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:
His mother escaped her murdering husband just before he was born. Now the son of Bluebeard must break his father's curse.
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 17 found this review helpful
Puzzles Leave Me Feeling Blue
PostedFebruary 12, 2014
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The character you play is Bluebeard's son. Your father, Gillle de Brais, while out hunting was attacked by a wolf and left mortally wounded. As he lay dying, he made a deal with a demon for eternal life in exchange for the life of someone every year. If he broke the agreement, his offspring would all die young. The sign of the agreement was his long blue beard. Your task is to find and destroy the black heart at your father's castle in order to break the curse.
I wanted to like the game as I usually enjoy pirate stories. The drawing style used can be best described as "fairy tale." In the beginning, the game play is fairly standard with some oddities. For example, items appear in your inventory while they are still on the screen.
The inventory is hidden by default and was sometimes difficult to bring up. The navigation Back arrow is just above the inventory, and that too was sometimes hard to find. Also, I noticed a long delay when moving from scene to scene.
In the time I played the demo, I heard two voices, your character’s(good# and the castle’s architect #not as good).
Hidden object scenes are fairly standard. Puzzles were not. I encountered two puzzles and found both to be incomprehensible. Unable to make sense of either one, I quit the game after the second with 20 minutes remaining.
This game may interest puzzle-lovers, and perhaps I am only a puzzle-liker. In any case I was not caught up in it enough to continue.
Not wishing to sound "heartless," this one is not for me.
I don't recommend this game.
Discover The Void’s true identity in the most exciting and challenging game in the beloved Clutter series!
Overall rating
4
/
5
26 of 28 found this review helpful
CLUTTER III IS HARD TO A-VOID
PostedFebruary 10, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Clutter III: Who is the Void? is a follow up to the original Clutter and Clutter II: He Said She Said.
These are puzzle games with a minimal back story to act as an amusing distraction. The quest this time is to find out the identity of The Void.
The game has numerous hidden object scenes, some with a few twists like "blocking objects" that you must "release" by finding certain other objects. There are also turn off the lights puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and an interesting game which is a combination of Sudoku and Tetris.
Music is constantly playing, mostly piano, which is truly background music. It can either help to keep your mind focused or be a source of frustration - depending on how well you are doing with the puzzle. Upon completion of each puzzle, you are given more clues to the identity of The Void, and also a quote from a famous (or not) philosopher.
From the Options menu you can turn off the timer, pop-ups, help and other things if you wish in order to customize to your distinct tastes.
A fun, yet challenging, game - especially when playing in the timed mode.
I recommend this game!
Charon's train has left the station, and you'll never believe who's on board!
Overall rating
3
/
5
27 of 29 found this review helpful
"Haunted Train" Fails To Leave The Station
PostedFebruary 9, 2014
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Sorry, I did not like this one. It did not feel "creepy" as some others have described. It was certainly trying to, but instead came off as ... uh... silly?
Others have described the basic story behind the game. Though the premise is kind of "out there," it definitely had potential. However, the developers did not manage to pull this off. Trying to rescue your wife's soul, wonder what sort of woman you married?.
Second, the game is way too easy. Many times an object is picked up, then used almost immediately. Puzzles require little or no thought.
Third, I felt the voice acting was not convincing. This is where the train truly breaks down. Voice acting, if done well, can help to "suspend your disbelief." That didn't happen here, not even close. The actor sounded to me like they were just reading lines off a page.
The drawing is well done and is of a standard with the better games. The story is set in the past, as far too many are, and a good job was done with the artwork in capturing the spirit of times gone by. The music and sound effects are helpful in this respect as well, just enough to capture the mood without being heavy-handed.
Just barely 3 stars. I'd buy only with the sale or when I have an extra credit. Possibly even as a DD. Otherwise, I will wait for the "next train."
I don't recommend this game.
Can a vampire and an ordinary girl be together, if the vampire's father opposes this?
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 16 found this review helpful
Vampire in Love is Not a Batty Idea
PostedFebruary 8, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
"Enron" (who chose that name?) the son of Dracula, wants to forsake his family name and live a normal life. He falls in love with Emily, a human, after she gives him the "damsel in distress" look. But before they are married, Emily is abducted and held in a mansion. There is now a race against time as she is in "mortal danger" and must be freed. The ghost of a little girl is also willing to help Emily.
In this game, the player plays two different characters, both Enron and Emily. The switch is made by clicking the character's portrait in the lower right. Certain objects are sent from one player to the other by using a carrier pigeon. So you'll get so far with one character and have to switch to the other to progress, and so on.
