tells us the story of the villain, which is actually a nice twist. As I heard this story, I began to understand where this guy was coming from. It's a great story when you can feel sorry for the villain!
The demo ended on a cliffhanger, so I can't wait for this to come out so I can finish it!
Everyone knows I've been crying out for something different, something fun, something not in the norm for the gameplay... and this game delivered that! Seriously, Daily Magic are one of those developers who can make a game magical with their gameplay. The HOS for starters, were great. They were different from the norm and really enjoyable. The HOS were just so fun and I loved every time I got to play them. As well as being fun, there were multiple types of HOS. There were junkpile, silhouette, and some sort of fragmented object/junkpile scene, and there was a story-HOS. In this type of HOS, you were told a story and then had to put certain things back in their place to advance to the next scene. I absolutely loved this type of HOS as it reminded me of a type of HOS in another game. I don't know if this is counted as a HOS or a Puzzle, so I'm counting it as both, but it looked more like a HOS to me. There were a decent number of HOS in the game, which was really nice. Some games don't have
As well as having different HOS, this game had different puzzles, and they were equally as fun. I had to skip a couple, but I could solve a couple too. This showed to me that the developers accounted for people of all puzzle levels which was really nice.
As well as having different HOS, this game had different puzzles, and they were equally as fun. I had to skip a couple, but I could solve a couple too. This showed to me that the developers accounted for people of all puzzle levels which was really nice.
As well as this, we were given the gift of an animal helper in the form of a cat named Mr. Jenkins (awesome name). Mr. Jenkins was not used much, but it was nice to use him. It's nice when we have helpers, but not if we need them too much!
The graphics are good, the usual Daily Magic. The artwork is good and drawn with a bit of detail. The character's lips do not move, which makes the game slightly less realistic. The graphics were clear as well. Well done.
I don't normally have an issue with voice-overs, but here, I do. The main character talks way too much. He even talks outside of cutscenes; a place that characters shouldn't speak. This became increasingly annoying as the demo got on, and would've put me off the game if it wasn't so fun. As this is at the beta stage, I hope the developers listen to this criticism and take the extra voices out. I know for a fact this will turn some off the game, so please! This is a wonderful game, and I'd hate to have some miss out on it.
I don't normally have an issue with voice-overs, but here, I do. The main character talks way too much. He even talks outside of cutscenes; a place that characters shouldn't speak. This became increasingly annoying as the demo got on, and would've put me off the game if it wasn't so fun. As this is at the beta stage, I hope the developers listen to this criticism and take the extra voices out. I know for a fact this will turn some off the game, so please! This is a wonderful game, and I'd hate to have some miss out on it.
Overall, this is a brilliant game. Despite having a great story, this was all about the gameplay for me. I can't wait for the game to come out so I can buy it and know how it ends! This is a brand new series from Daily Magic, and the first one in the series is a winner! I can give no less than 5 stars for it!
I recommend this game!
Your father was murdered while he was investigating a crime. Travel back through time to save him!
Overall rating
5
/
5
49 of 50 found this review helpful
Absolutely Awesome! Great Murder Mystery!
PostedMarch 29, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED STANDARD EDITION GAME
Wow! This game is absolutely outstanding. It's started great and just got better and better. It gripped me from the moment it begun and didn't let go until the game finished. This was an absolutely wonderful game.
As I mentioned, the story is wonderful. It's a murder mystery, but a rather dark one. I'm glad there's a developer out there who's not afraid to go all out to please the fans! It's also got an element of time travel in there too. I absolutely love murder mysteries, and with this added element, how could I resist?
The story starts brilliantly. Your father is shot and you have to go back in time to stop him. From there, it's just one brilliant scene after another. There are also various scenes of Diana's memories, which added some detail to the story and was also brilliant. By the time I had discovered these memories, the demo had ended. The demo ended on a brilliant note, so how could I not play on?
Most games take a bit of a slump during the middle period and pick up again towards the end, but this one did not! It remained exciting and stayed with the same tempo for the entire game. More of the memory scenes popped up (adding more detail to the story), more characters were introduced and the true story began to be unveiled! Each cutscene was more exciting than the last. The story itself had so many twists and turns; when I thought I'd caught the killer, the game threw another curveball. The story was so brilliant, and when it finally got to the end, it was done justice by an amazing final cutscene. I thought I'd seen some great twists, but the developers saved the best twist until last. The ending was so amazing, so unexpected... it was hands down the best ending to a game I've seen. Those who are wondering, it did end conclusively, so there's no need for the CE.
I did especially like the memory scenes. They added extra detail to the story. It was kind of like a backstory on how she got in to the situation. Similar to the main story, they got more and more exciting with each cutscene.
Overall, the story was amazing. One of the best stories, if not the best, that I've ever seen in a hidden object game. But what I really enjoyed about this story was the fact that it was realistic. The time travel part was done exactly as it should with no fancy stuff happening. Good job to the developers on making such a great, realistic story!
The story starts brilliantly. Your father is shot and you have to go back in time to stop him. From there, it's just one brilliant scene after another. There are also various scenes of Diana's memories, which added some detail to the story and was also brilliant. By the time I had discovered these memories, the demo had ended. The demo ended on a brilliant note, so how could I not play on?
Most games take a bit of a slump during the middle period and pick up again towards the end, but this one did not! It remained exciting and stayed with the same tempo for the entire game. More of the memory scenes popped up (adding more detail to the story), more characters were introduced and the true story began to be unveiled! Each cutscene was more exciting than the last. The story itself had so many twists and turns; when I thought I'd caught the killer, the game threw another curveball. The story was so brilliant, and when it finally got to the end, it was done justice by an amazing final cutscene. I thought I'd seen some great twists, but the developers saved the best twist until last. The ending was so amazing, so unexpected... it was hands down the best ending to a game I've seen. Those who are wondering, it did end conclusively, so there's no need for the CE.
