TnT_TJ's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:1,756
- Reviews Submitted:76
- First Review:May 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 15, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Wait no more! The adventures of My Kingdom for the Princess continue. It's time to defeat the traitors and rebuild the kingdom!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Good, in Doses - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 2, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is the third installment in this series, and seeing I haven't played the previous two, I can not compare or comment on the progress. On its own it is a good and entertaining game, in doses.
What I mean about that is that it does get a bit repetitive in the long run. You are doing much of the same over and over. So I found the best way I like to play it is play it in parts in between other games.
That does not mean that the game is in any way boring. It is fun and challenging to figure out how to make it in time, and especially challenging to earn gold on the level. You need that to keep adding to your castle, that you build along the way. It can get stressful however, and a bit frustrating when you have done some wrong choices and end up without resources, and have to sit and wait for them to respawn.
The game in itself is about collecting resources, repair roads, fight off enemies, build buildings, clear paths and reaching a selection of objectives to finish the level. Pretty typical for these sort of games in other words. It is broken off with a couple of mini games. A Whack-a-Mole type game and steering some sort of transport through an obstacle course in a classic arcade way. In the latter one I found the controls to be a bit off, or at least taking some time getting used to. Other than that one controls seems to be right on target in all other elements of the game.
The graphic quality is quite good. I don't really know how old this game is, but expected the graphics to be much worse. Everything seems bright and crisp and it is never difficult to see what needs to be done where. The characters animated well enough and it all looks smooth.
The story in this game is rather typical fairy tale'ish and thin, but I found it OK enough for this game. I don't feel it is a game you play for the storyline anyway.
If you are into strategy games similar to this, you will most likely like this as well. It plays similar to most others I've tried so far. It might even be the series that started it all (don't really remember which came first). It offers challenging game play, and has several elements that opens for replay. The castle as already mentioned, but also achievements to earn. However, if you are looking for a game to relax with, this is probably not for you. It is time based, and that time limit gets strict later on in the game. The game is lengthy enough so I think you'll feel you get your money's worth even paying full price. When in doubt try it before buying it.
For the guys:
It might be fairy-tale'ish fighting to win the princess and half the kingdom like, but the story line has a back seat in this game. Game play suits anyone who likes a bit of challenge.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Journey through the mesmerizing world of Nevernear in this exciting Match 3 adventure! Match dazzling gems in Jewel Match 3!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
For M3 fans - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 30, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The Jewel Match series seems to be quite popular among the M3 fans, as can be seen by the high rating this game has. I am not a typical M3 fan though, and find this game merely OK.
I did play Jewel Match 2 before playing this, and can clearly see an improvement and a developer that at least tries to make something more out of its franchise. To me it doesn't quite work though. They've added a sort of storyline which the previous one lacked, but it is a totally uninspiring one. It does not grab me at all.
Luckily the game play is more important than the story in a game like this, and this has become slightly better. It is still the same type of match 3 and it offers little new in its main feature. The boards look a whole lot better than what they did before and this time you play on several boards at the same time each level. You jump between them using arrows on the screen (sometimes blocked until you release a key on an available board). One thing this causes is for each level to last pretty long compared to similar games I've played. You can easily spend 10-15 minutes, at least, on one single level.
The skipping back and forth between the boards adds something new and interesting, but it also adds some frustration. Especially when playing in timed mode. Yes, you can actually play this game without a time limit as well. That alone makes the game more interesting to more people. A feature that all games like this should have (even though I like to play timed myself).
They've also added a couple of other game elements here. One is more or less HO scenes where you need to find objects on a screen to get an upgrade to one of your powers. You also need to plant seeds and care for plants to progress through the game. I don't know, but to me that just seemed way off. They look cool, but I did not find it entertaining at all.
As with the previous game you build castles/palaces on your journey, section by section. I have to say they look much better this time around, and it is not as grainy as it was in Jewel Match 2.
You earn the power ups through the game play here and can't buy them through the store like before. The store this time has items for the "gardening" and lives, jewel boxes and the "try your luck" box.
To me the game is an OK time filler. Beware though, that it is nothing to fill few minutes, as the levels take 15-20 minutes as mentioned before. You might get caught up in the "just one more" phase while playing it, but it becomes somewhat boring after a while. If you are a M3 fan than this game might offer a lot, but for people who likes more things happening (Like Heroes of Hellas) you might want to try this one before buying.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Olivia has been kidnapped by the mysterious Lonely Hearts Killer who murders those suffering from a shattered love. Save her!
