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:
Help Joe restore his ranch! Breathe in new life into a formerly prosperous farm in Farmscapes, a fun Match 3 game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
Fun on the farm - A guy's review
PostedJune 5, 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
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
(237)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It's a lighthearted and rather easy Match-3 game that offers a little extra.
You join Tom on his summer vacation at his grandfather's farm, and have to help them upgrade it and to fight off a big mall development.
You do this mainly by selling products through collecting them in match-3 games to make money to buy upgrades. The upgrades themselves will then again add to what you can collect in the match-3.
Along the way there is a whole story going on about a big corporation wanting to buy the farm to make parking lots, and a whole set of characters you'll meet on the way.
In addition to the Match-3 play, you get to do some hidden object scenes and a selection of other mini-games, including to have several options on each upgrade. There are even trophies to collect.
The whole concept is rather lighthearted and fun, not so much as an engaging game experience, but more as a go-to game when you want to relax, or just kill some time.
The graphics are well done in a cartoony way, and you get to see the characters running around on the screen doing there thing, and even talk to you. Mind you, there is no voice-overs, and communication happens through speech bubbles.
The music is lighthearted jazzy tunes, similar to what you usually find in games like The Sims etc. Not my cup of tea, but it is not too intrusive, especially not when turned down ;o).
The game is very suitable for kids, as it easy and easy to understand the concept of. But, adults might have fun here too, especially the ones who appreciates developing/decorating aspects in games. You can play in untimed (relaxed) or timed mode, and i suggest timed for at least some kind of challenge. Especially for us older "children".
Recommended as a family game or easy lighthearted fun, not recommended if you are looking for a challenge.
TJ
I recommend this game!
End a centuries-old war between the Guardians and the Clan of the Nine in 9: The Dark Side!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Come to the dark side - A guy's review
PostedJune 3, 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
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
(237)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
*review based on completing the game in advanced mode*
This game is so good I almost want to play it again straight away. It has everything an adventure addict like me could want. Good story, awesome puzzles and HOS, amazing graphics, dramatic and atmospheric music, engaging. Truly brilliant. I kick myself for not getting the CE, and haven't even dared to see what extra that contains.
The graphics are crystal clear and vivid. It is dark in several places, but never faded, pale or grey. Even the HO scenes are wonderfully crisp. Most of the game seems drawn in 3D, which adds to the level of depth in the game. There is a high level of detail in every scene.
The music and sound effects might be the best I've come across in any casual game. It is atmospheric and dramatic, and changes from scene to scene, fitting what is showing/happening in front of you. Voice-overs are well done, and the characters feel believable.
The story is rather good, and is cleverly written around you. You actually feel like you are the center point of the story, and in the middle of something important. Truly engaging. So much unexpected is happening, that the game amazes you over and over again. I almost even jumped out of my seat a couple of times. It might be scary at times, and the story is dark, but it never is morbid. Nobody should have a problem with it unless they don't like scary subjects at all.
The game mechanics are wonderful, everything seems smooth and on target. There's a journal to read through, that guide you through the story.
There are plenty of adventuring, pick-ups and use, and a bit back and forth through scenes. Not a problem for any adventure addict, and not even much for others as something new happens in many of them. There are also many cleverly made puzzles, of which some are actually quite hard and require some brain twisting. Some of them are really original, and all of them are well done. You also have the hidden objects scenes, which are really crisp. They are not overcrowded clutter scenes, but some items are really cleverly hidden in the scenery. They are also cleverly interactive. The best of all, you never have to revisit the same scene.... EVER. What that does is that everything seems refreshing, and you don't feel like having to do the same thing over and over. Other developers take note ;o). The one thing in the HO scenes that could be confusing is that there might be several of the item requested in which only one is accepted.
There are 3 difficulty modes to choose from:
Casual: Ample hints, no misclick penalty, quick skip.
Advanced: Moderate hints, misclick penalty, slow skip.
Hardcore: No hints, misclick penalty, really slow skip.
I played in advance, and found it quite challenging at times. I even had to use the skip once, which I very rarely do.
