virgquest's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:86
- Reviews Submitted:29
- First Review:August 31, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 26, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Gothic Fiction: Dark Saga
Rescue your daughter, Hannah, from the clutches of an evil witch before it's too late in this chilling Hidden Object adventure game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Silly, but fun - good choice for an SE adventure!
PostedFebruary 23, 2013
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Echoes of the Past: The Revenge of the Witch Collector's Edition
(110)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
GF:DS is a fun adventure/puzzle game w/no HOS. The graphics are a little cheesy, but well done - especially the eyes that track the cursor in almost every scene. The map is reasonably concise - 4-5 major areas to explore from a central starting point, so even though you do have run around more than you'd probably like at times, clicking through locations isn't that cumbersome. Really liked the map; it's not interactive, but does help you remember where your outstanding puzzles and tasks are. The puzzles themselves aren't particularly difficult, but if you play on advanced or hard mode, you'll have to work to locate all the active areas in each scene, which makes up for that.
SE wraps up quite well, so I didn't feel like I missed anything by not getting the CE. Would definitely recommend this game for a few hours of enjoyable distraction!
I recommend this game!
Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel
Rescue a young girl from the Penumbra Motel. Solve puzzles, unravel a long standing mystery of death and disappearances in this heart-pounding adventure game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Creepy atmosphere, but difficult to follow
PostedFebruary 10, 2013
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Echoes of the Past: The Revenge of the Witch
(87)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This was one of those games where you can end up with a bunch of items in your inventory and no idea what to do next. Penumbra has good graphics, a nice creepy atmosphere, and some decently challenging puzzles, but the balance and flow could have used some work. The difficulty level of the puzzles was inconsistent and I ended up having to refer to the walk-through more often than I would have liked because there wasn't always a logical connection between what you had and how/where you were supposed to use it. Hint system is useful if you want to know when a space is clear, but doesn't provide a lot of direction if you're completely stuck.
Storyline was ok, if somewhat random. I'm still not sure where all the WWII references came from. SE ending was sudden, but satisfying. Didn't feel like I was missing out by not having the CE. Also, as other reviewers have pointed out, there are no HOS. This is purely a seek, find, and use adventure / puzzle game - not a problem for me, but possibly disappointing to HOG lovers. Overall, a good buy for a half price sale or use of a freebie coupon.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake
The residents of Bitterford, Maine have fallen prey to a terrible curse. It’s up to you to unravel the series of mysterious events that led to the town’s downfall and uncover the evil that was responsible.
Overall rating
2
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Disappointing addition to the MCF series
PostedJanuary 26, 2013
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Shiver: Poltergeist
(79)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I'm really not sure what happened with this game. It has MCF in the name, but it's nowhere near the quality of the Ravenhearst or Dire Grove entries. Lea Thompson isn't normally a bad actress, but her performance here (or the editing of her performance) was gratingly melodramatic and so awful that it actually detracted from the already mediocre game. The "ghost hunter" actor's efforts were also pretty appalling.
Other problems: nonsensical storyline about an ancient tribal artifact that makes people go crazy, boring puzzles, awkward psychic visions with weighted blocks that become increasingly troublesome and annoying as the game goes on, and the inability to adjust the difficulty of game play after your initial setting.
In contrast to the rest of the MCF series, Shadow Lake feels poorly conceived and rushed through production. Even at the SE level, I'm sorry to say I can't recommend this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Mystery Case Files®: Escape from Ravenhearst™ Collector's Edition
Return once more to the haunted grounds of Ravenhearst Manor to uncover new details about this poignant saga. What you find could very well be the final chapter of this riveting story-if you escape.
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Good game, but Collector's Edition not worth extra $$
PostedJanuary 26, 2013
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Echoes of the Past: The Revenge of the Witch Collector's Edition
(110)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Pros: Beautiful visuals, excellent integration of audio and video clips, creepy atmosphere, good acting, complex puzzles, and engaging gameplay. Length and storyline were good. There is some great game play here, even for the experienced hidden object aficionado.
Cons: The bulk of the game is in the outdoors and the first three locked doors - the last two locked areas go by VERY quickly, so the end feels unexpectedly sudden, especially since (after several hours of cat & mouse), Charles is remarkably easy to defeat. The developers obviously put a lot of work into this game, but it would have benefited from more attention to pacing / balance. The whole "hunt for the missing townspeople" plot is also left dangling without any real resolution.
Another big problem is the lack of a hint system. The puzzles don't always connect smoothly and with so many objects and locations, getting stuck can be a time-consuming problem. Unfortunately with out a directional arrow or friendly "there's nothing else to do here..." hint message, the only recourse is to check the strategy guide or walkthrough website, which provides the complete answer whether you wanted it or not. The game also lacks the option to choose your level of game play.
