genkicoll's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.6
- Helpful Votes:1,101
- Reviews Submitted:18
- First Review:November 11, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 12, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Get ready to investigate a mysterious murder of mythological proportions!
Overall rating
5
/
5
31 of 35 found this review helpful
Absolutely Gripping
PostedJanuary 12, 2020
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A compelling story with far-reaching consequences.
Options can be accessed via the triple horizontal lines at the top left of the main page, or by pausing the game. There are separate sliders for Music, SFX and Quality, as well as whether or not to have Tips show. Choice of 18 languages and three difficulties, which can be changed at any time.
Story:
14 years ago Jackie Johnson lost her daughter to a fire, and has specialized in cases regarding children ever since. When Jackie is called in to assist the police with the murder of young girl one night, there are just too many reminders of her own loss. Is this case related to her lost daughter, or is Jackie just unable to let go of the past?
14 years ago Jackie Johnson lost her daughter to a fire, and has specialized in cases regarding children ever since. When Jackie is called in to assist the police with the murder of young girl one night, there are just too many reminders of her own loss. Is this case related to her lost daughter, or is Jackie just unable to let go of the past?
Gameplay:
Any fan will know how the general gameplay works, and while Mystic Case plays like an old friend, it also has new mechanics that keep it from being the same old, same old.
Any fan will know how the general gameplay works, and while Mystic Case plays like an old friend, it also has new mechanics that keep it from being the same old, same old.
The Basics:
Click on a client/customer, then click on the station where they want to be. Once there they may want you to come talk to them, bring them something, or they might just be happy on their own. They might want to be moved to a different area, which is where customer-swapping comes into play. When two clients swap places, you get bonus to your score.
Click on a client/customer, then click on the station where they want to be. Once there they may want you to come talk to them, bring them something, or they might just be happy on their own. They might want to be moved to a different area, which is where customer-swapping comes into play. When two clients swap places, you get bonus to your score.
You will NOT be working a cash register in this game, which is entirely new to me. When a client is finished, they'll just leave and your points will be awarded.
Something new that Old Skull Games has added to the genre (besides customer-swapping) is the ability to call in new clients. Too slow for your taste? Not getting enough points? Call in more customers to keep you busy and/or generate more income! You won't be able to do this at first, but I'll come back to abilities later in the review.
Occasionally you will need to do a little extra at a station, but it's not an overwhelming amount like in the Heart's Medicine series, nor will you need to have quick reflexes or dexterity for these tasks.
Speaking of tasks, it's important to Reach for the stars!
The bar that tracks your score has up to three stars you can earn. Every level has non-timed, non-skippable mini-games that are triggered by reaching each star level. There might be two minis, but there can be three, so you might miss out on that 3rd piece of information if you don't get all three.
The great part of these minis and interviews is that they tie in to the story so beautifully. Every little thing you do, every interaction and everything that makes you stop and go "Hmm..." is part of the bigger picture.
Varied Locations:
You will bounce around between locations as your investigation leads you in new directions. You'll have enough time to get used to it, but this is not your formulaic 10 levels at one location, then 10 levels at the next type of game.
You will bounce around between locations as your investigation leads you in new directions. You'll have enough time to get used to it, but this is not your formulaic 10 levels at one location, then 10 levels at the next type of game.
Scattered throughout the game there are levels where you will be interviewing witnesses to gather information. These are multiple choice, and each interrogation has one unique interaction, that you'll want to see, because you'll get an achievement for finding that dialogue. If you're too impatient to try the level over again, this handy Walkthrough will tell you which option(s) to pick.
Achievements are important!
You're going to want to get each and every achievement you can, because they will generate gems that you will use to unlock new abilities. Gems are earned by completing levels, but the bulk of them will come from achievements. Just getting the 'cheevos is not enough, though... You have to go into the Trophy Area (top right between levels) to claim your reward(s)!
You're going to want to get each and every achievement you can, because they will generate gems that you will use to unlock new abilities. Gems are earned by completing levels, but the bulk of them will come from achievements. Just getting the 'cheevos is not enough, though... You have to go into the Trophy Area (top right between levels) to claim your reward(s)!
