AmethystScorpion's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.1
- Helpful Votes:502
- Reviews Submitted:44
- First Review:December 2, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 23, 2017
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Maze: Subject 360 Collector's Edition
From the makers of the Rite of Passage series comes a ground-breaking new series that's as creepy as it gets.
Overall rating
2
/
5
19 of 22 found this review helpful
Hello Subject 360, I Want to play a Game
PostedSeptember 25, 2015
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Yes, yes I bought this because of the Disclaimer Warning and In fairness the beginning lived up to that Warning. The First 40 Minutes or so of this game are Really Nasty, and I mean Frictional Games, Amnesia, Outlast Grade Nasty. From then on it deteriorates into a cutesy Mystery Trackers type game with occasional Jump Scares to remind us that we are in fact playing the same game we started.
Once again we are presented with something that seems to have been several projects that have been spliced together either because the programmers were very pushed for time or quite frankly they didn't know what to do with it. What started out as a very interesting and involving Horror Game ends up being the usual "Cursed Town because someone built a house on an Indian Burial Ground" with an angry spirit that looks suspiciously like The Wendigo...Yaaaaawn.
The graphics for the most part, and considering this was released in 2015, are...well...not very good. The story becomes unintelligible with lose ends and plot holes that a Truck could be driven through and then it just ends abruptly. Yes this game is very short. The Bonus chapter is utter confusion mixed with boredom.
This COULD have been a classic if time has been spent on it and the programing team actually consulted each other but unfortunately after a very good start this offering literally just falls apart. Sorry but only Two Stars from me
I don't recommend this game.
Fright Collector's Edition
After a suspicious accident, you find yourself stranded at a run-down motel. But you soon realize the area hides a terrifying secret...
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 8 found this review helpful
The MCF contract should have been given to THESE guys!
PostedAugust 11, 2015
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Yes that's right, this will be a Treat for all the people who are missing the MCF series before it was given to Elephant. This looks, plays and FEELS like a MCF game the way they were a few years ago.
This is an odd game to describe without giving the complete plot away but I CAN say that it draws you into the story very quickly and there is plenty to do. The cut scenes are well done and not over blown so at to add to the game without being too intrusive which is a difficult balance to get these days, in fact, Artifex Mundi are the only other ones ones to get it right since the demise of MCF.
This is an odd game to describe without giving the complete plot away but I CAN say that it draws you into the story very quickly and there is plenty to do. The cut scenes are well done and not over blown so at to add to the game without being too intrusive which is a difficult balance to get these days, in fact, Artifex Mundi are the only other ones ones to get it right since the demise of MCF.
Negative points for this are that it relied too heavily on recreating scenes from LOST, it is also very short, about three hours on expert mode before ending abruptly with no real resolution to the story in a similar way that Phantom of the Opera did. The bonus game while being fun does nothing to resolve things in this respect.
All in all a very worthy try so give it a go...
I recommend this game!
True Fear: Forsaken Souls Collector's Edition
What if everything you knew about your life, everything your family ever told you, turned out to be a lie?
Overall rating
2
/
5
10 of 18 found this review helpful
UGH....This was a stinker!
PostedApril 6, 2014
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
What drew me to this game, and I suspect most other people, was the disclaimer and the fact that is is being touted as a large file (almost 2GB).
On the surface this looks like it is going to be a big budget version of Vanishing Hitchhiker or Scratches. OHHH how wrong I was.
On the surface this looks like it is going to be a big budget version of Vanishing Hitchhiker or Scratches. OHHH how wrong I was.
The opening screen does not represent what is actually in this game as we have to wait till next year for the other two titles to be released.
The graphics are, well, really bad. Very bad in fact.
The story is so disjointed that it makes no sense at all
The game play is just doing random stuff and doing it slowly. It's actually rather silly and does not create a feeling of fear or even mystery.
The sound is one of those annoying Fifteen Second musical loops that drives you insane listening to it.
It has good cut scenes but that's it and I have no idea how these cut scenes are actually meant to relate to the game at all.
The graphics are, well, really bad. Very bad in fact.
