9otters's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.1
- Helpful Votes:1,898
- Reviews Submitted:63
- First Review:November 24, 2014
- Most Recent Review:February 22, 2016
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Uncover the truth behind the legendary fire that destroyed a university.
Overall rating
1
/
5
21 of 31 found this review helpful
NO Excitement, NO Surprises, NO challenge, NO Fun
PostedAugust 21, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Based On Demo
Can't say I've ever been a Haunted Hotel fan, and I didn't see anything here that will make me change my mind...OR entice me to play beyond the demo.
I've had to opportunity to play a few 5-star games in the past couple of months and this one doesn't even come close. In comparison, this game had zero fun factor and zero challenge. We finish our business in a few scenes, then move on to the next few scenes. The end of the demo came quickly, and it was just as well.
Playing the demo, I found it to mostly be an "open-this-with-that" game, just like the last one. Nothing "special", imo, as far as HOs and mini-games were concerned. For those who are interested...
Strategy guide shows six chapters (never had to use it), bonus game, and where to find the morphing objects, collectibles, and puzzle pieces. Good graphics, ok music and voice-overs.
21 morphing objects found in the regular scenes. A "hand" appears when the cursor passes over them so, no real challenge involved in finding them. Pull-out on the right shows a count of how many we've found.
12 "figurines" found make a collection of statuettes of mythical birds, with a bit of history on each one.
"Puzzle" pieces to collect, in plain sight, complete a "stained glass" window. From what I could see, I'm GUESSING it will be a phoenix. As you collect them, they are placed in the window, so I cannot say from playing the demo if it will end up being an actual puzzle.
"Puzzle" pieces to collect, in plain sight, complete a "stained glass" window. From what I could see, I'm GUESSING it will be a phoenix. As you collect them, they are placed in the window, so I cannot say from playing the demo if it will end up being an actual puzzle.
Looks like there are 17 or 18 achievements, all performance-based.
A "secret room", unlocked after completing main and bonus games. I don't know if it is the standard secret room we've seen before, where several mini-games and HOs are completed for time and accuracy, because I only played the demo.
Replay of 11 mini-games and 13 HOPs. Locking inventory. Standard jump map. Hint button transports to other locations. Four levels of difficulty, one is "custom". Same array of regular CE extras such as wallpaper, etc.
Perhaps some will want to find out where the story goes, but it didn't hold my interest. Maybe beginners will find it to be entertaining. I just cannot recommend a game that I don't even care to play.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
A magic bear summons you to help save the neighboring kingdom of Nypha.
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 18 found this review helpful
Can't RAVE About It...Can't Pan It. It Was Ok.
PostedAugust 21, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Current Favorite:
Subliminal Realms: The Masterpiece
(56)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based On Completed Game
This game definitely has the Mad Head "stamp" on it. FABULOUS graphics and CHARACTERS. Lots of positives in this games, but some negatives too. The story and action dragged at times. Too frequently, I found myself losing interest. It is possible that the gimmick had something to do with that.
The BIGGEST NEGATIVE is the game "gimmick". Used and OVER-USED. There is a mini-game that has to be played to complete its function. I'd estimate I got 2/3 of the way through and then just skipped it whenever it came up. So tedious playing that same game over and over and over...and OVER.
The music was original and I probably would have liked it a lot better if I had not listened to the same refrain, repeatedly, during the gimmick game. Voice-overs really good.
SOME good mini-games, but I understand why they are not available to replay in the bonus. I don't think some would be that interesting outside of the game, plus some themes were repeated.
We do get to replay the HOPs for time and accuracy in the extras, and they were much better than the mini-games, imo. There were morphing items to be found in these.
44 Collectible crowns. A "Crown Hunt" in the extras. We can go back and collect any we miss. Finding them all unlocks a HUGE HOS and a jigsaw puzzle. Completing the jigsaw puzzle unlocks a "character gallery" of 27 characters, with descriptions of each.
