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:
A time-traveling killer is taking out the Gray family, one by one.
Overall rating
5
/
5
73 of 99 found this review helpful
DEAR OLD DAD FOUND HIS SENSE OF HUMOR WHEN HIS NOGGIN CRASHED INTO THE TREE
PostedJanuary 25, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromI'm really enjoying this game and can finally appreciate why Anna takes dad along for company
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Anna Gray is back in this 14th game in the Grim Tales series The Time Traveler. I honestly am so confused by the Gray and McGray family relatives that I have no idea who is really who. Sometimes the Anna refers to Elizabeth and James as her cousins but I thought they were here niece and nephew before she took on her eternal younger form. Anyway all the confusion aside, Anna is on her way to a barbecue hosted by her cousins when her car is flipped from the road by a dark cloaked figure. Now Anna’s car is toast and she will definitely be late for the party. As she seeks to pick up all of her scattered belongings she of course has to retrieve dear old dad (or what remains of him) from a cluster of branches. I mean, really a family party wouldn’t be the same if all the important family members could not attend! At any rate after Anna happens to pull her act together and arrive at the McGray mansion she finds she is too late and Elizabeth and James have been murdered. Now with the help of dear old dad, not only providing comic relief but important ritual information, you are finally ready to step back in time to prevent the murders and to apprehend the criminal.
After the last couple of games in the series I thought I was really over it all but then Richard shows up with his comedic wit coming to the rescue and he makes the game really fun at least for me. I happen to love most games from this developer but I really wish this team as well as others would say farewell to some of these serial games that seem to go on forever without bringing a lot to the table.
The HOPS include the now usual variety but the list type is still my favorite. I like the fact that the items are not too difficult to find in the scenes. It seems to me that there are far more puzzles than HOPS but it might simply be because the demo is loaded with puzzles and there will be more HOPS later in the game which often happens. Fortunately the puzzles are not difficult and they are fun. There are some that I haven’t seen for a while and many of them are excellent.
The CE version of the game includes the following extras:
Morphing Objects, 26 Screen Saver Tiles, and 14 Collectible Statuettes to find
18 Achievements to earn
4 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art, Screensaver, Music, and Archives
3 Chapters in Main Game plus a Bonus Chapter
38-Page Strategy Guide
Morphing Objects, 26 Screen Saver Tiles, and 14 Collectible Statuettes to find
18 Achievements to earn
4 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art, Screensaver, Music, and Archives
3 Chapters in Main Game plus a Bonus Chapter
38-Page Strategy Guide
After playing through the demo I knew that this would be a great game. Yes I know there really is nothing new and all of the gameplay is really what we call cookie-cutter but if you love HOPA games as much as me, then it oftentimes doesn’t matter that they are repetitive. I actually went back into my gaming library from several years ago to play older HOPA games and I didn’t notice that much difference. In many ways the games have improved and in others they have stayed much the same. I still love the genre and never seem to tire of waiting for each new HOPA game to be released. If you want a good mystery with some lighthearted comic relief provided by dear old dad, then this might be a game you will enjoy. As always, please try the demo to see if you will agree that this is a fun and excellent new HOPA game. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you find your sister and save the kingdom?
Overall rating
5
/
5
145 of 170 found this review helpful
THANKFULLY THE FINAL GAME IS SO MUCH LESS DISTURBING THAN THE BETA
PostedJanuary 20, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromI am so happy that some changes were made to this game!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
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!
The Kingdoms of Lanceya and Winterhelm are in peril!
Overall rating
5
/
5
100 of 123 found this review helpful
SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE QUEEN’S MIRROR AWAY! WOULD’VE SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS
PostedJanuary 18, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromI'm gonna take a sledge hammer to that mirror when I find it!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Dark Romance Winter Lily is game number eight in the series. Winter Lily is loosely based on the story of Snow White and is told through the eyes of the two main characters Lily, the Princess of Winterhelm, and William the King of Lanceya.
Wicked Queen Nivella is having another meeting with her famous mirror wondering what it will take to stop her aging curse so that she can gain eternal youth. The Mirror tells the queen that only the purest heart can break the curse and make her eternally young. Thus starts another of the wonderful Dark Romance games. I could go more into the storyline but I think most of us are familiar with the tale of Snow White but what makes these games so much fun is the viewing of the story as it unfolds and is told by each of the main characters in turn. This is a beautiful game and one that I’ve been waiting to play. I love the fairy tale types of games as most of them are not at dark as some recent games, however, the developer does have a go at adding some darkness to this tale.
