JustTheFacts's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:33,148
- Reviews Submitted:681
- First Review:December 7, 2011
- Most Recent Review:June 4, 2018
- Featured reviews0
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You came to the town of Brownville, Louisiana hoping to find a new job. But you weren't expecting to stumble upon a strange adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger!
Overall rating
5
/
5
55 of 66 found this review helpful
Entirely New Story!
PostedJanuary 2, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This one gets 5 stars just for the story, because it is something completely new and different, and reflects a truly active imagination. But full marks are justified for other reasons as well.
This one gets 5 stars just for the story, because it is something completely new and different, and reflects a truly active imagination. But full marks are justified for other reasons as well.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The graphics are high class, fantasy-styled, a little cartoonish, and perhaps a little too water-colour for me, but definitely beautiful and easy on the eye. The cut scenes are marvellous, especially once you are into the game proper.
The graphics are high class, fantasy-styled, a little cartoonish, and perhaps a little too water-colour for me, but definitely beautiful and easy on the eye. The cut scenes are marvellous, especially once you are into the game proper.
The voiceovers are good, spoiled a bit by an attempt at lip synch that does come off. I still think it’s better not to try unless you can do it right. The music is excellent, pleasant with a sometimes Aztec sound to it. The game also has Aztec imagery throughout, but the interface leans towards dreamcatchers.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Your friend invites you to join him and his wife in the town they have settled in, where there is plenty of work and opportunities for a young man like yourself. Turns out he is not doing you a favour, but I am not sure he knew that when he sent the invite. Simon, the new ‘big man around town’ who is offering these opportunities asks you to play a game of cards with him before you’ve even washed the dust off the road down your throat.
Your friend invites you to join him and his wife in the town they have settled in, where there is plenty of work and opportunities for a young man like yourself. Turns out he is not doing you a favour, but I am not sure he knew that when he sent the invite. Simon, the new ‘big man around town’ who is offering these opportunities asks you to play a game of cards with him before you’ve even washed the dust off the road down your throat.
That is where the story really begins. You find yourself trapped in a magical world of the cards, and the only way to escape is to survive the game. But Simon has been ‘turned’ by the game, and he no longer plays fair. It is almost impossible to hope to survive. Every object in the game can and usually is turned against you. Still, if you ‘play your (magical) cards right)’ *groan*, you might make it.
GAMEPLAY
Whilst you will find HOPs and other puzzles and mini-games which are fairly standard, there are different types of gameplay to match the different story. You acquire magic cards that can perform certain spells, such as an ice card. To move up levels in the game, you must also find teleportation cards. All cards must be activated by a particular process.
Whilst you will find HOPs and other puzzles and mini-games which are fairly standard, there are different types of gameplay to match the different story. You acquire magic cards that can perform certain spells, such as an ice card. To move up levels in the game, you must also find teleportation cards. All cards must be activated by a particular process.
For the rest, the HOPs have the usual number of interactive items to be found, but some of the interactions are much more involved. The puzzles and games are not overly difficult, and other game mechanics are the expected. You have a journal, an interactive map that jumps (within that world), and a helper. Yes, I’m sorry, the magical animal is indeed cute, in a wonky sort of way, and climbs and digs. It redeems itself, however, by also being very funny. I love the video where it slides down the waterslide, and tumbles down to where you are waiting.
CE BLING!
There are collectibles. There are 30 plain looking jigsaw puzzle pieces and seem to relate to the “secret game” in the extra content. There are also achievements, displayed in a casino-style environment. The SG is well written. There are replayable mini-games, the Secret Game (which looks like a jigsaw), and the usual gallery items. 9 wallpapers, 14 concept art drawings and sketches (very good in their own right), 7 music tracks, videos. And of course the bonus chapter.
There are collectibles. There are 30 plain looking jigsaw puzzle pieces and seem to relate to the “secret game” in the extra content. There are also achievements, displayed in a casino-style environment. The SG is well written. There are replayable mini-games, the Secret Game (which looks like a jigsaw), and the usual gallery items. 9 wallpapers, 14 concept art drawings and sketches (very good in their own right), 7 music tracks, videos. And of course the bonus chapter.
