catbag8717's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:8,793
- Reviews Submitted:584
- First Review:April 27, 2012
- Most Recent Review:September 23, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Someone – or something – is stealing the children of Blake’s Mountain!
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 12 found this review helpful
Is This A Game or a Highly Interactive Movie?
PostedOctober 9, 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
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Mariaglorium are a known but not really memorable developer to me. All that has changed with this game! I was quite skeptical about all the hype this game was getting pre-release, but after playing it, I can safely say that the hype is somewhat justified.
This type of story has been done so many times I've lost count, but the developer has still managed to make it good. The opening cutscene was interesting and drew me in to the story. From there, the story was good, taking a couple of nice twists and turns along the way. What the story did well was build suspense. There was quite a nice backstory in the beginning which made me want to play on. I also liked the touch of humour the developers added. A scarecrow SCARED of CROWS? Please. And even funnier was when the villain got zapped by the door while trying to run away. It was nice to see the villain fail for once! That actually made me laugh out loud, and made someone in my family glance at me curiously. It was very nice to see the humour in a serious game.
However, that being said, this story did not go beyond good. I was interested, hut not fascinated. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it... you get my drift.
Overall, it was a good story, but I've seen better. It was a good accompaniment to the gameplay.
However, that being said, this story did not go beyond good. I was interested, hut not fascinated. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it... you get my drift.
Overall, it was a good story, but I've seen better. It was a good accompaniment to the gameplay.
The story may have been good, but the gameplay was great. I've got no idea why I enjoyed it so much, but for some reason I just kept playing and playing.
I liked the HOS. They came in a couple of different forms, progressive silhouette and junkpile, so they weren't new, but still quite fun to play. There wasn't much challenge with them, but I appreciated how laid back they were instead of overly interactive. In terms of quantity, the developers have done a good job. There were 5 HOS in the demo period. They were well spaced out, with some locations repeated a second time.
The puzzles were also quite good. They were fairly simplistic, with no real challenge, but still very fun to play. The instructions were clear, so I knew exactly what to do as soon as I clicked on info. In a world first, I was actually able to solve all the puzzles! This was a very nice change for me. These puzzles were quite basic, and nothing we haven't seen before, so may annoy expert puzzlers. The quantity is good, with a total of 4 puzzles during the demo.
I liked the HOS. They came in a couple of different forms, progressive silhouette and junkpile, so they weren't new, but still quite fun to play. There wasn't much challenge with them, but I appreciated how laid back they were instead of overly interactive. In terms of quantity, the developers have done a good job. There were 5 HOS in the demo period. They were well spaced out, with some locations repeated a second time.
The puzzles were also quite good. They were fairly simplistic, with no real challenge, but still very fun to play. The instructions were clear, so I knew exactly what to do as soon as I clicked on info. In a world first, I was actually able to solve all the puzzles! This was a very nice change for me. These puzzles were quite basic, and nothing we haven't seen before, so may annoy expert puzzlers. The quantity is good, with a total of 4 puzzles during the demo.
As far as extra gameplay features go, the developers have done a good job. There are a total of two extra gameplay features and they are quite good. One of them is + objects, which are becoming a standard feature, but they have been done quite well. There is a lot more interaction with the object instead of just adding one item and being done. Some + items actually require you to reassemble the item, and pretty much all of them require you to add more than one item. This was a great move, as it really added to the fun factor. There was also a good number of + items. I really enjoyed this feature and hope I will see many more appearances as the game goes on.
The other feature is a helper, which comes in the form of a scarecrow. I liked it, as I felt the scarecrow matched with the theme of the game and thus, fit in with the game. You do not get to name the scarecrow, but it is still very enjoyable. It is used quite a few times, and is used a little bit differently to most helpers. You actually get to interact with it. This was done in ways such as giving it a mining helmet, or handing it a sword and shield. This was nice and also added to the fun factor. I loved this feature and hope it is used many more times as the game continues.
The other feature is a helper, which comes in the form of a scarecrow. I liked it, as I felt the scarecrow matched with the theme of the game and thus, fit in with the game. You do not get to name the scarecrow, but it is still very enjoyable. It is used quite a few times, and is used a little bit differently to most helpers. You actually get to interact with it. This was done in ways such as giving it a mining helmet, or handing it a sword and shield. This was nice and also added to the fun factor. I loved this feature and hope it is used many more times as the game continues.
The basic features have been done well. There are 4 modes of difficulty, a diary (YES! WOOHOO!) and a map. I loved the fact that there was a diary here. I'm glad these developers have seen the importance of a diary. Aside from the hint, I see it as the most important feature of the game. It helps me remember important details of the game. I hope the diary continues to appear in all games!
Overall, the gameplay was quite good, but the only problem for me was challenge. Or maybe I should say lack of challenge, because there was no challenge here whatsoever. Everything was extremely easy, simple and straightforward. I rarely used the hint, not even in HOS. I did not come across a single difficulty in this game. For their next game, I would like the developer to work significantly on the challenge factor. It has been a long time since I have been challenged by a HOPA game. Developers, step it up, please!
In a word, the graphics were fantastic. They were very clear and, in the cutscenes especially, were drawn with so much detail. Sometimes I felt like I was watching a movie rather than playing a game! There is not one flaw with the graphics. I loved the character desings, and I loved the colours, which fit in well with the feel of the game. I loved everything about them. These are probably the best graphics I have ever seen.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue. But I must comment on the music. I absolutely loved it! It was much better than the music in previous games.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue. But I must comment on the music. I absolutely loved it! It was much better than the music in previous games.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences in the first three are standard, while custom lets you set the game to your liking. There are quite a few things to alter with the custom difficulty. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
Timer- You can click on the profiles section to see how long you have been playing the game.
+ Objects- These are items you must interact with to complete. I liked how they were interacted with a lot more than usual.
Helper- Comes in the form of a scarecrow. I liked how you could interact with it.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences in the first three are standard, while custom lets you set the game to your liking. There are quite a few things to alter with the custom difficulty. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
Timer- You can click on the profiles section to see how long you have been playing the game.
+ Objects- These are items you must interact with to complete. I liked how they were interacted with a lot more than usual.
Helper- Comes in the form of a scarecrow. I liked how you could interact with it.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Second Bonus Chapter- Unlocked after completing the first one.
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS solutions. Does show collectible locations.
Collectible owls (25)- One in every scene. Very fun to find.
Collectible dolls (7)
Achievements
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Second Bonus Chapter- Unlocked after completing the first one.
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS solutions. Does show collectible locations.
Collectible owls (25)- One in every scene. Very fun to find.
Collectible dolls (7)
Achievements
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE has some nice extras, as well as two bonus chapters, so I think the CE has great value. It will be a tough decision for me. I think I might go with the CE.
The CE has some nice extras, as well as two bonus chapters, so I think the CE has great value. It will be a tough decision for me. I think I might go with the CE.
MY PROGRESS
I finished the demo in 49 minutes. There are 2 chapters in the demo. I am anticipating this game will be standard length.
I finished the demo in 49 minutes. There are 2 chapters in the demo. I am anticipating this game will be standard length.
I don't know what's been going on lately, but almost every CE released this month has been really good, and this one is no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be purchasing, The only thing holding me back from a 5 star rating is the complete lack of challenge. This earns a well-deserved four star rating from me.
I recommend this game!
People have been disappearing in the town of Ridleton for the past 15 years... Can you weather the storm and solve the case?
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 19 found this review helpful
Oh, If ONLY the Story Had Been Great!
PostedOctober 5, 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
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
To be honest, I didn't really expect much of this game, given that I haven't really liked any of this developer's past performances. While I did enjoy this game more than I was expecting, it will not be enough to make me buy.
My main issue with this game is the story. This type of story, the “ghosts/demons/evil people invade from another world” thing has just been done to death. When something has been done that many times, the newest version has got to bring something great to the table, and this one didn't. It did have its interesting moments, but I thought the story in general was lacking. The twists were all things I was expecting. The story just coasted along and didn't really do much for me.
The one saving grace for this story is that the backstory is intriguing. There was one part of the backstory revealed in the demo but, sadly, I won't be sticking around for more.
This story also lacks in the character department. This story had 3 characters in the entire game, and one of those appeared for about 2 scenes and then left. Sometimes the story is all about the characters, but they were pretty much nonexistent here, which was extremely disappointing.
Overall, a fairly boring story, which I never really got in to.
The one saving grace for this story is that the backstory is intriguing. There was one part of the backstory revealed in the demo but, sadly, I won't be sticking around for more.
This story also lacks in the character department. This story had 3 characters in the entire game, and one of those appeared for about 2 scenes and then left. Sometimes the story is all about the characters, but they were pretty much nonexistent here, which was extremely disappointing.
Overall, a fairly boring story, which I never really got in to.
The gameplay, however, was the complete opposite. It was my favourite part of the game and was really what got me through the demo. The HOS were fairly basic, but enjoyable. They were all list junkpile with a few extra step items. This was a nice break from the overly interactive everything we've been seeing lately, and I enjoyed the slower pace of them. My only complaint is that they were too close together. There were about 4 in the demo, and I played 2 of them in 2 minutes. The rest followed in a 15 minute period, so for the last, say, 20 minutes of the demo, there was not one HOS. I would have liked it more if the HOS were spaced out better. Having them all at once takes away from the fun parts of the rest of the game.
