ARE FANS OF MADHEAD'S NEVERTALES SERIES BECOMING COMPLACENT?
PostedApril 8, 2018
skullfun
fromThis edition of Nevertales features a lavish production but could have been even better with increased difficulty and a storyline that was more captivating...
This is the 7th edition in the Nevertales series. Though the series remains popular, Fans give mixed reviews, ranging from (Average to Awesome) which shed's some light on why I gave this game a 3 star rating. In this prequel episode your father, Godfrey Lane, was a prominent writer until one day he just disappears without a trace. Years later, you discovered the entrance to the Taleworld, a magical world of imagination created by your father. Can you find your father and escape from this fantasy world before you are also trapped inside? Nevertales: Creator’s Spark brings some of the magic back to the Nevertales series. Even though the storyline does not divert much from the overused “parallel worlds” narrative and the so-called “twists” are pretty much expected, the fantasy world presented in this game is filled with fascinating elements and is worth exploring. Not only that, but each of the characters is also richly-developed and does not just merely feels like an accessory to the game. As a long-time fan of the series, I found the gameplay of Nevertales: Creator’s Spark to be a tad too easy for advanced players but great for beginners. The adventure part is mainly straightforward with the usual inventory items and a plethora of weirdly-shaped locks. The hidden object scenes and the puzzles are also low in challenge, although this does not discount the fact that they are smartly-integrated into the storyline and are quite entertaining in general. Mad Head Games is one of my favorite HOPA developers, especially when it comes to the production. I had high expectations for this edition but was left slightly disappointed. That said, I was still blown away by the sights and sounds in Nevertales: Creator’s Spark. The visuals are some of the studios’ very best works; the artwork is extremely sophisticated, the colors are lively and stunning, the effects are breathtaking, and level of artistic expertise is simply outstanding. Similarly, the background music is beautifully composed and serves as an effective mood-setting device. The voice-acting is always on-point and conveys the emotional layers of the characters extremely well just like all the installments of this series. I played the CE version but in retrospect I honestly should have waited for the SE version and used a free game coupon because of the low difficulty level. Nevertales: Creator’s Spark takes roughly four-five hours to complete. The CE bonus chapter isn't revolutionary but provides a new perspective and should take most veteran players around 50 minutes to complete. The Collector’s Edition comes with all the expected bling; a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, avatars, cover pictures, re-playable hidden object scenes, achievements, those always present triangular pinwheel collectibles, and morphing objects. I remain a fan of the series and am optimistic about future installments. Perhaps the next one will be increasingly intriguing and more of a challenge to play? Cheers!
From the dream team that brought New York Mysteries and Lost Lands comes another epic master piece. Darkness and Flame: The Dark Side. This sequel to Darkness and Flame: Missing Memories is an awesome adventure equally as stunning as it's predecessor. This was a must buy for me. Another excellent episode in the Darkness and Flame series, and this edition is a continuation of the previous story, it also features the same main characters (your uncle Colin and Farador) and just enough familiarity to make old fans feel welcome. Alice is part of the eternal battle between Darkness and Flame with the help of the magical Phoenix tattoo on her arm. In the previous story Alice was sure she had defeated the Dark Warrior but he survived and the quest continues. Once again Alice must attempt to conquer the Dark Warrior and destroy the Darkness utilizing her phenomenal powers and a new strategy. Will she succeed with her endeavor in this incredible journey? Find out in this face paced and exciting third installment. What awaits you will blow your mind!!! Kudos to Big Fish and Five-BN developers for creating this wonderful series. This addition to the series exceeded my expectations and Darkness and Flame is destined to be a FAN FAVORITE of the fantasy-adventure genre. Cheers!
I USED TO LOVE THIS SERIES BUT IT MAY BE TIME TO RETIRE HAUNTED LEGENDS.
PostedApril 3, 2018
skullfun
fromThis was once a popular series but as the old saying goes..."All good things must come to an end!" I'm positive I will treasure owning this entire series forever!
This is the 12th edition of the Haunted Legend series. I love this series as a whole but when I knew that the next Haunted Legends sequel was launching, I did not have high expectations. The last few games in this never-ending series were dull and uninspiring with the exception of The Cursed Gift which was prior to Monstrous Alchemy. The storyline is this edition is less than revolutionary, but it managed to grab my interests and I was engaged all the way through. The story development allows for moments of excitement as well as suspense, which is ideal for a horror-lite game like this. However, the game could have reduced the amount of dialogue readings and still remained effective. This game features stellar sights and sounds, as one would expect from this veteran developer. The scene designs are spectacularly-drawn and stunningly-painted, so are the special effects and the animations. The audio does not disappoint either; the background music provides great atmospheric support for the game and the majority of the voice-overs are on-point. Nonetheless, Haunted Legends: Monstrous Alchemy has large rooms for improvement. Most of all, the gameplay involves far too much hand-holding. This leads to easy gameplay and predictable paths of actions. Also, the objects in the hidden object scenes are far too large –I rarely resorted to the hint button in these scenes. While we appreciate the option to switch between Hard and Easy modes in most of the puzzles, the underlying concepts behind these puzzles are still quite simple. AMAX Interactive could try thinking outside-the-box and layering different styles of puzzles with their future releases. I also was disappointed that Saint Germaine does not appear in this edition, but if I remember from correctly he was killed in the Cursed Gift. My hope is that AMAX miraculously manages to reignite the fire in this age-old series. I also hope this trend continues if AMAX still decides that Haunted Legends is a keeper. While some editions of this series are better than others I decided to give this installment of Haunted Legends 5 stars because of the originality and concept of the entire series. Cheers!
