biscuitsmama's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:67,036
- Reviews Submitted:1148
- First Review:July 13, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 16, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Mark’s reality unravels as he discovers the truth about his life.
Overall rating
5
/
5
59 of 79 found this review helpful
YOU MIGHT GET MORE THAN YOU PAID FOR DURING THIS SPA HOTEL VACATION
PostedMarch 8, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromAh, the Swiss Alps and a wonderful train ride until it all went off the rails
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Haunted Hotel Lost Dreams is the 16th game in the series – a series I had hoped would die out long ago but now I am not too sure because this latest game is terrific. The game begins as you and your wife Jane are traveling by train on your way to a vacation in the Swiss Alps, when suddenly the train goes off the rails. You awaken in the hotel thinking it might have been a nightmare but Jane is nowhere to be found. It doesn’t take you long to know that something is very wrong. Will you be able to free yourself and Jane from this hotel, or is it already too late? You will need to play this wonderful new Haunted Hotel to find the answers to those questions and find out what sinister intent is hidden in this Haunted Hotel.
If you have read many of my reviews you might guess that I am not a big fan of the Haunted Hotel series. In fact, I didn't play or review the last two games in the series because I didn’t care for the demos at all. I hate dusty dirty interiors for graphics as I simply don’t find them appealing in any way. That being said, I almost didn’t bother to try the demo of Lost Dreams but I am so happy that I did. IMHO, this is one of the best Haunted Hotel games in years. Although the game begins in a seemingly deserted hotel, the interiors are in amazingly good shape. I found Lost Dreams a delight to play with great HOPS and absolutely wonderful puzzles. In fact for me, the puzzles are one of the best parts of this game. A couple of the puzzles were really tough for me and the others had varying levels of challenge but I only skipped one puzzle that I couldn’t figure out
I love everything about this game with only one minor comment that I choose to make about the Custom game setting. I think it is time that the developers start offering a “true” custom setting where we can choose to set our own hint and skip times as low as we wish to set them. I personally dislike having to wait 15 seconds or whatever other low-end limit the developer might think we need. Please developers consider allowing a true custom time limit for hints and skips.
The HOPS are very good with the standard list type being the first scene we encounter in the game. That scene is soon followed by a variety of others but they are all excellent even if they are what we see in most games from this developer. Where this game becomes excellent for me is with the puzzles that I really loved. The first puzzle is very easy and involves sliding tokens into the correct slots. The next puzzle was a bit more challenging because I had a difficult time reading the symbols that were on top of each other. The 3rd puzzle is a memory puzzle and that was more challenging until I figured out the “trick”. The puzzles became a bit more difficult with a door puzzle that I did skip because I really didn’t “get” it.
The CE version of the game offers a total of 40 morphing object and 20 picture parts to find. There are achievements to earn and the other standard fare such as 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Artwork, 4 Screensavers, 4 Music Tracks, Memory Elements, Picture Parts, Replay of 12 Mini-games and 15 HOPS, the Secret Room, a Bonus Chapter, and a 40-page Strategy Guide. The game has 5 Chapters and a Bonus Chapter.
The CE version of the game offers a total of 40 morphing object and 20 picture parts to find. There are achievements to earn and the other standard fare such as 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Artwork, 4 Screensavers, 4 Music Tracks, Memory Elements, Picture Parts, Replay of 12 Mini-games and 15 HOPS, the Secret Room, a Bonus Chapter, and a 40-page Strategy Guide. The game has 5 Chapters and a Bonus Chapter.
As I mentioned earlier I did not play the previous two games in the series but Haunted Hotel Lost Dreams is one I purchased and have been playing for the past few hours. For me it is a long game but I am a slow player savoring each scene in as I move forward. You already know by now that I love this game and I hope you will as well. As always, please try the demo to see what you think of Haunted Hotel Lost Dreams. Happy Gaming!
I recommend this game!
Experience a steampunk hidden object adventure full of gothic horror and fascinating puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
39 of 49 found this review helpful
WHERE IS YOUR FATHER AND WHAT IS STEAMEYER HIDING IN HIS MANSION?
