Rescue_helo's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.2
- Helpful Votes:10,878
- Reviews Submitted:226
- First Review:December 8, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 25, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Status:
House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets Collector's Edition
Guide Kate Reed as she solves four mind-bending mysteries that take her to worlds she's never imagined!
Overall rating
4
/
5
98 of 120 found this review helpful
Nice but not outstanding
PostedDecember 22, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny
(17)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Although very well wrapped up but with contents that are neither new nor out of this world, the game is a bit disappointing.
The intro, backed up by an excellent soundtrack, is very good and so are the cutscenes. This beginning leads you to think the game is near exceptional. It is simply a straight HOG with traditional tasks and a few minigames.
The artwork is sumptuous, hand drawn with talent and highly detailed; the voice-overs quasi professional and the narrative well written.
There are many HO Scenes, each very neat, with recognizable objects, although some are not that easy to find; they all request some simple interactivity on your part, and the items are given either as lists or full drawings (not silhouettes).
On the easier of the two Modes, hints recharge very fast, and also help you decide what to do next. The map gives your current location as well as those that remain for exploration or are not yet completed. Clues can also be found in the journal.
There are many locations to visit, all beautiful, with many tasks to accomplish. But, these tasks are simple and the game being fairly linear, bactracking is far from excessive. Finding the useful objects is no Roman task either.
I could have done with more puzzles, but the emphasis has been placed on HOs and tasks. Still, the puzzles the demo allows you to play are easy, #1 is a a piece of cake, #2 quite interesting. They are all skippable.
Considering that the challenge level is okay but not high, and that the trial version takes you into Chapter 3 out of 7 + the Bonus Chapter, in 60 minutes, I think that playtime is bound to be short for a CE and replayability affected accordingly.
What I saw of the storyline did not impress me, as it seemed to me rather secondary and just another variant on a theme: occultism, spritism, haunted house, ghosts.
I think this game is more suited to those who love HOs and/or do not want to lose patience over a tough adventure full of tricky minigames.
Although I recommend this game I have doubts as to the value of the CE; the SE should be sufficient. But, as always, the best is to try the demo and take it from there.
The intro, backed up by an excellent soundtrack, is very good and so are the cutscenes. This beginning leads you to think the game is near exceptional. It is simply a straight HOG with traditional tasks and a few minigames.
The artwork is sumptuous, hand drawn with talent and highly detailed; the voice-overs quasi professional and the narrative well written.
There are many HO Scenes, each very neat, with recognizable objects, although some are not that easy to find; they all request some simple interactivity on your part, and the items are given either as lists or full drawings (not silhouettes).
On the easier of the two Modes, hints recharge very fast, and also help you decide what to do next. The map gives your current location as well as those that remain for exploration or are not yet completed. Clues can also be found in the journal.
There are many locations to visit, all beautiful, with many tasks to accomplish. But, these tasks are simple and the game being fairly linear, bactracking is far from excessive. Finding the useful objects is no Roman task either.
I could have done with more puzzles, but the emphasis has been placed on HOs and tasks. Still, the puzzles the demo allows you to play are easy, #1 is a a piece of cake, #2 quite interesting. They are all skippable.
Considering that the challenge level is okay but not high, and that the trial version takes you into Chapter 3 out of 7 + the Bonus Chapter, in 60 minutes, I think that playtime is bound to be short for a CE and replayability affected accordingly.
What I saw of the storyline did not impress me, as it seemed to me rather secondary and just another variant on a theme: occultism, spritism, haunted house, ghosts.
I think this game is more suited to those who love HOs and/or do not want to lose patience over a tough adventure full of tricky minigames.
Although I recommend this game I have doubts as to the value of the CE; the SE should be sufficient. But, as always, the best is to try the demo and take it from there.
I recommend this game!
Mystery Case Files: Escape from Ravenhearst
Return once more to the haunted grounds of Ravenhearst Manor to uncover new details about this poignant saga. What you find could very well be the final chapter of this riveting story-if you escape.
Overall rating
1
/
5
159 of 201 found this review helpful
Not as awful as Hannibal.... but....
