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
Status:
Help Sam rescue his love Anna in Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome, an incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Decent Game... But VERY Frustrating!
PostedDecember 19, 2016
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
3
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED SE
I played the demo of this game and loved it, so I decided it was finally time to buy the SE. While the game was good, it definitely went downhill after the demo and was not as enjoyable as I expected it to be.
The concept of the story was brilliant. A maniac takes your girlfriend and you come to his house to rescue her, but he is following you every step of the way. I really liked the creep factor in this story and the guy's voice through the speakers made the game all the more ominous. The execution of this story is what lets it down, though. The plot developments are all through the words spoken by the maniac and a few loose notes. There's no indication of when the story progresses or gets close to ending, and the weird play scenes over the speakers just felt out of place. There seemed to be nothing flowing or connecting the story and it just relied upon the player remembering everything that was said. I was surprised when I reached the end, because I felt that I still had more to do, or there was still something left to happen in the story. I wish they had left clues as to where he was because, to me, it felt more or less like I was wandering aimlessly from room to room and just stumbled upon the end by accident.
There were a couple of turning points in the story that really grabbed my attention, but the final cutscene of the SE was by far the standout. It was done so well, was so unexpected and very frightening. What an amazing way to end the game.
The biggest problem I have with this game is that the story has an open end and is quite abrupt, leaving you with "the adventure continues in the collector's edition." It felt to me like they started the CE story in the SE and want you to buy the CE. They really should have left it at a certain point, and if you play the game, you'll know what I mean. The fact that this game needs the CE to complete is horrible and for that I will take off one star automatically.
There were a couple of turning points in the story that really grabbed my attention, but the final cutscene of the SE was by far the standout. It was done so well, was so unexpected and very frightening. What an amazing way to end the game.
The biggest problem I have with this game is that the story has an open end and is quite abrupt, leaving you with "the adventure continues in the collector's edition." It felt to me like they started the CE story in the SE and want you to buy the CE. They really should have left it at a certain point, and if you play the game, you'll know what I mean. The fact that this game needs the CE to complete is horrible and for that I will take off one star automatically.
The gameplay left a lot to be desired. The HOS were great, and they were few and far between, which left more focus on the adventure (something I absolutely love). What I also loved is that the hint in the HOS allowed you to choose a specific item for the hint to show. I have wanted this in HOPA games for a long, long time and to see it here is great. I also really liked the puzzles. They were different, unusual and very challenging. There were a lot more puzzles than HOS and they always revealed something really important to the game (such as the missing door piece or a missing item that would take you into the next scene). I enjoyed this as it felt like a sense of achievement after working so hard to complete the puzzle.
Where this game really comes unstuck is the adventure component. The hint is virtually useless outside HOS as, instead of directing you to a certain scene if there is nothing to do, it simply states "there is nothing to do here" and does not help until you stumble (and yes, "stumble" is the most accurate word) into the correct scene. The map is not that great either as it simply marks off areas of interest, so the game essentially relies on the player's memory of where scenes are. With a mountain of scenes and so many different things to do, I eventually became lost and confused and had to consult the walkthrough on numerous occasions. Even then I usually just ended up stumbling into the right areas, which may have contributed to the clunky mess that the story ended up becoming. The adventure component of the game was very, very challenging, but there was just too much to see, do and remember, and it really brought the fun factor down. The game is in desperate need of a strategy guide (also a CE exclusive) and I was nearly turned off from buying it because of that. I am so glad the adventure component improves in the second game.
Where this game really comes unstuck is the adventure component. The hint is virtually useless outside HOS as, instead of directing you to a certain scene if there is nothing to do, it simply states "there is nothing to do here" and does not help until you stumble (and yes, "stumble" is the most accurate word) into the correct scene. The map is not that great either as it simply marks off areas of interest, so the game essentially relies on the player's memory of where scenes are. With a mountain of scenes and so many different things to do, I eventually became lost and confused and had to consult the walkthrough on numerous occasions. Even then I usually just ended up stumbling into the right areas, which may have contributed to the clunky mess that the story ended up becoming. The adventure component of the game was very, very challenging, but there was just too much to see, do and remember, and it really brought the fun factor down. The game is in desperate need of a strategy guide (also a CE exclusive) and I was nearly turned off from buying it because of that. I am so glad the adventure component improves in the second game.
The graphics of the game were fantastic. Everything was clear, creepy and felt right. Dark and ominous colours were used to match the feeling of the game. The voice-overs were even better. They picked the perfect guy to voice the serial killer and he delivered the lines perfectly for a quality game. Absolutely fantastic.
FEATURES
- 2 modes of difficulty: Casual and Expert. I played on Expert, removing sparkles (except HOS) and giving a longer hint recharge speed.
- Diary- very good for noting down story events
- Map- not interactive and doesn't help much.
- Hint- love it in HOS but outside HOS it is virtually useless
- 2 modes of difficulty: Casual and Expert. I played on Expert, removing sparkles (except HOS) and giving a longer hint recharge speed.
- Diary- very good for noting down story events
- Map- not interactive and doesn't help much.
- Hint- love it in HOS but outside HOS it is virtually useless
CE OR SE?
If I had to recommend a version of this game, it is definitely the CE. This game NEEDS a strategy guide and the game does not end conclusively. If you want to be fully satisfied, CE it is.
If I had to recommend a version of this game, it is definitely the CE. This game NEEDS a strategy guide and the game does not end conclusively. If you want to be fully satisfied, CE it is.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
I played on expert mode and the game lasted about 3.5 to 4 hours.
I played on expert mode and the game lasted about 3.5 to 4 hours.
Overall, this was a decent game, but there is a lot that could be better. Due to the clunky story and extremely difficult, huge, almost game-ruining, adventure component, I was going to give it four stars. However, due to the inconclusive ending of the SE, I (regretfully) bump it down to 3 stars. Despite the rating, the game is quite good, but I strongly, strongly advise you get the CE.
I recommend this game!
Yuletide Legends: The Brothers Claus Collector's Edition
Can you save the holidays before it's too late?
Overall rating
1
/
5
20 of 30 found this review helpful
I Know What I DON'T Want for Christmas
PostedDecember 15, 2016
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON 33 MINUTES OF DEMO (all I could take!)
I usually love Christmas games and there are so many great ones out there, so when Daily Magic (one of my favourite developers) jumped on board, I was so eager to try it. What a let down. There was not a single positive thing about it. This is definitely a Christmas nightmare that I won't be asking for these holidays.
Where to start with the story? After an eventless opening, it continued dull and lifeless, with no zest, no excitement, no twists, absolutely nothing. I made half an hour through the demo and not a single noteworthy thing happened. It was one of the most slow stories I've ever come across and really should have been a lot faster or at least had some sort of attraction to it. In addition it seemed so similar to all previous stories (evil man tries to destroy town) by this developer that the only thing distinguishing it was the Christmas theme. I tried as hard as I could to make it to the end of the demo but there was absolutely no reason to try. I was bored to tears by the time I finally quit and was actually prompted to write a review for the first time in nearly a year just to tell you all how bad it was. Really dull, boring story.
What usually wins me over with this developer is the gameplay, but that was a little off too. I usually love the HOS but they seemed so hum-drum and cookie cutter and not at all different. The puzzles were okay, nothing special. There was a little magical star feature you got to overcome dark magic, which was activated by a match 3 game. That was fun the first time but 3 times in half an hour makes it an overused chore. The adventure part of the game was very simple. It was easy, did not require much thinking, and there was not much to do in each area. I was pleased with the minimal amount of backtacking, and the jump map saves even more time. Overall, though, quite dull gameplay that brings nothing new to the table.