I also quite enjoyed the puzzles. Even though they were nothing I haven't seen before, they were fun to attempt. I was able to solve a couple, but had to skip others. There were 5 puzzles in the demo and, contrary to the HOS, I thought they were spaced out well. However, I do have some criticisms when it comes to the puzzles:
1) If you exited a puzzle, the skip button recharge would start from the beginning. This drove me up the wall as I accidentally exited a puzzle a number of times and was forced to sit there waiting and waiting for the skip to recharge.
2) The storybook puzzle was just awful. I had to find objects, but there were no hints, which just made the entire thing painfully slow and awful. I've often said hints in puzzles are important, and this puzzle was a classic example of why.
I also quite enjoyed the puzzles. Even though they were nothing I haven't seen before, they were fun to attempt. I was able to solve a couple, but had to skip others. There were 5 puzzles in the demo and, contrary to the HOS, I thought they were spaced out well. However, I do have some criticisms when it comes to the puzzles:
1) If you exited a puzzle, the skip button recharge would start from the beginning. This drove me up the wall as I accidentally exited a puzzle a number of times and was forced to sit there waiting and waiting for the skip to recharge.
2) The storybook puzzle was just awful. I had to find objects, but there were no hints, which just made the entire thing painfully slow and awful. I've often said hints in puzzles are important, and this puzzle was a classic example of why.
Other than that, though, the puzzles were quite good.
The thing that I really liked about this game was the additional gameplay features. GrandMA Studios have improved significantly in this department. Each gameplay feature is a good one and added greatly to the fun factor.
One of these features was + objects, which are becoming more and more of a standard these days. There were a good number of them in the demo, and there weren't too many at once, which was good. There was also an indication of when the item was ready to be interacted with. The + objects were done quite well in this game.
Another feature was the animal helper. In this game, it is a red panda. The panda is unnamed. There is not really any indication you can use it; I just clicked on a zoom in scene and the panda would jump over to it. You can control the panda's actions from afar (e.g. help it knock a plank out of a tree by clicking on the plank), which I thought was a good move. The helper was used a few times during the demo, which was good, because I hate it when you get a feature and it's never used. I really liked this feature and hope it is used more throughout the game.
The final, albeit less prominent, feature of this game is the mirror. It was used once in the demo, and quite briefly at that, so I'm not sure if it will be used again. The mirror was used to communicate with some stranger who told you they were in trouble. I hope it is not just a “one use only” thing, because I enjoyed it. It would be a shame to have such a cool feature used only once.
One of these features was + objects, which are becoming more and more of a standard these days. There were a good number of them in the demo, and there weren't too many at once, which was good. There was also an indication of when the item was ready to be interacted with. The + objects were done quite well in this game.
Another feature was the animal helper. In this game, it is a red panda. The panda is unnamed. There is not really any indication you can use it; I just clicked on a zoom in scene and the panda would jump over to it. You can control the panda's actions from afar (e.g. help it knock a plank out of a tree by clicking on the plank), which I thought was a good move. The helper was used a few times during the demo, which was good, because I hate it when you get a feature and it's never used. I really liked this feature and hope it is used more throughout the game.
The final, albeit less prominent, feature of this game is the mirror. It was used once in the demo, and quite briefly at that, so I'm not sure if it will be used again. The mirror was used to communicate with some stranger who told you they were in trouble. I hope it is not just a “one use only” thing, because I enjoyed it. It would be a shame to have such a cool feature used only once.
The basic features of this game have been done quite well too. There is working map, 3 difficulty modes and a diary. I was so pleased to see a diary here because it seems to disappearing from games lately. It seems that developers do not think it is important, but I beg to differ. It is important for helping me remember key events. The only criticism I have of the diary is that there are NO text entries, only pictures. This annoyed me a bit as I actually enjoy reading the journal entries. Other than that, though, good job on the basic features.
As far as challenge goes, I wouldn't call this game overly challenging. I actually found it quite easy. Nothing in this game stumped me, and I only had to use the hint a couple of times. I guess it was in part due to the fact that the map was so helpful, but I guess I've been playing HOPA games too long to be overly challenged by this gameplay.
The graphics were quite good. They were drawn with some nice detail, were clear and nice to look at. The colours were nice and matched the games atmosphere. I liked the character designs, which were realistic. I liked that there was lip-synch in the game too.
As far as voice-overs go, they are quite standard, but I have one issue. The scream sound used at the beginning of the game is the exact same used by another developer. I thought this was quite annoying. It would have been much better if the developer had used their own voices.
As far as voice-overs go, they are quite standard, but I have one issue. The scream sound used at the beginning of the game is the exact same used by another developer. I thought this was quite annoying. It would have been much better if the developer had used their own voices.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Useful for keeping track of events. However, there are no text entries.
Map- The map is interactive and is extremely helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are items you need to interact with to complete. This was a good feature.
Animal Helper- Comes in the form of a panda. Used a few times. Also a good feature.
Mirror- I liked it, but it was only used once. Not sure if it will be used again.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Useful for keeping track of events. However, there are no text entries.
Map- The map is interactive and is extremely helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are items you need to interact with to complete. This was a good feature.
Animal Helper- Comes in the form of a panda. Used a few times. Also a good feature.
Mirror- I liked it, but it was only used once. Not sure if it will be used again.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Hidden Chapter- Unlocked after collecting all flames.
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS screenshots.
Achievements- Some story based, some gameplay based.
Collectible flames (167)- There are multiple flames in each scene, indicated by a few small glowing lights around an area. If you didn't collect all of them in the game, you can go back through the “Flames” option in the extras.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Music
Replay cutscenes
Bonus Chapter
Hidden Chapter- Unlocked after collecting all flames.
Built-in Strategy Guide- Does not show HOS screenshots.
Achievements- Some story based, some gameplay based.
Collectible flames (167)- There are multiple flames in each scene, indicated by a few small glowing lights around an area. If you didn't collect all of them in the game, you can go back through the “Flames” option in the extras.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Music
Replay cutscenes
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE has a couple of nice extras (collectibles and hidden chapter), but apart from that, there's nothing too interesting in here. If you love collectibles and getting as much gameplay as possible, go for the CE. If not, go for the SE, because apart from that, there are virtually no extras.
The CE has a couple of nice extras (collectibles and hidden chapter), but apart from that, there's nothing too interesting in here. If you love collectibles and getting as much gameplay as possible, go for the CE. If not, go for the SE, because apart from that, there are virtually no extras.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the strategy guide, and I finished the demo in 44 minutes.
There are 2 chapters in the strategy guide, and I finished the demo in 44 minutes.
Overall, I did enjoy the trial time, but due to my dislike of the story, I will not be buying this one. The gameplay is really great though, so I'm giving this one a four star rating. I hope GrandMA Studios come back with a better story next time, because they got almost everything else right. Had the story been great, I would have bought this, no questions asked.
I recommend this game!
Discover the secrets that lie buried in the eerie, crooked halls of Mnemosyne Asylum!
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 16 found this review helpful
ALMOST Perfect!
PostedOctober 4, 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 COMPLETED GAME
(Note: Actual Rating is 4.5 stars)
(Note: Actual Rating is 4.5 stars)
WOW! Before now, I'd never even touch a standalone SE, but this game changed all that. Don't think for a second that, just because the game was not a CE first, the game is therefore of a lesser quality. This is one of my favourite games to come out this year. I have not been so engrossed in a game in such a long time.
What got me sucked in to this game was definitely its story. I have never seen a story so creepy and addictive ever before. The concept was great and was executed brilliantly. The opening cutscene was great, but after that, I will admit the story did take a bit of getting in to. But once that happened, I was engrossed, and literally had to force myself to stop playing. The story was full of twists and turns, with each twist better and more shocking than the last. As I played, more and more of the story was revealed, and the game just got better and better. Everything built-up to an extraordinary ending, one that I most certainly did not see coming. The story is so action packed and I enjoyed every second of it.
I also really, really enjoyed the characters! I've often been extremely critical of how boring characters are, but the ones here are great! Each has their own personality, and I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the characters of Zed Rascov (hey... everyone loves a bad guy!) and the cat guy. The cat guy added a touch of humour to a very serious game, which was very good.
Overall, a brilliant story- one of my favourites of all time. I will definitely be replaying this one in the very near future.
I also really, really enjoyed the characters! I've often been extremely critical of how boring characters are, but the ones here are great! Each has their own personality, and I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the characters of Zed Rascov (hey... everyone loves a bad guy!) and the cat guy. The cat guy added a touch of humour to a very serious game, which was very good.
Overall, a brilliant story- one of my favourites of all time. I will definitely be replaying this one in the very near future.
In terms of gameplay, parts of it are fairly run-of-the-mill, but others are fairly good. The HOS would be an example of the run-of-the-mill aspect of the game. They were all list junkpile with a few extra-step objects. Even though they were simple, I quite enjoyed them, because it felt nice to play something simple instead of being bombarded with interactivity. It made for a nice change of pace. There are quite a few HOS in this game, 16 if you want me to be exact. Each location is repeated twice. The HOS were well spaced out and the quantity was great.
However, I really DID NOT enjoy the puzzles. They really killed some of the enjoyment factor. The puzzles were the worst thing about this game for me. The reason? They were just way too hard. I skipped the majority of them, and the ones I could solve took me multiple goes to finish. Definitely not enjoyable. In fact, you could almost say I hated them. For those who like puzzles, they were in a good number, and were spaced out well.
However, I really DID NOT enjoy the puzzles. They really killed some of the enjoyment factor. The puzzles were the worst thing about this game for me. The reason? They were just way too hard. I skipped the majority of them, and the ones I could solve took me multiple goes to finish. Definitely not enjoyable. In fact, you could almost say I hated them. For those who like puzzles, they were in a good number, and were spaced out well.
