kateblue222's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.5
- Helpful Votes:3,417
- Reviews Submitted:179
- First Review:May 6, 2014
- Most Recent Review:July 28, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
All the adults have vanished. Is this a child's dream, or nightmare?
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 18 found this review helpful
Aggravating but beautiful. Worth playing the SE, not sure about the CE.
PostedJuly 6, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I agree with others who have said to buy the SE, not the CE. Since that is the information I am often looking for by the time the SE comes out because I have not yet bought either, I put this review here.
My recommendation: Buy this game, not the CE.
I bought the CE because: 1) I needed another CE on a 2 for 1 sale, 2) I thought the first three scenes had beautiful artwork, 3) the concept sounded neat, like the “Grups” episode of Star Trek, and 4) I read 9otters review that the said you get to play some (not all) of the mini games from the bonus menu after finishing the main game.
Let’s take that last point first. Now, one feature I really like, which can make me buy a CE as opposed to an SE, is where you can play all the mini games over from the bonus menu. So I picked this game as my 2fer as opposed to a game with no ability to play any games at all. But I can’t report on this feature because I got aggravated with the game, and so have not gotten that far.
Also, apparently, in the CE, there’s a bonus chapter. But you can’t tell that from looking at the game itself. The CEs “Bonus” menu won’t let you see what games are there, including the Bonus chapter and what mini games you get to play over. It just says “Game Play.” The menu item has a bronze lock thing on the left side of it and will not let me even look at what is available. Nor does it say “Finish the game first” when you click on it. Hopefully, it will unlock after I finish the main game!!
I think developers should let you see what you are getting, so bad, bad developers!
Though sometimes cluttered, the graphics are gorgeous and the little scene setting videos are good, too. Beautiful art is one of my soft spots because I just love walking around and looking at scenery.
The main theme music sounds, in spots, as if it is based on the theme from the Harry Potter movies with notes changed. My mind could not adjust to it, so I turned the music off. But I often turn off music, so you decide.
Mini games are fun so far, but simple, so I have not skipped any. HOs are just normal HOs.
I really dislike the “question and answer” type of character interaction. I like it even less where, as here, you don’t get to find out where all the conversational threads would have gone. When the friend comes to the door in the second scene, be aware, she’s going to say something to you, and then you are going to have your choice of two questions to ask her. But you are not going to get to ask both of them. The friend will answer the one you picked, then leave. Therefore, you will never know what the answer to your second choice would have been. So I conclude that either 1) none of the information in the exchange is important to the game after the friend’s initial statement (what a waste of my time), or 2) I could be missing an important clue by not choosing the right response to the friend’s initial statement. I suspect #1 is true, but why bother, then?
Also, I don’t usually care about lip syncing, but this friend was in a close up, and there was no syncing at all. Ugh.
This game makes you be awfully exact in your clicking. Coloring in “Carol” with the colored pencils was well nigh impossible, for example.
Strangely, despite all these things, I will play this game sometime soon because the mini games seem fun (if simple), and because it’s beautiful. These are my favorite things about a game. But I can’t rate the SE very high even though I recommend it over the CE.
To sum up. It looks beautiful. I love that. But it is aggravating for all the reasons stated above. I say, try the SE and see how much it aggravates you, then decide between the CE and SE. Because I think it is worth playing. Just know it is not one of those games where you are playing along and suddenly it is three in the morning. The game play is not smooth enough for that.
I recommend this game!
A series of shocking – and otherworldly – murders has struck New York City, and you're the only one who can solve them!
Overall rating
5
/
5
44 of 51 found this review helpful
If you didn't buy the CE, you gotta buy the SE
PostedJuly 6, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love this game so much that I want everyone to have fun with it. That's why I submit a review of the SE when I am playing the CE myself. This game is so superlative it’s hard to find anything to say except “Hurrah!"
As I said about the the CE:
1. The world is beautiful and believable. I really got immersed in it. That's the mark of a top notch game. The artwork is so beautiful I set the second game page, showing an autumn day in Central Park, as the background for my secondary desktop.
