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:
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
In A Word, Dull
PostedJune 25, 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
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
Off we go to rescue our twin sister again, who of course lives in the spooky family mansion. Our parents have been killed, murdered, or have they? The opening cutscenes for this game are a bit long-winded, but it is a good introduction to the STORY, which only unfolds as we progress through the game. Although it involves the twin sisters from the original Haunted Manor game, it is not a sequel.
The VISUALS are clear and light, but difficult to describe. The GRAPHICS seem as though they’ve been painted in OIL, with a thick brush. There is a definite TEXTURE to them, and they are quite interesting. But they are far TOO MONOCHROMATIC for my taste, I never knew there were so many different shades of brown and grey! Oh, and NO WIDESCREEN option, so the images were noticeably stretched.
The BAD GUY is REALLY well done.
The MUSIC, as with the first game, is DISTINCTIVE. Choir-like VOICES, REQUIEM-style tracks. Very WELL DONE, but it overshadowed any AMBIENT sound there may have been.
The game is MOSTLY ADVENTURE with a lot of HOS, in the form of INTERACTIVE LISTS. Items are generally clearly visible and the scenes are not too cluttered. Each scene is visited TWICE. In the final moments of the game, they are all revisited again, in a kind of TOUR OF THE GAME, to wrap everything up. Normally I quite like this, but there are 12 HOS to visit, one after the other, and it IS the third time.
PUZZLES are FEW and generally NOT TOO DIFFICULT, but some are DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE, and I, at least, had to skip. SKIP is QUICK. HINT is Very. Very. Slow. It is DIRECTIONAL outside HOS, except near the end of the game, where it reverts to “look elsewhere” comments.
The ADVENTURE component ANNOYED me. I was forever TOING & FROING, NO MAP, and often at a loss as to what to do next. There was just so much ground to cover, it was impossible to keep track of where everything was, so too much time was spent looking for the “lock that needed that key”.
Playing this game dragged a bit. I needed to get help too often, and the monotony of colour didn’t help. Not a favourite, not even an also-ran, but it is okay, I guess.
I don't recommend this game.
Enter the abandoned hotel and find your missing twin!
Overall rating
3
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Just Like A Movie
PostedJune 24, 2013
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
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
I really surprised myself by thoroughly enjoying this game. From the demo, I expected lots of HOS with ‘cut & paste” GRAPHICS (which I generally dislike) and not much else. In fact, there is a lot MORE ADVENTURE than HOS & PUZZLES. And the STORY is INVOLVING.
The STORY runs along familiar lines. We must save our brother from an UNSPECIFIED EVIL FORCE. We find ourselves searching an ABANDONED HOTEL looking for answers.
There is a lot of ground to cover, and many locations: the hotel, the gardens and a swamp are just some. There is also lots of activity within each LOCATION, and we will return to all of them several times.
Unfortunately, we DON’T have a MAP or a JOURNAL, so we’re on our own about where to go next. Luckily, HINT is VERY HELPFUL outside HOS, giving the item you need and its location.
Some of the CUT SCENES are great. They are OLD MOVIE in style, and many are DEFINITELY CREEPY. But others that take on a more familiar style seem very poor quality. Still, the good ones are in the majority. Accompanying the CREEPY VISUALS are some REALLY SCARY AMBIENT SOUNDS and some UNIQUELY EERIE MUSIC.
Early on, there are a LOT of HO SCENES. These are LISTS with NO INTERACTION OR ANIMATION. Despite that, they are still enjoyable to play. The CUT & PASTE GRAPHICS are very clear and crisp, and realistic. Objects are easy to see. As the game progresses, the number of HOS dwindles, but near the finish, we will revisit the early ones.
PUZZLES & MINI-GAMES are RARE, but INTERESTING. I had to skip a few. A lot of time is spent finding necessary items for our inventory. Some inventory items can be COMBINED.
We are also COLLECTING the 30 or so INFO PAGES which not only give you BACKSTORY, but also REQUIRED INFO needed for potions etc. These are kept as an “INFO” menu rather than a journal.
This is, I think an EXCELLENT LOW BUDGET game. While there are no bells and whistles, the QUALITY of the GAMEPLAY makes them UNNECESSARY.
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover the truth before you become the next page in the killer’s diary?
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 14 found this review helpful
Hazy Days Under Italian Skies
PostedJune 24, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED CE GAME
This game takes us to the Italian countryside and the estate of the wealthy CONTI family. It seems the maid has found a KILLER’S DIARY, and that 3 women have already been killed. The STORY continues as we work our way through each of the 3 Conti brothers’ personal rooms in search of a MURDERER. But a lot is left unsaid, all is not what it seems, and the only EVIDENCE we find are CORPSES.
