Deep Shadow games new series "Medium Detective: Fright from the past" shows potential, but fans of this developer may be left with more questions than answers.
You play Claire Arlington , a novice detective who has been summoned to investigate a series of murders that occur once in a decade. While Detective Pike supervise's your deductions you soon realize that this is no ordinary investigation. Something sinister lurks in the shadows....They call him "The Man of The Shadows" and he is back after 10 years of seclusion, only to begin murdering once again! There is a lot of history to discover with this investigation. When a strange series of murders associated with an old tale starts terrorizing the locals, you must use your ability to see the past, and this will be critical in order to stop the dangerous creature from its revenge and the destruction of the city. You have everything you need to uncover the dark origin of the "Shadow Man" in time. Can you stop everything or make it your next victim? There are some interesting events along the way too, so you are rarely bored with the action or the story. I enjoyed the unique puzzles to test your wits even if the underlying mechanics are not very different from what you may be accustomed to. The graphics and sound SFX are in need of some work, but this mystery adventure is quirky and fun which can be advantageous with regard to holding your interest as you progress thru the game. Look for the writing on the wall left by the "Man of The Shadows" in the beginning of the game. It's clearly taken from the original "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie. One, Two Shadow's coming for you.....3, 4 better lock your door. 5, 6 you must run from his tricks. 7,8 try not to shake. 9, 10 HE'S BACK AGAIN!!! I enjoyed the first installment of this new series. I wonder if it will be as popular as their awesome series TALES OF TERROR and HAUNTED TRAIN?If you like this mystery, be sure to check out Tales of Terror: House on Haunted Hill. It's a blast to play too! Cheers!
This was an instant purchase for me. In this latest edition King Altus is under an evil spell and has accused your mentor, Regis the Master Wizard of attempted murder and ordered him to his death. As an apprentice wizard, you have to save your innocent mentor and rid of the king of sinister forces as you learn more about the dark secrets of the royal family in Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest. Unlike most HOPA developers, Boolat Games only releases a couple of HOPA titles a year. Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest is actually only the second game they have released this year; they took their time with this project, and it shows. Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest centers its storyline around an overused plot about a spellbound king, but with enough cool twists and interesting backstories to keep things fresh. I appreciate how richly-developed the backstory of each main character is; this makes it easy for you to get attached to the characters and feel more engaged in the storyline. Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest is as thrilling as it is not only because of the exciting storyline, but also because it is a perfectly-crafted game. This game is unique and is well-executed in every aspect. The adventure part is satisfyingly challenging with the large number of locations and some rather unconventional tasks. The hidden object scenes are creative, complex, and require some real attention to complete. The mini-games are excellently-integrated into the game, although a higher difficulty level would still be appreciated. Further, the game does not include any nonsense gimmicks. The only extra features it features are the magic spells, which are necessary to the progression of the game. Another strong aspect of Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest is the production. The visuals in Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest straight-up fabulous. Each location is drawn with such sophistication and lushly colored. The cut-scenes are made to the top quality and the soundtracks are beautifully-composed. Length wise, the game is more than the average HOPA. Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest takes around five and a half hours to complete. If you play the CE version, the bonus chapter takes another hour. I recommend the Collector's Edition. The Collector’s Edition includes a strategy guide, soundtracks, wallpapers, videos, concept art, re-playable hidden object scenes, re-playable mini-games, achievements, collectibles, and morphing objects. I hope casual gamers enjoy this game as much as I did. It is a great edition to a wonderful series!!!
In this series: •Dreampath: The Two Kingdoms •Dreampath: The Curse of Swamps •Dreampath: Guardian of the Forest
Danse Macabre used to be an exciting series, with its sophisticated storylines and extravagant production. Things started to shift when Eipix chose to focus on quantity over quality when it comes to this once-promising franchise, A Lover’s Pledge is the third Danse Macabre game in 2017 – and the compromise shows. In this sequel, you play as a seamstress who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. You found yourself in the middle of a major drama when the lead actress from the opera show got kidnapped by a ghost, can you save her and yourself from this haunted theater? The storyline of Danse Macabre: A Lover’s Pledge is filled with HOPA cliches. From the vengeful spirit to the kidnapped performer, everything is just so predictable, even the alleged “twists” are not interesting anymore. It is no surprise that the gameplay in Danse Macabre: A Lover’s Pledge is of the recycled type. While there is a lot of tasks and interactions to perform in each location, the challenge level is dumb down by how simple and boring these tasks are. Not to mention, that some tasks are far from being logical and that a few objects are placed in irrational places. Eipix is usually pretty reliable with its high production values. However, the sights and sounds in Danse Macabre: A Lover’s Pledge does not exactly impress. Even though the overall quality of the visuals is still high, the basic artwork and the washed-out colors are not to Eipix’s usual high standards. The background music is pleasant enough, but the voice-acting is sometimes slightly awkward and inappropriately dramatic. Rolling in at the three and a half hour mark, Danse Macabre: A Lover’s Pledge is a tad short of the standard length for a premium HOPA. I hope Eipix game developers will listen to reviewers so that this series continues...Cheers!