Ability Upgrades:
Every 10 gems you earn will allow you to get a new upgrade, ranging from faster walking to extra hearts (linked to your points) to being able to carry more than one item to greater patience and more. You can check the walkthrough for a full rundown (lest this review turn into a guide! lol~)
Every 10 gems you earn will allow you to get a new upgrade, ranging from faster walking to extra hearts (linked to your points) to being able to carry more than one item to greater patience and more. You can check the walkthrough for a full rundown (lest this review turn into a guide! lol~)
There are no mice or hamsters, but one of the upgrades is a ? that will appear on the screen during levels. I highly suggest turning down the music a little so that you can hear the sound it makes when it shows up, as it will net you a tidy point boost if you can find it!
Sights and Sounds:
I love the art style, I love the character design, I love the sound effects and music... The only thing missing is voice overs. This title would have been even more amazing with professional voice acting, but then, I'd rather have no voices than have bad acting!
I love the art style, I love the character design, I love the sound effects and music... The only thing missing is voice overs. This title would have been even more amazing with professional voice acting, but then, I'd rather have no voices than have bad acting!
There are some localization issues with the English, including grammar and some missing words, but the story is so interesting and the gameplay so good that although I really notice these things, it didn't bother me in the slightest! That is the mark of truly good game!
Verdict:
Mystic Case is an absolutely gripping tale, and I had a hard time pulling myself away to deal with real life. I'm a seasoned time management player, and the game took me about 8.5 hours to complete. The characters are likable, the gameplay easily-tailored to your skill level and FUN, and everything ties in to the outstanding story... Even the achievements and upgrades!
Mystic Case is an absolutely gripping tale, and I had a hard time pulling myself away to deal with real life. I'm a seasoned time management player, and the game took me about 8.5 hours to complete. The characters are likable, the gameplay easily-tailored to your skill level and FUN, and everything ties in to the outstanding story... Even the achievements and upgrades!
This game earns my highest recommendation! Despite my love for the Delicious games, Detective Jackie has become my new favorite in the Snuggford Universe!
I recommend this game!
Match cards, rescue mystical Faeries, raise Magical Pets, and explore many enchanted worlds!
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 50 found this review helpful
A Faerie Obsession
PostedJanuary 9, 2020
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I always hated this type of match-2 solitaire... Until Harvest.
The first thing you're likely to notice is the music. Ahhh, the music! ♥ ♥ I absolutely adore the soundtrack - it adds such a compelling feeling of magic and wonder to the game.
The story is not like what we experienced in Faerie Solitaire. This time we find "shards" of lore that give us a lot of information about the world and denizens that the devs have created.
This is a match-2 (mahjong-style) solitaire game, but unlike every other game of this type that I've played, there can be real strategy involved. Sure, you CAN just mindlessly click on matches if you want to zone out, but there is so SO much more to FSH than that!
The in-game tutorial is excellent, but I'll give you an overview:
During Adventure Mode, you'll visit 40 locations - each of which has 9 hands - and free a trapped faerie at the end of the ninth level.
Match two cards of the same value until you remove all of the cards from the playing field. You have a deck with three foundation spots, plus a "spare" space and the ability to earn wild cards.
Making matches earns you Pure Gold, and at the bottom of some piles you'll find resources, eggs, bags of gold and sometimes even potions!
The deck can be re-dealt once, but it will cost you 1,000 Pure Gold. After that, you'll have to restart the hand (you do keep all rewards you've earned.)
But wait, there's more to it than that, and here's where the strategy comes in. Combos! When you match two like-cards of the same color, you'll start a combo. Keep matching same-colored cards to get bonuses. Suit doesn't matter, as long as the cards are both red or both black, your combo will continue until one of two things happens:
You match two cards with different colors
You draw from the deck after reaching a 7+ combo.
You draw from the deck after reaching a 7+ combo.
There are four reward tiers for combos, so go for the highest you can get! As an added bonus, any combo of 7 or more will earn you a FREE redeal!
Another reason to go for combos is that it will fill up your Wild Card meter much faster than non-combo matches. Each time it fills up, you'll earn another wild card. You can have an unlimited amount of Wilds, but the meter will take longer to fill for each additional card.
Your spare space costs gold to use, and goes up in price each time you utilize on that level.
Once a location has been completed, you'll be able to go back to it at any time to do a 'Quickplay'. Replaying a location via Quickplay costs 1,000 Pure Gold, but there are higher resource rewards, as well as a Loot Box to open at the end (instead of freeing a faerie). Be careful, though! If you fail a hand during Quickplay, you'll have to pay a new entry fee and start the location over from scratch!
