mouser9169's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:292
- Reviews Submitted:90
- First Review:October 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:April 24, 2018
- Featured reviews0
Status:
It should have been a tremendous achievement, but the tunnel through the Ridge of Leviathan became the site of a great disaster. What really happened that day?
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
This is what a Collector's Edition should be
PostedNovember 2, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
My review is based on a complete playthrough of the game and bonus content. I played on the highest difficulty - no sparkles, no hints, no skips (and I only used the Strategy Guide once).
- The CE stuff: First, the bonus chapter added an 'epilogue' to the game. The story had a conclusive ending, this introduced a new character (you're still the same heroine) and tied up one loose end. As for length, it seemed about par for the course, maybe a bit longer than most bonus chapters. Other than one instance of hideous voice acting, the production quality was as good as the standard game.
Achievements - They were added throughout the game, they made sense, and were things I wanted to try to do (as opposed to the "rush through the game in under an hour..." variants). As you earned achievements your 'office' was decorated with more and more objects.
Flowers: 200 to find (not really 200, some flowers are worth 3 or 5 each - different colors). I found 185 in my playthrough, so I didn't get to finish all the pantheon features (getting to that next). They can be found on ANY screen, so you've got to keep your eyes open all the time. I thought I was really scrutinizing everything, but apparently some slipped by me.
Pantheon: This is a wicked cool idea that could have been even better. There's a room, similar to your 'office' but with three spheres on the floor and three elevator looking doors. When you reach a flower threshold (I think it was 50, 100, and 200) one of the spheres activated and a door opened. You got some more story information, and you could replay the minigames from the story (actually you could play them here first on a few occasions - which gave you a bit of an edge in the game). It would have been better if they had added more new minigames (similar to the latest Awakening chapter), but getting extra bits of story through gameplay is always nice in my book.
Wallpapers, concept art, music, and other stuff I don't care about but that's in pretty much every CE if you like that stuff.
- The 'normal' game: I didn't time it (I'm used to games keeping track), but it had to be a good six hours, not counting a few times I was stumped cold in a couple of places for a while. The only place I used the SG was a minigame with lots of little icons that I could hardly see, let alone remember where I saw them (my eyes aren't that good - you young'uns probably won't have much trouble ;p ).
The storyline is pretty standard stuff. Abductions, unlikely heroine, the 'switch' we're used to from every Surface game, etc... Well done voice acting (with one very tiny exception) and live action styled cutscenes. The days when a company could slap together a bunch of junkpiles tied together with some flash animations and call it a game are rapidly ending. And this is a Good Thing(tm).
Not a lot of HOS, which I liked. They were all junkpiles, which I didn't like. One aspect I haven't seen a lot of games do is you could use up items from your normal inventory in a HOS: so you never knew when you found something if it was to solve a puzzle in the main game or to find something in an HOS. Personally, I liked this.
Lots of mingame/puzzles. I don't remember any 'new' puzzles - although at this point I'll be really surprised when some game company puts out one I haven't seen a version of somewhere before. There was one with circles in the bonus part I haven't seen many times. The ones they had were good, varied in difficulty (some kept me stuck for a while - and I'm pretty good with these) and style.
Taking notes helps (if you're a Nancy Drew fan, this is second nature by now, but most HOPA's don't really need it) since there is no 'task list' in your journal. Nice to not have your hand held from screen to screen. You have an interactive (teleporting) map that shows you where you still have Stuff to Do(tm), so even if you don't write things down, you'll eventually find it.
This game had the right mix of challenge, story, production quality, and fun extras. I pretty much don't get CE's anymore - I made an exception for this because it was a Surface game (and I got it on a sale day). Well worth it. If you don't do CE's and see the SE on a deal of the day, I wouldn't turn that down - the story ends well (the one 'loose end' actually 'works' leaving unfinished - moreso than what they did with it in the bonus chapter TBH).
Negatives, since no game is perfect: The journal had a bad habit of updating early. IOW you could read about things in your journal before you ever saw them in the game. No 'new' minigames in the Pantheon section. This one's probably preference, but it was narrated 1st person past tense, rather than told through dialog. Dialog is harder to do well, but much better (IMHO) when it's done right.
If more companies made CE's like this, I might have to start buying them again.
