In this installment be ready to face most dangerous and merciless pirate of year 1863 in Sea of Lies: Tide of Treachery Collector's Edition. This cruel monster is not a man but a woman – her name is Rebecca Lowe and a huge reward is promised for her head. No one was able to get this reward for now, instead Rebecca, also known as the Sea Ripper, robbed and destroyed dozens of Royal ships on her path. Last victim of Sea Ripper was HMS Mary Rose, bringing gold, essential for the crown. The Royal Navy lost their patients and sent Duke of Reddington with the ship to get rid of Sea Ripper, but Rebecca destroyed the ship and killed Duke. And now you’re taking his place, trying to catch her! This adventure continues excellent traditions of the series, but it isn't my personal favorite. As a reviewer of Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure genre I think that Sea of Lies Four delivers a "good story" and "great look" to the Puzzle genre. The Bonus Chapter about the secret of the Sea Ripper was a deciding factor on choosing CE over SE version. Also includes chapters with many unexpected twists, excellent sound effects, intriguing encouraging descant, lovable high-resolution graphic arts, and entrancing quest with rare and loads of various storyline problems, so play it and enjoy! Great for all player levels...
I completed this outstanding adventure and I am proud to be a recruit of Hidden Expedition League of Preservation (H.E.L.P) This is a gorgeous and thrilling HOPA which you absolutely must experience. Outstanding Puzzles and HO's which are new to this genre. The bonus play is exciting and challenging as well. The graphics are stunning and the v/o acting was great. BRAVO!!!!
Demon Hunter 2 – A New Chapter is a breathtaking hidden object adventure! Twenty years ago Dawn’s foster father was killed by the Archdemon Ragnar. Now rumours of Ragnar’s return are getting stronger. It’s up to Dawn, the last living member of the ancient order of demonhunters to stop Ragnar once and for all. Only you can help her! •help demonhunter Dawn to defeat the evil Archdemon that killed her foster father •prevent the Archdemon from breaking into our world and protect the gates •play tons of breathtaking hidden object challenges and exciting mini-games •enjoy a captivating storyline complete objectives and earn a wide variety of achievements (collect swords).
This was one of the best SE HOG/Puzzle games I've played. Here are my favorite features in a good game: 1) Interesting storyline and characters 2) High quality graphics and music 3) Puzzles that are fun rather than simply being annoying barriers to progress and 4) Games within the game such as finding as many of a certain object within each scene for extra points. This game has all of these features. The only downsides were that the game is a little shorter than most I've played and there don't seem to be any other bonus features other than music and wallpaper, it could have been a good CE but it is a great SE. Other than that, this was a wonderful escape. Recommend to beginner and intermediate of all ages.
So far the NeverTales franchise has been pretty consistent in terms of production, creativity and quality - and Smoke and Mirrors does not disappoint. The presentation is as impressive as I have come to expect from Mad Head Games. The artwork is colorful and high spirited, perfectly incorporated fantasy elements into each scene. The soundtracks are expertly crafted, melodic and charming; in addition, the voice overs are also extremely well done. At first, I wasn't sure about the storyline in Smoke and Mirrors, thought it was going to be just another fantasy good vs. evil plot we have already seen a million times. However, as the game progresses, the story became clearer and more exciting, surprisingly exceeded my expectations. The story is smartly unfolded and developed, with relevant mini-games here and there to enhance the experience. The puzzles in Smoke and Mirrors are cleverly thought out, and although they are relatively easy compared to what we have seen from Mad Head in the past, they are undeniably entertaining and considerably creative. I also thoroughly enjoyed the hidden object scenes in NeverTales 3, but again, a little bit too easy. NeverTales 3 could have been one of the very best games in the Mad Head collection if the gameplay was more challenging. As it is now, the gameplay is undoubtedly fun, but very straightforward and fairly simple. Our mechanical owl helper, Gears, is also back for this sequel. Unfortunately, Gears is somewhat annoying, both its personality, its movements and definitely its high-pitched voice. Regardless of all the flaws mentioned above, I enjoyed every minute of the long main game of NeverTales 3. The bonus chapter might not be as terrific as the main game, but fun and creative all the same. Casual gamers of all levels are sure to enjoy this edition of the incredible trilogy! Thanks Big Fish!!!
Nevertales: Smoke and Mirrors is another buzzworthy game from Mad Head; it showcases stunning graphics, effective story-telling and some respectable amount of originality.