PostedDecember 22, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny
(17)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Oh dear, oh dear, what happened to the Ravenhearst series ? I loved the first two so much ! Yes, this one is a thriller alright, but with several disturbing scenes that are borderline to being unhealthy.
You need to be a fan of horror movies, derelict hospitals, sinister morgues and 19th C asylums to really appreciate this third installment....I do not fall into this category.
Technically speaking, the game is brilliant. The intro and cutscenes are worthy of a professional movie, the voice-overs are flawless, the graphics perfect. This deserves 5 stars.
Unfortunately:
- I quit the demo after 31 mns due to the too many Morphing Objects Scenes I had to play. This is a new trend that consists in replacing the traditional HOS by one in which objects change shapes. I am not too keen on HO Scenes already, a MOS even less...in fact not at all.
- I did not have a single chance to try one of the puzzles, so I cannot bear a judgement on the challenge level, but knowing the other MCF games, I take it it is quite high.
- I feel frustrated because I will never get to play an adventure that could otherwise been a great experience had it been less shocking
Perfect technique is not sufficient to take my fun up to high levels, and excessive horror brings it down to nil.
And this deserves 1 star.
Recommended to only a minority of players. Not recommended to younger players, hypersensitive persons and those who are horrified.... by horror.
Note: Hannibal - the movie by Ridley Scott with Anthony Hopkins and Judie Foster
You need to be a fan of horror movies, derelict hospitals, sinister morgues and 19th C asylums to really appreciate this third installment....I do not fall into this category.
Technically speaking, the game is brilliant. The intro and cutscenes are worthy of a professional movie, the voice-overs are flawless, the graphics perfect. This deserves 5 stars.
Unfortunately:
- I quit the demo after 31 mns due to the too many Morphing Objects Scenes I had to play. This is a new trend that consists in replacing the traditional HOS by one in which objects change shapes. I am not too keen on HO Scenes already, a MOS even less...in fact not at all.
- I did not have a single chance to try one of the puzzles, so I cannot bear a judgement on the challenge level, but knowing the other MCF games, I take it it is quite high.
- I feel frustrated because I will never get to play an adventure that could otherwise been a great experience had it been less shocking
Perfect technique is not sufficient to take my fun up to high levels, and excessive horror brings it down to nil.
And this deserves 1 star.
Recommended to only a minority of players. Not recommended to younger players, hypersensitive persons and those who are horrified.... by horror.
Note: Hannibal - the movie by Ridley Scott with Anthony Hopkins and Judie Foster
I recommend this game!
Mystery Legends: Beauty and the Beast Collector's Edition
Relive the fantasy of Beauty & the Beast in this never before told story of magic and love!
Overall rating
5
/
5
52 of 53 found this review helpful
A Wonderful Adaptation of the famous Fairy Tale
PostedDecember 21, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny
(17)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
To put it simply, I was hooked after 18 minutes of playing the demo.
The graphics are gorgeous, all hand-drawn with great talent and taste, beautifully painted.
The excellent, vibrant music acts as an enhancement, and is never disturbing.
The voice-over is quite good and the narrative well written.
Puzzle #1 is a classic and dead easy, puzzle #2 cute and also easy, the others offer a fair challenge.
The HOS are neat, although some items are a bit too tiny for me, but the Hint System on Casual is very friendly. In addition, it provides indications as to where to go, what to do and look for.
Further aid is given by the SG, step by step, thus keeping the surprise of what follows totally complete. The journal includes a map showing your current location, those where some action is needed and the unexplored ones.
There are 33 locations to explore and re-explore, which means the game should have a decent length, especially with the bonus chapter, which, I believe, offers a better conclusion than that of the SE.
The storyline is solid, but I don't know yet which version of the tale Pixelstorm followed; the original by Gabrielle Barbot de Villeneuve or the best-known abridged variant by Jeanne Marie de Beaumont.
With 3 levels of difficulty to choose from and many tasks to accomplish the game should keep the most demanding players among us busy for quite a few hours.
And as the cherry on the cake, the witch is quite....beautiful too ! I am getting the CE. My rating: 4.7
The graphics are gorgeous, all hand-drawn with great talent and taste, beautifully painted.
