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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Haunted Legends: The Stone Guest Collector's Edition
Someone is stealing the hearts of children – literally! Is it a brilliant inventor, seeking to cure his ailing son? Or has dark magic taken over the village...
Overall rating
3
/
5
22 of 31 found this review helpful
A Total Lack of Effort Ruins What Would Have Been A Brilliant Game
PostedNovember 16, 2014
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
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I've had bad experiences with Haunted Legends in the past, so I wasn't overly keen on a sequel. Despite that, I decided to give this one a go. I did enjoy the demo, but there are things that will keep me from buying the game.
The story had an intriguing concept and I instantly wanted to know more. That being said, it took a little bit of time for me to fully get in to, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. There seemed to be more and more action every second I progressed. Usually, when that happens, the story is disjointed with absolutely no flow to it, but this one was different. Never once was I confused as to what was happening; I was able to follow the direction clearly so I could focus more on the game. So kudos to ERS for that.
Content wise, the story was good. There was a nice twist in the beginning of the game that made me really question who the villain was. This has never happened to me before, so it was a nice change. I really liked another thing about this story too: having followed the Haunted Legends series for a long time, I've seen SG in each one. So I really liked that, this time, he had a speaking role instead of just walking around grumbling all the time. It made me see SG as a person rather than a creature, so this is a good move on the developer's part. I also liked the sequences when saving people from the dolls. Every time this happened, I had to play a mini-HOS, which differed with each person. This was really enjoyable and made me like the game a lot more.
The demo ended well, so those looking to continue the adventure will have something to look forward to.
Overall, a story with a slow start, but great excitement afterwards.
Content wise, the story was good. There was a nice twist in the beginning of the game that made me really question who the villain was. This has never happened to me before, so it was a nice change. I really liked another thing about this story too: having followed the Haunted Legends series for a long time, I've seen SG in each one. So I really liked that, this time, he had a speaking role instead of just walking around grumbling all the time. It made me see SG as a person rather than a creature, so this is a good move on the developer's part. I also liked the sequences when saving people from the dolls. Every time this happened, I had to play a mini-HOS, which differed with each person. This was really enjoyable and made me like the game a lot more.
The demo ended well, so those looking to continue the adventure will have something to look forward to.
Overall, a story with a slow start, but great excitement afterwards.
Perhaps it is because the story is so good that I feel a little let down by the gameplay. Starting with the positives, I did quite enjoy the HOS. They were a nice break from the usual super-long, super-interactive stuff, taking me back to the days before everyone decided to tinker with the HOS too much. I enjoyed every single one I did, even if they were a little on the easy side. The HOS are basically all junkpile word-lists, with one of them being a silhouette story one. They were all quite easy to me so this may annoy expert players. I have one criticism: I would have liked to see more of a variety instead of all of them being word-lists. The same type of HOS, one after the other, gets a bit boring after a while. As far as quantity goes, the developers have done a good job. There are 3 HOS in the demo, not counting the mini-HOS I played when saving the people from the dolls. This is a good number, but I think it wouldn't have hurt to include one more in the demo period.
Where the gameplay started to go wrong for me was the puzzles. The reason for that was because they were all the same type of stuff I'd seen before; they offered absolutely no challenge and were incredibly boring. Throw in an incredibly long skip recharge time, and you can see how this started to drive me a little bit mental. I was quite disappointed with the puzzle offerings; I thought ERS could have gone to a little bit more effort. I absolutely despised every time I had to go to a new puzzle, which should not be happening in HOPA games. For those who like puzzles, the quantity is good. I found 5 in the demo. My least favourite puzzle would definitely be that math one; I play HOPA games for the enjoyment, to relax and take a break from schooling. Math in particular I never did well in, so to see it come up here annoyed the living daylights out of me. Developers, please take note: MATH AND HOPA GAMES DO NOT MIX!
I was also a little disappointed with the adventure component for two reasons: Firstly, it was quite easy. The tasks were all obvious to me, with nothing differentiating from what was is considered the norm. This was disappointing to me as it yet again showed that ERS had not gone to much effort. I think it is the developer's responsibility to do all they can possibly do to please the player instead of focusing on how many they can do.
The second reason I was disappointed was because the game progressed quite quickly, so the adventure content was minimal. Let me provide you with an example of this: SG destroyed the gate mechanism by removing all 5 gears. I found those 5 gears- and had solved the puzzle to put them in place- in about 2 minutes, maybe less. I know this was right at the beginning of the game and we had to focus on getting ourselves inside the gate, but this was still far too quick in my opinion. I noticed the quickness of the adventure component in other parts too: it seemed that we would only have something in our inventory for a couple of minutes before we used it. This is a tell-tale sign the game will be quite short. I think ERS rushed this game a little. For their next game, I would advise they slow down a little and let the player have a little bit more to do before completing an objective.
There were two additional features in this game: the magnifier and the amulet. The magnifier did not play a huge role in the game and was really only there for the adventure purposes, so did little to raise or lower my enjoyment of the game. The magnifier was used maybe a couple of times and it was to reveal hidden symbols. It seemed more like a thing to do on the side than an actual feature.
The other feature was the amulet. It seemed quite pointless to me because, by the end of the demo, I had yet to discover what its purpose was. It was never used during the demo; it just sat there. I had to collect hearts for it, but this did nothing at all. It seemed like a waste of space, and not having it in the game would have made no difference. I'm quite disappointed in the lack of extra gameplay features here; there aren't even any + objects, which is yet another example to support the argument that the developers just could not be bothered.
The second reason I was disappointed was because the game progressed quite quickly, so the adventure content was minimal. Let me provide you with an example of this: SG destroyed the gate mechanism by removing all 5 gears. I found those 5 gears- and had solved the puzzle to put them in place- in about 2 minutes, maybe less. I know this was right at the beginning of the game and we had to focus on getting ourselves inside the gate, but this was still far too quick in my opinion. I noticed the quickness of the adventure component in other parts too: it seemed that we would only have something in our inventory for a couple of minutes before we used it. This is a tell-tale sign the game will be quite short. I think ERS rushed this game a little. For their next game, I would advise they slow down a little and let the player have a little bit more to do before completing an objective.
There were two additional features in this game: the magnifier and the amulet. The magnifier did not play a huge role in the game and was really only there for the adventure purposes, so did little to raise or lower my enjoyment of the game. The magnifier was used maybe a couple of times and it was to reveal hidden symbols. It seemed more like a thing to do on the side than an actual feature.
The other feature was the amulet. It seemed quite pointless to me because, by the end of the demo, I had yet to discover what its purpose was. It was never used during the demo; it just sat there. I had to collect hearts for it, but this did nothing at all. It seemed like a waste of space, and not having it in the game would have made no difference. I'm quite disappointed in the lack of extra gameplay features here; there aren't even any + objects, which is yet another example to support the argument that the developers just could not be bothered.
I even have a problem with the basic features. There are three modes of difficulty, and a working hint (which is good), but the map is terrible. Even on casual mode, the map did not tell me where I had tasks to perform. It only told me where my objective(s) were and locations that were completed. The layout of the map was also less than desirable. The skip also took way too long to recharge, even on Casual. This surprised me because the hint recharged at a decent speed. The skip button taking too long was a real pain for me as I am not the best at puzzles. Also, to add to my frustrations, there was NO DIARY. I have no idea why the diary has suddenly disappeared. It is a real shame, because I like to know how the character is feeling, and it also helps me keep track of events. Developers, please listen: BRING BACK THE DIARY!
Overall, quite bland gameplay, with a total lack of effort from the developers.
Overall, quite bland gameplay, with a total lack of effort from the developers.
The graphics were quite good; classic ERS. The scenes are drawn beautifully with some great detail and nice colours; the character designs are done with some great detail too and look lifelike. However, there is no lip-synch again. I don't know why ERS stopped doing this, but it's getting increasingly annoying with each time. I wish ERS would bring lip-synch back. It made their games appear so much more real.
I did not like the voice-overs very much. I noticed ERS continues to use the same sounds and voice-overs in every game. I wish they would come up with something different! In particular, though, I hated Sancho's voice. It was under-acted, with a total lack of emotion and was just annoying in general.
I did not like the voice-overs very much. I noticed ERS continues to use the same sounds and voice-overs in every game. I wish they would come up with something different! In particular, though, I hated Sancho's voice. It was under-acted, with a total lack of emotion and was just annoying in general.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard; I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- The hint recharges at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected and works quite well outside of HOS. However, the skip took way too long to recharge, so sometimes I just sat around waiting for it, which decreased my enjoyment of the game.
Map- I did not like this map at all. It was interactive, but it did not show me where I had tasks to perform, which is vital for a HOPA map on Casual mode. It only showed where my objectives were, and what locations had been completed.
Amulet- Incredibly pointless thus far. Come the end of the demo, it had no use. All I did was collect hearts for it. My guess is it is similar to the fish scales in Haunted Legends: The Undertaker
Magnifier- Played a minor role and was more like a thing on the side than a feature. It was used maybe twice and only to reveal hidden symbols.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard; I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- The hint recharges at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected and works quite well outside of HOS. However, the skip took way too long to recharge, so sometimes I just sat around waiting for it, which decreased my enjoyment of the game.
Map- I did not like this map at all. It was interactive, but it did not show me where I had tasks to perform, which is vital for a HOPA map on Casual mode. It only showed where my objectives were, and what locations had been completed.
Amulet- Incredibly pointless thus far. Come the end of the demo, it had no use. All I did was collect hearts for it. My guess is it is similar to the fish scales in Haunted Legends: The Undertaker
Magnifier- Played a minor role and was more like a thing on the side than a feature. It was used maybe twice and only to reveal hidden symbols.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter- I will not definitively say whether or not it is needed. ERS is infamous for their inconclusive endings.
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions or mention zoom scenes, but zoom scenes are shown.
Achievements- some story related, some gameplay related.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Screensaver
Bonus Chapter- I will not definitively say whether or not it is needed. ERS is infamous for their inconclusive endings.