Strategy guide #never looked at it#, bonus game, 15 achievements, replay of 19 HOPs, music, "Making of", etc.
The jump map shows active areas, but not individual actions needed. The hint button works fine for that. There is an indicator by the hint button to show how many crowns have been collected. Also one to show if the morph has been found in the HOS.
Locking inventory. Four difficulty levels, one is custom. #Isn't "custom" really all anyone needs?#
The Main game ending leaves it open for future sagas, but it does have a conclusive ending. I'd recommend the CE because, just like Maze: Subject 360, the bonus game adds so much to the story. A prequel, with a twist I didn't expect, and for THIS game, it makes the story BETTER.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
From the makers of the Rite of Passage series comes a ground-breaking new series that's as creepy as it gets.
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Masterful, One-Of-A-Kind, Story-Driven, MUST PLAY Game!
PostedAugust 19, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based on Completed Game
SO many positive reviews, and I, happily, am joining the 5-star group. Having been a horror fan since I was a child, I didn't find it to be particularly creepy, BUT it did have its moments.
This was not a "hard" game, imo. We do SOME things that we have to do in other games. It is the "getting there" that boosts the fun factor in a BIG way. Other Devs should take note.
EVERYTHING we do advances, and is part of, finding the story. And that includes the bonus game. If at all possible, I urge you to play the CE. It isn't that the ending of the main game is left undone. The game page describes the bonus game as a "view of the story from a whole new perspective". It is a perspective that I WANTED to experience, and is in NO WAY "tacked on" to make this game CE worthy.
I got a bit tired of all the "taunting" from the "child" during the demo. Thankfully, we weren't "under her thumb" as much AFTER the demo.
There are 44 collectible "swirls" to find in the main game AND the bonus game. Find ONE, and you can collect the rest by playing the swirl game in the extras. Complete your swirl collection and unlock a MONDO HOS, that, if you choose, can be played for bronze, silver, and gold stars in the Achievements.
Many UNIQUE HOPs, with a morphing object in each. A grimacing face by the hint button turns green and spins when you've found it. All 19 can be played in the extras for starred achievements. If you find the morph during regular gameplay, you won't have to find it again when playing for time and accuracy.
Good mini-games, all unique to the game/story.
Extras also include a jigsaw puzzle of one of the game scenes, game and performance achievements, and the usual CE extras.
I never used the Strategy Guide, but there were a couple of times I was tempted. Jump map shows active areas, the "hint" can take you further from there, if needed.
I purchased this game when it became available, but waited three weeks to play, because there was ONE game feature that almost kept me from playing altogether. I was waiting to see if the Devs would "fix" it, because many others found it to be a real atmosphere killer too. A HUGE journal/objectives page pops on to the screen...unwanted, unasked for...frequently...no matter which of four difficulty settings you choose.
I'm glad I chose to try to ignore it, because it would have been a shame to miss this game. One-of-a-kind entertainment beyond my expectations.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Isa's back to his old tricks, and now he's doing the bidding of an even greater foe.
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 12 found this review helpful
Top-Notch Graphics In A Lovely Fantasy World Make Average Gameplay OK.
PostedAugust 16, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based On Completed Game
I got this game due to a sale that let me have it for the price of a SE. Because I have played the majority of the Spirits Of Mystery games, I knew what to expect, and got exactly that. It was good to see that the quality didn't deteriorate after the demo. It just remained the same.
I WAS disappointed that the gargoyles played a minimal to practically non-existent role. After playing the demo, and seeing the game menu page, I really expected to see more of them. MUCH more. The "gimmick" gargoyle mirror made more appearances than the gargoyles themselves.
Potions abound here! We find them, we make them, we use them. None were rocket science. Thank heaven there were enough OTHER interesting things to do too.
I wish the visual/sound category was divided into two SEPARATE categories for this game. The graphics were top-notch. Better than what we usually see from this Dev.