VERDICT
An excellent game, in which I am very happy to see a totally new story for the first time in... well, forever!
An excellent game, in which I am very happy to see a totally new story for the first time in... well, forever!
I recommend this game!
Find your lost brother by solving puzzles, finding hidden clues, and using the powerful Mystic Diary to travel the world.
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
Nice Old Game
PostedDecember 31, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
This is an old game, and so it has the graphics and gameplay of its time, and cannot be compared with modern games. But it definitely is interesting and quite comfortable to play.
The graphics are grainy and fuzzy, and it does make it harder to find items. There is also the distortion which comes from playing it on a widescreen. You can adjust this (presumably to a window form) but it requires a restart. Too much bother for me to do it. Other than these age factors, the images are quite nice, colourful in some more than others, many different locations with entirely different worlds.
The music was what I can only describe as sweet. There was what, I dunno, innocence about it? Whatever, it sounded good, and was accompanied by a variety of ambient sounds.
There are 3 types of HOPs to play. Each location has 2 HOP scenes where silhouettes of the items are given. They each also have a word list (no interaction, developed 2009 remember), and the items can be found anywhere in the site. Some chapters also have a multiple items search as well. Some items can be combined in inventory.
Puzzles are rare and easy. Because the game is played in discreet units, the hint system points to what you’ve missed within that location. The Mystic Diary is helpful as well. No need for a map. You also have a magic magnifier which shows the magic siguls in the air (a simple cover-the-image mini-game).
I’m not going to rave about this game. It is pretty basic. But not without its charm. And it might just make it as a dreamy afternoon kind of game.
I recommend this game!
When a new romance blossoms, the door to mystery opens in Love Alchemy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
100 of 117 found this review helpful
Loved It At First Sight!
PostedDecember 31, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
It’s a rare treat to get the chance to rave about a standalone standard edition game, but this one is wonderful! It looks good, sounds good, and has a pleasant easy flow of gameplay.
Yes, in widescreen, the images are stretched (I prefer the black bars myself). Yes, there are plenty of HOPs, and the puzzles must have been very easy, because I can’t remember a single one! Yes, there is plenty of handholding (at least in the easiest of 2 game modes). And finally, yes, the story is simplistic. But it is all done so wonderfully well despite a tight budget, and it is just plain delightful relaxing fun.
Now, for me, one of the all-time best HOPA game ideas is the “world in the painting”, which I guess gives this game a big head start with me. And the story, original only in the sense that it adds a different quirk to a familiar theme, is the “Bluebeard” story. "Don’t go wandering the castle while I’m gone, dear, or you might find the tormented souls for my previous 7 wives!" But it is such fun when combined with the “1000 door” concept of many worlds within the castle.
And all that beautiful colour! The graphics are good quality and beautifully drawn, and show beautiful locations and characters. The cut scenes are wonderful! They put ‘creepy’ into a game that might otherwise have been too pretty to chill the bones.
There are no voiceovers, and to begin with, there is too much info given too quickly to catch it all, but that settles down after the intro. The music is varied and relaxing for the most part, and there are lovely vignette sounds in each world.
The gameplay is simple. You wander the empty castle finding strange locks and hidden doors, and stumble into HOPs where you can usually find what you need. There is a fair amount of travelling before you start to find the items needed to open all the rooms you uncover, so it is good that your map is a jump map.
It doesn’t, however, tell you anything else other than your place within the castle. If you are in one of the other worlds, you will need to choose the portrait that takes you there. Hint is directional but limited. It takes a while to recharge.
The HOPs are a standard non-interactive word list. Not at all difficult, the items are clearly shown, the graphics are bright and sharp, and it is not overly junked. You visit some of them twice, but with very long gaps between. There are some mistakes in translation, but not enough to cause a lot of frustration.
There don’t seem to be many puzzles, but now I think about it I can remember one. An easy "follow the music" type. The notebook is helpful for interpreting the purely drawn instructions you sometimes get.
I love this game. BECAUSE it is easy – on the brain and on the eye. I am having a hard time restraining myself to wait till next year to buy it. *grin* Happy New Year Fishies!