The story is so disjointed that it makes no sense at all
The game play is just doing random stuff and doing it slowly. It's actually rather silly and does not create a feeling of fear or even mystery.
The sound is one of those annoying Fifteen Second musical loops that drives you insane listening to it.
It has good cut scenes but that's it and I have no idea how these cut scenes are actually meant to relate to the game at all.
Then after doing a bunch of stuff that seem to have no reason to actually be there the game just ends. No cliff hanger leaving you wanting the next episode, no resolution or explanations, it literally just stops!
And unless there is s substantial, and I mean SUBSTANTIAL, hidden game or easter egg than there is no way that this uses almost 2GB. Take for example the beautifully rendered graphics and and fully interactive 3D experience of "Stroke of Midnight" that comes in at fraction of the memory at 136 MB which is VASTLY superior to this. What on earth did they do with 2GB?
And unless there is s substantial, and I mean SUBSTANTIAL, hidden game or easter egg than there is no way that this uses almost 2GB. Take for example the beautifully rendered graphics and and fully interactive 3D experience of "Stroke of Midnight" that comes in at fraction of the memory at 136 MB which is VASTLY superior to this. What on earth did they do with 2GB?
This isn't what it is cracked up to be so avoid or at least try the demo first.
I don't recommend this game.
Enigmatis: The Mists of Ravenwood Collector's Edition
Enter Ravenwood Park and discover the secrets hidden in the mists...
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Premium quality game. Budget store graphics.
PostedFebruary 1, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Ahh Artifex Mundi - This developer never stops me from scratching my head in bewilderment. They obviously have a great deal of talent - they hire the best writers for a comelling page turning story. They have the best programmers that can put together a top notch game with with just the right ballance of freedom and linier movement in the progression. They have big budget cut scene animations that compliment the game perfectly without taking it over. They even hire some high quality scrip writers and actors.
And then they completely mess it up by using really cheap, badly rendered in-game graphics.
It's like the developement team have a meeting where everything is planned out with pride and then someone says "well I SUPPOSE we had better put some graphics in there - who is the cheapest and quickest?" . It's almost like the graphics are an afterthought and a chore done with resentment.
And then they completely mess it up by using really cheap, badly rendered in-game graphics.
It's like the developement team have a meeting where everything is planned out with pride and then someone says "well I SUPPOSE we had better put some graphics in there - who is the cheapest and quickest?" . It's almost like the graphics are an afterthought and a chore done with resentment.
As a game this is exellent but be aware that the graphics are at best Beta quality and quickly become, well, pretty bad. If that dosen't bother you then you are in for some serious hours of enjoyment and escapeism.
I recommend this game!
Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek Collector's Edition
Find a kidnapped teenage girl and save yourself in Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek, a fun Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
One of the best - and one of the worst
PostedDecember 20, 2013
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I must admit to a soft spot for this one because it was in actual fact my first ever HO game! With that in mind maybe I won't be as objective as most.
I gave this another whirl after a year to see if it measured up to what I have experienced since and I was surprised to find that it actually has.
This is what I would call a "Page Turner", the story is immediately engaging with just the right balance in the progression, pretty much straight forward and logical but also giving the player the freedom to roam around to stave off boredom.
The cut scenes and animations have been well crafted but are not to intrusive or too often and have obviously had some serious time spent on them.
I gave this another whirl after a year to see if it measured up to what I have experienced since and I was surprised to find that it actually has.
This is what I would call a "Page Turner", the story is immediately engaging with just the right balance in the progression, pretty much straight forward and logical but also giving the player the freedom to roam around to stave off boredom.
The cut scenes and animations have been well crafted but are not to intrusive or too often and have obviously had some serious time spent on them.
BUT - Ughhh those graphics!!
The actual game scenes seem like very bad concept art from the bonus content of premium editions, rather like hastily done chalk or pastel sketches. I think that Artifex Mundi are trying to make these games "Artistic" looking but failing badly.
and DOUBLE UGH!!! - the HO scenes (yes they are many here) with blurry, badly described items these are a chore to get through which will lead many to keep pressing the Hint Button just to get them out of the way.