Apart from the story there are other things that can be collected in order to "build a castle" and an "interface shop" where you can "spend" your collectibles. There are also vampire-related items to collect just as collectibles. Personally, none of these things interested me, but your tastes may differ.
Hidden object scenes were imaginative and well drawn, requiring a fair amount of interaction. There is also a match 3 option. Puzzles were cleverly integrated, but not very challenging. The use of some objects was unusual, and not always intuitive.
The voices were an unusual mix of British and American accents, but were ok. Unfortunately there was not a lot of use of voices during the trial. For this reason, you do not get to know a lot about the characters except that they are in love. This made truly "buying in" to the story more difficult. Music is very dramatic and ominous sounding, but the same melody plays over and over.
CE "pseudo-extras" include replay of hidden objects, wallpapers, concept art, music, and puzzles. There is also a strategy guide and an extra level. For options, 4 levels of difficulty and no special settings for sparkles. There are also some achievements, i.e. for not using hints.
The game also does not play in true widescreen.
The game scores points for innovation by playing multiple characters, but other than that there is nothing really special here. Vampire love stories have a certain following, so no doubt there will be many who really like this game. It's not bad, but I'll sleep this one off and get up at sunrise.
I recommend this game!
Witch hunters have kidnapped Lynn! To save her, you'll have to team up with an old foe and storm their castle.
Overall rating
3
/
5
19 of 29 found this review helpful
Not Really A Good "Legacy"
PostedFebruary 7, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is a continuation of other Witches Legacy games. Having played only Charleston Curse, I was not up to speed on the story, but the game provides a whirlwind summary in the introductory movie. But unless you are a speed reader, the whirlwind is hard to follow.
You are Ms Anderson. Your daughter, Lynn is a "good" witch, so good she has power over life and death. And yet she cannot stop herself from being abducted by the "Witch Hunters" who want to avenge some past wrong. You are being "aided" by Elizabeth, an nemesis from an earlier game who was turned into a doll. She is the only one who can help you track the witch hunters so that you can rescue your daughter.
The music was good but not remarkable, puzzles and mini-games were very easy - too easy. Hidden object scenes were not quite as easy, and required interaction to get objects. Unfortunately, too often the location of objects did not make sense, but to explain further would be a spoiler. Quality of drawing was ok, not great but certainly on par with good games.
Voices were not great, it sounded like the actors were trying too hard to be convincing. You also have an "imp," a little green-eyed helper to get into places you cannot. In fact, Lynn's first words to you are "Mother, my imp has been acting strange today."
I did not encounter anything too "occult-ic" despite the witches theme. Nevertheless I did not care for the story, it was just too unbelievable for my tastes. Your's may vary.
I'll sit out this witch hunt.
I don't recommend this game.
Stop the disaster caused by the Sky Kingdom and save the day!
Overall rating
4
/
5
10 of 14 found this review helpful
Jack Meets Chicken Little
PostedFebruary 6, 2014
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
In this latest episode of Dark Parables, which has been a good series, you are a detective assigned to investigate the events occurring in the Dutch town of Albassarwaard. Above the town, the Sky Kingdom has appeared and pieces of it are falling into the town causing death and destruction. You are to use the assistance of Jack, an adventurer who has been to the Sky Kingdom previously, but not for noble reasons. Because of that visit, Jack and the Prince of the kingdom are engaged in a physical battle, the reason for which becomes clearer as the story unfolds.
The drawing and artwork are of a very colorful style in keeping with the other games in this series. The hidden object scenes are of the fragmented type, and the objects are cleverly hidden without the scenes being overly cluttered. There are many "royal" themed objects like seals, crests, knights, coats of arms, etc. in keeping with the story line, mixed in with a "robin hood-ish" flavor of the woods and, of course, a beanstalk.
I found the mini-games to be either very easy (mostly) or very difficult (a few) depending on the type. There is a lot to do in this game, many areas require multiple steps to be completed before finally unlocking. There are also several collectibles, 20 "cursed" objects, Rumpelstiltskins, and others. There is a "mini-map" on the lower right that is 2-D, jumps, and shows objectives. Hint is on the left.
The "extras" in the CE include puzzles, wallpaper, movies, music (orchestral and well done), concept art, and "Parable notes" which will reveal the story, so best not to read them until finished unless you want a spoiler. And a Bonus Chapter, Rumpelstiltskin.
A well made game worthy of the series, especially if you like a lot of parables. I'll be waiting for the SE.
Meet you at the base of the beanstalk!
I recommend this game!
Young Andrea suddenly collapsed, falling into a coma. Now her fate rests on an experiment that dives deep into minds.