PostedMarch 6, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromA wonderful Tuesday mystery with a touch of steampunk thrown in.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It’s been a very long time since that day when your father dropped you off at an orphanage telling you that one day you would be together again, when the time was right. You’ve almost forgotten your powerful psychic abilities that made your childhood a nightmare and now with the receipt of a letter addressed to your father that was accidentally delivered to you, all of those memories have returned. After contacting your local post office you have been directed to a station in the suburbs where the letter was originally posted. You finally track your father to the residence of Baronet Steameyer but when you arrive, the Baronet tells you to leave because you are not safe there. Why would he say such a thing? As you prepare to leave you see a woman in a window apparently signaling to you so you can’t leave now you must find a way in and at least speak with the woman. When you meet up with Steameyer again, it is apparent that he will go to great lengths to stop you – but why, what is he so afraid of or what is he hiding. You will need to play the terrific HOPA game to figure out the answers to those questions and find out what is hidden in the Steameyer mansion.
Scarlett Mysteries the Cursed Child is an easy game as far as the HOPS and Puzzles but it wasn’t always apparent what I needed to do to move forward. I had to use the dreaded hint button more than once to figure out what I needed to do or find. Your tools include the interactive map and a signet ring that will help you focus your psychic abilities. Each time you use the ring, you must solve a puzzle to help bring things into focus and when the puzzle is completed you will receive another clue. I love the steampunk settings and all of the things you discover as you explore and play this game.
The HOPS are really nothing special but they do include variety and some that are progressive and interactive. The puzzles are very easy but still fun. Some of the puzzles include my favorite a slider type puzzle and then another where I need to sort items on a grid by color into rows and columns. I do hope for some more difficult puzzles toward the end of the game but I am still enjoying the mystery and the puzzles I’ve needed to solve thus far.
The CE has morphing objects that appear to be the only collectible. If there are others I haven’t found them yet and since most of the extras are locked until the game is completed it is difficult to determine. Aside from the morphing objects the other extras are the standard fare with nothing special included. There is a 61-page Strategy and at least for me the game seems long.
Steampunk games are ones that I generally love, and although this one is what I consider slightly steampunk it is a lot of fun. As the mystery develops I find myself more involved in the storyline. Is Steameyer insane, a murderer, or is he simply a father who will go to great lengths to protect his child? If solving the mystery draws you in as it did me then you too will hit that buy button. Even though this is a wonderful game for me, please try the demo to see if it is one you will enjoy as well. Happy Gaming!
I recommend this game!
Ghastly murders in Whitechapel foreshadow the return of the Red Queen!
Overall rating
5
/
5
71 of 103 found this review helpful
SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS NEW VERMILLION WATCH GAME
PostedMarch 3, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromOne of the best games in the Vermillion Watch series. I'm really enjoying this one!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Are there really such things as vampires? Perhaps you will find the answer to that question as you play this new Vermillion Watch game – In Blood. There has been a series of ghastly murders in Whitechapel recently where each of the victims died of exsanguination. The Watch has called you in to work on this case young Hawkes and as Phineas Fogg briefs you on the case he lets you know that he has called in Maria Shelley to help you, since she is the Watch’s expert on anything that might require medical expertise.
When you and Maria arrive at the scene of the latest murder you find that Maria has brought along her reanimation equipment that will be used to revive the victim for a short time so that she can tell you who murdered her. As you are seeking answers, a cloaked figure attacks and almost manages to kill Maria. It looks like someone doesn’t want you involved in the case. Maria asks that you call in Dr. Jekyll to assist with the strange findings she has found but shortly after you meet with Dr. Jekyll, he is kidnapped. Now you and the Watch must work to save Dr. Jekyll before it is too late. What is the kidnapper’s plan and why do they need Dr. Jekyll? Find the answer to this question as you play this exciting new game in the Vermillion Watch series.
When you and Maria arrive at the scene of the latest murder you find that Maria has brought along her reanimation equipment that will be used to revive the victim for a short time so that she can tell you who murdered her. As you are seeking answers, a cloaked figure attacks and almost manages to kill Maria. It looks like someone doesn’t want you involved in the case. Maria asks that you call in Dr. Jekyll to assist with the strange findings she has found but shortly after you meet with Dr. Jekyll, he is kidnapped. Now you and the Watch must work to save Dr. Jekyll before it is too late. What is the kidnapper’s plan and why do they need Dr. Jekyll? Find the answer to this question as you play this exciting new game in the Vermillion Watch series.