The graphics of the game were probably the best part. They used a lot of bright colours perfectly suited to the Christmas theme. Scenes were clear and with just the right amount of brightness, so good job.
FEATURES
- 4 modes of difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard and Custom. I played Medium and it was set well; no indicators, no sparkles, no help on the map, decent hint speed
- Elf Star- already explained this; didn't like it at all.
- + objects
- Mouse helper, Holly- didn't stick around long enough to find the use but in the few minutes I played with the helper present it was used once in a puzzle. Didn't make a difference to the game at all, didn't seem relevant to the story either.
- 4 modes of difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard and Custom. I played Medium and it was set well; no indicators, no sparkles, no help on the map, decent hint speed
- Elf Star- already explained this; didn't like it at all.
- + objects
- Mouse helper, Holly- didn't stick around long enough to find the use but in the few minutes I played with the helper present it was used once in a puzzle. Didn't make a difference to the game at all, didn't seem relevant to the story either.
CE EXCLUSIVES
- Bonus Chapter
- Morphing Objects
- Collectable figurines
- Developer Diary
- Wallpaper
- Concept Art
- Soundtrack
- Match 3 puzzles
- Achievements
- Bonus puzzles
- Bonus Chapter
- Morphing Objects
- Collectable figurines
- Developer Diary
- Wallpaper
- Concept Art
- Soundtrack
- Match 3 puzzles
- Achievements
- Bonus puzzles
CE OR SE?
I personally recommend neither, but if you enjoy this game, I fully recommend the SE. The CE bonus content is not enough to warrant a CE purchase.
I personally recommend neither, but if you enjoy this game, I fully recommend the SE. The CE bonus content is not enough to warrant a CE purchase.
Overall, this was such a dull and lifeless game with nothing positive to write about. There are so many better Christmas games out there that I wouldn't bother with this one.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you escape the mysterious musician's melody?
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
A Monumental Step Down
PostedApril 29, 2016
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
(NOTE: Usually I'd have "WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON" and "WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY" in SE reviews, but I have not payed the CE, so these will be absent)
Cadenza is one of my favourite game series, given its two stellar predecessors. Therefore it's to be expected that any subsequent Cadenza game has extremely high expectations. Unfortunately this game didn't come anywhere close to matching those expectations.
The story was just... odd. I don't know how else to describe it. While the story did have some good twists, I didn't like the fact that it was non-linear, a deviance from the first two Cadenza games, and I felt that it just lacked that little something that enthralled me with the first two games. I also felt it lacked excitement, despite the twists, and I didn't feel like I could relate to or sympathise with the character, unlike the first two games. I was disappointed to see the story really rescind on the scare factor, something which I adored about the last game. It did have some shocking moments but even they were a little flat. The demo did end on a nice cliffhanger, but other than that, the story was just average.
The gameplay also really lacked that spark from the first two games. I did like the HOS, though. I thought they were extremely fun and I appreciated the large variety they came in, from standard junkpile, to form the item, to progressive junkpile, there was any type of HOS you could imagine, basically. The four in the demo period gave the impression there would be more than enough throughout the game. The HOS were probably my favourite part of the game, in all honesty.
The puzzles were a bit of a hit and miss for me. While I liked that some were directly in line with the story (such as the gun and trumpet puzzles), I found others to be annoying. There were four puzzles in the demo, so it seems there will be a decent number.
Where this game seriously fell flat, however, was the adventure component. In contrast to previous games from this developer, the adventure component was incredibly light, almost nonexistent. Instead it was pushed to the backseat while HOS and puzzles took the driver's seat. Not only that, but the adventure component was also incredibly easy, which was really disappointing. In previous Mad Head games there has been at least some challenge, but here there was absolutely none. If a game is easy, it can usually be saved by decent features, but all this game had was + objects. The + objects were done well, though. I liked that there was an indicator to show when they could be used. But, in general, the gameplay component was really poor. Once pioneers in HOPA game innovation, the gameplay component of this game just seemed incomparably average.
The puzzles were a bit of a hit and miss for me. While I liked that some were directly in line with the story (such as the gun and trumpet puzzles), I found others to be annoying. There were four puzzles in the demo, so it seems there will be a decent number.
Where this game seriously fell flat, however, was the adventure component. In contrast to previous games from this developer, the adventure component was incredibly light, almost nonexistent. Instead it was pushed to the backseat while HOS and puzzles took the driver's seat. Not only that, but the adventure component was also incredibly easy, which was really disappointing. In previous Mad Head games there has been at least some challenge, but here there was absolutely none. If a game is easy, it can usually be saved by decent features, but all this game had was + objects. The + objects were done well, though. I liked that there was an indicator to show when they could be used. But, in general, the gameplay component was really poor. Once pioneers in HOPA game innovation, the gameplay component of this game just seemed incomparably average.
Sorry to sound picky here, but even the graphics weren't up to their usual best. I really didn't like the close-up slides on characters and scenes. It gave the game a cartoonish feel and really affected the quality of the game. The scenes and cutscenes were clear but the poor decision to add the slides really let the game down in terms of quality.
The voice-overs were standard and I had no problem with them.
The voice-overs were standard and I had no problem with them.
FEATURES
- 4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played advanced. There were no sparkles anywhere except HOS
- Hint/Skip- Hint recharges at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is helpful outside HOS.
Map- In advanced mode the map was still pretty helpful, showing the user objectives to be completed in scenes.
+ objects- These were done well. I liked that they had an indicator.
- 4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played advanced. There were no sparkles anywhere except HOS
- Hint/Skip- Hint recharges at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is helpful outside HOS.
Map- In advanced mode the map was still pretty helpful, showing the user objectives to be completed in scenes.
+ objects- These were done well. I liked that they had an indicator.
Overall, I felt this game was nowhere near the standards of its predecessor and, even with the Cadenza name taken out of the equation, was still an average game at best. This game is a Havana Nightmare. It's difficult to believe this game has come from Mad Head games.
I don't recommend this game.
Is your husband-to-be guilty of betrayal – or even worse?
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 18 found this review helpful
One of the Best Games of 2015, If Not All Time
PostedApril 24, 2016
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 SE
The follow-up to Cadenza: Music, Betrayal and Death, Mad Head's newest offering, Kiss of Death, certainly had big shoes to fill. Well, this was an absolutely OUTSTANDING game! Not only did it fill those shoes but, dare I say it, this was actually better than the original!
The story was absolutely phenomenal. It was in a world of its own, a stand above other HOPA stories. Everything about the story was stunning from start to finish. From a good opening, to great twists, to heart-pumping anxiety-ridden moments, this story had it all. The game kicked into gear immediately with a great opening and an almost immediate shocking twist, and didn't stop there. It was just one shocking moment after another, but the brilliant thing is, it maintained a steady pace and logical flow, and everything made sense. The twists came at just the right time, so when you thought you had everything figured out, the game threw something new at you, which I really appreciated. What made this story stand out for me was it wasn't afraid to go above and beyond with the scare factor. I like a scary story, and this game went where games had never gone before, and it did scare me! It just made everything so much better.
The ending to the game was also pretty good, if a little confusing. It was never fully explained what the motives of the villain were, except for a couple of sentences. I did skip the last puzzle, so maybe that would have explained it. If that's the explanation, that's poor from the developers and should have been shown regardless of the skip. The ending itself though was shocking yet conclusive, a fitting end to the story.
Overall, a brilliant story, which set the foundation for a solid game.