Shrouded Tales: The Spellbound Land Collector's Edition
(46)
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
This game was an insta-buy for me from the moment I saw its story. I love something new, and Beyond: Light Advent delivers. Set in the 1950s, in a retro age where UFOs and the fascination towards space and aliens is high, the game puts you in the shoes of Diana, who has an imaginary alien friend since she was little – Nix. It’s only when she becomes and adult that she learns that Nix is not at all an imaginary friend, but a real alien who is telepathically communicating with her: and now he has a warning about the evil Alien World Eaters who are planning to attack and destroy the Earth. With the help of your (real) alien friend, you have to explore a charming world set in the 50s and use your wits and skills to save the planet from total destruction! The story is indeed refreshing and new and I would consider it quite welcome and enough of a reason to get the game. Of course, the gameplay has to be solid too, but it’s good to know that this epic sci-fy adventure is created by the same people who brought the Rite of Tales series, so you know that you are in for a treat. The hidden object scenes are varied and nice, from silhouette guessing to classic list finds and “find 5 x items” types of games, plus the nice mechanic of finding crystals for creating bridges and restoring memories. The scenes themselves are challenging and masterfully drawn and you will love going through them. You also have various sets of minigames, with puzzles being challenging enough to have you scratching your head a few times: you have maze puzzles, matching puzzles and even dexterity puzzles (you have to drive a motorcycle, for example) and they’ll keep you busy and entertained. Visually, the game is pure eye candy(and so is Nix). It does seem a bit dark every now and then, but the details are still easy to be seen and you will get used with the less bright settings. Especially if you like all things retro and the feel of the 50s, you will love the looks of the game, as well as the soundtrack and voices. Move your cursor out of the way to fully enjoy the cut scenes. All in all, Beyond: Light Advent is an adorable game, one you’ll fall in love with from the first moment and one that, just as it happens with a good book, you won’t be able to put down until you reach the end. So get started: Earth needs a savior and it has to be you!
You've come to Mexico to explore a mysterious mansion. But this is no vacation. Your cousin is missing, and the house is crawling with bizarre and deadly creatures!
Twilight Phenomena: Strange Menagerie has a similar tropical, exotic theme as the first game (the Lodgers of House 13) but this time it sets in Mexico. Your cousin has contacted you before she went missing, as you arrived at the place, you discovered some weird animals and plant species as well as a mad scientist conducting a suspicious experiment. As expected, you have to stop the experiment and save your cousin before she mutates. The storyline here is definitely not the game's strongest feature as it is terribly unoriginal and I actually got a little bored with it. I would not say the graphics in Twilight Phenomena 2 are 'awesome' either. They are not bad, visuals are clear and scenes are nice-looking but they are very old school, the locations are not very interesting as we have all seen them before and they can be much more detailed. The voice overs are nice enough and the music is not irritating but is not something particularly good. The gameplay is very predictable ERS-G style, easy and straightforward. You have to walk back and forth or jump between scenes using the interactive-map and completing repetitive, uninspiring, sometimes frustrating tasks. Luckily, the developer did add some extra features to spice up the plainness of the game. There are Collectibles as well as Achievements and a rather annoying Raccoon companion as it constantly pops up on the screen. Let's move on from the bad to the good. I found the interactive Hidden Object scenes in this HOPA sequel to be extremely well done. You can switch between Hidden Object mode and Hexagonal Rotating Puzzle mode. There are also various different types of HO scenes to complete although many of them are junk-pile liked. Moreover, the puzzles are very good. They might not be absolutely original but they are at least, fun to play and you can even change the difficulty in some of the puzzles. Another feature we like about this game is the Custom Difficulty mode where you can fully customize the game's difficulty along with other three preset modes. The length of the main game is not really long and ends in some kind of a rush. The Bonus Chapter is nothing really remarkable. Other Extras including some obvious stuff like Strategy Guide, Wallpapers, Screensavers, Concept Art, Soundtracks, replayable cutscenes, Hidden Object scenes, Mini-Games and the unnecessary ability to change the Raccoon's outfit.
Twilight Phenomena: Strange Menagerie is surely not ERS's strongest work. It is not a bad game to play and in my opinion it's a nice addition to my collection. I think casual gamers of all levels should give this one a play.
The famous Haunted Hotel franchise is back with a brand-new, thrilling installment! During the past several years, Northern Oregon has constantly been plagued with wildfires/ Are these the work of the legendary Phoenix or the product of an arsonist? Project Eternity is back with a new villain - Duke Callahan. Now it's up to you with the occasional assistance of fellow Detective James to help save Steven the scientist. Only Steven knows the chemistry secrets to the newest Project Eternity (immortality) but you'll have to defeat Duke Callahan, a hypnotist, and a slew of puzzles and unique hidden objects scenarios. It's a fast paced thriller with a great story, and delivers over 4 hours of gameplay with Bonus Chapter. Bonus Chapter is not relative to the main game but is a fun addition. I recommend Haunted Hotel Eternity CE too since we first learn of Project Eternity in that adventure. Casual gamers of all levels are sure to enjoy this edition. Thanks Big Fish!