Much is implied in this story, and it’s a good idea to check the NOTEBOOK regularly, or the tale just kind of runs off without you. But it is a GOOD STORY and well worth the bother.
This game offers a GOOD BALANCE of HOS & PUZZLES, leaning more towards the puzzle side, but it is also VERY MUCH an ADVENTURE game. There are many things that must be found, fixed and unlocked by good old fashioned point-and-click.
The HOS come in 3 types, MULTIPLES, PROGRESSIVE SILHOUETTES & INTERACTIVE LISTS. Each scene is visited twice. Within each HOS are 2 COLLECTIBLE FANS, these give you EXTRA HINTS. If you miss them the first time, they will still be there for the second visit.
Also COLLECTIBLE are GOLD COINS, but you need these for items you must buy in GIOVANNI’S SHOP. If you’ve played the other Grim Facade games, you’ll recognise the family resemblance. I like that the store is more than a simple buying of a couple of items this time. Giovanni has a jukebox and a pinball machine which we’ll make good use of.
As you’d expect, the GRAPHICS look GREAT, and can’t be faulted (unless you’re into photo realism I guess). The HOS are CLEAR and the OBJECTS cleverly but fairly hidden.
The ATMOSPHERE of this game is SUPER. The AMBIENT SOUNDS plus the sunlit LOCATIONS give an excellent impression of lazy hot afternoons under an azure Italian sky. Some of the MUSIC is great, some less so. All of it becomes repetitious eventually.
The ending is final enough, although you may be a bit confused by it. Motivation is not at all clear. This is partially answered by the CE BONUS CHAPTER, but not completely. So I don’t think that this is any less of a game, and I think it’s BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY.
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover the truth before you become the next page in the killer’s diary?
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Wine, Women & Madness
PostedJune 24, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
This is the second in the Grim Facade series, and differs significantly from the first, although superficially this is not obvious.
It is an ERS game, so the GRAPHICS have a HAND-DRAWN WATERCOLOUR look, are CLEAR, DETAILED and BEAUTIFUL to look at. I didn’t much enjoy the MUSIC but the AMBIENT SOUND was GREAT.
But it is NOT primarily an HO game. It does have 3 types of HOS, MULTIPLES OF, INTERACTIVE LISTS & PROGRESSIVE SILHOUETTES (get this to do that...). But there are more PUZZLES than usual, with some INTERESTING NEW TWISTS thrown in, and a FAIRLY EASY ADVENTURE component, that constitutes are LARGE part of the GAMEPLAY.
There is NO MAP which is a shame, because the locations do get a bit confusing at times, and there is a certain amount of BACKTRACKING involved. HINT is the standard unhelpful “try elsewhere”. You COLLECT beautiful fans for EXTRA HINTS. And COLLECTIBLE COINS are needed to purchase items from the local store, and PROGRESS in the game. There is a NOTEBOOK as well, but it’s not very helpful with GAMEPLAY. And the SG is GOOD, going into quite a lot of detail where necessary to explain a puzzle.
The STORY gets more INTRIGUING as you go along. You are brought in to discover if there is a MURDERER on the Conti Estate, in the Italian wine growing region. The maid gives you what appears to be the DIARY of a KILLER, which says there are 3 women dead already. All signs suggest the murderer is one of the three Conti brothers.
You do indeed turn up bodies, and the story flows well, but flashes of a scene involving the father and his sons make the investigation seem even more INTERESTING and UNEXPECTED. The telling of this tale is UNUSUAL, because those flashes are all the insight we get into the goings on at the estate. It would have been nice to be able to replay these CUTSCENES, because I was a bit confused about the facts throughout the game, right up to and including the final scene. The NOTEBOOK offers little, but is all the further explanation you get.
BONUS CONTENT
The BONUS CHAPTER EXPLAINS all that has led up to the ENDING of the main game. It is quite LENGTHY & ENJOYABLE, and uses NEW LOCATIONS. However, there are more HOS than PUZZLES here, and the HOS are all INTERACTIVE LISTS. Again, the STORY is not obvious, you must work out a lot from the little you get, and at the end I still have questions.
As well as the SG, we have the usual GALLERY of WALLPAPERS, SCREENSAVERS, CONCEPT ART & MUSIC.
Originally, this was my least favourite of the Grim Facade series, but IT GROWS on you, and this my third playing, I really enjoyed it.
Would I buy the SE or the CE? I think, weighing everything, this is a BETTER BUY as a STANDARD EDITION.
I recommend this game!
The evil Alura is back, and this time she’s attacking your homeland!