On the other hand, the music was repetitive. With the character that has the most dialogue speaking like she came from the world of automated voices at the other end of a phone line, this one would benefit from turning the sound OFF.
The mini-games were average, but a couple held some challenge. It was nice to see a re-set button, because there was ONE game that took several attempts before I got it right. Lots of detail in the graphics. If you're a match-3 lover, you'll be in heaven because there were several versions to play.
The HOPs showed us nothing new and were visited twice. Their saving grace was the imagination, detail, and, again, graphics. I was thankful for not having to find horseshoes, smoking pipes, etc. There was NO alternate game to play if you're not a HOS fan.
The gimmick is a mirror that needs to be powered up before we use it. That involves scanning the scene for SIX gargoyle faces. After it is working, we use it to find "secret" places that hold messages, "keys" and such. We only use it 7 or 8 times in the main game AND bonus game, so it wasn't OVER-used.
Locking inventory. Standard jump map shows active areas and when an area is completed. Action is always contained within a few scenes so there is no need to go back any distance.
The collectibles are 24 "stamps" that are used to create wax seals. The first one we find is semi-hidden, the remainder, in plain sight. They unlock an EXTRA match-3 bonus game.
There are 25 HO scenes and 11 mini-games available to replay in the extras. 15 achievements. Banners can be "pulled down" from the top of the screen to view them, and the collectibles, while playing.
Of course, the CE includes a bonus game and a strategy guide, but I never needed it. There are the usual assortment of additional CE extras.
Although we've seen this story time and again, it really didn't bother me because the fantasy world I got to spend time in was so lovely. Beginners and intermediate players might appreciate this game the most.
If I were asked, I'd recommend the SE. Main game ending was ok, bonus game didn't really make it or break it. It was also disappointing to see how many of the main game locations were "recycled" for the bonus.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Dear Witch Apprentice, are you ready to meet your fate? Win the magical ingredients needed to save your world!
Overall rating
1
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Beautiful World. Frustrating Gameplay.
PostedAugust 12, 2015
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based on Demo
I saw this on the DD. I noticed a new version had been released on July 21, 2015. Because the new version was supposed to address some of the issues that many of the negative reviews were about, I tried the demo.
I LOVED the look of this game. The only part of the "world" I got to see, before I had to quit, was inside the house. Just beautiful. The graphics are superb! This is the perfect example of graphics alone not making a good game.
I LOVED the minimalist music and the vocal sound that signals an action has been completed. That is why it is so sad that the gameplay wasn't better.
Others have said that you're going to have to like a game with no "hand-holding" to enjoy this one. I LOVE a game with no hand-holding. Imo, that isn't the problem.
For me, one of the problems is that everything happens is slow motion. Too much waiting for every action to begin...and end. There is enough time, waiting for the game to respond, to WONDER if you've taken the RIGHT action.
Another issue is the tiny area you have to hit to get to get a response. It isn't a problem when picking up items. It's a BIG problem when trying to hit just the right spot when letting go of, or placing items. It is very frustrating when multiple attempts yield no success.
The cursor is HUGE. I'm guessing one of the reasons is that, instead of CHANGING to a hand or gears to indicate what should be done, PART of the CURSOR shows an eye, hand, or gear. This does not work when you are "holding" something. Getting an item in the required space would be much simpler if the gear would appear at THAT time.
I managed to get everything done in the house. The next task was to gather several things in a bag to take with me on my quest. I had no problem packing the bag. Unfortunately, once packed, the bag disappeared. I had no choice but to end the game.
I would have liked to play this game. It's not a ground-breaker, but it was interesting enough that I wanted to explore the world, and the story, further. It was just too frustrating getting anything done. Add the missing bag and that was the end of that.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
It's the end of the world... at least in Oakville.