You will not lose progress in Adventure Mode if you decide to Quickplay a location.
Pets and Resources:
As you progress through the game, you'll find eggs, magic, stone and wood. Make an egg active by selecting it in the Pets menu, and it will earn experience as you play. Once it's reached full EXP, you'll be able to hatch it to see what's inside.
After your pet(s) has hatched, it will need to earn experience 'til it reaches the stage where it can evolve. EXP is not enough, though, and that's where the resources come in! Each pet requires a different amount of magic, stone, wood and gold in order to evolve.
As a side note, I never wanted to evolve my pets in Faerie Solitaire because they were so cute young, but a nice little BONUS that the devs added is that once you've evolved your pet, you can swap the picture back to what it looked like as a young'un by simply clicking on the pet's pic~!
There are 44 in-game and Steam achievements, and while they come easily at first, you're really going to have to work for some of the others!
New Game+
Once you finish the 40 locations in Adventure Mode, you'll enter NG+. I'll tell you right now that one of the achievements is to reach New Game+3, but don't let that scare you! This game is so incredibly addictive that it was never a slog for me. As a matter of fact, I just started NG+4 on my main profile a few days ago! :sunny:
A great benefit of NG+ is that the drop rate increases, which will really help when trying to get all of those pets evolved!
Strategy:
Sometimes I want to try to clear every card on the playing field without drawing from the deck, other times I try to get the very highest combo possible, without thinking about how I'll pass the level. Everyone will come up with their own style, and whether you choose to play it loosely and just click on everything, or whether you want to do a self-imposed nightmare mode (no spares and no wilds) is up to you!
Final Thoughts:
It didn't take long for Faerie Solitaire Harvest to win me over completely. This is a magical, lovingly-polished gem of a game that I absolutely cannot stop playing. My highest recommendation for this one, even if - like me - you think that you don't like match-2 solitaire games!
I recommend this game!
Uncover dark forces emanating from the heart of Old Town and be spellbound by this adorably ghoulish horror-themed puzzle game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
55 of 61 found this review helpful
Progressive Challenge to This Game
PostedOctober 21, 2013
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Spooky Bonus (Match-3)
When I first started the game, it seemed like just another match-3 games, but happily, this was not the case.
Options include separate sliders for Music and Sound, Full Screen, Widescreen, Tips, and Custom Cursor. The graphics look great in widescreen.
You can play TIMED or UNTIMED, and if you enter the menu during gameplay, you can restart a level at any time. You can't switch modes during a level, but there's a box you can check or uncheck between the levels. Finishing before the timer -- which was very generous -- runs out gives you a score bonus, but does not affect how much money you have to spend.
Money! Yes, we earn money! What do we spend it on? Things with the thing... ya know, stuff! *snicker* Money is used to purchase new items to decorate your house with. This isn't your regular decorating, though -- most everything you buy is going to earn you new types of bombs, so even if you're not interested in decorating, you have an extra incentive to do so.
The game starts out easily enough -- reach a goal, which is clearly listed on the left of the screen, and you pass the level. The gameplay becomes more and more complex as you progress, but not to the point that it becomes stressful (remember that I prefer to play these on timed mode.) Eventually you will have four goals to meet before you finish the level.
You can continue to make matches whilst pieces are still falling, which is always nice.
The graphics are a lot of fun, with nicely-sized items (not too big or too small,) and great backgrounds. One of my favorite features of the game is that at the end of every level, you are given an option to make the background image your wallpaper. I just kept playing and playing, wanting to see what the next wallpaper was going to look like! Just one more level, just one more level... :D You can also make your house (you know, the one you're decorating) your wallpaper by clicking on the paint roller at the bottom left of the screen.
All in all, this is a fun holiday offering, and one I happily purchased as soon as I finished my demo.
I recommend this game!
Gather evidence, interview witnesses, recreate the crime and catch the killer!
Overall rating
4
/
5
86 of 91 found this review helpful
A Story-based Detective Adventure
PostedJune 26, 2013
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Crime Line (Adventure)
Don't come into this game with any preconceived notions. I've seen no other games at the casual portals that's anything like this one. The stories unfold as you examine your surroundings, gather evidence, and talk to witnesses. You are the detective. It's kind of like a combination of watching a Criminal Minds (the TV show) marathon and playing one of the old text adventure games. There is a lot of reading to do, but small amounts at a time -- never an overwhelming amount. If you're looking for action, this game wouldn't be a good fit. This one is for those who like to step back and consider what is around you. In the end, only you can find the criminal(s).
