wupmuppet's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.6
- Helpful Votes:32
- Reviews Submitted:10
- First Review:October 12, 2013
- Most Recent Review:June 12, 2016
- Featured reviews0
wupmuppet's Review History
Take a journey through an isolated research facility in the Antarctic and discover the secrets of its past.
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Loads of Mysteries to Solve
PostedJune 12, 2016
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I thoroughly enjoyed this game and it's a new favourite.
The story is exactly the kind of mystery I like, with puzzles to solve that are logical towards the problem. Can't see in the dark? Turn on the generator for the lights. Generator run out of fuel? Find a barrel that holds some and figure out a way to get it out. Each step in this game makes sense, rather than some games that have you looking in a jewellery box to find a razor blade which cuts a pillow holding a figurine inside that opens a lock. ... What?
There are lots of obstacles to overcome and I had to leave the game a few times and do something else in order to attack the problem with a fresh mind. Only twice did I use the hint feature and it does explain quite well what the next step forward is. I probably would've figured out one of the answers, but the other was beyond my reach. It made sense in hindsight but the concept was a little abstract for me. Problems range from very easy to rather difficult. A person who plays a lot of problem-solving games or HOGs will probably streak through this game.
You do have to go back and forth a bit while you discover new things, but the setting is quite contained, so you soon start running around the facility like a pro. I do like the fact you get to go exploring outside. Don't forget your jacket!
Fantastic atmosphere, great music and artwork. I rarely listen to music in games but this time I kept it on. It wasn't invasive.
I recommend this game!
The Silent Age
Help Joe discover the truth behind humankind's extinction! Can a simple janitor and literally, "the average Joe," save humankind?
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
A Fun Retro Experience
PostedAugust 24, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Word
Current Favorite:
The Silent Age
(73)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Overall Impression:
For those who loved the 80s style adventure games, this one is a nice 'update' without losing the feel of the game itself. Instead of typing in commands, you get to point and click. The interface is very intuitive and the problem solving is sensible and clever. Love this game to pieces.
For those who loved the 80s style adventure games, this one is a nice 'update' without losing the feel of the game itself. Instead of typing in commands, you get to point and click. The interface is very intuitive and the problem solving is sensible and clever. Love this game to pieces.
Storyline:
A really good Wells-ian premise with an excellently executed plot. As I'm a big fan of science fiction, I'd figured out about halfway along what the ending might be and got it right, but still didn't see some of the more detailed twists which made the game that extra bit enjoyable.
A really good Wells-ian premise with an excellently executed plot. As I'm a big fan of science fiction, I'd figured out about halfway along what the ending might be and got it right, but still didn't see some of the more detailed twists which made the game that extra bit enjoyable.
Visual:
Retro artstyle but clean and crisp. There are ambient throwbacks like lava-lamps, furniture, starburst clocks, egg chairs and even in the paintings. It's just enough to set the mood without being too much.
Retro artstyle but clean and crisp. There are ambient throwbacks like lava-lamps, furniture, starburst clocks, egg chairs and even in the paintings. It's just enough to set the mood without being too much.
Auditory:
Suspenseful music, enough to set the mystery-mood and not be distracting. The voice-acting is great. Not a disco boogie soundtrack in range (thankfully).
Suspenseful music, enough to set the mystery-mood and not be distracting. The voice-acting is great. Not a disco boogie soundtrack in range (thankfully).
Movement:
Click on the thing to look at or pick up the thing. It will show up in inventory if you have it. Using it means clicking on the thing in inventory and then clicking it on top of what you want to use. Pretty simple. One click in the place you want your character (Joe) to go means he'll walk there. Two clicks means he'll run there. My Joe ran around a lot. Joe will give you hints or make sardonic comments if you do silly things. At one point Joe gets a gun. He will not shoot people if you try to do so, and starts to freak out about 'thinking about shooting them'. What a nice, passive guy. Very dry humour.
Click on the thing to look at or pick up the thing. It will show up in inventory if you have it. Using it means clicking on the thing in inventory and then clicking it on top of what you want to use. Pretty simple. One click in the place you want your character (Joe) to go means he'll walk there. Two clicks means he'll run there. My Joe ran around a lot. Joe will give you hints or make sardonic comments if you do silly things. At one point Joe gets a gun. He will not shoot people if you try to do so, and starts to freak out about 'thinking about shooting them'. What a nice, passive guy. Very dry humour.
Summary:
This is a really different game in the Big Fish vaults and deserves its place. For those who think it's old fashioned... yes, it truly is a throwback without all those pesky command prompts... but that doesn't mean it's not a terrific game. It might be too retro for some, but it will still be fun for many. Playing the demo will show you exactly what the whole game is like.
This is a really different game in the Big Fish vaults and deserves its place. For those who think it's old fashioned... yes, it truly is a throwback without all those pesky command prompts... but that doesn't mean it's not a terrific game. It might be too retro for some, but it will still be fun for many. Playing the demo will show you exactly what the whole game is like.
