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
Status:
Find magician Andy Fox and his assistant, who vanished into thin air!
Overall rating
3
/
5
23 of 29 found this review helpful
Pleasant Enough, But Old Hat
PostedJune 18, 2014
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
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
IN BRIEF
This is a nice enough game to play, worth a PCC I think, but it is nothing special. It opens in widescreen but is distorted, and I found, despite the black bars, that the aspect ratio correction improved the look of very pleasant but never stunning graphics. The voiceovers are very impressive. The music is delightfully soothing, unaccompanied piano pieces.
This is a nice enough game to play, worth a PCC I think, but it is nothing special. It opens in widescreen but is distorted, and I found, despite the black bars, that the aspect ratio correction improved the look of very pleasant but never stunning graphics. The voiceovers are very impressive. The music is delightfully soothing, unaccompanied piano pieces.
There is nothing new in this game. The story is that of the magician and his assistant disappearing into his latest contraption, never to be seen again. The machine transports us to another world, in which we find ourselves in the middle of a carnival, with the requisite circus, gypsy story teller and dwarf. Magician’s tricks are revealed. The disappearees continue to elude us. It seems that someone involved in the case has nefarious designs on our girlfriend, the assistant. The story is a little patchy, with strange connections popping up without due process, as one (if they were me in a legal frame of mind) might say.
The gameplay is standard HOPA of the earlier style. HOPs are word lists with a small amount of limited interaction. Some are visited twice. The puzzles are nothing new. Not difficult. Skip and hint are fast on the easier of two levels of difficulties. Hint is directional, and there is no map. The journal is useful, with information you will need recorded there. The adventure action is straight forward and fairly obvious.
Nothing at all to pull you in, yet I left the demo with only 8 minutes to go, so I was being entertained enough to keep going.
In a word, pleasant. But I do so wish to see an end to carnivals, gypsies, and their dwarves!
I recommend this game!
Compete in a famous TV show and become a renowned chef! Help Juliana win the big Gourmet Chef Challenge: Around the World competition.
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 9 found this review helpful
Um, Well, I Liked It!
PostedJune 18, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
IN BRIEF
This is an interactive HOP game. Not to be confused in any way whatsoever with a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure. Once you accept that, this game is quite appealing!
This is an interactive HOP game. Not to be confused in any way whatsoever with a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure. Once you accept that, this game is quite appealing!
It is pretty to look at, with cartoony, slightly skewed, but bold colourful graphics. It has upbeat (and I found pleasantly comical) music, and even ambient sound for atmosphere! There dialogue is all black bar, but it’s easily skipped through and for the most part obvious.
There is a timer! For everything. So that loses a lot of people I know, me included, because I can’t win for long at games where “time is of the essence”. Each location presents you with a timed HOP scene with a list of ingredients to find, points awarded for speed, and stars awarded for points. You must get 3 stars to open up the 2nd level of challenge in each location. I didn’t get 3 stars for any level at all.
There is NO skip! I was in deep water here! Some of the mini-games are arcade-style speed clickers, and I can’t manage them at all. So this is not a game that I can play. But those of you with better reflexes would find it pretty simple I think. You can go on even if you fail at a mini-game, but you cannot unlock the next level within that location until you beat the game.
As well as opening up extra levels in each location, completing locations opens up new ones as well.
I had fun. It is refreshingly different. It might appeal to players who lean more to the Time Management style of game, but are looking for something a little unusual.
I recommend this game!
The runestone that has protected the town of Neverville for centuries has disappeared. Now, the evil necromancer Grimhall is threatening its people. Can you save them from this grim fate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
51 of 76 found this review helpful
Excellent PCC Purchase – Standalone SE!
PostedJune 15, 2014
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
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
IN BRIEF
A great look to this excellent standalone Standard Edition game. The graphics are clear and clean, with art that is quite lovely to look at without getting too whimsical. I could have asked for a character who looked less like an adolescent’s dream date, though, and that sort of thing normally just washes straight over me. The intro is well done. I loved the wolf spirit. And the rocking of the train.