AFTERTHOUGHT: No cute pets. And this game, too, is set around Xmas.
I recommend this game!
Solitaire Mystery: Four Seasons
Time has come to a stand-still for the citizens of the City of Magic Cards. Solve dozens of unique and exciting solitaire puzzles and lift the curse that’s stopped the seasons from changing!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 14 found this review helpful
Fun, But Where’d The Story Go?
PostedDecember 30, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
This is an interesting mix of genres, having several HOPs and other puzzles (so far, they have been easy, spin the tile and sliders), as well as two styles of solitaire. It was certainly very appealing to me when I saw it as one of the top games of 2013, and I’m surprised that I had somehow missed it. It doesn’t live quite up to expectations though.
I loved the idea of “SOLPA”, solitaire puzzle adventure, but that implies a story to hold all the action together. Unfortunately, we don’t seem to get much of that. We are thrown straight into a solitaire game the second we press play.
The notebook records almost nothing, and really, what else can it do? We receive very little input about the game other than instructions if required. We move about from one place to another on the map, with no warning, explanation or reason.
The gameplay itself is quite addictive. The two types of solitaire (standard match-one-up-down, plus one where we must find pairs) are fun and varied enough by the large number of layouts offered. In some ways the game is pretty basic. There are no fancy powerups or other gimmicks normally found in these sorts of games, no points, no achievements. Just the special locked and unlocking cards. But I found this much more soothing to play, and easy to lose myself in.
The HOPs also come in two types – word list, and “place the related item”. There have been a couple of slider games, one very easy, the next one not so much. Also one quite nifty spin the tile game.
I guess I should mention that the graphics are clear and the backgrounds interesting. It opens in widescreen, but looks a lot better without the adjustment, even though that means black bars. The card backs are not much, and there is no option to swap them. But the game looks nice. Sounds good too, with cheerful melodies that, at times, could have been a little quieter. Still, there are options.
There are 96 (4 suits x 24) levels, and I made it to 15 before the demo time ran out – on that basis, there would appear to be 8 hours worth of play in this game!
Apart from the confusion caused by not knowing what the story was, this is an excellent game, an old fashioned solitaire game, mixed with various puzzles to provide a 'richer gaming experience'. *grin*
I recommend this game!
Lisa is helping Santa Claus deliver presents to a small town when her car transforms into candies! Help her fix her car and save Christmas!
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 52 found this review helpful
Pretty & Fun HOG For Xmas
PostedDecember 30, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
What a shame that this sweet little game did not make it onto Big Fish’s list until after Xmas! It is a lively and colourful game, very “xmasy” and a lot of easy fun. Although I did find it a little challenging on the “what do I do next?” side of things.
The story is cute, a shortcut into an obviously magical forest sees your car turn into candy! And everything around you as well. Seems 3 witches (nice ones) messed up a spell, and you’ll have to help them fix it if you want to get into town in time for Christmas.
What follows is a amusing adventure making pullovers for bullfinches, helping a beaver build a dam, and feeding a (domestic) spider a candy fly. That’s in the first 20 minutes. After that I don’t know, because that is where the demo finishes. A bit stingy I thought.
HOPs make up almost all of the game, along with a bit of finding things to open doors etc., but no complex puzzles or long term planning required. The HOP scenes are very bright and vibrant with colour, the items are large and easy to see, and the location is not overly littered with junk. The inventory item you get will have nothing to do with the HOP, but is usually immediately useful.
This is a low budget game, but the graphics look great, if a bit childish (it’s xmas, who cares?), and the music is a combination of very lively happy gallopers and classics, including the Nutcracker, of course. The sound effects when you find an item are overly loud (prepare to alter your sound settings), but full of bubbling joy.
This game would certainly appeal to young children I am sure, but after my recent gaff, I wouldn’t dream of suggesting it was *only* for kids! *turns various unhealthy shades of red* Still, having kids to share this game with *would* be a plausible excuse for us playing it 'out of season' *evil grin*
So I am sad to see that this game will no doubt languish unappreciated, because of a terrible case of bad timing and the underestimation of its appeal by our usually wise old mate Felix.