I recommend this game!
Scale the heights of Sunhook Spire, rescue the Enchantress and uncover the tower's mysteries as Queen Sophia's journey continues!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
The Story of Queen Sofia begins
PostedOctober 30, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough of the game and bonus content.
First off, the Collector's Edition stuff (or why should you spend twice the money on this game vs the SE?): The bonus chapter, which is the most important CE content to me, is very good. As in the other games, it provides a 'bridge' or interlude between this game and the upcoming sequel. The main game ends well, the CE ends much more completely.
There are collectible morphing objects throughout the game (I missed two), achievements (most of which involve finishing chapters fast, which I don't like to do on my first playthrough, and going through without hints (I used four for the main game, no SG - but did refer to the SG a couple times during the bonus chapter: if I was more patient, I'm sure I could have done it without resorting to hints).
The replayable bonus game is a jigsaw puzzle type. Completing one unlocks the next in the series. There are 10 of them in total. Wallpaper, cutscenes, all the other usual CE stuff.
I certainly didn't feel cheated for having gotten the CE - it's at least as good as any of the other one's I have.
Now the regular game: This is where the story of Queen Sofia really begins (the story of Princess Sofia being told in the first four games). I think Boomzap has done a fine job here - part of good storytelling is knowing when to finish, and by starting a new chapter like they have, they 'finished' the story of Princess Sofia, and you can consider this the first chapter in the next tale. Having said that, there are tons of references to the first four games, so having played them will help you understand things, though there is a brief history given in your journal.
The journal was sparse: very few 'flavor text' entries, many of which got updated before Sofia the character even knew what the journal was adding (pet peeve of mine). The 'task list' part kept pretty current. This is probable the games biggest weak point.
The map was interactive (teleporting), though frankly it wasn't really needed - each chapters map was small enough you were never more than two or three clicks from where you wanted to go (or should want to go at least :grin:) They did a great job of packing a lot into each scene without making it feel cluttered - and making you use your brain to remember everything: this isn't a 'you found a pile of loose dirt; hey look! there's a shovel in the next scene' type of game. It can take a while between when you first see the 'lock' until the time you find the 'key', and they aren't recorded in your journal (of course, if you have the CE, you also have the strategy guide which walks you right through and opens automatically to where you are).
You've got the owl to give you hints. They're pretty specific for the most part, so if you don't like direct answers be sure to play on the highest difficulty - I played on 'relaxed' mode and was pleasantly surprised that there were no 'sparklies' or other annoying distractions to the beautiful artwork (and yes, the graphics are brilliant - this is Boomzap we're talking about).
The pocket dragon also joins you, though his 'element' changes at different points throughout the game. I kind of liked the 'when in doubt, set it on fire' mechanic, but this worked out well, and frankly was a nice change for an old friend.
The mini-games were varied. One of them didn't allow for an alternate correct solution (no biggie, the one it wanted wasn't hard to find), and there was only one that really left me clueless that I eventually skipped. You had the fit the gears, connect the lights, make a bridge, pick up sticks, wheels, more wheels, pictures, the 'glassworks' jigsaw puzzles (this games bonus 'repeatable' game), and a few that referred back to the previous games (but which would still have been solvable with the sparse information this game does give you).
My total time played was just under seven hours for the main game, and almost two more for the bonus chapter: but I took my time and stopped to smell and admire the roses along the way. The achievement is granted for completing the main game in under four hours, and I only got one chapter's achievement for completing in under one hour. I'll admit those are probably my least favorite achievements because they're easy to get your second go round, and why should you rush your first playthrough? Another ding for lack of creativity here.
Bottom line: this is a great game. It might be a touch beneath some of the previous titles, but they've set a very high bar for themselves, and missing it still sets them head and shoulders above most of the other developers out there.
Personally, I think this one is worth the CE for the reasons I mentioned, though if you don't buy CE's, then the SE is still a great game. If you can get it during a promotion it's a no-brainer (if you like the fairy land type stories, anyway).
I recommend this game!