A great look to this excellent standalone Standard Edition game. The graphics are clear and clean, with art that is quite lovely to look at without getting too whimsical. I could have asked for a character who looked less like an adolescent’s dream date, though, and that sort of thing normally just washes straight over me. The intro is well done. I loved the wolf spirit. And the rocking of the train.
The voices are all good. Well acted, if a little drawn out occasionally. The music is forgettable (which means, can’t remember anything at all!), and the sounds likewise failed to make any specific impression, other than that the gloomy atmosphere ‘felt’ right to all senses. This is a fairly dark game, but I don’t think it is too hard to see, and I wouldn’t exactly call it creepy. But it is certainly not a comfortable place to be for a “Guardian of Neverville.”
That’s us, by the way. Valerie, daughter of Cygnus Rastlin, protector and guardian of the town, currently MIA after following an evil necromancer into an equally evil fog. We must find Dad, the stolen Runestone of Light that is the town’s protection, defeat the necromancer, and the thief who took the Runestone, deal with the betrayal of someone close, and all before dinner! Okay, I added the dinner bit. But you can see you have a lot on your plate!
The gameplay is nice. There are many more puzzles than HOPs, they are everywhere. Mostly they are slightly different tangents on known games, but I had a lot of trouble finishing more than one. The HOPs are standard word lists, no interaction, but, here’s one for the puzzlers – you can skip it in the same way as any other puzzle. You still have hint, if you want. The HOP scenes are visited twice.
There is a hint that is a real hint – and if it will take you away from your current location, it will teleport you. This replaces the totally absent journal and map. There are 3 levels of difficulty.
There is no inventory lock, and I missed having one.
COMBINED IMPACT
Great game. Perfect for a punchcard credit, or I’d even pay real $$ for this one. Nicely put together and fun.
Great game. Perfect for a punchcard credit, or I’d even pay real $$ for this one. Nicely put together and fun.
I recommend this game!
Uncover the true cause of the disturbances and track down the disappeared townspeople before darkness falls on Middleport forever!
Overall rating
3
/
5
44 of 61 found this review helpful
Nice Stand-alone SE
PostedJune 11, 2014
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
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The game is low key and classy from the start, with minimalist but extremely nice graphics and a simply told start to the story. The music is wonderful. Just interesting enough, with a lot of style and a soothing melody. Not at all the spectacular high jinks of the “mega” HOPA games. And nice because of that.
The game is low key and classy from the start, with minimalist but extremely nice graphics and a simply told start to the story. The music is wonderful. Just interesting enough, with a lot of style and a soothing melody. Not at all the spectacular high jinks of the “mega” HOPA games. And nice because of that.
I would have wished for greater and better animations, they brought the tone down a little. But the voiceovers (nice to see in a lesser production) are fabulous, and very amusing if you take them to be stereotypes of the characters portrayed.
The HOPs are clear, if a little ordinary. With images of the objects pasted in. I dislike that, but it is a low budget game after all.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
You are an Inspector (from the Society of Sceptics), sent to Middleport to investigate a series of disappearances and tales of supernatural shenanigans and creatures. You are met by the Mayor, who welcomes you but seems a little distracted. Then you are on your own, trying to get your bearings. One of the first people you meet is a famous magician, upset that there is no audience for his grand performance tonight, and gypsy psychic type who offers to help you with spiritual guidance.
You are an Inspector (from the Society of Sceptics), sent to Middleport to investigate a series of disappearances and tales of supernatural shenanigans and creatures. You are met by the Mayor, who welcomes you but seems a little distracted. Then you are on your own, trying to get your bearings. One of the first people you meet is a famous magician, upset that there is no audience for his grand performance tonight, and gypsy psychic type who offers to help you with spiritual guidance.
GAMEPLAY
It is for the most part standard HOPA gameplay. Not all that many HOPs I thought. Plus familiar puzzles. Nothing exciting or new here, but comfortably within the right territory. HOPs are world lists with some interactivity. From the first, the word lists include multiple numbers of some items. As far as I saw, there is no returning to these scenes. Adventure gameplay makes logical sense without being linear. And the gypsy’s insights are fun. The game also sections off some parts from the others in order to force you to work in the areas required for progress. It was nicely done.