I recommend this game to anyone who wants a memorable game experience. If you feel like a beginner or only comfortable with easier games, you might want to practice a little before playing this, but I recommend you still get it.
There is a sequel on the way as I write this review, and I can hardly wait.
For the guys:
As far as I can tell there is no gender bias at all in this game. You are simply referred to as the Descendant. Game should suit everybody who loves a great challenge and a great story in which you feel involved.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Go on a fun and exciting Hidden Object Adventure and find Captain Nemo’s legendary submarine, the Nautilus!
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 14 found this review helpful
20.000 reasons to play this game - A guy's review
PostedJune 2, 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
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
(237)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game*
Well, maybe not exactly 20.000... but still ;o).
This game is primarily a Hidden Object game, but does it with an interesting twist. Instead of just finding and removing objects, you actually find objects and fragments that you will need to solve puzzles and you never really remove the other objects from the screen. No, it's more like cleaning up the place. The objects you find are out of place, and when you locate them they move to a proper place on the same screen. Items never really leaving the screen, and the screen constantly changing adds to the challenge. I found it very entertaining.
Not only that, but in several places you solve puzzles on the same screen that you actually do the hidden objects, or fix things right there on the screen. Ingenious.
Many of the puzzles and assembling mini games are mechanical, but I didn't feel they were very hard. Still, I like mechanical puzzles :o).
The way you move through the game is being guided from screen to screen or spot to spot. No moving back and forth trying to figure out what to do next. That might suit a lot of people, but me being the adventure fan that I am, I wish I had to do a little more thinking on my own.
There is a little story, but not much, and it is not very involving. Everybody can tell what it is built on. But, even with the lack of an engaging story, you feel heavily involved in the game. That everything has a purpose.
Now, the graphics is a bit dated, and especially noticeable in the HO scenes, where several things you need to find can be rather small, and usually well hidden. It's definitely not game breaking, and luckily you have a hint function to help you if you get stuck. Though, it is fair to say that if one is sight impaired, one might struggle here.
The music gets annoying after a while, and I suggest to turn it down. Sound effects are anonymous, and there are no voice-overs. They could have done a lot better in this department.
There is only one level of difficulty to play, and considering small objects in the HO's and some brain twisting puzzles, it can be quite challenging at times. Not all the time though.
All in all it is a cleverly made game, that seemed quite original to me. I truly enjoyed it, and will surely get the follow up.
Recommended to everyone who is into HOG's and puzzles. The game is appropriate for young and old, but beware if you have difficulty seeing.
For the guys:
You play as a female character, but the way the game is setup you barely notice. Only in the few cut-scenes. There is a cooking puzzle though, but I don't think it should cause a ruckus.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Big City Adventure: Sydney, Australia
Search for cleverly hidden items around the amazing city of Sydney. Head down under and join the next Big City Adventure!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
A HOG on the barbee - A guy's review
PostedJune 1, 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
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
(237)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
With 76 levels of pure HO scenes with a few mini-games in between each one, this should promise to eat up some of your free time. As a fun little extra you get to learn a bit about different places within Sidney, Australia. This is a game that is suitable to play in-between more story driven games, when on the phone or while waiting for something. Playing through this in one sitting might leave you rather bored, unless of course you are a pure HOG lover.
As a pure HOG it is quite good, but seeing it came out in 2008 (this being 2012) you can clearly see the graphics being quite pixelated, especially on the bigger screens. The scenes them selves too seem a bit grainy and unclear, but nothing that makes it unplayable.
The music is typically what you'd expect to find in this type of game, upbeat and lighthearted. I think I would go mad if I was to play it on high, so luckily you can adjust it to your own liking, or all the way off.
You can play with a time limit, or in relaxed mode, whatever floats your boat. I played it in timed mode, and it is really quite easy with heaps of time to find the objects, and an assortment of help tokens to use. Of course time will get shorter as you progress through the game.
You do return to the same scenes, and usually have to find some objects you already found before. This I don't care much for. It somehow seems a bit lazy from the developer, but I guess it opens up for unlimited play.
All in all an ok game if you are into pure hidden objects games, and want something to sit and relax with. Must be very suitable for PAD's and laptops on travels and such, where you can start and finish abruptly.