2. The music is ok. I didn’t turn it off, which I often do. Definitely 5 stars for graphics and sound.
3. The mini-games are what I like the best about HOPA games, and these are great.
4. The HO puzzles are excellent, also. I usually don’t care so much about HO puzzles, so I click all over the screen, finding them as fast as I can. These, though, are interactive. You find things to make something else, which you use to let you find the next thing, which lets you play mini-games within the HOS itself. Wonderful.
5. I think the developers lost one easy opportunity for a puzzle/game where you had to tape a picture together. It should have been a puzzle which we put together, after which we could tape it together. But this is just a quibble.
6. The game is so well built you don't need the strategy guide from the CE. I really think the game is CE worthy because the features include a bonus chapter and replayable puzzles, but if you don't buy CE versions, you should definitely buy this.
1. The world is beautiful and believable. I really got immersed in it. That's the mark of a top notch game. The artwork is so beautiful I set the second game page, showing an autumn day in Central Park, as the background for my secondary desktop.
2. The music is ok. I didn’t turn it off, which I often do. Definitely 5 stars for graphics and sound.
3. The mini-games are what I like the best about HOPA games, and these are great.
4. The HO puzzles are excellent, also. I usually don’t care so much about HO puzzles, so I click all over the screen, finding them as fast as I can. These, though, are interactive. You find things to make something else, which you use to let you find the next thing, which lets you play mini-games within the HOS itself. Wonderful.
5. I think the developers lost one easy opportunity for a puzzle/game where you had to tape a picture together. It should have been a puzzle which we put together, after which we could tape it together. But this is just a quibble.
6. The game is so well built you don't need the strategy guide from the CE. I really think the game is CE worthy because the features include a bonus chapter and replayable puzzles, but if you don't buy CE versions, you should definitely buy this.
This review is based upon the first two chapters of the CE. I haven’t played the rest because I am savoring it, slowly, like a fine wine.
I recommend this game!
Prepare yourself for a perilous journey across the world in order to save your niece from imminent danger.
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
Object use is not well thought out, but game is still worth playing
PostedJuly 5, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Your niece has disappeared in the Himalayas and you must find her. This review is based on the demo period, during which supernatural elements appear to be (mostly) absent. So those who complain they are tired of the magically-oriented games should be pleased.
There are six chapters and a bonus, replayable puzzles and HOs, and the usual music and art. To me, there is enough to buy the CE, particularly since there is a 2 for 1 sale this weekend.
The HOs I played are the typical lists and shapes. If you click real fast all around, you can get through them really quickly if that’s what you want. There is a mahjong option if you prefer. I wish they would do jigsaw puzzles instead, but mahjong is better than Match 3, for me. I only encountered one mini game, and it was fine. If this is the typical ratio, I wish there were more.
Artwork is bright and clear. It’s worth the price of admission—almost true to life (as opposed to some magically-oriented games with fantastical colors), except for being really bright. The colors feature red, purple, and gold, which take you to the Orient beautifully. However, the people were not particularly well-drawn. In fact, they were creepy sometimes--even when I think they weren’t supposed to be. Particularly the niece and the man she is with at the end of the initial film. They looked so weird I thought they were bad guys or some sort of creatures, but it was immediately apparent from the rest of the initial film that they were the people to be rescued.
The music was droning, probably in an attempt to evoke the Orient. It was ok, but did not really seem Oriental to me. When I go back to play more, I will probably turn it off. But I often turn music off, so you decide.
My major problem with the game=what objects are used to do what?!?!?!?! Minor spoilers follow to demonstrate what I mean.
In the first two scenes, there are three problems with icy doors and an ice-covered object that you need. And there is a pickaxe, water in a kettle, and a spear of some kind. Now, if you can knock the ice off one door with a pickaxe, then it should also work on the other door. And you also ought to be able to knock the ice off the eaves to get the object stuck there--the pickaxe looks long enough. But no. You have to use the pickaxe for one, heat the water in the kettle for another, and use the spear. Similarly, in the third scene, you have to pry something out of something. You have three implements that could do it (at least I did, at the time). Guess what? The right one was the third one I tried. :-) Of course.
I think these problems are poor game design on the developer’s part. Still, the game does make sense without having to hit the hint button all the time. So it was fun anyway. A fine line to walk for developers, given that we are all different and they are trying to please us all--adventure buffs, puzzle players, and HO lovers--with just one game.