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions or mention zoom scenes, but zoom scenes are shown.
Achievements- some story related, some gameplay related.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Screensaver
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Absolutely the SE, no questions asked. The CE does not even feature collectibles, which are an absolute necessity to the extras of a CE game. The other features are just the standard stuff such as wallpapers, concept art, replay HOS, etc. As for the Bonus Chapter being needed or not, I don't know. ERS is infamous for their inconclusive endings. I bought Haunted Legends 3 and it had the worst ending I had ever seen. Even the Bonus Chapter wasn't really that conclusive. So I would say the SE is the better buy, but I would not take any chances with this game until completed CE reviews come out.
Absolutely the SE, no questions asked. The CE does not even feature collectibles, which are an absolute necessity to the extras of a CE game. The other features are just the standard stuff such as wallpapers, concept art, replay HOS, etc. As for the Bonus Chapter being needed or not, I don't know. ERS is infamous for their inconclusive endings. I bought Haunted Legends 3 and it had the worst ending I had ever seen. Even the Bonus Chapter wasn't really that conclusive. So I would say the SE is the better buy, but I would not take any chances with this game until completed CE reviews come out.
MY PROGRESS
The demo took me 49 minutes on Casual Mode. The Strategy Guide goes in to the third chapter, but does not complete it. I read somewhere that there are 46 pages in the SG, including Bonus Chapter. I had reached page 13 by the end of the demo.
The demo took me 49 minutes on Casual Mode. The Strategy Guide goes in to the third chapter, but does not complete it. I read somewhere that there are 46 pages in the SG, including Bonus Chapter. I had reached page 13 by the end of the demo.
Overall, I did actually enjoy this game for its story, but there is a complete lack of effort on the gameplay side of things that keeps me from buying. I have seen far better from ERS, but this is definitely not the worst either.
I recommend this game!
You've been called to investigate a strange purple tide. And that's when the mermaid shows up...
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 42 found this review helpful
Dark Parables is Back On Track!
PostedNovember 14, 2014
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Up until the sixth installment onwards, Dark Parables had been one of my favourite game series. So when I heard that Eipix was taking over the series from Blue Tea, I was scared. I thought “Oh no, they're going to ruin this!” I have had terrible experiences with developers completely changing the stories of series they have picked up. Well, my fears have been officially put to rest... this is one awesome game!
Of course, Dark Parables games contain fairytale storylines. As you well know by now, fairytale stories are NOT my favourite. But for some reason, I enjoyed this one! I did not like the opening very much, so the story took quite a while to get in to, but once I did, I was fascinated. Eipix certainly know how to create a story. The story here- although still following a parable- is completely different from any of its predecessors. Unlike previous games, there were multiple twists and turns in the demo, each one getting me more and more engrossed in to the game. I liked the inclusion of references and characters from the previous series. It showed to me that Eipix is not starting afresh with their adoption of the series, which is nice to see. I really liked our villain here- that evil eel was a creepy addition, yet made me laugh at the same time. I thought that “only a fairytale game would have a giant evil eel!” Although I have a feeling it was unintentional, the addition of humour in to this game was a nice touch. The evil eel has got to be one of my favourite evil characters of all time.
The demo ended on a really exciting note and I had to continue on. I will be impatiently waiting for the SE to continue my adventure.
Overall, a very enjoyable story, much improved upon from its predecessors.
The demo ended on a really exciting note and I had to continue on. I will be impatiently waiting for the SE to continue my adventure.
Overall, a very enjoyable story, much improved upon from its predecessors.
I really, really enjoyed the gameplay. I was glad to see that Eipix was paying homage to the previous owners of the series by keeping in my most loved part of the games- the fragmented HOS. Yes, gone are Eipix's overly interactive, excessively long, super easy HOS. Eipix have retained the HOS that made Dark Parables so fun, which I was overjoyed to see. I have always found the fragmented object scenes hard to complete, and there is no exception here. It was nice to be actually challenged with a HOS for once in my life! There were many objects to find, all in the one scene (some of which were VERY SMALL!), which made the scenes a lot harder and a lot more enjoyable. Eipix have not even attempted to sneak in some of their own HOS that I have grown to despise... every HOS in this game is a fragmented object scene, which I was quite pleased about. There are 4 HOS in the demo, which is a great number. The HOS are well spaced out too.
I absolutely LOVED the Puzzles! They were so much fun to play, and very different from what we've been seeing lately, which is what I've been asking for for AGES! I have not had this much fun with puzzles in a long time. I think this is Eipix's best job when it comes to puzzles. I didn't find the puzzles to be overly challenging, but I loved them nonetheless. I hope to see a lot more puzzles as the game goes on (yes, you read that right. I said PUZZLES)! A huge kudos to this developer for making me love the puzzles! Similar to the HOS, there was a decent number in the demo (4) and the puzzles were well spaced out.
I also loved, loved, LOVED the adventure component of this game. I am thrilled that Eipix has paid homage to Blue Tea by keeping in all the awesome parts of this game's predecessors. I loved the return of all the little niches and secret hiding spots, having to find three different coloured items, put them on a pedestal, and have a little compartment open to reveal a needed item. That was one of the best parts of Blue Tea, so I am glad it has returned here. I found this game to be extremely fun, and quite challenging, I must admit. It is great to see Eipix have stepped up their game in terms of challenge, because it means I will be rushing to get the debit card out!
As far as extra features go, they were pretty minimal in this game. The only feature I found was + objects, and even they did not feature much. The + objects that did feature were pretty simple to use; basically just pulling things off the objects. There was one where I had to add something, but that was quite simple in itself and the object only required one interaction. The lack of additional features does not trouble me, but there is one thing I must comment on. I wish the + objects had been more noticeable. Usually, there is a + sign, but this time it was just a light, reddish coloured border. In a game with light graphics, that's fairly easy to overlook, and that's exactly what I did. I got stuck in the game, used the hint, and was told to click on the + item in my inventory. My reaction to this was “What??? That's a plus item?” This should speak for itself.
The lack of extra gameplay features does not bother me as much as it may bother some others. However, I think that this game could have done with maybe one other feature to add to the gameplay experience. Again, though, I'm not too fussed.
The basic features have been done quite well. There are 4 modes of difficulty, as well as an interactive map and working hint. Unfortunately, there is no diary, which was a key feature of previous Dark Parables games. This is what disappoints me, because I believe that the diary is a necessary extra.
Overall, fantastic gameplay that I just loved.
Overall, fantastic gameplay that I just loved.
The graphics, as usual, were great. The scenes were drawn with some lovely detail to make them appear lifelike. The character designs were good yet again, and there was lip-synching, which is always nice to see. However, I noticed that the graphics were quite light in some situations, which made things hard to see. This was especially with the + objects. In some cases, I didn't even know I had one in my inventory. I also felt some of the HOS were a bit too light on a couple of occasions. Other than that, great job.
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. Custom lets you set the game your way. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficult I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where you have current tasks to perform, as well as where your active objective is.
+ Objects- These were pretty simple; mainly just pulling things off. There were not many of them, plus the indications were a bit hard to make out with the light graphics.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. Custom lets you set the game your way. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficult I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where you have current tasks to perform, as well as where your active objective is.
+ Objects- These were pretty simple; mainly just pulling things off. There were not many of them, plus the indications were a bit hard to make out with the light graphics.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS Solutions.
Achievements- the achievements are great in this game. There are achievements such as “find all 6 cups of tea in the game”, which made me laugh.
Collectible crescent moons (40)- one in every scene, including bonus chapter.
Parables- there are collectible pieces for 5 parables, each of which tell the story of the legend the game focuses on.
Souvenir Chest- similar to souvenir room, I'm guessing.
Wallpapers (8)
Concept Art
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS Solutions.
Achievements- the achievements are great in this game. There are achievements such as “find all 6 cups of tea in the game”, which made me laugh.
Collectible crescent moons (40)- one in every scene, including bonus chapter.
Parables- there are collectible pieces for 5 parables, each of which tell the story of the legend the game focuses on.
Souvenir Chest- similar to souvenir room, I'm guessing.
Wallpapers (8)
Concept Art
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
It seems to me that Eipix has really scaled back on their CE Extras. Missing here is the wonderful “Making Of” video, something which always used to encourage me to buy the CE. Due to minimal CE Extras, I will buy the SE and advise you do the same.
It seems to me that Eipix has really scaled back on their CE Extras. Missing here is the wonderful “Making Of” video, something which always used to encourage me to buy the CE. Due to minimal CE Extras, I will buy the SE and advise you do the same.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the demo. It took me 41 minutes to finish the demo on Casual mode. :)
There are 2 chapters in the demo. It took me 41 minutes to finish the demo on Casual mode. :)
Overall, this is yet another fantastic Dark Parables game. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the demo. It is safe to say that Blue Tea made the right choice in handing this over to Eipix. I highly recommend you download the trial and see what you make of it.
I recommend this game!
You’re the only one who can save Taleworld from an evil queen.
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 18 found this review helpful
Is This the Same MadHead?
PostedNovember 10, 2014
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
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I've never been a fan of Nevertales, but given MadHead's recent performance, I was quite excited for this one. Unfortunately, this game has reminded me why I didn't like the series to begin with.
The story is fantasy, so not my forte. Naturally, that means I am not going to be over the moon. I thought the story started out okay, but got a little boring as the game went on. I think that was partly because things just coasted along the way I expected. Even the scenes which were supposed to be exciting did not get me intrigued. In the end I just found the story boring. Part of that was due to the lack of twists. Nothing exciting happened at all. Even the demo, which is usually supposed to end on a cliffhanger, ended quite abruptly.
One thing which the story did well on, though, is the backstory. It was great for creating suspense and really was the only part of the game I found exciting. I was intrigued as to what had happened to the queen, which for a second, made me consider playing on.
I was disappointed that the Casino made no appearance in the demo. It was featured heavily in previews on their Facebook page, so I would have hoped it would appear early. I was dismayed to find that it only appeared after the demo. I was looking forward to having a casino-themed game/story, so this is a let down for me.