I love this game and the storyline that has me enjoying each new character I meet along the way. Well, the fairy might be an exception with her high-pitched, squeaky voice that I truly find grating. I think one of my favorite characters is Prospero the alchemist.
If you play a lot of Domini games then you will know there is really nothing different to be found in the HOPS. We have the now expected variety with storybook, silhouette, and list types included. Even with nothing new, the HOPS are fun and the items are not so small that I want to rip my eyelashes off as I look through a magnifier to spot them. The puzzles are fun and mostly easy even on the “Hard” setting. The puzzles include a lot of my favorite ones but with 18 of them in the game I am not going to list them. A couple of other reviewers do an excellent job of providing that information for you. As much as I appreciate what they do, I happen to love surprises and would rather figure it all out as I go along and then do a happy dance when I find a puzzle I really like.
If you prefer the Collector’s Edition of a game, this one includes various collectibles including Dwarven Artifacts to store in the Dwarven Museum, Chess, Pieces to complete a chessboard, and Lilies that can be used to buy items decorate your Royal Chambers. There are 32 Achievements to earn as well. Other extras include the ability to replay 18 Mini-games and 18 HOPS. There are 15 Wallpapers, Concept Artwork, Music, and Movies. There is a Bonus Chapter and a 54-page Strategy Guide. IMHO, this developer provides excellent value in their CE games with lots of collectibles and other extras to keep us happy.
Winter Lily is a wonderful, different and version of the Snow White tale that I have read countless times since childhood. The Dark Romance is a favorite series of mine but there were two games that I really didn’t like all that much. As it stands right now Winter Lily might just be my favorite. Yes I know that many of you will think the game is cookie-cutter but realistically most HOPA and TM games are just that. I happen to be a game addict and it doesn’t bother me overmuch that most games follow a set pattern. In this case the gameplay is fun, the HOPS terrific, and the puzzles fun so I don’t mind the pattern. Even though I believe that Winter Lily is an excellent addition to the Dark Romance series, please try the demo to see if it is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
The city is being taken over by dark forces!
Overall rating
5
/
5
64 of 69 found this review helpful
IT WILL TAKE YOUR WITS AND SPELLS TO SAVE THIS MAGIC FOREST AND THE KINGDOM
PostedJanuary 7, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromWho is that hooded evil mage and why is he destroying the magic forest?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love fantasy games and Dreampath Guardian of the Forest is an absolutely wonderful game. In fact, although I enjoyed the last one in the series Curse of the Swamps, this one is even better. I found the story to be excellent with gameplay that kept my attention all the way through the bonus game.
In Guardian of the Forest you play the game as an apprentice wizard to Regis the Master Wizard of the kingdom. You have been called by Regis to continue your education since you show great promise but it isn’t long before you will be tested and will need to use every bit of magic and spell you have or may gain to save Regis as well as the kingdom from the grip of an evil wizard who is now controlling the king. Not only is this new evil controlling the king he is destroying the beautiful magic forest that surrounds the kingdom. As you play the game you will learn the story of a deep hatred and jealousy that drives this evil wizard.
Since there are so many reviews already posted you most likely know of all the details by now so there is no need for me to go into them. I will simply say that I enjoyed all of the HOPS and mini-games that were scattered along my path as I played the game. Most of the mini-games were fairly easy but still fun. I enjoy playing a beautiful fantasy game where I can take my time with the puzzles and the HOPS rather than having a puzzle that I need to skip. If there is any shortcoming to the game it is that there are either no instructions or very minimal ones at best on the puzzles. Most of them can be solved or figured out without instructions but there were times when I really had no idea how to start and simply had to fiddle my way around to figure out how to solve the puzzle.
If you are like me and love a great fantasy game, I recommend that you give Guardian of the Forest a try along with other games in the series. It is a beautiful game with a good storyline and a good gameplay factor. As always I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Can you stop an old evil from wreaking its vengeance?