Help Nancy Drew solve the ancient secret behind a thief`s scarlet handprint. Follow long-buried secrets and solve the mystery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
The best of the 'old skool' ND
PostedApril 9, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough: Senior Detective
This is the most fun and challenging of the early Nancy Drew games. I've actually played it twice now, with enough time in between for me to forget a lot of it - so it was a nice replay. On to the review:
Story: Really shines here. The 'mystery' doesn't even start for a while. You start off as an intern in a museum, and actually get to be an intern for a while before the 'case' begins. This gives you a chance to get to know the layout and people a bit.
Setting: More locations than any of the previous games. One 'main' location - the museum, and then three others (I may be missing one). Some things you'll need to do from your hotel room, some from 'work' (and it doesn't always make 'sense' why one over the other, but that's a small thing). You have a map based on the DC subway to move around - a nice touch. And the clock from the Treasure in a Haunted Castle returns.
Characters - easily the best of the lot. They've all got little quirks, and personalities that show through: Semper ubi sub ubi! I'm not going to say the bad guy is a big surprise, though everyone does have some sort of motive.
Game Length - If you take the time to figure things out yourself, you've got more than a few hours ahead of you. And if you remember to do the simple things - talk to everyone, check your computer at the hotel for notes, check your voicemail, call your friends to let them know what's happening: you really should be able to figure everything out.
Decent puzzles and minigames.
All in all a very solid title - even after all these years. It still uses the 'old' interface, but on my monitor (25") I had plenty of real estate to see what was going on.
Heartily recommend this game. And if it's ever a deal of the day or on sale it would really be a steal.
I recommend this game!
When a friend gets kidnapped in a historic theater, you, as Nancy Drew, are plunged into a desperate race against the clock!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
It was fun, but not breathtaking
PostedApril 8, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough.
First let me note some things: People complaining about needing to write stuff down yourself: welcome to Nancy Drew. That's one of the signature features of all the ND games, along with figuring things out on your own - but the newer games do have 'task lists' for you Junior Detectives out there.
This isn't one of the newer ones, however.
Graphics: I've got a 25" monitor and they looked ok. Which is good, because you need a big monitor since this game still uses the original interface that takes up half your screen.
Sound: Not impressed at all with the sound for this game. The main background was a loop that would change 'moods' often at random (or at least for no reason I could figure out). I honestly think the voice overs were better in the earlier games as well - "Treasure in a Haunted Mansion" did really well with that.
Story: It wasn't bad. But it wasn't anything to write home about either. It was more a case of individual character sketches rather than a cohesive plot: yes, there is a 'plot' that takes you through the game, but most of what you do and find out has little to do with it.
Supposedly you have 'only three days', but in keeping with the "Rules for RPG's" - unless there's an actual countdown timer somewhere on your screen, you can take all the time you want. Time matters only at the very, very, very end.
Game Length: It's short. The puzzles are easy and there aren't many of them. The were only a couple of things that really tripped me up - one I knew what I had to do and even knew what it was I needed to do it with - I just had a hard time finding that thing in the theater, another had to do with order of events - they weren't as prepared for player 'creativity' as they are now.
My conclusion - even comparing it to the other "early" Nancy Drew games, this one doesn't bring home any prizes. The ending was surprising, but not handled nearly as well as it could have been - you can leave one major 'subplot' completely unfinished, for one thing, and the ending sequences really needed a bit more work.
Unless you feel the need to 'have them all', you can safely skip this title.
I don't recommend this game.
Join legendary detective, Nancy Drew, as she follows ancient clues to find the mysterious Wickford Castle`s legendary secret!
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 11 found this review helpful
Good game - can be very challenging
PostedApril 5, 2013
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
"All riddles are hard - they require you to think like the riddler."
This game requires you to think like the game designers.
This game requires you to think like the game designers.
Specifics: First off - use your phone, even if you don't ask for clues. There are certain 'clues' that you get from the normal conversations with George and Bess. I found this out after finally succumbing and looking for an answer on the forums, only to have it answered the next time I picked up the phone.
Graphically: The user interface takes up most of the screen. It was hideous then, it's hideous now. But it is what it is. On a big screen monitor there's enough to see what's going on. Not exactly netbook friendly though.
Characters: Flat, one dimensional. This is one part they really could have done better with. Ok, Egan (the hotel caretaker) has some backstory, but the rest (all three of them) are pretty straightforward.