The ending to the game was also pretty good, if a little confusing. It was never fully explained what the motives of the villain were, except for a couple of sentences. I did skip the last puzzle, so maybe that would have explained it. If that's the explanation, that's poor from the developers and should have been shown regardless of the skip. The ending itself though was shocking yet conclusive, a fitting end to the story.
Overall, a brilliant story, which set the foundation for a solid game.
The great story was complimented by equally great gameplay. It's come to be expected from these developers that the gameplay is unique, something different, and that's just what we got here. The game just had slightly different touches which made it a lot more fun. The HOS, for example, were a delight to play, came in many different forms, and were spaced out evenly. Whether it was standard junkpile, form the item, pairs, or a mix of pictures and word clues, the HOS were wonderful and I loved them all. They did get more frequent towards the end of the game, but that's the only real negative. At 12, there was a decent amount.
The puzzles were good too. They varied in difficulty and, for the most part, were very fun, with some unique puzzles there as well. In my eyes, some puzzles had some very unclear instructions, especially the gas station one and the punchcard one. The punchcard one drove me INSANE, to the point where I had to go into the forums and, finally, the walkthrough. The clue for the punchcard looked nothing like the answer! It was very frustrating. Other than that, I found no problem. The puzzles were spaced out well and there was a decent number of them, at 7.
The puzzles were good too. They varied in difficulty and, for the most part, were very fun, with some unique puzzles there as well. In my eyes, some puzzles had some very unclear instructions, especially the gas station one and the punchcard one. The punchcard one drove me INSANE, to the point where I had to go into the forums and, finally, the walkthrough. The clue for the punchcard looked nothing like the answer! It was very frustrating. Other than that, I found no problem. The puzzles were spaced out well and there was a decent number of them, at 7.
I also found the adventure component was good too. The only special feature was the + objects (always fun), so the game was fairly simple in design and easy to get around. The adventure component was definitely prominent but took a backseat to HOS and puzzles. I found that there was a lot of jumping from HOS to puzzles, which annoyed me a little. I also found that the adventure component, despite it being fun and unique, was quite easy. I haven't played a HOPA in months and I was able to get around this with little to no trouble.
As always, I found the graphics superb. There was a vast array of colours, with crystal clear scenes and visually stunning artwork. The character designs were realistic, as always. Everything was clear and I did not once encounter hazy, fuzzy or pixelated scenes, or have to adjust brightness on my computer.
The voice-overs were fine for the most part, but the plant shop man's voice-over annoyed me to no end. It was a slow, monotonic drawl, and it just drove me up the wall, to the point where I couldn't wait to get his dialogue over with.
The voice-overs were fine for the most part, but the plant shop man's voice-over annoyed me to no end. It was a slow, monotonic drawl, and it just drove me up the wall, to the point where I couldn't wait to get his dialogue over with.
FEATURES
- 5 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Extra-Hard and Custom. I played advanced. In advanced, the only sparkles were on HOS, which I liked.
- Hint & Skip- recharged at a decent speed for advanced and hint was helpful outside HOS.
- Map- Even on advanced, the map still sparkled and gave hints. I found the map quite useful.
- + objects- These were a fun addition to the game. There was an indicator as to when they could be used, which I really enjoyed.
- 5 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Extra-Hard and Custom. I played advanced. In advanced, the only sparkles were on HOS, which I liked.
- Hint & Skip- recharged at a decent speed for advanced and hint was helpful outside HOS.
- Map- Even on advanced, the map still sparkled and gave hints. I found the map quite useful.
- + objects- These were a fun addition to the game. There was an indicator as to when they could be used, which I really enjoyed.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE?
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show locations of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible golden tickets- one in every scene Since there is a “ticket hunt” in the bonus content, I'm guessing that means you have to collect all of them to access it.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS.
Ticket Hunt
Treasure Hunt
Case Files
Match 3
Replay HOS
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show locations of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible golden tickets- one in every scene Since there is a “ticket hunt” in the bonus content, I'm guessing that means you have to collect all of them to access it.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS.
Ticket Hunt
Treasure Hunt
Case Files
Match 3
Replay HOS
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE does have some decent features, so if you're big on features, go with CE. However, I found the SE to be of significant value, so I would recommend that.
The CE does have some decent features, so if you're big on features, go with CE. However, I found the SE to be of significant value, so I would recommend that.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
The game was a decent length. I didn't time my gameplay but I estimate it to be around 3 hours on advanced mode.
The game was a decent length. I didn't time my gameplay but I estimate it to be around 3 hours on advanced mode.
WOULD I PLAY THIS GAME AGAIN?
Absolutely. Ten times over. This was one of the best games of 2015. It's a superb addition to my library that will not gain dust on the shelf.
Absolutely. Ten times over. This was one of the best games of 2015. It's a superb addition to my library that will not gain dust on the shelf.
Overall, this was a near-perfect game, with a superb story, complimented by fantastic fun and unique gameplay. There is no choice other than to give it five stars. This was one of the best games of 2015 and I could not recommend this game highly enough for the absolute masterpiece it is. This is arguably this developer's best work.
I recommend this game!
A scream in the night... a brutal crime... a mysterious figure with eyes red as blood. Can you get to the heart of this shocking murder?
Overall rating
1
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Good Potential. Poor Execution
PostedDecember 14, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
The Dark Tales series is one of my favourites of all time, so I get excited whenever I see a new release. I was concerned when I saw all the negative reviews, and now, having played it, I understand why. This game had such high potential, but was so poorly executed.
The story was the best part of the game, but even that lacked good execution. There was a warning about disturbing scenes and violence, and I wasn't disappointed with the opening. It was well crafted, gripping, and made me want more. From there, the story slowed down a bit to the point where it got a little boring. It just crawled along at a steady pace with not many twists and turns and got a little predictable. The supposed "cliffhanger" to end the demo with was also executed quite poorly, and was not in the least exciting. I feel like a lot more could and should have been done with it. A wonderful opening soon turned into a lackluster affair. I feel this story could get good as the game progresses, but I'm not willing to take that chance.
The gameplay was an absolute nightmare. It just seemed to be one HOS or puzzle after another with very little in between. For a so-called "adventure" game, there was very little adventuring to do, maybe a max of two or three things to do per scene, which is nowhere near enough. The HOS and Puzzles were absolutely everywhere, were incredibly easy, and just got very boring very fast, and the one puzzle that wasn't easy was just confusing. I found the gameplay was quite basic, too, with very straightforward tasks that required little to no thinking, and minimal special features (only one being + objects) and even they got annoying. I had to visit my little box several times throughout the demo, and in the end, just got annoyed with it. As with the story, I feel like the gameplay had a lot more potential. I would safely say that this game was completely ruined by poor execution of gameplay, and that is such a shame.
The graphics were the standard for ERS- beautifully drawn with a sense of antiquity about them. Lovely character designs, visually appealing, realistic scenes. Very nice.
Unfortunately, the voice overs weren't so nice. They were over-acted, with Dupin's especially being dragged out and annoying. I wasn't impressed with the voice-overs at all.
Unfortunately, the voice overs weren't so nice. They were over-acted, with Dupin's especially being dragged out and annoying. I wasn't impressed with the voice-overs at all.
FEATURES
- 4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I tried advanced, but the hint speed was too slow, so I had to customise it. Otherwise it was a good difficulty.
- Hint/Skip- on advanced it was 80 seconds, which was too long. Hint is useful outside HOS.
- Map- there is a map, but I had no need to use it, as the game had very little adventure component.
- + objects: some were good, others bad. There was a great indicator though which clearly showed when an object could be used.
- 4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I tried advanced, but the hint speed was too slow, so I had to customise it. Otherwise it was a good difficulty.