I did especially like the memory scenes. They added extra detail to the story. It was kind of like a backstory on how she got in to the situation. Similar to the main story, they got more and more exciting with each cutscene.
Overall, the story was amazing. One of the best stories, if not the best, that I've ever seen in a hidden object game. But what I really enjoyed about this story was the fact that it was realistic. The time travel part was done exactly as it should with no fancy stuff happening. Good job to the developers on making such a great, realistic story!
As well as having a great story, the game had some pretty good gameplay too. The gameplay was just a little bit different than normal and I really enjoyed it. For starters, the HOS. Although they weren't much different from the usual, they were altered slightly in the way of the extra step objects. Instead of picking the object up and dragging it over to the thing it needs to be used on, you click on it like a normal object you need to find and it goes in to a mini-inventory thing. From here, you used it as normal. Other than that, the HOS were the usual (extra step objects, etc.). But this little addition made the HOS slightly more fun. The HOS were spread out evenly too. There weren't many of them, and they weren't piled on towards the end. Nothing infuriates me more in a game than when developers just pile on HOS. It was good to see that this developer spaced them out a bit.
The puzzles were good too. They were a little different from normal and quite challenging, a lot more than some other games out today. The puzzles were very fun to attempt. I could solve quite a few of them. What made these puzzles more fun was that some of them were new. It's always fun to try a new puzzle, isn't it? Like the HOS, the puzzles were fairly spaced out. There weren't a lot of them, and that made them quite enjoyable.
The puzzles were good too. They were a little different from normal and quite challenging, a lot more than some other games out today. The puzzles were very fun to attempt. I could solve quite a few of them. What made these puzzles more fun was that some of them were new. It's always fun to try a new puzzle, isn't it? Like the HOS, the puzzles were fairly spaced out. There weren't a lot of them, and that made them quite enjoyable.
One other feature I saw that was quite cool was the + objects. You collected two parts of an object and then joined them together to make the complete one. The parts you could join were indicated by + signs. This doesn't occur often in games, so was a nice feature.
Other than that, this a normal HOPA. No helpers, no fancy new features, nothing. Normally, this would annoy me, but here, it doesn't. When you've got different HOS and different puzzles, extra features don't matter. This is a really great game.
The graphics are good, but not great. Everything was clear and all, but I've seen better. Everything was drawn well, but probably could have used a bit more detail. I'm not complaining, I still thought the graphics were good, but if I had to pick one fault with this game, it would be the graphics and voice-overs.
Most of the voice-overs were good, but the voice of the main character's father, the police officer, didn't sit well with me. It was really underdone and acted quite poorly. The guy who was voicing seemed to be bored and had no emotion to the voice. That was a real problem for me. All the other voices were fine, but that one... ugh.
Most of the voice-overs were good, but the voice of the main character's father, the police officer, didn't sit well with me. It was really underdone and acted quite poorly. The guy who was voicing seemed to be bored and had no emotion to the voice. That was a real problem for me. All the other voices were fine, but that one... ugh.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. The differences are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate for the difficulty I selected. The hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events.
Map- the map is interactive and is quite helpful. It lest you know where your next tasks are, and when locations are completed.
+ objects- see gameplay section of review for my opinion on them. I thought they were quite good.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. The differences are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate for the difficulty I selected. The hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events.
Map- the map is interactive and is quite helpful. It lest you know where your next tasks are, and when locations are completed.
+ objects- see gameplay section of review for my opinion on them. I thought they were quite good.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE CE?
Not much as it turns out. You just have the basic CE Stuff:
Bonus chapter- NOT NEEDED
Strategy Guide
Concept Art
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Movies
Wallpapers
Not much as it turns out. You just have the basic CE Stuff:
Bonus chapter- NOT NEEDED
Strategy Guide
Concept Art
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Movies
Wallpapers
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Looking at completed CE reviews, and based on my own experiences, I say the SE is the better buy. The CE doesn't have anything that makes it worth the extra money, and the game finishes conclusively. I definitely advise you to go for the SE.
Looking at completed CE reviews, and based on my own experiences, I say the SE is the better buy. The CE doesn't have anything that makes it worth the extra money, and the game finishes conclusively. I definitely advise you to go for the SE.
So, what else can I give this game but five stars? It truly is an excellent game. I loved it from beginning to end. With the great gameplay and great story, you're looking at one of the best games from 2013. I'd never heard of this developer before, but this is a pretty good first impression! I can't wait to hear more from them. I think you should definitely buy this one. You won't be disappointed!
ON THE GAME LENGTH
The game was a decent length. I estimate somewhere between 3-3.5 hours on Casual mode.
The game was a decent length. I estimate somewhere between 3-3.5 hours on Casual mode.
I recommend this game!
Nightmares from the Deep: Davy Jones Collector's Edition
Escape the cold incarceration of Davy Jones' brig and discover the otherworldly origins of his galleon in this thrilling Hidden Object adventure.
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Great Story! Will Be A Nice End to the Trilogy.
PostedMarch 28, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON ONE HOUR TRIAL
This is the final game in the Nightmares from the Deep trilogy, and while it's not as good as the two before it, it promises to be an exciting finish! My trial ran out before I could finish the demo (I don't know how that happened), so I didn't get a full picture of the game, but I really enjoyed what I got!
Like both other games, this one is most definitely about the story. The story is actually brilliant! It's totally different from the two before it, while still tying in with the ideas from the previous two games. The story takes a different turn than usual. You're trying to save your daughter, but you're also trying to save everyone else as well.