This game offers only one additional gameplay feature, but it is probably the best one I've seen! The feature is detective mode, and it added to the fun factor significantly. When you come across a place where Detective Mode can be used, question marks appear on the screen. Clicking the centre question mark activates the mode. Detective mode is basically a HOS/Puzzle which will eventually reveal part of the story. Detective Mode has been tweaked since the last 9 Clues game and has been made much better. In this game, there is now a puzzle you have to solve after finding all the clues. This is quite simple. You just have to swap the clues around in the order in which they happened. The square will light up when the evidence is in the right place. After you've done that, there is a short cutscene, which explains what happened. Aside from the story, this was the best part of the game. It was definitely the most fun. My only criticism is that I don't think it was used enough. It was used 4 times throughout the entire game. I would have liked to see it used one or two more times, just for that little bit more enjoyment. Otherwise, though, there were no problems.
The basic gameplay features have been done well too. There is a diary, which keeps track of main character you meet, and any events that occur to do with that character. It also keeps track of all the clues you discover. There are three modes of difficulty as well as a nice map. In terms of challenge, I would say this is relatively easy and would probably be a good starting out point for those who are new to HOPA games. I'm an advanced player and (apart from the puzzles) had absolutely no trouble whatsoever. However, I wouldn't want to turn off expert players, because this is a ripper of a game.
Overall, the gameplay had its ups and downs but was still quite enjoyable.
Overall, the gameplay had its ups and downs but was still quite enjoyable.
The graphics were quite good. They were drawn with some nice detail and colours, and the character designs were good. I liked how there was lip-synch too. However, I noticed some very stupid spelling mistakes, which probably comes from the fact this is a Polish developer. For example, “courtains” instead of curtains and “souvenire” instead of souvenir. I can forgive this because I don't think that English is their first language, though.
Voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
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- Keeps track of events- the people you meet, and all information regarding them.
Map- The map is interactive and is quite useful. It shows where tasks can be completed.
Detective Mode- This is a HOS/Puzzle minigame that is extremely fun. I enjoyed every time I used it, but it wasn't used enough.
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- Keeps track of events- the people you meet, and all information regarding them.
Map- The map is interactive and is quite useful. It shows where tasks can be completed.
Detective Mode- This is a HOS/Puzzle minigame that is extremely fun. I enjoyed every time I used it, but it wasn't used enough.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
There are 7 acts in the game. The game took me about 3 hours on Casual mode, which is my ideal game length.
There are 7 acts in the game. The game took me about 3 hours on Casual mode, which is my ideal game length.
Overall, this was a very, very enjoyable game. This is even better than most of the CE games out there. I loved every second of it. My rating for this game is 4.5 stars, due to the puzzles. But because everything else was so great, I couldn't possibly give this game 4 stars, and so will round it up to a 5. This is a wonderful game, and you will not regret buying it.
I recommend this game!
Without warning, a group of mysterious figures arrives and reduces your village to flames and rubble. What do they want... and who is controlling them?
Overall rating
5
/
5
17 of 25 found this review helpful
MadHead is BACK!
PostedOctober 3, 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
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Well, after playing the latest offering from Mad Head games, all I can say is... WOW! I was under the impression that MadHead had begun to go downhill, but not anymore! This game is definitely their best in a while, and I will be sure to purchase to continue the magnificent adventure.
The “evil spirits take over the town” type story is really not my thing, and has been done quite often, but on this occasion I thought it was quite interesting. It started off quite well, with a great opening that just drew you in, and continued from there. The story coasted along quite nicely with a twist at just the right time to keep me interested. The twists were good ones and made me even more excited to keep on going. They weren't really what I was expecting, which is always a good touch for a story.
What I liked about this story was that, even in a serious situation, MadHead managed to add a touch of humour. This was shown in the Grandfather's hut when the Grandfather mistook the main character for his son. That made me laugh a little more than I'll care to admit, but it was very nice to see that MadHead still added that touch of softness to their story.
What I liked about this story was that, even in a serious situation, MadHead managed to add a touch of humour. This was shown in the Grandfather's hut when the Grandfather mistook the main character for his son. That made me laugh a little more than I'll care to admit, but it was very nice to see that MadHead still added that touch of softness to their story.
There is also a backstory, which is told through the various Minishows, which make their return in this game. The first Minishow only told a small portion of the story, but I get the feeling there will be a lot more revealed along the way...
Overall, a good story to support the rest of the game. Very enjoyable.
Overall, a good story to support the rest of the game. Very enjoyable.
The story may have been good, but the gameplay was FANTASTIC! MadHead were the pioneers of HOPA innovation, and everything about this game just screams it. The HOS are absolutely brilliant. They are very “jazzed up” and much different from the norm. While they were different, they weren't overly complicated, which made them all the more enjoyable. There were 3 HOS in the demo; 2 were junkpile and 1 was a story-HOS. All were great and all had different levels of challenge. The junkpiles were much different, and I especially liked the one in the cave. That would probably be my favourite of the three. I thought the HOS were well spaced out too, but I wouldn't have minded a couple more, just because they were so good.
I also really enjoyed the puzzles. Similar to the HOS, they were very different from the norm and full of innovation, which made them all the more fun and made me all the more determined to solve them all. Playing the puzzles was a blast and I was able to solve every single one of them. I really appreciate the time and effort MadHead put in to making their puzzles awesome, because it has paid off. Like the HOS, the puzzles were spaced out. I counted 6 in the demo, which is a good number. This means the Puzzle:HOS ratio is 2:1, which is a pretty good ratio. I know a few developers like to go puzzle-crazy, but it's good to see this one has evened things out.
I also really enjoyed the puzzles. Similar to the HOS, they were very different from the norm and full of innovation, which made them all the more fun and made me all the more determined to solve them all. Playing the puzzles was a blast and I was able to solve every single one of them. I really appreciate the time and effort MadHead put in to making their puzzles awesome, because it has paid off. Like the HOS, the puzzles were spaced out. I counted 6 in the demo, which is a good number. This means the Puzzle:HOS ratio is 2:1, which is a pretty good ratio. I know a few developers like to go puzzle-crazy, but it's good to see this one has evened things out.
As far as extra gameplay features go, this game has a few, and they are good ones. One of these features is + objects, which are becoming a standard these days (thanks to MadHead, might I add), so it was good to see them here. There were a few of them, but the good thing was, there weren't heaps all at once. There is also an indication of when they can be used. + objects in this game have a small purple circle over them, and a white + appears in the centre when it can be toyed with. I really enjoyed this feature.
Another feature was the invisibility boots, and this was definitely the most used feature in the game. It was used fairly often. I did like this feature, but I felt it could have been used a couple less times. I think it was used 5 or 6 times just in the demo period, which is a bit too much. That being said, it was quite awesome. The boots icon glows when it can be used and when the danger passes, you become normal again. The good thing about this feature was that it made sense. It wasn't just some random feature chucked in there for seemingly no reason.
The other, less prominent feature was the fire medallion. It was not used as often, but it was still quite a good feature. The fire medallion holds your powers. There are more than one, but the only one available in the beginning of the game was the Stone Whisperer power, which brought stone figures to life. It proved to be quite useful. I love having powers in any games, so to see them here was awesome, and added to the already high fun factor. I look forward to unlocking more powers and hope to see this feature used a lot more often.
Even though there are many fantastic features, MadHead have not forgotten about the basics, which have been done well. I was so pleased to see there was a diary, because it seems to be disappearing from games lately. I'm glad to see at least one developer still thinks diaries are important!
There was also a map, which works quite well. The hint and skip did their respective jobs too. It's nice to see that MadHead have still taken the time to get the basics right, despite all the extra stuff.
Overall, amazing gameplay that swayed me to buy this immediately.
There was also a map, which works quite well. The hint and skip did their respective jobs too. It's nice to see that MadHead have still taken the time to get the basics right, despite all the extra stuff.
Overall, amazing gameplay that swayed me to buy this immediately.
The graphics are fantastic. They are drawn with so much detail and are exceptionally clear, with some nice colours. They really are a visual delight. I was also pleased with the character designs. They were very life-like and drawn well, which added to the realism of the game.
Voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
Voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Spark (Casual), Flame (Advanced), Blaze (Hard) and Custom. I played Spark mode.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Diary keeps track of important story events.
Timer- Located in the diary; lets you know how long you've been playing the game.
Map- The map is interactive and works well. It lets you know where tasks can be completed, and also when an area has been completed (that is, there are no tasks left to perform in an area)
Invisibility boots- Used quite often. Glows when able to be used. A nice feature.
+ Objects- Items you need to interact with to complete. There is an indication of when they are ready to be interacted with.
Flame Medallion- This holds your powers. There was only one in the demo, but there are more to come.
4 modes of difficulty: Spark (Casual), Flame (Advanced), Blaze (Hard) and Custom. I played Spark mode.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Diary keeps track of important story events.
Timer- Located in the diary; lets you know how long you've been playing the game.
Map- The map is interactive and works well. It lets you know where tasks can be completed, and also when an area has been completed (that is, there are no tasks left to perform in an area)
Invisibility boots- Used quite often. Glows when able to be used. A nice feature.
+ Objects- Items you need to interact with to complete. There is an indication of when they are ready to be interacted with.
Flame Medallion- This holds your powers. There was only one in the demo, but there are more to come.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS screenshots
Achievements
Collectible flames (57)- one in every scene
Card game- 2 modes; basic and advanced
Card gallery- Unlocked after completing card game in advanced more.