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 19 found this review helpful
Game of the Year? - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 29, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
*Review based on completing the full game + bonus chapter in normal mode*
This must be a strong contender for the "Game of the year" here at Big Fish, and among the very best casual games I've had the pleasure of playing so far.
You play the character Owen Wright that together with a local police officer/detective try to locate your missing daughter that is in the hands of a serial killer. This is set in what seems to be 19th century Britain and plays very much like a Sherlock Holmes type story. Among casual games today I believe this is the most thought through story so far. We are talking high quality writing that lay the foundation of an equally high quality game experience.
The graphics are top notch all the way. The locations are highly detailed, sharp and interesting. This developer is lucky to have such a talented graphic artist/s. There is only praise to give to the animation department as well. Everything from cinematic cut-scenes to how the animated characters move and act is extremely well done when you compare to similar games in the casual scene. The characters are drawn (3d-modeled) and not real actors, and I think that is great for games like this. They look like 3d characters too, but as mentioned already they are done really well.
Every character is voiced too. And they have done a brilliant job. It might be the best voice-overs I've come by in casual games. They are believable and react well to what is happening around them. Your character is voiced as well, which makes you feel included in the storyline. The best part is that you communicate with the characters you meet here, and wherever you meet them they have something new to say. Not necessarily anything vital to the story, but still. It makes the game feel very alive compared to running around deserted places like most other games. There is a lot of dialog, and I know some people don't care for that. I, on the other hand, like that as it creates a fuller story and you get to know the characters around you and their motivation to do what they do. In some ways this game feels like an interactive movie. For those who likes less talk and more "walk" they have added a skip button on all dialog. I recommend to listen to it though, as it really creates a good chunk of the experience in this game.
The music is jazzy and cinematic and suits the game well. Sound effects and ambient sounds are brilliant.
As an adventure fan I sit left with a big smile after finishing the game. This game plays very much like an adventure game. And it is done so in a very nice way. It has a lot of the typical, but also adds its own touches to it. Of course it creates some back and forth movement through locations, but the developer has been clever and sectioned off parts, so it never become tedious and long stretched.
You also have a nice selection of cleverly made puzzles. Many of them seemed quite original (at least to me). Most of them were actually quite fun to solve, and several demands some time and attention. Non of them seemed unsolvable or very hard, but neither did they seem too easy. They also threw in a couple of mini-games for good measure that further added to the fun and variety. What I particularly noticed was how well the mechanics were in these puzzles. Nothing felt clunky and awkward. Good work.
There are of course the obligatory HO scenes too. And they look stunning, each and every one of them. Highly detailed, crisp and clear, and brighter than what we're used to in other games. At least in the main game, as there are some darker scenes in the bonus chapter. Some items are on the smaller side, but they are never difficult to identify. They have some very creative interactive elements to them that makes them even more interesting. You do have to do each one twice, but new interactive elements are put in the second time you are there. That keeps it fresh. They have also been more creative with items to find. There are some typical ones (compass, snail), but many not so common items to find. I.E. I did not have to find one single feather (if my memory serves me right)
There are three difficulty levels to choose from:
Casual:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows all points of interests
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows all points of interests
Normal:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows only basic info
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows only basic info
Expert:
-No hints/skips
-No sparkles
-Map not available
-No sparkles
-Map not available
I played on normal because i wanted to have the map there. I wish they'd cut the sparkles in that mode as well as I prefer no sparkles. Luckily they weren't too annoying, but they do make it less challenging. Either that, or have had the map with no info in the hard mode. In the end I found out that it is not really necessary to have the map as areas are sectioned off in smaller chunks, but there is no way of knowing that until after playing the game.
The map in itself is quite brilliant and is a good guide to have. It is not interactive (transport able). It is partly ever present in the corner of the screen, which I found brilliant. There is no journal here, but it is not really needed either. The mechanics of the game are perfect. Most everything is smooth sailings. There might be some loading between few of the locations, but not enough to get annoying.
The game feels lengthy enough, but probably does that in part due to a lot of dialog and cut scenes. Still I really feel I'm getting my money's worth and then some from this game.
Bonus:
The CE has an extra chapter of game play that seems quite lengthy compared to many other CE's. It has an equally interesting story, but this time you play as Logan (the detective). They play out in new locations with new HO scenes and puzzles. Other than the game play you get concept art, wallpapers and a lengthy interview with the developers. There are no morphing objects or other collectibles and neither any achievements.
There is only one thing to say about this game. Buy the CE now. Throw money at these developers so they keep bringing us high quality games like this. I hope that they will carry on with the Brink of Consciousness series, but will probably be interested in whatever this developer puts out there. Can't wait!