Overall rating
4
/
5
79 of 100 found this review helpful
HELP CLAIRE PUT AN END TO THE MAN OF SHADOWS IN A NEW MYSTERY GAME
PostedJanuary 6, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromSome days are better than others when you are a “Police Special Consultant”!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Medium Detective comes to us from a developer that has created some very good games such as the Tales of Terror and Haunted Train series, and Fright from the Past might be the first entry into a new mystery series from this developer. If you have enjoyed their other games, you will probably enjoy this new whodunit game. A word of warning to all of you game purists who look at every nut and bolt in a game – be prepared for a bit of time-shock as you will probably go nuts because of all the anachronisms. Some are very obvious such as Detective Pine’s flashy automobile rather than a horse-drawn carriage, or Claire’s rather modern wardrobe, while others are a bit more subtle. Just remember that in BFG game land all things are possible!
In Fright from the Past you play the game as Claire Arlington a Police Special Consultant who uses her gift to see things that others don’t. Detective Pine who was the partner of your late father has called on you to help investigate what he believes is the murder of a young woman whose death was ruled as natural by the coroner. Detective Pine has reason to suspect that she and others might be the victims of an elusive and legendary criminal called the Man of Shadows. Using your special talents will you and Detective Pine be able to solve the murders and put an end to his reign of terror?
The hand-drawn artwork used to create the characters is excellent and with good voiceovers the characters seem life like. The game offers a custom setting that I appreciate because I can set my hint and skip times as low as I want. Many developers offer the custom setting but they dictate what the hint and skip time range should be without allowing the gamer to choose their own range. Yes, I am impatient and I hate waiting for the hint button to recharge when I want to move forward in the game – so thank you Deep Shadows for allowing me to set my own hint and skip times. There is the standard transporter type map included with the game but there is a tool that some might consider a gimmick but it is useful. Claire’s gift as a medium is activated by a special amulet but you won’t need to play a puzzle to use it.
I enjoyed the creative HOPS in Medium Detective where there are different styles used and all of them are well-designed. If you have played other games from this developer then you might be familiar with the inclusion of at least one morphing object in most scenes. The puzzles are easy, at least early in the game, which is terrific for those of you who are not fans of all the puzzles or mini-games now popping up in HOPA games. My BIG complaint is that there are no instructions for the puzzles although some don’t need them and are easy to figure out. However, I think there are some puzzles that should have instructions and the lack of them is why I will not rate the game higher.
The CE version of the game includes Morphing Objects and Collectible Signs or Symbols to find, along with Achievements to earn. The remainder of the CE package includes the standard fare such as Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Videos, a Bonus Game and the Strategy Guide. The CE is very light on extras so this would be a good game to purchase as a SE or by using one of your PCCs.
If you read my reviews you know by now that I dislike games based on the theme of evil, smoky, demonic type entities. HOWEVER, since I do like games from this developer and the Man of Shadows is only bent on revenge and not seeking to take over souls or world dominion, it doesn’t bother me quite as much and I will probably buy the game. In spite of some of its shortcomings Fright from the Past is a good police mystery game and is worth playing and it is one that I recommend. Even though I think that Medium Detective Fright from the Past is a good game, please try the demo to see if it is right for you. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
A vacation becomes a nightmare as you’re forced into an impossible game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
92 of 109 found this review helpful
A TOSS OF THE DICE TAKES YOU TO THE THREE-WORLDS IN A BRILLIANT NEW GAME
PostedJanuary 4, 2018
biscuitsmama
fromI am lost somewhere in the three-worlds trying to find my friend and somehow get us back home
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Sometimes a vacation turns out to be a bit more than you expected and this one ends up being a three-in-one package. You are on vacation with your best friend when what seems to be a rather boring and uneventful trip suddenly changes into one that might just be the last vacation you ever have. While exploring Delphi your friend Christine sees a stone that appears to have something shining behind it. Of course curiosity gets the better of both of you and that is when the excitement begins. I love the Labyrinths of the World series and, IMHO, this might be the best game of the series to-date. The storyline is excellent and creative with beautiful graphics that bring the three worlds to life. Loving fairy tale type games this game has it all for me with elves, dragons, and trolls.