It is for the most part standard HOPA gameplay. Not all that many HOPs I thought. Plus familiar puzzles. Nothing exciting or new here, but comfortably within the right territory. HOPs are world lists with some interactivity. From the first, the word lists include multiple numbers of some items. As far as I saw, there is no returning to these scenes. Adventure gameplay makes logical sense without being linear. And the gypsy’s insights are fun. The game also sections off some parts from the others in order to force you to work in the areas required for progress. It was nicely done.
The journal is more than usually useful. The map (interactive and it jumps. It also gives cleared locations.) is inside it, which is a pity. So are the notes of the story. There is specific additional and helpful information about some of the items you pick up, so it is worth keeping up with it. There is also a guide to the 11 collectible animals you can find around. These unfortunately look like cardboard cut outs, added after completion and are very obvious. Less obvious but still fairly easy to find are the 18 collectible statues. And finally, there are also 44 Missing posters to collect.
There are 3 levels of difficulty plus a custom option. Hint is fast for the easy levels, skip not so much.
COMBINED IMPACT
I’m not going to dance a jig over this game. It is nice, though, and a quiet afternoon spent with it would, I believe, be a pleasure.
I’m not going to dance a jig over this game. It is nice, though, and a quiet afternoon spent with it would, I believe, be a pleasure.
I recommend this game!
In a race against time, Emily and company must solve the riddle of the book or Emily will be forever lost within its confines!
Overall rating
4
/
5
61 of 97 found this review helpful
Classic iHOG Meets Modern Expectations
PostedJune 9, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
IMPRESSIONS
This is not a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) like that which we see most often here, but a purely Hidden Object game, with some dressing up with puzzles and story for added entertainment. So it doesn’t start off with a spectacular car wreck or wild and stormy weather, but a simple story of a woman who has found a magic book in the Antique Shop, left to her by her Uncle.
This is not a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) like that which we see most often here, but a purely Hidden Object game, with some dressing up with puzzles and story for added entertainment. So it doesn’t start off with a spectacular car wreck or wild and stormy weather, but a simple story of a woman who has found a magic book in the Antique Shop, left to her by her Uncle.
The game looks quite good. Nicely done art, I thought, along realism lines. Many items are far too small, however, and too many scenes are of the outside – always difficult to search. The music is classy, and relaxing. The cursor is a major drag – literally and figuratively. The drag was the worst I’ve ever encountered, but there is a slider to correct it. Unfortunately, even at maximum correction, mine still lagged a little. There is the choice also of a system cursor.
The game is also not widescreen, but does have panels of appropriate wallpaper – that clashed, for my tastes.
This is a direct sequel, and I must say that if story was really important in this game, the back history was not handled all that well. But story is just for decoration. The game doesn’t follow a coherent logical line, but skips all over the place between visions, places we have been to and places we’ve yet to see, with little rhyme or reason.
GAMEPLAY
The game’s structure is Classic HOG. Each step forward in the story is marked by a HO scene. Once complete, it unlocks another, and/or a simple puzzle. And usually more talk. The new scenes are presented postcard like in our journal. This takes us to the only allowable destination on each occasion.
The game’s structure is Classic HOG. Each step forward in the story is marked by a HO scene. Once complete, it unlocks another, and/or a simple puzzle. And usually more talk. The new scenes are presented postcard like in our journal. This takes us to the only allowable destination on each occasion.
The talk is plentiful. Far too much if you are not trying to keep up with the story – and I gave up trying to do that because it was so all-over-the-place. It was done beautifully though. The lead character’s voice is lovely to listen to and eminently suited to the times. The others Are equally pleasantly exotic.
Each HO scene has a word list of required items, and includes a smaller Close Up scene, which is fun. It has its own mini-list of objects to be found, and it also has a minimal capacity to be looked at 3 dimensionally, wiggling it about with the aid of arrows on the sides. This tiny skill is necessary to find all the objects on the shorter list.