What I really enjoyed about the story was the unexpected twists it had. I was expecting something similar to the previous two games, but it was nothing like it. You have to set around to find something that will void the pact signed by your daughter- something that's never happened before. This story also has an element of mystery to it. Who is the ghostly girl? This issue was not addressed in the one hour free trial.
Something really appeals to me about the idea of voiding pacts and saving people. This story gripped me almost from the moment it started, and I can't wait to see how it ends.
What I really enjoyed about the story was the unexpected twists it had. I was expecting something similar to the previous two games, but it was nothing like it. You have to set around to find something that will void the pact signed by your daughter- something that's never happened before. This story also has an element of mystery to it. Who is the ghostly girl? This issue was not addressed in the one hour free trial.
Something really appeals to me about the idea of voiding pacts and saving people. This story gripped me almost from the moment it started, and I can't wait to see how it ends.
As well as the main story, there's also the backstory. This is a similar thing to the other two games in the series and I really enjoyed this one. It goes through Davy Jones' memories to tell you why he does what he does (or that's what I'm guessing anyway). There are 12 stages of the story, as in previous games. I got through three in one hour. I think this backstory will prove to be a great addition!
What I found annoying about this game was that it relied 100% on the story to carry it through. For those who don't like the story, that's a buyer lost right there. There was nothing different about the gameplay and thus, nothing fun about it. There was nothing that made this game stand out from the others. I would have liked to have seen some unique element of gameplay. It would have made the game much more fun and much more enjoyable. But instead, we're left with the same basic gameplay as every other HOPA. This meant that the story had to be absolutely brilliant, so good that I would have to buy the game based on the story alone. Lucky that it was, but other times, the developer may not be so lucky. For their next game, I'd like to see a bit more effort put in to the gameplay; something unique, something fun. Something so awesome that's not in the other games.
On the basics, the HOS were enjoyable, but again, they were exactly the same that we see time and time again. The HOS were a little bit more challenging than I was used to though. To the developer's credit, they have changed the HOS a bit. Instead of just one type, there are three. There is the classic junkpile, the silhouette scenes and fragmented object scenes. I think I found the fragmented scenes the hardest, but the other two were quite easy in comparison. That being said, I did enjoy playing them. I also enjoyed the fact that there was an alternative to HOS; it's good for those who don't like HOS or just want to try something different. In this case, it's mahjong, and you have to match tiles of a certain colour to remove an item from the list. Once all of these tiles are gone, the HOS is over. A nice feature.
The puzzles were a little harder, but I still enjoyed attempting them. They had nice clear instructions. There were some new and some old and each varied in difficulty. There were some that were quite easy and others that were a little bit hard. It's good to see that the developers are accounting for every puzzler and not just making every puzzle easy or every puzzle hard. Good job.
This is basically your standard HOPA. There's no helpers, no fancy features, nothing. It's exactly like the other two games. While I don't care much for animal helpers, I would have liked to see some new features or new styles of gameplay.
The graphics are the Artifex usual- clear and with amazing detail. The character designs are especially good, but everything in the game was drawn brilliantly. I don't know how long it took to design the graphics, but they're amazing! Top class as usual.
The voice-overs were standard. I have no issue. But what I loved about this game were the characters and the voices themselves, especially the character of the skull (found near the game). His lines were amusing and made the game a bit more enjoyable. The voice for this character is perfect. Great to see that Artifex are including humour in their games!
The voice-overs were standard. I have no issue. But what I loved about this game were the characters and the voices themselves, especially the character of the skull (found near the game). His lines were amusing and made the game a bit more enjoyable. The voice for this character is perfect. Great to see that Artifex are including humour in their games!
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard. Same differences as usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate for the difficulty selected. Hint is useful outside of HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events.
Map- interactive and helpful.
12 doubloons- you need these to open up the new chapters to the Davy Jones backstory.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard. Same differences as usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate for the difficulty selected. Hint is useful outside of HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events.
Map- interactive and helpful.
12 doubloons- you need these to open up the new chapters to the Davy Jones backstory.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus chapter- most likely not needed.
Achievements- there are a lot of these. Great for those who like achievements.
Collectibles- there are three types: puzzle pieces, seahorses and pirate cards. There are lots of collectibles in this game, so will be enjoyable for those who like collecting things.
Built-in Strategy Guide- great for help with puzzles.
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Bonus chapter- most likely not needed.
Achievements- there are a lot of these. Great for those who like achievements.
Collectibles- there are three types: puzzle pieces, seahorses and pirate cards. There are lots of collectibles in this game, so will be enjoyable for those who like collecting things.
Built-in Strategy Guide- great for help with puzzles.
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
I think what's swayed me to buy this is that I have the other two games and this is a trilogy. I think I'm going to buy the SE. Artifex are working on it, but I still don't think the CE is worth it
The only reason I'm buying is for the story and the fact it's a trilogy. I think the gameplay needs some serious working on. I like HOS and stuff, but I'm starting to tire of the same old gameplay each and every time. It's time leading developers like Artifex changed up their gameplay a little and added some stuff that was awesome and unique. That way, their games would be a lot more enjoyable. This is a four star game for me. I can't bring myself to give it a five.
The only reason I'm buying is for the story and the fact it's a trilogy. I think the gameplay needs some serious working on. I like HOS and stuff, but I'm starting to tire of the same old gameplay each and every time. It's time leading developers like Artifex changed up their gameplay a little and added some stuff that was awesome and unique. That way, their games would be a lot more enjoyable. This is a four star game for me. I can't bring myself to give it a five.