- Hint/Skip- on advanced it was 80 seconds, which was too long. Hint is useful outside HOS.
- Map- there is a map, but I had no need to use it, as the game had very little adventure component.
- + objects: some were good, others bad. There was a great indicator though which clearly showed when an object could be used.
CE EXCLUSIVES
- Bonus Chapter
- Built-in Strategy Guide
- Achievements
- A few collectibles
- Concept Art
- Wallpaper
- Screensaver
- Music
- Replay HOS & Puzzles
- Bonus Chapter
- Built-in Strategy Guide
- Achievements
- A few collectibles
- Concept Art
- Wallpaper
- Screensaver
- Music
- Replay HOS & Puzzles
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
DEFINITELY go with the SE. There is no content in the CE that is worth those extra dollars.
DEFINITELY go with the SE. There is no content in the CE that is worth those extra dollars.
To sum it up, this game is just one giant load of wasted potential. It had a promising storyline, but was ruined by poor execution. This game is a bad mark on the series.
I don't recommend this game.
A great evil unlocks deep within Ravenhearst!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 6 found this review helpful
A Creepy and Highly Enjoyable Game
PostedDecember 7, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I haven't played a HOPA for months, but when the new MCF came out, I had to break that drought. I was nervous with new developer (Eipix) and this being the fourth game in the Ravenhearst series, but this game definitely put my doubts to rest.
The story carries the warning that this is intended for mature audiences, so I expected something good, and that's what I got. The story has a good, scary start with a great creep factor and an overall steady, logical flow to the events. I liked the fact that the game filled you in on the history of Ravenhearst (in the form of a puzzle), and I liked that the story was still managed to be kept interesting, despite the lack of twists in the demo. The twists were rare, but when they did come, they were good, and they left me on the edge of my seat wanting more. This is a very strong, interesting story with a high level of creep factor, which is great for people like me.
The gameplay was very pleasant. I loved the HOPA scenes, which were plentiful and challenging and of a good length. The HOPA scenes were mainly just list junkpile, with one silhouette junkpile. The puzzles were also quite good, with a mixture of challenging and easy puzzles. I also liked the fact that there was a super puzzle in there, which I loved about Fate's Carnival and have been watching for the return of them ever since. Furthermore, I liked that there was only one in the demo, which improves the overall enjoyment, due to their rarity. The adventure component was fantastic. It had a very prominent presence, unlike other Eipix games, which lack on the adventure component. The adventure component wasn't too easy but wasn't too hard either, which I liked. Despite the fact that I think the developers played it safe on the adventure component due to the lack of special features (+ objects only), I still felt the game had a strong feeling of uniqueness about it, which made it more enjoyable. Overall, I really liked the gameplay and felt it was evenly balanced between HOS, puzzles and adventure, and it made for a much more enjoyable experience.
The graphics of the game were the usual performance from Eipix, with some great detail and colours in the scenes, as well as realistic character designs. I liked the colour scheme the game provided as it didn't seem too heavy on one certain colour and the colours were visually appealing. I liked the voice-overs too, which were acted well.
FEATURES
- 4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played Advanced, which had objective indicators only, no sparkles and a good hint.
- Hint & skip- both charged at a decent speed for advanced mode and the hint was very helpful
- Map- The map was interactive and helpful, only giving objective locations.
- + objects- they were decent and generally only required 1 or 2 objects to complete. They were a fun feature and the indicator was clearly visible at all times.
- 4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played Advanced, which had objective indicators only, no sparkles and a good hint.
- Hint & skip- both charged at a decent speed for advanced mode and the hint was very helpful
- Map- The map was interactive and helpful, only giving objective locations.
- + objects- they were decent and generally only required 1 or 2 objects to complete. They were a fun feature and the indicator was clearly visible at all times.
CE EXCLUSIVES
- Bonus Chapter
- Built-in Strategy Guide
- Collectible "Signs" (40)
- Achievements
- Replay HOS & Puzzles
- Music
- Souvenir Room
- Art Gallery
- Bonus Chapter
- Built-in Strategy Guide
- Collectible "Signs" (40)
- Achievements
- Replay HOS & Puzzles
- Music
- Souvenir Room
- Art Gallery
CE OR SE?
Definitely pick the SE. The CE has very little bonus content aside from the standard stuff, so I don't see it as worth the extra dollars. I think the game will be more enjoyable as a SE.
Definitely pick the SE. The CE has very little bonus content aside from the standard stuff, so I don't see it as worth the extra dollars. I think the game will be more enjoyable as a SE.
Despite the fact that I think MCF's best days are well behind them, I still found this game to be highly enjoyable and would definitely recommend it to anyone. This is one of the creepiest games of the series, and it has a great storyline with solid gameplay.
I recommend this game!
Is your husband-to-be guilty of betrayal – or even worse?
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Brilliance. Pure and Simple.
PostedApril 8, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Last year's Cadenza game was great, so obviously, this sequel had high expectations from me. After playing the demo, I can say that this game has not only met those expectations, but exceeded them tremendously!
The story, in one word, was BRILLIANT. The story's concept was fantastic and its execution even better. It grabbed me with an interesting opening and did not let go. From there, everything escalated. The story was the perfect mix of suspense and drama. It got to the point where each cutscene had me shocked, excited and wanting to play on. Not for a single second did I lose interest in the story. What it did best was make me feel like it was actually me experiencing the events of the game. One of the cutscenes even made me jump! It's the first time in a long time that I've actually been scared by a game, so kudos to the developers for that.
As well as the drama, the story had some surprising twists. I loved each and every one, as they added to the story tremendously, but the one I especially loved was the demo's end. The demo's end is meant to be a cliffhanger, and boy, was it a cliffhanger! It was the most unexpected twist in the demo and I loved it. Now I am desperately trying to control myself so I get the SE and not the CE!
Overall, amazing story. It was just faultless.
As well as the drama, the story had some surprising twists. I loved each and every one, as they added to the story tremendously, but the one I especially loved was the demo's end. The demo's end is meant to be a cliffhanger, and boy, was it a cliffhanger! It was the most unexpected twist in the demo and I loved it. Now I am desperately trying to control myself so I get the SE and not the CE!
Overall, amazing story. It was just faultless.
As good as the story was, I think the gameplay was even better! It was unique, creative and most of all, fun! I really enjoyed the HOS. They were jazzed up, so they were just that little bit different from the norm, yet they weren't overly interactive either. The majority of the HOS were assemble the item, but each one was slightly modified, so I never felt like I was playing the same thing, which is great. Despite most being assemble the item, there was also one scene which was a mixture of junkpile and place the item, which I really enjoyed. This lot of HOS is probably the most varied I've come across and I was never bored with them. I also found them to be a great challenge. Usually the HOS are so easy I breeze through them, but these weren't. I had to use the hint quite a few times!
As well as being awesome, the HOS were in a good quantity. There were 3 in the demo and they were well spaced out.
As well as being awesome, the HOS were in a good quantity. There were 3 in the demo and they were well spaced out.
The puzzles, while not as good as the HOS, were still enjoyable. The majority of puzzles were enjoyable and easy, and I especially liked how they were unique. This was just another example of the developer's creativity. The only puzzle I didn't like was the one where I had to press down the wedges to unlock the secret compartment. It was very annoying, confusing and unclear. I had to look at the SG multiple times to solve it, which was a little embarrassing. Other than that, the puzzles were good. The demo had a good quantity (4) and they were well spaced out.