Northpearl Jigsaw- self-explanatory really.
“Making Of” video
Wallpapers (16)
Soundtrack
Replay HOS
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS screenshots
Achievements
Collectible flames (57)- one in every scene
Card game- 2 modes; basic and advanced
Card gallery- Unlocked after completing card game in advanced more.
Northpearl Jigsaw- self-explanatory really.
“Making Of” video
Wallpapers (16)
Soundtrack
Replay HOS
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE has fantastic value. There are heaps of collectibles and achievements as well as some interesting extras. I am going to go for the CE.
The CE has fantastic value. There are heaps of collectibles and achievements as well as some interesting extras. I am going to go for the CE.
MY PROGRESS
I finished the demo with 37 minutes left on my 90 minute trial period. There were 2 chapters in the demo.
I finished the demo with 37 minutes left on my 90 minute trial period. There were 2 chapters in the demo.
Overall, this is a brilliant game. This has taken me back to the older days of MadHead where every game they made was a showstopper. I'm glad to see this developer return to its roots. This game is almost completely perfect, and there's no doubt in my mind it deserves 5 stars. I enjoyed every second of it and just know I'm going to love the rest.
I recommend this game!
When his sister is murdered, you must prove your nephew's innocence!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Far From Perfect, But Very Enjoyable
PostedSeptember 30, 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
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED STANDARD EDITION GAME
Grim Tales is probably my least favourite of all Elephant's series, so when I played the demo of this one, I was quite surprised! I enjoyed it, so I purchased. While the quality of this game did go downhill a bit after the demo, it was still a very enjoyable game in its own right.
What attracted me to this game was definitely its story. It had a unique, exciting concept and was executed quite well. I quite liked the courtroom setting to begin with, and I liked the idea of being able to travel back in time to find bits of evidence to do with the case. The story started off well and picked up the pace a bit. With each bit of evidence uncovered, a new part of the story was told, and things got more exciting. The twists that occurred in the demo were good ones, and by then, I had already made up my mind to purchase. When the demo ended on an exciting note, I simply had to no what happened next.
The events immediately following the demo were quite exciting and set up what I thought would be a brilliant final part of the story. However, my excitement soon faded. What started out as an exciting murder mystery/save the relative type story quickly changed in to a supernatural/ghost story. Ghosts and supernatural stuff like evil skeletons, possessed teddy bears, etc. became the main focus of the story and appeared seemingly everywhere. This ruined the story a bit for me.
Despite the story being ruined a bit, the rest of the game had some nice twists and built up well to the ending. But the ending was TERRIBLE! Don't get me wrong, it was conclusive, but WOW, what an awful, awful finish! I won't go in to details on the ending as a courtesy, but that was, in all honesty, one of the worst endings I've ever seen. I was disappointed that the game ended like that as it took away from the realism of the game.
Overall, a decent story, but it went downhill after the demo.
The events immediately following the demo were quite exciting and set up what I thought would be a brilliant final part of the story. However, my excitement soon faded. What started out as an exciting murder mystery/save the relative type story quickly changed in to a supernatural/ghost story. Ghosts and supernatural stuff like evil skeletons, possessed teddy bears, etc. became the main focus of the story and appeared seemingly everywhere. This ruined the story a bit for me.
Despite the story being ruined a bit, the rest of the game had some nice twists and built up well to the ending. But the ending was TERRIBLE! Don't get me wrong, it was conclusive, but WOW, what an awful, awful finish! I won't go in to details on the ending as a courtesy, but that was, in all honesty, one of the worst endings I've ever seen. I was disappointed that the game ended like that as it took away from the realism of the game.
Overall, a decent story, but it went downhill after the demo.
I also enjoyed the gameplay, even though it was fairly run-of-the-mill. I liked the HOS. They were all list junkpile with a few extra-step objects in each one. For me, this was a nice change from the jazzed up stuff, and it added to the more relaxed feel of the game. Having said that, due to their simplicity, I found the HOS to be quite easy. I thought the HOS were well spaced out. There was a decent number of them, but I would have liked a couple more. As the game wore on, there seemed to be fewer and fewer HOS.
The puzzles were good, even though they were nothing I haven't seen before. I liked how they varied in challenge, from quite easy, to quite hard. I liked attempting them, even though I had to skip a couple. The puzzles were quite enjoyable and a good accompaniment to the rest of the game. They were well spaced out and there was a decent number of them in the game.
The puzzles were good, even though they were nothing I haven't seen before. I liked how they varied in challenge, from quite easy, to quite hard. I liked attempting them, even though I had to skip a couple. The puzzles were quite enjoyable and a good accompaniment to the rest of the game. They were well spaced out and there was a decent number of them in the game.
I think the real killer for this game was its lack of innovation, and that showed with the lack of extra gameplay features. The only feature here is + objects, which are becoming a standard feature these days. There are a decent number of + objects, with some requiring more than one addition to complete. My only problem with this feature is that there is no indication of when the item is ready to be interacted with. Other than that, I really enjoyed the feature.
But when it comes to gameplay, that was it. That was the major annoyance for me. I get animal helpers are out of place in this game, but you don't have to add an animal helper to make things fun. Elephant is definitely capable of innovation, as I have seen in some of their other games. You don't have to add fancy new features... maybe jazz up the HOS a bit? Or the puzzles? The lack of innovation took away from the fun factor significantly. It also meant that the game was quite easy. For Elephant's next game, I expect some improvement on the gameplay, because in this day and age, with all the new gameplay features about, they're just going to fall behind.
Despite the lack of innovation, I will admit that this game's basic features have been done well. There is a diary, three difficulty modes and a map. The map is interactive and lets you know where tasks can be performed. I was very glad to see a diary here. It helped me remember key events of the story and was also nice to read. It seems developers no longer think that diaries are important, but they are. I'm glad that at least one developer still thinks so.
The graphics are quite good. They are typical Elephant. The scenes are drawn with great detail and some nice colours to match the atmosphere of the game. The scenes are clear too. There is also lip-synch in the game, which is always nice.
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 speed for the difficulty I selected. The hint was useful outside HOS, sometimes acting as a teleporter.
Diary- The diary keeps track of events. It was good for helping me remember key events. It is located with the map.
Map- The map was interactive and helpful. It let you know where there were tasks to perform, and when there was no current tasks in an area. I often relied on it to get around the game.
+ Objects- There was a decent number of them, and I liked how some required more than one item to complete. I didn't like that there was no indication of when they were ready to be used, though.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. The hint was useful outside HOS, sometimes acting as a teleporter.
Diary- The diary keeps track of events. It was good for helping me remember key events. It is located with the map.
Map- The map was interactive and helpful. It let you know where there were tasks to perform, and when there was no current tasks in an area. I often relied on it to get around the game.
+ Objects- There was a decent number of them, and I liked how some required more than one item to complete. I didn't like that there was no indication of when they were ready to be used, though.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE?
Bonus Chapter- Not needed. The ending to the SE is 100% conclusive.
Built-in Strategy Guide- Would have been nice for the puzzles, but I managed without it.
Achievements
Collectibles- the collectibles are figures of the McGray family.
Concept Art (8)
Wallpapers (9)
Screensaver
Bonus Chapter- Not needed. The ending to the SE is 100% conclusive.
Built-in Strategy Guide- Would have been nice for the puzzles, but I managed without it.
Achievements
Collectibles- the collectibles are figures of the McGray family.
Concept Art (8)
Wallpapers (9)
Screensaver
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I bought the SE and was extremely happy with it. I highly advise you do the same. The CE has very little bonus content, none of which is appealing, or worth the extra dollars. The SE story has a conclusive ending, so there's no need for the bonus chapter either.
I bought the SE and was extremely happy with it. I highly advise you do the same. The CE has very little bonus content, none of which is appealing, or worth the extra dollars. The SE story has a conclusive ending, so there's no need for the bonus chapter either.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
Game length was about 3 hours for me on Casual mode, which is my ideal length. I am a relatively fast player, so the time may be longer for you.
Game length was about 3 hours for me on Casual mode, which is my ideal length. I am a relatively fast player, so the time may be longer for you.
Overall, I enjoyed this game. It wasn't perfect, but I am certainly not sorry I bought it. This is the best game of the Grim Tales series and it now has me eager for Grim Tales 7. I give this a three and a half star rating, but since there are no half-stars, I will round it up to four. Kudos to the developers for an enjoyable game. I will be replaying it in the near future.
I recommend this game!
Prove the innocence of a young queen before she is put to death for a crime she didn't commit!
Overall rating
3
/
5
11 of 14 found this review helpful
What Happened to Artifex Mundi?
PostedSeptember 29, 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
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I thought I was in gaming heaven this week when I discovered Artifex Mundi were releasing their first game in a while, but wow, did I come crashing back down to earth! This is nowhere near as good as Artifex Mundi's other games and I am wondering what has become of a once fantastic developer.
I'll start with the story. It had a great concept and was quite interesting. The story started off well, and had some great twists I wasn't expecting. Things progressed at an average speed and the sequence of events was logical. The story was quite good, given that it was a fairytale/magic/evil spirit kind of story, which really isn't my type. It was probably the best part of the game for me. I also liked that there was a backstory, which made the story far more interesting and actually intrigued me. I wanted to know all about the backstory and why the current events were happening. That was my favourite part, story-wise.
Even the characters were good. Unlike most other games, they actually had personalities, and I could relate to each one's position. I appreciate the effort this developer has gone to to make their characters interesting, so thanks.
Overall, a decent story.