The excellent, vibrant music acts as an enhancement, and is never disturbing.
The voice-over is quite good and the narrative well written.
Puzzle #1 is a classic and dead easy, puzzle #2 cute and also easy, the others offer a fair challenge.
The HOS are neat, although some items are a bit too tiny for me, but the Hint System on Casual is very friendly. In addition, it provides indications as to where to go, what to do and look for.
Further aid is given by the SG, step by step, thus keeping the surprise of what follows totally complete. The journal includes a map showing your current location, those where some action is needed and the unexplored ones.
There are 33 locations to explore and re-explore, which means the game should have a decent length, especially with the bonus chapter, which, I believe, offers a better conclusion than that of the SE.
The storyline is solid, but I don't know yet which version of the tale Pixelstorm followed; the original by Gabrielle Barbot de Villeneuve or the best-known abridged variant by Jeanne Marie de Beaumont.
With 3 levels of difficulty to choose from and many tasks to accomplish the game should keep the most demanding players among us busy for quite a few hours.
And as the cherry on the cake, the witch is quite....beautiful too ! I am getting the CE. My rating: 4.7
I recommend this game!
Paranormal Crime Investigations: Brotherhood of the Crescent Snake Collector's Edition
Use your Paranormal Crime Investigation skills to solve a string of bizarre murders plaguing the city of New Orleans!
Overall rating
4
/
5
62 of 71 found this review helpful
A game worth considering
PostedDecember 21, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer
(21)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Not a bad game at all which, I am surprised to see, didn't arouse more enthusiasm.
The only thing which really got on my nerves is the screen turning green after every 3 misclicks. I do not like games which penalize you. Yet I will make an exception for this one because it has a lot of things I did like.
The artwork is not as exuberant as in other recent games, but it is quite pleasant and conveys quite well the creepy atmosphere of the "voodooistic" side of New Orleans which is the essence of this journey into the paranormal.
The music is good and plays only at certain times, reinforcing the climax without ever being intrusive.
In spite of their general clearness the HOS's are cluttered, some items are easy to find, others not; try and spot a dental floss or a roach in all that junk....duh !!! But thank Goodness, hints are illimited and recharge fast.
I also liked the minigames for their originality if not for their difficulty, since they all can be solved with ease.
Unfortunately, the demo only lets you have access to Chapter 1, hence many unknowns. I would have appreciated taking a look at the rest to see how long the game lasts, what the unplayed minigames look like, assess the overall difficulty, and whether the bonus chapter -if there is one-, that is the CE, is worth the extra expense.
This game could have been easily polished: the intro is utterly unsophisticated, the voice-overs totally absent, the challenge level seems standard, and there is only one Mode.
In spite of this, it is true the game has something special, something compelling, almost impossible to define. I guess it is the atmosphere which slowly creeps on you without your being aware of it. The end of chapter 1, beginning of Chapter 2 conveys this climax even more and truly left me wanting for more. Very clever. And I like that.
Overall, a rather interesting adventure, uncomplicated, of medium difficulty, which has its place in any collection.... in mine at least.
The only thing which really got on my nerves is the screen turning green after every 3 misclicks. I do not like games which penalize you. Yet I will make an exception for this one because it has a lot of things I did like.
The artwork is not as exuberant as in other recent games, but it is quite pleasant and conveys quite well the creepy atmosphere of the "voodooistic" side of New Orleans which is the essence of this journey into the paranormal.
The music is good and plays only at certain times, reinforcing the climax without ever being intrusive.
In spite of their general clearness the HOS's are cluttered, some items are easy to find, others not; try and spot a dental floss or a roach in all that junk....duh !!! But thank Goodness, hints are illimited and recharge fast.
I also liked the minigames for their originality if not for their difficulty, since they all can be solved with ease.
Unfortunately, the demo only lets you have access to Chapter 1, hence many unknowns. I would have appreciated taking a look at the rest to see how long the game lasts, what the unplayed minigames look like, assess the overall difficulty, and whether the bonus chapter -if there is one-, that is the CE, is worth the extra expense.