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 12 found this review helpful
The "Eyes" don't always have it
PostedFebruary 5, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I was a beta tester for this game a few months ago.
You are young mother Judith Templeton, and your 6 year old daughter has lapsed into a coma after coming home from school. She is now under the care of Dr. Fletcher, who uses a device called the Diver to enable you to travel into and out of your daughter's mind to determine the cause of her coma.
I found the drawing and artwork to be imaginative, but somewhat old style in quality and sharpness. Music and sounds were ok, however the game suffers a little from a lack of character voices, especially since there is a lot of interaction between you and Dr. Fletcher. However, the characters inside your daughter's mind DO have voice actors and they are done well enough.
The game play is fairly standard as you complete tasks and find objects to enable you to keep unlocking parts of your daughter's mind. Naturally, everything inside her mind is drawn in a childlike style, including the mysterious dark "creeper" characters and the Boogeyman.
There is a lot of backtracking in and out of the Diver as you have to repeatedly use a special "scanner" to take real objects and transfer them into her dreamworld. This game suffers a little from so effectively rendering a childlike world as I found it to be annoying by the end of the demo. That said, I can imagine this game being liked by a certain segment of the population. :hang:
I'll probably pass on this, but for others the "eyes" may have it.
Step into a dream machine and piece together the events of a mysterious tragedy!
Overall rating
2
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
ECHOES II FAILS TO FAITHFULLY REPEAT
PostedFebruary 3, 2014
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I too, (or should I say II, what's with the roman numerals?) own and have played the first EOS and liked the game. This one is hard to relate to the original. It is not a continuation.
Drawing style is grainy and unfinished looking. The voice overs are ok but are only heard during cut scenes, not other dialog. The music - if you can call it that - is really hard to endure. There is no discernable melody, rather it sounds like random notes played on a piano continually, with a discordant harmony.
See other's recap of the story, that does not make much sense to me either. Halfway through the demo, the game scene changes from a house to a hospital. At this point it seems like you are playing a totally different game.
The hidden object scenes have no interaction other than finding the object. And they are not well thought out either. Objects totally unrelated to the scenes are pictured. Examples from a scene in a hospital storeroom: a film reel, cassette tape, video cassette, portrait etc.
Those who do not like "sparkles" will notice they are everywhere you look, except they appear after you hover your mouse over an active area.
This game is not really up to the standards of what is being released today, and never really drew me in to the story so I cannot recommend it.
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
11 of 14 found this review helpful
Fatal Passion Avoids Fatal Mistakes
PostedFebruary 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 need to find to complete an action.
Not a new idea - painting an object and it comes to life (Drawn, anyone?) but this game manages to pull it off well. Games can sometimes overly rely on one "trick" but here it does not seem to be over-used. In this game, you have to actually make your paint before you can use it.
The bird collectibles are fantastic. Beautifully drawn and look almost real. I love birds, and at least some of them appeared to be actual species. However, I could not see a way to view the birds once they are 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 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 an somewhat more challenging than usual, but not difficult. Hidden object scenes had several twists thrown in, but were fairly easy.
I 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 stan
I recommend this game!
You came to the town of Brownville, Louisiana hoping to find a new job. But you weren't expecting to stumble upon a strange adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger!
Overall rating
4
/
5
12 of 14 found this review helpful
Destiny rides again
PostedJanuary 31, 2014
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a new game, but when I read the summary it sounded familiar. I definitely beta tested this some months ago.
I did like the concept of the game and the story. It takes a few minutes to unfold. It is not entirely a new idea, but not one that has been worn out either.
The artwork is not dazzling, but it is certainly adequately done. Don't judge the game by the look of the very beginning. It gets better, and the style changes from semi-realism to fantasy. Cut scenes are ok but not spectacular.
Voice overs are just Ok and the lips do not synch with the words. Also, the words at the bottom of the screen are center-justified which looks odd at times, especially when there are only a few words on the last line. These are small but noticeable flaws.
There is a jump map and it is needed as there is a LOT of backtracking. There is also an annoying black screen pause each time you navigate from scene to scene.
You pick up a purple furry rabbit/monkey that is your "helper." When I beta'd the game, helpers were a new idea, but now it is common. Personally, I could do without them. This one is no exception.
Hidden object scenes and puzzles are clear and easy, but the use of objects is not always clear or logical, and there are many active areas that are easy to miss. So look around a lot.
There are collectibles and pseudo-achievements. I say pseudo because you have to do them to advance.
I like this one a little as a SE.
I recommend this game!