I recommend this game!
Will you heed the director’s final casting call?
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 14 found this review helpful
Story Is Brilliant, But The Gameplay Misses The Mark
PostedMarch 24, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
With the Final Cut games, it's always been that there's a great story, but the gameplay is just average. This is exactly the same. The story is brilliant, probably the best out of all three, but the gameplay is just missing something. It's not that great. I don't know if the story alone is enough to make me want to buy it.
As I mentioned the story is amazing. Everyone knows I can't resist a serial killer and/or murder mystery storyline. This is that at its best. It had twists and turns at every corner; it kept me on the edge of my seat in anticipation for what was going to happen next. I especially liked the villain in this story, The Director. He almost fits the profile of a real serial killer. His motives and creepy voice on the recorder, it's almost as if he really is a serial killer and you really are in danger! Great job to the devs on this one. Having a villain like that makes the game slightly more realistic.
The story had a couple of twists, but the rest of the game went on as I expected. That being said, the demo ended on a really good note and I'm itching to find out what happens next.
The story had a couple of twists, but the rest of the game went on as I expected. That being said, the demo ended on a really good note and I'm itching to find out what happens next.
Where this game goes wrong, and where the two previous Final Cut games went wrong, is the gameplay. What I specifically dislike about it is the projecter scenes. There are two different locations in every scene, and you're always having to rush here and there, you find one thing in one location that belongs in the other... I could go on. It's really confusing, annoying, boring and time consuming. I've always hated going between two different locations in the one scene, no matter how good the story, and this is no exception. It takes away from the enjoyment factor and is really turning me off buying. I get that it's movie themed, and I get that's what movies are, but that just really annoyed me with this game.
Another thing I didn't like was the + objects. These were items that you had to interact with to complete. Normally, you just have to add one extra and you're done, but in this game it was about three or four things that had to be added on. It was really annoying.
Another thing I didn't like was the + objects. These were items that you had to interact with to complete. Normally, you just have to add one extra and you're done, but in this game it was about three or four things that had to be added on. It was really annoying.
On the basics, I enjoyed the HOS. Yes, they were the same ones that we see over and over, but they were still fun and I enjoyed playing them. They are the same as usual from Eipix: A few extra step objects, a couple of silhouette mini-scenes, but they are nice. The HOS are a mixture of junkpile and silhouette. Both types of HOS were enjoyable. The way I see it, the amount of HOS in my sample were just right. Some will say too many, others will say not enough, but I think it was fine. Knowing Eipix, though, the frequency of the HOS will increase as you go along.
The puzzles were the same, but a couple were really confusing. For example, that rabbit in the maze one really stumped me. I usually like to have a go at puzzles, but I just couldn't with that one.
The others, though, were good. I could attempt them quite easily. I had fun trying. I had to skip one other I think, but it was okay. I don't mind having to skip puzzles if I can attempt them first.
The puzzles were the same, but a couple were really confusing. For example, that rabbit in the maze one really stumped me. I usually like to have a go at puzzles, but I just couldn't with that one.
The others, though, were good. I could attempt them quite easily. I had fun trying. I had to skip one other I think, but it was okay. I don't mind having to skip puzzles if I can attempt them first.
Other than the two locations thing, this is your standard HOPA. It's got all your standard features, CE Extras, nothing that deviates from the norm. But this game really did fall short on the gameplay. That two locations thing really has put me off buying.
The graphics are good as always. Every scene is done with so much detail and is clear as anything. Character designs are great too. They look like they could almost be real people. Top notch graphics once again. Great job to the developers on this one.
The voice-overs are standard and I don't have a problem with them.
The voice-overs are standard and I don't have a problem with them.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game your way, other difficulties have the standard differences (hint/skip charge, sparkles, etc.). I played casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a reasonable rate for the difficulty and the hint is very helpful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events.
+ objects- This was another terrible thing about the gameplay. These were objects you had to interact with to make them whole. Normally, I don't mind this, but there were just too many things you had to add. Another fail for the gameplay.
Map- Interactive and helpful.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game your way, other difficulties have the standard differences (hint/skip charge, sparkles, etc.). I played casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a reasonable rate for the difficulty and the hint is very helpful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events.
+ objects- This was another terrible thing about the gameplay. These were objects you had to interact with to make them whole. Normally, I don't mind this, but there were just too many things you had to add. Another fail for the gameplay.
Map- Interactive and helpful.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed. Knowing Eipix, probably not.
Built in Strategy Guide- good for puzzles.
Collectible clapboards- game lets you know if there is still one to collect in a scene.
Achievements
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Something called “photo session”
Replay movies
Souvenir room
Making of
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed. Knowing Eipix, probably not.
Built in Strategy Guide- good for puzzles.
Collectible clapboards- game lets you know if there is still one to collect in a scene.
Achievements
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Something called “photo session”
Replay movies
Souvenir room
Making of
This game is getting a 3 for me.Normally, in a situation with a great story and off gameplay, I'd give a four, but I just can't with this one. I can still recommend the trial because of the great story, but the gameplay is just missing the enjoyment factor that I'm used to seeing from this developer time and time again. Sorry guys. This is a no buy for me. Not even the SE. And so, I (barely) recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
It should have been a tremendous achievement, but the tunnel through the Ridge of Leviathan became the site of a great disaster. What really happened that day?
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Pretty Nice, Good, Relaxing Game.
PostedMarch 21, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED STANDARD EDITION GAME
The fourth game in the Surface series, the Pantheon is a good one. It's probably the longest out of all four, but it's not the best one. That being said, I still enjoyed it and am glad I bought it.