Overall, a quite bland story with no excitement factor to go on. I know MadHead is capable of much better stories, so I am incredibly disappointed in this one.
One thing which the story did well on, though, is the backstory. It was great for creating suspense and really was the only part of the game I found exciting. I was intrigued as to what had happened to the queen, which for a second, made me consider playing on.
I was disappointed that the Casino made no appearance in the demo. It was featured heavily in previews on their Facebook page, so I would have hoped it would appear early. I was dismayed to find that it only appeared after the demo. I was looking forward to having a casino-themed game/story, so this is a let down for me.
Overall, a quite bland story with no excitement factor to go on. I know MadHead is capable of much better stories, so I am incredibly disappointed in this one.
I enjoyed the gameplay a lot more than I enjoyed the story. I quite liked the HOS. I appreciated their variety, with there being three different types of HOS that I counted. The types were junkpile silhouette, mini-HOS and jazzed up junkpile. I enjoyed each one because they brought a differing level of challenge. I counted 4 HOS in the demo, which is a pretty good number. The HOS are well spaced out too. However, what I didn't like about them was that the usual Mad Head shine is missing. These HOS seemed, to me, to be very typical and a lot less interactive and innovative than before, which was quite disappointing. MadHead are known for their awesome and innovative gameplay, especially in HOS, but with this one it seems they couldn't be bothered.
I liked the puzzles too. They were enjoyable, not too difficult, but not a breeze either. The puzzles were a mix of unique things and things I've seen before, but the “things I've seen before” outweighs the unique by a long shot. Thus, similar to the HOS, I felt that some of that shine was missing. I only liked the puzzles- I did not love them. The only one I loved was that one where the player fights the guard, and that was because it was unique. It actually got the player involved in the game instead of having them just sit there and watch a cutscene, which is what would have happened in 2013. For that, I give kudos to the developers. That puzzle was the highlight of an otherwise boring game. Once again, there is a good quantity of puzzles- I counted 6 in the demo (for those wondering, I do not count those 1 or 2 step solution minigames as “puzzles”. I counted ones that had the skip button appear). The puzzles are well spaced out, so there is not just one after the other, or another one after a 30-40 minute gap. One thing the developer has consistently performed well on is quantity of puzzles and HOS, and they have done that again here.
I liked the puzzles too. They were enjoyable, not too difficult, but not a breeze either. The puzzles were a mix of unique things and things I've seen before, but the “things I've seen before” outweighs the unique by a long shot. Thus, similar to the HOS, I felt that some of that shine was missing. I only liked the puzzles- I did not love them. The only one I loved was that one where the player fights the guard, and that was because it was unique. It actually got the player involved in the game instead of having them just sit there and watch a cutscene, which is what would have happened in 2013. For that, I give kudos to the developers. That puzzle was the highlight of an otherwise boring game. Once again, there is a good quantity of puzzles- I counted 6 in the demo (for those wondering, I do not count those 1 or 2 step solution minigames as “puzzles”. I counted ones that had the skip button appear). The puzzles are well spaced out, so there is not just one after the other, or another one after a 30-40 minute gap. One thing the developer has consistently performed well on is quantity of puzzles and HOS, and they have done that again here.
I was pleased to see that the adventure component of this game was present. In some games, it is all about HOS and Puzzles, with little adventure. This game is different. The adventure component played a huge part in the demo, so the HOS & Puzzles seemed more like a thing to do on the side than a dominant part of the game. I liked that I, as the player, was able to wander around and interact with things as if it were real life. Examples of this include having to actually drag the mouse backwards to pull out the drawer handle instead of just clicking on it. That was a first for me in HOPA games, and I loved it. It made the adventure component more realistic and enjoyable. I enjoyed the adventure part of this game. It is something I have always enjoyed about this developer. Those who like adventure, never fear, because there is lots of it here. However, in terms of challenge, I found this game to be quite easy, which is most likely due to the lack of innovation. I did not once struggle to figure out what to do next. Sometimes I wish that developers would focus less on the tricks and make their games harder to play.
There are a couple of extra features in this game, both of which are quite nice. One of these were + objects, which was executed quite well. I liked this feature because it wasn't used much, but used enough to be present. There were never more than, say, two + objects at the one time. Nothing is worse in a game than overusing a feature, so it's good to see that MadHead has put a limit on the usage. There is also an indication of when the item can be toyed with, which is always nice to see.
Another feature was Gears, a mechanical owl who serves as our helper for the game. Look, I usually love animal helpers, but Gears was used a lot, too much for even my liking. It seemed that, wherever I turned, Gears would be required to do something, and that began to get on my nerves after a while. What I did like about this feature though was that you zoomed in and looked at things from Gears' perspective. We also had to interact with the area, so it felt like I was controlling Gears for that period of time. This was nice to see, as it is usually just a scene where I have to watch the animal do something. So while MadHead used the helper too much, in my opinion, they have executed the feature well.
The last feature (or maybe HOS/Puzzle) is the ministories. Of course, being a MadHead game, I had come to expect these would make an appearance, and I am not disappointed. These ministories were fun and also a good way of telling the backstory, which added life to an otherwise deadbeat plotline. There was only one in the demo, which was good. I do not like to be bombarded with story information all the time. I did enjoy the feature.
Another feature was Gears, a mechanical owl who serves as our helper for the game. Look, I usually love animal helpers, but Gears was used a lot, too much for even my liking. It seemed that, wherever I turned, Gears would be required to do something, and that began to get on my nerves after a while. What I did like about this feature though was that you zoomed in and looked at things from Gears' perspective. We also had to interact with the area, so it felt like I was controlling Gears for that period of time. This was nice to see, as it is usually just a scene where I have to watch the animal do something. So while MadHead used the helper too much, in my opinion, they have executed the feature well.
The last feature (or maybe HOS/Puzzle) is the ministories. Of course, being a MadHead game, I had come to expect these would make an appearance, and I am not disappointed. These ministories were fun and also a good way of telling the backstory, which added life to an otherwise deadbeat plotline. There was only one in the demo, which was good. I do not like to be bombarded with story information all the time. I did enjoy the feature.
This game has done well on basic features. We have 4 modes of difficulty, as well as a diary (YEEES!) and a map, which are presented as apps on our Tablet. I liked the fact that the developers gave this game a “now” setting. The tablet was a fun little feature to be added. It's nice to know that our HOPA characters are keeping up with the times and not lost in the '60s somewhere!
Overall, I did enjoy the gameplay, but I felt it was stripped back. This is not the MadHead I am used to; it feels like they have done everything mainstream and left it at that. I expect more of their next game.
Overall, I did enjoy the gameplay, but I felt it was stripped back. This is not the MadHead I am used to; it feels like they have done everything mainstream and left it at that. I expect more of their next game.
As I have come to expect with MadHead, their graphics are great. They are well drawn with quite a lot of detail, so the scenes look incredibly lifelike. Every scene was clear and had some nice colours. I also liked the character desings which, again, are lifelike. MadHead has done a fantastic job of graphics here. However, I was disappointed to see there was no lip-synch. For a developer who takes such pride in their presentation, to see this missing was a real shame.
For the most part, I have no issue with the voice-overs. The only one that I did not like was the voice of Gears. I get he is mechanical and thus, must have a robotic kind of voice, but I found it to be incredibly high pitched and annoying. It decreased my enjoyment significantly.
For the most part, I have no issue with the voice-overs. The only one that I did not like was the voice of Gears. I get he is mechanical and thus, must have a robotic kind of voice, but I found it to be incredibly high pitched and annoying. It decreased my enjoyment significantly.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Look (Casual), See (Advanced), Stare (Hard) and Custom. Custom lets you set the game to your liking. Differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Tablet- Consists of apps which host our map and diary. There are also wallpapers, which are unlockable during the game, so we can change our tablet background.
Diary- Keeps track of important notes. Diary entries are all in picture form.
Map- The map is useful. It is interactive and lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- Executed well. There are a good number of them and an indication of when they can be used.
Gears- Executed well, but terribly overused.
4 modes of difficulty: Look (Casual), See (Advanced), Stare (Hard) and Custom. Custom lets you set the game to your liking. Differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Tablet- Consists of apps which host our map and diary. There are also wallpapers, which are unlockable during the game, so we can change our tablet background.
Diary- Keeps track of important notes. Diary entries are all in picture form.
Map- The map is useful. It is interactive and lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- Executed well. There are a good number of them and an indication of when they can be used.
Gears- Executed well, but terribly overused.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS Solutions.
Achievements- there are lots.
Collectible cards- one in every scene. There is an indication of whether or not you have found it.
Morphing Objects- HOS Only. One in every HOS.
Treasure Hunt
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS Solutions.
Achievements- there are lots.
Collectible cards- one in every scene. There is an indication of whether or not you have found it.
Morphing Objects- HOS Only. One in every HOS.
Treasure Hunt
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Replay HOS & Puzzles
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Well, I... I'm speechless. For a developer who usually packs their CE games with bonus content, there is absolutely nothing here that deviates from the norm and therefore, nothing which makes me want to recommend the CE. Don't worry that there's a sale- save your money and buy the SE if you like this game.
Well, I... I'm speechless. For a developer who usually packs their CE games with bonus content, there is absolutely nothing here that deviates from the norm and therefore, nothing which makes me want to recommend the CE. Don't worry that there's a sale- save your money and buy the SE if you like this game.
MY PROGRESS'
There are 2 chapters in the Strategy Guide, so I'm assuming there are 2 in the demo. I finished the demo in 48 minutes on the easiest mode. :)
There are 2 chapters in the Strategy Guide, so I'm assuming there are 2 in the demo. I finished the demo in 48 minutes on the easiest mode. :)
I must say, this is MadHead's worst game to date. For a developer famed for their inventiveness, innovation and unique games, this game just seems so... mainsteam. There is nothing unique about this game at all. This game makes me think that MadHead's best days are behind them. The best I can do for this sorry effort is three stars, and that's being generous.
I don't recommend this game.