One thing I didn’t like was that people did not disappear from the scenes the way they usually do when you are done with them in games. The small oriental boy in the first scene never goes away even after you “solve” him. This is a definite minus for me because my favorite thing is just wandering around looking at the pretty scenery.
I will be buying this as part of a two for one sale this weekend, but I will not be finishing it right away. That’s because there are several games I like better, so I want to finish those first. But this one will be fun when I have time.
I recommend this game!
A series of shocking – and otherworldly – murders has struck New York City, and you're the only one who can solve them!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
This game is so superlative it’s hard to find anything to say except “Hurrah!"
PostedJuly 4, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Getting immersed in the world is the mark of a good game. This one really pulls you in.
The artwork is so beautiful I set the second game page, showing an autumn day in Central Park, as the background for my secondary desktop. The music is ok. I didn’t turn it off, which I often do. Definitely 5 stars for graphics and sound.
The mini-games are what I like the best about HOPA games, and these are great. The only thing is, sometimes I think mini-games are getting so sophisticated that they need a hint button as opposed to just a skip button. I have found several lately (not just in this game) where I really liked the mini-game, so I didn’t want to just skip it, but it was more than “mini,” so a hint would have been welcome. It’s a mark of excellence to me, thought, not the contrary.
The HO puzzles are excellent, also. I usually don’t care so much about HO puzzles, so I click all over the screen, finding the objects as fast as I can. These, though, are interactive. You find things to make something else, which you use to let you find the next thing, which lets you play mini-games within the HOS itself. Wonderful.
I think the developers lost one easy opportunity for a puzzle/game where you had to tape a picture together. It should have been a puzzle which we put together, after which we could tape it together. But this is just a quibble.
I usually try to say something different from other reviewers, so here’s something I found to be different. There’s an new feature I like that I have never seen in a game before. When switching from full screen to windowed mode, a box appears, asking you if you really want to. I liked this.
This review is based upon the first two chapters. I haven’t played the rest because I am savoring it, slowly, like a fine wine.
I recommend this game!
A masked vigilante has the town of Coldstone in a death grip!
Overall rating
5
/
5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Another great game has kept me up way past my bedtime.
PostedJuly 4, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A detective is tracking down a vigilante who is terrorizing a town for past injustices. People on a “blacklist” are dying. The detective must catch vigilante before the mayor of the town, who hired him and who is on the list, is killed.
Others have described this game thoroughly, so I won’t list every feature. I will only discuss the things I noticed as I played through the first two chapters.
There’s a really interesting cat.
The art is beautiful and the colors are nice. Even the little tokens that you pick up are cute. The music fits the story well (I particularly like “Track 1,” which is the first one you hear when you start the game). The black and white movies disbursed throughout added to the ambience. In other words, five stars for sound and graphics.
The HOS’s were good and the mini-games were very, very good. Play is seamless and natural. You can figure out what to do without having to hit the hint button all the time.
SPOILER IN THIS PARAGRAPH, but it explains the way I figured out how to do something. The whole concept for collecting thoughts was unique and interesting, but the act of actually catching them was kind of boring because I did have a bit of trouble finding them (they are invisible and floating in the air). At first I kept sliding the thought catcher thingy up and down and back and forth, covering the whole screen in a methodical fashion. I caught a couple that way. But I don’t think that’s the best way. What I ended up doing for the rest was, I put the thought catcher thingy in the middle of the screen and slid the mouse straight up and down slowly. This caught the thoughts as they cruised through the middle of the screen.
There were riddles. How fun!
The achievements were “eh” and the masks which you collect were ok. At least the masks had some interesting facts accompanying them. But I don’t think either of these things helped the gaming experience, and I did not like the ends of the two banners for achievements and collectables that were always sticking out into the far left of the screen. They showed all the time. Unnecessary.
The only jarring note in my whole playing experience so far was in the mayor’s introduction. OK, I can see why people on a vigilante's blacklist may be important people, a "who’s who" of the town. The people in charge are those in the position to perpetrate injustices that a vigilante would want to avenge. But to say that the mayor lives in “the nobility district?” Silly. Besides, since when is a mayor “nobility?”
If this is the only thing I can find wrong with a game after playing it for two hours, I agree with other reviewers that it is one of the best games of the year. You gotta try it.
I recommend this game!
Only the wearer of the ruby ring can claim the crown as king.