The story, similar to that of the Bermuda Triangle, starts off interestingly. The Capital Express disappears without a trace on its maiden voyage. You were meant to be on said train with your family, but something happened and you missed it, so now your family is gone forever... or are they?
A year later, you return to the scene of the accident, where you meet a lovely man by the name of Dr. Bors. He says he's been studying the train and its disappearance and believes he has crafted an exact replica which should take himself and you to the location of the Capital Express. Feeling you have nothing to lose, you join him, and soon you find yourself in a creepy other world controlled by things known as “Masters.”
The demo ends on a high with a good twist and I felt I had to play on and finish this story.
But then the story started going downhill a bit. Characters were being added in for random reasons, everything was coasting along as I expected, and at some points, I found the story hard to follow. Sometimes it seemed like characters were being added for the sake of it. For example, the character of Andre had, like, one cutscene and was gone. What was the point of that?
The story continued its stall for a while and then picked back up again with a really surprising twist that I never saw coming! Kudos to the developers for this.
The story did finish happily and conclusively in the end, answering all questions and with no need for the bonus chapter. So those who want the SE will be happy to know that you aren't missing out on the ending.
A year later, you return to the scene of the accident, where you meet a lovely man by the name of Dr. Bors. He says he's been studying the train and its disappearance and believes he has crafted an exact replica which should take himself and you to the location of the Capital Express. Feeling you have nothing to lose, you join him, and soon you find yourself in a creepy other world controlled by things known as “Masters.”
The demo ends on a high with a good twist and I felt I had to play on and finish this story.
But then the story started going downhill a bit. Characters were being added in for random reasons, everything was coasting along as I expected, and at some points, I found the story hard to follow. Sometimes it seemed like characters were being added for the sake of it. For example, the character of Andre had, like, one cutscene and was gone. What was the point of that?
The story continued its stall for a while and then picked back up again with a really surprising twist that I never saw coming! Kudos to the developers for this.
The story did finish happily and conclusively in the end, answering all questions and with no need for the bonus chapter. So those who want the SE will be happy to know that you aren't missing out on the ending.
The lovely inventory-HOS that made the earlier games that little extra bit challenging make their triumphant return here. Where they've improved since then is that, if you don't have the item you need for the HOS in your inventory, the game will give you a hint as to where to find it. I absolutely loved the inventory-HOS in this game. I loved playing them and hope they make their return in the future.
The puzzles are a mixture of hard and easy. Some could be solved in a couple of clicks and others I had to use the skip for. It was great to see that there were puzzles intended for players with all skill level.
There seemed to be more puzzles than HOS in the game. I would've liked a couple more HOS and a couple less puzzles, but that's just my preference.
The puzzles are a mixture of hard and easy. Some could be solved in a couple of clicks and others I had to use the skip for. It was great to see that there were puzzles intended for players with all skill level.
There seemed to be more puzzles than HOS in the game. I would've liked a couple more HOS and a couple less puzzles, but that's just my preference.
Something that impressed me about this game was that the HOS were evenly spaced out and it stayed that way for the entire game. Unlike previous games by this developer (and other developers do this too), the HOS weren't piled on towards the end; there wasn't one in every scene, which was really nice. I like HOS, but I don't like too many of them.
This is basically your standard HOPA with no fancy special features to take your mind off things and I really enjoyed it. It's nice when developers get rid of all the fancy stuff like animal helpers and special features and just leave you with a plain old HOPA. It's a nice change. I would recommend this game for beginners on account of it being similar to a “normal” HOPA. The gameplay stays similar for the entire game, so it would be easy to follow for those who are just starting out.
One thing I think Elephant need to improve on just slightly is making their games more fun. It's all well and good if your story is interesting, but we HOPA players like a bit of fun too! This game would have bumped up to a 5 if it had been a bit more fun, but the game was very serious and focused a lot on the story rather than the gameplay. It expected the story to carry it through, and when the story got a bit boring halfway through, the game lost its quality. Next time, Elephant should work on including some fun stuff in the game.
The graphics take me back to old style Elephant too. For the first time in quite a while, Elephant decided to use real actors, which I think was a good choice for this one. It made the game more realistic, seeing real people with real emotions. It was a change from all the cartoon stuff and I really liked it. The scenes are clear as always. Everything was drawn with such detail and really was a pleasure to look at.
The voice-overs are standard, but I have one issue. I couldn't figure out the nationality of Bors. Sometimes he was British, then he had a bit of an American twang to his accent. Which was he? A British person, or an American doing a terrible British accent? That's the one problem I have with the voice-overs. Otherwise, they're fine.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hardcore. Differences are hint/skip charge times, sparkles, etc. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable time for the difficulty. The hint is helpful outside HOS.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Hardly used. There were about 10 entries for the entire game.
Map- the map is interactive and is helpful, but only to an extent. The map tells you where you have active tasks and what locations have been completed, but it doesn't tell you where your next task is.
Replay cutscenes- if you missed important details from a cutscene, you can replay them. The cutscenes can be replayed from the map/diary screen.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hardcore. Differences are hint/skip charge times, sparkles, etc. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable time for the difficulty. The hint is helpful outside HOS.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Hardly used. There were about 10 entries for the entire game.
Map- the map is interactive and is helpful, but only to an extent. The map tells you where you have active tasks and what locations have been completed, but it doesn't tell you where your next task is.
Replay cutscenes- if you missed important details from a cutscene, you can replay them. The cutscenes can be replayed from the map/diary screen.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE?
Collectible flowers- used as currency for the shop
Shop- used to buy upgrades for stuff (similar to previous Surface games)
Bonus puzzles
Built-in Strategy Guide- helpful for puzzles.
Bonus Chapter- not needed, as the game finishes conclusively.