I recommend this game!
Solve 120 unique puzzles in 6 exciting rounds and win the Christmas world contest!
Overall rating
3
/
5
15 of 18 found this review helpful
A Bit Of A Disappointment
PostedDecember 30, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
This is a standard issue 8 Floor production, with barely an air of Christmas atmosphere to recommend it. And while they always do a fair job, I would have expected more from this Christmas themed pictograph game.
There are only 6 xmas backgrounds. The only one I saw was an attractive formal xmas tree, but the locations (rooms) are just like Mahjong World Contest which they put out not too long ago - and all the interface etc. looks suspiciously similar to me.
The game looks good, as all these games do, colourful and clear graphics, but no animation. The locations are mere background wallpaper, and there are only 6 of them, and that’s it for your Xmas theme. The images made by the grids may be xmasy but you can’t see them as they are whipped away to show the score page before you can get a good look. The music is not xmasy at all, despite what the blurb says.
There are six rooms, each representing the next stage in your progress, each with 20 pictograph grids. They start off very easy, just 5x5, but there are also only a couple of hints and no more than 2 mistakes allowed, in these early games. As the games get harder, you are allowed more hints and mistakes.
You are awarded a maximum of 3 stars for each level, and you need 3 stars on every level before you can gain access to the next room.
The stars are granted based on 3 different measures:
1. A certain number of points
2. Earned so many $$
3. Completed the grid in a set time
2. Earned so many $$
3. Completed the grid in a set time
Plus there are bonuses for not using hint and/or making mistakes.
You can replay the level immediately or at another time to beat your previous rating, or you can use your $ to buy different powerups, such as mistakes allowance x3, in the shop. Also to gain access to higher levels you haven’t qualified for yet.
There is a top score page as well, and achievements and trophies.
As I say, all very much exactly the cookie cutter mold that is 8 Floor Games, and it is not even xmasy.
I pass.
I don't recommend this game.
The fairy-tale kingdom has fallen under a wicked spell!
Overall rating
4
/
5
17 of 19 found this review helpful
Kids’ Game (I Thought)
PostedDecember 30, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This game, at first glance, seems very much a kids’ game. We are the Fairy Godmother, found in fairy tale circumstances, among many well known fairy tale characters, and pretty cartoonish graphics.
This game, at first glance, seems very much a kids’ game. We are the Fairy Godmother, found in fairy tale circumstances, among many well known fairy tale characters, and pretty cartoonish graphics.
None of which would necessarily make it a kids’ game, I suppose, when you think about some of the great fantasy games we’ve loved this year. And I see many people don't think it is for the youngsters.
But this game adds simplistic and repetitive gameplay and simplistic and repetitive music to the mix, and those things I DO believe are only truly appreciated by the younger crowd. (Let me give my apologies early, to any grupps who love this game.)
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The game is attractive enough, very fanciful as you’d expect, good quality but not much on the detail. The music really bugs me, not so much for its repetitiveness, as for its simplistic few bars. There are also not many sound effects and the ambient noise seems to consist entirely of tweeting birds, which again strikes me as too basic.
The game is attractive enough, very fanciful as you’d expect, good quality but not much on the detail. The music really bugs me, not so much for its repetitiveness, as for its simplistic few bars. There are also not many sound effects and the ambient noise seems to consist entirely of tweeting birds, which again strikes me as too basic.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Well, you wake up from a nap to find far too long has gone by for it to have been an ordinary nap, you are alone in Rapunzel’s tower, and you are the Fairy Godmother. You realise evil is afoot, and you escape the tower, hoping to get to your cottage, where you have your magic wand, which can be used to fix all this mess up.
Well, you wake up from a nap to find far too long has gone by for it to have been an ordinary nap, you are alone in Rapunzel’s tower, and you are the Fairy Godmother. You realise evil is afoot, and you escape the tower, hoping to get to your cottage, where you have your magic wand, which can be used to fix all this mess up.
Instead of an adventure with a clear goal in mind, I kept getting confused, as more and more story book characters were turned up everywhere. None of them were convincingly the characters we know, and their stories are not part of this game. But their existence overshadows any other plot feature that might have made things clearer.
