Dr_deNorthewode's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3
- Helpful Votes:57
- Reviews Submitted:3
- First Review:April 23, 2014
- Most Recent Review:December 28, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Dr_deNorthewode's Review History
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, Sacred Grove
A deadly secret lurks in the woods of Dire Grove!
Overall rating
1
/
5
25 of 28 found this review helpful
We Are Not Amused
PostedDecember 28, 2014
Dr_deNorthewode
fromSomewhere in Eastern Washington Where We Didn't Vote for Any of That Nonsense!
Simply stated: This is not a Mystery Case Files game. At best it is merely a modified installment of another Mystery Trackers thinly veiled behind the title of what was previously a truly wonderful game. I am glad to see others also stating their disappointment. Perhaps Big Fish Games will finally catch on -- but I have my doubts.
I don't recommend this game.
Haunted Manor: Lord of Mirrors Collector's Edition
Help Stan Riddle escape the Haunted Manor! After being trapped by the Lord of Mirrors, Stan needs you to guide him to safety!
Overall rating
4
/
5
28 of 31 found this review helpful
It’s All About the Stuff
PostedApril 25, 2014
Dr_deNorthewode
fromSomewhere in Eastern Washington Where We Didn't Vote for Any of That Nonsense!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Marble Popper
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Dire Grove™ Collector's Edition
(141)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Those Responsible: Top Evidence Studio
Game Release: 2010(?)
Review: Based on completed game (multiple times)
Game Release: 2010(?)
Review: Based on completed game (multiple times)
I was surprised to see how many recent, positive reviews there are for this game, most of which are over in the Standard Edition section. It being nearly four years old now, I would think most players would find the game rather out of date – and some do. Indeed, it is a rather simply made game in that there is no live acting or extensive animation or even voice overs. There are no morphing objects; no adorable, cuddly, oh-my-goodness, fluffy animal helpers (thank heavens!); no features whatsoever – with the possible exception of collectible figurines – that we’ve grown to expect from Collector’s Edition games. So what makes this seemingly unremarkable offering one of my favorite games? Well, the haunting music for one thing, beginning with Mozart’s “Requiem Mass” to, and by no means least, that haunting lullaby-like tune played particularly in the girls’ bedroom. Also, I find the artwork to be original and very well and pleasingly done. But, honestly, what is it really that makes this one of my favorite games? It’s the stuff.
I’m always impressed by artists/designers who clearly understand and appreciate the relevancy of the cultural material they place in their games. So often it seems, especially lately, hidden object games are indeed unimaginative junk piles. Games set in the Middle Ages, for example, that include as hidden objects such things as computer components, car parts, and modern utensils – to name just a few. In my opinion, the main enjoyment I get out of playing hidden object games is that I like looking at the stuff. The hidden object challenge in “Haunted Manor” is not particularly high (which a lot of times I also appreciate), but artistically the items are so accurately depicted and relevant to one another that I’ll go back and play the game again largely just to look at the stuff. It’s sort of like pawing through some dusty trunk in the attic of an antique store. How these, I assume, very young game designers even have a feel or a clue for these kinds of items I find very impressive. Perhaps in developing this game they themselves pawed through some dusty trunk in an attic somewhere.
Whatever the case, “Haunted Manor: Lord of the Mirrors” is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. If you go into this game expecting too much, then you’re likely to be disappointed. But if, like me, you simply enjoy looking through collections of cool-looking old stuff, then this just might be the game for you too.
Oh, and as a parting shot, if you don’t get the Collector’s Edition then you’ll never find out why the main character’s eyes turn forebodingly crimson at the end of the game. Personally I thought it was worth it to buy the Collector’s Edition, but perhaps that’s just me.
I recommend this game!
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
4 of 4 found this review helpful
A Fond Reminiscence
PostedApril 23, 2014
Dr_deNorthewode
fromSomewhere in Eastern Washington Where We Didn't Vote for Any of That Nonsense!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Marble Popper
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Escape from Ravenhearst™ Collector's Edition
(896)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Those Responsible: Play Pond
Game Copyright: 2010
Review: Based on completed game (completed many times, in fact)
Game Copyright: 2010
Review: Based on completed game (completed many times, in fact)
This was one of the first games that got me addicted to this type of gaming. I probably should look into some kind of ten-step program for game addicts (is that Steppenwolf playing in the background?), but until then let’s look at one of the games that started all this.