A shadow from the Gray family's past has returned for revenge. Can you save your family from their worst nightmares?
Overall rating
4
/
5
17 of 20 found this review helpful
I Love Elephant, But I Never Knew They Were This Good!
PostedNovember 7, 2014
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FULL RATING IS 4 1/2 STARS
FULL RATING IS 4 1/2 STARS
To put things simply, I'm amazed. I had no idea Elephant were this good! I have criticised them lately for having gameplay that is too run-of-the-mill, but there is absolutely NOTHING run-of-the-mill about this game! This is a tremendous improvement on past games.
If I'm honest, the I have mixed feelings about the story. The opening cutscene and the start of it were great. It really built up my excitement and did a great job of managing a good level of suspense. But towards the end of the first chapter, I just got the feeling the story was getting choppy. Cutscenes were thrown in at the most random of places. There would be a new cutscene out of nowhere sometimes. It left me confused, which is something that should never happen in a HOPA game. It seemed like I was just getting new information thrown at me before I'd had time to process the last bit. Lucky for me though, the confusion cleared up by the start of chapter 2, where I'd finally processed everything. From there, the story became interesting again and the demo ended on an exciting note, making me wonder what was going to happen next.
On a side note, I really liked the fact that this story follows the same characters, and how the developers made references to every other Grim Tales game.
So overall, an interesting, albeit slightly choppy story.
On a side note, I really liked the fact that this story follows the same characters, and how the developers made references to every other Grim Tales game.
So overall, an interesting, albeit slightly choppy story.
I was absolutely astounded as to how much Elephant has improved on their gameplay. I have criticised them as of late for run-of-the-mill gameplay and lack of innovation. It looks like Elephant have taken those criticisms on board, because everything about their gameplay here is absolutely brilliant. Let me start with the HOS: Elephant have now put behind them the days of just plain junkpile behind them. In this game they really have jazzed up their junkpile scenes. This made them a lot more fun and made me eager to play the next one as soon as one finished. Methods of jazzing up included finding keys to unlock the list, as well as assembling and repairing an item to add to your inventory. I was pleased to see that Elephant put so much effort in to their HOS, because it really has paid off. Perhaps, then, it is because I loved them so much that I am slightly disappointed with their quantity. There were only three of them during the demo. I would have loved to see one or two more. I can only hope their numbers will increase as the game goes on.
I also loved the puzzles. I loved how they were unique and incredibly fun. They varied a lot too: We even had a whack-a-mole game in there! That took me back to my childhood. But what I really loved about the puzzles in this game was the return of those multi-step puzzles from one of my favourite games, MCF: Fate's Carnival. I was so excited to see it return here that I actually applauded (which caused my family to give me a strange look). Those puzzles are my favourite of all time. There was only one of them in the demo, so I hope there are a lot more. In terms of quantity, the developers have done quite a good job. There are 6 puzzles, which is a good number for me. As the game wears on, I hope to see more fun and unique puzzles like the ones we had in the demo.
I was also quite pleased with the adventure component. Elephant have also done something unique here. There is the ability to pan around by clicking arrows at the top of the scene, which made the game a little more challenging. I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of all the locations, but that's what made it more fun! Other than that, the tasks are fairly straightforward. I enjoyed the mix of challenging and easy here.
As far as extra gameplay features go, the developers have done really well here. There are two extras here, one of which ties in really well with the game's storyline, and both of which I really enjoyed.
One of these features was + objects, which are pretty much the standard these days. This feature was done well, because there were never too many + objects at one time. The only bad thing I would say is that there is no indication of when the item can be toyed with. I didn't need it, but for those who do, this will be disappointing.
The other feature was the artist's kit. I really enjoyed this feature because it was incredibly fun, as well as tying in with the theme of the game. The artist's kit served a purpose, because everything you drew came to life and helped you in the game. There were many different minigames, such as connecting the dots to finish the sketch, or painting the pictures. This feature was used fairly often and was executed quite well.
One of these features was + objects, which are pretty much the standard these days. This feature was done well, because there were never too many + objects at one time. The only bad thing I would say is that there is no indication of when the item can be toyed with. I didn't need it, but for those who do, this will be disappointing.
The other feature was the artist's kit. I really enjoyed this feature because it was incredibly fun, as well as tying in with the theme of the game. The artist's kit served a purpose, because everything you drew came to life and helped you in the game. There were many different minigames, such as connecting the dots to finish the sketch, or painting the pictures. This feature was used fairly often and was executed quite well.
As far as basic features go, Elephant have done a great job. There are three modes of difficulty, and a working map. Better yet, there is a DIARY! WOOHOOOOO! I have been BEGGING for this to return for a long time, and to see it back was amazing. My only criticism is that it is too hidden. It should have its own section, not be hidden in with the map. I barely use the map, so if I hadn't used it this demo, I would not have seen the diary, and that would have been a shame.
Overall, brilliant gameplay. These developers have not put a foot wrong.
Overall, brilliant gameplay. These developers have not put a foot wrong.
As one would come to expect with an Elephant game, the graphics are great. They are drawn with some nice detail and great colours to match the atmosphere of the game. I also liked the character designs, and the appearance of lip-synch in the game. It made the characters feel more lifelike.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent rate for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Great for keeping track of events. Loved reading the entries. In my opinion, should have been separate from the map though.
Map- The map is useful. It is interactive and lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are items you need to interact with to complete. There are a good number of them, but not too many at the one time, which is good.
Artist's Kit- This was a fantastic feature. It tied in well with the game and was generally very fun to use.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent rate for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Great for keeping track of events. Loved reading the entries. In my opinion, should have been separate from the map though.
Map- The map is useful. It is interactive and lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are items you need to interact with to complete. There are a good number of them, but not too many at the one time, which is good.
Artist's Kit- This was a fantastic feature. It tied in well with the game and was generally very fun to use.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Collectible monsters
Morphing Objects
Gray Family collectibles '
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Music
Screensaver
Secret Room
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Collectible monsters
Morphing Objects
Gray Family collectibles '
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Music
Screensaver
Secret Room
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Elephant have really stepped it up with CE Extras here, so I would say the CE is good value for money, but I will be going with the SE, as collectibles don't really fuss me. But if you are someone who loves collectibles, absolutely go with the CE. You will have a blast.
Elephant have really stepped it up with CE Extras here, so I would say the CE is good value for money, but I will be going with the SE, as collectibles don't really fuss me. But if you are someone who loves collectibles, absolutely go with the CE. You will have a blast.
MY PROGRESS
There were 2 chapters in the demo. There are 6 chapters overall. My demo time went for 52 minutes on the easiest mode. :)
There were 2 chapters in the demo. There are 6 chapters overall. My demo time went for 52 minutes on the easiest mode. :)
Before this game, I was under the impression that Elephant's best days were behind them, but after playing this one, I couldn't have been more wrong. This is not only the best game of the Grim Tales series, but one of Elephant's best in a long time. This will probably become one of the best games of the year. It earns a well-deserved four and a half from me, with the only reason it's not getting a five being my issues with the story.
I recommend this game!
When minotaurs attack, only you can save the day.
Overall rating
2
/
5
14 of 27 found this review helpful
A New Saga... But There's Nothing New About This.
PostedNovember 2, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Is it a sequel?
Is it a prequel?
Either way, my hatred of this series has not been subdued. I was hoping that a new saga would equal better games, but as it turns out, this was not the case.
Is it a prequel?
Either way, my hatred of this series has not been subdued. I was hoping that a new saga would equal better games, but as it turns out, this was not the case.
The story was fantasy. As you should know pretty well by now, fantasy is not my forte, but I can tolerate a fantasy story if it's good. But this one, sadly, was not. I was hoping for something unique, but this is basically all the typical fantasy stuff rolled in to one. The basic storyline involves the human kingdom under attack by minotaurs. The plot seemed cheesy, but I thought I would give it a go, and to my surprise it started out well. I was intrigued by the opening cutscene, and the events that followed were good, but then the story started going downhill. Everything about seemed like a carbon copy of all fantasy games before it; we saw minotaur kingdoms, dragons and even an animal called a squabbit (squirrelXrabbit)... please.
Adding to my frustrations, there does not seem to be a villain, which really took away from the suspense of the story. Villains are absolutely essential to any story, fantasy or spooky. To not see one here was strange. It was hinted during the demo that there may have been a villain, but who the villain is should definitely be clear by the end of the demo, which it was not. I think this story had potential, but it needed to be executed a lot better than it was.
Adding to my frustrations, there does not seem to be a villain, which really took away from the suspense of the story. Villains are absolutely essential to any story, fantasy or spooky. To not see one here was strange. It was hinted during the demo that there may have been a villain, but who the villain is should definitely be clear by the end of the demo, which it was not. I think this story had potential, but it needed to be executed a lot better than it was.
When a story isn't so great, the gameplay has to be pretty good and unfortunately, the gameplay here wasn't. There was nothing unique about it, which disappointed me, because I know Boomzap is capable of creativity. The HOS, for instance, were all the same seen before and thus, offered no challenge. That being said, I still found them quite enjoyable. I looked forward to each new HOS that came around. The HOS were pretty much all jazzed-up junkpile. Different types of junkpile included images instead of words, and finding fragments of one large objects to take in to your inventory. There was also a story HOS, which was probably the most innovative of the lot. In terms of challenge, the only one I found remotely challenging was the images one, but once I learned what to do, I was happy. Quantity is no problem; there are 6 HOS in the demo. This, in my opinion, is bordering on too much. Aside from the lack of challenge, I have one more problem. The first HOS included not one, but TWO puzzles. This is one of my most hated things in a HOPA game, so naturally, this drove me bezerk. It is my opinion that HOS & Puzzles should NEVER be mixed together.
The puzzles were okay, but weren't the best I've seen. Some of them were okay and some were not. Unlike their previous game, however, they varied in challenge, which is always a positive. Like the HOS, they were nothing I haven't seen before. On the plus side, the puzzles did have hints in them, which was something I've been calling for for a long time. Also like the HOS, I did have a couple of problems with the puzzles:
1) One of the puzzles was unable to be skipped. The layout of this particular puzzle was confusing, so I wasn't sure what to do. Thus, this drove down the fun factor significantly. I ended up using hint after hint for it.