Anyway, we get to the cottage, and the wicked witch has stolen our wand, and we of course must get it back.
GAMEPLAY
Again, simplistic. There are word list HOPs and ones where you must find multiple items. The images are clear and the items easy to find. The puzzles are almost ridiculously simple, and are already repeating themselves. Not exactly, but the same puzzle with a different image. For example, the line up the rings puzzle has appeared twice so far, the only difference being what was printed on the rings.
Again, simplistic. There are word list HOPs and ones where you must find multiple items. The images are clear and the items easy to find. The puzzles are almost ridiculously simple, and are already repeating themselves. Not exactly, but the same puzzle with a different image. For example, the line up the rings puzzle has appeared twice so far, the only difference being what was printed on the rings.
There are, apparently, 4 magic tools we will acquire, which give us 4 new special abilities, but so far we have not found them.
VERDICT
A nice, decent enough game, but too simplistic and repetitive for me. For all those young and 'young at hearts', good gaming!
A nice, decent enough game, but too simplistic and repetitive for me. For all those young and 'young at hearts', good gaming!
I recommend this game!
Everyone deserves a second chance – even the stingiest of them all.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 8 found this review helpful
A Christmas Treat!
PostedDecember 30, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It is so lovely to have such a beautiful game to play at Christmas. That it is in fact the second spectacular game in a Christmas series – bonus!
It is so lovely to have such a beautiful game to play at Christmas. That it is in fact the second spectacular game in a Christmas series – bonus!
The game gets us in the mood for Christmas immediately, with a gorgeous tree and fireworks before we even reach the main menu.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
I love the graphics in this, as I have come to expect from this developer, they are bright and cheery, beautiful use of colour, light and space, detailed and meticulous. But I don’t think it’s the best we’ve seen from them. The locations and objects themselves make up for it, however, because they are just so beautiful to look at.
I love the graphics in this, as I have come to expect from this developer, they are bright and cheery, beautiful use of colour, light and space, detailed and meticulous. But I don’t think it’s the best we’ve seen from them. The locations and objects themselves make up for it, however, because they are just so beautiful to look at.
One of the things I love about Elephant games is the way characters and concepts from other games drop in for cameo performances. It is amazing how they can be inserted into a new game so believably.
The music is in a class of its own. Nutcracker Suite, traditional Christmas carols, an old favourite of mine, Greensleeves, combine to give a delightfully festive air. The sound effects are good, and I love the voiceovers.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Uncle Ebeneza is feeling his years and has come to regret his evil and miserly ways. He begs you to visit him on Christmas Eve, as he believes you are the only who can help. He is asleep, however, when you arrive and it is the Ghost Of Christmas Past who greets you. He freezes time so you can correct Scrooge’s early mistakes and change his fate. The image of this ghost bugs me. He is a youngster dressed in what looks like a skirt and it just doesn’t work. He looks foolish.
Uncle Ebeneza is feeling his years and has come to regret his evil and miserly ways. He begs you to visit him on Christmas Eve, as he believes you are the only who can help. He is asleep, however, when you arrive and it is the Ghost Of Christmas Past who greets you. He freezes time so you can correct Scrooge’s early mistakes and change his fate. The image of this ghost bugs me. He is a youngster dressed in what looks like a skirt and it just doesn’t work. He looks foolish.
You are accompanied on this quest by Good Scrooge and Evil Scrooge, two guiding influences in his life. Both are kinda cute and amusing, and wonderfully drawn and animated, but of course, their interactions with us are quite different from each other. They can animate objects, which turns out to be a great help when used by Good Scrooge, for the good guys. Evil Scrooge also has Ice Imps as his minions, and they tend to wreak havoc wherever they turn up.
MAKING PROGRESS
This is a nicely balanced game, with roughly the same number of HOPs as other puzzles and mini-games. The HOPs are interactive word list. The mini-games are fun for the most part, but I did skip a few because they were just a bit too tedious. One I had to skip because it required a fairly high level of coordination. There are quite a few totally original ones here, including some neat dioramas.