This game could have been easily polished: the intro is utterly unsophisticated, the voice-overs totally absent, the challenge level seems standard, and there is only one Mode.
In spite of this, it is true the game has something special, something compelling, almost impossible to define. I guess it is the atmosphere which slowly creeps on you without your being aware of it. The end of chapter 1, beginning of Chapter 2 conveys this climax even more and truly left me wanting for more. Very clever. And I like that.
Overall, a rather interesting adventure, uncomplicated, of medium difficulty, which has its place in any collection.... in mine at least.
I recommend this game!
Hidden in Time: Looking-glass Lane
After using your Ancestor’s Mirror to explore Castle Fairwich, you are sent back in time on a brand new quest!
Overall rating
1
/
5
80 of 88 found this review helpful
Not fun at all
PostedDecember 20, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer
(21)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
I had profoundly disliked the first installment and I had hoped this sequel would reconcile me with the series. It might have, up to a point....
- had I not been obliged to use my super magnifier to find the tiny, tiny, well concealed objects;
- had I been able to visit the locations freely.
Hard luck, the game baby-sits you right from the start.
The HOS's: although neatly crafted, they are extremely eye-straining due to the dwarf size of many objects and the invisibility of several. Fortunately, the hints recharge fast and you can get a few more by finding the hidden mirror in each scene.
The useful objects: there is no inventory; you have to find, or are given, two objects and only two per scene; not only that, you need to use them immediately.
The scenes: when you are in one, you cannot exit the one you're in until it's fully completed. then the game pushes you to another scene, and you don't have a choice but to go there.
The adventure: well, there isn't any. The game is a pure HOG with a few minigames
The puzzles: the only feature that aroused my interest; some of them are a bit original, and I liked the one that consists in connecting railroad tracks -a variant of the pipeline- except that this particular puzzle comes up 9 times in all ! A bit too much even for me. Pity, I would have liked to solve the others.
The cans: the only other feature which I did not dislike. It's simple, you shoot a tin can when you see one. That said, I have a few FPS which are much more fun to play and replay.
The modes: there is a "mirror" mode, but since it was locked in the demo, I'll never know what it is or does.
As for the challenge, I haven't seen much of it.
Finally: the graphics are okay, there is no voice-over, no music, no originality save in a couple of minigames and several gadgets in the scenes that serve no purpose at all.
I understand this Hidden in Time 2, with its 12 long Chapters, may satisfy Hidden Objects fans and pipeline lovers, even though far better games are now plentiful at BFG's, but, on me, it simply had the opposite effect and I exited the demo after 40 minutes.
- had I not been obliged to use my super magnifier to find the tiny, tiny, well concealed objects;
- had I been able to visit the locations freely.
Hard luck, the game baby-sits you right from the start.
The HOS's: although neatly crafted, they are extremely eye-straining due to the dwarf size of many objects and the invisibility of several. Fortunately, the hints recharge fast and you can get a few more by finding the hidden mirror in each scene.
The useful objects: there is no inventory; you have to find, or are given, two objects and only two per scene; not only that, you need to use them immediately.
The scenes: when you are in one, you cannot exit the one you're in until it's fully completed. then the game pushes you to another scene, and you don't have a choice but to go there.
The adventure: well, there isn't any. The game is a pure HOG with a few minigames
The puzzles: the only feature that aroused my interest; some of them are a bit original, and I liked the one that consists in connecting railroad tracks -a variant of the pipeline- except that this particular puzzle comes up 9 times in all ! A bit too much even for me. Pity, I would have liked to solve the others.
The cans: the only other feature which I did not dislike. It's simple, you shoot a tin can when you see one. That said, I have a few FPS which are much more fun to play and replay.
The modes: there is a "mirror" mode, but since it was locked in the demo, I'll never know what it is or does.
As for the challenge, I haven't seen much of it.
Finally: the graphics are okay, there is no voice-over, no music, no originality save in a couple of minigames and several gadgets in the scenes that serve no purpose at all.