2) One of my pet peeves in a game is solving a puzzle to go straight in to another one. This happened in this game and was also a contribution to the decreased fun factor.
1) One of the puzzles was unable to be skipped. The layout of this particular puzzle was confusing, so I wasn't sure what to do. Thus, this drove down the fun factor significantly. I ended up using hint after hint for it.
2) One of my pet peeves in a game is solving a puzzle to go straight in to another one. This happened in this game and was also a contribution to the decreased fun factor.
In terms of quantity, there is once again no problem. Excluding minigames found in HOS, there were 6 puzzles in the demo. Including them would bring the total to 8. So puzzle lovers will enjoy the amount here.
As a consequence of the excessive puzzles/HOS, the adventure component is extremely light. I barely got any adventure parts in before I was thrown in to another puzzle or HOS. Once again, this was also a contributer to the decreased fun factor for me. I love the adventure component of a HOPA, and here it is almost nonexistent. This has become a problem with Boomzap lately, and I hope it is fixed incredibly soon. It is called a HOPA for a reason; there has to be ADVENTURE in there. Walking around from scene to scene and collecting one or two items does not classify as adventure.
In terms of extra gameplay features, it was hit and miss for Boomzap. Some of the features I liked, some I did not. There were a total of three features here. One of these was + objects, which are becoming standard now. I liked how Boomzap have done these objects. Their + objects consisted of unwrapping pouches and putting things back together rather than having the one item linger in your inventory for ages. I also liked how there weren't many of them. Nothing is worse than overusing a feature, so to see that was not the case was a good thing.
Another feature was the pendant. This was my favourite feature of the game, partly because it tied in with the story. Every member of the kingdom has a magic and this was our character's. But aside from that, the pendant just made things more fun.
The final feature was the bird. I thought that it was going to be our animal helper, as there had been helpers in every other game, and my excitement added when we got to name it. But unfortunately, my hopes were shattered. All the bird does is sit there and act as your hint, rendering it totally useless. I wish the developers had actually created a use for the bird, rather than having it sit there and do nothing. It shouldn't even be in the game if all it does is be your hint.
Another feature was the pendant. This was my favourite feature of the game, partly because it tied in with the story. Every member of the kingdom has a magic and this was our character's. But aside from that, the pendant just made things more fun.
The final feature was the bird. I thought that it was going to be our animal helper, as there had been helpers in every other game, and my excitement added when we got to name it. But unfortunately, my hopes were shattered. All the bird does is sit there and act as your hint, rendering it totally useless. I wish the developers had actually created a use for the bird, rather than having it sit there and do nothing. It shouldn't even be in the game if all it does is be your hint.
The basic features were good. There were 3 modes of difficulty and a working hint. The map was also quite good. Unfortunately, there was no diary, which I think is a necessity to HOPA games. The diary seems to have faded in to nonexistence nowadays, which I think is quite sad. It helps me remember the details of the story and I quite like reading the entries.
Graphics-wise, Boomzap have done a good job. They were drawn with some nice details and good colours. Every scene was clear and character desings were good. However, there was no lip-synch, which I found very disappointing, especially in this day and age with all the technology available.
I didn't like the voice-overs. Cedric's voice sounded sarcastic and, at times, very pushy and demanding. Also, the voice for Caity was very annoying. It sounded like either someone had taken a shot of helium or they had gotten a prepubescent boy to voice her.
I didn't like the voice-overs. Cedric's voice sounded sarcastic and, at times, very pushy and demanding. Also, the voice for Caity was very annoying. It sounded like either someone had taken a shot of helium or they had gotten a prepubescent boy to voice her.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside HOS.
Map- The map is quite helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These items have been done quite well. I really enjoyed them.
Pendant- Awesome feature. Made the game more fun. Can be used when an eye symbol is shown.
Bird- USELESS. All it does is sit there.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside HOS.
Map- The map is quite helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These items have been done quite well. I really enjoyed them.
Pendant- Awesome feature. Made the game more fun. Can be used when an eye symbol is shown.
Bird- USELESS. All it does is sit there.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Shows collectibles, but not HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectible fairies- one in every scene
Replay Puzzles
Music
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Replay Cutscenes
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Shows collectibles, but not HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectible fairies- one in every scene
Replay Puzzles
Music
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Replay Cutscenes
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Absolutely the SE. The CE is very weak on bonus content and offers nothing of interest to me whatsoever. Save your money.
Absolutely the SE. The CE is very weak on bonus content and offers nothing of interest to me whatsoever. Save your money.
MY PROGRESS
There are two chapters in the demo. The game has 6 chapters in total. I finished the two chapters in 50 minutes.
There are two chapters in the demo. The game has 6 chapters in total. I finished the two chapters in 50 minutes.
Overall, this game proves to me why I made the right choice in not even demoing the previous Awakening game. It has once again failed to deliver. With a new saga, I was hoping this would be good, but it looks like Awakening will be doomed to drift in to one of those never-ending series that gets worse with every game.
I don't recommend this game.
A fire breaks out during a concert, and now your daughters are both missing. Hurry to track them down – their music may hold the key to life and death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
A Breath of Fresh Air!
PostedOctober 31, 2014
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FULL RATING: 4 1/2 STARS
FULL RATING: 4 1/2 STARS
This developer has only one other title under their belt, and I didn't play said title, so I wasn't really familiar with them. This is a sequel to their only other title. I must say, this game is really good! Quite a good change from the games we've been getting lately!
I really enjoyed the story. From my understanding, this story follows the same character as the previous game, which is nice. The story began well. I thought the opening was a little confusing at first, but then it was explained later on, so it made sense. As far as drama goes, this isn't your high-octane shock-a-minute type story. It builds up the suspense through small events and a great backstory. So there wasn't really much to go on when judging with twists and turns, but what there was, it was great. The twists that happened were quite unexpected, and it really kept me interested in the story and the game. The demo ended on a really good note, too. (no pun intended!)
Part of the story's suspense was delivered through the backstory, which was told through various secret files. The secret files could be listened to by collecting three figurines per file. Each file told part of a backstory which was very relevant to the game. It added excitement to the story and made me enjoy it a lot more than I already was.
Overall, this is a really good story. I can't wait to see how it ends.
Part of the story's suspense was delivered through the backstory, which was told through various secret files. The secret files could be listened to by collecting three figurines per file. Each file told part of a backstory which was very relevant to the game. It added excitement to the story and made me enjoy it a lot more than I already was.
Overall, this is a really good story. I can't wait to see how it ends.
With HOPA games these days, we're all accustomed to seeing fantastic features and jazzed up, super long, super interactive HOS. Well, this game didn't have that, but that's what made it so fun! The HOS are by no means jazzed up. They are pretty much the HOS you used to find before developers started going crazy with them, and that's what I most enjoyed about it. I really appreciated the simplicity and variety of HOS. The HOS came in many different forms: Junkpile, progressive silhouette and replace the item. Just because they were simple doesn't mean they were cinch; I actually struggled with them a couple of times! In terms of quantity, the developers have done a good job here. There are 4 HOS in the demo, which is just right for me. The HOS are well-spaced out too.
I enjoyed the puzzles too. They were a welcome change from the repetitive bore we've been seeing lately. I was able to solve the majority of them, but I needed to skip one. The puzzles, too, varied in challenge from easy to a little challenging, which I appreciated. No matter how tough they were, I enjoyed playing them, and they actually made me want to solve them, which doesn't happen too often! Similar to the HOS, the puzzles were of a good quantity (5 in the demo) and well spaced out.
Just because there are HOS and Puzzles doesn't mean the adventure component has been forgotten. I actually found it to be present a lot more than usual. I hate it when developers pile on HOS & Puzzles and forget about the adventure part, but that wasn't the case here. About half the demo was taken up with the adventure side of things, which is very good.
I enjoyed the puzzles too. They were a welcome change from the repetitive bore we've been seeing lately. I was able to solve the majority of them, but I needed to skip one. The puzzles, too, varied in challenge from easy to a little challenging, which I appreciated. No matter how tough they were, I enjoyed playing them, and they actually made me want to solve them, which doesn't happen too often! Similar to the HOS, the puzzles were of a good quantity (5 in the demo) and well spaced out.
Just because there are HOS and Puzzles doesn't mean the adventure component has been forgotten. I actually found it to be present a lot more than usual. I hate it when developers pile on HOS & Puzzles and forget about the adventure part, but that wasn't the case here. About half the demo was taken up with the adventure side of things, which is very good.
As far as extra features go, this game hit it just right. It wasn't filled to the brim with extra stuff, but rather, had only a singular feature that fit in very well with the game. You won't find any animal helpers or + objects here. Instead we have the music sheets. These music sheets can be used to record melodies, which are found at various points in the game. Recording the melodies is actually needed for the game to progress. The melodies are answers to various codes throughout the game. I thought tying in the feature with the game's theme was a really smart move. I really enjoyed this feature and hope it will be used a lot more as the game progresses.
The game's basics have been done pretty well too. The map works really well and is different to most. There are three modes of difficulty and the hint works well. However, I was dismayed to see that, once again, there was no diary. I don't know how many times I'll have to say this for the developers to get it through their heads. DIARIES ARE IMPORTANT! They actually help me to remember early parts of the story, and I just like to read the entries. Developers... BRING BACK THE DIARY!