This is a nicely balanced game, with roughly the same number of HOPs as other puzzles and mini-games. The HOPs are interactive word list. The mini-games are fun for the most part, but I did skip a few because they were just a bit too tedious. One I had to skip because it required a fairly high level of coordination. There are quite a few totally original ones here, including some neat dioramas.
There is an interactive jump map, very helpful, and a hint that shows you the right location and jumps you to it.
FINAL VERDICT
Love this game! It’s a superior game in both quality and fun. Better than the first Christmas Stories? No, but certainly equal to it. Which makes it darn close to Game of the Year.
Love this game! It’s a superior game in both quality and fun. Better than the first Christmas Stories? No, but certainly equal to it. Which makes it darn close to Game of the Year.
I recommend this game!
Alexander the Great: Secrets of Power
It’s up to you, a descendant of the ancient emperor, to collect powerful artifacts and save the world. Dive into the whirlpool of thrilling mysteries to unlock the secrets of ancient power!
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 6 found this review helpful
Ancient Tale In Modern Times
PostedDecember 28, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
What sets this game apart is the finesse with which it tells us an ancient myth in a modern day setting. From the game’s interface to the mode of travel to the smart phone where we keep our notes, everything about this game is very high tech and present day. Yet the story is of Alexander The Great and his (modern day) scions, and a race for the powerful artifacts that gave Alexander his prominent place in history.
What sets this game apart is the finesse with which it tells us an ancient myth in a modern day setting. From the game’s interface to the mode of travel to the smart phone where we keep our notes, everything about this game is very high tech and present day. Yet the story is of Alexander The Great and his (modern day) scions, and a race for the powerful artifacts that gave Alexander his prominent place in history.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
Although the graphics are not widescreen, there is an acceptable wallpaper on the infamous ‘black bars’ on the side, and it all actually looks a part of the interface. The cut scenes are excellent, the graphics quality is good, but the developers have deliberately set some scenes in environments that involve a lot of grainy images. For instance, HOP scenes in among brushwood and stone.
Although the graphics are not widescreen, there is an acceptable wallpaper on the infamous ‘black bars’ on the side, and it all actually looks a part of the interface. The cut scenes are excellent, the graphics quality is good, but the developers have deliberately set some scenes in environments that involve a lot of grainy images. For instance, HOP scenes in among brushwood and stone.
Some scenes can be viewed as 180 degree panoramas, but the choice is yours. Some are deliberately monochromatic, when showing a gloomy interior, for example. Usually these scenes are of modern day ruins, and so you will also see the scene in full colour when you travel back in time (I leave you to find out why and how).
An interesting feature of this game is being able to take screenshots with your smart phone, for use outside as well as inside the game.
The sound effects are often very, very true to the ancient Greek era, but the music did not make an impression on me. The voiceovers were absolutely excellent, unfortunately overused. Loved Alexander in the intro, but I really got fed up with my character’s inane comments which were available on subtitles anyway.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
You receive a package from an aid organisation claiming that they have found very valuable artifacts that belong to you, because you are the scion of Alexander The Great!
You receive a package from an aid organisation claiming that they have found very valuable artifacts that belong to you, because you are the scion of Alexander The Great!
Pretty heady stuff, but you’re game, and so starts an adventure that will take you across the world and through time. Seems you are not the only descendant of Alexander still alive and the others are on the same quest to get the items of power.
MAKING PROGRESS
This is mostly a HOG. There is very little adventure, although you do collect a few inventory items from time to time, and there are some puzzles (easy). You must click hint if you want the instructions for the mini-games. The HOPs are standard word lists, or silhouettes.
This is mostly a HOG. There is very little adventure, although you do collect a few inventory items from time to time, and there are some puzzles (easy). You must click hint if you want the instructions for the mini-games. The HOPs are standard word lists, or silhouettes.
Your smart phone keeps track of your tasks, clues, and information on the legends associated with Alexander The Great – I am pretty sure that is all make-believe though. There is a map, that gives the general location, which the game controls, and then the 3 or 4 locations within it that you can jump between. If you are in the past, however, you are on your own.