Recommended for HOG lovers, not so much for adventurers.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
Dive into an epic journey as a museum owner in pursuit of an undead pirate who has kidnapped your daughter in Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart!
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 12 found this review helpful
Amazing pirate adventure - A guy's review
PostedJune 1, 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
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart Collector's Edition
(237)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in expert mode, including the bonus game play*
The shortest and most sensible thing I can say about this game is: "BUY IT!"
Though if that is not enough to convince you I will give you a bit more in depth views on this game.
You play as a museum curator about to put on a pirate themed exhibition, and while reassembling the main attraction something paranormal happens and your daughter is caught in the wake. It is now up to you to save her and uncover a legend about the most fearsome pirate on the high seas.
The story is very well made, though a bit on the romantic side. But it does not fail to engage and excite. It is a highly enjoyable trip to some magical places that will burn itself to the memory of the player. I think this is one of those games you will compare future games to. It is that good.
The graphics are astounding. Vivid and colorful and dark when it needs to be. It all seems almost magical.The level of detail is beyond belief. I salute the artistic/graphical department of this developer. Job well done.
Animations and cut-scenes are also very nice. Though a tiny tiny bit grainy at times, it is better than most casual games I've come across so far. The scenes themselves are very crisp and characters you come across are very well detailed. There is no live actors, just animated, and is what suits this game the best.
Music is also good, but a bit on the boring side. I feel it could be a bit more dramatic. Sound-effects are top notch though, and so is the voice-overs. And every character is voiced, even yourself.
The game play is brilliant for someone like me. I grew up with the old point-and-click adventures, and this game bares similarities. There is a lot of adventuring going on and tasks to solve. Next to that there are many clever puzzles/mini-games, most of witch I found very original and creatively executed.
And of course you have the HO scenes. It is the typical clutter scenes, but they are done so well that it is pure enjoyment. The graphics and level of detail in these scenes are euphoric. I caught myself just gazing at the beautiful scenes and the level of detail involved. They are also interactive with some clever twists, and even though revisiting most of them, items picked up before will not return to the scene. Also, there is a function that let you see the shape (shadow) of the item you are looking for if you struggle. Not only that, but if you really do not like HO scenes, you have an option to solve mahjong puzzles instead to retrieve the necessary item. A developer that thinks about everybody is commendable.
Also, I really appreciated the "construct something useful" mini-games. Hope that is something we see more of in the future.
There are 2 levels of difficulty that you can play:
Regular: No misclick penalty in the HO scenes, sparkles on active zones, hint/skip function recharges quickly and locations with available action are indicated on the map
Expert: Misclick penalty, hint/skip function recharges slower, only the HO scenes, Construct-something-useful scenes and I believe some puzzles sparkles, locations with available actions not indicated on the map.
I really liked the map function in this game also. It is not fast-travel able, so expect a bit running back and forth.
It wasn't the hardest game, so if you want a challenge, be sure to play in expert mode.
The bonus game play is not particularly long, but it is also interesting and fun to play. You also get the typical wallpapers, videos and concept art in the CE, but there is really nothing to warrant the CE price. I will still recommend the CE though, as it is not worth waiting on the SE, and if you haven't already gotten it you are missing out.
For the guys:
You play a mother trying to save her daughter, and the whole story was kinda romantic, but so are the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. If you liked those, you should like this.
I really hope with get sequels to this one, and am looking forward to whatever this developer puts out there.
TJ
I recommend this game!
The Dark Piper unleashes infested rodents into the town of Hamelin! Defeat him before he leaves a trail of destruction all across Europe!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
P(l)ay the piper - A guy's review
PostedMay 31, 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
4
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in normal mode, including the bonus game play*
This game is really good, and I was almost about to give it a 5 star rating. But there are some small things that do push it down to 4. If I was able I would have given it 4.5.
The graphics are really well done, and so is animations. Everything is sharp and crisp even in the dark areas. Nothing seems pale or grey. Not the same story when it comes to the intro and the cut-scenes. They are noticeably blurry, and does not live up to the quality found in everything else in this game.