As is the case in all the Vermillion Watch games you will have a trio of evildoers to catch up with. Each villain is in a different location and as you take your preliminary evidence to Rufus you will be able to select the order in which you wish to visit each location.
The HOPS are excellent and well-designed with some of them being multi-level. The first HOP in the game ends with an interesting puzzle that I haven’t seen before; in fact, many of the scenes seemed to be more puzzle-like in style which, IMHO, made them far more entertaining than usual. The puzzles are very creative as well and, although some of them might seem easy, overall they contained more difficulty than usual. Thankfully I purchased the CE and have been able to use it when I was stuck on solving a puzzle or making my way around in the game. For me this game is the best in the Vermillion Watch series. It looks like EIPIX has listened to the comments of many gamers and stepped up the entire level of challenge with this game. It didn’t seem like there was as much hand-holding in the game and it took me quite a bit of time to find what I needed to make some progress. Again, the Strategy Guide came in handy and I seemed to use it more than I have in ages. Normally I barely glance at the guide and then only if I am stuck locating a collectible item.
The CE version of the game includes the following extras: Morphing Objects that can be found in the HOPS, Collectibles in each scene of the game, Achievements to earn, Pictures that include the Wallpapers, and Concept Art, Music, Videos, a Bonus Game, and the Strategy Guide. You can also replay 21 HOPS and 29 Puzzles. I would recommend that if you are new to playing HOPA games you consider purchasing the CE because of the in-game Strategy Guide – you might need to use it.
I love this game that for me is by far the best game in the Vermillion Watch series and one that might be a contender for game of the year. Although I am not a fan of the Dracula theme, this game is so well done and intriguing that I found myself very involved in the action. I don’t like snakes and had a jump-scare moment or two in the game, particularly when I opened a door and there was a huge snake right in my face. So be warned if you happen to really hate snakes or have Ophidiophobia, there are a few of them in the game. As always, please try the demo to see if Vermillion Watch In Blood is a game you will enjoy. Happy Gaming!
I recommend this game!
It’s the find of a century, but will you live to tell about it?
Overall rating
5
/
5
61 of 75 found this review helpful
MAD HEAD SETS THE BAR HIGHER WITH AN EXCELLENT SCI-FI GAME
PostedMarch 1, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromThe perfect game on a very windy and stormy day. The Sci-fi adventure theme along with wonderful puzzles and HOPS make this one of the best games this year.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wanderlust What Lies Beneath is what I hope is only the beginning game in a new Sci-Fi series. You play the game as Professor Cassie Sylva currently working at a dig in Egypt when you receive a phone call from the mysterious Mr. Gate – one that might possibly change your life. Undiscovered pyramids don’t simply rise out of the earth do they? According to Mr. Gate, this is exactly what has happened in the Columbian jungle, and for you this is a mystery worth investigating. Of course, another team led by your sister Elsa is already on its way to the site so speed is of the essence. You soon find yourself on a plane to Columbia and a possible confrontation with Elsa. Find out more about sibling rivalry and the rift between Cassie and Elsa as you play this exciting new game from the genius development team at Mad Head.
There is not a lot to say about the graphics but I will mention that they are crisp and color intense. After an earlier game this week that had very sub-par graphics it is terrific to find a game where I don’t need to strain my eyes to play a HOP. If I have any complaint at all it is with the game’s Custom Mode. I think that when the developers offer a Custom Mode they should allow the gamer to set their own Hint and Skip recharge times. A custom mode implies that the gamer can choose their preferred settings rather than have a time limit that is set by the designer. The game tools include an interactive map and a field kit that has a hatchet, brush, and a translation guide.
I love everything about this game from the HOPS to the Puzzles. The HOPS are nothing new but they so very well-designed and varied in style. There is a Map/Maze HOP early in the game that is a combo HOP and Puzzle that I love. Even though there are a lot of puzzles they are not always difficult and they fit into the storyline. I’m not sure that I have ever played a HOPA game with as many puzzles as there are in What Lies Beneath but suffice it to say that it is a puzzle lover’s delight. Some of the puzzles are very easy but most of them have a moderate level of challenge.