I understand this Hidden in Time 2, with its 12 long Chapters, may satisfy Hidden Objects fans and pipeline lovers, even though far better games are now plentiful at BFG's, but, on me, it simply had the opposite effect and I exited the demo after 40 minutes.
I don't recommend this game.
Christmas Tales: Fellina's Journey
Find Santa’s magic star and stop the gruesome Icy Elf from ruining Christmas for everyone on the planet in Christmas Tales: Fellina’s Journey!
Overall rating
4
/
5
85 of 89 found this review helpful
Cute and charming
PostedDecember 20, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer
(21)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
The lovely, lavishly colered graphics are not the sole strength of this "last minute rescue". "Last minute" because if you don't do something about it kids won't have any present this year. And we don't want that, do we ?
So, why not put this game on your progeny's list ?
I am sure they will love, as I did, the beautifully hand drawn scenes as well as the HUD decorated like a Christmas tree.
They will probably also enjoy the exceptionally good soundtrack, especially the waltz which is the main theme but is replayed during the game next to another nice theme and excerpts from Tchaikovsky's ballets.
Fellina's mission is closer to a pure HOG than an adventure, as the game puts the emphasis on HOS's, leaving little room for actions. These HOS's are neat, although sometimes a bit crowded, offer a little bit ot interactivity, and contain lots of items - in the form of lists - some of which are quite big and others slightly more difficult ot locate.
Hints recharge fast on Casual Mode and help you decide what to do next. Objectives are clearly stated.
On the downside, there are not many tasks to accomplish but none are diffcult; the cursor turns into a little hand whenever you hover your mouse over an item you need; these items are also indicated by a little spark. This also means you don't have to backtrack much.
I wish the developers had included more puzzles; those you will have to solve are easy and, on the whole, pretty classical.
The demo takes you to the end of Chapter 3, that is half way through the game. Selecting the harder mode should lengthen the playtime some.
I would have gladly awarded 5 stars had it not been for these shortcomings, nonetheless, this game remains an enchantment for kids, is meant for them, but also for any adult who wants to prolong the magic of Christmas
So, why not put this game on your progeny's list ?
I am sure they will love, as I did, the beautifully hand drawn scenes as well as the HUD decorated like a Christmas tree.
They will probably also enjoy the exceptionally good soundtrack, especially the waltz which is the main theme but is replayed during the game next to another nice theme and excerpts from Tchaikovsky's ballets.
Fellina's mission is closer to a pure HOG than an adventure, as the game puts the emphasis on HOS's, leaving little room for actions. These HOS's are neat, although sometimes a bit crowded, offer a little bit ot interactivity, and contain lots of items - in the form of lists - some of which are quite big and others slightly more difficult ot locate.
Hints recharge fast on Casual Mode and help you decide what to do next. Objectives are clearly stated.
On the downside, there are not many tasks to accomplish but none are diffcult; the cursor turns into a little hand whenever you hover your mouse over an item you need; these items are also indicated by a little spark. This also means you don't have to backtrack much.
I wish the developers had included more puzzles; those you will have to solve are easy and, on the whole, pretty classical.
The demo takes you to the end of Chapter 3, that is half way through the game. Selecting the harder mode should lengthen the playtime some.
I would have gladly awarded 5 stars had it not been for these shortcomings, nonetheless, this game remains an enchantment for kids, is meant for them, but also for any adult who wants to prolong the magic of Christmas
I recommend this game!
Mystery Valley
A rash of murders has struck, and it’s up to you as an FBI agent to find the murderer in Mystery Valley, a dark Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
2
/
5
42 of 48 found this review helpful
Uninteresting
PostedDecember 19, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses
(16)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
If you want a game that's easy almost to the extreme, Mystery Valley is for you.
The only highly relative difficulty will be found in the HOS's where some items are not easy to spot, one because some are tiny, two because others are buried in junkpiles, three because most scenes are dark.
But on the easier of the two levels, hints recharge so fast that you should complete each HOS almost at warp speed.
No challenge in the puzzles which are as simple as pie; I found one that was interesting, though.
Actions are a piece of cake, you only have to find a couple of useful items per scene and using them is also child's play.
The game is totally linear.
