steve_san's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:5,408
- Reviews Submitted:242
- First Review:November 28, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 3, 2025
- Featured reviews0
Status:
What if everything you knew about your life, everything your family ever told you, turned out to be a lie?
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 28 found this review helpful
I'm Already Beginning To Feel Forsaken
PostedMarch 30, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The setting is in the year 1984 when you receive a cryptic letter from your sister Heather, with whom you have not been in contact with since your mother died ten years ago. Heather asks that you (Holly, a green-eyed beauty) come to a certain address to visit. The address turns out to be a boarded up, broken down, apparently abandoned home. But, all is not as it seems.
This game does successfully create a creepy atmosphere and also delves into themes like mental illness and treatment of the mentally ill. However, while this may not be a game for young children, it certainly is not as scary as it suggests. Many of the game's "surprises" are telegraphed well in advance so you really expect them. The opening screen is of a security monitoring station at a mental asylum, and it is apparent that something has gone horribly wrong as the camera pans across (spoiler alert) dead bodies and trails of blood.
As you would expect, the drawing style is not cheery and colorful, but instead deliberately drab using a palette of pale blues, greens and browns. There are also a lot of little critters all around, such as small crawling bugs, creeping spiders and skittering mice.
Game play consists of more puzzles and locks than hidden object scenes. The hidden object scenes have a somewhat older feel, with small pop-up areas in them. Objects available in the pop-up areas are highlighted in your list, while the others are faded out. Speaking of pop-ups, there are tutorial screens that appear again and again, forcing you to turn off the tutorial multiple times.
When passing between scenes, occasionally the opening scene appeared for a moment - the security station. This seemed odd.
Along the way you collect pages from your sister's diary which begin to fill in the back story.
For comparison, the CE includes collectable statues, 15 in all, extra play, and strategy guide, as well as other pseudo-extras like music, wallpaper, making of, achievements, deleted scenes, cut scenes (movies), and replay of puzzles and hidden object scenes.
Maybe it's just that this type of asylum game has not been done in a while, but it does have a scary, creepy, haunting effect. It's not quite TRUE Fear, but it comes awfully close.
I recommend this game!
Psych
Play as Shawn and Gus and solve the crime by using Shawn's heightened observational skills and Gus's eccentric expertise!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 10 found this review helpful
I Saw This Game Coming
PostedMarch 26, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I had the, ahem, "honor" of testing a pre-release beta of this several months ago. Nothing really has changed. Dated drawing, campy humor, and old style game play.
I have never seen the show (nor do I care to after playing) but if somehow you are a fan of Psych, I would say this game is ......... (tada!) worth playing, I guess.
It's not terrible, not nearly as bad as some others have been - though you have to get over the style of the drawing.
On its own I'd give it 2-1/2 stars. For a BIG FAN of Psych, add another 1/2 to one star. So it is passable if you are into this sort of thing.
Fishes , please let me know when they come out with a game based on "24." That is a game I would be "psyched" for.
Can you and Detective Dupin uncover the dark secrets of this mysterious estate?
Overall rating
4
/
5
31 of 36 found this review helpful
House of Usher Is Definitely A Fixer-Upper
PostedMarch 20, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
You and Detective Dupin have been summoned by Dr. Morris to the House of Usher to investigate the disappearance of Madeleine. Madeleine and her brother Roderick are twins who share a special bond in which they experience each others painful experiences. Dr. Morris had been treating them until Madeleine disappeared.
A quick check in my inventory revealed that I’ve played five previous Dark Tales games, all of them either good or very good. The strength of this series has always been the stories. So how does this one measure up?
As you would expect, the House is creepy looking and contains all sorts of weird objects, doors and locks. In fact, the exterior of the house bears an eerie resemblance to the house from the movie “Psycho.” The drawing style is consistent with the others in the Dark Tales series, with very saturated colors and a slightly grainy and flat look.