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Too many random guessing games, but still fun, and excellent music.
PostedJuly 3, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I am probably halfway through this game. The game starts out with Tristan, who upon turning 18, finds out that he is a prince. He has been hidden since he was a baby. Now he must return to free his kingdom (from invading purple crystals, apparently). To help him, he has a ruby ring that attacks the crystals.
The problem here was lack of clarity in instructions/lack of logic in actions to be taken.
Make sure you start out with a piece of paper. You will need to write things down, like the order of buttons to push in order to progress. (I haven’t done this so much since Myst!) You need a pencil even when you are not playing an actual “mini game” but are just trying to complete an action or get an object in order to progress. I actually went to the guide three times, very unusual for me.
Despite relying on the guide, I found the mini games were entertaining, at least for a one-time gaming experience. Many of them were kind of like playing “Concentration." I had already bought the CE in a recent sale, and I always like the feature that allows you to play mini games over. But the jury is still out about whether I will find any of the mini games so interesting that I WANT to play them over. SKIP REST OF PARAGRAPH TO AVOID SPOILER. For example, I had no hope of solving the "gears” puzzle, which caused one of my trips to the guide. You had to move gears into a specified pattern in 7 moves. The guide showed you could move a gear across two other gears instead of just moving into the next spot. But these puzzles usually require that you move only to the next spot, so I don’t think it’s a poor assumption on my part. Bad game instructions, IMHO. (Also, this was another place where I needed a piece of paper to write down the solution.)
HOs were ok. Nothing special. I’m more fond of the other parts of these games anyway.
There’s one stupid annoyance that actually made me laugh. (It's kind of typical of the game, so I tell you about it to give you more of a feel for the game.) In one scene, there’s this woman who has been set out to meet Tristan and has been waiting around for him for 18 years. If you click on her, she says, over and over, “Do you sense anything unusual? There is something hidden here, something important. Look closely.” DUH! Isn't that the whole point with these games? Not really much of a clue, is it?
The graphics were inconsistent. Sometimes clear and beautiful, sometimes cluttered and forgettable.
The hint button was strange. For one thing, sometimes it would just sit there and not take you out of a scene. It would just repeat the same written clue instead. For another thing, when a hint was taking you to a different place on the screen, the hint’s indicator, a swirling white circle of stars, did not cut off quickly enough. So when it points you down a road to the next scene with the white circle of stars, the circle doesn’t disappear once you have moved into the new scene. Instead, the circle continues to swirl around in the same location where it was in the previous scene. At first, this led me to believe that I was supposed to click on that spot in the new scene. But that’s not true. This is not a glitch, but is apparently what the developers meant to do. Annoying.
But the music is excellent, which I don’t often say. Being a musician of sorts means that oftentimes music bugs me, so I have to turn it off. Not this time. The main theme, which is #6 of the downloads, named (not surprisingly), "Forgotten Kingdoms," is great. It kind of reminds me of The Game of Thrones theme music. I’m listening to it in iTunes right now. The little flute accents make me smile. Hat’s off to Mr. David Mesiha, who shows up as the composer when you load the songs into iTunes.
So anyway, this game is not an immersive experience that will keep you up past your bedtime, but it is relatively fun. Try it. You might find it mildly entertaining.
Help Shannon Tweed-Simmons end the groupie invasion, before they get their hands on her man!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Not a bad little time killer
PostedJuly 3, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As someone who still plays the original Plants vs Zombies almost every day, I thought this game was a nice change.
Yes, it it very like PvZ. You are trying to keep groupies from overrunning a rock and roll star. In order to do this, you buy money trees. When they leaf out, you harvest the money leaves. After you harvest money from your trees, you plant water guns and other items to scare off groupies, who, after a time, run away. If you fail to make them run, Shannon herself performs judo-esque moves on them. There are also money bags that fall from the sky. They will fade if you don’t collect them fast enough.
A roadie will upgrade your plants for a price, but the method is confusing. You have to click on the plant in advance or nothing happens. The game pauses while you upgrade. The method is much easier than having to use a shovel to dig plants up and then replace them with different plants as in PvZ. And PvZ doesn't pause while you replace a plant. So this is a much better system once you figure out how to get it to work.