The entire collection so far: •Haunted Legends: The Queen of Spades •Haunted Legends: The Bronze Horseman •Haunted Legends: The Undertaker •Haunted Legends: The Curse of Vox •Haunted Legends: The Stone Guest •Haunted Legends: The Dark Wishes •Haunted Legends: The Secret of Life •Haunted Legends: The Iron Mask •Haunted Legends: Faulty Creatures •Haunted Legends: The Black Hawk •Haunted Legends: The Cursed Gift •Haunted Legends: Monstrous Alchemy
The Vermillion Watch series is slowly, but surely, becoming my favorite HOPA series from Eipix Entertainment. With this fourth installment, the Vermillion Watch continues it's hunt for the insidious Red Queen. During the past week, a series of ghastly murders has occurred in Whitechapel, where female victims were found drained of blood. Are there vampires on the loose in London or is this yet another sinister trick done by the Red Queen? Vermillion Watch: In Blood takes us right back to 19th century London, when streets were roamed with serial killers and citizens were filled with fear. The plot here is definitely chilling, with a nice balance between cult horror and who-dun-it mystery. The fast-paced nature of the storytelling keep me on the edge of my seat and the action-packed storyline just adds to the never-ending thrills. Unlike most of the HOPA games as of late, Vermillion Watch: In Blood never feels lazy. The story is packed with unexpected twists and neat ideas, I have never been this engaged in a HOPA storyline for quite a while. Eipix did a fantastic job creating an ominous atmosphere in Vermillion Watch: In Blood. The visuals are astounding and filled with intricate details, while the cutscenes are some of the best we have seen from the genre. In addition, the voice-overs are also stellar and convey the emotional layers of the characters extremely well. If only the background music was a little more intense, especially during climatic moments, the production in this game would have been perfect. The gameplay in Vermillion Watch: In Blood is surprisingly challenging. The gameplay itself is not particularly complex, but it includes some unconventional tasks that require some creative utilization of inventory items. The excessive number of puzzles also adds to the difficulty of the game. Although the majority of the puzzles are interesting and enjoyable, a number of them is unnecessarily convoluted. As for the hidden object scenes, they are exquisitely-designed, but are by no means groundbreaking. Vermillion Watch: In Blood is also a considerably long game. I decided to play the CE version and it took me nearly five hours to complete the main game, and another hour to master the bonus chapter. The Collector’s Edition comes with all the usual features; a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, cut-scenes, behind-the-scenes pictures, re-playable hidden object scenes, re-playable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, a souvenir room, and MORPHING OBJECTS! I highly recommend all the editions in this series and fans of Vermillion Watch will most likely want this installment too in order to complete their collection! Cheers!
In this series: •Vermillion Watch: Moorgate Accord •Vermillion Watch: Fleshbound •Vermillion Watch: Order Zero •Vermillion Watch: In Blood
Kudos to Mariaglorum for their 7th edition to the Mystery of the Ancients Series! In this latest medieval mystery a man with supernatural strength and speed is out and about murdering folks in the city. You and Detective Duncan must use your expertise to solve these thrilling crimes in Mystery of the Ancients: Black Dagger Collector’s Edition. The story tells of a King who was driven to insanity by dark forces he delved into. The King kills himself with a "black dagger' when the ancient families of the time period discover the King has been participating in these dark forces and decide to take actions against him. Before the King dies from the piercing black dagger he vows out loud to be resurrected which is heard by one of his loyal subjects. Who is this loyal subject and culprit? It seems to be a relative. A relative who is eager to do the King's bidding too in an attempt to resurrect him. There are 3 ancient families who posses ancient artifacts (a ring, bracelet, and a ruby eye) which you and Detective Duncan must locate and use to stop the resurrection of the King. You must also save the 3 descendants of the ancient families who posses these ancient artifacts for the mysterious man with supernatural powers plans on murdering each descendant for their artifact which makes him even more powerful. The task isn't easy but the action packed adventure aspect to this edition engages you to solve this enigma from start to finish. I love this series and this is definitely a 5 star game. Fans of the series are in for a face paced medieval mystery that you don't want to miss. I highly recommend this one for casual adventure lovers and sleuths of every level of play. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did and I hope to play many more of these games in the on-going saga....Cheers!