Game play is characterized by variety. The hidden object play varies from scene to scene, beginning with a riddle type, then find 12 of something, and so on. Objects are mostly correct for the period. There is a match-3 option not explored by this reviewer. Mini games were not too challenging, but were well animated.
Along the way, you also collect a spirit who can bring certain objects to life, and a pet mouse to get to those hard-to-reach places.
Voices are not up to the usual high standards. For starters, the developers re-used the same person’s voice for at least three characters. They just tweaked it a little to try to disguise it. I found the voice of Roderick to be the weakest, and his voice did not fit the look of the character either.
Options are highly customizable for whichever level you choose to play, including a switch to simply turn off the sparkles.
The Collector’s Edition includes a lab that you can purchase equipment for. Coins are found by searching model buildings throughout the game using an x-ray lens. The pseudo-extras include wallpapers (6), concept art (15), screen savers (5), hidden object (17), mini games (17), and movies (14). There are also the usual achievements. Other extras are a strategy guide and bonus chapter. There are no collectible items (other than the coins).
Verdict: Unless there is a sale, the SE would seem to be the better value. The game will not “usher” in a new era in gaming, but is still worth playing.
I recommend this game!
A series of robberies takes a deadly and supernatural turn!
Overall rating
4
/
5
33 of 36 found this review helpful
Face of Envy Has Familiar 'Scent'
PostedMarch 17, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
In this game, you play a retired detective called in to investigate a series of attacks and robberies against wealthy people in a European town. It was because of your success in the first European Mystery - Scent of Desire, that you are being consulted again. The villain here seems to have some supernatural power which enables him to alter his appearance using the stolen items.
The time and place are not stated; however it seems to be set in the 18th century (that's the 1700's). The drawing style is semi-realistic, and it is well rendered, but not especially distinctive. That is a nice way of saying that it looks like a lot of other games.
The hidden object scenes are mostly straightforward. However, during the trial period there is one scene where each object in the list requires an additional action to collect. There are many short mini-games which act as locks. These are well designed to fit into each scene, which is nice, but stripping that away they are mostly the standard types.
What is not standard is your kit - you use a charged crystal and other materials (i.e. gold and silver) to create special jewelery objects. You must be aware of what you need and use items from your inventory to add to the kit. This is a good idea as it can increase the experience of participation and immersion in the story.
In the CE version there the usual achievements for skillful play. There are also 35 masks to collect. The masks seem to be fairly well hidden, or at least they don't jump right out at you.
This is a solid game with a few twists and is a good follow up to the first in the series, but it's not going to make other developers green with Envy.
I recommend this game!
Return to Raincliff, where what you see isn’t always what you get!
Overall rating
4
/
5
19 of 21 found this review helpful
Phantom Difficulty
PostedMarch 15, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The Mystery Trackers series is one of the best, with each game being a very strong entry. I own five other MT games, with two as CE's.
In this episode, you return to the town of Raincliff to investigate the disappearance of TV reporter Emilie White. Ms. White disappeared while investigating the presence of invisible people in the town, hence the "Phantoms" title.
The drawing and design are top notch, the swirling snow very realistic #I can attest to that by looking out my window#. Voice overs are also very believable, and cut scenes #and they pop up frequently# are well done. Even the "phantoms" are believably realistic #I think - I've never actually seen a real phantom #. Music is very subtle but nice.
Playing off the snowy landscape is a unique #as far as I know# wrinkle. On the left of the screen is a thermometer. When the temperature drops, you have to find a morphing object to warm you. However, the objects are just standard items, not necessarily associated with warmth. There is an option to disable this feature.
Another wrinkle is VHS tapes #yes, still using them, my theory on this I'll put in the forum#. Each time you find and view a tape you receive a photo #a old style polaroid, of course#. You have to match the photo to its location in the game to find a secret hiding place and objects.
This game is clearly well thought out and well executed. My only ding would be that the hidden object scenes and even the puzzles are just too easy. You really won't have any trouble finding anything and the puzzles, while cleverly designed, have really simple solutions. Perhaps this changes as you play further but I'll take off 1/2 a star for now.