For the guys:
You play as a male character in this game, so it is quite fitting for us guys. The story is intriguing and should suit all. I'd even recommend it for your dog ;o)
TJ
I recommend this game!
Find out who is behind the shocking zombie invasion.
Overall rating
3
/
5
73 of 77 found this review helpful
Beautiful, but Flawed - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 28, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*Review based on completing the full game + bonus chapter in advanced mode*
It seems like this developer has a lot of die hard fans that blindly rate it high no matter what the quality of the game itself is. I can not understand how this gets so many 5 star ratings. That doesn't mean I feel the game is all bad. No, the game in itself is rather entertaining but it is littered with flaws that is hard to ignore.
There is not much to complain about when it comes to the graphics. It is a big step up from its to predecessors and is up to par compared to many similar games of today. It is all hand drawn which is something I personally appreciate. It is crisp and colorful and most locations are quite interesting in design.
When it comes to the story/storyline I am quite disappointed. It is clear to see that the developer has noticed the hype about zombies/living dead these days and is trying to sell on that. That in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. I mean, I am a "The Walking Dead" fan like many others. The problem is that they don't create anything original with it. Actually they are more or less just back drop figures that occasionally turns up in your face. The story is thin and rushed, and weaves all over the place, and in the end it doesn't make much sense. It actually starts off quite interesting right at the beginning, but it doesn't last long until it loses its footing.
The voice-overs are both good and bad. Some seem believable and others are just way off. Still, it isn't game breakingly bad in any way. At least the music is much better in this one than the previous two in the series. It is more dramatic and doesn't feel repetitive and annoying. Sound effects though, is another story. That is worse than before. It seems to be a bit flawed as well. Occasional sounds are delayed or do not appear at all.
The best part in this game is maybe the adventure elements. Its a lot of them. That is also what I like the most and therefore pay extra attention to. It had a lot of original ideas I appreciated. Though, it is not all gold and glory. There were several occasions that made little sense here as well. And this seems to be a recurring problem in this series. Some things are really not thought through and appears dumb. There is of course a bit of back and forth traveling because of this, and I don't mind at all, but it is 2012, the third game in the series, and they are still not able to have a map in the game? Come on! Luckily they seemed to have zoned off certain areas to relieve some of that traveling. Meaning, you won't be traveling back all the way to the first locations from the last ones. I have seen that too in other games (shrugs).
There are a handful of puzzles too. They seem very similar to what we have seen before, though I did find a couple of ones original (to me). Most of them are rather easy, but a couple can offer quite the challenge. I did not care for the last puzzle as it wasn't really challenging your mind, just your patience. A bit senseless even.
The HO's have evolved from its predecessor. They are better drawn, brighter and more colorful and not as cluttered as they were before (still clutter scenes). Items are bigger as well. They have interactive elements to them. Some of them are totally senseless. I like interactivity in the HO scenes, but who came up with the idea to use a knife on a bellow to retrieve a spring? Or cutting open a sack of flour to get a plate? Those are just few examples on quite a few similar interactive moments. Clearly not thought through.
They have flavored this game with another type of HO as well. Where you have to find items in sequence and use them in the scene to find other items etc. I've seen that a couple of times before, and I must say I tend to like those more than the classic HO's. Nice to have them both though, for more game variations.
There are three levels of difficulty to choose from:
Casual:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
Advanced:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
Hard:
-Very slow recharge of hint/skip
-No sparkles
-Black-bar tips disabled
-No sparkles
-Black-bar tips disabled
You can even change difficulty level during the game through "Options".
I played it in advanced and found it to be easy to mediocre in difficulty. It certainly offers a little bit more challenge than its predecessors. Finally the hint function works outside of the HO scenes as well, as it didn't before.
Now for maybe the worst part. The game mechanics are horrible. The game has a lot of issues that makes me believe the game was rushed and not thoroughly tested before release. Movement is clunky and it plays really slow. Don't click too fast or it might overload. Animations scenes are cut off abruptly, as is the sound. It all seems rather sloppy.
It started off good but flaws and senseless things made me just look forward to be done with it. The lack of a solid storyline made me lose interest too. And when I finally came to the end it was an unbelievably abrupt and dissatisfying ending to it all. I have to say I expected much more of this. One thing that might be a plus (if the game appeals to you) is the length. I felt it was quite lengthy.
Bonus:
The CE edition includes an extra chapter to the game play. It's not very long, but compared to other games I've played lately it isn't that short either. It has wallpapers, concept art, screensavers, music and you can replay all the game's puzzles, mini-games and HO's. There are no bonus collectibles, nor any achievements. The ones who appreciate the art will probably feel they get their money's worth. Even though I was quite disappointed in the overall experience of the game I still didn't feel ripped off. I got it on a deal as well, so that helps.