The actual game scenes seem like very bad concept art from the bonus content of premium editions, rather like hastily done chalk or pastel sketches. I think that Artifex Mundi are trying to make these games "Artistic" looking but failing badly.
and DOUBLE UGH!!! - the HO scenes (yes they are many here) with blurry, badly described items these are a chore to get through which will lead many to keep pressing the Hint Button just to get them out of the way.
For me though it was a nice couple of days of nostalgia so I will no doubt be making this one of my yearly "must do" games along with Dorian Grey Syndrome and perhaps Cursed Heart.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files®: Fate's Carnival Collector's Edition
Something wicked has taken over Fate’s Carnival!
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 30 found this review helpful
Elephant dropped an egg with this...erm...interpretation of a classic.
PostedDecember 13, 2013
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Well I guess this is what happens when different developers acquire the rights to a classic.
The overall feeling of this is comparable to a cheap Dollar Store bootleg - I mean it kinda LOOKS like the original and there's a TON of Packaging...BUT...when you get inside it's just cheaply made, hollow and completely forgettable.
The overall feeling of this is comparable to a cheap Dollar Store bootleg - I mean it kinda LOOKS like the original and there's a TON of Packaging...BUT...when you get inside it's just cheaply made, hollow and completely forgettable.
This seems to be following a trend whereby programming houses are throwing everything at the cut-scenes (presumably for advertising purposes) and animations while not even bothering with the game itself. The graphics seem to have gone back in time Six or Seven years, and not in a good way. The sound is practically nonexistent for most of the game. The progression is......um....yes "UM".
Never thought I would prefer 13th Skull to anything.
Never thought I would prefer 13th Skull to anything.
I don't recommend this game.
Stray Souls: Stolen Memories
Guide a mother who pursues a terrifying apparition into a twisted reality to save her daughter.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Huge fun but EXTREMELY short.
PostedNovember 12, 2013
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Being a fan of all things Tim Burton I naturelly gravitate towards thiis developer so I was a little dissapointed when I clocked this one in just under two hours without skipping anything (or the cutscenes) but it was a fun couple of hours. In essence this is a reworking of Weird Park with a few original extras but that in no way compromises the fun of this game (not sure about the inappropriate foul language at the half way point though).
I don't know how this developer does it but the graphics look exellent on a small screen and terrible on a large display with well rendered animations and characters. The music and sound effects are the usual creepy standard from this developer and be ready for a few jumps.
I don't know how this developer does it but the graphics look exellent on a small screen and terrible on a large display with well rendered animations and characters. The music and sound effects are the usual creepy standard from this developer and be ready for a few jumps.
From the reviews of the collectors edition I dont think the price justifies the content so I wont be buying but this on it's own is still an exellent game that is sadly far too short so I will give this a Four Star rating.
I recommend this game!
Dark Parables: The Red Riding Hood Sisters Collector's Edition
Discover the Red Riding Hood Sisters and defeat the nefarious Wolf Queen!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Completely inappropriate for Children
PostedOctober 2, 2013
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I cannot fathom why this is being presented as a Large File game (1085 MB) because there is no way that there is that amount of content (unless there is a substantial hidden easter egg level that I haven't found).
This game is in two halves really, the first being almost exclusively a find with search the second being almost exclusively HO.
Because this is a short game the developers have made the HO's in the second half blurry and discolored presumably to give the impression that it is longer than it is so a significant decline in the graphic quality at the mid point is an issue here.
This game is in two halves really, the first being almost exclusively a find with search the second being almost exclusively HO.
Because this is a short game the developers have made the HO's in the second half blurry and discolored presumably to give the impression that it is longer than it is so a significant decline in the graphic quality at the mid point is an issue here.
I will admit that there is plenty to do in the scenes but it relies heavily on "cartoon physics" - say for example a small object found in a box becomes the size of half a room when placed where it's meant to be! This just takes away any depth and atmosphere that may have been created.