The game starts with a short video, rather like a commercial showing the basic premise of the game. Unlike most games, there is no separate window for options. You'll find them in the top left corner, with separate sliders for music and sound, plus full-screen or windowed mode. No option for wide-screen, but it still looked great on my monitor. These options can be adjusted at any time during gameplay with one simple click.
Also unlike other games, you can choose what order you wish to play the game in! There are 12 crimes to solve (or 11 if you play the Big Fish version), which you can choose from on the title page. They are:
A Novel Murder
Death in the Suburbs (not available in Big Fish version)
Lost Shelter
The Open Door
The Girl in the Park
Graphic Evidence
Album Drop
Sinking Feelings
Unnatural History
The Short Walk Home
Salon See You Tomorrow
The Play's the Thing
Death in the Suburbs (not available in Big Fish version)
Lost Shelter
The Open Door
The Girl in the Park
Graphic Evidence
Album Drop
Sinking Feelings
Unnatural History
The Short Walk Home
Salon See You Tomorrow
The Play's the Thing
The witness statements will lead you to examine certain things in the room, almost like a hidden object game. You can skip a statement and come back to it later, if you wish. You get only one HINT per witness, but they do accumulate if you don't use them. Once you've collected the evidence, you use it to double-check the witness' story. You'll get a more detailed account once you finish reviewing.
You will see the same piece(s) of evidence in multiple witness' stories, but this is the kind of thing that can help solve the crimes -- when you get different accounts from different people.
When you've interviewed everyone, you will be asked to catch the culprit. Just mouse-over the location for each suspect to read their statements, and be sure you don't click until you think you've found the right person.
Each case took me about twenty minutes to finish, meaning that the game is about 4 hours long.
There are moments when the text can get repetitive, but the cases are both interesting and compelling.
The subject matter is NOT for the faint of heart. We are dealing with serious and sometimes sickening subject matter, though the devs do handle this well. Absolutely worth checking out if you enjoy crime-themed drama
Dreamscapes: The Sandman
Be the one to save Laura from her nightmares
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 26 found this review helpful
Superb Adventure-lite!
PostedMarch 13, 2013
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Dreamscapes: The Sandman CE (Adventure-lite)
Played through full game twice
Played through full game twice
Options include separate sliders for voice, music, sound, and ambient volume. You can choose between two modes of play (regular and expert), plus full-screen and custom cursor. The tutorial is optional, and the HINT button is refillable. You can drag and drop inventory items on to the hint button to find out where the item should be used (there's a mini-game to get your hint, and doing so ten times will get you an achievement.) If there is nothing else to do in a particular location, using the hint button will show you which direction you should go.
There is a ton to do in this game: Besides playing the game and all that entails, you also need to find 120 beholders (if you don't know what one is, you willll~! ) and find pieces of a shattered item and put it back together. We have a diary which gives us the back story. Each time we find "a" page, it will go into your diary. The thing is, the page we find is actually a group of about five pages (each time), which you will have to enter your diary to read. This is great for those who don't want to interrupt gameplay to read, and for those who don't care about the story. I personally LOVE a lot of story, and enjoyed reading every scrap of information I came across
There are a few localization problems, ie. "loose" instead of "lose" and oddly-worded phrases such as "Searching the sand with bare hands is useless," but it's not terribly distracting, because it only happens occasionally, and because the game is otherwise so brilliantly-made Keep an eye out for a joke early on in the game... just keep in mind that the developers are Russian, and you won't miss the funny ;)
This is my favorite kind of game -- it plays like the very best IHOG, but with no hidden object scenes! We have achievements (always fun!), a deliciously creepy atmosphere, interesting story, and gorgeous graphics/cut scenes. The only thing I don't love about the graphics is the character design, but again, the game is so good that it's a negligible point.
We have an adorable little critter that seems to be part frog... meaning that it eats in the same way that a frog would. I mention it simply for the sake of those who have problems with perceived animal cruelty. I honestly wasn't bothered by this because of the way it was handled, so hopefully it won't push others' buttons, either.
I managed to miss seven of the beholders during the main game -- some of them are very hard to spot! Luckily, there is a tab that appears at the left side of the screen if there are any beholders in that area to find. Clicking on the tab will show you how many you have left in that area (which may include zoom-in scenes.)