A voice-over comes up at the beginning, but all the rest is in the form of scripts.
I actually liked the artwork -it is quite good, and the dramatic music in general, except for one tune which got on my nerves.
There is an element of horror popping up every now and then, but there's nothing scary about the rest.
Skipping the cutscenes, I reached Scene 4 of Day 4, that is Chapter 4, in the one hour allotted by the demo, even though I didn't skip any of the rare puzzles, and only used the Hint Button 4 times in the HOS's.
And you have... 6 Chapters in all !
Do I need to say more ?
The only highly relative difficulty will be found in the HOS's where some items are not easy to spot, one because some are tiny, two because others are buried in junkpiles, three because most scenes are dark.
But on the easier of the two levels, hints recharge so fast that you should complete each HOS almost at warp speed.
No challenge in the puzzles which are as simple as pie; I found one that was interesting, though.
Actions are a piece of cake, you only have to find a couple of useful items per scene and using them is also child's play.
The game is totally linear.
A voice-over comes up at the beginning, but all the rest is in the form of scripts.
I actually liked the artwork -it is quite good, and the dramatic music in general, except for one tune which got on my nerves.
There is an element of horror popping up every now and then, but there's nothing scary about the rest.
Skipping the cutscenes, I reached Scene 4 of Day 4, that is Chapter 4, in the one hour allotted by the demo, even though I didn't skip any of the rare puzzles, and only used the Hint Button 4 times in the HOS's.
And you have... 6 Chapters in all !
Do I need to say more ?
I don't recommend this game.
Exorcist 2
Take up the cross and slip into the role of a young exorcist on his first solo battle with the forces of evil in The Exorcist 2!
Overall rating
3
/
5
90 of 100 found this review helpful
Nothing new under the sun
PostedDecember 19, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove
(355)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
What struck me most right from the beginning of the demo, is how clear and sharp all the graphics are. Many are bright, other somewhat darker, but all are drawn with simplicity and a sheer pleasure to look at. That set aside the game is standard in every respect and doesn't shine by its originality.
Played on Casual, the easiest of the 3 Modes, everything is pretty straighforward. You will have no problem going through every HOS, some of them more or less interactive, finding the useful items and using them.
Idem the puzzles, which for that reason are not a model of challenge. There are not many of them either. I found the second one quite interesting though, but the others failed to arouse my enthusiasm. Am I blasé ? I wonder.
The fast recharging Hint System will show you the items as well as indicate where to go next and what to look for.
As for the tasks, they are the usual ones, save a few that are specific to exorcism.
Mileage is far from being excessive and backtracking reduced to a fair amount. No map necessary -there isn't one anyway.
The voice-overs, with a typical, posh british accent, aren't bad at all even though they don't sound too natural at times.
But the cutscenes come up much too often and are much too long, and THAT irritated me a lot, to the extent I hit the SKIP button at the start of each one.
As a result, I am not sure of the quality of the storyline. It seems more like "how to exorcise in 5 easy leasons" than a plot cleverly thought out.
In spite of the abundant ghosts and demons and a sinister intro, nothing is really scary in this game; in fact some things are rather amusing like certain actions you need to perform on the demons.
The music is insignificant and the atmosphere could have been made more punchy, in the style of the movie "The Omen".
I haven't played Exorcist 1 so I can't tell whether this installment is better or not.
After one hour of the demo, I had reached Scene 3 of Chapter 3 -due to skipping the cutscenes; which means an overall short playtime since you have only 5 Chapters in all
To me this game is worth 3 stars. But its easiness makes it a good start off for a beginner, or and interesting adventure for gamers who like exorcism or don't want to have to think too much, for a change, after playing harder games.
Played on Casual, the easiest of the 3 Modes, everything is pretty straighforward. You will have no problem going through every HOS, some of them more or less interactive, finding the useful items and using them.
Idem the puzzles, which for that reason are not a model of challenge. There are not many of them either. I found the second one quite interesting though, but the others failed to arouse my enthusiasm. Am I blasé ? I wonder.
The fast recharging Hint System will show you the items as well as indicate where to go next and what to look for.
As for the tasks, they are the usual ones, save a few that are specific to exorcism.