The CE version of the game includes finding the typical Mad Head logo that is hidden in each scene. There are Morphing Objects to be found in the HOP scenes and 20 Achievements that can be earned as you play the game. Other extras include the standard Wallpapers, Concept Art, Soundtrack, Bonus Game, and Strategy Guide. Other extras include a Character Gallery, an Ultimate Puzzle, and the option to Replay 18 HOPS. Sadly there is no Replay of the Puzzles unless they are somehow incorporated into the Ultimate Puzzle that can be opened after completing the Bonus Game.
The CE version of the game includes finding the typical Mad Head logo that is hidden in each scene. There are Morphing Objects to be found in the HOP scenes and 20 Achievements that can be earned as you play the game. Other extras include the standard Wallpapers, Concept Art, Soundtrack, Bonus Game, and Strategy Guide. Other extras include a Character Gallery, an Ultimate Puzzle, and the option to Replay 18 HOPS. Sadly there is no Replay of the Puzzles unless they are somehow incorporated into the Ultimate Puzzle that can be opened after completing the Bonus Game.
Wanderlust is one of the most terrific games I have played in a very long time and I hope that What Lies Beneath is only the first game in the series. I love Sci-fi and we get so very few games based on that theme so Wanderlust is exactly what I’ve been waiting to play. The storyline is excellent as we learn the back story of the family tragedy that separates the two siblings and the circumstance that will ultimately bring them together. Even though Wanderlust is a perfect game for me, please try the demo to see if it is a game you will enjoy. Happy Gaming!
I recommend this game!
A young demon hunter finds herself time traveling back to ancient Egypt to wield the Gauntlet of Horus to stop an ancient deity.
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 35 found this review helpful
CAN YOU SAVE AUNTIE DAWN? OH AND WHILE YOU ARE AT IT SAVE THE WORLD AS WELL!
PostedFebruary 27, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromAh yes, another evil entity to deal with. What ever happened to good old mysteries?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Another game, and yet another evil spirit attempting to take over the world. Demon Hunter 4: Riddles of Light is the latest game in the series and in this game you must rescue your Aunt Dawn from the clutches of the ancient Egyptian God Seth. Of course with the series name being Demon Hunters I would expect nothing less than some sort of evil demon as the subject of the game.
The game is really a mixed bag as far as graphics with some being exceptionally good and others being downright poor in quality. I didn’t care for the artistic style of the game that uses live characters along with their computer generated depictions. The voiceovers are not always lip-synced and I hate seeing a character stand and stare with no lip movement when they are speaking. At least in the demo version of the game, the Strategy Guide must be accessed by selecting the menu button. Since I haven’t purchased the game I am not sure if that will change in the full version of the game. I personally do not think the game is worth the full CE price so will wait until there is a great sale before purchasing the game. I also dislike the fact that unless I purchase the game I am unable to access the collectibles in the guide.
The developer did make an effort with the HOPS by making them interactive and a bit creative but with the grainy quality of the scenes the items are difficult to find. I dislike it when a developer uses brighter rays of light in one area of a scene and that makes items difficult to spot as well. Thankfully there is a matching game that can be played if you don’t want to search for items in the HOP. I did not understand exactly what I was supposed to do to solve several of the puzzles. I would prefer having more clear-cut instructions. One puzzle early in the game has a code to use and it took me a minute or two before I realized what I should do. Your tools include an interactive map and the Gauntlet of Horus.
The CE version of the game includes Morphing Objects in the HOPS, Collectible Stars and Diamonds, Achievements to earn, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Bonus Chapter, and Strategy Guide. The developer has also provided the ability to replay some HOPS and Puzzles.
Although the game does get more interesting as we approach the end of the demo, my disappointment with the graphics and the HOPS make it unlikely that I will purchase the game. Even though I am not over-the-moon thrilled by the game, it might be a perfect game for you. Please try the demo to see what you think. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
Donna’s childhood friend is overwhelmed by a cursed tree that poisons everything it touches!
Overall rating
2
/
5
60 of 75 found this review helpful
A DREADFUL GAME - WHAT WAS MAD HEAD THINKING?
PostedFebruary 25, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromThere is nothing about this game that could keep me awake. Please let that tree put me out of my misery.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Donna is on her way to see her school friend Kathi who has contacted her with an urgent plea for help. Kathi received a plant for her birthday that has turned her house into a living nightmare and only the petals of the flower that Kathi sent with her message can save people from death. After a brief chat when you arrived Kathi is grabbed by tree roots that appear and whisk her away as she screams for your help, which is probably the most action you will see in this game.