There is also in each general location a “soul object” which is required to release the tormented souls in the book. Once it is found, whether you have found all the items on the list or not, the scene is complete.
There are little puzzles straight out of the classic iHOGs of years ago – word find, spot the difference, match 3, and find silhouettes – interspersed among the HOs. The scenes are repeated, but with either a magnifier or a light, or a special monocle (?) that shows up invisible items.
There is a hint which is unlimited and quick to refill. There is a clock on the ‘dash’ that indicates your time zone’s actual time, not a timer, and is there, I assume, in case you get carried away *wink*.
COMBINED IMPACT
I am not a fan of the classic HOG game. But this, I recognize, is a very nicely done version. It meets the modern need for quality art and variation, while remaining loyal to the idea and framework of the Classics. For fans, and I know there are many, I think this is a winner.
I am not a fan of the classic HOG game. But this, I recognize, is a very nicely done version. It meets the modern need for quality art and variation, while remaining loyal to the idea and framework of the Classics. For fans, and I know there are many, I think this is a winner.
I recommend this game!
Is Martha really a werewolf - or has she been wrongly accused?
Overall rating
4
/
5
43 of 67 found this review helpful
Good Solid Addition To A Solid Series
PostedJune 5, 2014
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
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Excellent start. The cut scene animations are great. The pace exciting, and the mood much darker than the previous Shadow Wolf games.
Excellent start. The cut scene animations are great. The pace exciting, and the mood much darker than the previous Shadow Wolf games.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
The early video clips are really something special, using both 2D and 3D art to create realistically savage wolves, who then bow down to an even more terrifying werewolf designed to give you nightmares. I’m impressed. The fire wolves are beautiful, but this is no sweet little ‘rabbit’ game. The music fits in well with the scenes, but I do hear a hint of the old ERS tunes sneaking back in. Don’t do it guys! The voices are well done and intonation is excellent. The screams and howls and other ambient sounds from dogs and cats and nasty old owls are all good too.
The early video clips are really something special, using both 2D and 3D art to create realistically savage wolves, who then bow down to an even more terrifying werewolf designed to give you nightmares. I’m impressed. The fire wolves are beautiful, but this is no sweet little ‘rabbit’ game. The music fits in well with the scenes, but I do hear a hint of the old ERS tunes sneaking back in. Don’t do it guys! The voices are well done and intonation is excellent. The screams and howls and other ambient sounds from dogs and cats and nasty old owls are all good too.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
A detective who by now must be the most experienced wolf investigator ever, you are called in on another case involving wolves and suspected werewolves. The issue doesn’t stay cloudy for long. On arrival, you are greeted by above mentioned savage wolves, who immediately cower and slink away when a huge werewolf appears on the roof. There are many threatening creatures around you, more dark than most ERS games, but I like that there are moments where the game simply laughs at its dire pretensions.
A detective who by now must be the most experienced wolf investigator ever, you are called in on another case involving wolves and suspected werewolves. The issue doesn’t stay cloudy for long. On arrival, you are greeted by above mentioned savage wolves, who immediately cower and slink away when a huge werewolf appears on the roof. There are many threatening creatures around you, more dark than most ERS games, but I like that there are moments where the game simply laughs at its dire pretensions.
The story is a little confusing. At the moment, I seem to be suspecting everyone of being a werewolf, and all of them as victims. You are definitely going to need those detective skills of yours to solve this case. Luckily, you’ve brought the latest in cutting edge technology (1897-style) with you to field test it.
GAMEPLAY
What are you testing? An analyser that identifies unknown substances. When you receive some unknown ‘stuff’ into inventory, open the analyser and put the muck in it. Ask a few simple if stupid questions about the substance, and get your answer. You’ll then discover that is exactly what you needed most!
What are you testing? An analyser that identifies unknown substances. When you receive some unknown ‘stuff’ into inventory, open the analyser and put the muck in it. Ask a few simple if stupid questions about the substance, and get your answer. You’ll then discover that is exactly what you needed most!