Achievements
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Music
Collectible flowers- used as currency for the shop
Shop- used to buy upgrades for stuff (similar to previous Surface games)
Bonus puzzles
Built-in Strategy Guide- helpful for puzzles.
Bonus Chapter- not needed, as the game finishes conclusively.
Achievements
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Music
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The SE by far. The CE has minimal bonus content and, with the conclusive finish to the story, really has no value for money. The SE was good enough for me and will be good enough for you too.
The SE by far. The CE has minimal bonus content and, with the conclusive finish to the story, really has no value for money. The SE was good enough for me and will be good enough for you too.
So, I'd say this was a pretty good one. It's not the best in the series, nor is it the best from Elephant, but it was still enjoyable. It was a nice, relaxing game. I will definitely play it again. Because of the fun factor and the period where the story went downhill, I can't give it a five, so I will give it a four.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
This game took me AGES. Usually, games take me three days of playing to complete. This one took me about 8. I purchased on the 8th of March, began playing on the 10th and finished on the 18th. Because of that, I estimate the game to be about 3 and half to 4 hours on Casual mode.
This game took me AGES. Usually, games take me three days of playing to complete. This one took me about 8. I purchased on the 8th of March, began playing on the 10th and finished on the 18th. Because of that, I estimate the game to be about 3 and half to 4 hours on Casual mode.
I recommend this game!
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
24 of 33 found this review helpful
Brilliant Story, Brilliant Gameplay... What More Could You Want?
PostedMarch 21, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was extremely excited when I heard that the new Dark Tales was coming out, so I downloaded without hesitation. I wasn't disappointed! This may be the best Dark Tales yet and is ERS's best in a long time! Normally I'd wait for the SE, but I don't think I can wait that long!
The story takes me back to the old ERS: Haunting, creepy and addicting. This story had me hooked from the get go. It was so exciting, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. I loved every second of it. The characters in there are really creepy, but so cool at the same time. Especially the Usher Twins, and what's up with the maid? And that creepy doctor? I can't wait to play on, where all these questions will be answered. I think ERS did a really good job of these new characters and a really good job of this story.
The demo ends on a really exciting note that just makes you want to play on and on. The only thing that's kind of holding me back from buying right now is the length. I got through 3 chapters in the demo. Most games have 7 chapters. Not looking good... But all the same, I would probably buy the SE just to see how this amazing story pans out.
The demo ends on a really exciting note that just makes you want to play on and on. The only thing that's kind of holding me back from buying right now is the length. I got through 3 chapters in the demo. Most games have 7 chapters. Not looking good... But all the same, I would probably buy the SE just to see how this amazing story pans out.
I think the thing I loved most about this game was the gameplay. It was so different and fun, I loved it (and coupled with an amazing story... wow!). The recurring “find the coins” game was awesome. I really enjoyed it, but if used too much, it will become tedious, and it was used quite a bit in the demo. I also liked the photographs. These are little things you pick up that have strange messages on the back of them. You have to use the photograph on the scene it depicts in order to get something useful (this confused me a few times). This was an awesome addition I hope to see in future games.
The last specific feature to this game was The Reborn One. This was really cool and I enjoyed using it. It wasn't used much during the demo, which made it all the more fun to use.
The last specific feature to this game was The Reborn One. This was really cool and I enjoyed using it. It wasn't used much during the demo, which made it all the more fun to use.
The HOS were a little different too. It shows the developers actually put a bit of effort in to them. There were 2 or 3 (I can't remember exactly), and each were a different type. The first one gave clues via riddles and this was a great addition. It was really fun and a little challenging to figure them out. The second HOS I saw was a silhouette with a twist. Some things required you to switch between day and night to complete them, and I was really confused for a minute until I figured out what to do. But when I did, I really enjoyed it.
ERS have given us the choice of puzzle difficulty once again. We can switch between Casual or Hard depending on our puzzle taste. This is a great for those of us who aren't so good at puzzles or who want an extra challenge. It's great that ERS caters for puzzlers of all skill level.
ERS have given us the choice of puzzle difficulty once again. We can switch between Casual or Hard depending on our puzzle taste. This is a great for those of us who aren't so good at puzzles or who want an extra challenge. It's great that ERS caters for puzzlers of all skill level.
I wouldn't say this is your average HOPA. It has a few new features (which I outlined) as well as all the originals (diary, map, etc.). I don't think I'd recommend this game for beginners, to be honest, because of all the strange new features.
The graphics are typical ERS: hand drawn and delightful. The scenes are clear and drawn with detail and the character designs are very well done. The thing I love about ERS is they stick to designs they're good at. They don't try to change something that doesn't need to be changed. These graphics are just as good as they were a few years ago. One issue I have is that the character's lips no longer move. This makes the game slightly more unrealistic
Normally, I wouldn't have an issue with voice-overs, but with this game I do. Anyone who has played any of the previous Dark Tales games will have picked up on this. Dupin's voice has changed. I don't know why it has, but I liked the old voice better and this game would have been better off with the old voice.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the difficulty your way; differences in other three levels are hint/skip times, sparkles, etc. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate (40 seconds) for the difficulty I chose. The hint is helpful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps note of all important events.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful.
Photographs- These are a good addition to the game. I've already explained them.
The Reborn One- see explanation in gameplay section of my review.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the difficulty your way; differences in other three levels are hint/skip times, sparkles, etc. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate (40 seconds) for the difficulty I chose. The hint is helpful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps note of all important events.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful.
Photographs- These are a good addition to the game. I've already explained them.
The Reborn One- see explanation in gameplay section of my review.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Coin Game- used to find coins for upgrades to your lab. I'm assuming this is a CE Extra because of what the coins are used for.