Even the characters were good. Unlike most other games, they actually had personalities, and I could relate to each one's position. I appreciate the effort this developer has gone to to make their characters interesting, so thanks.
Overall, a decent story.
My negative comments in the opening paragraph are purely to do with the gameplay. It's just too run-of-the-mill with absolutely no innovation whatsoever. Gameplay wise, there is little improvement from 2012, which was the year Artifex released their breakthrough game. Even though I didn't enjoy the gameplay, I liked the HOS. There were 4 of them, and each one was a different variety. There was one silhouette, one junkpile, and two fragmented object scenes. I liked the variety, and also the different levels of challenge. I thought the HOS were quite fun. They were also well spaced out, which is always nice to see.
I also quite enjoyed the puzzles. They were nothing I haven't seen before, but I enjoyed attempting them. There are as many puzzles as HOS, with one puzzle repeating once. The puzzles also varied in difficulty, from insanely easy to a bit challenging. Similar to the HOS, the puzzles were well spaced out.
I also quite enjoyed the puzzles. They were nothing I haven't seen before, but I enjoyed attempting them. There are as many puzzles as HOS, with one puzzle repeating once. The puzzles also varied in difficulty, from insanely easy to a bit challenging. Similar to the HOS, the puzzles were well spaced out.
However, apart from this, there is virtually nothing in terms of gameplay. The only other feature this game offers is an animal helper. This is a swallow, which accompanies you on your journey... or so I thought. The swallow is used twice and then disappears, because it must return back to its nest. This annoyed me to no end because:
a) Not only did this get rid of literally the ONLY additional feature in this game, but
b) It completely defeated the purpose of having the animal helper in the first place. Because, quite honestly, what's the point of having a feature if it only gets used twice and then no more? This was a very bad move on the developer's part and completely swayed me in the “not purchasing” direction.
a) Not only did this get rid of literally the ONLY additional feature in this game, but
b) It completely defeated the purpose of having the animal helper in the first place. Because, quite honestly, what's the point of having a feature if it only gets used twice and then no more? This was a very bad move on the developer's part and completely swayed me in the “not purchasing” direction.
I was incredibly disappointed to see the developer's complete lack of effort when it came to the gameplay. Apart from the animal helper, there are absolutely NO additional features. There aren't even any + objects, which are a standard feature these days. In 2012, maybe this would have been okay, but in 2014? Not a chance. The gameplay is just far too run-of-the-mill and thus, was very boring.
Overall, this is probably the worst gameplay I've seen this year.
Overall, this is probably the worst gameplay I've seen this year.
The basic gameplay features have been done well. There are three difficulty modes, as well as a map that works really well. There is also a diary, but it is pointless, as all it does is list your objectives. I didn't like this diary- the entire point of having one is to remember key story events. So why are there no entries? Such a shame.
For a developer who is famous for their fantastic graphics, these ones are just complete garbage. They were way too cartoony and amateurish for my liking. They were drawn terribly, with not much detail put in them. The saving grace is that the character designs were good, and there was also lip-synch. However, I'm shocked and disappointed at the quality of the graphics in this game. This is a severe decline in quality from previous games. I thought quality was meant to improve with every game, not get worse. The graphics in Artifex Mundi's previous games were wonderful, so what happened here?
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 speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside of HOS.
Diary- Absolutely pointless. Only shows objectives.
Map- The map works well. It is interactive and shows where tasks can be completed.
Animal Helper- also pointless. It is used twice, then disappears. This was very frustrating for me, also given that it was the only additional gameplay feature. What's the point of having something if it only gets used twice?
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. Differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside of HOS.
Diary- Absolutely pointless. Only shows objectives.
Map- The map works well. It is interactive and shows where tasks can be completed.
Animal Helper- also pointless. It is used twice, then disappears. This was very frustrating for me, also given that it was the only additional gameplay feature. What's the point of having something if it only gets used twice?
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Shows location of collectibles, but doesn't show HOS screenshots.
Achievements- there are a lot of them. There are two different sections- one for gameplay based achievements, the other for story-based achievements. There were 29 achievements in total.
Collectible magic symbols (31)- one in every scene. There is a bottle that glows if the object hasn't been found.
Cocnept Art
Wallpapers
Replay Cutscenes
Music
Replay HOS
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Shows location of collectibles, but doesn't show HOS screenshots.
Achievements- there are a lot of them. There are two different sections- one for gameplay based achievements, the other for story-based achievements. There were 29 achievements in total.
Collectible magic symbols (31)- one in every scene. There is a bottle that glows if the object hasn't been found.
Cocnept Art
Wallpapers
Replay Cutscenes
Music
Replay HOS
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Most definitely the SE. The CE has very few extras, none of which make this game worth the extra dollars. If you like it, wait for the SE.
Most definitely the SE. The CE has very few extras, none of which make this game worth the extra dollars. If you like it, wait for the SE.
MY PROGRESS
The demo took me 41 minutes on Casual mode. The demo took me through two chapters. There are eight in the main game.
The demo took me 41 minutes on Casual mode. The demo took me through two chapters. There are eight in the main game.
Overall, given how brilliant previous games by this developer were, this was an extreme disappointment. Gameplay wise, nothing has changed since 2012. This is 2014, the year of innovation, so a game like this just isn't going to cut it. As a result, the best I can do for this one is three stars. I sincerely hope Artifex Mundi are working on their next game so it will be fantastic.
I don't recommend this game.
Tragedy strikes a popular Parisian cabaret when their star dancer is murdered! Gather the suspects and unmask the killer.
Overall rating
5
/
5
176 of 215 found this review helpful
My, Oh My, Have We Been Spoiled Today!
PostedSeptember 25, 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
Eipix has seemed to be declining in quality as of late, and add that to the fact that the last Danse Macabre game was terrible, you can see that I wasn't really expecting much of this game. Eipix have redeemed themselves here, because this was pretty good!
The story was just my type- a murder mystery- so I was naturally excited, and this one didn't disappoint. It was a little slow, and did take a bit of time to get in to, but once I did, I was engrossed. The story took some great twists and turns, ones that I certainly was not expecting. Kudos to the developers for the creativity!
While I did thoroughly enjoy the story, it was not perfect. It had a couple of technical flaws in it:
1) We found the drunk guy in the bar, but why would we leave him passed out for so long? Doesn't really make any sense. Would we not just try to revive him there and then? It would have made more sense to have the hangover remedy ingredients available then and there on the spot. Might have been less fun, but still would have been more logical.
2) The entire scene at the Baron's house was just illogical and flawed. When we entered the Baron's house and the maid told us to leave, we instead stayed around and collected some stuff. Wouldn't the maid have ordered us out? We did eventually leave, but then went to the garden, where we decided to do a little “spring cleaning” and trim the Baron's rosebush for him. The Baron came in and ordered us to leave (which we took and awful long time to do, by the way), but even then we stayed for a bit. Staying on someone's property after they ask you to leave is trespassing and is a criminal offence, so logic says we should have been arrested. But alas, we were not. This took away from the realism of the story and was quite annoying, in my opinion. The developers should have edited this section of the story to make it more real.
While I did thoroughly enjoy the story, it was not perfect. It had a couple of technical flaws in it:
1) We found the drunk guy in the bar, but why would we leave him passed out for so long? Doesn't really make any sense. Would we not just try to revive him there and then? It would have made more sense to have the hangover remedy ingredients available then and there on the spot. Might have been less fun, but still would have been more logical.
2) The entire scene at the Baron's house was just illogical and flawed. When we entered the Baron's house and the maid told us to leave, we instead stayed around and collected some stuff. Wouldn't the maid have ordered us out? We did eventually leave, but then went to the garden, where we decided to do a little “spring cleaning” and trim the Baron's rosebush for him. The Baron came in and ordered us to leave (which we took and awful long time to do, by the way), but even then we stayed for a bit. Staying on someone's property after they ask you to leave is trespassing and is a criminal offence, so logic says we should have been arrested. But alas, we were not. This took away from the realism of the story and was quite annoying, in my opinion. The developers should have edited this section of the story to make it more real.
Other than those flaws, this was a great story and I really enjoyed it.
The story may have been good, but the gameplay was even better! I had a lot of fun with this game. The HOS were great. I liked their variety and their overall fun factor. I especially loved the initiative the developers showed when creating them! Each HOS was different, and each HOS was equally fun. My favourite HOS of all, however, was definitely the garden one. It just showed off the developer's talent and creativity, but on top of all that, it was the most fun. The only regret I have is that there weren't more. There were 4 HOS in the demo, which is a good number. They were spaced out evenly too, which is always nice. There is also the option of playing match 3 instead of HOS.
I also quite enjoyed the puzzles. Even though they were quite easy, I thought they were well thought out and delivered just the right amount of fun. As far as creativity goes, I didn't see anything new, which is a bit of a shame. But that's just one very small criticism. Like the HOS, there were a decent number of puzzles. I didn't count them, but I can safely say they outnumbered the HOS. They were also spaced out well.
I also quite enjoyed the puzzles. Even though they were quite easy, I thought they were well thought out and delivered just the right amount of fun. As far as creativity goes, I didn't see anything new, which is a bit of a shame. But that's just one very small criticism. Like the HOS, there were a decent number of puzzles. I didn't count them, but I can safely say they outnumbered the HOS. They were also spaced out well.
There are 2 extra features in this game, and both were pretty cool. One of them was + objects, which are basically standard now. The + objects were used well. They only required one bit of tampering, and there was never more than 2 of them in your inventory at a time, which is great, because that shows it wasn't over-used. There were a decent number of them too.