The CE version has collectible "creatures", achievements, a strategy guide, and a bonus chapter as well as the usual "pseudo-extras" #i.e. wallpapers, etc#. There are four levels of difficulty.
4-1/2 stars, last half star is a Phantom.
I recommend this game!
A dragon has awoken after a hundred years - and it's after your son.
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 10 found this review helpful
So THAT"S What An Emberwing Is?
PostedMarch 15, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Your son (why, oh why did you name him Tevin?) has been snatched away by a fire-breathing dragon and is being kept in the Dark Forest, where the elves live apart from humans. As his mother you must rescue him, and you have the help of one of the elves, Eridan. You also find out that (gasp!) Tevin is an Emberwing.
Dragons, elves and a forest - you can imagine the rest: spirits, oracles, prophecies, battles and treasure. Really, the whole story impressed me as kind of simplistic, almost childish.
Nevertheless, the production standards are fairly high, with the drawing, cut scenes, voices and music working very much in harmony. The artwork is a storybook style with saturated greens and purples - lots of purple.
The game play is moslty puzzle-based with only a few hidden object scenes. The puzzles are not too tricky and fit the flavor of the game nicely. There are many scenes that are active at the same time - and there is no journal. Therefore, unless you have a really good memory, you may want to take notes or keep a journal in order to keep track of what can be used where.
There are collectible symbols and the usual array of extras (Strategy Guide and Epliogue chapter) as well as pseudo-extras (wallpapers, music, concept art).
This story never "took wing" for me but, given the good production values and wide appeal of this type of story, this game will no doubt be a fairly popular one. Not popular enough to make "Tevin" a common name, though.
I recommend this game!
You're a top reporter in search of a missing toymaker – but this isn't child's play. Is something otherworldly responsible?
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 17 found this review helpful
One Of These Things Is Not Like "The Others"
PostedMarch 14, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
There is definitely an older feel to this, as the artwork is not nearly as detailed as what we see in newer games, and the result is somewhat "flat" looking objects. However, the cut scenes are fairly well done, while still in a 3-D style that is also reminiscent of a few years back.
The game did fill my Windows screen completely although my monitor may have stretched it automatically. I did not experience any of the reported cursor sticking during the trial.
Setting: You are a reporter following up on a story about the disappearance of all the workers and the owner of a toy factory in a small town.
The hidden object scenes are easy, I think the first one took less than 30 seconds to complete. They do have a twist as the highlighted items may not be the ones to find. Click the highlighted item name and cycle through three possible items to choose from, only one of which can be found in the scene. This adds a small degree of difficulty.
Puzzles are mosly simple as well and, as expected with the older feel, none are really new. This is not necessarily bad as it helps to keep the story moving without getting bogged down with one puzzle.
During the demo, everything takes place at night and the palette is moslty browns, grays and reds. Navigation is another clue as to the age of the game as the arrows are not in consistent locations and navigation is not always intuitive. However this was really not too much of an issue. One of the locations is an amusement park fun house. This was the most fun part of the trial and very amusing.
Without giving too much away, the "villians" reminded me of creatures from an original star trek pilot episode. Voices are well acted and appropriate, but every single word is voiced, including when clicking an area where something is needed. It does become annoying, but you can click out of the scene to cut it short.
Despite the technical shortcomings, I would cautiously recommend this game because it seems to have an interesting story that is different than what we normally see. There is no map or journal so that dictates what the game play will be like. Then again, if you find you don't like this game, try one of The Others.
I recommend this game!
Dark Dimensions: Somber Song Collector's Edition
Townspeople flee as the black smoke covers their town. Can you close the dark dimension, before it’s too late?
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 17 found this review helpful
Somber Is Not The Same Old Song
PostedMarch 13, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Setting: After a recent tragedy, a fire at a music school where several children were killed, a young girl who was the lone survivor of the fire comes running to you to help her escape the dark cloud pursuing her.