Overall rating
3
/
5
19 of 22 found this review helpful
Played Better In SE Form
PostedAugust 9, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based on Completed SE Game
I haven't been a fan of this Dev for a while due mostly to graphics issues and simplistic gameplay. I revisited this game after posting a "meh" comment in the CE forum reviews. It plays MUCH better, for me, in SE form.
I don't know if the "special effects" used in a CE affected the graphics, but, on my computer, they're definitely better in the SE. Also, I think I was able to concentrate on the story more without the distraction of collectibles, etc.
The fact that the visuals WERE better prompted me to use a coupon and I was pleasantly surprised. This game is one of the rare ones that improves AFTER the demo.
Mini-games were relatively simple but fun. HOPs were average and there was a certain amount of "open-this-with-that", but perhaps not as excessive as with other games from this Dev.
Really no need for a strategy guide. Activity was always contained within 3 or 4 scenes, so the map wasn't REALLY necessary, but if you like "jumping", it does.
I've been a horror movie fan since my youth, so not much creep factor for me. Maybe I've become a bit immune.
The game isn't ground-breaking but I enjoyed it, and the story, enough to want to play it again in the future. It will be good for those days when I want to relax and just go along for the ride.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Subliminal Realms: The Masterpiece
Albert's worst nightmare becomes reality when a creature from his grim paintings kidnaps his family. What does she want?
Overall rating
5
/
5
131 of 138 found this review helpful
Artistic, Unique, Clever, AND A Story With A Twist!
PostedAugust 9, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Based On Completed Game
This Dev's games all share the one thing that always makes me want to explore further. They make me THINK. They ALL have their own unique style in graphics and theme. Each one totally different from the others. Subliminal Realms: the Masterpiece is no exception.
In addition to absorbing gameplay, this one is a visual FEAST. Watching the scenes with water and sky was especially mesmerizing. Clouds morphing in to fantastical beasts. Animated paint strokes giving the water movement. Artistic, clever, and beautiful.
SO many games show the Devs best efforts in the demo. After that, they devolve into run-of-the-mill, same-thing-different-day, boredom. For me, this game got MORE interesting and involved the further I went.
Great HOPs, so varied and in keeping with the theme, I just wanted MORE.
ORIGINAL mini-games, fun and varying in difficulty.
A LENGTHY game. There are times you will have more than a few pieces of inventory and the jump map makes it easy to get back to where you need to go.
A handsome helper who is very good at helping without a lengthy show. As a matter of fact, you almost WANT to use him just to hear him SPEAK. Great voice.
A story with DEPTH and an unexpected twist.
Unusual music to assist the mood, tracks available in the extras.
I got the CE version which includes a strategy guide, bonus game, re-playable mini-games, collectible slides that, after being found, we "paint" and then, "display" in the room that holds our achievements trophies. A bonus "secret game" is included and is unlocked after playing the first two.
Of course, there are posters, concept art, etc.
ENGROSSING gameplay, UNIQUE graphics, and a story with "meat" have earned this gem of a game a well-deserved place in my list of top favorites. Well done Devs! Many thanks to you and BFG.
Get the SE. Get the CE. Get this game! SO good on SO many levels.
I listed another one this Dev's games as a "favorite". I recommend it too. Totally different from this one but every bit as good in its own unique way. If you like the satisfaction of finding answers without "hand-holding", you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
To finish, I'd like to suggest you take a look in the forums for game help and lots of info you won't find on these game review pages. Get there by clicking on "Get game tips", found at the top of this page, right hand corner, above the game video.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Beyond the sky lies a thrilling adventure... and a deadly threat!
Overall rating
1
/
5
30 of 44 found this review helpful
BEYOND Fabulous Graphics and Music. BEYOND BORING Gameplay.
PostedAugust 7, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Based On Completed Game
I'm behind the pack with this review, but the demo did not move me to buy. I got it on sale for $6.99 and sorry I spent even that. I thought there MUST be something more beyond the demo for the game to have such rave reviews.
The graphics and music were BEYOND fabulous.