Music and sound effects are non-intrusive and plays well in the background. Note though, that I play with the music turned way down low. Voice-overs too are very nicely done.
Everything is animated, so no live actors. I am of the opinion that suits these types of games best, though I seldom complain about live acting either if it is integrated well in the scenes.
The story is a spin-off of the old Pied Piper story and I found it quite interesting. It is well thought through, and kept my interest through the whole game.
Game mechanics are well done, and everything feels smooth. There is a nice mixture of adventuring, HO scenes and puzzles/mini-games. Some quite original in the layout. In the CE edition you also collect morphing objects and get extra puzzles, plus a quite nicely sized bonus chapter to play. I actually really feel I got my money's worth from buying this game. There is a journal and a map. The map shows you where there are objectives and other things going on, but there is no fast traveling option on it, so expect a bit running back and forth. The HO scenes are clutter scenes, but never feel overcrowded. They are very crisp and clear, and they are also all interactive. Sometimes you must really pay attention and think during some of those.
There are 3 levels of difficulty you can play:
Casual: Hints/skip recharges quickly, sparkles on areas and items of interest.
Normal: Hints/skip recharges slower, sparkles on puzzles and HO scenes.
Hard: No hints or skip, no sparkles at all.
Playing through this in normal mode, I felt that the game was still rather easy, so if you want a challenge you might want to go for the hard mode.
I absolutely enjoyed this game and would recommend it to anyone. Though supposedly a dark story it never feels scary or morbid in any way and should suit most casual players. I feel it is even worth going for the Collector's Edition on this one. And I can not wait to see what this developer comes up with next.
For the guys:
After playing through this game, all I know is that I was called "inspector", though through some of the cut-scenes you can see your hands which seems womanlike LOL. That did not bother me at all, nor do I think it'll bother any guy. The story itself suits both genders.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Your favorite professor summons you to the island of Castle Rock. He wants you to find the philosopher’s stone and save the world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
76 of 102 found this review helpful
Meh...just ok - A guy's review
PostedMay 31, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):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 expert mode including bonus content*
This game has a lot of inconsistency, which makes it just...meh.
The story is somewhat interesting but simply lacks flow. The intro is live video, and it uses live actors, but the game itself is drawn.
I don't know where I stand when it comes to the graphics. Some parts seem crisp and clear, while others seem grainy and blurry. Almost like two separate teams did their own thing before throwing it together as one. One thing that is consistent though, is the bad animations. Those seem very outdated by today's standards.
The music is calm and soothing, and does not intrude. However it doesn't really fit what is going on in the game IMO. Non-the-less, I usually turn down the music anyhow. It lacks the presence of sound effects in many places (not a technical issue, just not implemented where one would expect it).
The game mechanics seems slow and cursor seems off target at times.
There is a lot of adventuring, which to me is a good thing. Several puzzles, where most is rather easy, but mostly ok. There are several HOG scenes, but not too many of them. The HO's are clutter scenes where some seem blurry and grainy, and others look crisper. Most of them are rather easy but there are some bad translations at times.
Talking of bad translations, though not too much of a problem, I suggest a better translator next time around for this developer.
Other than that the game is ok, but just that.
The length of the game is ok, but could be longer. The bonus addition adds some, but not enough to warrant the price of a CE.
There are 2 difficulty modes to play:
Regular: Hints/skip recharges quickly, clues to find objects and quests on each location.
Expert: Hints/skip recharges slowly, no clues for where objects are or quests to solve in each location.
Expert is rather easy too, so if you want a challenge do NOT choose regular.
I can not recommend the CE version, not even at the today only special price. I suggest waiting for the standard edition, or maybe even for a discount price, or when you need to use a credit.
For the guys:
You play as a female character, but there is nothing very girlish about it, so most guys would be able to play.
TJ
I don't recommend this game.
Join Kira Robertson as she sets out to find the Snark, an elusive creature few people have seen and no one has caught!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Fun, but short - A guy's review
PostedMay 30, 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
4
/
5
*review based on completing the full game*
This is not a hidden object game (HOG), but it is similar. In this game you look for fragments to complete certain objects that you need to progress in the game. The fragments are for the most part rather easy to spot, but you have to do some small puzzles and some adventuring to be able to collect them all. This was rather fun, and was done in quite an entertaining way in this game.