What stands out in this game is the hidden object scenes. They are cleverly done in a manner where you progressively find one object and perform an action in order to reveal another. While we have seen these before, the ones in this game are particularly well done - you actually must think to complete them. The same cannot be said for the puzzles which are far easier and require little thought.
The drawing is very nice, depicting a not-so-small town in the winter season. And it takes place in modern times (the fire is said to have occurred in 2011). Nevertheless, the artists could not resist drawing some ancient looking keys (sigh). But the keys do turn without the extra click, so that is a plus. Another nice touch is (SPOILER ALERT):
The cat found under your car in the beginning you later see posted on a bulletin board as a Lost Kitty named "Mr. Snuggles". Cute.
I hate to nitpick (or do I?), but during the demo, the teacher's name is spelled both as Mayer and Mayers in various places. A little quality control please.
There are collectible sheets of music, or rather fragments of sheets. These required several clicks to collect, which became a little annoying after the first few. They are not really hidden either so not much of a challenge to find.
I found the demo interesting to play until the end, mostly due to the hidden object scenes, although I hope the rest of the game is not just following around after a black cloud of smoke. That was starting to get old.
Definitely a game that could get you "fired up."
I recommend this game!
The seven deadly sins have plunged peaceful Riddlestone into chaos! Rescue the royal family and save their people from destruction.
Overall rating
3
/
5
22 of 25 found this review helpful
This Will Fade "Into Oblivion"
PostedMarch 6, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I thought this game had a familiar feel, then I realized I had beta tested it. That was quite a while ago, so those who describe this game as somewhat older are correct, relatively speaking.
The town of Riddlestone, the Rockwood dynasty, the seven deadly sins, etc. Queen Olivia's daughter (or should I say "daw-tah" per the supposedly British accents) has been kidnapped.
Everything is well drawn and the game has it's own style, although I found the style hard to describe. The game is both very colorful and very dark at the same time. I thought the voices and sound effects were fairly good.
The game play and plot is on the simplistic side, suggesting this is aimed at younger (but not too young) fishes.
The collectables (crowns) are nearly impossible to miss without tripping over them, and yet there are not too many of them. I did not find them particularly compelling. There are also collectable members of the royal Rockwood family (six, I think).
This does not have either an interesting story or new features that would make it stand out as special. Neither does not have that immersive quality. My recommendation would be to wait for the SE, or just leave this riddle unanswered.
I don't recommend this game.
An eccentric artist's creations have sprung to life, and they're terrorizing a small town.
Overall rating
4
/
5
16 of 17 found this review helpful
Fatal Passion Avoids Fatal Mistakes
PostedMarch 2, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The story of unrequited, secret love is nothing really new (actually quite old), but it was still holding my interest through the trial time. There may be a little too much "help" for some, as the on-screen hints pretty much tell you what type of object you'll need to find in order to complete an action.
Painting an object and it comes to life - not a new idea, Drawn, anyone? - but this game manages to pull it off well. Developers can sometimes overly rely on one "trick" but here it does not seem to be over-used. Also in this game, you have to actually make your paint before you can use it.
The bird collectibles are fantastic. Beautifully drawn and looking almost real. I love birds, and at least some of them appeared to be actual species. However, I could not find any way to view the birds once they were collected - which is a shame. Suggestion for developer: it would have been a WOW to be able to see the collected birds in a separate viewing area, together with their names.
The artwork is done is a semi-realistic style which should be familiar to most fishes. Puzzles and mini games showed some inventiveness, or at least a twist on the usual ones. There was one painting/drawing puzzle during the trial #hate those# but I found the others interesting and somewhat more challenging than usual, but not too difficult. Hidden object scenes had several twists thrown in, but were still fairly easy.
I do like the game, and if my suggestion above was part of the CE I would consider making this one of the few CE's I own. As it stands, I'll direct my "passions" toward the SE release.
I recommend this game!