Remember, we all have different preferences when it comes to games, so even though I wasn't thrilled about this game, there is a chance that you will be. Download the demo and try it for yourself. I could easily have waited for the SE version myself, and because of the previously mentioned flaws I can not outright recommend this game, even though it might appeal to many.
For the guys:
I did not notice any gender bias, and who doesn't love zombies?
TJ
I don't recommend this game.
Explore a mesmerizing Match 3 wonderland and build majestic castles in this spellbinding adventure.
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
Not Impressed - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 28, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
I see I am going against the wind on this one, as a lot of people rate this game rather high. One of the reasons might be that I am not a seasoned M3 player, so it might be better for the ones who are.
Graphically this game offers nothing compared to today's standards. It is rather lo-res and the background pictures look very pixelated on my rather big monitor. The game boards themselves and the jewels looks pretty sharp though. However, I really didn't like the layout of the boards with sections being half there/not there when not in play. It just made it hard to see if it was part of the board or not and added frustration.
It is purely match 3 and doesn't offer any variations to the game play. Some prefer that, I don't. Neither does it offer any story. The only task is to build several castles part by part through the course of the game. You need to collect jewels of various colors to be able to afford these parts, and there is a limit to how much you can hold at one time. You also earn gold on the way that you can spend on upgrades, power-ups and lives.
A very nice thing in this game is that if you are about to run out of time you get the option of spending a life to add to it, instead of having to start the board all over again. It still turned into a rather challenging game rather quickly IMO, and time was set so low at times that it became quite stressful. I do not mind time restraints, but the seemed to become very strict very fast. It does however go up and down and after a rather stressful board you can encounter one with plenty time to solve.
The game failed to engage me and became tedious and boring too fast. Seeing that Jewel Match 3 is out I can't really recommend this one. I am sure the newer one must be better (haven't tried it myself yet). Nah save your buck on this one and get something else. Well, at least try before buying. We all have different preferences, so you might like it much better than what I did. There are certainly other reviewers here that do.
TJ
I don't recommend this game.
After a devastating flood, a small town is being plagued by problems and now it’s up to you to fix them all!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
Same Formula, A Bit Better - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 27, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game + bonus content in expert mode*
The second installment in the Haunted Legends series plays very similar to the first one. Again you are chasing the mysterious character SG who is up to no good. This time in a town totally infatuated by a legend about a bronze horseman.
The graphics, as in the first game, are all hand drawn, and done so quite beautifully. Locations are colorful and fun. As before it is still quite dark, but at least it is broken off more often with lighter interior scenes. Animations are much better done here than in the original, and with more characters makes it feel more alive.
There is more voice-overs too this time around which definitely helps the series forwards, and lip-sync is actually not that bad either. The voice-over actors do a good job on the most part, and most of them feel believable. The music on the other hand is the same as in the first with a couple of added tunes. It's not that they are particularly bad, but they get in your head eventually and if you are like me, you'll end up turning them down/off eventually. Nothing bad to say about other sound effects though.
The first game was all about the HO scenes flavored with some adventure elements and rather easy puzzles. This game follows up doing exactly the same. If you are into HO's then this is right up your ally, but if you are more into adventure and/or puzzles it doesn't quite grab you.
The HO's are luckily better done in this one compared to the first. They are similar clutter scenes, but most of them are lighter and more colorful than before. I did not notice as many small objects to find either. It is still hand drawn though, and I still found some objects hard to identify. There are also some of the same flaws that plagued the first game, and the occasional translation issue. It is by no means game breaking in any way, but can lead to some frustration. They are more interactive this time around, and that is always good. You have to do all of them twice, but items already picked up does not return to the scene. A big plus.
There is a bit of adventure elements here, but mostly basic stuff and adds quite a bit to the back and forth traveling that some might find tedious. There is no map to help you around so one can end up getting a bit lost. Also, there are no hints outside of the HO scenes, so one might end up having to look through the strategy guide or something when stuck.
The puzzles are rather easy on the most part. I found a couple of them to be totally nonsensical too. I feel the developer could present something a bit better here. It is of course a personal opinion and luckily we have different preferences, so it might not apply to you. But, I will say this, if you are a seasoned player looking for a challenge, you will probably not be too satisfied with this game.
There are some nonsensical moments outside of the puzzles too, both in the main game and in the bonus chapter. Both story wise and in the way things needs to be done. I actually experienced a couple of LOL moments because of some rather "dumb" mistakes. Again, by all means, they aren't game breaking, but I feel the developer maybe rushed this one a bit and should have spent a bit more time thinking things through.