You sort of travel through mirrors to...uhm... mirrored rooms, and might have to solve something in one to have something happen in the other. The tasks were fun and logical, but also a bit on the easy side. Yet, I found the game highly entertaining.
You play a kleptomaniac daughter of to an over-protective father, that happens to be the richest man in this universe. After getting grounded, you escape, and set off on your adventure.
The storyline is comical but thin, but suits the whimsical humor set in this game. There are no voice-overs, just text.
The graphics are nicely done in a steam punk comic kinda way. It will only play in 4:3, so if you have a widescreen you will get some black blocks on the side of the screen.
The music is upbeat and somewhat jazzy, and it too suits the whimsical comic way of the game. Think cartoony.
There is only one difficulty setting, and that one is rather easy. Experts of the genre beware, as this will probably be a breeze to play through. It doesn't exactly help that it is rather short either. But, by all means, the game was fun, so if you catch it on a daily deal, or have a credit that you need to use, do not overlook it.
I recommend this game mostly to the younger crowd and to the ones feeling most comfortable in the easy/intermediate difficulty of games. Also, if you look for something lighthearted fun, this should please you.
For the guys:
You play as a female character escaping her over-protective father, but the gameplay should suit anyone.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Return once more to the haunted grounds of Ravenhearst Manor to uncover new details about this poignant saga. What you find could very well be the final chapter of this riveting story-if you escape.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Disturbingly good - A guy's review
PostedMay 30, 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
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in Master Detective (hard) mode*
One can't help but to be intrigued when a game is reviewed more than 300 times and ending up with such a split decision. I mainly got the game just because of that, but I have played through part 1 and 2 of this series as well.
Let's get through the part that causes most of that decision making first and foremost. It is a story that takes you through the life of a madman, or more correctly his own recreation of it made of sets, mannequins and automatons. If you've played through the previous games you already know Charles and Victor, and have an idea about how disturbed they are.
Most of these mannequins are part of interactive puzzles that you need to do to progress through the game, and some of those "puzzles" will be disturbing for some people, and a few are just gross for just about anyone. I think especially women, and even more especially moms, will be the one struggling the most with these. I won't recommend young players to play this either, as it is a very mature story. Remember though, that what you are dealing with is mannequins and automatons and not real people, and I did not find it THAT disturbing, but of course found it unpleasant at times.
The story in itself is very well made and clearly thought through. It also continues the story of the two previous games and share the same characters. You will easily recognize several areas and quite a few great details linking the series together.
The graphics of this game is top notch. Live actors are used and blend very well into the scenes, and never feel out of place. Actors themselves do a respectable job as well. Everything is crisp and clear, also in the MO (morphing objects) scenes.
That is right. This game has not got a single HO scene, just MO. I feel that is a mistake. Though a great twist on HO, I did not like that it was just those. MO's are fun for a while, but get boring after you've done a few. I feel they should have kept the HO's and added the MO's rather than replacing them.
Other than that you get quite a bit adventuring of picking up and using elsewhere. Though that had me totally frustrated in the beginning of the way it was done in this game. Usually you find an object and find where it needs to be used and voila... Not here... Here you might have to use that object several times on the same thing to get the wanted result. I had to resort to a walkthrough in the very beginning to figure that out, as I could not understand certain obvious uses that didn't work. But once I got a hang of it, it was not bothersome further into the game. There is a bit of running back and forth throughout the game, but not so much that one feels lost.
There is also quite a few puzzles to solve, and as people familiar with the series and/or developer know, they are among the most creative, original and challenging. They have puzzles that make your brain do hoops inside the skull, but I am loving it. It is not fun when you can solve a puzzle in a minute or two. I think I can assure you that your brain will get a proper workout in this game. Also, please notice that this series is not famous for holding your hand. No, you rather get subtle (sometimes very so) clues and need to figure out what to do on your own. Though this game is not as frustrating as its predecessor (Return to Ravenhearst), it is still rather challenging, and might have you stuck a few times.