I LOVED the adventure component! It was prominent, it was creative, and it was FUN! I really love the creativity the developer has put in here. So much about the game was unique and I loved every second of it. Some great examples of this were the opening game where I had to find the clues to unlock the box- which was a great way to grab my attention- and the fingerprinting game. This was great as it allowed me to get involved in the game, instead of just having to sit through a cutscene,which is what would have happened a couple of years ago. Lots of things were interactive, or involved some kind of minigame, which I really enjoyed. Furthermore, I loved how prominent the adventure was. There was lots of it, lots of things to do, places to see, and it made the game more enjoyable. It progressed at a steady pace so I had time to explore, but it wasn't just flying through the game either.
The game also had a good level of challenge. It wasn't too easy, but not too hard either. I find it annoying when games are overly complex, as they take away from the game's enjoyment factor. But then again, games that are too easy do that too, so I was glad to have a mix in there. Well done to the developers for this.
I liked the difficulty levels. There are 5, including custom, with one level having no help at all, not even icon changes, which is fantastic for those seeking challenge. I played advanced, and was relieved to see no sparkles anywhere (except on HOS). The map had still had sparkles though, which was kind of annoying. Everything else was fine.
The game also had a good level of challenge. It wasn't too easy, but not too hard either. I find it annoying when games are overly complex, as they take away from the game's enjoyment factor. But then again, games that are too easy do that too, so I was glad to have a mix in there. Well done to the developers for this.
I liked the difficulty levels. There are 5, including custom, with one level having no help at all, not even icon changes, which is fantastic for those seeking challenge. I played advanced, and was relieved to see no sparkles anywhere (except on HOS). The map had still had sparkles though, which was kind of annoying. Everything else was fine.
The game does not have much in the way of additional features. The only one present is the + objects. Normally I would be annoyed at the lack of features, but this game more than makes up for it with the creative adventure. The + objects are done well. There is an indication of when they can be used, and there is a variety too. Some required only interaction, others required items to be added. They weren't overused, but there was a good number.
Overall, brilliant gameplay. Almost impossible to fault.
Overall, brilliant gameplay. Almost impossible to fault.
The graphics were great. I really liked the detail and realism that was present in all scenes, cutscenes especially. All scenes were clear; not once were they fuzzy. Furthermore, I really liked the character designs. I applaud the developers for putting in an African-American hero for a change! While it didn't make any difference to my enjoyment for the game, it's just nice to have that change from the white female hero. The characters have lip-synch too, which was great.
The voice-overs were standard. I liked the accents. Contrary to the first game in the series, none of the voices annoyed me.
The voice-overs were standard. I liked the accents. Contrary to the first game in the series, none of the voices annoyed me.
FEATURES
5 modes of difficulty: (they had fancy names but I can't remember them) Casual, Advanced, Hard, Extra Hard and Custom. I loved the vast array of difficulties as it caters for everyone. I played Advanced. There were only sparkles on HOS, but still map sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent rate for advanced. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map was interactive and helpful. My only problem is that it has sparkles on advanced still.
+ Objects- These are executed well and have a bit of variety to them. There was an indication of when they could be used, which was great. Also they weren't overused.
5 modes of difficulty: (they had fancy names but I can't remember them) Casual, Advanced, Hard, Extra Hard and Custom. I loved the vast array of difficulties as it caters for everyone. I played Advanced. There were only sparkles on HOS, but still map sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent rate for advanced. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map was interactive and helpful. My only problem is that it has sparkles on advanced still.
+ Objects- These are executed well and have a bit of variety to them. There was an indication of when they could be used, which was great. Also they weren't overused.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show locations of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible golden tickets- one in every scene Since there is a “ticket hunt” in the bonus content, I'm guessing that means you have to collect all of them to access it.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS.
Ticket Hunt
Treasure Hunt
Case Files
Match 3
Replay HOS
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show locations of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible golden tickets- one in every scene Since there is a “ticket hunt” in the bonus content, I'm guessing that means you have to collect all of them to access it.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS.
Ticket Hunt
Treasure Hunt
Case Files
Match 3
Replay HOS
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE has some great value, so I would say it is worth the extra purchase, especially for those who like collectibles. However, as I find collectibles to be distracting, I'm going to go with the SE. But if you don't, go with the CE.
The CE has some great value, so I would say it is worth the extra purchase, especially for those who like collectibles. However, as I find collectibles to be distracting, I'm going to go with the SE. But if you don't, go with the CE.
MY PROGRESS
The demo has 2 chapters, which I finished in 48 minutes.
The demo has 2 chapters, which I finished in 48 minutes.
I just can't believe how good MadHead really are. This is an exceptional game, with perfection on every level. There's no doubt in my mind this deserves 5 stars.
I recommend this game!
A meteorite devastates a town, yanking Emily from her normal life.
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
Why The Negativity? This is SUPERB!
PostedMarch 28, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I was intrigued by all the negative reviews, so I gave this one a spin. After playing this, I am BAFFLED by all the negativity! This was a fantastic game and I can't WAIT to see how it ends!
The story was good. Even so, I found the opening quite weak. It wasn't gripping at all, and I was thinking to myself that the story would be terrible. However, looks are deceiving! The story got so much better after that, with a great twist to engage me... and it never let go. I really like the concept of this story and I think it was done quite well. It flowed in a clear and logical direction, with steady pace, so I wasn't at all confused. Even with the steady pace, the story still had room for some great twists, and each one added suspense to the story, increasing its enjoyment. I really liked the plot development and I think the developers should be commended on that.
If I had to pick one fault with the story I would say that, for a game called House of 1000 Doors, the house was a rarity and instead the game focused more on portals and other worlds. I think that if the House is in the title, it needs to be featured more prominently. Also, there seemed to be a lack of antagonist, which was less than desirable. Otherwise, a great story.
If I had to pick one fault with the story I would say that, for a game called House of 1000 Doors, the house was a rarity and instead the game focused more on portals and other worlds. I think that if the House is in the title, it needs to be featured more prominently. Also, there seemed to be a lack of antagonist, which was less than desirable. Otherwise, a great story.
As much as I liked the story, I liked the gameplay even more, and it is my main reason for purchase. The HOS were pretty good. I enjoyed them very much, and especially liked their variety. The HOS came in the forms of progressive silhouette and assemble the item, with one of the progressive scenes being junkpile. I loved every single one, as they presented different levels of challenge. Over the incredibly long demo, I played 4 HOS, which was quite a good number, as it left more room for the adventure component.
I thought the puzzles were absolutely fantastic. Yes they were easy, but as I am not good at puzzles, I like them to be easy so I can have more fun, and that I did. I thought they were quite unique and found none of those boring puzzles I see in every game. This game actually made me enjoy puzzles, which is quite rare. However, as much as I loved them, I found some of the puzzles to have instructions that were very unclear. An example of this would be the last puzzle I played. The instructions did not tell me what to do and I just had to guess by clicking on random things, which was quite annoying. Other than that, though, the puzzles were great. Unlike the HOS, they were quite prominent; I played 9 in the demo. They were spaced out quite well.
I absolutely LOVED the adventure component! Not only was it EXTREMELY prominent, but it was also exceptionally fun. I did find it to be quite easy (I rarely had to use the hint), but I found that the ease of the game increased my enjoyment more as I did not have to worry about figuring out next. The adventure component was quite basic in nature, which contributed to its easiness, but it more than made up for it with the fun factor. The adventure component was almost perfect, but if I had to pick a fault with it, I would say the game had way too much backtracking. I was constantly going back and forth, and in some instances, going back three or four times to use an item. This was bearable at first, but became extremely annoying after a while. I really think the developers should have had less backtracking. I know it's unavoidable, but that much isn't necessary.