It was nice to see that the game wasn't so clumsy and clunky as the first one was, especially when it came to maneuvering. The game could still use a map, and preferably one that was interactive/transport able. The journal also had its use this time. Not much, but at least something. Often I find them totally useless.
As it was in the first game, you have two difficulty levels to choose from:
Regular:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip function
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
Expert:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip function
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
I played it in expert mode and found it rather easy, so if you want any type of challenge, expert is the way to go. There was a misclick penalty in the HO scenes in expert mode. I do not know if it is in Regular mode as well. I also felt that the recharge of hint/skip was rather quick in expert mode, and wish it was a bit slower.
As with most CE version games what comes extra does not grant the extra credit/price IMO. You get a nice extra chapter to play, but it doesn't last very long. Fortunately most if it is in new locations. Then there is the typical wallpapers, concept art, music and a screensaver. There are no achievements. If you are into the art extras then it might of course be worth it to you. I am not to interested in that part and would like to see more added to the game play.
When it comes down to it, it was a quite enjoyable game that looks and plays rather nice. It is better than its predecessor, but still needs some tuning to become great. It will be a good game for beginners and for the ones who look for a relaxing time, less so for the seasoned looking for a challenge. I bought the CE on a special offer so I feel like I got my money's worth. I'm not too sure I would feel the same if I paid full price. To each their own though, and I would still recommend the game for its entertaining value.
I am being nice with the 4 star rating, as I feel it is probably a 3.5. But the improvement from the previous game definitely is worth the extra star.
For the guys:
There is no gender bias and the story should fit both genders.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Discover the secrets behind a magical deck of cards in Haunted Legends: Queen of Spades! Find The Countess and stop her curse!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
An OK Start - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 26, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in expert mode*
This is the first game of the Haunted Legends series that by the time of this review just released the third installment. In many ways it is good, but compared to today's standards it is nothing more than OK.
Everything in this game is hand drawn in quite a quirky and strangely beautiful way. But on my rather large monitor it seems rather pixelated which means it is not of particularly high resolution. Most of the locations are also rather dark, and I feel a bit more color and light would have done this game good. The little animation there is in this game is also OK.
The storyline seemed similar to something I have played before. I did not research what came out first, but either way the novelty of it automatically disappears. Very little story is told through the game though, and mostly progresses through with help of small notes and through the journal. There is little or nothing to make you get to know any of the characters and what the motivation for the "investigation" is. Supposedly you're supposed to locate and save a police inspector, but I can't say I ever did see him again. I think they somewhat lost their focus on the story and forgot something to tie it all together in the end. Either that or the conclusion only exists in the CE version of the game.
The game feels a bit clunky to play as well. Movement through scenes are sometimes more difficult than they should be and certain scenes that you have to pass through several times has some slow going animations to make the traveling even slower. There is quite a bit moving back and forth through the world without really knowing what to do next. Usually I am OK with that, but I miss having some sort of guidance at least to point me in the right direction. The hint function does not work outside the HO scenes either, so there is no help there. Neither is there a map. It all seems a bit clumsy and clunky.
There are quite a few adventure elements of picking up here and use there, but sometimes these are a bit clunky again. You can notice a few places where you have to use items in a sequence to make it work, and if you try putting anything out of the right sequence it won't let you. Sometimes that made no sense at all. Why can I not tie a hook to a rope until I have tied the rope to a door pin? When I clicked at the rope it told me that I should tie a hook to it. That was just frustrating. I figured it out, but still, clumsy and clunky. Some places you could interact with were hard to notice too, but most adventure and HO fans are thorough when they go from scene to scene and will find them.
You'll also come across a few puzzles on the way. Nothing too fancy, and several usual ones. Seemed most were variants of sliders. My least favorite kind of puzzle, but we all have different tastes. It does offer other types of puzzles as well, so there are variations. I'd call most of them easy to mediocre difficulty. Not much of a challenge to seasoned players.
Most of all there are HO scenes. Lots of them, and you have to do them all twice. They are hand drawn, so at times it is hard to identify certain items. Most of the scenes are also darkish/greyish which can be challenging on the eyes and patience. A few of them have mild interactive elements to them, but it is in no way marked which items on the list is, or in which scenes. Confusing to look for an object only to find out that it is hidden behind something else. I feel the interactive items should be marked someway so one understands that one has to do something to get to it. But that's just me. I noticed a couple of items being a bit off to. Clicking on one object led to nothing and I could not find anything else in the scene. I used the hint function and it pointed me to the object I had tried from the very beginning. I clicked it again and nothing happened. Clicking around a bit in frustration I finally got the item by clicking all the way to the one side of it. A couple of other items you had to be very exact. I also once had to find a "bug". A lady bug was sitting in the middle of the screen, but apparently that was not considered a bug here. That is a bit lazy IMO. There were also a few translation issues, or at least some strange names on certain objects. None of these flaws were game breaking in any way, and easy to get around, but it adds to the frustration and also the opinion one gets of the game.