The graphics were good. They weren't the best I've ever seen, but they were still done pretty well. The scenes are done with detail, and I liked how the game progressed from dusk to nightfall as it would in real life. Good job to the developers on this. I also liked how every scene was clear and the character designs were life-like. There is also lip-synch in the game, which is always a good sign.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Hard and Advanced. Differences are standard. The hardest mode is good because there are no black bar tips and the hint is still active. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected, so there was no hand holding, but it wasn't slow either. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and is helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to complete. It works different to most; you have to click on the area you want to go, then move your mouse over the picture of that area and click. This was a nice change,
Music Sheets- This was a great feature as it tied in with the game's theme. Also quite fun.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Hard and Advanced. Differences are standard. The hardest mode is good because there are no black bar tips and the hint is still active. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected, so there was no hand holding, but it wasn't slow either. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and is helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to complete. It works different to most; you have to click on the area you want to go, then move your mouse over the picture of that area and click. This was a nice change,
Music Sheets- This was a great feature as it tied in with the game's theme. Also quite fun.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements- some story based, some gameplay based. Story based ones are in question marks (???) to begin with so there are no spoilers as to what will happen.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Music
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements- some story based, some gameplay based. Story based ones are in question marks (???) to begin with so there are no spoilers as to what will happen.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Music
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Hands down, the SE. The CE doesn't even come close to being worth it. The developers were really stingy on the bonus content, much to my disappointment. There aren't even any collectibles, which are, in my opinion, a necessary CE Extra. The developers need to do a much better job of making their games CE worthy, because it will lose them a lot of money.
Hands down, the SE. The CE doesn't even come close to being worth it. The developers were really stingy on the bonus content, much to my disappointment. There aren't even any collectibles, which are, in my opinion, a necessary CE Extra. The developers need to do a much better job of making their games CE worthy, because it will lose them a lot of money.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the two chapters with 36 minutes left on my demo, which equates to me finishing the demo in 54 minutes. This is longer than most demos and gives me the hope that this will be a lengthy game.
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the two chapters with 36 minutes left on my demo, which equates to me finishing the demo in 54 minutes. This is longer than most demos and gives me the hope that this will be a lengthy game.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this game. It felt nice to take a step back from the overly interactive stuff and play a HOPA like the way it used to be. I will definitely be buying the SE to continue the adventure. It may look old-fashioned, but this is one of my most favourite games to come out in recent times.
I recommend this game!
You are the key to solving a chilling supernatural mystery!
Overall rating
3
/
5
13 of 20 found this review helpful
Elefun, You've STILL Got A Lot of Work to Do!
PostedOctober 24, 2014
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
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I don't know what it is with these guys. They can never hit that “sweet spot” with me. Their games have always been just okay, never fantastic, and this game is no exception to that rule.
I think where this game started to go wrong for me was with the story. The concept wasn't exciting, given that it had been done over and over again, and to start with, it wasn't executed well. The opening was fairly weak and the beginning of the story was fairly boring, almost laborious. Nothing interesting happened at the beginning, but then things began to get slightly more interesting as the demo wore on. However, the story was still missing that wow factor, and it continued that way until the end. I did really like the twist at the end of the demo. It was something I really wasn't expecting and added to the excitement of the story. But when it comes to excitement, that was it, and that's the problem. This story was just okay, nothing more. I don't feel this story was executed as well as it could have.
The gameplay was good, but again, nothing too special. The HOS were enjoyable; there was a good variety of them. They were progressive silhouette, silhouette junkpile and word list junkpile, with the word list ones being jazzed up a little to be a little bit more interactive. I found the HOS quite easy, but I still liked them and looked forward to another each time I completed one. They were probably my favourite part of the game. In terms of quantity, the developer has done a good job, too. Not counting those “find the fragment” zoom games, there were 4 HOS in the demo, which is a good number for me. I found they were well spaced out too.
I didn't mind the puzzles either but, like the HOS, they were nothing special, pretty much all the stuff I've seen before. As a consequence, I also found them to be easy. Quantity is not a problem though; there were 5 puzzles in the demo, which is a good number. Like the HOS, they were spaced out well.
I didn't mind the puzzles either but, like the HOS, they were nothing special, pretty much all the stuff I've seen before. As a consequence, I also found them to be easy. Quantity is not a problem though; there were 5 puzzles in the demo, which is a good number. Like the HOS, they were spaced out well.
In this game, there is a minigame where you have to find fragments of an object in a zoom scene. I do not count these as HOS or Puzzles. Basically, when you find the first part of an item, you will enter a zoom scene and be required to find fragments of the remaining object or objects to make up that item. This was a very good feature, one that I enjoyed, which added to the fun factor of the game. It appeared twice, which is a good number.
The only additional gameplay feature in this game was + objects. I liked how this feature was executed. Most of the plus items, if not all, required more than one interaction to complete, which I really enjoyed. Secondly, there was an indication of when the item was ready to be tinkered with, which is always a good sign for me. There was also a decent number of + objects, but they weren't over-used. There were never more than two + objects in my inventory at the one time.
Unfortunately, though, that's it when it comes to additional features, and I think this game has suffered as a consequence. For their next game, I would definitely like to see more innovation. I understand helpers are out of place in the Fear For Sale series, but perhaps they could add something new, like a device for detecting paranormal things, or something like that? It would make the game more fun. Otherwise, this developer will continue to be nothing more than “okay”.
Unfortunately, though, that's it when it comes to additional features, and I think this game has suffered as a consequence. For their next game, I would definitely like to see more innovation. I understand helpers are out of place in the Fear For Sale series, but perhaps they could add something new, like a device for detecting paranormal things, or something like that? It would make the game more fun. Otherwise, this developer will continue to be nothing more than “okay”.
As far as basic features go, it's hit-and-miss. The map works fine, as do the hint and skip, but there is no diary. I'm absolutely fed up with having to address this in every single review I write. Developers, THE DIARY IS IMPORTANT. I enjoy it, as it is useful for remembering key story events and, well, I just like to read the entries.
Also, there was this thing with ranks and points. I did not like it at all. I play HOPA games to enjoy them, not to try to earn points. This took away from the fun factor for me, as I felt like I was competing with something, rather than playing a relaxing, single player game. I would much prefer it if this was taken away in future games.
Also, there was this thing with ranks and points. I did not like it at all. I play HOPA games to enjoy them, not to try to earn points. This took away from the fun factor for me, as I felt like I was competing with something, rather than playing a relaxing, single player game. I would much prefer it if this was taken away in future games.
Overall the gameplay is, once again, okay. I did not love it, but I did not hate it. There is a lack of innovation, with only the standard features available here. Because of this, there is also a complete lack of challenge. This is a recurring problem in games by this developer and I think it is time to have it addressed. Take chances, think outside the box. Use your initiative! Until then, the developer and their games will always be “okay”.
The graphics were good. They were drawn with some nice detail and colours. I liked the character designs and the use of live actors in some places too. Every scene was clear to me. Good job on the graphics.
However, I cannot say the same for the voice-overs. I did not like the voice of the main character. It was as boring and emotionless, fairly under-acted. I felt I could have done a better job than that. I think the developer needs to work on their voice-overs for the next game.
However, I cannot say the same for the voice-overs. I did not like the voice of the main character. It was as boring and emotionless, fairly under-acted. I felt I could have done a better job than that. I think the developer needs to work on their voice-overs for the next game.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you customise many things, such as mis-click pentalty and hint/skip charge. Differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It shows where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- The + Objects often required more than one interaction to complete, which was really nice. There is an indication of when an item can be interacted with.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you customise many things, such as mis-click pentalty and hint/skip charge. Differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It shows where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- The + Objects often required more than one interaction to complete, which was really nice. There is an indication of when an item can be interacted with.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- shows locations of collectibles.
Achievements- there are many, some story based, some gameplay based.
Collectibles- grouped in to 5 sets of 5, equating to 25 collectibles in total.
Wallpapers (9)
Concept Art
Screensavers
Music (the music track in the Bonus Content section was VERY ANNOYING)
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- shows locations of collectibles.
Achievements- there are many, some story based, some gameplay based.
Collectibles- grouped in to 5 sets of 5, equating to 25 collectibles in total.
Wallpapers (9)
Concept Art
Screensavers
Music (the music track in the Bonus Content section was VERY ANNOYING)
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Definitely the SE. The CE does not have any interesting extras, just the basics.
Definitely the SE. The CE does not have any interesting extras, just the basics.
MY PROGRESS
I finished the demo with 51 minutes to go, which means I finished it in 39 minutes. There are 3 chapters in the SG and the demo goes in to the third chapter, but I'm not sure if it finishes it.
I finished the demo with 51 minutes to go, which means I finished it in 39 minutes. There are 3 chapters in the SG and the demo goes in to the third chapter, but I'm not sure if it finishes it.
You'll notice I've repeatedly used one word in this review- okay. That's pretty much the word I'd use to sum up this game. There really is nothing to write home about. My review of the last Fear For Sale game stated “You're getting there Elefun, but you still have a lot of work to do”, and that is still my feeling after playing this installment. In the time that has elapsed between these two installments, absolutely zero improvement has been made. If anything, this game is worse than its predecessor.
I don't recommend this game.
Warriors of darkness have just attacked your people. Now you alone can defeat them and save your fellow Healers!
Overall rating
1
/
5
31 of 41 found this review helpful
This Game Drove Me BONKERS!
PostedOctober 19, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON 61 MINUTES OF DEMO (could not manage any more!)
Have you got Insomnia?
Do you need to get information out of someone really quickly?
Then this is the game for you!
This is one of the worst games I have ever played this year. I can guarantee you it is so torturous and boring that, when you play it, you will fall asleep or go crazy (or maybe both). I didn't even finish the demo, and it got to the point where I had to force myself to keep playing. So I ask myself, what has become of this once-great HOPA series?
Do you need to get information out of someone really quickly?
Then this is the game for you!
This is one of the worst games I have ever played this year. I can guarantee you it is so torturous and boring that, when you play it, you will fall asleep or go crazy (or maybe both). I didn't even finish the demo, and it got to the point where I had to force myself to keep playing. So I ask myself, what has become of this once-great HOPA series?
There were so many things about this game that were bad that I don't even know where to start. The story was absolutely atrocious. It was just a bore, and if I had insomnia, I would only need to play with this story to cure it. It had an incredibly weak opening and did not build from there. This story was a lethal mix of boredom and annoyance. It was just little things that built up over time. First, it was that whole crystal shebang. I found our bracelet, only to have a mouse steal the crystal. Then, I got it back, only to have it break. Then, I spent ages opening this machine that Mira INSISTED had a crystal inside, only to open it and find there was no crystal there! If I didn't hate this story already, that was enough to push me over the edge.