Setting: Once you get used to the castle it's actually not that hard. Think of it like an 'H' layout. most of the branches are dead-ends, so there's only a few ways you need to learn to move around. There's a little bit of play outside the castle - very little actually.
Movement: This they failed at. The spots on the screen you have to touch to move are almost random and aren't consistent through the game. It gets annoying pretty quickly. The same goes for 'finding' a few things - very small area you need to mouse over to find them. On the flip side you'll find a sofa cushion you can move that just screams "I'll be hiding something later".
The castle 'story' was interesting - the sort of thing based off crazy things people have done (moving buildings stone by stone from one place to another). The take on Marie Antoinette is a good one - and you'll recognize some books if you played the previous game.
My main gripe goes back to where my review started - in order to advance the 'plot' you need to do certain things. But they aren't things you can really puzzle out (at least not all of them) you either get them, or you don't. And if you don't you'll be stuck a long time running around the halls or hitting a walkthrough.
I did play as a senior detective, so junior may be a bit more forgiving in this aspect.
Bottom line: if you like Nancy Drew games, it's not a bad title (personally I've picked up all the ones they have here, using free credits and sales and whatnot). It's a nice break from the HOPA's if nothing else.
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
1 of 1 found this review helpful
MCF starts to move to HOPA
PostedMarch 23, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough:
This is the game that 'bridges' the pure HOG's like Madame Fate with the HOPA's like Dire Grove and the ones that followed.
It continues the story from Ravenheart (and Madame Fate if you count that cameo). You go back to the haunted house, this time with Charles supposedly on your tail.
You now can move around different areas, and there are many puzzles to solve - a few I haven't seen elsewhere. Still lots of Hidden Object scenes, especially at the end, where you have to go back and redo about eight of them to get to the 'last puzzle'. The graphics are much clearer, and the objects are easier to find than they were in Ravenhearst (and Madame Fate).
The game would really, really have benefited from a map. There's lots of places to go, and keeping track of them all isn't always easy. You do a LOT of backtracking in this game, so put your running shoes on. While not as large as the newer games, it feels big because you are running around so much.
The puzzles are very challenging. I almost never skip puzzles, and I skipped a few of these in frustration. Fortunately, the puzzles are clear this time - as compared to the 'What am I supposed to do with this stuff?' puzzles of the first game. But they are not simple to solve. There's even a fun 'whack-a-mole' mini-game in there that you can replay as often as you want.
I love that they copied down most of the important clues in the journal. That doesn't absolve you from taking some notes of your own though - but even there, the journal at least gives you hints, if you read carefully.
The story was much better this time around. You learn a lot more about Charles, and what befell the maid from the first game. I won't give any spoilers, but it wasn't the cookie cutter predictable story the first game was.
So why only 3 stars?
Because I've got to compare this to games that are coming out now in 2013. This game was probably 'state of the art' when it came out, but there are a lot of games that do the same things, only better. If you love the Hidden Object side of the game, this will probably appeal a bit more to you, as there are still a lot of those to work through.
If you need that 6th punch or this is a deal of the day/week, I'd say it's a great buy. If you want to follow the storyline, it's not a 'weak' game by any means, but it's not quite at the level of Dire Grove or some of the newer HOPA's that have come out since.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious fortune teller has foreseen her demise at midnight this very day. Can you find the soul who seeks to kill Madame Fate? You be the detective.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Great pure HOG in the MCF series
PostedMarch 10, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This review is based on a complete playthrough of the game:
Long Review: TL;DR at the bottom.
Long Review: TL;DR at the bottom.
This game takes place after Ravenhearst. There are some nod's to Huntsville in the 'dialog', so kudos for that. NOTE: This is NOT Dire Grove - this is a pure HO game with a very light 'story' sprinkled over the top.
The game: The graphics are much improved over Ravenhearst. I didn't get the eye strain trying to find the objects that I did in that game. From my geeky CS background, it's a step backward (what they did in Ravenhearst was very cool - see my review there), but for playability it's a huge plus. That doesn't mean the objects are easy to find. Maybe a tad easier, but still challenging, especially on your first playthrough. They are 'scenes' not random piles of junk. Big plus for that.