The gameplay? BEYOND slow. BEYOND non-intuitive. BEYOND boring.
So many times I KNEW what had to be done, but had to wait for the game to let me do it. Just as many times when I had NO CLUE what to do.
SO much S-L-O-W video...sat there WAITING for something to do. Every entry into a new scene required panning left, right, close-up on areas of interest...pan out. The scene was explored before I even got a mouse-click in.
A mountain of "repair this" side work.
I KNOW there was three, maybe four, times I had to create a grappling hook...sheets and broom handle, rope and hoe, rope and shovel? Hard to remember when you're just going through the motions to get through it.
Wow. I lost count of the number of times I had to "move" things out of the way to reach the object I needed. Twenty? Just about every item I needed was buried under a pile of something...or buried in a junk-pile HOP.
Puzzles made more difficult due to the lack of clear instructions. I really didn't know how to rate the level of challenge, because "confusing" wasn't an option.
Cowboys and Indians. Way too much annoying "nerd" sidekick "comic" relief. Just bad.
The actual "alien threat" only appeared a couple of times. Disappointing...and BORING.
Should have listened to my gut and steered clear. The gut rarely lies. Beautiful graphics and music do NOT make a good game.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
Match birds across dozens of levels to reach a legendary artifact!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
SO much more than a "Match 3" game.
PostedAugust 1, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Got this game with a coupon code and so happy I did! SO much more to it than what I'd consider a Match 3 game to be.
Love the different challenges. Really changes it up and makes it more interesting. More interesting, and more FUN. Highly addictive.
I'm only on level 45 but had to comment. If you're tired of the "same old" HOGs, but want some brain involvement, I believe you just might find it here. I know I did.
Hope YOU find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
A carnival is no laughing matter when a murderer strikes.
Overall rating
1
/
5
19 of 25 found this review helpful
Fun Factor Finished The Same Time As The Demo
PostedJuly 23, 2015
9otters
fromsomewhere in the midwest
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Based on Estimated 3/4 Of The Main Game
Due to some much needed improvement in gameplay, graphics, and mini-game originality/difficulty, in the demo, I thought this MIGHT be an Eipix game I'd like to play. Took a chance...then took a NAP! All the potential disappeared after the demo.
Graphics were FAR better, from this Dev, than I've seen in a very long time. The grittiness that normally sends me running was absent in this game. The ever-shifting beams of light were saved for the scenery and not the HOS. There were also more active areas in each scene than I've seen in the past. All positive changes, imo.
Unfortunately, not only did the HOS complexity change after the demo, there were NO MORPHS, which has been a standard feature in the past. I THINK I got about 3/4 of the way through the game before I quit. I saw only ONE of the multi-location HOS, which has also been standard for this Dev. Alternate game is a bubble shooter.
The theme oriented mini-games started out being fun, and a couple actually required some thought.
AFTER the demo, they were simple and much the same as we see everywhere. The evidence board was...tedious. It has NEVER been a favorite of mine, so no surprise there. I've always viewed the "evidence gathering" feature as an always relied upon, time-wasting gimmick.
The gameplay reverted back to open-this-with-that, take-this-here-and-put-it-there. It ended up being SO tedious I really didn't care "whodunit".
I never needed the strategy guide OR the map. You will have to travel by map at least once to get the "achievement".
This CE has all the extras we normally see in an Eipix game. Strategy guide, bonus game, replay of 19 mini-games and 15 HOPs, souvenir hunt, replay of the bubble shooter game, all the posters, concept art, videos, etc.
Collectibles are 39 "Scales of Justice". There is an indicator by the hint button to tell us how MANY we've found, but NOT if we've found it in that scene. Pretty well hidden, but we are able to go back and find any we missed when the game has been completed.
Playing the demo had me thinking this could be a 3-star game. Simple, but fun...good graphics...murder most foul. Oh well. It's always good to have HOPE.
Hope WE ALL find some fun today. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.