Finally, a major disappointment with the CE is the kind of extra content included in the game. Instead of the familiar (optional) bonus chapter, there are bonus "quests" included in the game itself, which largely consist of extra hurdles players have to jump through in order to progress, like finding extra morphing objects or matching tokens to pieces of scenery (aka MCF:Shadow Lake's psychic drawings), and after all this additional work, you don't really get anything "extra," other than two additional hidden object scenes that have nothing to do with the rest of the story at all. I considered this a huge fail when I realized after finishing the main game that there was nothing else to do.
Overall: Highly recommend this game, but only as a standard edition. Not worth the CE markup unless you get it on sale. Otherwise probably one of the best hidden object games of 2012.
I recommend this game!
Redemption Cemetery: Grave Testimony Collector’s Edition
Escape a cursed island of lost souls by helping three of the trapped spirits in Redemption Cemetery: Grave Testimony!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Good story, good challenge
PostedJanuary 1, 2013
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game was good right up until the bonus chapter. The SE is plenty long enough and the puzzles offer good challenges. Love the hint button, which will tell you (without reset) if you've cleared a room and need to move on. This is great for checking that you've gotten everything out of a space without giving away too much of what you need to do next. Having three separate mini-stories keeps things interesting and provides opportunities to take breaks without losing your place.
The videos are pretty cheesy - the acting, costumes, and dialects are so awful they're almost funny - and the audio isn't synced to the lip movements. This is a shame because the rest of the graphics, music, and sound effects are quite good.
The SE ending is abrupt, but completes the main story. The CE bonus chapter is entirely extra, so you won't be dissatisfied with just the SE. The CE adds a full additional story, but I was ready for the game to be over and felt like the extra gameplay dragged on a bit too long. If you really love the Redemption Cemetery series, however, you may really enjoy the bonus content.
I recommend this game!
Shiver: Poltergeist
After inheriting a manor in England, you begin to explore the Kangale Estate and discover its history!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
SE is great, but get CE for complete ending
PostedDecember 29, 2012
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Shiver: Poltergeist
(79)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is an excellent HOS game, one of the best I've played in a long time. The graphics and music create a deliciously scary atmosphere and the puzzles are complex enough to offer a good challenge without blocking game play. There were numerous times when my inventory was very full and lots of different paths to take through the game. Large playing area, but no map, which was ok for me, but some might find it confusing. Really liked the hint system, which mostly just gave travel directions and didn't ruin puzzles by being excessively helpful. Nice long game play, good number of cut scenes, nicely fleshed-out storyline.
Overall, the SE is a solid game and the ending concludes the main story, but there are questions left unanswered that set up for the bonus chapter in the CE. If I could buy this game again, I'd definitely upgrade to the CE - this one's worth it!
I recommend this game!
Death Upon an Austrian Sonata: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Can you solve the mystery of the ghostly violinist?
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Enjoyable, but very easy
PostedDecember 28, 2012
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game would make a good introduction to the HOS genre or a pleasant diversion for experienced players who don't want to have to think too much. The graphics and game play are fine, just not very challenging. The SE was fine, but I wouldn't spring for the CE.
I don't recommend this game.
Dark Dimensions: Wax Beauty
Travel to Red Lake Falls to track down the latest Dark Dimension!
Overall rating
3
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Somewhat exhausting
PostedSeptember 2, 2012
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
DD: Wax Beauty certainly does NOT lack for length. Even the SE is quite substantive... maybe a little too much. At some point the story started to drag on and I became eager for it to end (which it eventually abruptly did), but others may appreciate the lengthy game play. There were definitely plenty of HOS and puzzles, although I found myself skipping some of the latter because the directions were mystifying or the interface was just too tedious to bother. There were also a decent number of video cut scenes, but the voiceovers were not matched to the video and the actors often appeared to be mouthing entirely different dialogue. This was particularly odd and distracting. Overall, this game appeared to have great promise, but just wasn't as fun or engaging as I'd hoped it would be.
I don't recommend this game.
Stray Souls: Dollhouse Story
Search for clues, solve puzzles, and unlock new areas as you visit spooky locations, master mini-games and locate Hidden Objects!
Overall rating
5
/
5
Strangely enticing...
PostedAugust 31, 2012
virgquest
fromLexington, KY
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Despite the fact that the storyline makes very little sense, this game is highly enjoyable. The pace is pretty fast, with lots of good hidden object scenes and very little needless backtracking. There are few puzzles and overall, it isn't terribly difficult, but the creepy atmosphere and engaging cut scenes more than make up for that deficit. Would definitely recommend the SE, especially if using a free game code. This is an under-advertised gem!
I recommend this game!