The successfully solved case began piling up which turned you into a perfect candidate to tackle what awaits at the Crescent Carnival. The vibrant carnival surrounding gives off an unsettling impression that there’s something covertly amiss about the murder, but it’s initially impossible to discern what. Armed with seasoned wits and experience, you’re to find your way through smoke and mirrors. Embark down the path of the twisted illusions and trickery and do not believe what your eyes can see. Someone poisoned the man on the hill near the Carnival (its all about evidence). When the victim died, the murderer moved his dead body down the hill to the front gate. There are no witnesses and not enough clues about murderer’s identity. Victim was one of the carnival season employees, but everyone at the carnival including manager Eduard Grimwell denies knowing him. You will have to dig deep to find murder weapon and uncover the motive of the crime. Maybe personnel of the Crescent Carnival are hiding something terrible? This edition has good visuals, voice acting, and yesteryear theme. You soon learn about your evidence kit and how to question the carnival suspects. Who is lying and who is telling the truth is repeated throughout the adventure. Did you know Dead Reckoning is a 1947 Columbia Pictures film noir starring Humphrey Bogart? Makes me wonder if the movie inspired this trilogy? Anyway I enjoyed the murder mystery, yet it isn't my favorite edition of the three installments.
Join forces with other Barons of Havenwick and defeat evil Razaroth before it’s too late in this exciting follow up to Shrouded Tales: The Spellbound Land! But firstly you will have to reveal Razaroth’s true identity! He was put in jail in Volarden long ago and guarded by his brother, a great magician. But then Razaroth’s shadows freed him from his chains; sneaky he attacked brother, imprisoned him instead of himself and uses his shapeshifting ability to look exactly like him! So now Razaroth is ruling the Volarden and his shadows punishing everyone trying to stop his reign. You, Archibald, Alexander and your mother Elizabeth will have to use all your talents to defeat him and restore order! Whether you ignore the graphic effects or your whole existence is devoted to design and graphics of Hidden Object, Adventure computer games, you can't stay indifferent to the tremendous videosequence of Shrouded Tales 2: Revenge of Shadows. In this edition there are undreamt-of tasks for you as you go on your main mission. Even though the use of an amulet is a repeated theme from similar adventures, this epic game is truly an atmospheric experience I enjoyed from the commencement to the galvanic conclusion. I highly recommend both!!!
A Death grip of cold is coming to your kingdom from Nypha, so you will have to travel there and use your fire-wielder medallion to remove the icy curse from Princess of Nypha! Dark Realm 2: Princess of Ice Collector’s Edition. Created by the twisted and incredible imagination of Mad Head Games. Get ready to embark on a remarkable journey as you play the role of Queen Valera in search of a runaway princess who poses as a boy and steals a Magic Saber in the quest against evil. With the help of a young apprentice named Borivor who sacrifices his human form to also aid in saving the princess, Chob'Ahn the wizard, and Myrina your spiritual guide, you make your way to the Den of Awakening. There King Iret awaits you and HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO COMPLETE THE SABER AND RELEASE IT'S POWER. You: Who are you? What are you doi… Bear: You must get to the princess, or we’re all doomed! You: What’s happening? Where did this snow come from? What’s going on? It’s never snowed in my kingdom before! You: I just had the strangest dream! The bear’s mark is glowing! Oh, and didn’t it drop a bracelet around here? It’s that bracelet the bear left on my bed! Soon your magic bracelet becomes a Frozen Claw which has many uses thru the course of the quest. Drag and connect gems of same color to destroy objects game (which gains different uses of the Frozen Claw). It's big at around four or more hours long for the average play, it's gorgeous with beautifully illustrated characters and environments, and it's packed with puzzles, mini-games, and cut scenes galore. Admittedly, there are times when the game might lean a bit too hard on gimmicks over actual thinky puzzles, such as repeatedly having you time clicks to hit a certain section of a circle to succeed at acts of skill throughout the game, but there's just so much going on it's hard to really mind. Backtracking exists but is happily kept to a minimum, and the game moves you to new locations often enough that it always keeps your interest. This is an terrific follow up to the Dark Realm: Queen of Flames.