I would like a longer game, but the storyline prohibits it and it wasn't too short. I thought it was worth buying and playing to the end. At the time of writing, this is my new favourite game.
I recommend this game!
Experience the Travels of Marco Polo - a historical Point & click Adventure for the whole family!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Short Historic Tale, Not For Everyone
PostedJune 23, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The game works a bit differently to other HOs in that it is simpler in detail and more straight forward.
The player will learn a little bit about Marco Polo's travels and will be given a touch of information about the things Polo found. This game would suit a younger player (pre-teen).
The game is a short game and would take less than a couple of hours to finish. The developers could've made it longer but chose not to.
This game won't be for everyone but it's different enough to have an appeal and the storyline content for those who like history would be interesting.
The artwork is nice, the dialogue and voice-acting is sound and overall "It was OK" shouldn't be taken as a bad review.
Certainly play the demo first to find out if you like the style.
I recommend this game!
Your murderous half-sister has escaped, and you've got the last piece of your father's treacherous film projector...
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
The Story Continues...
PostedJune 23, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I am a fan of continuations and this is a direct follow-up after the "Final Cut: Death on the Silver Screen".
The storyline is clever if a bit obvious at the beginning who the antagonist might be. Conspiracy theories abound set amidst a backdrop of 20s architecture and glamorous iconic movies. Dialogue isn't too bad--a little cheesy at times but it suits the atmosphere. The voice acting is rather good.
I played the full game on the hardest setting, but like that it can be customised. There are also match-3 options if you don't want to play the HO portions of the game.
I recommend this game!
Find out who framed you fiancé for murder and clear his name.
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
More From Wolf Studios
PostedJune 23, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The artwork and music is as wonderful as always. All Eipix games that I've played have the benefit of looking and sounding gorgeous. I adore Bauhaus and Art Deco, and they feature strongly throughout the games--an extra treat for those who like that style.
The level of challenge was perfect for me (I play on hardest level because I can still skip puzzles if I have to or want to). I don't use the Match-3 option (instead of playing the HO) because I love the HO parts... but I like that it's there.
The storyline was very good. It was starting to feel like a hard-boiled detective story but didn't quite commit. As a result, the story fell a bit flat, though it had a nice lead-up and ending.
I prefer the initial Wolf Studio trilogy... the first three games in this series were different but this was still fun to play even though the storyline is isolated. I am a fan of continuations.
I recommend this game!
Was Marion Ashworth murdered? Uncover the victim's true identity!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Best Murder Mystery Story
PostedJune 23, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is my new favourite game. I adore the plot written here. A proper mystery with a plot twist that is discovered right near the start.
Lovely artwork, many sensible object discoveries and it's great to have a match-3 version that takes over "hidden object finds". I prefer to find objects but know that it's not for everyone... it's clever to have something different available.
I recommend this game!
Tragedy strikes a popular Parisian cabaret when their star dancer is murdered! Gather the suspects and unmask the killer.
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Great story & lovely artwork
PostedJune 23, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I played this on hardest level and like the fact I could still skip puzzles if they were annoying. I didn't because they weren't too complex but it is nice to have the option.
The only let-down with this game is the same as most HOs: the ridiculous places you find some things. A bottle of milk in someone's suitcase who was going to a cabaret show? Could the developers not have a staffroom with a small fridge or coldbox? It's the random placement of helpful objects that let down a lot of HOs (not just this specifically though it is one of the guilty ones).
I recommend this game!
A serial killer nicknamed “the Toymaker” is wreaking havoc on a sleepy town. Can the lead detective piece together clues left at the scene and stop him before he sets his sights on her?
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Relaxing HO, Not Frustrating
PostedMay 20, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is a great game if you don't feel like being overly challenged. Sometimes we want a game that we can relax with rather than frustrate us. This gane is perfect for that.
There are some puzzles that you have to try very hard to get wrong (like the music box puzzle - it won't let you press the wrong notes, so you get it right first go).
The storyline makes it for older teens or adults, though the challenge level is perfect for newbies to HO.
The background music sets the atmosphere without being repetitive or annoying.
A deadly secret lurks in the woods of Dire Grove!
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
MCF With A Different Mood
PostedFebruary 25, 2015
wupmuppet
fromBrisbane, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I don't often buy Collector's Editions, but I did here because I liked the idea of unlocking an alternate ending AND I have enjoyed every MCF game.
The Collectors Edition Extras:
The bonus gameplay took me about 45 minutes to get through--I would call this an average time. I spent another 30 minutes of play doing the alternate ending, I consider this good value. I wouldn't want less than 60 minutes extra play (since buying a CE costs another game).
The bonus gameplay took me about 45 minutes to get through--I would call this an average time. I spent another 30 minutes of play doing the alternate ending, I consider this good value. I wouldn't want less than 60 minutes extra play (since buying a CE costs another game).
The extra things to find helped make it worth it for me too. Collecting houses for a quaint Dire Grove model and puzzle pieces that become jigsaws (which unlocked screensavers) made for a nice addition and added to the value of the CE.