Like Ravenhearst - this game is timed. In 'relaxed mode' you have more time for each chapter, and there are loads of chapters (15). For the first chapter you get 35 minutes in 'detective' mode and 90 in relaxed. I don't know if the time increases in later chapters in detective mode. Each chapter adds one new scene to the game, so you do revisit the same scenes several times (but not each chapter - after you get three or four it starts selecting from the ones you've done).
If the timer runs out - which it did for me a couple of times during the puzzles (I'll get to that), it just resets that 'chapter' and you go through it again with a different list of objects to find - which should be much easier since you've just been through the scenes.
There are two types of puzzles. The first is to unlock a new scene - these are pretty straightforward word scrambles, or hangman, or make a bunch of word from nine letters. The second (the 'real' puzzles) come at the end of each chapter. These are challenging - no directions, no hints, click on everything and try to figure out what's going on.
I 'hotlined' through a few of them: this gives you a penalty of less time for the next chapter. These puzzles made less sense to me that the ones in Ravenhearst (those were Rube Goldbergesque machines). The timer keeps running while you work on the puzzle. So if you start out with 60 minutes, and it takes you 45 minutes to find all of the objects, you have 15 minutes left to solve the puzzle.
There are morphing objects. Finding those unlocks 'special' scenes where every object you find adds time to the timer. The map (list of scenes really - you don't 'move' around like a HOPA) tells you what scenes have them, so you know when you've found them all. You also gain bonus time for finding three objects quickly (I don't know the exact time, but pretty much clicking from one to the next).
A lot of scenes have only two objects to find, but you have to find 10-15 of each of them. This becomes a problem with the hint system, since a hint can help you find one, but it doesn't count toward your total till you find all of one type.
The 'total' I mentioned above: Like Ravenhearst, you have to find X amount of objects across all the scenes to move on to the next chapter (typically the total number of objects minus two I think). You get only five hints a chapter, so use them wisely. Personally, I always saved them till the end when I needed five to move on then used the hints for those objects I just couldn't find.
The game keeps track of your total time, so you can replay it - the game will give you different object lists, just like if you 'failed' a chapter - and try to beat your best time. The game comes with a premade 'top ten' list of times to beat.
TL;DR: Bottom Line - If you want a straight HO game with scenes that actually look like scenes and not random piles of junk, this is your game. It's challenging, it's plenty long, and it's replayable: you can either replay it right away to beat your best time - same scenes with different objects to find, or wait a while and try it again when the scenes aren't still fresh in your mind. The graphics are improved over Ravenhearst (the 'prequel') - no more eye strain.
Totally recommend this game for people tired of 'junkpiles' but still looking for a good straight HO game that will give them lots of time for their money.
I recommend this game!
The history of Ravenhearst Manor is shrouded in mystery. Unlock the secrets within this episode of Mystery Case Files™.
Overall rating
1
/
5
2 of 6 found this review helpful
Straight Hidden Object - You already know the story
PostedFebruary 1, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The "story" gets revealed through diary pages that you find, I think were 18 or 20 of them, but after reading the 2nd entry, you know the story. Seriously. You've read this and seen it a hundred times already. There are no twists. There are no surprises. Everything happens exactly the way you expect it to.
Sound: There's an annoying soundtrack that keeps playing a 'ghost' voice saying different things. Any 'creepiness' this may have had is long gone after about the 50th time you hear them, which isn't very far into the game.
The HO scenes: This is the game. All of it, really (except for the 'puzzles' I'll get to in a bit). You only get five hints to use across all the scenes in a chapter, so you have to use them carefully, and you need to find all but three items - there are eight to find in each scene. So if a chapter has seven rooms, that would be 56 objects and you'd need to find 53 of them with only five hints.
The scenes are all junkpiles, with about 80% of the junk being recycled from room to room - so you'll see the same banana, and honey dipper, and skull, etc... And you'll keep going back to the same scenes over and over and over again.
The 'trick' to finding the objects is to let your eyes go in and out of focus and then keep focusing deeper and narrower into the scene until you're at the right 'level' to see the items. From a purely technical standpoint that's pretty cool. From a practical standpoint, if you only think that sounds like a recipe for eyestrain you have no idea... I can't remember how many times I had to stop playing because my eyes hurt. This has never happened to me in any other HO/HOPA game.