Lab- similar to the Office in Dark Tales 5. You can buy stuff to put in there with the coins that you collect. Unsure if this is a necessary part of the game or not, so I'm including it as a CE Exclusive.
Built-in Strategy Guide- great for help with puzzles.
Achievements
Replay cutscenes
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Music- listen to music of the game
Wallpaper
Concept Art
Screensaver
Something called “Story”- I'm intrigued to know what this is, so it's kind of swaying my decision a bit.
Coin Game- used to find coins for upgrades to your lab. I'm assuming this is a CE Extra because of what the coins are used for.
Lab- similar to the Office in Dark Tales 5. You can buy stuff to put in there with the coins that you collect. Unsure if this is a necessary part of the game or not, so I'm including it as a CE Exclusive.
Built-in Strategy Guide- great for help with puzzles.
Achievements
Replay cutscenes
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Music- listen to music of the game
Wallpaper
Concept Art
Screensaver
Something called “Story”- I'm intrigued to know what this is, so it's kind of swaying my decision a bit.
This is the best game of the year so far, hands down. I can't wait to finish it off. The CE has some nice extras, so I may go for it. Otherwise, I might wait for the SE. After playing this game, I can say without a doubt, the old ERS I knew and loved is BACK!
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Best Bowling Game Ever! One Of My All Time Favourites!z
PostedMarch 18, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Despite being released almost 10 years ago (the developer's website says 2004), Saints and Sinners Bowling still remains my favourite game outside of HOPA games. It's one of those games you just keep going back to over and over again. It's quirky and fun and pretty much the perfect game. I'm glad I discovered this gem and I hope that others will too!
The thing I loved most about this game was the character development. Each character has their own personality and lines to match, and even their own little backstory to tell you how/why they joined the tour, etc. The lines the characters speak are pure gold and I laughed out loud while reading some of them (for example, one of the characters said “Can somebody get me a cheese fries, hold the fries?”). The characters are made brilliantly. You either love them or love to hate them. Each character has their own style and special bowling ball that makes them unique. Personal favourite characters of mine were:
Susanna Joy
Mimi Beaujolais
Jimmy “Jimi” Jenkins
Lulu Steinberg
Mimi Beaujolais
Jimmy “Jimi” Jenkins
Lulu Steinberg
As you play along the game, you unlock more characters, and I loved every time I got the chance to meet a new character. The development of the characters was very important to the game itself and I think the developers pulled this off perfectly.
This game is gameplay based. The gameplay is fun, addictive and exciting. The game is divided up in to three modes: Single game (play one single game), Play a Friend (2 player mode) and the main mode, Bowlers Tour. Bowlers Tour allows to play all over the US in order to become the top bowler. The game starts off with one member asking you to play alone and you do so. As you progress through the game, you start to unlock tournaments. This is your chance to climb through the rankings.
If you don't like tournaments, you can always go through the unlocked bowling alleys and play a person of your choice. This provides an equally fun experience.
The thing I love about this game is that it's bowling with a twist, and that twist comes in the form of charms. These charms can either help or hinder you and are either offensive (helping you score) or defensive (stopping the opponent from scoring). Each charm has a different effect (for example, super ball grow increases the size of the ball ,and lead pins makes the pins heavier, making them hard to knock down), and most charms can be countered (using one charm to lessen or erase the effects of another). The charms are a brilliant addition and make for an exciting game.
The game also includes achievements, but you don't know what the achievements are until you win them, so it's impossible to tell you how to win them. The achievement house also stores all your trophies that you've won from your tournaments (there are actually quite a few- I've been playing for a month and a half now almost every day and still haven't won them all). The achievements are nice but not necessarily important to the game.
If you don't like tournaments, you can always go through the unlocked bowling alleys and play a person of your choice. This provides an equally fun experience.
The thing I love about this game is that it's bowling with a twist, and that twist comes in the form of charms. These charms can either help or hinder you and are either offensive (helping you score) or defensive (stopping the opponent from scoring). Each charm has a different effect (for example, super ball grow increases the size of the ball ,and lead pins makes the pins heavier, making them hard to knock down), and most charms can be countered (using one charm to lessen or erase the effects of another). The charms are a brilliant addition and make for an exciting game.
The game also includes achievements, but you don't know what the achievements are until you win them, so it's impossible to tell you how to win them. The achievement house also stores all your trophies that you've won from your tournaments (there are actually quite a few- I've been playing for a month and a half now almost every day and still haven't won them all). The achievements are nice but not necessarily important to the game.
In the game, either the opponent or the spectator will offer you “deals”. These come in the form of money or their bowling ball or a charm. The conditions vary (bowl a spare, bowl a strike, score over 150, etc.). The deals are your key to making more money to unlock alleys and progress further in the game. The deals are indicated by a yellow speech bubble, and you have the choice of whether to accept or decline them. These deals are an awesome addition and just add more fun to an already very fun game.
These graphics are actually good, and probably would've been great for 2004. Everything's simple. The characters are cartoon, the alleys and bowling balls are done well. I'm actually pretty impressed. Nothing is fuzzy or unclear and the graphics are very detailed.
There are no voice-overs, but that's not an issue. There is a lot of text in this game and voice-overs would've just been annoying.
There are no voice-overs, but that's not an issue. There is a lot of text in this game and voice-overs would've just been annoying.
Generally, there is no story involved, but some time through the game, you get a small story. Someone have taken Svetlana's dog, Skillet, and it's up to you to find out who has taken her and to bring her back. The way this works is that various messages pop up around the board, and each message is from someone (generally one of the more “evil” characters) who knows something about the disappearance. You have to play (and beat) them for some information. Once you've beaten a few people, you will then have the opportunity to have a game against the dog's captors (for some ransom money of course), and once you've beaten them, you get the dog back.