Over the years I have played probably 900 HOPA games and it has become very apparent in the past few years that BFG has set out the basics that each developer should follow such as how many puzzles or HOPS there will be in each game. How many “hot spots” in each scene, what variety there should be in the HOPS, and approximately how many scenes there should be in each game. That format is why so many gamers refer to the HOPA games as being cookie-cutter. When you get right down to it, almost all HOPA games and even TM games are very much cookie-cutter games. That being said, Domini is a developer who makes their HOPS fun and their mini-games a bit more challenging. The graphics in their games are saturated with intense color and their storylines are for the most part quite excellent. This Labyrinths game, A Dangerous Game, is one of the most interesting and different storylines that I have seen in quite some time. This game shows that it is possible to have a very fun and interesting game where there is no vile, dark, evil entity lurking at every turn trying to steal my soul. It is refreshing to see a game that has such a different story that gives me the feeling that I am in a Tolkein novel as I play the game. Congrats to Domini for creating a fabulous game with elves, dragons, and trolls - especially the dragons since I love and collect them.
The HOPS are what we would expect but they are done well with a lot of creativity. Many items in the scenes require some interaction with other items that are sometimes not in plain sight and once found they are used within the scene. The puzzles are excellent and although most are familiar, I did come across one at least that I don’t remember playing in quite some time. I believe that Domini is the first developer who started offering a choice of easy or hard when it comes to solving the puzzles and even though I have played numerous puzzles in HOPA games, I found that I did need to select the easy mode when I tried to solve two of them in the demo for this game.
Labyrinths of the World: A Dangerous Game CE has lots of extras to find including Collectible Cards, Artifacts and Gold Nuggets. Yes there are lots of Achievements to earn if that is your thing. I think that this developer is one of the first that also offered a replay of HOPS and Puzzles in their games and we can do that in the CE version of the game as well. Then there is the usual fluff that is found in all CE games such as Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, and Videos
There is also a Personal Room that we can furnish using those Gold Nuggets that we find throughout the games. All CE games also include a Strategy Guide Bonus Chapter.
There is also a Personal Room that we can furnish using those Gold Nuggets that we find throughout the games. All CE games also include a Strategy Guide Bonus Chapter.
A Dangerous Game is the seventh game in the Labyrinths of the World series and it is an excellent way to start off 2018. Hopefully, we will see more games like this one and far fewer of the ones with evil demons hoping to take over some unsuspecting person who will become the vehicle for world dominion or some other such purpose. Domini nailed this storyline and created an awesome game that will be one of my all-time favorite games. Even though I love this game and highly recommend it, please try the demo to see if you will enjoy it as well. Happy Gaming!
I recommend this game!
It's more than your average survival show...
Overall rating
1
/
5
114 of 151 found this review helpful
AN ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL GAME
PostedDecember 30, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromI am beyond over this awful theme and trend in HOPA games
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
You play the game as Nathaniel, the Supernatural Detective. All of his life Nathaniel has been able to see things hidden by magic, and that gift or curse is what led him into his career. Outlive is the second game in the Unseen Fears series, and this one takes place in Tinsel Town USA.
Our supernatural detective is taking his vacation when he stops by the Outlive Fan Bar. Everyone is very excited about the finale for the Outlive show and is gathered around the bar’s television to watch when a powerful evil entity takes over the body of the show’s winner and begins to drain the life force from her and anyone who views the show. The game continues with this absolutely horrible theme and I am actually amazed that I could stick it out until the end of the demo.
I think this is one of the worst games I have played this year and I say game because it was a struggle for me to last through the demo. Awful, awful, awful! Not only is the storyline terrible but the gameplay is just as bad. The game is full of one puzzle or HOS right after another which wouldn’t be so bad if they were fun to play. I found the graphics overall to be quite cartoonish but THEN there are the cartoon strip HOPS where the style is truly taken from a comic book. I am not fond of this art style in a game and think that this developer might want to consider replacing their graphics design team.
In the end I could even care less about finding collectible masks. The game is not for me and there is no way I would even want this game with a free coupon. I have spent years purchasing every CE game release and this past year, particularly towards the end of the year when the games should have been brighter and happier there were four CEs in a row that I did not purchase. I am now realizing that the world didn’t come to an end because I didn’t buy a CE and I am promising myself that if this dark and evil trend in CE games continues, I will not be buying them in the future. I have more productive and positive ways to spend my time than playing yet another game about an evil entity that wants to inhabit the body of someone else to regain entry to the human world and wreak even more havoc. No thank you! BFG you can keep your games until you come up with some new and refreshing storylines. I am so done with the dark themed games. Some of you might just love this type of game but not me.