The music and sound effects too are very well done and suits the theme of the game. Some sound effects make you rather uncomfortable, which is good if you like creepy and scary. Voice-overs are really well done, and especially "Charles" feels very believable.
All in all it is a very good game if you can look past the disturbing parts. There are 2 modes of play difficulty:
Casual: Sparkles and fast hint/skip recharge.
Master detective: No sparkles, hints/skip only in MO's/puzzles
Unless you consider yourself an expert at these games, I recommend playing in casual mode, but if you are up for a challenge "Master Detective" mode will not fail to please.
I recommend this game for anyone with a strong stomach and that likes a bit of a challenge in their games.
For the guys:
In the previous games I never picked up on the main character being a man or a woman. In this game it seems subtle hints are saying woman. It is not very present though except for maybe a few scenes in the end. The game in itself though I feel is more a guy's game than a woman's. Not a rule though. Game suits all that can deal with a bit morbid story.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Emma`s soul is free. But a dark secret still lurks in Ravenhearst Manor. Return to Ravenhearst to continue this tale of twisted love.
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 27 found this review helpful
Challenging and frustrating - A guy's review
PostedMay 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
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
*review based on completing the full game*
When this game came out I'm sure it was way ahead of its time and probably the best around. That was back in 2008. Now we've reached 2012 and there has been many similar games released over the years. Many, which I find better, but that probably got some ideas from this.
Now, I firmly believe that this game has meant a lot to a lot of casual gamers, and I think that is why this has such a high rating, because in no way can I find a reason to give this 5 stars today in 2012. Maybe I would if I played it back in 2008.
The graphics are good, especially considering the age, but is at times a bit grainy, especially in the HO scenes. It uses real actors as opposed to animated, and they stick out a bit and could have been integrated a bit better. Reminded me quite a bit about 7th Guest. The HO scenes are clutter scenes, and I found them a bit overcrowded, and some quite dark. Since it is also grainy it might be hard for some to find all objects. Some of them are really well hidden into the scenery.
The music and sound effects are very well done, though sometimes a bit dramatic. I ended up turning the music down as it got a bit annoying at times (not meaning bad, just personal preference). Voice-overs in this game is impressive.
The storyline is quite interesting, especially as it continues on the story from the first Ravenhearst game. It's an engaging story that keeps you interested.
When it comes to the game mechanics, there is a lot of things that could have been better. The lack of any directions at all made it totally frustrating at times. You are left to figure out where to go, what to do with what and so forth, with no guidance from the game but very subtle hints. I like a challenge, don't get me wrong, but there are limits to how subtle one needs to be. I did only get totally stuck once, where I had to assort to a walkthrough to figure out what to do next, but I spent lots of time running back and forth trying "everything" "everywhere". This game is not for beginners of the genre, that much is certain.
The hint button works well in HO scenes, but is mostly useless outside of them. You move an item to the "crime computer" and it shows you a picture of where to use it, even if you haven't reached that scene or not. I tried it once, and got more confused after the hint, than what I was before. The hint function never gives you objectives or directions, neither does it show if there is anything to do in the scene you are in. It also recharges slowly, but that I think is a good thing.
The puzzles in this game are some of the best I've come across. I think this developer has some of the most creative, original and challenging puzzles out there. You might spend quite a while trying to solve a few of them. Only one I disliked was a "whack-a-mole" type game that you had to be very quick and "on-target" with the mouse.
There is only one level of difficulty, and that is rather difficult. There are sparkles on active HO scenes, and also in other areas where you can interact, and as mentioned before, the hint button recharges rather slowly.
I recommend this game to HOG fans that like a challenging experience, and to fans of the MCF series. It is somewhat creepy and gloomy, but not too scary. Just be prepared to be frustrated at times.
I could not decide whether to give this game a 3 or a 4 star rating, but seeing that it was a bit overrated from before I ended up giving it 3. But I would still recommend it.
For the guys:
I don't think there is a gender bias here at all. The character you are playing is only referred to as "you". The story suits both genders, but should probably kept clear from the youngest players.
Beware if you are a beginner at games like this.
TJ
I recommend this game!