Grim Facade: The Message is part of the long-running hidden object series that focuses on the supernatural and grim murders. In this latest edition the story begins when a medium calls for the main character in order to investigate some dark premonitions, but as it turns out, you are too late to save her. To make matters worse, you are wrongfully accused of her murder as well, which makes your investigation even more difficult. Naturally, there are other interesting events along the way too, so you are rarely bored with the action or the story. I enjoyed the unique puzzles to test your wits even if the underlying mechanics are not very different from what you may be accustomed to, but some of the puzzles push the limits a little bit. This is a great way to keep you engaged, because regular hidden object sequences can only be fun for so long before they become repetitive. In addition, the eerie environment plays a major role in certain puzzles, which helps with the overall atmosphere. Speaking of which, the graphics are pretty dark, given the theme of the game, but the artwork is very detailed and enjoyable. Almost everything you see in the scenes is hand-drawn, and the artists did not hold back when it comes to backgrounds and character design. As usual, the cuts-cenes are a bit stiff and basic, but they get the point across, and they are usually pretty short anyway. This edition proved to be a worthy mystery for a seasoned detective and to sum things up, armchair detectives everywhere should have a blast with Grim Facade: The Message, especially since the mystery is pretty fun and convoluted. In addition, the gameplay is fun and quite diverse for the most part. Whether your a medium or an extra-large, casual gamers of all sizes and all levels should enjoy this adventure. LOL! Cheers.
In this series: •Grim Facade: Deadly Dowry •Grim Facade: The Red Cat •Grim Facade: Monster in Disguise •Grim Facade: Hidden Sins •Grim Facade: The Artist and the Pretender •Grim Facade: A Wealth of Betrayal •Grim Facade: The Cost of Jealousy •Grim Facade: Sinister Obsession •Grim Facade: Mystery of Venice •Grim Façade: The Message
In this edition of The Legacy 2: Prisoner, a golden artifact has been stolen from the museum! Diana is on her hunt for the thief when she gets sucked into a portal, sending her back to the era of the Mayans. The only way for her to get back home is to defeat the demon Rhitoris. As capable as Diana is, does she have what it takes to dethrone this powerful demon? To this day, I still remember the brilliance of The Legacy: Forgotten Gates, but as much as I loved that game, I do not necessarily want to go on the same adventure twice. The Legacy: Prisoner takes you back to the world of the Mayans, one that feels strikingly familiar because we have visited there before in the first installment. The storyline lacks a new level of excitement because it is practically the same as the one in Forgotten Gates, as well as countless other HOPA adventures. While the Sci-Fi elements still give this series a unique touch, touching on some other new themes would definitely be appreciated. The gameplay in The Legacy: Prisoner is certainly decent, although nothing to write home about. All the tasks and interactions are logical and make sense within the context of the game, and none of them are particularly challenging or innovative. Similarly, the puzzles are enjoyable and challenging at times, but we have seen the big majority of them before in some other games. Nonetheless, Five-BN is always adept at crafting interesting hidden object scenes and the ones in this game do not disappoint with their layered scenes and smart interactions. Regardless of the storyline and the gameplay that came slightly below my expectations, the sights and sounds remain fantastic. The realistic visuals, the creative location designs and the exquisite special effects in this game are the epitome of casual adventures. Moreover, the epic cut-scenes and smooth animations are also worth a shout out. On the audio side, the mysterious vibe of the music is well-used and the voice-acting is all-around solid. I played the Collector's Edition. The main game of The Legacy: Prisoner clocks in at around four hours and the equally-entertaining bonus chapter comes in at fifty minutes. The bonus section of the Collector’s Edition is packed with extras; a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, videos, soundtracks, re-playable hidden object scenes, re-playable puzzles, achievements, as well as collectibles and morphing objects that will later-on unlock some bonus puzzles. If you are a fan of Five BN and their hit games like Lost Lands, Darkness and Flame, and New York Mysteries then your bound to enjoy this next installment of The Legacy...Cheers!