FINAL VERDICT
For a standalone SE, this is a very impressive game. Not at all fanciful in the way it looks, it is nevertheless an adventure in the world of myth that would charm any fantasy lover.
For a standalone SE, this is a very impressive game. Not at all fanciful in the way it looks, it is nevertheless an adventure in the world of myth that would charm any fantasy lover.
I recommend this game!
An invitation from your long lost mother leads you to a mysterious facility deep below the Atlantic Ocean.
Overall rating
4
/
5
61 of 75 found this review helpful
Majestic & Involving
PostedDecember 28, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Although not the best graphics I’ve seen lately technically, the intro to this game is superb. The time period is 1920s or 30s, or whenever art deco was the rage, and is very well depicted. The story is set in a fantasy world in which a company offers the rich and famous the ultimate luxury, to be able to step into their dreams.
Although not the best graphics I’ve seen lately technically, the intro to this game is superb. The time period is 1920s or 30s, or whenever art deco was the rage, and is very well depicted. The story is set in a fantasy world in which a company offers the rich and famous the ultimate luxury, to be able to step into their dreams.
You receive an invite to their underwater dream theatre, with the implication that you will finally meet the mother who left you at the orphanage 25 years earlier. There appear to be mysteries within mysteries in this one, and at this early stage there is a sense of ominous possibilities that should have been out of place in a pleasure dome – but it is not.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
As above, the graphics won’t wow you, but there are a lot of well done cut scenes, all excellent and interesting, and there’s a backstory, told with old fashioned movie reels, that is also fun. Other information is sometimes received in diorama form. Objects in the HOPs are clear and colour is good. Plenty of light .
As above, the graphics won’t wow you, but there are a lot of well done cut scenes, all excellent and interesting, and there’s a backstory, told with old fashioned movie reels, that is also fun. Other information is sometimes received in diorama form. Objects in the HOPs are clear and colour is good. Plenty of light .
The sound tracks are also very well suited to the period – dramatically so. I am not a fan of the art deco era, and I am pretty much over the number of games set in this time, but I believe this is perhaps the most faithfully enshrined. Even the narrative voiceovers match the times.
GAMEPLAY
There is an emphasis on HOPs, and they come in 3 types – interactive list, misplaced items and progressive silhouettes. They are not difficult, but the interactive lists are far more interactive than most. Over half the items are originally unavailable, and sometimes the number of steps required to find it is quite a lot. At least, early on. Later HOPs are more standard. Puzzles are colourful and interesting, and relatively easy – so far.
There is an emphasis on HOPs, and they come in 3 types – interactive list, misplaced items and progressive silhouettes. They are not difficult, but the interactive lists are far more interactive than most. Over half the items are originally unavailable, and sometimes the number of steps required to find it is quite a lot. At least, early on. Later HOPs are more standard. Puzzles are colourful and interesting, and relatively easy – so far.
The adventure action is fairly easy too, aided by an interactive jump map and a directional hint. I think a notebook would have been helpful – but it is not quite essential ...
There are a few cute critters around, but they help and leave. Except our pet bot , Atom, who is our personal security system, although what that entails is not immediately obvious. Apparently, we can upgrade our bot so that he can help us in other ways.
At the point where the demo finished, I was trying to find and rescue 5 kittens, for what purpose I know not, other than to stop them crying (the plaintive sound of a distressed kitten is almost too much for this crazy cat lady to bear).
We have peaked into 2 of the 5 dream worlds indicated, so I hope there is more to do in them, or the game won’t have much depth to it. I was a little disappointed that there has been no underwater scenes so far, but the point at which we were left at the demo end makes it a guaranteed cert there’ll be at least one!
CE BLING!
There are 16 collectible roses, which aren’t very well integrated into the game, are about all there is outside the usual gallery items (includes wallpaper, concept art, sketches and movies but not music). There is also a collection of character profiles.
There are 16 collectible roses, which aren’t very well integrated into the game, are about all there is outside the usual gallery items (includes wallpaper, concept art, sketches and movies but not music). There is also a collection of character profiles.
While I was totally absorbed by this game and enjoyed every minute of my hour, the CE extras did not impress me at all, so I will wait for the SE.
I recommend this game!