In this series: • Mystery of the Ancients: Lockwood Manor • Mystery of the Ancients: Curse of the Black Water • Mystery of the Ancients: Three Guardians • Mystery of the Ancients: Deadly Cold • Mystery of the Ancients: Mud Water Creek • Mystery of the Ancients: The Sealed and Forgotten • Mystery of the Ancients: Black Dagger
The majority of blockbuster games these days are fast-paced, frenetic affairs that don’t give you a second to breath or think. That’s why it’s occasionally nice to find a more relaxing experience to settle down with, and that’s where the kind of Hidden Object puzzle games, published by Artifex Mundi, come into their own. Having already delved into the world of alchemy with Lost Grimoires: Stolen Kingdom, one must wonder if Lost Grimoires 2: Shard of Mystery is more of the same, just with a different narrative. Is that how it’s turned out, or have some fresh ideas been brought in to make for a better sequel? A few years before the story of Lost Grimoires 2 begins, an evil witch named Drosera turned on her own people and kicked off a brutal war, which eventually saw her captured inside of a magical Chasm Mirror forevermore. Or so they thought. When the King at the time falls ill, she vows to return and through some wicked plot, manages to set the wheels in motion after tricking the young Prince, Fern. Your role is as the personal medic to Prince Fern and so when he gets kidnapped as part of the devious plan on the eve of his coronation, you must do everything in your power to get him back. Like its predecessor, the Hidden Object games have received a freshening up, with them no longer being simply a list of items to find. Now, there are times where shapes are presented to you matching certain items within the scenery and once you’ve found those, it’ll then present a list of words regarding other things to find. You’d be surprised how much of a decent change, although minor, it is to have that little bit of variety. There aren’t as many Hidden Object scenes as usual, with a huge focus on the mini-games instead. From a visual standpoint, the magical world beyond the mirror and the kingdom in which Prince Fern resides are equally drawn to a high standard. The coloring is luxurious and vibrant, giving real character to the many areas featured. I’m not awfully keen on the facial animations, as they just look odd in truth, with less care and attention given to the faces. Lost Grimoires 2: Shard of Mystery is a magical adventure featuring beautiful hand drawn locations to traverse through and a smattering of clever puzzle ideas to keep the mind ticking over, without ever causing frustration. While I appreciate the Hidden Object variation taking my enjoyment levels up a notch, it’s clear that lessons haven’t been learned in storytelling as it’s nothing overly enthralling, the voiceovers aren’t truly convincing and the overall experience is just too short with a runtime of around 3 hours of gameplay. I wanted more. Lost Grimoires 2 could’ve been a cut above the rest, but it lets itself down in familiar ways. It’s a real credit to the puzzling then that it’s still a very good game to chill out and get stuck in to. A four star rating is generous and Artifex Mundi deserves this rating. Cheers!
I completed this outstanding adventure and I am proud to once again be a recruit of Hidden Expedition League of Preservation (H.E.L.P) where as before I wasn't so thrilled because I haven't enjoyed this series since Hidden Expedition Dawn of Prosperity (Editors Choice). Eipix has raised the bar for "The Golden Secret" which may satisfy the expectations for some fans of the series. Since this is the 16th edition to the series some may be burned out while others may find that this edition will once again spark enthusiasm for the series; you just never know until reviewers give a rating after completing the entire game beyond the demo. This is one of the best Hidden Expedition editions offered in the series to date and it is a heart-pounding chapter in this beloved series. H.E.L.P. HQ interrupts your ski vacation with an important request: travel to Geneva to purchase an ancient artifact called the "Golden Wheel" that could very well hold the secrets to H.E.L.P.'s long history. But it won't be easy. You'll have to be the winning bidder in a high-stakes auction. Fortunately, H.E.L.P. is footing the bill as you travel to incredible destinations in Switzerland, Germany, and El Dorado South America. The storyline is fantastic, full of surprises and well written by the developers. So many questions from previous editions are answered in this game. The only question left...Can you unlock the secrets of the mysterious Golden Wheel, or will H.E.L.P.'s origins be lost to time forever? You must play "The Golden Wheel" in order to reveal the unknown. I literally could not stop playing until the conclusion of this thrilling and engaging mission. This edition has a runtime at approximately 4 or 5 hours, with another hour for the bonus adventure. The CE bling is typically the same as in most CE games with some variation, so to include that in this review would be reductive. I do hope this edition will generate a renewed interest in this ongoing saga and that casual gamers who love adventures will enjoy playing this installment as much as I did. Cheers!