This was a small addition and wasn't the main focus of the game, but was really nice anyway. Perhaps another couple of stories would've been interesting, but I'm not fussed.
This was a small addition and wasn't the main focus of the game, but was really nice anyway. Perhaps another couple of stories would've been interesting, but I'm not fussed.
Overall, I can give no less than 5 stars. This is almost the perfect game. I absolutely love it. I play it all the time and highly recommend that you buy this one immediately. You will have the time of your life!
I recommend this game!
Dark Dimensions: Somber Song Collector's Edition
Townspeople flee as the black smoke covers their town. Can you close the dark dimension, before it’s too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 7 found this review helpful
Wonderful! Best Dark Dimensions Ever!
PostedMarch 15, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Daily Magic has always been one of those developers that has produced good games, but not great ones... Until now. This has got to be their best yet. It was captivating and fun to play. I will definitely purchase the SE when it comes out.
Daily Magic's stories are usually uneventful and boring, but this story is brilliant. It was full of action and got in to the game right from the word go. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire demo. The story just got better and better. I can't wait to see what happens next.
The thing I love most about this story is that it's really creepy. A lot more creepy than normal. It's got evil stone statues, evil smoke, evil everything. It really was a delight.
The story of the villain is sort of intriguing too. I think I've picked out why they're doing it, but there's still that element of mystery there. Why are they picking this girl? What does the girl have to do with it? All these questions will be answered as I continue the game, and I can't wait.
Overall, I was really impressed with this story. It is hands down the best one from Daily Magic so far.
The thing I love most about this story is that it's really creepy. A lot more creepy than normal. It's got evil stone statues, evil smoke, evil everything. It really was a delight.
The story of the villain is sort of intriguing too. I think I've picked out why they're doing it, but there's still that element of mystery there. Why are they picking this girl? What does the girl have to do with it? All these questions will be answered as I continue the game, and I can't wait.
Overall, I was really impressed with this story. It is hands down the best one from Daily Magic so far.
Daily Magic has a habit of changing the style of the HOS with each game. Dark Dimensions 3 (the only other Daily Magic game I own) had really good HOS and this one does too. They are really fun to play and are quite challenging. I found myself having to use the hint a number of times. There were quite a few HOS in the demo, but I didn't mind as these were really fun.
The puzzles, on the other hand, were a bit hard. Some I could solve, but most required me to use the skip. The puzzles were fun to attempt and were all ones we'd seen before, so that was nice. I just wish a couple of the puzzles had been easier.
This is pretty much your standard HOPA. No fancy new features, no animal helpers, just plain old HOPA and I really enjoyed it. It's got most of the usual features (excluding the diary). I would definitely recommend this for beginners.
One thing I was disappointed about, however, was that there was no diary. The diary was a great feature of Dark Dimensions 3 and I was quite sad to see it missing in this one. The diary would have made the story just that little bit more interesting. A note to the developers, the diary is great! Please put it in the next Dark Dimensions (if there is one!)
The puzzles, on the other hand, were a bit hard. Some I could solve, but most required me to use the skip. The puzzles were fun to attempt and were all ones we'd seen before, so that was nice. I just wish a couple of the puzzles had been easier.
This is pretty much your standard HOPA. No fancy new features, no animal helpers, just plain old HOPA and I really enjoyed it. It's got most of the usual features (excluding the diary). I would definitely recommend this for beginners.
One thing I was disappointed about, however, was that there was no diary. The diary was a great feature of Dark Dimensions 3 and I was quite sad to see it missing in this one. The diary would have made the story just that little bit more interesting. A note to the developers, the diary is great! Please put it in the next Dark Dimensions (if there is one!)
To be honest, the graphics aren't the best I've seen, but they're still really good. The scenes are clear and the character designs are good. The drawings and art had some good detail in them.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no comment.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no comment.
FEATURES
3 levels of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are the usual (hint, skip, sparkles, mis-click penalty, etc.) I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge a little fast for their difficulty and the hint is very useful outside HOS.
Map- the map is interactive and helpful. It tells you where you have tasks to complete.
3 levels of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are the usual (hint, skip, sparkles, mis-click penalty, etc.) I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge a little fast for their difficulty and the hint is very useful outside HOS.
Map- the map is interactive and helpful. It tells you where you have tasks to complete.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed
Built-in Strategy Guide- good for helping you solve puzzles (I used it a couple of times).
Collectible music sheet scraps- (30) There are 10 music sheets and 3 scraps for each sheet. Apparently these unlock some Match 3 levels.
Flashbacks- occur after collecting all 3 sheet scraps for the one page. Can be visited outside of the game as it has it's own little section.
Wallpaper
Music
Developer Diary- photos of the developers making the game
Concept Art
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed
Built-in Strategy Guide- good for helping you solve puzzles (I used it a couple of times).
Collectible music sheet scraps- (30) There are 10 music sheets and 3 scraps for each sheet. Apparently these unlock some Match 3 levels.
Flashbacks- occur after collecting all 3 sheet scraps for the one page. Can be visited outside of the game as it has it's own little section.
Wallpaper
Music
Developer Diary- photos of the developers making the game
Concept Art
Overall, based on the fact this is much better than DD3 and Daily Magic's best by far, I have to reward the game with 5 stars. That being said, I don't think the CE is worth it as it has minimal extras. I'm going to wait for the SE. I highly recommend you download the trial, even if you didn't like the other Dark Dimensions games. You'll love this!
I recommend this game!