The second feature in this game is the forensics kit. When I first found out there was going to be a forensics kit in this game, I'll admit, I was pretty worried. Last time a forensics kit appeared in an Eipix game, it was an absolute disaster... but that has changed! The forensics kit in this game is wonderful. Each time I used it, it was accompanied by a really fun minigame. It was used twice in the demo, which is good, because nothing ruins a feature more than over-using it. That being said, I hope it appears a lot more after the demo. I really enjoyed this feature. It raised the fun factor significantly.
Eipix has done well with the basic features too. There are 4 difficulty modes, a working map and a “diary”. I use quotation marks because the “diary” is not a diary in the old-fashioned sense. It has been tweaked a little, and instead holds all your evidence, information on the characters, and just a few random thoughts to go a long. The map is very helpful too.
Overall, I loved the gameplay and thought it was one of the most fun games to come out in recent times, BUT... nothing can be perfect. So here is my one and only criticism when it comes to the gameplay:
I was extremely disappointed not to see an interrogation scene. This is a murder mystery, so naturally, we will see some interviews. The interrogation scene was one of the best bits of Dead Reckoning: Silvermoon Isle, so I pose the question... why was it not used here? Instead of the interrogation scene, instead we had to sit through a lot of dialogue while our suspects explained themselves. I wish the interrogation scene had been used here as it would have increased the already tremendously high fun factor by a lot more and probably would have put it up to game of the year status.
I was extremely disappointed not to see an interrogation scene. This is a murder mystery, so naturally, we will see some interviews. The interrogation scene was one of the best bits of Dead Reckoning: Silvermoon Isle, so I pose the question... why was it not used here? Instead of the interrogation scene, instead we had to sit through a lot of dialogue while our suspects explained themselves. I wish the interrogation scene had been used here as it would have increased the already tremendously high fun factor by a lot more and probably would have put it up to game of the year status.
The graphics, as I have come to expect from Eipix, are great. The scenes are drawn well with some great detail and nice colours. All scenes were clear too, which just goes to show how dedicated the team at Eipix is. The character designs were good too and looked lifelike. There is also lip-synch present, which is always nice.
I liked the voice-overs. I think the decision to use French accents in this game was a great one as it fit with the theme. However, I did not like the voice of Ivan. It was an American accent, no doubt about it. It kind of took away from the French feel of the game a bit. Also, what French person would name their dog Skippy? Kind of strange... But overall, good voice-overs,
I liked the voice-overs. I think the decision to use French accents in this game was a great one as it fit with the theme. However, I did not like the voice of Ivan. It was an American accent, no doubt about it. It kind of took away from the French feel of the game a bit. Also, what French person would name their dog Skippy? Kind of strange... But overall, good voice-overs,
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game the way you like; differences in the other three are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary keeps hold of evidence and character information. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it's still nice.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to complete.
+ objects- These are items you have to interact with to complete. There is also an indication of when they can be used.
Forensics kit- Very good feature. A minigame always accompanies its usage, which adds to the fun.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game the way you like; differences in the other three are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary keeps hold of evidence and character information. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it's still nice.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful. It lets you know where there are tasks to complete.
+ objects- These are items you have to interact with to complete. There is also an indication of when they can be used.
Forensics kit- Very good feature. A minigame always accompanies its usage, which adds to the fun.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- I did not need to use this, but it shows locations of collectibles. It does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectible Windmills- one in every scene, hopefully in the bonus chapter too!
Bonus HOS
Souvenir Room
Making of- a nice little video that is worth watching.
Match 3 levels
Codex- apparently the people in the game actually existed. This is some information on them.
Wallpapers (10)
Cast pictures
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Music
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- I did not need to use this, but it shows locations of collectibles. It does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectible Windmills- one in every scene, hopefully in the bonus chapter too!
Bonus HOS
Souvenir Room
Making of- a nice little video that is worth watching.
Match 3 levels
Codex- apparently the people in the game actually existed. This is some information on them.
Wallpapers (10)
Cast pictures
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Music
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Look, I'm not really fussed with collectibles and stuff, so I'm going with the SE. But the CE does have some good value in it, so I would say the CE is worth the purchase.
Look, I'm not really fussed with collectibles and stuff, so I'm going with the SE. But the CE does have some good value in it, so I would say the CE is worth the purchase.
MY PROGRESS
I finished the demo with 47 minutes to spare. There are deux (2) chapters in the SG. (sorry, I had to use that pun!)
I finished the demo with 47 minutes to spare. There are deux (2) chapters in the SG. (sorry, I had to use that pun!)
Overall, there was very little to fault with this game. Everything was wonderfully done, and I enjoyed it immensely, so what other choice do I have than to give it five stars? I'm not the type of person who does the loved it/hated it rating, but this game is crafted so wonderfully that it is deserving of its high rating. This is one of the best games to come out in a while. I will be waiting ever so patiently for the SE of this one.
As the French would say... merci beacoup, Eipix!
As the French would say... merci beacoup, Eipix!
I recommend this game!
Leonardo da Vinci needs your help! A tyrant has conquered Florence and he is destroying all works of art and science!
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
DaVinci Would Be Proud!
PostedSeptember 20, 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
ERS seems to be releasing games at a very fast rate lately, which always brings about the worry of losing quality. However, my fears have been put to rest with this game. Unlike the stuff we've been seeing lately from this developer, this was a great one!
The story was fantastic. It had a great concept and was executed wonderfully. It started with a very exciting opening cutscene, perfect for building suspense. From there, it just got more and more exciting, with twists at the perfect time to keep me interested. I think what I liked about this game was how it was different from every other story I've been seeing these days. I haven't seen a story similar to this in a long time, and I was captivated by it. I especially liked the references to past inventions by Da Vinci, and I quite liked the idea of saving him!
Even better, ERS has given us the option to choose what happens! Occasionally in the game, a box will pop up, giving us the choice of what to do next. This just added to the excitement and made me eager to play the game over to see what the other choices would bring- and I hadn't even finished the demo yet!
I am still a little nonplussed over the characters. At least one of them had a personality this time. That was Gobbo, the Mage's minion, who is now my favourite character. Even so, the rest of the characters still needed work, and I hope ERS improves on this in the next game.
What concerns me is that the complete change in theme from the previous games may drive people away from the series. Previous games were murder mysteries, but that is completely gone here. However, don't be put off, this is a fantastic story!
Even better, ERS has given us the option to choose what happens! Occasionally in the game, a box will pop up, giving us the choice of what to do next. This just added to the excitement and made me eager to play the game over to see what the other choices would bring- and I hadn't even finished the demo yet!
I am still a little nonplussed over the characters. At least one of them had a personality this time. That was Gobbo, the Mage's minion, who is now my favourite character. Even so, the rest of the characters still needed work, and I hope ERS improves on this in the next game.
What concerns me is that the complete change in theme from the previous games may drive people away from the series. Previous games were murder mysteries, but that is completely gone here. However, don't be put off, this is a fantastic story!
Even though the story is great, the gameplay is really just the normal run-of-the-mill stuff. The HOS were basically the same old; some progressive silhouette, some junkpile. I did enjoy the HOS, but the challenge was all out of whack. It was either too easy or ridiculous. The “ridiculous” I am referring to was the very first HOS in Da Vinci's garden. The Roman Numerals thing was incredibly confusing. First I had to put the paper in the right place, and after I'd done that, came the buttons. This was incredibly confusing- what was I meant to do? I was totally confused here. With the hint of no help (just circling around the buttons) and the Strategy Guide not showing HOS solutions, I was absolutely stuck- something which never happens to me in a game. I had to go to the forums for answers, which almost made me give up on the game then. Developers, this is a prime example of what can happen without HOS solutions. Put them back in the strategy guide so this never happens again!
Getting back to the HOS, I found they were in good supply (3 during the demo) and were well spaced out. The HOS also have collectible fans in them, which will recharge your hint automatically.
Getting back to the HOS, I found they were in good supply (3 during the demo) and were well spaced out. The HOS also have collectible fans in them, which will recharge your hint automatically.
I wasn't really fussed with the puzzles. They were nothing I haven't seen before and quite frankly, were just a bit boring. I was hoping I would see something new, but no. I thought the puzzles were a bit hard, given that I had to skip the majority, which added to my pains. Similar to the HOS, there was a good amount of puzzles (3 during the demo) and they were spaced out well.
ERS has really stepped back a bit when it comes to additional features. There are two features here, both of which are rarely used.
The shop, one thing which is key in order to make a Grim Facade game a Grim Facade game, has returned once more. There are collectible coins for this, which are then used to buy items from the shop. These items are necessary for completing the game, so there's no skipping this. I only bought one item from the shop during the demo, which is a good sign that it will stick around for the entire game. In the last one, it was gone after 40 minutes. I criticised this heavily, so it will be a case of “watch this space” to see if ERS has taken my criticism on board. I really enjoyed this feature, so I hope it stays.
The shop, one thing which is key in order to make a Grim Facade game a Grim Facade game, has returned once more. There are collectible coins for this, which are then used to buy items from the shop. These items are necessary for completing the game, so there's no skipping this. I only bought one item from the shop during the demo, which is a good sign that it will stick around for the entire game. In the last one, it was gone after 40 minutes. I criticised this heavily, so it will be a case of “watch this space” to see if ERS has taken my criticism on board. I really enjoyed this feature, so I hope it stays.