Since there is more than adequate description elsewhere of the basics, I’ll only reiterate here that the whole drama of this game begins with the rather cocked-up misidentification on the part of Erik the Phantom (no relation I’m sure to Erik the Viking) concerning the *daughter* of his one true love. The deal is, after all this time, I think the best advice would be: Dude, buy a calendar and look in the mirror! But, as fate would have it, the Phantom fails to do the sensible and is somehow able to successfully lure the daughter, who he thinks is the mother, to the now defunct opera house (one should never fall insanely in love and have a penchant for arson). How exactly all this luring was accomplished is never made clear, but considering the intellectual prowess of our young protagonist, and of her parents, it’s not at all surprising such a thing could come about. Let’s just say that none of them will be taking home any Mensa awards. I mean come on, as far as we know not once did Ma and Pa Prima Donna say, “Sweetie, I think this invitation is from the Phantom who not only might be dead but who also wants to murder your father and win the love of your mother – highly inappropriate, especially if he is, in fact – well, you know – *dead*!” But fortunately for us, logic does not prevail and we are launched on a forlorn-filled adventure of unrequited love as Erik gradually reveals to us his tale of woe and we are expected to desperately search for and return to him his black roses. Not quite sure what the logic behind the roses is, but I’ve never known a phantom either, so I guess it’s best not to overthink some things.
Now that I’ve got you chomping at the bit wanting to play this game, I must, nevertheless, warn you of something: You’re going to be doing a lot of running around. Yes, there is a map, but it pretty much just shows you how much running around you’re going to be doing. Remember, this was before we got so spoiled on teleportation maps and the like. This is from the good ol’ days when we were expected to travel our gaming environment. And, if you think about it, having to do so really gives you more of a feeling of being *in* the place. But I’ll admit, I’m spoiled, too; so I’m happy to say the good news is that the environment in which you’ll be doing so much travelling around in is pretty effective storywise as well as artistically attractive to look at.
And how is the music? It’s actually pretty top notch. Mind you, it’s definitely not the same upper-level quality as, say, that of the pre-Elephant-Game era Mystery Case Files. But it’s certainly worth keeping your speakers on. Unless you’re playing this stuff at work (yeah, and you thought you were the only one), then you’re going to be missing out on a lot of the gaming experience. Especially when…well, I won’t say any more here. But don’t sell it short.
As far as the voice acting is concerned, neither is this any reason to turn your sound off; and believe me, I’ve played games in which the voice acting (if you can even call it that) made me feel just a tad homicidal. Another good feature, in my opinion, is that the characters are not animated. No animation is by and far leagues better than poor animation.
The remaining gameplay is fairly standard for the genre and the puzzles are imaginative relative to the time that this game was produced. As far as hidden object games are concerned, in general, I have become somewhat neutral in my opinion of them. I have to admit I find it intensely moronic those games in which you are to rescue some character who is within moments of death, destruction and/or utter annihilation only *after* you’ve petted the hedgehog, fed the kitty, and located a butterfly key hidden amongst the items of a what-the-heck’s-that-doing-there junk pile. But that’s not really the case here. Indeed, this is a hidden-object focused game. Nevertheless, the artwork, the appropriateness of the items and their presentation is so skillfully done that even someone as jaded as I can appreciate the challenge – and some of the hidden object scenes are indeed a challenge. Not to mention that sniggly little extra-achievement thingy they’ve thrown in. With every new game I play I always vow that I’m not going to pay any attention to those extra-achievement thingies. But I always do. In this game, however, you can curser over the items list and get a silhouette of the actual shape of the object in order to aid in its discovery – and believe me, there are times even that doesn’t help. But if you ask for a hint or you miss-click on an object, you lose achievement points. Nuts! See what I mean about those extra-achievement thingies? Never again!
So what about the Standard Edition versus the Collector’s Edition? I’ve not played the Standard Edition, so I can’t comment. But I’ve never regretted purchasing the Collector’s Edition. You get an extra chapter to play that’s kind of silly but worth it, in my opinion. However, you’re basically going to have to decide for yourself how the standard- as well as the extended-play versions ultimately end. You’re sort of left hanging – somewhat du Maurier-like, I guess. Personally I rather like the ending I came up with on my own. But, alas, I intend to keep that to myself, thank you very much. You’ll just have to play the game yourself and then see what *you* come up with.
I recommend this game!