There is another new technique we use in this case. On greeting each new character, we keenly observe them using our magnifier, and find pieces of evidence – blood-stains on clothes, missing jewellery items, etc. While we are doing this, the character is held in stasis in sepia tones – I guess that symbolises time standing still.
The puzzle component seems to be more HOPs than others, and they are of several sorts. There are find multiple related items (such as metal), progressive silhouettes and replace items. You visit them twice each. As an alternative you can play a matching game which resembles mahjong but is actually a style of game I’ve never seen before. Personally, I found it a bit fiddly and preferred the HOP.
Adventure side is fairly straightforward, I had no real use for the directional hint, although I did use the interactive jump map a few times as a kick starter for my brain. You have a notebook that holds story notes and details of your investigation. There are 3 modes of difficulty. No black bar tips in the hardest. Some of the puzzles have a casual/harder toggle for them. I saw nothing outrageously different, but not boring either.
CE BLING!
The collectibles are simply pieces of evidence – a torn page, a posy of herbal flowers – that take up residence in a nicely displayed section. Each relates to werewolves folklore, and there is info given on it. The achievements are fun. They are the standard, but you have to crack open the rocking shield in front of those you’ve won, discover the figurine underneath, and then look up the creature in the bestiary (book with a paw print on it), where you get a description of its supposed character, strengths and weaknesses. The usual gallery items plus replayables.
The collectibles are simply pieces of evidence – a torn page, a posy of herbal flowers – that take up residence in a nicely displayed section. Each relates to werewolves folklore, and there is info given on it. The achievements are fun. They are the standard, but you have to crack open the rocking shield in front of those you’ve won, discover the figurine underneath, and then look up the creature in the bestiary (book with a paw print on it), where you get a description of its supposed character, strengths and weaknesses. The usual gallery items plus replayables.
COMBINED IMPACT
I enjoyed it. Will certainly buy it. But I’m not over the moon (groan). And I find the way certain concepts seem to coalesce in the minds of a few developers at the same time weird. I’ve just finished a review of an Eipix game, Dead Reckoning, which uses almost the same technique of collecting ‘evidence’ from the person under suspicion. How the heck does that happen?
I enjoyed it. Will certainly buy it. But I’m not over the moon (groan). And I find the way certain concepts seem to coalesce in the minds of a few developers at the same time weird. I’ve just finished a review of an Eipix game, Dead Reckoning, which uses almost the same technique of collecting ‘evidence’ from the person under suspicion. How the heck does that happen?
I recommend this game!
A new fantastic Mahjong adventure awaits you in this epic story of the struggle between good and evil!
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 27 found this review helpful
Time Mgt Game With Mahjong & Elixirs!
PostedJune 2, 2014
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
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
IN BRIEF
Game opens without Full Screen ratio adjustment, so it is skewed on my monitor. That put me off a little up front. The graphics are cartoon of acceptable quality, with the story exposed comic strip style. No voiceover. Total silence. The music and sound are set at zero, so you need to go do the settings yourself. The music is okay but not what I would have chosen for either a Mahjong game or a Time Management game.
And this is definitely both. And an elixir-making game as well. One that is very easy and simple, but which has no explanation of any of the rules.
And up front for those who need to know. There is a timer. You cannot progress in the game without beating it, and I had trouble in the 3rd level (but I am really bad at timed games). That is the storied version. You also have the option of playing any of the boards in the Free Play section of the game, without having to unlock them.
The story is a simple one. You are an ambitious little elf and you have opened a rapidly successful bookshop. Unfortunately, an evil witch heard about it and came looking to steal a book that could be used against dark magic. Luckily, a wise owl took off with the book and the witch was thwarted. But she trashed the bookshop and now you must find your customers’ orders from the disorder, then move on to visit the wise owl.