Mileage is far from being excessive and backtracking reduced to a fair amount. No map necessary -there isn't one anyway.
The voice-overs, with a typical, posh british accent, aren't bad at all even though they don't sound too natural at times.
But the cutscenes come up much too often and are much too long, and THAT irritated me a lot, to the extent I hit the SKIP button at the start of each one.
As a result, I am not sure of the quality of the storyline. It seems more like "how to exorcise in 5 easy leasons" than a plot cleverly thought out.
In spite of the abundant ghosts and demons and a sinister intro, nothing is really scary in this game; in fact some things are rather amusing like certain actions you need to perform on the demons.
The music is insignificant and the atmosphere could have been made more punchy, in the style of the movie "The Omen".
I haven't played Exorcist 1 so I can't tell whether this installment is better or not.
After one hour of the demo, I had reached Scene 3 of Chapter 3 -due to skipping the cutscenes; which means an overall short playtime since you have only 5 Chapters in all
To me this game is worth 3 stars. But its easiness makes it a good start off for a beginner, or and interesting adventure for gamers who like exorcism or don't want to have to think too much, for a change, after playing harder games.
I recommend this game!
The Secret Order: New Horizon
Reveal the secret legacy of The Order of the Griffin and restore Sunward City in The Secret Order: New Horizon!
Overall rating
5
/
5
137 of 144 found this review helpful
Battling the Mafia through Time
PostedDecember 17, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull
(15)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I loved this game right from the start and knew, immediately after finishing the beta test, that I would buy it .
The intro in black and white backed up by a well written dramatic music score sets the atmosphere beautifully.
The cutscenes are just as good and the dramatic incidental music falls intermittently, always well à propos.
All this conveys a somber atmosphere worthy of an action-packed film noir.
Unfortunately, there is no voice-over, only scripts.
The artwork is simple, nicely colored, with tinges of blue, grey and pink depending on what suits the scene; graphics are sharp, very pleasant and contribute well to the overall atmosphere.
The interactive HOS's are also very neat and not overloaded to the extreme although the items are a bit small and sometimes difficult to locate. No penalty for misclicking.
Easier to find are the useful objects which you use almost immediately as you go along, as the game doesn't force you to backtrack a lot; you visit 3 or 4 scenes at a time. Use of them is logical and not particularly difficult.
Some puzzles are original, other more classsical. Not all of them are easy and some are randomized. Yet solving them is never Mission Impossible. Besides you can skip them, and a little Question Mark Button provides you with clear instructions.
The friendly Hint System recharges fast and gives indications as what to do next or where to go. Additional help is given by scripts when you click on something that requires an action.
Further aid appears in the form of a communication device which gives you a map, objectives and messages.
Judging by the first 3 Chapters, the storyline seems solid and gripping, at least interesting enough for me to want to see how it ends.
In spite of its 8 Chapters, the game will probably be fairly short, 5 to 6 hours as a rough estimate, depending on how fast you usually play your games.
A straightforward, uncomplicated game with a good plot and not devoid of originality, which, I think, is worth at least 4 stars. I'll give it 4.5, just because I like it very much (rounded up to 5 as usual).
The intro in black and white backed up by a well written dramatic music score sets the atmosphere beautifully.
The cutscenes are just as good and the dramatic incidental music falls intermittently, always well à propos.
All this conveys a somber atmosphere worthy of an action-packed film noir.
Unfortunately, there is no voice-over, only scripts.
The artwork is simple, nicely colored, with tinges of blue, grey and pink depending on what suits the scene; graphics are sharp, very pleasant and contribute well to the overall atmosphere.
The interactive HOS's are also very neat and not overloaded to the extreme although the items are a bit small and sometimes difficult to locate. No penalty for misclicking.
Easier to find are the useful objects which you use almost immediately as you go along, as the game doesn't force you to backtrack a lot; you visit 3 or 4 scenes at a time. Use of them is logical and not particularly difficult.
Some puzzles are original, other more classsical. Not all of them are easy and some are randomized. Yet solving them is never Mission Impossible. Besides you can skip them, and a little Question Mark Button provides you with clear instructions.