We first learned of the game (Greed: The Mad Scientist) when world famous scientist Dr. Ralph Goodwin promises to unveil a miracle drug able to cure almost all types of diseases. But just one day before his press conference a mysterious explosion destroys his research laboratory. With the lab destroyed, the cure seems lost forever. You have to investigate the case with the help of a young girl named Sara. As Sara searches through the lab, she unravels the dark events of her own past. Among mad scientists and ruthless assassins will you ever be able to find the cure? Then in (Greed: Forbidden Experiments) when a new character Julia learns the sinister plans of the secret cult of the Oracles she must stop their forbidden and diabolical experiments in order to save her sister and face her sisters kidnapper. Greed is back for it's third installment; Old Enemies Returning. This time around, Dr. Goodwin has returned to his experiments in an attempt to find a cure for his son's illness. Sara Goodwin is Dr. Goodwin's daughter and she's back investigating the death of her father with help from detective Amy Turner. It's believed to have happened during an explosion that Bura Pharma was conducting but the pharmaceutical company denies responsibility for this so-called accident. The Government sends the feds to investigate who promise to restore Dr. Goodwin's lab but Sara learns of their involvement and suspects the government is after her father's secret formula. Conspiracy theorist enthusiast fans are sure to enjoy this aspect of the game as well as "the men in black" on the scene. While this SE adventure may be dated and lacks CE bling it really has an intriguing storyline. Especially if you have played previous editions of this trilogy. Sara and Amy team together to piece together the facts of this unusual case in order to find the formula of the disease curing drug. Will you be able to find the formula and save Dr. Goodwin's son before the lab is destroyed? Find out in the final chapter of this popular sci-fi series by Urchin games/ Interactive Dreamscapes! I recommend this stand-alone SE game for players of every level. Cheers!
In this series: • Greed: The Mad Scientist • Greed: Forbidden Experiments • Greed: Old Enemies Returning
This is the follow up to The Unseen Fears: Body Thief. I would recommend you to play the first installment which is intense and because there are some good and spooky moments that seem to be missing from this sequel. Do you recall and remember what The Unseen Fears: Body Thief was about? It’s about a private detective with some special skills who is called for help in Amsterdam. The authorities are facing a seemingly deranged killer that leaves their victims skinless and they have a feeling that it might be a bit supernatural. In The Unseen Fears: Outlive, your mission is entirely different. A new reality show is entrancing the globe, but not in a good way. When strange things start happening on the set of the nation’s most popular show, it’s up to you to save the contestants and yourself! With dark forces around every turn, do you have what it takes to save the world from a horrible fate? Find out in this sequel to the successful The Unseen Fears: Body Thief! This mystery game allows you to battle supernatural forces and defeat all sorts of spirits and demons while you attempt to save the world. The game does not feature new gameplay mechanics or anything of the sort, which means that if you already are a HOPA fan it should be easy to get down to business from the first minutes of your adventure. The story starts with a TV shows that goes wrong and starts spreading some kind of curse around the world, while simultaneously putting the contestants in danger. Your job is to save everyone and deal with the evil spirits in the process, although you also receive a bit of help on the way. The story is about as straightforward as it gets, so don’t expect anything out of the ordinary in this regard. This edition may not live up to casual gamers expectations; unlike the first edition. As far as the puzzles are concerned, all you have to do is find the required items in order to unlock them, as well as solve the mini-games that challenge your wits. Sometimes you just have to place the right item in a slot, while other times you have to find the correct pattern in order to unlock a container or a door. There is a lot of variety in this regard, even if most mechanics boil down to the same thing in the end. I really enjoyed the scenery even if a bit cartoonish at times. Thankfully, the scenery is quite good at distracting you, given the fact that you are always exploring interesting environments. The artwork is very detailed and in tune with the story, and the same can be said about the characters you meet along the way. There’s even voice acting for cut-scenes, as well as spooky sound effects to help with the atmosphere. It's your typical supernatural adventure game and I wonder if fans of the series compare it the original? All in all, nothing really sets The Unseen Fears: Outlive apart from the rest of the games in the genre, but that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the trip. Hence, you can easily spend a few hours solving quests and defeating monstrosities. I enjoyed this game and played with an open mind though I found myself comparing both editions. Demo and give this sequel a chance. Who knows? Some casual gamers may like this edition just as much as the first, if not more so. Cheers!