I don't recommend this game.
Restore the magic of Christmas to a mysterious island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
116 of 137 found this review helpful
IT’S BEGINNING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS AND THIS GAME BRINGS IT ON!
PostedDecember 20, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromIt must be wonderful to have the power of fire at your fingertips. Wow it could sure save on some of the heating bills this winter - lol.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Here it is Christmas Eve and Santa has gone missing! For years Santa has been trying to deliver gifts to an island but storms always prevented him from even getting close. But this year is different and as Santa nears the coast he encounters Queen Tempest who for some reason is bent on revenge against Santa. You play Frozen Hearts as Ember, a Demi-God with the gift of fire and Marta Claus has called on to find Santa so that he can complete his annual trek to deliver love and joy to the children on the frozen island. As you play this beautiful Christmas game the story unfolds while you complete HOPs and Puzzles. I absolutely love this game and feel that it is for me the best Christmas game of the past few years.
The graphics create a winter wonderland out of a tropical island. The game is so creative in its many special touches that I think it will probably end up being a Christmas family tradition for many of my fellow gamers and their loved ones.
Not only are the graphics beautiful but as you play the game you will find notes that have some beautiful and positive sentiments. I enjoyed reading the notes that warmed my heart as I played through the game. Your tools include an interactive map as well as your special fire magic to use in various situations.
Although they might seem easy for other gamers I had some difficulty with many of the puzzles because I simply didn’t understand the goals and felt that the game lacked in helpful instructions. This is the only downfall in the game for me. I was having those absolutely dense moments when I couldn’t figure out what to do. I also feel that the HOPS are more difficult than in some other games I have played. There is one that contains sliders where we must align drawings to complete the pictures and I had to continuously use the hint or switch between the available match-3 game to finish the scene. Thankfully the developers created a terrific alternative match-3 that is fun to play and I found myself enjoying it more than some of the complicated HOPAs.
If you prefer the CE version of a game this one includes Collectible Stockings, Coins, and Morphing Objects. Of course we have achievements to earn as well. The remainder of the package is the standard fluff such as Wallpapers, Artwork, Music, Developer’s Diary, Matching Puzzle and a Bonus Match, Bonus Game, and the Strategy Guide. This is quite an excellent CE package and well worth the price, IMHO.
Although we have had better than usual Christmas games this year, Yuletide Legends Frozen Hearts is the best of those offered. This game has it all and it has a message of love and hope. I love playing this game and will complete it this morning but I know I will play it again in the next few days. It is not often that I find a Christmas game that I think is simply wonderful. I have enjoyed the other Christmas games this year and think that all of the developers did a terrific job but for me Daily Magic nailed it and, IMHO, this game should be an award winner. Okay, so we all know that I love this game, but you might have different taste than me so please try the demo to see if Yuletide Legends Frozen Hearts is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you restore balance to the world tree in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
39 of 50 found this review helpful
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SEQUEL IS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL GAME
PostedDecember 17, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromWho would’ve thought that I would like this game so much!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When Saga of the Nine Worlds the Gathering was released I was excited to see a new series; however that hope quickly dwindled as I got into the actual game. So when I saw the beta for The Four Stags I asked myself why this developer even bothered to continue the series when the first game was so bad. Fortunately, the developer did continue with game two in the series, The Four Stags, which, IMHO, is so much better than the first game. Yes, once again the game starts off slowly with quite a few mundane tasks to complete before it picks up momentum but it is worth slogging through all of those tasks because once the game gets going it is very, very good. It’s funny because when I tried the beta for the game I wasn’t sure about it since I didn’t care for the first game, but now playing the full game of The Four Stags I am finding that I love it. So what changed? For one thing in the HOP scenes the items are so much easier to find than they were in The Gathering. The items are still well hidden but they are a bit larger and not so monotone which makes them a bit more visible. Although the first HOP scene is covered in old and dusty cobwebs I could still spot the items. Subsequent scenes are even better with more color, which is a great step up from The Gathering.
I am not going to jump into the storyline in this review because others have already done that but I will say that I like this storyline much better than the one in the initial game. The graphics, at least to me, also seem much better and I love the beautiful fantasy realms created by EIPIX. I’ve already mentioned that I think the HOPS are so much better in this game, and even though the puzzles seem easy I know that there will be tougher puzzles ahead. I’m hopeful that as the game progresses the difficulty of the puzzles will as well, which is generally the case in most games. I am hoping that I might run into a couple of super-puzzles later in the game.