Level of Challenge: (5 out of 5)
There is a puzzle-solving mini-game here that I've only found with MCF and I was delighted to find them here. They first appeared in MCF Madame Fate's Carnival and I have hungered for them ever since. Dire Grove, Sacred Grove is full of them and every time one of them was revealed, I would do a little dance in my chair and work on the puzzle--pulling ribbons, lighting up bulbs, melting icicles, corking stakes... I love these puzzles with their abstract logic.
There is a puzzle-solving mini-game here that I've only found with MCF and I was delighted to find them here. They first appeared in MCF Madame Fate's Carnival and I have hungered for them ever since. Dire Grove, Sacred Grove is full of them and every time one of them was revealed, I would do a little dance in my chair and work on the puzzle--pulling ribbons, lighting up bulbs, melting icicles, corking stakes... I love these puzzles with their abstract logic.
The HO mini-games are more dynamic too, and getting away from the straightforward "list of things".
Moving through the game, items that you carry also need pieces to attach to them to make them work. A torch that needs batteries, an axe-head that needs a handle and so forth. These are not so much a puzzle as how to figure out where to get them. You can find this type of thing in other games, also.
I don't know if I'm getting the hang of the puzzles, but I found this game playable without hints. I play on normal difficulty (if it gets rid of the sparkles otherwise I will play on hard). I found the puzzles quickly beatable. At no point did I get so frustrated with the complexity that I had to exit out and come back with a fresh mind. I would put myself as above-average puzzle solver, but not an expert. As it stands, doing the puzzles challenged me a little but not a lot. I prefer playing games at this level because I want to relax, not be annoyed. It was the perfect level of difficulty for me.
Storyline: (4 out of 5)
The storyline is what gives this MCF a different mood. It doesn't have the heightened tension of the other games which might earmark it by some players as "worse" when it's just different. The storyline is more spiritual than horror. There are no "what's behind that door" moments. The relationships between characters is pronounced and interesting.
The storyline is what gives this MCF a different mood. It doesn't have the heightened tension of the other games which might earmark it by some players as "worse" when it's just different. The storyline is more spiritual than horror. There are no "what's behind that door" moments. The relationships between characters is pronounced and interesting.
The dialogue is better than a lot of games but still needs attention to remove that stilted feel in conversation. It doesn't flow in many places or lacks subtlety.
As an example of stilted conversation:
Why would someone give the detective an allen key and say: "This might unlock a secret hiding place in Dire Grove." Who says things like that? I understand that clues have to be given, but I would prefer to read/hear "This tool might be useful for you." It's more realistic and let's face it, the player will assume the tool unlocks a secret hiding place in Dire Grove, the character does not have to say it.
Why would someone give the detective an allen key and say: "This might unlock a secret hiding place in Dire Grove." Who says things like that? I understand that clues have to be given, but I would prefer to read/hear "This tool might be useful for you." It's more realistic and let's face it, the player will assume the tool unlocks a secret hiding place in Dire Grove, the character does not have to say it.
In this game you can choose your MCF detective as having a female or male voice. Being a woman, I chose female. Words were crisp and clear but the emotion was off, like she didn't have an understanding of what tone to read the line in. When the actor should've sounded upset or tense, she sounded joyful or bouyant; it disconnects the player from the game.
Visual/Sound Quality:
The artwork is as gorgeous as ever. The score sets the mood perfectly. As soon as I picked up a particular item that would send me to a confrontation, the music changed to match.
The artwork is as gorgeous as ever. The score sets the mood perfectly. As soon as I picked up a particular item that would send me to a confrontation, the music changed to match.
MCF fans should enjoy this game as long as they are prepared for a different mood and storyline.
Note: This storyline is still connected to all the other games, but isn't apparent until the player gets closer to the end.
I recommend this game!
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
5
/
5
4 of 7 found this review helpful
Not The Same Old Thing
PostedOctober 12, 2013
wupmuppet
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I was surprised at how low the rating was for this game. I suspect its because players are anticipating a certain style by MCF and are sad when they don't find it. However, MCF has gone through a few massive changes over the years, which is why the series has survived. If it was always the same formulaic thing, it would get boring very quickly.
In Shadow Lake, the acting is cheesy and over the top but it's supposed to be and is a good tension breaker. I've always felt the acting throughout the MCF games was dramatic, but there's an extra dose of humour in this that I especially enjoyed. There is a scene where a ghost hunter is about to summon some spirits at the penitentiary - what he does next is hilarious.
MCF has always had strong storylines, and this is no exception. I like the use of the map to go back and forth instead of always going FWD FWD FWD and BACK BACK BACK with arrows, and matching illustrations as well as finding objects makes a nice point of difference.
I thank those reviewers who wrote a positive review on this game. I had to scroll through a lot to find them, and they were quite descriptive as to why they liked it. I think give it a chance - I wouldn't buy it without playing it, but playing the demo gives you an excellent indication of what you'll get.
I recommend this game!