The shop’s customers come in asking for specific books, which you must find on the piles. They each have 4 little hearts above their choices, and if you don’t get it in time, they go away unsatisfied. If you must remove books not yet wanted they go on a bench until needed, where you must remember to give them to the customer. There are 3 different tile sets to choose from.
The elixirs allow you to see the correct tile matches for the customer, or shuffle. And, I assume, other things. I only got to use one. There are several you can make from recipes in the Book of Good Deeds. This involves a very strange mini-game with Match 3 elements but totally beyond my grasp or understanding. The instructions are of no help. I couldn’t complete the game and there is NO SKIP.
So. Based on my limited ability to play this game, I would have to sadly say it is not a game I would, overall, recommend. Which is a pity. I like games that mix things up a little and take off at a new tangent.
For those who can figure out the puzzle, and enjoy a reasonably challenging time management game, this may well appeal! But...
I don't recommend this game.
After a long journey, Queen Sophia faces her enemy for the last time - but will she succeed in saving her parents?
Overall rating
5
/
5
114 of 155 found this review helpful
Must Have For Me!
PostedMay 31, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
LOVE how the main menu page looks 3D. The intro cut-scene covers the backstory well in just a few words. And then we are straight into the action. New twist on the vehicle accident *wink*.
LOVE how the main menu page looks 3D. The intro cut-scene covers the backstory well in just a few words. And then we are straight into the action. New twist on the vehicle accident *wink*.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
As always, the graphics for the Awakening series are extraordinarily pretty, even when the quality is a leeetle bit off. The colours and imaginative locations, the clear and beautifully detailed objects – all as lovely as ever. The voiceovers continue from the previous games and are all very well done. The music is the signature tune plus a nice variety of others and many of the sound effects are also the same as previously.
As always, the graphics for the Awakening series are extraordinarily pretty, even when the quality is a leeetle bit off. The colours and imaginative locations, the clear and beautifully detailed objects – all as lovely as ever. The voiceovers continue from the previous games and are all very well done. The music is the signature tune plus a nice variety of others and many of the sound effects are also the same as previously.
The trailer at the end of the demo, graphically speaking, was very poor quality.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Our Queen Sophia is still looking to free her parents from the poisoned sleep induced by the evil Dredmyre. Could you enjoy this story without the previous games? I think yes.
Our Queen Sophia is still looking to free her parents from the poisoned sleep induced by the evil Dredmyre. Could you enjoy this story without the previous games? I think yes.
I enjoyed what I did despite not having finished the Awakening 5 game. (I know, shocking isn’t it?) But it would certainly help, since this is the final episode, that you have played the other games and can enjoy the upcoming sense of closure I am so looking forward to. There has been just one too many of these games.
Sophia must find the only blacksmith in the world that can forge the sword she needs to defeat Dredmyre permanently. Of course, everything goes wrong. I shall not say more, for it would spoil the effect, but all most certainly does not go as you’d expect it to. The end of the demo was such that I would have to buy this game just to get past that point emotionally. I say no more.
GAMEPLAY
There is some nicely refreshing gameplay here. The HOPs (21) are interactive list and progressive silhouettes, and the lists have some really clever twists to each of the 2 I completed. The mini-games (43) are also different, but not at all difficult yet. I completed a ‘puzzle board’ styled game without hint or skip, which is probably a first for me.
There is some nicely refreshing gameplay here. The HOPs (21) are interactive list and progressive silhouettes, and the lists have some really clever twists to each of the 2 I completed. The mini-games (43) are also different, but not at all difficult yet. I completed a ‘puzzle board’ styled game without hint or skip, which is probably a first for me.
There is no journal, but a teleporting hint and an interactive jump map that indicates active tasks (on the lowest of 3 difficulty levels), cover most situations. The hint is our friend the owl again, and we still have our pet Pocket Dragon. Tasks are noted as they are added.
The demo only took me 45 minutes, and covered the first 2 chapters of 7.
CE BLING!
The gallery items include wallpapers x12, nice ones. Concept Art & Cut Scenes not available. Music x 12. Achievements, many. Mostly performance based. There are flower stones to collect (45), which can be used in the Garden, and Lilies to collect in there.