I am sure that many gamers will enjoy this game because it seems to be more of an adventure, quest type game than my favored HOPA type. Even though this game may not have as many HOPS or puzzles, I am thankful that this game is so much better than I anticipated. Even though this game is one that I really enjoy, as always, I suggest that you try the demo to see if Saga of the Nine Worlds The Four Stags is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I am not going to jump into the storyline in this review because others have already done that but I will say that I like this storyline much better than the one in the initial game. The graphics, at least to me, also seem much better and I love the beautiful fantasy realms created by EIPIX. I’ve already mentioned that I think the HOPS are so much better in this game, and even though the puzzles seem easy I know that there will be tougher puzzles ahead. I’m hopeful that as the game progresses the difficulty of the puzzles will as well, which is generally the case in most games. I am hoping that I might run into a couple of super-puzzles later in the game.
I am sure that many gamers will enjoy this game because it seems to be more of an adventure, quest type game than my favored HOPA type. Even though this game may not have as many HOPS or puzzles, I am thankful that this game is so much better than I anticipated. Even though this game is one that I really enjoy, as always, I suggest that you try the demo to see if Saga of the Nine Worlds The Four Stags is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Save a missing family from an infamous haunted house!
Overall rating
5
/
5
133 of 165 found this review helpful
THE CREEPY VOICEOVERS ARE AWESOME!
PostedDecember 16, 2017
biscuitsmama
fromThe creepy voices are terrific but there is a point when Lilly should say nothing because her squeaky little voice makes me want to push her out the window
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, I must say that this game has one of the best and creepiest opening cut scenes I have ever seen in a HOPA game. If the remainder of the game is as awesome as the opening then we are all in for a treat.
We play the game as a detective who tags along with the ever changing Dupin. He is looking a bit younger this time around and has a bit of his polish back. Dupin has received a letter from Rufus McDougall asking him to investigate the disappearance of his family. The authorities have more or less brushed him off and refuse to help him find out what happened to his brother Mark, his wife Luisa and their daughter Lilly. Mark and his wife recently settled into a house that is known as “the Devourer of Souls” and with a reputation like that who in their right mind would even think this would be a good place to live with one’s wife and daughter. Alas, they now seem to be paying the consequences and so now you and Dupin must find the truth and save them if possible.
Although this developer was at one time my favorite and one whose games I knew would be terrific, I have found that all of their games have become very dark. Maybe they always had a tendency to lean towards the dark side in their games but I never noticed it as much as I have recently particularly in their Spirits of Mystery games. That being said, I found that the Dark Tales game – Morella – is really quite good. The HOP scenes are varied and although many of them are the list type there is still quite a bit of interaction required to find some items and other items are well hidden. Of course the artwork in the scenes is excellent. This developer is one of the best at creating lifelike characters. Some of the voiceovers are absolutely wonderful while others are simply horrid. I hate to say it but I loved the wicked voice of Lilly when she was “under the influence” while her post-rescue voice is grating to say the least.
Morella has some terrific puzzles and include some that seem new as well as some that I haven’t seen in a long time. Among those that I haven’t seen in ages are a few jigsaw type puzzles where we need to manipulate the puzzle pieces to make them fit. I also love the puzzle where we set up different shapes of pieces to make balls fall into assorted color cups at the base. There are some multi-level puzzles that almost resemble the Rube-Goldberg type although they technically are not. Over all it seems like this developer has listened to the comments of gamers and has made some significant changes to “up their game.”
The CE content is really slim with only puzzle pieces to collect – at least in the main game. There really isn’t anything to knock your socks off as far as the CE extras EXCEPT that the puzzles can be replayed. In the past I always recommended the CE version of a game to those who are new to playing HOPA games because the Strategy Guide had good instructions for solving the puzzles if you were stuck. That no longer is the case so purchasing the CE is really a matter of preference and not because it contains important information to guide you when stuck.
Again I must say that the dark themes in HOPA games bother me to some extent and I wish they would go away. That being said, Morella is a very creepy game and one that I have to admit I enjoyed. At the time I write this review I have almost finished the full game and it has been better than I thought. We all have different taste in games so I always recommend that you try the demo before you buy the full game. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!