You can play this game in two difficulty modes.
Regular:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip function
-Active zones and objects sparkles
-Active zones and objects sparkles
Expert:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip function
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
The game seemed rather easy to me, so if you are looking for any kind of challenge, make sure to choose expert mode.
*BEWARE: SLIGHT SPOILER*
You collect a complete deck of cards through the course of the game, and it seemed they were for a slot at the very beginning. Yet, entering the final scene where you "card battle" against SG (the bad "guy") finishes the game and you have no chance to return to that slot. I wasn't gonna play through the game again just to find out what that does, so be sure to do that before entering the last room.
You collect a complete deck of cards through the course of the game, and it seemed they were for a slot at the very beginning. Yet, entering the final scene where you "card battle" against SG (the bad "guy") finishes the game and you have no chance to return to that slot. I wasn't gonna play through the game again just to find out what that does, so be sure to do that before entering the last room.
All in all it is an OK game, but nothing more. I feel it is a game worth playing, but it is not going to be memorable. It could be a great game for beginners to the genre. For the more seasoned ones it offers little. It could be OK if you need something to kill some time. Look for it as a DD or other type of discount.
For the guys:
I did not notice any gender bias in this game. Should suit both genders.
I recommend this game!
Rebuild Athens from the ashes of its destruction in Heroes of Hellas 3: Athens! Secure the help of the Heroes of Olympus!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
More of the same - A guy's review
PostedNovember 24, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in normal mode*
The third one in the "Heroes of Hellas" series plays very much like the second one. You have to rebuild a city (this time Athens), figure out who of the gods are creating chaos and put a stop to it. But of course this time it looks a whole lot better.
The graphics is noticeable better than what it was in "Olympia" and rebuilding the city becomes more visually pleasing. The way you go about it is pretty much the same as before, but you get your "orders" from the towns priest this time. You have more options to the looks of the buildings this time though, and can choose from 3 different types for each one.
I missed the palace from the beginning as was in the previous two, but you do get to build one here as well. Only, you have to finish the main game first to open a bonus part with classic boards and puzzles to build your palace step by step. It was the least pleasing way to build a palace so far, but extended the game itself, so that in itself was pleasing.
The boards you play on are quite creative as they were in the second game of the series, and at times you need to think about what you are doing. Sometimes you even get some surprises. They seemed more challenging than before, but are still within moderate difficulty.
There is a couple of new power-ups as well. Not that they add much to the game, but it is always fun with something new. There is still some level of randomness plaguing some of these, but seem less so than before.
You can choose to play timed or not, so it should suit any kind of player. I don't see how playing without the time constraint would offer any challenge in this particular game, but it is good to have an option. I got through with it being timed and did not run into any serious problems throughout the game.
If you played the first two you might notice a difference in the "treasure chest" boards in this one. This causes them to be much more challenging than before.
There are achievements to collect this time around too, but I found then far less enjoyable to collect than what they were before. Fewer too. At least they have a leveled system this time, so each one has three stages. There are no wallpapers this time around, neither mosaic puzzles. They do have more fragment puzzles though.
The music seems to be very similar (maybe even the same) as before. But it is not as intrusive as some other games. It doesn't hurt to turn it down a notch though ;o)
Due to how it looks and the way the boards were created I think this is the most entertaining one of the three Heroes of Hellas games, even though it plays very similar to the second one. I think it would be a perfect introductory game for the genre, and it also offers quite a bit for anyone who likes Match 3 games. If you are looking for something very, very challenging then you might want to look elsewhere, but you'd still might find it entertaining with everything that is going on.
When in doubt, try it before buying it.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Investigate strange goings-on in the eerie town of Fort Nightingale!
Overall rating
5
/
5
28 of 31 found this review helpful
Extraordinary - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 21, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in expert mode + bonus content*
This game is right up my alley. I'm mostly talking about the storyline. A sci-fi alien conspiracy mixed in with religion and Indian culture, and it is really well written. Now, this might not be for everybody, but for me it is perfect. Beware if you are extra sensitive about your religion, or find alien conspiracy theories blatantly stupid. You might get offended. If not, then there is nothing to think about, buy it as soon as you can and join a spectacular ride.