Upgrading a water gun causes it to fire bigger blobs of water. I have not figured out the percentage of improvement upgrading gives, but I am sure it scares off groupies faster. I figure it is like exchanging a PvZ peashooter for one that shoots two peas.
The roadie will also buy back your plants back at a discount. This should come in handy in later levels when the game is more difficult.
Yes, this game is awfully easy, as far as I have gotten. I even stopped and set it on the harder setting, and it was still easy. But I haven’t gotten too far. I am sure it will get harder. And I am a PvZ expert.
Interesting and beneficial differences from PvZ include:
1. Shooters shoot more often as groupies get closer.
2. Money trees produce more leaves if you wait for a few seconds. As the game gets harder, the ability to harvest early may really help in emergencies, but you should usually wait so you can harvest more money.
3. There’s a map so you can go to any level if you have passed it. I wish PvZ had this feature. Some of my favorite PvZ levels can only be reached if you play the whole game again, and then you only get to play them once.
4. There's a harder setting. PvZ could benefit from that, too.
Annoyances:
1. The money bags disappear when you click on them. At first, it was unclear to me if I was getting to them too late, or if they just needed a graphic or a sound to show you got them, like the sunflowers floating up to the counter in PvZ. As it turns out, the money counter goes up, but I had to concentrate on the counter to make sure this was happening.
2. The music. Cannot understand this. There must be hundreds of great Kiss guitar licks that could have been used, but the one they picked (if it is a real Kiss lick, even) is boring and annoying. I had to turn it off.
3. The sound generally. I can’t understand what the Sharon character is saying. Voice needs to be louder in relationship to the other sounds. With the music on, it’s really hard to hear.
4. It's kind of ugly. PvZ was cute. Maybe this is partially responsible for the bad ratings.
I’ll be buying it, at least as a daily deal or during a good sale. It’ll be worth it--a change from PvZ for this PvZ addict's daily fix.
I recommend this game!
The witches' dark legacy continues as Lynn becomes possessed!
Overall rating
5
/
5
21 of 24 found this review helpful
Why this game pulled me right in and did not want to let me go.
PostedJuly 3, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is only based on the demo period, I stopped, but I did not want to, even though the story is related to five previous games, some of which I haven't played. The premise is that, talented witch Lynn is snatched away at a museum opening, and her husband Edward is left to rescue her.
Other reviewers have described the features of the game better than I can, so I will instead explain why this game sucked me in (and therefore why I’m still awake in the middle of the night).
The first, introductory movie is perfect. It just tells you a very little bit about previous stories, and then stops. So many opening movies are too long, IMHO.
Then, on the title page, there’s a storybook that tells you more history of the games, given that this is the sixth game of a series. What a great idea! I have not played all of the previous games, but I think that I am sufficiently caught up by the storybook that I will enjoy playing the rest of this one even out of order.
After you start the game, there is just a bit more explanation about the opening of a museum. Then, talented witch Lynn is spirited away, and the action starts right in. There are no unrelated tasks to let you learn how the game works--by trying to find a key to get out the door or by making you find your car keys. I didn’t realize how tired I was of those learning scenarios until I played this game.
Also, actions are complex enough that they are games, though they may not be hidden object games or mini games officially. For example, in the first room, you move a series of items on a table to sort them. It was fun! The idea of the items ties right in to the game’s theme, too, helping to explain the world you are entering and adding to the experience. From that moment of sorting objects on, I was hooked.
Then there are little touches, like the magic flowering bush in the den, that don’t seem to really advance the story but are just charming. And the bonus items look as if they will be excellent, with a bonus chapter and puzzles, as well as the usual art and music.
I could not find a single annoyance with the game in the time I played. Game play is seamless and logical, and I was not using the hint constantly. Yay! Clicking works well in places where you should need to click as opposed to some recent games where you had to really be accurate with the mouse. Double yay! The hint function works perfectly. Great game all around.
So, dilemma--do I buy it now, or do I wait to see if there's a 2 for 1 sale for the 4th of July weekend? It's so good that I want to buy it right now.
I recommend this game!
Shadows-kidnappers have arrived! Unravel the mystery of the Shadows and free the town from their dreadful fears!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Gloomy and nonsensical, but satisfying.
PostedJuly 1, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
This review is based upon the whole game. I actually had fun playing this game, though I see why there are low ratings out there.