The difficulty levels were actually quite good. I played advanced and found there were no sparkles on interactive, only HOS, which is less than ideal, but something I can live with. The hint and skip recharged at a decent speed and there were NO MAP INDICATORS! Yaaaay! I'm so glad at least one developer has realised that advanced players don't need them! Fantastic job.
The difficulty levels were actually quite good. I played advanced and found there were no sparkles on interactive, only HOS, which is less than ideal, but something I can live with. The hint and skip recharged at a decent speed and there were NO MAP INDICATORS! Yaaaay! I'm so glad at least one developer has realised that advanced players don't need them! Fantastic job.
The additional features were fantastic and really were what made the game. There were three: + Objects, Powers and an animal helper. The + objects were done quite well. They weren't overused and there was some variation (some required interaction while others required other items to be added) and there was no difficulties in using them. However, I would have liked to see an indication of when they could be used.
The other feature was the powers, and while I LOVED this feature I thought that it was horribly overused, especially the Power of Light. There are 3 powers in the game, and all of them tie in to the story nicely. With the Power of Light, there is a nice minigame to accompany the usage. However, like I said, it was overused. It was used about twice in the space of 30 seconds, and just kept making repeated, and sometimes unwanted, appearances. I think overusing a feature kills its enjoyment. I get the Power of Light was part of the story too, but I really think they could have toned it down. The other power in the demo did not have a minigame, but tied in with the story also.
The other feature was the animal helper. It was used realistically and prominently, so it made its presence known. I also liked how this feature was involved in the story. I loved how the helpers are involved in the story! I feel that the helper made the game a lot more fun. Overall, the extra features have been done extremely well and made the game so much more enjoyable.
The other feature was the powers, and while I LOVED this feature I thought that it was horribly overused, especially the Power of Light. There are 3 powers in the game, and all of them tie in to the story nicely. With the Power of Light, there is a nice minigame to accompany the usage. However, like I said, it was overused. It was used about twice in the space of 30 seconds, and just kept making repeated, and sometimes unwanted, appearances. I think overusing a feature kills its enjoyment. I get the Power of Light was part of the story too, but I really think they could have toned it down. The other power in the demo did not have a minigame, but tied in with the story also.
The other feature was the animal helper. It was used realistically and prominently, so it made its presence known. I also liked how this feature was involved in the story. I loved how the helpers are involved in the story! I feel that the helper made the game a lot more fun. Overall, the extra features have been done extremely well and made the game so much more enjoyable.
I really liked the graphics. The game's scenes, the cutscenes especially, were quite clear and I love the colours used, as they matched the game's atmosphere perfectly. I also liked the character designs; they were very realistic, nicely drawn and even had lip-synch. I really liked the way the developers drew the evil characters too. The graphics have been done exceptionally well.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. I played advanced and was pleased to see no sparkles on interactive areas, as well as no map indicators.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for advanced and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- I was so glad to see this here, as it helped me keep track of events.
Map- The map was interactive and let you know when each location was completed, but it had NO map indicators! YAY!
+ Objects- These were done well, had variation and weren't overused. However, there was no indicator of when they could be used.
Powers- I liked them, but I felt that they were overused, the Power of Light especially. I liked how the Power of Light had a minigame.
Helper- I liked how the helper was involved in the story. The helper was used realistically and prominently.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. I played advanced and was pleased to see no sparkles on interactive areas, as well as no map indicators.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for advanced and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- I was so glad to see this here, as it helped me keep track of events.
Map- The map was interactive and let you know when each location was completed, but it had NO map indicators! YAY!
+ Objects- These were done well, had variation and weren't overused. However, there was no indicator of when they could be used.
Powers- I liked them, but I felt that they were overused, the Power of Light especially. I liked how the Power of Light had a minigame.
Helper- I liked how the helper was involved in the story. The helper was used realistically and prominently.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectibles- apparently they were there but I didn't spot any, nor did I attempt to.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Re-watch cutscenes.
“Making of”
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectibles- apparently they were there but I didn't spot any, nor did I attempt to.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Re-watch cutscenes.
“Making of”
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Definitely go with the SE. The CE bonus content is quite minimal.
Definitely go with the SE. The CE bonus content is quite minimal.
MY PROGRESS
The demo goes in to Chapter 3 but I'm unsure if it gets finished. The demo was incredibly long, lasting me 78 minutes.
The demo goes in to Chapter 3 but I'm unsure if it gets finished. The demo was incredibly long, lasting me 78 minutes.
I feel as if this has been judged way too harshly because of its failure to link to its predecessors. However, if people would just look past that, they would see this is a superb game. I enjoyed the demo from beginning to end and it will make a worthy addition to my collection. This earns a 4.5 star rating from me, which I'll round down to a four.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious Owl Man is terrorizing citizens!
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 38 found this review helpful
Worst Mystery Trackers EVER!
PostedMarch 27, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I love the Mystery Trackers series, and as soon as I heard about this one, I was excited. When it came out, I raced to play it, hoping it would be amazing. However, that facade has been shattered. This is not a very good game.
The story... well, for lack of kinder words, was atrocious. It was poorly executed and just didn't grab me like previous installments, which I think boils down to the opening. Instead of the surprising, suspense building openings Mystery Trackers has given me in the past, what I got was...a comic strip? Really? REALLY? This was a shocking decision market-wise. Instead of getting me interested, I was bored. The comic strip just made the game appear cheap and tacky and I didn't enjoy it at all.
After the opening, I was hoping the story would get better. It did, but not by much. In the beginning, some elements in the story bordered on silly fantasy rather than a dark mystery. Some of the happenings in the game just seemed ridiculous. The way the locals feared the other town (which I'll admit was explained in a puzzle later), the whole idea of an “Owl Man”, and that Romeo and Juliet reference? Please...
The story did have good flow and I liked how all the evidence tied in to the story and made it that little bit more interesting, but what it lacked was drama. I wanted to be scared, to fear, to be excited for what was happening next, and I didn't get that. I feel most of the game's story time was taken up by interviews (repeatedly, I went back to Mrs. Johnson to report) and deductions and didn't really give time for plot twists. The plot twists there were were kind of expected and didn't add shock value. Even the demo's ending, which is supposed to be a cliffhanger and make me want to pull out the credit card to see what happens next, was poorly done. It was flat, didn't excite me at all. Quite frankly the only excitement I got was realising the demo was over.
After the opening, I was hoping the story would get better. It did, but not by much. In the beginning, some elements in the story bordered on silly fantasy rather than a dark mystery. Some of the happenings in the game just seemed ridiculous. The way the locals feared the other town (which I'll admit was explained in a puzzle later), the whole idea of an “Owl Man”, and that Romeo and Juliet reference? Please...
The story did have good flow and I liked how all the evidence tied in to the story and made it that little bit more interesting, but what it lacked was drama. I wanted to be scared, to fear, to be excited for what was happening next, and I didn't get that. I feel most of the game's story time was taken up by interviews (repeatedly, I went back to Mrs. Johnson to report) and deductions and didn't really give time for plot twists. The plot twists there were were kind of expected and didn't add shock value. Even the demo's ending, which is supposed to be a cliffhanger and make me want to pull out the credit card to see what happens next, was poorly done. It was flat, didn't excite me at all. Quite frankly the only excitement I got was realising the demo was over.
The gameplay was only marginally better and was the saving grace for what otherwise would have been a terrible game. The HOS were actually quite good, possibly the best part of the game. I liked the variety they had- no HOS was the same- and I liked how they tied in to the story. For example, searching a suspect was a HOS, looking for a discarded item was a HOS... this was a great move and actually made me feel involved in the story. The HOS types were: assemble the item, slightly jazzed up junkpile and place the item. All three were fun and definitely contributed to raising the game's fun factor. For the demo's time (40 minutes) I found 3 HOS to be a good number. They were spaced out well too.