Then, every little thing Mira did started to annoy me. All that pushed me to breaking point when she decided it would be an incredibly wise idea to give the horse hay to make it move... and got her dress dirty. So she demanded we find her new clothes, which we did. Then, we gave her all these new outfits out of chest to watch her complain about EVERY SINGLE ONE, until we got to the very last outfit in the chest and she decided she liked it. Then we proceeded with not even a thank you. Talk about a spoiled kid!
Then, every little thing Mira did started to annoy me. All that pushed me to breaking point when she decided it would be an incredibly wise idea to give the horse hay to make it move... and got her dress dirty. So she demanded we find her new clothes, which we did. Then, we gave her all these new outfits out of chest to watch her complain about EVERY SINGLE ONE, until we got to the very last outfit in the chest and she decided she liked it. Then we proceeded with not even a thank you. Talk about a spoiled kid!
To sum it up, this story was just one eventless bore that would have driven me crazy had I tried playing to the end of the demo. This developer has had some fairly weak stories in the past, but this one tops them all. This is an absolutely awful story.
The one saving grace for this game is that the HOS are actually okay. They were the only enjoyable part of the game. There were three types of HOS, with each one being good. The types were junkpile silhouette, place the item and place the item story. I appreciated the variety of the HOS and the varying levels of challenge that each one bought. Most of the HOS were place the item, with only one being silhouette. I would have liked a couple less place the item and a couple more silhouette. The HOS, for the most part, are well spaced out. In terms of quantity, I found the game to be a bit HOS heavy; there were 6 HOS during the time I played. I had used 60 minutes of the demo before I quit, so that equates to 1 HOS every 10 minutes, which is too much. The game would have been much better with a couple less HOS.
While the HOS were half-decent, I couldn't stand the puzzles. They were a little too challenging for me, with the instructions unclear in some cases. They were nothing I haven't seen before either. But what really got me was the quantity. There were a total of NINE (9) Puzzles in the demo! HOLY COW! That is WAY too much for my liking! By the time it got beyond 5, each new puzzle just dragged the fun factor down by about a mile. And it just gets worse... one of my pet peeves in a game is completing a puzzle and going in to another one straightaway. This happened not once, but twice! This drove me ballistic, and any hope of me actually enjoying this game was dashed.
There is one extra gameplay feature that I found during my demo, and that was the bracelet. Yes, after we'd gotten all the bracelet shebang out of the way, it actually WAS a feature! It was used to transform us from wolf to human. I liked this feature. It was used a couple of times and was probably the only redeeming thing about the gameplay.
There is also supposedly an animal helper, although I had not yet encountered it when I quit. I had found an injured wolf, though, so I will assume that was the helper. However, helper or no helper, little difference would have been made to my enjoyment of the game.
There is also supposedly an animal helper, although I had not yet encountered it when I quit. I had found an injured wolf, though, so I will assume that was the helper. However, helper or no helper, little difference would have been made to my enjoyment of the game.
Despite all this game's flaws, I will admit the basic features have been done well. There are three modes of difficulty, a working map, and a diary. I was glad to see that this developer at least had not forgotten the importance of it. It was good for remembering key story events, and I enjoyed reading the entries.
Overall, the gameplay was awful. As far as challenge goes, with the exception of the puzzles, this game was quite easy. Its lack of challenge was aided by being of HOS and Puzzles, with virtually no adventure component. The adventure component it did have was fairly straightforward. I would have appreciated a lot more adventure in this game. As far as I'm concerned, this game is just a HOP, with the “A” gone AWOL.
The graphics were good too, but I have definitely seen better. The scenes were drawn with some nice detail. Everything was clear, with some nice colours, and the character desings were nice.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Regular, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Hint works well outside of HOS. Both hint and skip recharge at a decent speed for the selected difficulty.
Diary- The diary was good for keeping track of events and also had some nice entries that I enjoyed reading.
Map- The map was quite good. It was interactive and showed where you had tasks to complete.
Bracelet- Took forever to fix, but once I did, it was a nice feature. Used a few times.
Animal Helper- I did not encounter this, but numerous forum posts tell me there is a helper. I found a wolf, which I am guessing is the helper. Helper or not, no difference would have been made to my rating.
3 modes of difficulty: Regular, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Hint works well outside of HOS. Both hint and skip recharge at a decent speed for the selected difficulty.
Diary- The diary was good for keeping track of events and also had some nice entries that I enjoyed reading.
Map- The map was quite good. It was interactive and showed where you had tasks to complete.
Bracelet- Took forever to fix, but once I did, it was a nice feature. Used a few times.
Animal Helper- I did not encounter this, but numerous forum posts tell me there is a helper. I found a wolf, which I am guessing is the helper. Helper or not, no difference would have been made to my rating.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy-Guide- Does not show HOS screenshots.
Achievements
Collectible snow globes (32)- At least that's what I think they were. There was one in every scene, I believe, although I didn't pay much attention. There is actually a room for all collectibles, with instructions to place all pieces (there are things inside the snow globes), so this might lead to something.
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Music
Replay Puzzles
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy-Guide- Does not show HOS screenshots.
Achievements
Collectible snow globes (32)- At least that's what I think they were. There was one in every scene, I believe, although I didn't pay much attention. There is actually a room for all collectibles, with instructions to place all pieces (there are things inside the snow globes), so this might lead to something.
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Music
Replay Puzzles
CE OR SE?
Quite frankly, I would rather watch paint dry than buy any version, but if I had to recommend one, I would say definitely go with the SE. The CE has absolutely nothing of interest, just the staples.
Quite frankly, I would rather watch paint dry than buy any version, but if I had to recommend one, I would say definitely go with the SE. The CE has absolutely nothing of interest, just the staples.
MY PROGRESS
I endured 61 minutes of torture before I couldn't take it any more and quit the game. There are 2 chapters in the SG, so I'm assuming the demo goes to the end of chapter 2. So, for those who like it, this is looking like it will be quite lengthy.
I endured 61 minutes of torture before I couldn't take it any more and quit the game. There are 2 chapters in the SG, so I'm assuming the demo goes to the end of chapter 2. So, for those who like it, this is looking like it will be quite lengthy.
Want me to sum up my game experience? I got very bored very quickly. This is definitely a contender for worst HOPA of 2014. I enjoyed all 5 previous Echoes of the Past games, but sadly, this has now become yet another once-great HOPA series that has gone down the drain.
I don't recommend this game.
Death needs help from the only detective he trusts – you!
Overall rating
4
/
5
17 of 23 found this review helpful
Best Storyline In Quite a While!
PostedOctober 17, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FULL RATING: 4 1/2 STARS
FULL RATING: 4 1/2 STARS
I really enjoyed Riddles of Fate: Into Oblivion, and ever since I saw the preview, I've been looking forward to this game. So when it finally came out, my expectations were obviously high. I can safely say that this game has met those expectations!
Well, where do I start with the story? It had a thrilling concept, one that I have not seen before in a game. It was executed wonderfully. The game started off quite well and got better from there. The story is divided in to three parts, with a new suspect in each part. Even in the first part (the one played during the demo), there were multiple twists, all of which made the story much more exciting. I feel that Elephant used the Death element of the story to a significant advantage, as various elements such as communicating with the dead were added, which added to the already fantastic story. The demo ended on a great note, and I am very much looking forward to continuing when the SE comes out.
The only problem I have with the story is a very minor one. There does not seem to be a definitive villain, although I understand why this is the case. I would have liked to see a villain attempt to stop us in our tracks. This is hinted at during the demo, but I would have liked to see it more visible.
Overall, this was a brilliant story. It has taken me back to Elephant's olden days and has proven to me that they are masters of storytelling.
The only problem I have with the story is a very minor one. There does not seem to be a definitive villain, although I understand why this is the case. I would have liked to see a villain attempt to stop us in our tracks. This is hinted at during the demo, but I would have liked to see it more visible.
Overall, this was a brilliant story. It has taken me back to Elephant's olden days and has proven to me that they are masters of storytelling.
I also quite enjoyed the gameplay. In recent times, I have found Elephant's gameplay to be fairly mundane and run-of-the-mill, but not anymore. In this game, Elephant have changed their gameplay in an effort to keep up with the times. It has worked here, because the game was quite fun as well as having an interesting story. The HOS had a couple of different varieties but were mainly based on the satandard list-junkpile format. All HOS were, in some way, list-junkpile. However, there were a couple of changes to some of them to make them more interesting. Like I said, they were fun, but as far as quantity goes, the game was slightly stingy. There were 3 HOS in the demo, which is a good number, but they were spaced out a little too far apart for my liking. I would have liked them a little closer together or had maybe 1 more in the demo.
The puzzles are really the only part of the game that has not changed. They are still fairly run-of-the-mill, with all puzzles being ones I had seen before. That being said, I found them fun to attempt and somewhat easy, with only a couple needing to be skipped. I was pleased with the quantity. There were 6 puzzles in the demo and they were spaced out well. The ratio of HOS:Puzzles is good too.
The puzzles are really the only part of the game that has not changed. They are still fairly run-of-the-mill, with all puzzles being ones I had seen before. That being said, I found them fun to attempt and somewhat easy, with only a couple needing to be skipped. I was pleased with the quantity. There were 6 puzzles in the demo and they were spaced out well. The ratio of HOS:Puzzles is good too.
Elephant have clearly gone to a lot of trouble with their gameplay, evidenced by the nice extra gameplay features. Usually, Elephant don't bother with extra gameplay features, but this time they have, and I'm glad for that. There were two additional gameplay features in this game which I thought were pretty cool.
One of the features was + objects. These are definitely standard now, but I was still glad to see them here. There are quite a few + objects, with only a couple in your inventory at a time, which was really good, because Elephant have been known to over-use + objects in the past. Unfortunately, there is no indication of when the + items are ready to be used. This was not a problem for me personally, but may frustrate beginners. That being said, I did enjoy the + object feature and thought it was done well.