I am shocked; absolutely shocked that Mad Head would put their name on this bottom-of-the-barrel game. The first thing I noticed was the lack of lip movement when a character speaks. Yes there are voice overs but the characters stand there staring while the dialog is read. Yes, I have come to expect lip-sync in games and the lack of it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker but this is a game from a top developer who should realize that gamers have come to expect more from them. Sadly, I was so put off by the presentation of the game that I found it difficult to concentrate and stay involved. Perhaps this developer will go back to its roots and put more time and effort into creating the games that are worthy of having the Mad Head name on them.
In the end I found the game so boring that I couldn’t complete the demo – something that rarely happens because I generally love HOPA games. Mad Head has created some excellent and very creative games and, IMHO, Donna Brave and the Deathly Tree is definitely not one of them. IF there is another game in this series, I hope that the wonderful team at Mad Head Games will go back to the basics and create a terrific mystery like the Strangler of Paris or even like the Adam Wolfe games that are inspired and top-shelf games. I know the Mad Head team can do it because they are so talented, and I look forward to what they can do with a sequel in the Donna Brave series. Since we all have differing tastes in games I recommend that you try the demo to see if this game might be one you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
Princess has disappeared, and her statues are under attack!
Overall rating
4
/
5
53 of 62 found this review helpful
PRINCESS IS BACK AND SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP!
PostedFebruary 24, 2018
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The Princess Returns is the fifth game in Royal Detective series and of course you play the game as the “Royal Detective”. You are surprised when you answer your door to find a small stone dog carrying a letter to you from your old friend Princess who asks for your help. Princess is now in the abandoned quarter of a town called Stone Peaks and she tells you that her little dog Sheriff will take you to her. Of course you immediately head off to Stone Peaks to meet Princess but when you arrive you find she is missing. Will you be able to find Princess and save her from a kidnapper whose desire is to steal her magical powers?
The graphics are excellent and even though sometimes they appear a bit cartoonish they are for the most part quite good. The voiceovers are very good even though the accents are not correct for the game setting. We do have Sheriff tag along with us throughout the game to fetch and perform other tasks as needed and I didn’t find him too objectionable but that being said, I would have preferred him to be a bit softer. I did happen to find some of his antics to be cute and because he is fairly silent I didn’t notice them right away.
When I tried the demo of The Princess Returns I wasn’t sure that I wanted to add this game to my collection but as I continued to play I became wrapped up in the game and couldn’t resist that “buy” button. The storyline is really nothing new but I loved the puzzles in the game. One of the first puzzles is a challenge and I think I must have spent a good twenty minutes solving it. That puzzle was one of the reasons I purchased the game. Some of the puzzles are nothing new but I haven’t seen them in quite some time so it was fun to refresh my solving skills. There is not too much to say about the HOPS except that I did find them well-designed and fairly creative with some variety in style. I enjoyed the list type HOPS since they are my favorite and I was happy to see that there are quite a few of those.
Since I have been playing the game off and on most of the day I can say that I have truly enjoyed it. The game isn’t the best one I’ve played recently but it is still very good. As I noted above, the puzzles have been the best part of the game for me. I think this will be a game that will have mixed reviews as we don’t all have the same taste in games. However, I do recommend that you try the demo and give the game a fair chance because it might surprise you. Happy Gaming!
I recommend this game!
Save the citizens of Rivershire from a terrible plague!
Overall rating
5
/
5
134 of 164 found this review helpful
HONORED HEALER CAN YOU STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE AND SAVE THE TAR EMPIRE?
PostedFebruary 22, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromLet me grab my Healer’s Kit and I will be on my way to Rivershire
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the third game in the Enchanted Kingdom series and once again you play the game as the Tar Empire’s Honored Healer. Although I enjoyed the first two games Fog of Rivershire is even better than the others. I beta tested the game months ago and I have been waiting for its release since so there was no question that this game would be an instant purchase for me. My review is based on playing the full game. I don’t like to give too many details when writing a review but tend to rely on communicating my feelings about a game rather than providing too many details that might give away too much.