The second feature is animal helpers. There are two in this game, but don't cringe, because they are barely used. The first is a mechanical pigeon that can reach out of reach objects for you. It is used twice, then gone. This is really annoying for me personally. I would have liked to see it stick around. The second animal helper is a mechanical sheep, which you get to name after you collect it from the first HOS. I liked how you could name it, but it was only used a grand total of ONCE throughout the entire demo. This is a real shame and bugs me a little. What's the point of having an animal helper if you barely use it? Sure, it's only the demo. Sure, it's going to be used more as the game goes on, but I expected it to be used at least twice in the demo, and was disappointed to see otherwise. However, I did like the feature of the helpers. I would have just liked to see a little bit more of it.
The basic gameplay features have been done quite well by ERS. There are 4 modes of difficulty as well as a map which works quite well, but could have been a tad more helpful. There is no diary, but there is something which is a replacement. It is a little scroll which holds information on the characters you meet, facts about DaVinci and memories, which is basically just replaying cutscenes. This was a good thing to have, but still doesn't beat the diary. I wish the developers would bring the diary back!
Overall, the gameplay was good in some areas, but lacking in others. It was good enough to support the wonderful story.
Overall, the gameplay was good in some areas, but lacking in others. It was good enough to support the wonderful story.
The graphics are great. Everything is clear and realistic, with the cutscenes especially looking wonderful. The cutscenes are done in so much detail they almost look real. Kudos to the developers on the quality of their cutscenes- fantastic. The rest of the game is done well- detailed drawings with some nice colours. Also very clear. The one graphics-related issue I have is, again, the absence of lip-synch. I wish so much that the developers would go back to the days where they used it. It made the characters so much more lifelike! Alas, it seems that lip-synch is a thing of the past now...
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. Custom lets you set everything your way, from misclick penalty to sparkles and hint/skip charge times. Differences in other three are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside HOS, and there are collectible fans in the HOS for instant recharge.
Scroll- This is kind of like a replacement diary. It holds facts about DaVinci, memories and info on the characters. A nice little feature.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful in some places, but I think it could have been more helpful. It does display active tasks, but it does not inform you what you need to do next. Personally, I appreciated the extra challenge, but I think, for Casual mode, this isn't good enough. Casual mode is selected by those who want to relax or those who are just starting out. This might lose a few of them, which would be a shame.
Shop- I loved this feature and feel it is key in Grim Facade games. Only used once in the demo, which is a good sign. I hope it sticks around, as it adds to the fun factor.
Animal Helpers- rarely used, which is a shame. One, a mechanical pigeon, disappears after two uses. The other, a mechanical sheep, is used once in the demo.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set everything your way, from misclick penalty to sparkles and hint/skip charge times. Differences in other three are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside HOS, and there are collectible fans in the HOS for instant recharge.
Scroll- This is kind of like a replacement diary. It holds facts about DaVinci, memories and info on the characters. A nice little feature.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful in some places, but I think it could have been more helpful. It does display active tasks, but it does not inform you what you need to do next. Personally, I appreciated the extra challenge, but I think, for Casual mode, this isn't good enough. Casual mode is selected by those who want to relax or those who are just starting out. This might lose a few of them, which would be a shame.
Shop- I loved this feature and feel it is key in Grim Facade games. Only used once in the demo, which is a good sign. I hope it sticks around, as it adds to the fun factor.
Animal Helpers- rarely used, which is a shame. One, a mechanical pigeon, disappears after two uses. The other, a mechanical sheep, is used once in the demo.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- this doesn't show screenshots of HOS, and I think the HOS in this game are a prime example as to why it should. I got stuck in one of the HOS (which is a rarity), and I had to go to the forums for help. I nearly stopped playing this game, which I really didn't want to do. It is time developers realise HOS screenshots are IMPORTANT. They used to be in the guides, so why aren't they now?
Achievements
Leonardo's Tales- This comes in the form of a book. There are collectibles in the game which you have to find and add to the book, and I'm assuming this tells a story of some kind. Not sure, though, as I did not find all sections of the first page.
Sheep's Room- A room for your mechanical sheep. This is basically the same room as the achievments and seems rather pointless. Maybe things will happen if I unlock all achievements?
Wallpapers (18)
Concept Art (10)
Screensavers (8)
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- this doesn't show screenshots of HOS, and I think the HOS in this game are a prime example as to why it should. I got stuck in one of the HOS (which is a rarity), and I had to go to the forums for help. I nearly stopped playing this game, which I really didn't want to do. It is time developers realise HOS screenshots are IMPORTANT. They used to be in the guides, so why aren't they now?
Achievements
Leonardo's Tales- This comes in the form of a book. There are collectibles in the game which you have to find and add to the book, and I'm assuming this tells a story of some kind. Not sure, though, as I did not find all sections of the first page.
Sheep's Room- A room for your mechanical sheep. This is basically the same room as the achievments and seems rather pointless. Maybe things will happen if I unlock all achievements?
Wallpapers (18)
Concept Art (10)
Screensavers (8)
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I think ERS are improving on their CE's, but I still recommend the SE. None of the CE Extras appealed to me at all. I think the SE will be a better gaming experience.
I think ERS are improving on their CE's, but I still recommend the SE. None of the CE Extras appealed to me at all. I think the SE will be a better gaming experience.
MY PROGRESS
I started again 20 minutes in because I got stuck on the first HOS. I finished the demo with 30 minutes to spare, meaning the entire demo took me about 40 minutes. In that 40 minutes, I had completed 2 chapters.
I started again 20 minutes in because I got stuck on the first HOS. I finished the demo with 30 minutes to spare, meaning the entire demo took me about 40 minutes. In that 40 minutes, I had completed 2 chapters.
Overall, this was quite a good game, but it was really lacking in originality. I felt it was just another run-of-the-mill game with nothing in the gameplay department to really make it stand out. The reason I am purchasing is because of the fantastic story, but sometimes, that's not enough. I hope, for their next game, ERS takes some time to make the gameplay wonderful.
This earns a solid four star rating from me.
This earns a solid four star rating from me.
I recommend this game!
Shrouded Tales: The Spellbound Land Collector's Edition
Your magical powers have finally awakened. Now you have the strength to free your mother from the Shadow Realm!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
Looks Like The Friendly Cactus Is Not So Friendly This Time. Ouch!
PostedSeptember 19, 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
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Considering this developer's last game, Stranded Dreamscapes: The Prisoner was so good, I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, those hopes have been shattered. This is a total shambles, absolutely nothing like their first game. I've got almost nothing positive to say about it.
I'll start with the story and sum it up with two words: Uneventful and boring. For the most part of the demo, nothing happened. It was just a bunch of dialogue with no twists and turns. Everything coasted along as I expected, which I guessed was just leading up to a twist at the end of the demo. But even that was bad. The so called “twist” that I had been waiting 45 minutes (the length of the demo) for was not a twist at all. I expected it. It wasn't exciting, making me leap out of my seat, or making me rush to get the debit card out.
And that scene was basically a reflection of the entire story. I was bored to tears and struggled to finish the demo. There was more than one time when I felt like quitting, but I stuck it to the end. Now I'm regretting those 45 minutes of my life I'll never get back.
So I've already summed it up, but overall, the story was terrible. Nothing slightly interesting happened at all. I seriously hope this developer's next game will improve that.
And that scene was basically a reflection of the entire story. I was bored to tears and struggled to finish the demo. There was more than one time when I felt like quitting, but I stuck it to the end. Now I'm regretting those 45 minutes of my life I'll never get back.
So I've already summed it up, but overall, the story was terrible. Nothing slightly interesting happened at all. I seriously hope this developer's next game will improve that.
The redeeming factor for this game is that the gameplay is half decent. But that doesn't mean the gameplay still didn't have problems. I did like the HOS. They came in 3 different varieties: Progressive silhouette, junkpile silhouette and word-list junkpile. All three scenes had some interactivity, which was nice. All three scenes were fun, and had a different level of challenge, but I was still able to progress with no difficulties. The scenes were spaced out well, with some locations visited twice (already?). I think I played about 5 HOS in the demo, which is a good number, and indicates to me that there would have been a good number in the game.
On the flipside, however, I wasn't too keen on the puzzles. I usually like to attempt them, but this time I wasn't so keen. I found the puzzles to be annoying and, sometimes, unnecessarily hard. I also didn't like the sound effects on one of them (the puzzle in the square with all those statues). Every time I placed something wrong, the most annoying sound effect played. It drove me mental.
I don't like using the strategy guide for puzzles, so sometimes I would spend a good 5-10 minutes trying to solve one. I ended up skipping a couple, and solving the rest. Like the HOS, there was a decent number of puzzles in the game and they were spaced out well.
I don't like using the strategy guide for puzzles, so sometimes I would spend a good 5-10 minutes trying to solve one. I ended up skipping a couple, and solving the rest. Like the HOS, there was a decent number of puzzles in the game and they were spaced out well.
What really drove the fun-factor down for me was that this game featured one of my most hated gameplay features of all time: 2 scenes, 1 location. There were multiple altars in the game, and clicking on them took you to the Shadow Realm version of that location.. What you did in the Shadow Realm affected the real world, and things got confusing. I was getting lost, constantly wondering whether I needed to be in the Shadow Realm or the real world, and it just got annoying. 2 scenes, 1 location is the worst gameplay feature that any game could have. It ruined the game more than it was already ruined, and it just drove me mental. I strongly hope that this does not come back any time soon.