Dead Reckoning: Lethal Knowledge brings a fresh change of theme to the HOPA genre. It's sad that this is the last installment of this excellent detective series. The storyline involves a pure, juicy, realistic murder mystery; no fairies, no ghosts, no gothic horror. The pace and the technique in which the storyline unravels are also impressive. I was completely drawn to the storyline right from the opening sequence and never felt bored throughout the duration of the game. Eipix did an amazing job bringing the hi-tech university to life. The visuals are clean and modern and the soundtracks are appropriately suspenseful. Also, shout out to the production team for crafting such wonderful animations and special effects – this proves to us that Eipix would actually excel in the Sci-Fi genre if they want to try that out in the future with a similar series. HOPA fanatics will most likely find Dead Reckoning: Lethal Knowledge quite easy and predictable in this edition. While the gameplay features many cool, hi-tech elements, most of the times the game feels a little formulaic. The advanced touchscreen tablet feature serves as a nice addition, and a modern device. As for the puzzles, they are well-integrated into the storyline and offer moderate difficulty. My favorite aspect of the gameplay must be the hidden object scenes. These scenes are all expertly-designed with multiple layers and interesting interactions. I thought the whole game was extremely intriguing; it was if the four-hour gameplay felt more like two hours. The bonus chapter was no less entertaining, and took another 50 minutes. As usual I played the Collector’s Edition, which is packed with extras; a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, videos, soundtracks, a souvenir room, bubble shooter games, replayable hidden object scenes, replayable puzzles, achievements, collectibles, and morphing objects. I gave 4 stars because this edition was intriguing enough as well as the entire series combined. I recommend all the Dead Reckoning Series. Cheers! In this series: •Dead Reckoning: Silvermoon Isle •Dead Reckoning: Brassfield Manor •Dead Reckoning: The Crescent Case •Dead Reckoning: Broadbeach Cove •Dead Reckoning: Snowbird's Creek •Dead Reckoning: Sleight of Murder •Dead Reckoning: Lethal Knowledge
What begins as a fun camping trip takes a dark turn when your friend is kidnapped into the mist. In a land filled with specters and a haunting past, finding her sheds light on another interesting story plot. Try to find your friends and get out alive in this latest edition of Phantasmat: Curse of the Mist. While the story may be somewhat interesting, there is nothing new about saving a friend from their assailant. The excitement and suspense element also seems to be missing from this game. Expectations run high when you've played the other 9 games of this series. Perhaps the developers wanted this edition to appeal to beginner and intermediate players? The graphics were really fantastic! When it comes to Eipix, we know what to expect from the art department. As usual this edition was a flawless production. This includes, but not limited to, gorgeous visuals, amazingly-designed environment, detailed artwork, solid cut-scenes, impressive music and appropriate voice-overs. Basically everything you need for an immersive gaming experience. Similar to most of the HOPA games nowadays, Phantasmat:Curse of the Mist focuses on the adventure part and the puzzles, rather than the hidden object scenes. Sparse as they are, the hidden object scenes offer a nice variety and excellent creativity, a Match-3 mode is included as well. I did not find the puzzles to be particularly challenging nor innovative, but they certainly contain some fun twists and are all very entertaining to play. As for the adventure part of the game, it is exquisitely made and absolutely enjoyable, although not mind-blowing like previous editions. I did like the fact that the story concludes itself within just this one game, without dragging on to two or three games. Sometimes it's a coin toss with this series, some are better than others. I look forward to the next installment of the Phantastmat Franchise. Cheers!
•Phantasmat •Phantasmat: Crucible Peak •Phantasmat: The Endless Night •Phantasmat: The Dread of Oakville •Phantasmat: Behind the Mask •Phantasmat: Town of Lost Hope •Phantasmat: Reign of Shadows •Phantasmat: Mournful Loch •Phantasmat: Insidious Dreams •Phantasmat: Curse of the Mist
This new series by 4FRIENDS is another example of how popular this developer is quickly becoming. In Dark City: London you play the role of the detective. Called in to the solve the mystery of the cursed clock tower! The developers have done well to evoke the atmosphere of a classic grimy Victorian detective story. Reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes(without Dr. Watson) and Edgar Allan Poe. Especially with the depictions of the locations. The variety of characters – including the voice-acting (which I though was done very well)made this installment more interesting. The plot and game play are also nicely combined. Which quickly draws you into this unfolding dark and eerie mystery. The game play has plenty of variety. Though possibly a bit on the easy side. However there is plenty to do. Including multi-layered hidden object games. With mini-games and puzzles within HO games. Once you’ve collected the evidence at each stage. You’re presented with a deduction board. Where you can put your sleuthing skills to the test. By arranging the clues you’ve collected into the proper order to deduce important facts that will help you solve the case. Overall, this is a well-designed detective game. Though, it may not be very challenging for advanced players. There’s enough tasks involved to enjoy in the varied game play and the story is quite compelling. This HOPA has everything required to make it a fun Victorian mystery adventure. I really look forward to the next game in this exciting new series. Cheers!
Check out these for more hidden object games series by 4 Friends Games: • Bridge to Another World Games. • Living Legends Series. • Edge of Reality Games. • Immortal Love Series.