The Tar Empire is under attack by a terrible illness that turns those infected into monsters. Even the Medico Imperium healer assigned to the distant village of Rivershire could not withstand the effects of the disease and was locked up to prevent him from harming himself or others. Xander a warrior from the village has been stricken as well but he managed to arrive at the Medico Imperium to inform Dr. Klein of the situation and to enlist the aid of another healer. After seeing Xander, Dr. Klein believes that this is a demonic illness and because of your magic protection you are the only one capable healing the villagers and putting an end to the illness. Travel the perilous road to Rivershire and see what you can do to stop this horrible illness and to save the villagers and even the Tar Empire from the demon who is causing the disease.
The graphics are really so much brighter in this game and coupled with excellent voiceovers the game provides the complete entertainment package for me. I like the game mechanics and using my Healer Kit to diagnose the illnesses I encounter and then to mix the cures. Bravo Domini for such an excellent game. Domini is another of my favorite developers and it is rare that I don’t purchase a game they create. I think that having a 56-page Strategy Guide is a good indication that this will be a nice long game.
The game has an equal number of HOPS and Mini-Games. The HOPS are excellent and well-designed with a variety of styles. My favorite scenes are the list finds since I don’t care so much for the silhouette or storybook styles. For those of you who don’t want to find items in the HOP scene there is an alternate Match 3 game provided. The Mini-Games are excellent and in most of them we can choose either the easy or hard version when solving them. Some of the mini-games are a bit difficult and I found it a bit challenging to understand the objectives for a few of them. Although Domini does provide instructions for solving the mini-games they didn’t always make sense. This is when having the ability to replay the mini-games is a real benefit. Oftentimes I will go back and replay the mini-games in the extras section if I feel I didn’t do a great job of solving or skipped them the first time through. I also like to replay the ones that I really enjoy the most. Thank you Domini for including the replay in your extras for this game.
If you enjoy the CE versions of a game this one includes the following extras: Collectibles include 15 Eggs, 15 Medallions, and 76 Coins to find and 26 Achievements to earn. Other extras include 10 Wallpapers, 10 Concept Art, 5 Music Tracks, 17 HOPS and 17 Mini-Games to replay, a Magic Laboratory, Medico Imperium, a Bonus Chapter, and a 56-Page Strategy Guide.
I love this game! The Fog of Rivershire is so much better that the two previous games in the series and the scenes are so much more colorful and much lighter than in those games. The storyline is intriguing and is well-told. Even though there is an evil demon in the game I don’t find him as objectionable because the premise of the Enchanted Kingdom games is based on the struggles of the white magicians versus the dark magicians. In the first games we learned the history of the Tar Empire where all dark magic was defeated and banished from the kingdom and this game follows along that storyline. In spite of the bad guy it is an excellent game where I get to diagnose my patients and prescribe the healing medications they will need. Of course I must find the ingredients and then concoct the cures. I tend to love fantasy games and the Enchanted Kingdom games by Domini are terrific and very entertaining. I have no hesitation in giving this game 5-stars and would rate it higher if that was possible. As always I recommend that you try the game to see if it is one you will enjoy. Happy Gaming!!
I recommend this game!
Use your knowledge of alchemical arcana to save the young prince from the clutches of dark magic!
Overall rating
5
/
5
43 of 57 found this review helpful
USE YOUR SKILLS TO HELP DEFEAT DROSERA AND SAVE THE KINGDOM
PostedFebruary 20, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromPlay a power house healer and alchemist as you save the day in a great fantasy game
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Lost Grimoires 2 Shard of Mystery is an excellent fantasy game – one I have been waiting to purchase and it looks like today is my lucky day. There is an evil witch in the game but she doesn’t bother me as much as some of the evil characters in other games, maybe because she isn’t a dark smoky character with glowing red eyes.
You play the game as a healer and alchemist in the King’s court – perhaps you are a relative since the young prince refers to you as Auntie. When the game begins we find that the King is dying after a long and hard battle with the evil witch Drosera that ultimately caused the loss of many lives. Three mysterious alchemists offered to help the king by creating a special mirror to imprison the witch. The King lured Drosera into a trap and then sent her along with her minions to another dimension through the Chasm Mirror. During the final battle with Drosera the King suffered terribly and his final act is to pass his crown to the young Prince Fern who is now your ward. The game moves forward twelve years and we next see Prince Fern as a young man on the eve of his coronation. You have now become one of the Prince’s closest advisors and it isn’t too long before the young King will have his own battles with Drosera where your skills will be tested as you help Fern save his kingdom.