The friendly Hint System recharges fast and gives indications as what to do next or where to go. Additional help is given by scripts when you click on something that requires an action.
Further aid appears in the form of a communication device which gives you a map, objectives and messages.
Judging by the first 3 Chapters, the storyline seems solid and gripping, at least interesting enough for me to want to see how it ends.
In spite of its 8 Chapters, the game will probably be fairly short, 5 to 6 hours as a rough estimate, depending on how fast you usually play your games.
A straightforward, uncomplicated game with a good plot and not devoid of originality, which, I think, is worth at least 4 stars. I'll give it 4.5, just because I like it very much (rounded up to 5 as usual).
I recommend this game!
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Journey across Italy as best-selling novelist Dana Knightstone in Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel!
Overall rating
5
/
5
49 of 62 found this review helpful
BIG Hidden Objects ! Yippeeeee !
PostedDecember 16, 2011
Rescue_helo
fromLondon (UK) - French Alps
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion
(29)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Yes ! They are all big -except in a couple of scenes where they're standard size, big enough at least to be spotted without difficulty.
Thank you Boomzap. For once I didn't have to press my nose against the screen to try an locate the odd transparent clover or the traitorously invisible safety pin. A feature that a not-HO-lover guy like me knows how to appreciate, but which might not fully satisfy players who adore them. In addition they are crisp and clear and do look like real-life objects. A plus.
Add to that a generous Hint System that recharges fast.
Furthermore, the total amount of puzzles and minigames amount to 50 -up to Chapter 5, and a few more in Chapter 6 ! You actually get an award if you complete those 50 without skipping any of them. As they are all easy -except one slider that's a bit more tricky- you can complete them all with a bit of patience. They are varied, not overly original for some of them, and randomized most of the time.
Awards too, for achieving several tasks, even for completing a chapter in less than 60 mns. I didn't get those because I like taking my time and having breaks. But if you get all 6 of them, that means total playtime is 6 hours or less.
The artwork is quite good, sharp, rich, lively colored; I think many scenes are photos, actually, or based on them. The music is soft, relaxing, unobtrusive. The voice-over is professional.
There is no map, but it's difficult to get lost in this game, and the objectives, though not stated, are simple. Putting the useful objects into use is easy too.
The storyline being rather similar to that of Death at Fairing Point, I bought the SE, yet I got so much fun out of it that I could have done with the CE, especially that the whole game is an improvement on its predecessor.
A very enjoyable game, ideal for beginners and intermediate players.
4.5 stars is a well deserved rating, I think, rounded up to 5 naturally.
Thank you Boomzap. For once I didn't have to press my nose against the screen to try an locate the odd transparent clover or the traitorously invisible safety pin. A feature that a not-HO-lover guy like me knows how to appreciate, but which might not fully satisfy players who adore them. In addition they are crisp and clear and do look like real-life objects. A plus.
Add to that a generous Hint System that recharges fast.
Furthermore, the total amount of puzzles and minigames amount to 50 -up to Chapter 5, and a few more in Chapter 6 ! You actually get an award if you complete those 50 without skipping any of them. As they are all easy -except one slider that's a bit more tricky- you can complete them all with a bit of patience. They are varied, not overly original for some of them, and randomized most of the time.
Awards too, for achieving several tasks, even for completing a chapter in less than 60 mns. I didn't get those because I like taking my time and having breaks. But if you get all 6 of them, that means total playtime is 6 hours or less.
The artwork is quite good, sharp, rich, lively colored; I think many scenes are photos, actually, or based on them. The music is soft, relaxing, unobtrusive. The voice-over is professional.
There is no map, but it's difficult to get lost in this game, and the objectives, though not stated, are simple. Putting the useful objects into use is easy too.
The storyline being rather similar to that of Death at Fairing Point, I bought the SE, yet I got so much fun out of it that I could have done with the CE, especially that the whole game is an improvement on its predecessor.
A very enjoyable game, ideal for beginners and intermediate players.
4.5 stars is a well deserved rating, I think, rounded up to 5 naturally.
I recommend this game!