I mentioned that there are achievements, but they're nothing special -- just things that you would accomplish from playing the game. What's different is that when you go to the achievements screen, you get to place each trophy (adorable!) on the screen like a jigsaw puzzle. I love it!
This is a superb game, and I highly recommend it!
I recommend this game!
Someone is killing the guests at a mountain resort, and you could be next if you don't figure out the mystery and solve a Mountain Crime!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Superb!
PostedDecember 14, 2012
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Review from November, 2012:
Mountain Crime: Requital (Adventure-lite/Pop-up)
This is a game I put off playing for a long time because I didn't really like the character designs that I saw on the purchase page. How silly is that? I'm so glad I finally got around to playing this!
There are separate sliders for music, sound, and voice. Usually I enjoy voice overs, but in this particular game, I found them distracting, so I turned them off. Other options include Full screen, custom cursors, and the ability to turn off sparkles at any time during gameplay. We also have two game modes: Casual and Expert. The tutorial is optional.
The HINT button is refillable, and the mini-games SKIPPABLE. Using the hint during the adventure portion of the game will either highlight something of interest, or indicate which direction you should be heading. The hint meter does not discharge if it shows you which exit to take. There is a rapid-click penalty during the HOS.
You will find a variety of notes, diaries, and pictures which give extra story and puzzle hints. The info will go into your journal, but you can also return to these items if you'd like to see them again.
The journal offers extra story, as well as documenting anything of interest you find during gameplay. There are four tabs: Notes, Tasks, Map, and Guests. The map will show both your current location, and where there are actions to be performed.
The primary thrust of the game is adventure, with some pop-up "hidden object" scenes now and then. The devs have handled this differently than any other game I've seen in the genre, having a hidden object scene with a single item we need to interact with. Find the eight pictured items and place them in the circle. This "fixes" the object in question, and we will get an inventory item out of it. These scenes are well-spaced, seeming more like a mini-game than a true hidden object scene -- especially since the items we gather are needed in order to interact with that particular object is. Very nicely done, devs!
Something that I rarely see in these games is that when we zoom in on an area, it doesn't just kick us out of the zoomed scene once we've found what we need there. Once we leave the scene, we can't go back to it (unless there is a note or picture, etc. there), but leaving the scene open so that we can really look at it is awesome - something I really appreciate... as is the fact that we can't return to it if there's nothing for us to do there, for it staves off the "Did I find everything I need there? Maybe I missed something..." moments.
The story is excellent, giving the feeling that we have to hurry, we have to do xx-action before it's too late. There were some confusing moments in there, but everything is explained during the final sequence. The writers took me by surprise, something I can definitely appreciate.
Gameplay, story, graphics - all superb. I really enjoyed playing this game, and will definitely replay it!
I recommend this game!
Guide paranormal investigator Sarah Meiville through a classic noir adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
121 of 126 found this review helpful
VERY good game - Try it for yourself!
PostedNovember 19, 2012
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
[b]The Gift [/b](IHOG)
It is 1941, and discredited psychic detective Sarah Meiville desperately wants to earn back her credibility and her job with the police force. Had this been a modern-day tale, I would not have been able to enjoy it as much as I have... Massively disturbing a crime scene would be too prevalent in my mind! However, since forensic science had not come all that far back in the 1940's, I was able to put these feelings aside and just concentrate on the gameplay and story.
There are separate sliders for background music and sound effects, as well as options for full screen, custom cursor, maintaining aspect ratio, and the ability to turn sparklies on/off at any time! Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus... err... I mean, there are two options for difficulty, though I think they meant that interactive areas do NOT sparkle on the Expert Mode! ;)
The opening scene is skippable, if you so wish. All dialogue is voiced over, and the actors chosen do a very good job. Our heroine has a Southern twang, rather like Kyra Sedgwick in 'The Closer'. You need to click in order to continue dialogue throughout the game, though it can be skipped (though you don't have the option to click through during the opening scene.)
I like the character designs, and their movements are realistic, whilst still being appropriate in the game (ie. not so realistic that they look jarringly different than the background images.)
The gameplay is fairly straightforward, without toooo much to-ing and fro-ing... except when we have to keep going up and down the elevator. haha
I'm really enjoying the story in this one, wanting to know what happens next, as well as what happened to cause Sarah's current state of affairs.