The gallery items include wallpapers x12, nice ones. Concept Art & Cut Scenes not available. Music x 12. Achievements, many. Mostly performance based. There are flower stones to collect (45), which can be used in the Garden, and Lilies to collect in there.
The Garden looks pretty cool. Enough for me to buy the CE for the first time with this series. You must buy seeds with your flower stones, collect them with a Match 3-like mini-game, and then combine and plant them in order to create the lilies from recipes. They are fun ones like “laughing lilies. (I didn’t get this from the demo, it was available in the beta) I enjoyed this unusual twist.
COMBINED IMPACT
Well, obviously, I liked it! I think its high points are the anticipation of a satisfying finish. The deeply emotional involvement right from the demo, and the freshness of the gameplay. I also think the bonus game in the Garden works.
Well, obviously, I liked it! I think its high points are the anticipation of a satisfying finish. The deeply emotional involvement right from the demo, and the freshness of the gameplay. I also think the bonus game in the Garden works.
I recommend this game!
Guests keep disappearing from a gimmicky haunted hotel. Is there someone pulling the strings, or are these ghosts actually real?
Overall rating
4
/
5
61 of 87 found this review helpful
James Is The Redeeming Feature
PostedMay 29, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Based on the intro cut-scene alone, I probably wouldn’t buy this game. Yup, it really is that bad. I played the beta for this, and assumed that the appallingly poor quality of graphics was because it was the rough draft. I can’t believe Elephant of all people would allow so many errors and sloppy editing to go through!
Based on the intro cut-scene alone, I probably wouldn’t buy this game. Yup, it really is that bad. I played the beta for this, and assumed that the appallingly poor quality of graphics was because it was the rough draft. I can’t believe Elephant of all people would allow so many errors and sloppy editing to go through!
Add to that my general dislike for steam punk and mechanised puppets, this game really started off badly for me. It improves. But not as much as I’d have liked. The biggest redeeming feature is James, our intelligent and attractive (at some angles) detective friend – better looking than M. Dupin, he has a lovely speaking voice, he is more affectionate (he calls us dear, hope that won’t make the male players feel too uncomfortable!), and, unlike Dupin, he is not shy – there is a wallpaper featuring him!
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
After the shocking intro, the graphics settled down to be only truly amazing again *wink*. It doesn’t matter how many of these games I see, every time I see this level of visual quality I am floored again. It is magic! The images of James are inconsistent, and he looks completely different depending on the angle, but otherwise the art is superb.
After the shocking intro, the graphics settled down to be only truly amazing again *wink*. It doesn’t matter how many of these games I see, every time I see this level of visual quality I am floored again. It is magic! The images of James are inconsistent, and he looks completely different depending on the angle, but otherwise the art is superb.
The music really, really annoyed me. It is dramatic and interesting, yes, but too much so, and I usually like interesting music. Ambience was nothing special, but the voice work was excellently done.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Inventor/mechanic Abraham Shadowy (yeah, I know) takes over a supposedly haunted hotel, to much controversy, but soon asks our detective friend James for help, because his guests start going missing. Yet, on arrival, he is not there to meet us, and when we find our own way in, he announces that James was invited, but his assistant (us) wasn’t! Huh! I suspect his motives. Could it be he hoped to lure James here under false pretences?
Inventor/mechanic Abraham Shadowy (yeah, I know) takes over a supposedly haunted hotel, to much controversy, but soon asks our detective friend James for help, because his guests start going missing. Yet, on arrival, he is not there to meet us, and when we find our own way in, he announces that James was invited, but his assistant (us) wasn’t! Huh! I suspect his motives. Could it be he hoped to lure James here under false pretences?
Was that the allegedly missing scientist Shadowy just dragged through into the secret room? And why exactly are we NOT following? There are some great creepy moments in this one, and even this early there are scenes I just love to look at. Knives defying gravity in the dining room? THAT’S not my imagination!