I love games from Artifex Mundi who along with a couple of other independent developers are creating some of the premier HOPA games released in recent years. The graphics are beautiful and use a great variety of color to create the fantasy world that is much better than all of those dreary brown, gray, and dingy scenes in far too games for my taste. Your major tool in the game is an Alchemy Kit that is used to create and mix potions, which will then be used to overcome various challenges. I happen to love mixing potions and playing at alchemy so this game is perfect for me.
I found the HOPS and Puzzles to be fun and creative but there really is nothing new and I don’t expect that to happen since I have played over 1,000 HOPA games. After all there is not too much that can be done within the concept of a HOPA game so at least for me the HOPS here are interesting and well designed. The Puzzles have a bit of challenge at times but I haven’t completed the game at this point so there might be some tougher Puzzles ahead.
The CE version of the game includes 31 Collectible Roses to find and achievements to earn. The remainder of the CE is all the standard fluff such as Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Videos, Replay of HOPS and Mini-Games, Bonus Game, and a 58-Page Strategy Guide. Not a spectacular extras package but enough to keep me happy.
I love the game and the fantasy world created for my enjoyment. Although many gamers don’t care to mix potions I find them to be fun. The storyline is very good and the game for me is the total package with great beautiful artwork and excellent voiceovers. Even though the game won’t be for everyone, I purchased it the minute I spotted it on BFG this morning as I have waited quite a while to get my hands on it. As always, please try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you find your sister and save the kingdom?
Overall rating
4
/
5
71 of 87 found this review helpful
NOT 5-STARS BUT CLOSE
PostedFebruary 18, 2018
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
When I tried the beta for this game I found it so gruesome and disturbing that I gave it a very negative review and said I wouldn’t buy the game. When the game was released this morning I don’t know why I tried it but I did and I am very happy to see that perhaps, along with me, others complained about extremely dark nature of the game as well because there were quite a few changes made after the beta. I actually ended up buying the game this morning and find that I am enjoying it.
King Wirth and Queen Gloria ruled the Fire Kingdom wisely until tragedy struck and Queen Gloria died in childbirth. Not only did the queen die but one of the babies was born with the mark of a curse near her heart. The king made a difficult and separated the twins at birth sending one to a monastery with her nanny and the other, the cursed child, he had imprisoned under the ice in a lake. Thus begins the tale that will take Princess Fara on her journey to find and help her twin and to save her kingdom as well.
The graphics are excellent and beautiful as they always are with this team but it seems we now have a new nanny. Gone is our bit rotund and wise nanny who has been with all of the princesses since the series began. Our new nanny is now a rather trim version who has her head swathed in a turban-like bandage. I guess the developer felt the new version fit into the style of the game better than the original nanny.
One of the HOP scenes early in the game stayed the same in spite of my notes to BFG that the items were almost invisible. I think that there should have been an alternate game available or perhaps a skip button after a certain amount of time. That particular scene was grueling and it took random clicking around the entire scene to find the items. There has been a trend with certain developers towards making very difficult HOP scenes and I think that developers should remember that most HOPA gamers are older and don’t have eyes that are generally as sharp as those of the younger gamers.
The puzzles are good and I found myself enjoying them a lot with the exception of the repeat the sequence puzzle. I generally enjoy most of the puzzles that this developer includes in their games and find that they always throw a few tougher ones into the mix to keep me on my toes.
With each new release of a game in the Spirits of Mystery series we see the games becoming darker and much less to my liking or taste. Although I love the developer and its capabilities, when the company changed from a family owned development team to a presumably corporate one, the games became darker in storyline. It doesn’t matter which series – Puppet Show, Dark Tales, Grim Façade, Redemption Cemetery or Spirits of Mystery, they all seem to be taking that slippery slope into titillating those who clamor for this type of dark and disturbing game while offending and ultimately losing their longtime fan base. As I mentioned above, I was pleased to see that the developer listened to some of the complaints and eliminated what I found quite objectionable from the final release. Now I am enjoying the game play and the storyline far more than I would have thought possible. Thank you AMAX and BFG for presenting a game that I can now play and enjoy. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!