The graphics in this game are high quality on the most part. Like many others, it has mostly dark and dreary locations, but they are highly detailed and interesting sites. The cinematic cut-scenes might be the best I've seen so far in the casual game scene. It's dramatic, moves smoothly and basically looks similar to what you would expect in a movie. There are no live actors though, but the characters are well drawn. I tend to like drawn characters better anyway.
Animations are not that smooth elsewhere in the game though. They feel somewhat stiff and they have not spent much time on the lip-sync.
The voice-overs are mostly nicely done, but there is a few exceptions. It sounded like the same kid voiced all the children, and wasn't that believable. A funny note is that all the kids growing up with American adoptive parents in North America from birth had a very British accent. Unlikely.
The music ranged from ok to terrible. Something sounding like a orchestra warming up made a very intrusive sound in many scenes. Sound effects are perfectly fine though.
If ratings were separate I would give Visual Quality 5 (excellent) and sound 2 or 3, so ended up with 4.
The game had quite a bit of adventure elements. Some typical and some quite creative. I usually enjoy the adventure elements the most and this game kept me happy all the way through.
Puzzles were varied with some easy and some quite hard. Some we've all seen before, but also a few that had some originality to it (at least for me). I like when a game mixes the difficulty levels on their puzzles, so a nice fit to me here.
The hidden object scenes were quite cluttered clutter scenes, but were highly detailed and nice and colorful. There was a few objects that were hard to find in dark areas and rather small, but nothing that got too frustrating. All HO scenes were mildly interactive and had at least one smaller scene within it. You have to visit all of them (I think) twice, but once for finding items listed and another time to place (reverse HO) objects on/in/next to matching ones. That kept all scenes fresh and interesting, and it didn't feel repetitive.
The game mechanics functioned well as far as I can tell. The interface was easy to use. You have a journal and a map. The journal felt almost completely necessary a couple of times and the map is your best friend. The map is interactive and you can use it for fast-traveling. You can also opt for highlighted active zones and morphing object locations right on the map itself. Hook it on or off and own leisure. Brilliant.
You can choose between two difficulty settings:
Casual:
-Sparkles on interactive zones
-30 second recharge of hint/skip function
-30 second recharge of hint/skip function
Expert:
-No sparkles
-1 minute recharge of hint/skip function
-1 minute recharge of hint/skip function
I played it in expert mode and found the game moderately difficult. There was one or two times I had to use skip/hint. The map is of course very helpful to find out which locations you have stuff to do.
The CE version of the game also have a nice bonus chapter. Not lasting especially long, but was highly interesting and beautiful made as well. It also adds new locations and it is nicely connected to the main story. It does not ruin the conclusion of the main game, so if you want to wait for the SE you will not miss out on any essentials. It adds 40 morphing objects to find, a strategy guide and the typical wallpaper/art. It has no achievements or trophies. I wish at least one would get something for collecting the 40 morphing objects, but at least I couldn't find anything.
The game has a nice length and with the bonus additions I felt I got my moneys worth. I still haven't found many CE's that is worth the extra credit, but at least this one doesn't feel like a rip off.
I recommend this game to everyone who likes these types of games, and especially if you like alien/government conspiracies and such. If you are a strict religious person, you might want to try it out before buying to be on the safe side. But for most people this should be pure enjoyment. I classify it as moderately difficult and it would suit mediocre and seasoned players. That does not mean that you should avoid it as a beginner. I think this game would be an excellent introduction game as well.
For the guys:
You play as a female character, but it is not very apparent. The story should suit both genders, so you don't want to miss this one.
TJ
I recommend this game!
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
3
/
5
176 of 194 found this review helpful
Pretty Good AND Pretty Bad - A Guy's Review
PostedNovember 20, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in expert mode including (I think) the bonus play*
The MCF series is an established series that many players hold close to their heart here at Big Fish. They have pretty much pushed the genre forward and set the standards with every release. I haven't been around that long, but that is my understanding from what I've heard by other players. So I am quite surprised on how this game turned out. I think they are out on thin ice this time around.
Well, clearly MCF is on a higher budget than most other casual games here at Big Fish. You can easily notice that by the high end production and the use of real actors that actually can act. Graphics, animations, sound and game mechanics reflects that all the way. It looks beautiful, and the live actors are smoothly put into the backdrops. Visually I think I can say that it is the best I've seen so far among similar games.
Unfortunately high end productions and visually pleasing does not necessarily mean that a game is great. I feel this game lacks several things from becoming a great game. It is ok, but nothing more.
This is disappointing taking into account the expectation one has for the release of a new game in this series.