The puzzles were not enjoyable at all. They were all the same old I've seen before and it affected the fun factor quite significantly. It got to the point where I didn't even want to attempt them, I would just be so bored I would fiddle around with the game until the skip charged, and skip them. The only one I really liked was the story one, and that was because it explained a previously unexplained story event. I love it when puzzles do that and I hope to see it happen again some time soon. Other than that though, the puzzles were just boring and I would have been happy to see them removed from the game altogether. The amount of puzzles in the game was good, for those who like these puzzles (WHICH IS NOT ME). There were 4 all up in the demo and they were spaced out well.
For all the game's faults, the adventure component was okay. I found little to fault with it. I found it to be prominent and have its own presence in the game. Furthermore, the challenge factor was decent for a change. I did not find the game too easy or too hard, which was nice. I don't like a hard game, but I don't like it to be mind-numbingly easy either. I liked the additional of being able to pan around in scenes by clicking on arrows. I like to explore my scenes and this allowed me to that in greater detail, which I appreciate. The one thing I take issue with is that the game featured excessive backtracking. I was constantly picking up things in one scene and then retreating 2 or 3 scenes to use it, before returning to the original scene. It was bearable at first but then got very annoying. I'm lucky the hint was a teleporter. Overall, though, the adventure component stood out quite well compared to the rest of the game.
The difficulty levels were quite good. I liked how advanced had no sparkles anywhere, however, found map indicators, which was quite annoying. I also found the hint charged quite fast, given that it was advanced mode. Other than that, though, it was fine.
The difficulty levels were quite good. I liked how advanced had no sparkles anywhere, however, found map indicators, which was quite annoying. I also found the hint charged quite fast, given that it was advanced mode. Other than that, though, it was fine.
There are three additional features in this game: + objects, The Sight, and the helper. Some of these features are good, others are not. The + objects were done well. They were used a decent number of times and there was an indication of when they could be used, which was nice. However, I would have liked those indicators to be clearer.
The Sight was the feature I didn't like. While it advanced the story and provided some fun gameplay the first couple of times, every other time it just became boring. This is a key example of killing a feature due to overuse. Elephant have done this before and I really hope they don't do it again. Also, the deductions after The Sight had no voice-overs, which was disappointing. This had the potential to be a great feature but was executed poorly.
The other feature, of course, was Elf. Elf is a key character in MT and I am glad to see his return. However, what didn't gladden me was his sporadic usage. In other games, he is used frequently. In this one, he is a rarity. I only used him twice, I believe. This disappointed me as I like using animal helpers, especially Elf. If there is another MT game in the future, I would like to see Elf used a lot more.
The Sight was the feature I didn't like. While it advanced the story and provided some fun gameplay the first couple of times, every other time it just became boring. This is a key example of killing a feature due to overuse. Elephant have done this before and I really hope they don't do it again. Also, the deductions after The Sight had no voice-overs, which was disappointing. This had the potential to be a great feature but was executed poorly.
The other feature, of course, was Elf. Elf is a key character in MT and I am glad to see his return. However, what didn't gladden me was his sporadic usage. In other games, he is used frequently. In this one, he is a rarity. I only used him twice, I believe. This disappointed me as I like using animal helpers, especially Elf. If there is another MT game in the future, I would like to see Elf used a lot more.
The graphics were good. They were drawn with nice detail (save for the comic strip opening scene). I think Elephant could have benefited from using more colours, as I saw only a couple of colours used. All scenes were clear, and the character designs were good. There is lip-synch on the characters too, which is great.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. I played Advanced. I liked how there were no sparkles, but there were map indicators.
Hint/Skip- I think they charged a little too fast for advanced mode, however, I liked how the hint acted as a telporter.
Diary- Keeps track of events. There are two sections: one for notes, one for suspects.
Map- The map was helpful and interactive, but unfortunately, featured indicators.
+ Objects- They are done well. Nice amount, but indicators could have been clearer.
The Sight- It was fun the first 2 times, but its fun was killed due to overuse. Also, I was disappointed that the scenes after didn't have voice-overs.
Elf- I liked this feature, but felt it wasn't used enough, especially in comparison to other games in the series.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. I played Advanced. I liked how there were no sparkles, but there were map indicators.
Hint/Skip- I think they charged a little too fast for advanced mode, however, I liked how the hint acted as a telporter.
Diary- Keeps track of events. There are two sections: one for notes, one for suspects.
Map- The map was helpful and interactive, but unfortunately, featured indicators.
+ Objects- They are done well. Nice amount, but indicators could have been clearer.
The Sight- It was fun the first 2 times, but its fun was killed due to overuse. Also, I was disappointed that the scenes after didn't have voice-overs.
Elf- I liked this feature, but felt it wasn't used enough, especially in comparison to other games in the series.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show Collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible figurines
Collectible morphing objects- one in every scene
Wallpapers (9)
Concept Art (9)
Soundtrack
Secret Room
Vending Machine- there are collectible coins to spend here
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show Collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible figurines
Collectible morphing objects- one in every scene
Wallpapers (9)
Concept Art (9)
Soundtrack
Secret Room
Vending Machine- there are collectible coins to spend here
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I would definitely advise you to go for the SE. CE content was minimal.
I would definitely advise you to go for the SE. CE content was minimal.
MY PROGRESS
There are 3 chapters in the demo, which I finished in 40 minutes.
There are 3 chapters in the demo, which I finished in 40 minutes.
This game is a blemish on what has otherwise been a great series. It even beats out Raincliff's Phantoms as the worst Mystery Trackers game I've played. It turns out, unfortunately, that the only “horror” in this game is the game itself. It earns a 2 star rating from me.
I don't recommend this game.
The Rat King's wand has fallen into the hands of a vengeful baron. Team up with your new friend, the Tin Soldier, to stop him!
Overall rating
5
/
5
30 of 31 found this review helpful
A Perfect Piece of Christmas Magic
PostedMarch 27, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED CE
I'm really not a fan of Fantasy games- I'm more of a murder mystery fan- but this one has changed my mind completely. The game I have played has both enthralled me and left me awaiting a sequel. It just goes to show that even the darkest of hearts can be touched by a little Christmas Magic.
When I first saw the blurb, and when I began playing, I was worried. The storyline's concept sounded very similar to that of The Nutcracker, and I thought that I was just going to get a rehashed version of the original. But as I played on, I found that I couldn't be more wrong! This story definitely stands alone in its own right. And I loved that it had a touch of darkness, delivered by a perfectly executed backstory. The backstory was exciting and added that little something to stop this from being an all out cutesy, which definitely would not have sat well with me. Each segment had me wanting more, which is what a backstory should set out to do. Even with the fantastic backstory, the main game still had some great, unexpected plot developments which kept me going all the way to the end. Seriously, I've underestimated how much plot depth a fantasy story can have. All elements of fantasy were executed to perfection. There was magic, there was cuteness, there was love... and they all blended together in perfect harmony. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of the cute and cuddly, but it was toned to just the right level to make my heart melt without being sickly sweet. It was fantastic and made me feel good, which is what I look for in games.
But, as I said, the story wasn't all about cuteness. I thought the plot twists were great and unexpected, which is what kept me going when the backstory drew to a close. Furthermore, the twists were spaced out well, so I wasn't bombarded with cutscenes. If I had to pick something wrong with the story, I would say that maybe they should have spiced up the excitement a little bit more- there were a couple of times where I was bored- but other than that, nothing's wrong. Those worried about an inconclusive ending needn't be. The main game's ending is 100% conclusive, with no loose ends or plot holes.