The 'puzzles' are just Rube Goldbergesque machines. Keep clicking on everything on the screen until stuff happens. There are no instructions. Some of them make no sense even after you finish them.
I got the game because I wanted the 'backstory' to the Ravenhearst games (The other two having better reviews) and because I thought it would be nice to play the whole trilogy - I'm a sucker for things like that. Don't bother - as I said at the top, you already know the story. All of it.
I suppose if it was the last day of the month and you needed one more game to fill your punchcard and this was the Daily Deal, it might be worth it - but I'd take a good hard look at the Weekly Deal first: That Fish Farming Salon Road game might be a lot less frustrating.
I don't recommend this game.
When a young woman is found comatose by the side of the road with a bloody knife beside her, it’s up to you to unravel her story!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Great story, good game
PostedJanuary 30, 2013
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is based on a complete playthrough of game and bonus content:
The storyline is good - It advances fairly steadily and most of the stuff you're doing in the game actually has to do with the storyline.
Collector's edition stuff: The reason you're reading this review, right? The bonus chapter isn't terribly long, but it does provide a better ending, and it adds some very nice touches to your "office". Also, one new minigame that was not in the main game.
You can play three minigames as bonus content, though nothing of them were really anything to write home about, they weren't bad either. They weren't the exact same games you've seen a few dozen times already. Ok, one is (jigsaw puzzle) but the other two are at least variations on a theme - the 'bonus' minigame being the most interesting IMHO.
The wallpapers/screensavers are nice. There are only two cut scenes - though they do give a bit of a view into which direction the devs were thinking of going.
The "standard" game: Nice, solid storyline. Sure, we've seen lots of psychics and truckloads of hospitals, but a psychic in a hospital? It's a nice try to put a little bit of twist on the standard plot, and it works.
The graphics were great. FMV cutscenes blended well with the 'normal' game which wasn't bad at all - places that were supposed to be dark were, while places that I should be able to see stuff I could, and overall had a nice 'realistic' feel to things (visually).
My one complaint, and the main thing that kept me from giving five stars are the hidden object scenes. They're junkpiles. We've seen much better than that now, so devs have got to step up their game here. They weren't horrible junk piles though - you could at least see clear enough to find things, no "microspots" you needed to touch or multiple possible objects for one name. I played it in casual mode, and there was no clicking penalty.
The challenge went up and down. You might be 'stuck' for a while accumulating things in your inventory trying to move forward, then you just go through a 'zelda-esque' chain of put this here, which gives you something to put in that thing 3 screens back, which spits out then next piece, etc... The map was interactive - which was great, because even though the maps weren't terribly large, you do hop around quite a bit - especially if you're not going to use the strategy guide.
I used the guide three times - twice were because there were two areas on screen that were selectable that I assumed were only one (so I didn't click on the part I needed). The other was for a minigame where I didn't read the instructions completely - the instructions for the games are clear, if you read them :)
All in all, it's a great game - I'll play it again sometime on a harder difficulty and see if it's more challenging. The decorating the office thing is a great extra I haven't seen in other games. Personally, I think it's good enough to be a collectors edition, but if you see the standard on a 'deal of the day' I wouldn't fault you for jumping all over that.
I recommend this game!
After awaking from a century long slumber, Princess Sophia finds a world that is devoid of people! Help her find her friends!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Very nice sequel
PostedOctober 20, 2012
mouser9169
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
While not required, it would certainly help if you play the Dreamless Castle first so you can follow the story. On to the review:
The game took me just under seven hours to play. I didn't rush through, but I don't think I was stuck anywhere for long either. The puzzles are nice - a bit different than I've seen in other games. Many are variations on jigsaw puzzles.
The music is nice, relaxing, nonobtrusive. Graphics are very good. If you want a change from the 'escape from the psychopathic doctor' or 'haunted ghost town' stories, this is a great title for you.
It gets four stars from me only because I'm saving five stars for those rare few that rise high above the rest. This one was close.
Instead of Mahjong, the minigame du jour is a version of solitaire. Some of the sets do take a bit of planning to complete, but none were hair pulling hard either.
I recommend this game (along with the rest in the series).
I recommend this game!