The Curse of Ophelia is the 13th installment of Puppetshow Series by AMAX Interactive though it reminds me of previous editions developed by ERS.
Your cousin Angela (lead actress playing the lead lady in the theater production of Ophelia) has been attacked recently and left in a comatose state and doctors are unable to find the source of her condition. You receive a letter from Angela's husband Leroy who believes she's been cursed after receiving a Puppet Doll! Time to investigate the theater, so you ask Beatrice (Angela's best friend at the theater) for more info. When you arrive at the theater you learn Beatrice is the replacement for Angela in the role of Ophelia. During questioning, Beatrice describes the incident including a description of a "cursed doll". She also tells you of her own experience with the curse and how the curse left her with strange looking birthmark on her arm with symbols that quickly spread over her entire body.
It seems as though there's something really strange about this "cursed doll". Rumor says that someone sends the Puppet Doll before the play premiers and causes any actress who plays the role of Ophelia to eventually Die!!! Who is behind this mysterious curse and why are they targeting actresses at the theater? Here are the character's you encounter in this wonderfully weird mystery:
◾Angela The protagonist's cousin who works as a stage actress at the town's theater. She fell under the curse that targets all the women who played the role of Ophelia. ◾Leroy Angela's husband. He aids the protagonist in the investigation ◾The Theater's Director A mysterious man who owns the theater that Angela works for. ◾Beatrix Angela's co-worker who wants to play the role of Ophelia herself. ◾Doll Assistant A mysterious doll given to Angela. She is rumored to be cursed. ◾Spider Puppets (missing from this edition).
I was really engaged in the story of this edition and the wacky gameplay mechanics. I think casual gamers and fans of this series will enjoy this latest chapter in the on-going saga of the Puppetshow series. Cheers
This is the third edition of the fantastic Madhead series Shadowplay and it's a fascinating to play as the other releases in this series. You play Erica Harris and you are employed by the Corp Tex Corporation to investigate a secret project where a toxic waste accident contaminating Ambose Island has occurred leaving multiple workers dead and one missing...your brother Mark! Once you arrive on the island you mission leads you to the Corp Tex lab where a strange beacon noise emanates from the main building. The building itself is a challenge to enter even for experienced casual gamers. Could the beacon be an experimental device causing this contamination? Has your brother been infected? Have you been deceived by a hidden agenda? Find out in this incredible thriller that will make you jump out of your seat!!! There aren't many games quite like Shadowplay – it is dark, twisted and incredibly engaging. Another thing that Mad Head Games always excels at is the production. You'll appreciate the amazing visuals; all the scenes are sharply rendered and look nothing short of stunning. Further, the menu and the inventory bar are smartly and cleanly designed so that they fit perfectly with the environment and do not distract players from the game. The quality of the soundtracks in Shadowplay are impressive too and they effectively build up the suspense of the game. Shadowplay thrives when most games don’t because it delivers and develops the plot in such an interactive and creative fashion through fun tasks and cool features. This was a must purchase for me and I think most fans of Mad Head will agree. I had an awesome time playing this 4 hour sci-fi adventure and another hour with the bonus chapter. Cheers!
In this series: •Shadowplay: Darkness Incarnate •Shadowplay: Whispers of the Past (intended for mature audiences). •Shadowplay: The Forsaken Island
When Domini developers created this series I somehow knew it would get rave reviews. Alice Carpenter the Healer is on her third journey to save the Tar Empire from a fatal illness inflicted by an Evil force known as the Shadow of Oblivion. You have been invited to once again find the cure to this mysterious disease because of your immunity and magical healing abilities using your Healer’s Kit and Diagnostic Lens. The visuals are gorgeous, with excellent color choices and special effects to polish the detailed artwork. The audio is equally captivating. The background music is appropriate for the somewhat sinister vibe of the game and story, and the voice-overs provide some very emotional context to the characters. This edition like the previous editions seems to be popular for a variety of reasons. Fans of the series have given an average 4-star rating to this series thus far thanks to the creative design team at Domini. While this edition is purely fantasy, I can't help but imagine how wonderful it would be if Alice the Honored Healer was REAL. Fans may or may not have contemplated this concept, but I have. Wouldn't it be incredible if all of the life-threatening illnesses present today in the real world could be cured by a heroic healer's gift? No more Cancer, Heart disease, HIV/Aids, ESRD which requires dialysis and a host of other potentially fatal diseases. Like many BFG game club members, I know so many people who have been affected by these catastrophic illnesses who wish to see these diseases eradicated at some point during their life-time. On that note my emotional response is simple... Thank you Domini games for creating this wonderful game that gives casual gamers hours and hours of gameplay. There may not be a cure-all for catastrophic illnesses currently but this series allows players who have loved ones who are suffering, an escape from the pain and heartache that these illnesses bring. I will continue to love this series and be hopeful for miraculous cures...Cheers!