I thoroughly enjoyed this game. Having every room as a HO scene was a great idea! You're also searching for pieces of objects, rather than actual objects, and some of them are very well camouflaged. I think this is the first time I've actively enlisted my husband to help me search in one of these games, but that just made it all the more enjoyable!
I get the feeling that it's an older title, just from the quality of the visuals and some of the design choices. For example, there was a reasonable amount of back-and-forth between locations that I've gladly noticed is absent from more recent games, but I didn't find it too arduous. The hint system is especially wonderful, as it adds a subtle sparkle to the door you need to travel through next. Perfect for people who like to finish the game in one sitting!
All in all, another fantastic Alawar title, and probably one of my favourites that I've downloaded. I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys fantastical settings, adventure, and just the right amount of humour!
This is a fine Hidden Object Game, but I felt it was a bit behind other games I've played of the same genre. For example, the objects you find in the HO scenes are still there when you go back next time. To some, it may not matter, but for me it ruins my sense of having an impact on the world.
The story is interesting, and the graphics and music are good. The voice acting is a little exaggerated.
As for the Collector's Edition, the bonus chapter is a nice surprise, and the concept art, wallpapers and screensaver are of high quality. The game itself isn't long, but it was about as long as I was willing to put up with, given I didn't enjoy the HOS.
It's still better than some I've played, but not as great as it could have been.
I wish I'd played the trial, but I bought this after all the hype it received.
I rarely give games poor reviews, but this one had me gnashing my teeth within the first ten minutes. The hint system doesn't tell you where to do or what to do, it just highlights objects it thinks you haven't clicked on yet. The inventory system forces bundled objects, i.e. 4 gears, into separate boxes then makes you place them one at a time. If you try an object and misclick, it takes the object away and shoves it back in the inventory.
The HO scenes were interesting, in that many of the objects you have to find are related to the other objects you find, but the rest of the gameplay was so frustrating I couldn't even enjoy that. There's no explanation of why you're there or what you should be looking for, and the random selection of puzzles bears no relevance to what's going on.
Overall, very disappointing, especially since so many other people seemed to enjoy it. I wish I'd been able to see whatever they did but clearly it's just a matter of other people being more patient or forgiving of software than I am.
A wonderful title that makes good use of the mythos of the fae, while maintaining some of its admittedly sinister spirit.
There was a little too much traversal, but the puzzles were quite inventive, and easy enough to figure out with careful thought. This may sound like it would be self-evident, but other games have had puzzles in the past that I never would have solved without a hint.
I enjoyed the story, and the ending was a pleasant surprise. I may even replay the game to get all of the achievements, which would be a first for me.
Perhaps my expectations were raised by playing Enlightenus 1 first, but I found this sequel to be a grand disappointment.
The story that's hinted at isn't resolved at the end, and even the hidden object scenes feel strained in comparison to the first game. Gone is the humour in the naming of objects that I so enjoyed in the original, replaced instead with factual labels that convey no sense of whimsy.
The game starts well, and, had I not been expecting more, probably would have been adequate, but I found myself rushing through the final stages just to get to the ending, which I ultimately found unsatisfying.
Bring back the story and the creativity! I'm counting on you, Blue Tea Games!
An entertaining hidden object game with a slight twist - you're putting objects back into the scenes, instead of trying to find them. The objects within the scenes are also a great source of humour - someone with an inventive streak went through and named everything, so that each time I encountered a new scene I went to the trouble of reading all of the descriptions first.
The story was also a pleasant surprise, with an ending that both summarised and resolved the main conflict. A definite recommendation for a lazy afternoon!
A very creepy game, with a suitably horrific story! I couldn't believe the extent to which this game succeeded at unnerving me, but I couldn't stop playing. I finished it in one sitting - a sad turn of events for my to-do list for that day.
I have rarely been so impressed by the ambiance of a hidden object game, and so filled with anxious anticipation of the next mystery to be revealed. A must for an empty weekend, provided you keep the lights on!
This game has everything - a fantastic story, amazing visuals, beautiful music and puzzles galore. I didn't skip a single scene or puzzle, which is highly unusual for me. I took a couple of days to play through in little bites at a time and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.
And, while I saw the ending coming, it still made me cry. A big achievement for any game!
I'm a huge fan of Raincliff and The Void, and while Black Isle was enchanting in its own way, I felt the story was a step back from the previous titles. In comparison, for example, throughout the game you're only seeking one person, which I found gave me far less of a feeling of accomplishment than the previous titles.
However, it is still a fantastic hidden object game, with amazing music, stunning visuals and interesting puzzles. The biggest disappointment, really, was the bonus gameplay, which had nothing to do with the main storyline and introduced several new ideas that made little sense in the context.
I bought the CE so I could play the game ASAP, and I would probably still do so on anything new from the Mystery Trackers franchise, but I hope future titles can make a bit more of an effort in this area.
The story really kept me going through this one, but I have to say first off that the answers you receive aren't very satisfying.
However, the voice acting and the audio tapes are top-notch and really worth listening to, and despite the lack of detail given to the plot, it really is a tragedy of touching proportions.
The HOS were fine, and most of the game was interesting, but I couldn't do the ECG puzzles by any stretch of the imagination, mostly because I don't feel sufficient instructions were given. There was a lot of running around that I found unnecessary, especially since the lifts take time to move, but the map shows exactly where you need to go in every case, which I thought was a great step forward over some other games I've played. It's also not as creepy as some other games set in asylums (e.g. Green Hills) so that may be a bonus for some.
Essentially, it only loses one star because it made me care about the characters then didn't provide a satisfying resolution. Definitely check it out!