It is definitely not all bad though. I am an adventure fan, and the game offered quite a bit adventuring in a logical and clever way. I found that part actually the best part of the game. I also loved the matching of drawing pieces in the scenes. Clever new addition to the game.
Also the HO "scenes" were more to my liking as it is not actually scenes, but you have to find items through several areas within a location. That makes them a bit more challenging and interesting. Unfortunately then, that some of the "scenes" were small and dark and items to find were tiny. I play on a rather big monitor and can't even start to imagine how hard that's gonna be on smaller screens. They will probably not appeal to people who likes traditionally HO scenes, and I think there are many out there who would like to see some of those. Also, there are quite few of them. So few that it almost shouldn't qualify as a HO game. Treading away from the core of what made this series popular in the first place is brave, but also dangerous.
There are some puzzles and mini-games as well. But this too seemed quite few. Some rather pointless. I've played most of the MCF series so far (lacking a couple of the oldest ones) and I'm used to this series being quite challenging. That is one of the things that to me was most appealing to this series. This one, however, is not challenging at all. I played it in expert mode, and only had to use the hint a few times, just to check how fast it recharged and if it hinted or gave solutions (will get to those details further down).
I feel I need to single out one type of puzzle that you have to do several of. It is a physics based mosaic puzzle. When I say physics it means you have to move and turn the pieces by holding in the mouse button and drag and turn them to lock them to a piece that fits it. Bumping into other pieces means that they will be thrown around. This was just horribly badly made and was more of a nuisance than anything else.
There are only two difficulty levels to choose from:
Casual:
-Sparkles on active zone and items
-Hints/skip recharges quickly
-Optional tutorial and instructions
-Hints/skip recharges quickly
-Optional tutorial and instructions
Expert:
-No sparkles at all
-Slower hints/skip (but not really slow)
-No hand holding
-Slower hints/skip (but not really slow)
-No hand holding
After finishing the game so easily in expert mode, I would suggest to everyone from mediocre to advanced players to choose expert. Only beginners should select casual.
When it comes to the storyline I found it a bit "too much sugar in the coffee", or "too much icing on the cake" or whatever you'd like to call it. It was borderline ridiculous. Now, I know this series has been far fetched and not taking itself too serious before with humorous elements, but this time it felt more dumb than funny. I am a guy, so I might not have gotten the humor that seemed more targeted towards women (not because it was dumb). Running errands for an overplayed psychic just didn't really appeal to me and it doesn't seem like something a master detective would blindly do.
You get a pretty nice overview map that is interactive and actually the only way of traveling between the locations this time. I found that a bit weird. Not because the map was interactive, but it felt like a clunky way to move around. I also found the "world" to be rather small with few locations and few things to do in each one. Neither was the locations particularly interesting.
Bonus content:
Either it is a joke or I haven't seen it all.
Like before there are 50 morphing objects to collect. Only problem is that they are not there from the beginning. No, you have to play the bonus area (only available in the CE) to unlock them. That offered very little extra game play, so it should be quick to set in motion. Only problem is: I noticed that it said bonus area, and thought maybe it would be best to save it until after the main game. Little did I know that I had to do it to start the morphing objects. There is no information to get anywhere or any explanation that I could find that mentioned this in the game. I started thinking that they didn't bring the morphing objects into the game this time. Luckily I re decided and did the bonus part early on, so I didn't have to track through all the locations AGAIN. But, I sit left wondering how many who will miss out on this because of the lack of information? Not a good idea Big Fish. If I would have waited until the end before doing this, I would just opt out of trying to find them at all. I did not find all though, so I do not know what you get for collecting all of them. Hopefully you get some more game play, because what comes extra with the CE does not hold grounds at all.
Very little extra game play (unless more after collecting all morphing objects), 50 morphing objects to find, strategy guide, a behind the scenes video is about all you get for the extra credit or $7-10. IMO a big waste.
No, Big Fish, you got to do better than this. I think you've managed to get people more reserved towards the next release in this series. Make sure you steer that one back on track. It has a lot of meh's but it isn't all bad. But its nothing more than ok, and ok is not good enough for this series.
The game has an ok length in itself, but the CE offer nothing of value. I will not recommend the CE version of this game. Wait for the SE and use the extra credit on something else, or at least wait for a discount before considering the CE. Of course we all have different tastes and preferences, and you might like this game better than what I did, but I suggest to try it before buying.
For the guys:
Well, I can't help to feel that this story was aimed more towards the better gender, but it is survivable for most men as well. Just prepare for some overly psychic superstition and a overplayed psychic. Gotta love the Chris Angel wannabe though ;o)
TJ
I don't recommend this game.