But, as I said, the story wasn't all about cuteness. I thought the plot twists were great and unexpected, which is what kept me going when the backstory drew to a close. Furthermore, the twists were spaced out well, so I wasn't bombarded with cutscenes. If I had to pick something wrong with the story, I would say that maybe they should have spiced up the excitement a little bit more- there were a couple of times where I was bored- but other than that, nothing's wrong. Those worried about an inconclusive ending needn't be. The main game's ending is 100% conclusive, with no loose ends or plot holes.
While the story was good, the main reason I purchased this game was for the gameplay. It was innovative, and most of all, it was the most FUN I've had in a long time! The HOS were a perfect example of this. They were jazzed up just that tiny little bit, enough to be magical, but yet not overly interactive to the point of insanity. Every single HOS I played was enjoyable and I was ecstatic every time I came across one. They also came in a considerable variety: assemble the item, standard wordlist, silhouette junkpile, even a story HOS. As I said, all were lovely, and I was a little surprised by the quantity. There were 9 HOS, even though I thought there were a lot more. This is a good number, but maybe a couple more would have been perfect. But then again, less HOS means more adventure.
As great as the HOS were, I think the puzzles were even BETTER. Every single one was unique, incredibly fun, and better yet, most of them advanced the story in some way! This is perfect; I wish more games would do this, as it made me motivated to complete them. As weird as it sounds, each puzzle was better than the last. They were almost perfect; I found only the one that I didn't like. The puzzles were a delight to play and made me start to like something I have always hated. The puzzles were in a similar number to the HOS. There were 8 puzzles, and they were well spaced out. I quite liked the number as it made me appreciate them more.
The adventure component was great. Due to the limited number of HOS & Puzzles, I found it quite prominent, which was fantastic. I personally think adventure is the best part of a HOPA and it's great to see the developers reflecting it. I also really liked the interaction in the game. Such examples of this were the Christmas Magic minigames (which I LOVED), the shrink potion (which was fantastic but wore off WAY too quickly) and just how you could interact with certain items in the scene, such as the waving teddy bear, or the things in Ole's toy shop. It wasn't necessary to the game, but it added that little bit of enjoyment. This, combined with additional features and overall smoothness of the game's flow, made the adventure component extremely fun. I did find the game to be slightly easy, due to its otherwise basic nature, However, I had no problem with this, as I found that it allowed me to enjoy myself more. I find that harder games take away from the fun factor significantly. So, the adventure component is almost perfect.
The additional features have been done fantastically. There are two: + objects and a helper. The + objects were done well. They either required interaction or additional items, which was nice, because even features need variation. They weren't used a lot, and sort of faded out towards the end. They also didn't have an indication of when they could be used, which is what I wanted to see.
The other feature was the helper – a tin soldier, Charlie- and I thought it was done quite well. Firstly, it was unobtrusive; it just sat there in its own little space and didn't dominate the game. It was used sparingly but each time it was used was great. I also liked how, sometimes, you had to interact with the helper before you could use it. This included putting Charlie in a little cart before using him, or giving him a rope to climb down on. I really liked how Charlie was involved in the story too. I think developers should aim to do this with all helpers.
The other feature was the helper – a tin soldier, Charlie- and I thought it was done quite well. Firstly, it was unobtrusive; it just sat there in its own little space and didn't dominate the game. It was used sparingly but each time it was used was great. I also liked how, sometimes, you had to interact with the helper before you could use it. This included putting Charlie in a little cart before using him, or giving him a rope to climb down on. I really liked how Charlie was involved in the story too. I think developers should aim to do this with all helpers.
The difficulty levels were great. I played Advanced mode and found the hint recharged decently, and there were no sparkles ANYWHERE, not even HOS. However, there were still map indicators, which was quite disappointing. The custom difficulty was okay, with a bit to customise, but I was happy with advanced.
Overall, near perfect gameplay, which was almost impossible to fault.
Overall, near perfect gameplay, which was almost impossible to fault.
The graphics are fantastic. They are drawn with such finesse and beautiful detail, with a vast array colours, which really showed off the Christmasy theme. I found the developers mixed their brights and darks really well. All scenes, especially cutscenes, were clear and designed beautifully. Furthermore, the character designs were probably the most brilliant I've seen. They were designed with such care and looked incredibly lifelike; so much so I could probably mistake them for real beings. The graphics in this game are a visual delight.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played Advanced. There were no sparkles, but there were map indicators.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent difficulty for Advanced. Hint is helpful outside HOS and sometimes acts as teleporter.
Map- The map was very helpful and set out well. It was interactive, but still showed indicators on advanced.
+ Objects- Good, but not used often; kind of faded out towards the end. There was no indication of when they could be used.
Helper- The helper was great fun to use. I liked how you could interact with it.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played Advanced. There were no sparkles, but there were map indicators.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent difficulty for Advanced. Hint is helpful outside HOS and sometimes acts as teleporter.
Map- The map was very helpful and set out well. It was interactive, but still showed indicators on advanced.
+ Objects- Good, but not used often; kind of faded out towards the end. There was no indication of when they could be used.
Helper- The helper was great fun to use. I liked how you could interact with it.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE? (Bonus Chapter Review at the bottom)
Built-in Strategy Guide- Shows collectibles but not HOS solutions
Achievements- some story based, some gameplay based
Collectible puzzle pieces (36)- unlocks screensaver
Collectible cat figurines (15)- There are NONE in the bonus chapter, which was disappointing. But they were very fun to find.
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Soundtrack
Built-in Strategy Guide- Shows collectibles but not HOS solutions
Achievements- some story based, some gameplay based
Collectible puzzle pieces (36)- unlocks screensaver
Collectible cat figurines (15)- There are NONE in the bonus chapter, which was disappointing. But they were very fun to find.
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Soundtrack
BONUS CHAPTER REVIEW
There were 2 bonus chapters, and both were good; a nice epilogue to the main game. The stories were quite good, although the chapters were heavily gameplay based. The HOS and Puzzles continued on their stunning form, being just as fun as the main game, maybe even more so. However, I noticed I jumped from HOS to puzzle to HOS, with very little adventure in between. It was quite disappointing, in all honesty. Overall, though, good bonus chapters. I especially liked how they ended with puzzles.
There were 2 bonus chapters, and both were good; a nice epilogue to the main game. The stories were quite good, although the chapters were heavily gameplay based. The HOS and Puzzles continued on their stunning form, being just as fun as the main game, maybe even more so. However, I noticed I jumped from HOS to puzzle to HOS, with very little adventure in between. It was quite disappointing, in all honesty. Overall, though, good bonus chapters. I especially liked how they ended with puzzles.
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY
I bought and played the CE and see it as good value. There are quite a lot of collectibles and nice achievements, with incentives for collecting them all. The 2 bonus chapters add even more fun to an already stellar game.
I bought and played the CE and see it as good value. There are quite a lot of collectibles and nice achievements, with incentives for collecting them all. The 2 bonus chapters add even more fun to an already stellar game.
WOULD I PLAY THIS GAME AGAIN?
Absolutely yes, no questions asked. This was a top-notch game, one of the best of 2014, and one of the best I've ever played.
Absolutely yes, no questions asked. This was a top-notch game, one of the best of 2014, and one of the best I've ever played.
Even though I'm a hater of all things fantasy, there is no doubt in my mind that this game deserves a place amongst the greats in the HOPA industry. This game has got me rethinking my stance on fantasy. I will definitely be returning to this in the near future. It is well and truly deserving of a 5 star rating.
I recommend this game!