One of the features was + objects. These are definitely standard now, but I was still glad to see them here. There are quite a few + objects, with only a couple in your inventory at a time, which was really good, because Elephant have been known to over-use + objects in the past. Unfortunately, there is no indication of when the + items are ready to be used. This was not a problem for me personally, but may frustrate beginners. That being said, I did enjoy the + object feature and thought it was done well.
The other additional feature in this game is House Items. These are items highlighted in light blue that require you to go back to the lab in your house to fix or alter. This can be done in a number of ways through the machines in your lab, such as revealing photos or writing, creating potions or creating items. This was a really good feature that I hadn't seen before. It added to the fun factor of the game. In terms of quantity, there were quite a few of the House Items in the game, which was nice. I hope this feature appears a lot more times, not only in this game, but in games to come from this developer. This is definitely a step in the right direction for them.
Despite adding those extra gameplay features, Elephant has not forgotten about the basic features, which have been done quite well. I especially liked the map, which came in the form of a sphere that could teleport you anywhere around the globe. This was a good twist on the map feature. However, the one thing missing is the diary. Yet again I will say this, but why has the diary disappeared? It is one of the most important features of the game for me. I simply cannot fathom as to why developers have suddenly decided it is unimportant. Please, listen to me, developers: BRING BACK THE DIARY!
Overall, the gameplay was quite good. It was a nice accompaniment to the fantastic story.
Overall, the gameplay was quite good. It was a nice accompaniment to the fantastic story.
I was really pleased with the graphics. I thought they were done well, with some nice colours and some good detail. I liked the character designs, especially the design for Death. This was a nice spin on the age-old image. Instead of the hood and scythe, death looked more like a Gothic, middle-aged man. There is lip-synch in the game, which is always nice to see, as it makes the game look more realistic.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hardcore- I'll be honest here and say I was a little disappointed not to see a custom difficulty. I thought it had become standard now. Differences in the three difficulties are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- The hint and skip recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map comes in the form of a sphere, given to us by Death, which can transport us to anywhere on the globe. I liked the spin on the old-style map here. The map was helpful, but not as helpful as I would like. It displayed locations where you have tasks, but not where your next task was.
+ Objects- These are objects you need to interact with to complete. Some items take more than one additional item to complete. There are quite a few, but no indication of when they can be used.
House Items- These are items you need to go back to your house to alter or fix. They are indicated by a light blue background. I really enjoyed them.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hardcore- I'll be honest here and say I was a little disappointed not to see a custom difficulty. I thought it had become standard now. Differences in the three difficulties are the usual. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- The hint and skip recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map comes in the form of a sphere, given to us by Death, which can transport us to anywhere on the globe. I liked the spin on the old-style map here. The map was helpful, but not as helpful as I would like. It displayed locations where you have tasks, but not where your next task was.
+ Objects- These are objects you need to interact with to complete. Some items take more than one additional item to complete. There are quite a few, but no indication of when they can be used.
House Items- These are items you need to go back to your house to alter or fix. They are indicated by a light blue background. I really enjoyed them.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS screenshots.
Achievements
Collectible solitaire cards (52)- Used in a solitaire game in the bonus section. They are located in some zoom scenes, sometimes with more than one per zoom scene.
Collectible figurines (3)
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Music
Solitaire game
Secret Room
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS screenshots.
Achievements
Collectible solitaire cards (52)- Used in a solitaire game in the bonus section. They are located in some zoom scenes, sometimes with more than one per zoom scene.
Collectible figurines (3)
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Music
Solitaire game
Secret Room
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Elephant has definitely stepped it up in terms of bonus content. There are some enticing features here, but I am still going to purchase the SE, and advise you do the same.
Elephant has definitely stepped it up in terms of bonus content. There are some enticing features here, but I am still going to purchase the SE, and advise you do the same.
MY PROGRESS
The game is divided in to three parts, with 2 chapters per part, comprising of 6 chapters overall in the main game. I completed part one in the demo. This took me 45 minutes, which indicates to me this game will be of standard length.
The game is divided in to three parts, with 2 chapters per part, comprising of 6 chapters overall in the main game. I completed part one in the demo. This took me 45 minutes, which indicates to me this game will be of standard length.
Overall, this is an extremely enjoyable game, probably the best by Elephant Games this year. I found very little to fault with this game, with the only major problem being the quantity and spacing of the HOS. It earns a rating of four and a half stars from me which, on my rounding system, equates to a four.
I recommend this game!
Every second counts in this breathtaking paranormal adventure!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 12 found this review helpful
Good Story, But That's It
PostedOctober 14, 2014
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
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I had high hopes for this game. The preview looked exciting and it was from one of my favourite developers. After playing the demo, I can say this is definitely not their finest game, but it is still good in its own right.
What definitely kept me going in this game was the story. I really enjoyed it. It was unique and action-packed, with some great twists along the way. The game had an exciting opening and picked up from there, never becoming dull for a moment. I liked how this was darker than usual, with the developers kind of pushing the boundaries of HOPA stories. The story was extremely exciting, and I think the various escape sequences added to that. Even though they were brief, they made me feel as if I was in a real escape situation, rushing to do everything as soon as I possibly could. This definitely made the story more enjoyable and swayed me towards purchasing.
Overall, a decent story, one that carried me on to the end of the demo.
Overall, a decent story, one that carried me on to the end of the demo.
However, while the story was unique, the gameplay was not unique at all. I found it to be fairly run-of-the-mill and unable to offer much interest. I know this developer is capable of fantastic gameplay (take their last game, for instance), so I am a little confused as to why it was not seen here. The HOS are all progressive silhouette, so nothing we haven't seen before. However, that being said, I still enjoyed them a lot. I thought they were fun and added to the enjoyment of the game. I found they were spaced out well and there was a decent number of them (three, to be exact).
In contrast, I found the puzzles to be rather boring. They were run-of-the-mill, the same old, same old we see time and time again. Because of this, they were simple, and in the end, did little to add to the fun factor of the game. I did not much care for them. I would have preferred for them to either be slightly more interesting or removed from the game completely. To me, it just seemed like they were there to add length.
The quantity of puzzles is good for those who like them. There are three puzzles in the demo, and they are well spaced out.
The quantity of puzzles is good for those who like them. There are three puzzles in the demo, and they are well spaced out.
In terms of extra gameplay features, this game has a couple, and they are good ones. One feature is + objects, which are pretty much standard now. There are a decent number of them in the demo. Some + items were interacted with multiple times. I liked this feature. It added fun to the game.
The other feature was using the boy's paranormal powers to our advantage. They could be used at certain points in the game by clicking on a medallion with the boy's face on it, which is located next to the hint. I liked this feature because it actually integrated the boy's powers in to the game instead of just being there for story. It was used a couple of times in the demo, and I hope it is used a lot more.
The other feature was using the boy's paranormal powers to our advantage. They could be used at certain points in the game by clicking on a medallion with the boy's face on it, which is located next to the hint. I liked this feature because it actually integrated the boy's powers in to the game instead of just being there for story. It was used a couple of times in the demo, and I hope it is used a lot more.
The basic gameplay features have been done quite well. There is a diary, a map and three modes of difficulty. The diary is really good for keeping track of case events. The entries were nice to read. I appreciate that at least one developer still thinks diaries are important. Now it's time for the rest of the developers to take their lead, because as a matter of fact, diaries ARE important! Very good job on the basic features here.
Overall, something about this gameplay just didn't sit with me. It had an outdated and boring feel about it. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it is mainly what is keeping me from purchasing the game. I just think the game was too run-of-the-mill with nothing really exciting to offer. It's all well and good to have an interesting story, but even the most interesting story won't get you over the line if you have boring gameplay. I know this developer is certainly capable of gameplay masterpieces, so I will be expecting a whole lot more for their next game.
I didn't really like the graphics much either. I thought they were out-dated. They were bright in some places, but clear in others. I have definitely seen a lot better from this developer. I didn't think they were very detailed at all; they could have been done so much better. On the plus side, I did like the character designs, but overall, a very poor effort.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary is good for keeping track of important events.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know what you need to do next.
+ Objects- These are items you need to interact with to complete. Indicated by a + above the item. There is an indication of when you can use them.
Powers- You can use the boy's powers to your advantage. There is no indication of when the powers can be used, so it is a bit of guesswork.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary is good for keeping track of important events.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know what you need to do next.
+ Objects- These are items you need to interact with to complete. Indicated by a + above the item. There is an indication of when you can use them.
Powers- You can use the boy's powers to your advantage. There is no indication of when the powers can be used, so it is a bit of guesswork.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Doesn't show HOS solutions.
Collectible coins (25)
Achievements
Wallpapers
Music
Concept Art
Replay Cutscenes
Characters
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Doesn't show HOS solutions.
Collectible coins (25)
Achievements
Wallpapers
Music
Concept Art
Replay Cutscenes
Characters
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Definitely the SE. The CE does not have many bonus features at all and the ones it does have are not that interesting. Save your money.
Definitely the SE. The CE does not have many bonus features at all and the ones it does have are not that interesting. Save your money.
MY PROGRESS
I was quite shocked with how far I progressed in this game. The demo ended halfway through chapter three. There are 5 chapters in the entire game. I finished the demo in about 45-50 minutes (can't remember exactly), so it seems to me that this game will be quite short. Of course, don't let that turn you off this game.
I was quite shocked with how far I progressed in this game. The demo ended halfway through chapter three. There are 5 chapters in the entire game. I finished the demo in about 45-50 minutes (can't remember exactly), so it seems to me that this game will be quite short. Of course, don't let that turn you off this game.
Overall, this is a bit flat. There's a decent story, but that's just it really, except for a couple of nice gameplay features. The best I can do is three stars. I did enjoy the demo, but there were quite a few problems I had with the game. This is definitely not the developer's finest moment.
I recommend this game!