The graphics are very nice, and while the devs have used "recycled" items during the hidden object scenes, it's not really a big deal! These items don't look exactly the same, as they are oriented (positioned) differently each time, and frequently have different shading due to the shadows in the scenes.
The HOS themselves have some very light interaction, such as grabbing a knife and using it on a loaf in order to get "sliced bread".
Try playing with the sound turned up, then click on the HINT button before it's fully charged... Ooooo~ Speaking of the HINT button, it is refillable, and the length of time it takes depends on which mode of play you choose. If used during the adventure portion, it will either highlight what you need to see/do, or give you an arrow showing you which way to go. There is a misclick penalty if you randomly click too many times.
If you can sit back and enjoy the story, the graphics, and the music/voices, and overlook the very small complaint of recycled items in the HOS, this is a very good, long, and enjoyable game. Definitely recommended!
I recommend this game!
Investigate strange goings-on in the eerie town of Fort Nightingale!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Heavy on Adventure, Heavy on Fun
PostedNovember 12, 2012
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Forbidden Secrets: Alien Town (Adventure/IHOG)
I've been waiting for this to show up, and had to download as soon as I saw it.
There are separate sliders for music, sound effects, and ambient sounds, as well as options for desktop resolution (from 800x600 to 1920x1080), full screen, widescreen, and custom cursor, plus you can view the credits from the options screen.
The opening scene is long and amazing. You could skip it, but you're really going to be missing something if you do! I actually started a new profile so that I could concentrate on the graphics and all of the amazing nuances the artists added. Beautifully done!
Upon the completion of the opening scene, you can choose between Casual and Expert modes. The tutorial is optional. The journal contains extra story (happy day!), and the HINT button refills in either 30 seconds or 1 minute, depending on which difficulty mode you choose.
Our inventory bar retracts when not in use, allowing us an even better view of the gorgeous graphics. Try clicking on random items - some will react, making the scenes even more interactive.
As a mini-game, we have 40 Beyond (morphing) Objects to find throughout gameplay. Love having this kind of extra in my games!
Using a HINT during the adventure portion of the game will either point out something of interest, or if there's nothing to do in that location, will open the map and highlight the location where there is something to do. The MAP has the jump-to option, something I'm sure those who don't like to-ing and fro-ing are celebrating over. ;) The map even shows which locations have a Beyond Object you've not found yet, and it's a good thing, for it's easy to get so wrapped up in the story that you forget to look for those objects.
There are interactive hidden object scenes, and the list shows four to eight items-to-find at any given time. At the top of the list, it shows how many items there are to find in that location, total. Some of the scenes are mostly interaction, making it seem more like these scenes are mini-games. (Nice!) There are also times when you have items to put back into the scene -- yet another aspect adding to the feeling of the HOS being minis. There is NO misclick penalty in Casual mode - not sure about in Expert mode.
There are a few mini-games that depend on reflexes (Oh no! Whack-an-alien!), but all (actual) minis are skippable.
I have to take a moment to return to the graphics. I found the devs' attention to detail breathtaking. I wasn't in love the the scenes where we talk to characters (I tended to click through them as soon as I read the text), but the cutscenes and all of the locations, etc. were amazing. Tiny dust motes floating in the air, dancing shadows, gusts of wind, the drizzling of the rain... All of the little touches that the devs added make this a work of art, rather than just another game. I haven't seen so much attention paid to nuances in the graphics since Classic Adventures: The Great Gatsby. I'll play it again just to see the graphics!
The story is very interesting, and we get some nice surprises along the way.
There are 40 locations (not including hidden object scenes and zoom-in scenes) in the main game, and 16 locations in the bonus chapter -- 11 of which are unique to the bonus. The bonus is a prequel to the main story, and while four of the locations are re-used, the basic look and lighting on these scenes are different, lending to the feeling that this is, indeed happening in another time.
CE CONTENT:
Besides the bonus chapter, we have 13 very nice concept art pictures, an integrated strategy guide, and 9 wallpapers in two sizes: 1024x768 and 1280x800. The walls are all taken from gameplay.
This is a superb game, from the story to the gameplay to the sounds to the graphics. The gameplay is perhaps a bit on the linear side (making it a bit easier than the advanced player might like), but this game is absolutely recommended, no matter what your difficulty preference!
I recommend this game!