However, this game did have one additional gameplay feature I liked and that was the powers. There is a reason for the powers being there (you were born with magic), which is good. To get your powers, you have to collect blue and green runes, with a certain number having to be collected before that power is unlocked. The powers were used a lot (and I mean a LOT), which was pretty good. The powers were used everywhere, including in HOS, which I thought was quite creative. There are a certain number of powers and I had discovered 2 before the demo ended. I really enjoyed this feature, and, combined with the HOS, it's the only reason this game isn't getting one star. The only bad thing I would say about it is that you had to solve an annoying puzzle every time you unlocked a new spell.
When it comes to additional gameplay features, that's it, and that's a real shame. I at least thought there would be + objects, as they are a standard these days. It's a shame these developers have not adapted to the times. I hope that, for their next game, the developers pay more attention to the gameplay.
Despite my criticisms, I will admit that the basics have been done well to an extent. There are three difficulty modes, and the map is interactive and has been done well. However, there is no diary. I found this to be quite annoying, as I feel a diary is a necessity. I hope that the diary comes back in this developer's next game.
Something the developer has done really well with is the graphics. They are very clear and drawn with a lot of detail. The visuals are nice to look at, with great colours chosen well to match the game's atmosphere. The graphics look realistic and the character designs are done well. A very good job here from the developers.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
3 modes of play: Casual, Advanced and Hard. The differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside HOS.
Spellbook- keeps track of all the spells you have unlocked and tells you how many more runes you need to unlock the next one.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It lets you know where there is a task to perform.
Powers- Very good. Multiple powers, each one is used a lot.
3 modes of play: Casual, Advanced and Hard. The differences are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint works well outside HOS.
Spellbook- keeps track of all the spells you have unlocked and tells you how many more runes you need to unlock the next one.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It lets you know where there is a task to perform.
Powers- Very good. Multiple powers, each one is used a lot.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Achievements
Built-in Strategy Guide- doesn't show screenshots of HOS.
Something called “Lost Pages”
A Quiz
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
Bonus Chapter
Achievements
Built-in Strategy Guide- doesn't show screenshots of HOS.
Something called “Lost Pages”
A Quiz
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Cutscenes
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I'd definitely say the SE, due to minimal CE Extras. I don't see this game as CE worthy. This developer is working on it, but I think more needs to be added.
I'd definitely say the SE, due to minimal CE Extras. I don't see this game as CE worthy. This developer is working on it, but I think more needs to be added.
MY PROGRESS
The demo took me 45 minutes. Only 2 chapters available in the SG, so I'm assuming I'd finished the second chapter. There are 6 chapters in the main game, as well as a bonus chapter. Judging by the fact it took me 45 minutes to complete two chapters, that leads to a two and a half hour game, roughly. But I am a fast player, so it may be longer for you.
The demo took me 45 minutes. Only 2 chapters available in the SG, so I'm assuming I'd finished the second chapter. There are 6 chapters in the main game, as well as a bonus chapter. Judging by the fact it took me 45 minutes to complete two chapters, that leads to a two and a half hour game, roughly. But I am a fast player, so it may be longer for you.
Overall, 2 stars is the best I can do for this Spellbound bore. Everywhere I looked, I saw problems. Some serious work needs to be done here. I know this developer is capable of good things, so I will watch this space with interest.
I don't recommend this game.
Margaret's soul has been broken into fragments and strewn across multiple worlds. Can you find them all and save her?
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
SO Close to Perfect!
PostedSeptember 17, 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
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Domini Games have never really struck a chord with me in the past, so naturally, expectations were low. Well, I was in for a mighty surprise! This game is wonderful! I will definitely be purchasing to continue the adventure.
The story is really interesting. Sure, it's not the “jump out of your sear” kind of thing, but the plot twists are really gripping. They come at just the right time too, so I was never bored with the story. The concept has been executed well, but it has been done over and over again. Even so, I think the developers have put a nice twist on it. I also quite liked the effort they put in to developing the characters' personalities. Time and time again, I play games where the characters have absolutely no personality at all. But with this one, each character had their own personality, and you could tell that instantly, with the dialogue carefully selected to match the personality.
Overall, a very interesting story that I can't wait to continue.
Overall, a very interesting story that I can't wait to continue.
I'm a bit conflicted on my opinion of the gameplay. Some of it is ridiculously simple, but other parts are fantastic. I found the HOS quite simple, really just straightforward interactive junkpile. They came in only the one variety. That being said, I still enjoyed them a fair bit. There was also a decent number of them. From memory, I believed I played 4 in the demo, which indicates to me there will be a lot more to come. For their next game, I would like to see this developer put more effort in to their HOS. Put in some variety, make them more challenging. Having the same thing over and over is a little boring.
I also found the puzzles to be extremely easy. In the demo, there were about five or six puzzles. I was challenged by two, and solved all but one (that one I skipped being a part of the two I was challenged by). The simplicity of the puzzles reduced their fun factor, and I was disappointed that the developers did not put any effort in to their puzzles.
I also found the puzzles to be extremely easy. In the demo, there were about five or six puzzles. I was challenged by two, and solved all but one (that one I skipped being a part of the two I was challenged by). The simplicity of the puzzles reduced their fun factor, and I was disappointed that the developers did not put any effort in to their puzzles.
However, they more than redeem themselves with the extra gameplay! It seems to me that this developer has gone all out to make their game more fun, and it has more than worked! There are quite a few extra gameplay features here and all of them are good. One of these features is plus objects. These are definitely standard now, so it was no surprise to see them show up. The + objects usually require more than one item to complete, which is good. However, I didn't like that there was no indication of when they could be used. The + objects were basically a green circle with a white + inside, and that white + was there all the time, instead of only appearing when the object could be interacted with. I found this to be slightly annoying. On the plus side (no pun intended), the feature was used quite a lot.
Another feature was the harlequin, which was our helper for the game. This was basically a mechanical doll thing which helped us occasionally. The doll was used a few times, but no too much, which was good.
Another feature in this game was the powers. This was definitely my favourite feature. It made the game so much more fun. I think what I liked most about it was that the powers were logical. It made sense why we'd been given them, given that we were traveling in to different worlds. There are 4 powers in the game, and I had received one (wings) at the end of the demo. Because there are four worlds, I'm assuming we get one new power with each world.
The one power I got was wings, which was a cool one. It was basically used to reach things that were out of reach.
I loved this feature so much and hope it is seen in future games by not only this developer, but all others.
The one power I got was wings, which was a cool one. It was basically used to reach things that were out of reach.
I loved this feature so much and hope it is seen in future games by not only this developer, but all others.
As far as the basics go, the developer has done pretty well. There are 4 modes of difficulty (including custom) and a map which works very well. There is no diary, but there is a dossier, which is kind of a replacement. The dossier holds information on the characters you meet, objects you find, and just notes in general.
Overall, the gameplay would have been perfect if not for the complete lack of challenge. Everything in this game was just far too easy. I was not challenged once. I think it was in part due to the lack of effort put in to HOS and puzzles. For their next game, I hope the developer works on making their gameplay more challenging and exciting.
The graphics were quite good. Scenes were clear with quite a bit of detail. Character designs were nice and realistic. The colours matched well with the setting. However, my issue here is that there is no-lip synch. This has been creeping in to a lot of games lately and I don't like it. I get the pressure of the game industry, but surely developers can take the time to put lip-synch in their games?
Voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
Voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game the way you like. 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.
Dossier- acts in place of a diary. Keeps track of notes, characters and objects you find.
Map- The map was interactive and extremely useful. It was set out well. It lets you know where there is an active task to perform, and I often used it in place of the hint.
Harlequin- This is our helper for the game. Used quite often.
+ objects- These are objects you must interact with to complete. It annoyed me how there was no indication of when the object could be used.
Powers (4)- Four powers in the game, each giving you a different ability which will help you complete it. Best feature of the game. Used often.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game the way you like. 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.
Dossier- acts in place of a diary. Keeps track of notes, characters and objects you find.
Map- The map was interactive and extremely useful. It was set out well. It lets you know where there is an active task to perform, and I often used it in place of the hint.
Harlequin- This is our helper for the game. Used quite often.
+ objects- These are objects you must interact with to complete. It annoyed me how there was no indication of when the object could be used.
Powers (4)- Four powers in the game, each giving you a different ability which will help you complete it. Best feature of the game. Used often.
CE EXCLUSIVE
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Doesn't show HOS solutions
Achievements
Boudoir- Collectibles are stored here (I think). Not available in the demo.
Museum- Not sure what this is, but you collect coins to spend there.
Wallpapers (19)
Concept Art (11)
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- Doesn't show HOS solutions
Achievements
Boudoir- Collectibles are stored here (I think). Not available in the demo.
Museum- Not sure what this is, but you collect coins to spend there.
Wallpapers (19)
Concept Art (11)
Music
Replay HOS & Puzzles
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I'd say the SE, because the CE bonus content doesn't really appeal to me. Despite lots of wallpapers and a couple of nice features, I don't really think the SE is worth the money.
I'd say the SE, because the CE bonus content doesn't really appeal to me. Despite lots of wallpapers and a couple of nice features, I don't really think the SE is worth the money.
MY PROGRESS
This game looks like it might be a lengthy one. There are 2 chapters in the Strategy Guide. I had definitely started chapter 2, but I'm not sure if I finished it. The demo took me 62 minutes to complete on Casual.
This game looks like it might be a lengthy one. There are 2 chapters in the Strategy Guide. I had definitely started chapter 2, but I'm not sure if I finished it. The demo took me 62 minutes to complete on Casual.
Overall, this is a very good game. The story is great and the gameplay is great. Lack of challenge is the only thing that prevents me from giving the game 5 stars. So far, this is shaping up to be one of the best games this year. I highly recommend giving the trial a go.
I recommend this game!