The puzzles are really good. Not too hard or too easy, and interesting. The sound effects were appropriate and added to the ambiance. The HO scenes were OK. (They aren’t my favorite part.)
I almost quit early on because of the slowness of the game caused by the lack of cursor assistance (as other players have noted) but the hint worked well, and the puzzles just drew me on.
Don’t try to make sense of the story. (Skip this paragraph and the next if you don’t want to know about the story, but basically I am not going to be telling you anything much because the story doesn’t make sense.) It’s unclear why a young boy could wander around a small town and take care of himself for four years and then suddenly be picked up by a mysterious and apparently evil caretaker (never really explained) as a “tramp” and put in a dungeon cell (the first scene). It was immediately obvious that English was a second language for the developers.
Then, in the next cell, there’s a creepy looking little girl that the boy spends the rest of the game following around and trying to save. Now, this boy apparently never saw this child before being in the dungeon, so the entire motivation for the story is unclear.
Lack of sensible story was the major flaw in the game. I don’t care about the story as much as other things, but if you do, be aware.
Also, there was a lot of running back and forth through the town. Though there was a good map. But I am unsure why there needed to be so much traveling from one side of the town to the other. I found it annoying.
And it was SO monochromatic, in gruesome gray. I was glad to see the remnants of a sunset suddenly appear in some scenes. But the coloring was appropriate, as were the sound effects. Ambiance was definitely appropriate.
Yes, yes, it’s gloomy and nonsensical, but the puzzles and HOS are good. And that’s what it’s about, right?
I recommend this game!
Unlock the mysteries shrouding the creatures of Oxbridge University!
Overall rating
1
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Stubborn game would not DO anything (it couldn't be MY fault!)
PostedJune 30, 2015
kateblue222
fromSecond star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Word
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Some of the features made me want to like this game, but sorry, I just couldn’t.
I was happy with the beginning because the game started right up. So many games have a long lead-in advertising the developer, then a movie, then the initial screen, and then another movie. It was great to just be able to start right in.
But after I hit play, there was a little movie, and I did not have the sound up enough to hear it. The was no text. So I totally lost the meaning of it. It seemed a bit long so I skipped it since I couldn’t hear it. Therefore, I cannot tell you about the story, though I do know there is a college professor involved.
When I went back in while writing this review, I turned the sound up. But it did not give me the movie again, and I didn't feel like changing my profile. I must say, though, that I liked the spare piano music over the main screen. But the game itself doesn't seem to have music, and least the in the hallway and the professor's office. Too bad!
You start out with a flashlight and a knife. How great! So often with these types of games, you need a light or something sharp. And then, sometimes you have an object that should work to do something but it doesn't, or you just had an object that would work to do something, but it disappeared, or there was something in an HOS that would have worked, but it's not in inventory. So it was great to see that you had the basic tools right at the beginning.
Even better, I got to unfasten a screw with a pocket knife instead of having to find a screwdriver. So I was hoping I would get to keep these items and not have to look for matches and lanterns and knitting needles and screwdrivers.
But it didn’t work out that way. I found it hard to maneuver. This wasn’t a glitch or anything, the cursor worked ok and everything. It was just the way the game was designed. For example, in the first hallway, trying to get into the office, you could not move backwards (click at the bottom). Instead, you had to click to the side to get back to the hallway, and it was not very obvious how that worked. The cursor changed some, but it was not obvious. Sometimes you went to the bottom of the screen to go back, and sometimes you had to go to the side.
Once in the office, I was supposed to return my items to my desk. Well, they wouldn’t go, they just whooshed right back down into inventory. Also there were lots of pieces of paper in the drawer and on the desk that looked as if they should get picked up and should go together. But I could not get them to even move.
Besides, it was so BROWN. If you’re going to go semi-monochromatic, pick green or blue, not brown or grey. Particularly here, because a college campus isn't supposed to depressing or boring. I mean this wasn't a dungeon, a cemetery, or a haunted house. I know someone liked this game in part because it was not blue and purple and pink, but I prefer that to boring brown or gruesome gray.
After clicking around for a while and not being able to do anything, I got bored and quit. Apparently, I played for 11 minutes. That was definitely too many.
I don't recommend this game.