Most of all I am scratching my head as to whom this game was actually developed for because there are some very upsetting scenes of animals being killed with equally upsetting sound effects of the animals in pain. VERY upsetting for children if they get their hands on this.
Worse of all though has to be the characterization of the sisters and the cut scenes which are verging on the pornographic.
The good points are a soundtrack that is professionally done and the Bonus game which is better than the main feature.
I will give this a three for the soundtrack and the graphics for the first half but please use discretion, this is NOT for children despite the title. All in all a rather silly and short affair this one. Sorry.
I don't recommend this game.
Mystery Case Files: Escape from Ravenhearst
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
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Inside the mind of Alice Cooper
PostedAugust 18, 2013
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The subject matter is graphic, upsetting, and it should really be given an 18 rating rather than the 12 it has at the moment so please use discretion. Using the free trial won't give the player a true sense of the nasty direction this takes at the half way point so PLEASE take notice of the reviews about this.
I won't go into details but I know from my own life experience that this has been very well researched and I had to take time out in the mid stages. However I stuck with it because there was a kind of "relief" in knowing that someone else understands what it is like. However this won't be for everyone so if there is any sensitive issues involving abuse I would advise against this game if it is going to drag up things best left alone.
The first half is pretty much a standard HO adventure, and I seriously wondered what people were kicking up such a fuss about. This is devilishly hard, however, and requires some serious thinking as the clues and hints are at a bare minimum - yes this isn't going to be made easy for you but is hugely enjoyable. This all changes instantly with a fall into a cavern and the nasty stuff begins. What follows is a series of "Saw Traps" inside a giant cavern (with models not real people) depicting stages of the Mad Doctors traumatic life and reasons for his insanity. It is TRULY upsetting territory to walk through and I found myself in complete sympathy with him - although the tired old cop out of "I went back in time to set all this up" made me groan with embarrassment. And has been mentioned before the last two Locations were very short indeed and seem to have been wrapped up in a hurry to release the game on time.
As I said this won't be for everyone, some will hate it. Some like myself will derive a strange "Comfort" knowing that other people understand. Walk carefully now dear reader.....
Mystery Legends: The Phantom of the Opera Collector's Edition
You’ve been invited to the long abandoned Paris Opera House. Find the phantom and discover the torment of this tragic hero!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
This would have been Five Stars - IF it had an actual ending
PostedJuly 15, 2013
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Despite this being a Small File game it still puts most glossy Large File games to shame.
The progression is instantly gripping and immersive and this continues, more or less, throughout the game with the distinct feeling that this may have been a template for Dorian Grey Syndrome (the same voice actor plays the Phantom in this actually).
The progression is instantly gripping and immersive and this continues, more or less, throughout the game with the distinct feeling that this may have been a template for Dorian Grey Syndrome (the same voice actor plays the Phantom in this actually).
The graphics while being less detailed are still exellent and comparable to the "Shiver" series with lots to do. The gameplay is quite linier but kept interesting and relevant to the story.
There seems to have been some confusion as to the mood and atmosphere among the programmers that spoils the experience somewhat though. The the voice actor playing the role of "The Phantom" plays it with the same sinister, unhinged and disturbing tones as he did for Dorian Grey Syndrome but this contrasts shaply and awkwardly with the Actress playing the herowin because considering that she has been drugged and kidnapped by a psychotic killer she is actually quite chipper about the whole situation - in fact she practically skipps and whistles her way through the game (the same actress who played Nancy Drew in some of that series with the same breezy chearful attitude).
As many other people have said here though this game - both the main game and the bonus chapter - dosn't actually have an ending! The game just.....well......stops with no conclusion, no big reveal, no explanation at all. Literally it just stopps dead and that's that.
Lord knows why this was released in it's unfinished state because there is no follow up game so I can only imagine it was either a bugetary or lack of time issue.
Lord knows why this was released in it's unfinished state because there is no follow up game so I can only imagine it was either a bugetary or lack of time issue.
Conclusion - I enjoyed the actual gameplay even though there is no ending and it still puts most Full Price Large File games to shame.
I recommend this game!