GAMEPLAY
The gameplay is stock standard. HOPs with interactive word lists, beautifully done, but no variety there. The puzzles are also very cleverly and attractively woven into the story, but are not original in concept. There is a notebook, task list, interactive jump map, and teleporting hint. There are 3 levels of difficult but no custom options. You have a tiny mechanised scarab beetle to get into tricky places. None of this is going to jump out at you and say “Wow!”
The gameplay is stock standard. HOPs with interactive word lists, beautifully done, but no variety there. The puzzles are also very cleverly and attractively woven into the story, but are not original in concept. There is a notebook, task list, interactive jump map, and teleporting hint. There are 3 levels of difficult but no custom options. You have a tiny mechanised scarab beetle to get into tricky places. None of this is going to jump out at you and say “Wow!”
CE BLING!
The bling! also doesn’t scream fantastic either, and is a little disappointing compared to Elephant’s usual. We have gallery items of course: wallpapers x 9, concept art x 9, music x 4, screensaver x 1.
The bling! also doesn’t scream fantastic either, and is a little disappointing compared to Elephant’s usual. We have gallery items of course: wallpapers x 9, concept art x 9, music x 4, screensaver x 1.
There are only about 9 achievements – performance based. And about the same number of collectible Egyptian canubic jars. Again, nothing much, unless I missed a set of morphing objects or something.
COMBINED IMPACT
This is still an above average game, so it gets its four stars, but it is not the game I expected it to be.
This is still an above average game, so it gets its four stars, but it is not the game I expected it to be.
I recommend this game!
This city is clamping down on candy cravings by outlawing sweet snacks! Solve a series of quirky cases by gathering clues, tracking down witnesses, and questioning suspects to reveal the truth behind this city’s sugarcoated secret. This is a case too sweet to turn down!
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 11 found this review helpful
Very Original
PostedMay 27, 2014
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
IN BRIEF
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It looks very cartoony, I know. In this case, that’s a plus. This is a fun little game with a combination of gameplay I’ve not seen before, with a light-hearted “story” frame that keeps everything very simple. I love the way this game looks. It is cute in a non-pretty way.
It looks very cartoony, I know. In this case, that’s a plus. This is a fun little game with a combination of gameplay I’ve not seen before, with a light-hearted “story” frame that keeps everything very simple. I love the way this game looks. It is cute in a non-pretty way.
Different from anything we are used to. I like the voiceovers speaking some gobbledy gook language, although I don’t understand why they do. I hate the ‘music’. Unbelievably repetitious in the way that only time management games can do – and this is not one of those.
I’ve been trying really hard to resist the siren call of these so-called Free To Play games on principle, but they are slowly eroding my will power. It is clear to me that the very best game ideas are being channelled into this genre of games.
In this case, we live in a city where candy has been criminalised, and we are a detective building our agency from the ground up, starting with cat rescue cases. To play, we must interview suspects, which is done by playing a puzzle game that reminds me of Azkend. You must link adjoining symbols in a grid to eliminate them and accumulate enough of each type to ‘interview’ witnesses.
This in turn produces individual object tiles – for example, photos or maps – that we need to solve the case. Once we have passed this test, we will get to choose 3 questions from a predetermined set to help eliminate suspects. For example, Woman or man? Once all bar the villain are eliminated, you can choose to solve the case by announcing the guilty party.
Some cases are searching for missing things such as a cat or a donut shop. This involves some similar gameplay but also a series of 3 clues as to its whereabouts. For example, more than 3 tiles from the post office. Solving small cases unlocks more serious investigations. As you progress, time limits and/or move limits increase the difficulty.
You do not get to choose the direction your progress takes, or any aspect of the game as far as I could see, except dressing up your avatar and your office. Which you do by spending $$ and candies on it. And of course, there is the provision for buying time or moves to speed up your progress.
I don’t know how far you’d get without money in this one. I found I was failing to meet the moves criteria almost at once. But perhaps with a little practice...
COMBINED IMPACT
Will I play it? I don’t know. But it is worth a look at if you like puzzles and/or detective stories. It is refreshingly different.