Defeat the forces of darkness and defend Emerland by uniting the races of the world against the evil sorcerer, Sat, in this magical card game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
55 of 59 found this review helpful
An Adventure-Card Game! What Fun!
PostedSeptember 15, 2012
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The Chronicles of Emerland Solitaire (Card/Adventure)
Where to start? There's so much to say! I guess I'll begin with the basics.
This game is made by the people who brought us Tropical Fish Shop 1&2, Garden Rescue, and Odysseus: Long Way Home. Options include sliders for music and sound effects, full screen, wide screen, custom cursor, and tips. You can turn on/off the tips at any time via the options menu. You have two difficulty settings to choose from, relaxed or challenging. You can't change this one ;) FYI, I chose the challenging setting, and my review will be based upon this setting.
The graphics are gorgeous, and we have full voice-overs during the adventure portions (did I say adventure? hohoho *grin* I'll come back to that). The music is just as beautiful as the graphics -- very pretty, very soothing. I have to say that the antagonist is a bit overdone, but I can forgive them that~ haha
So, the game is categorized as being a card game with hidden objects, but that's not terribly accurate, which is why I'm calling it a card-adventure. We have an actual plot with this, and goals that we have to fulfill. The hidden object portions are things like "find 10 agarics" (red mushrooms with white spots, by the way) or light 10 lanterns, always continuing the plot. Rest assured, if you have trouble finding things (some are hidden behind other items), there is a refillable hint... and if you can't stand finding the hidden items, you can SKIP those scenes! :D
For those familiar with Faerie Solitaire and Fairway Solitaire, this has the same play-style. For those not familiar, cards are played in number runs. You have a base pile at the bottom of the screen that you work off of, and you place cards on it consecutively one higher or one lower than is shown. For instance, if you have a 10, you can play a 9 or a Jack on it. Longer runs get you higher points, and points = experience. Like a role-playing game, experience makes you go up levels. Every level you gain earns you new abilities that will help you with the solitaire portions of the game. Not only that, but you can find goodies underneath the piles of cards that you clear off. Money is the first kind of bonus that we find, and money is used to purchase items that will help you during the solitaire portions. So, we have skills earned with experience, and bonus items that you get in the store with the money you find. Both skills and store-bought items will help you with the game. We have a quest with many obstacles to overcome (imagine that!), the next thing we will find during our gameplay is supplies. It all ties in with the plot very nicely.
As you progress through the game, you will eventually gather companions, whom you can upgrade via the store (I haven't met them yet, so can't say much about that at the moment).
There are ten hands to play in each level, and you CAN replay a hand if you're not happy with how you did, but you must replay it immediately. Don't click on the "Next" button if you want to replay, or you'll have to play the whole ten hands to redo it.
Playing in challenging mood certainly is a challenge! haha I've had to replay some levels close to ten times before I was able to pass them. By "pass", I mean that there have to be four cards or less when you run out of cards - not always easy! Ach~ Well, I like a challenge, it adds to the interest of the game. ;D There are also trophies to be had, which adds yet another level of interest!
To review, the graphics and music are wonderful, the gameplay is varied, fun, and challenging, and we have a role-playing feeling due to the plot and quests we need to accomplish. Love this game, an absolute must-try for those who love card games, and/or for those just looking for something different to play.
I recommend this game!
Creepy Tales: Lost in Vasel Land
Save your sister from an amusement park in Creepy Tales: Lost in Vasel Land! After Calla goes missing, it’s up to you to find her!
Overall rating
2
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Wanted to Like This Game
PostedDecember 17, 2011
genkicoll
fromOregon
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
I was determined to try out this game for myself since it's been getting such bad reviews, hoping that it would end up being an unexpected gem.
Well... the game does have quite nice (albeit dark and sometimes dingy) graphics, and the story is somewhat interesting, but I'm afraid I can't say that this was what I had hoped it would be.
Some of the screens are indeed too dark, which I can handle, but couple that with counter-intuitive game play, and I get disinclined to play in a hurry!
I do love the back-and-forth in IHOG's such as Dire Grove or Mystery Age: Dark Priests, but in this game, you are completely dependent upon the map (looks to be a journal), lest you wander around in circles.
Add in the fact that the localization is poor, and you have a game that made me too impatient to give it the full demo time. I might have lasted 20 minutes before I gave up.
I think this could have been a really good game - I wish they had done some focus testing before they released.
I don't recommend this game.