I will leave the details of this one to those who are far more capable than I at reviews, and just say that this is one I completely enjoyed from start to finish.
Different, a bit quirky, kept my attention, and great fun.
So I see that others had some difficulty with the mouse control. I admit it can be frustrating ---- very frustrating ---- at first, but I stuck with it and finally figured out how to work it. And I'm so glad I did. Once I got past that, the game really showed a lot. There is a great deal of charm in this game that makes it really unique ---- all the missions are different ---- all the characters have differing abilities ---- there are helmets for differing tasks and uses ---- and the list goes on.
There is a lot to this game ---- but use the trial period as a "tutorial" of sorts, and see if you can find the good time I am having with this game.
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Time Management
Fun Factor
1/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
1/ 5
Storyline
3/ 5
What a shock when I bought this game immediately thinking it would be similar to the survey game from a while back. I installed and began to play only to see that it has been dumbed down considerably ---- to the point of distraction.
As an example ---- in the survey game's first level, there were 7 bonfires to light and these had challenging paths to follow to light them. In this rendition, there are 4 bonfires to light, and the paths were so simple a 4 year old could figure it out. In the survey game, it took about 45 minutes to finish level one. In this version, I was done with level one in about 5 minutes. In the survey games, there were conversations with tips and clues, but no such thing in this version.
So it is just too simple, and, IMO, the devs have taken a fresh, interesting, and challenging game and really ruined it. Have they never heard of difficulty levels?
Anyway, I have never seen this before, and thought I should post a review - sort of, so others will know.
I'm really disappointed because I had looked forward to this game for a very long time.
I tried this simply because I liked the Awakening series from this developer so much ---- but those games feel more modern than this one.
This is a complete throwback to the past with one HOS after the other with some very simplistic "puzzles" or mini-games thrown in.
The HOS are reminiscent of the Big City Adventure series of games with objects that are difficult to see, blurry scenery, and even a penalty for too many clicks (haven't seen that in a while).
There is no Strategy Guide (would not really be necessary), and no other extras to make this CE worthy, and, truthfully, since I have so many of the old style games I can play I would have a hard time even giving up a coupon for this one much less CE money.
But there are those that do not like the evolution of modern games, and, for those, this might be a great find.
Try for yourself and see if it is for you ---- it's just not for me.
I have no idea why this is listed as a "strategy" game ---- it is am RPG from the makers of Skyborn.
Fans of the old style rpgs like Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, etc. will like this one. The story is good, as is the art work, music, battles, and crafting.
I very seldom review or comment on these pages, but this game is outstanding and deserves your attention.
I recommend this game!
+31points
32of33voted this as helpful.
Alpha Kimori Episode Two
Two human factions are at war, and Rick’s best friend and girlfriend have been captured in the turmoil! Can Rick save Vanessa and Yuki before it’s too late?
From a dev that I'm not familiar with comes this peculiar, but challenging game in which you are to locate many antique items that have been carefully hidden throughout the mansion of a now deceased nut case. The long gone owner of the mansion and the antiques apparently had a paranoid need to keep building secret rooms to store the antiques----sort of reminds me of Sarah Winchester's mystery house in San Jose (who was sadly driven by who knows what).
Anyway, you'll need your thinking cap for this one to determine the next steps to take after clearing HOS.
As I got further into the game, I caught on to the pattern of what they wanted amd found it to be very different and a great deal of fun. Someone put considerable thought into this one, and I appreciate the effort.
There are not many bells and whistles, but there is a handy map and a journal replete with its own hints. A few voice-overs, as well, that are decent sounding.
The puzzles are different sometimes tossed in with some run-of-the-mill style.
But overall, it's different enough to be quite unique, and I liked it very much and will buy it----but I don't know that it's for everyone. It's such a pleasure to have the free test run on these games----so take advantage of that and give it a try.
For those who have been asking for something a little different----here you go!!!!
I recommend this game!
+129points
134of139voted this as helpful.
Elementary My Dear Majesty
The king's daughter has turned into a man-eating monster, and either you find the cure, or it's off with your head!
This very unusual game will completely fill the bill for those who have been waiting or looking for something in a much more light-hearted vein than has been seen lately. It's very cartoonish and almost looks like a kid's game, but don't be fooled----it has lots of challenges and is a great deal of fun. A princess in a fantasy kingdom has been turned into a man-eating monster, and you are called on to save the day. There are several worlds to explore with lots of objects to find and even more puzzles to solve. The graphics are a sort of 3D presentation with zooming and scrolling available to complement the eye-popping colors and visual clarity. And the game opens in a widescreen which makes it even better. There are 2 levels of difficulty, and hints are plentiful. In addition to the beauty of the game, there is an abundance of good humor to enjoy. Many would probably compare it to Tiny Bang, but I would put it in a class all by itself. It's different, it's fun and humorous, it's got good challenge, it's gorgeous to look at, and greatly entertaining to play. What more could you ask for? Innovation like this is always welcome by me, and I give this beauty my highest recommendation. You owe it to yourself to at least give it a try----great game.
I recommend this game!
+39points
53of67voted this as helpful.
Dark Parables: Rise of the Snow Queen
Journey into the mythical Snowfall Kingdom and investigate the disappearance of children in Dark Parables: Rise of the Snow Queen!
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Marble Popper, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Current Favorite:
Mystery Case Files®: Escape from Ravenhearst™ Collector's Edition
(896)
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
This is an absolutely stunningly gorgeous game with excellent game play, detailed and clever hidden object scenes, interesting puzzles, and a solid story which will hold your interest. The developers have shown a tremendous amount of attention to the smallest of details. As indicated this beauty is one of the very top games of 2011 and should not be missed.