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 85 found this review helpful
Another Exceptional Fantasy Tale
PostedJune 23, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I disliked both previous games in this series, but I try to keep an open mind, you never know when a developer will suddenly, well, develop – new ideas or skills. This game is DEFINITELY a major IMPROVEMENT on those earlier games. In fact, it is EXCEPTIONAL.
The STORY follows on from the others, with our hero RETURNING to his kingdom, only to find it being DEVASTATED by ALURA, our arch-enemy.
But a head on battle is not the course to take. Instead, we TRAVEL BACK IN TIME in an effort to PREVENT her TURNING to EVIL. Her mother’s MAGICAL AMULETS (4) will help prevent this catastrophe, if we can get them in time. And there is a hint of romance in the air. A delightful FANTASY TALE, with lots of MAGIC, and IMAGINATION.
The GRAPHICS are SUPERB, COLOURFUL & PRECISE, with just a touch of MAGICAL WEIRDNESS. The MUSIC is also VERY GOOD, and the AMBIENT SOUND is WONDERFUL.
The HO SCENES are REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL. They come in MANY TYPES. Just in the demo, we have INTERACTIVE LISTS, SILHOUETTES, MISPLACED ITEMS, & make-something-with-stuff-from-this-area. There are also HOS that cannot be unlocked until you find MULTIPLES OF, and FRAGMENTED OBJECT HOS.
The variety of HO types alone makes the game a TREAT.
The PUZZLES are BALANCED fairly evenly with the HOS, and are not too difficult, but interesting, and again, IMAGINATIVELY done, with a few NEW ones as well.
The ADVENTURE GAMEPLAY seems FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, and you have a JOURNAL, an INTERACTIVE JUMP MAP, and a HINT that JUMPS you to the suggested area. EXCELLENT!
The game is a DECENT LENGTH, with an INTRODUCTION I did not complete in the hour demo, plus 5 MORE CHAPTERS.
FANTASY, BEAUTY & VARIETY, just about an unbeatable combination.
I recommend this game!
Hop aboard to cross the border between life and death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
144 of 164 found this review helpful
DELIGHTFULLY DIFFERENT!
PostedJune 22, 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
5
/
5
BASED ON FULL DEMO
Well, this is DELIGHTFULLY DIFFERENT alright. Not only are we dealing with a culture not known to many of us, but the GAMEPLAY is different too. And it has that rarer-than-hen’s-teeth treasure, (wry) HUMOUR.
This is a HOPA, don’t worry about that, but it is unusual in the TYPE OF PUZZLES offered. They are decidedly ARCADE – LIKE, without being so difficult or time-consuming as to put people like me who are no good at them off. Yes, I skipped some, but only because I was so anxious to see as much as possible within the demo. The sort of things I am talking about are: SHOOT CANNON CORRECTLY, click WITHIN THE GREEN SECTION to progress, pop the balls by MATCH 3.
The HO SCENES are more traditional. They are INTERACTIVE LISTS, and are visited twice. The OBJECTS are VERY CLEAR and the COLOURS & LIGHTING are EXCELLENT.
So far, I have had no difficulty with finding my way around, but there is a INTERACTIVE JUMP MAP, a VERY HELPFUL HINT that actually says “Let’s go to...” and gives directional arrows as well. I love our TRAVELLING COMPANION, the GUIDE TO THE WORLD OF THE DEAD. He offers us hints and background information and is keeping a JOURNAL we will find very handy.
The SG is very attractive and easy to read. However, what I saw suggests it may not be overly useful. I reserve judgement on that.
In general, the GRAPHICS are very WELL DONE. I’d rate them about 4/5. They are NOT SPECTACULAR, but they are interesting, clear, with a touch of surreal. The scenes are so far set in DAYLIGHT and are COLOURFUL.
The MUSIC is sometimes GREAT, sometimes SO-SO. VOICEOVERS are EXCELLENT, I don't believe the accents are meant to be taken seriously.
There are OODLES of COLLECTIBLES, ACHIEVEMENTS & TROPHIES. Collect DECORATED SKULLS for your TROPHY ROOM, where they will give you a BONUS in the form of a CONCEPT ART SKETCH! Very COOL IDEA.
Collect POSTERS to get INFORMATION about the DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL and an ACHIEVEMENT in your ACHIEVEMENT ROOM.
EXTRAS INCLUDE:
COLLECTIBLES, TROPHIES & ACHIEVEMENTS, STRATEGY GUIDE, as above, plus UNLOCKABLE ARCADE MINI GAMES, and the USUAL GALLERY ITEMS.
NB: I DID NOT SEE ANY BONUS CHAPTER ANYWHERE
Well, bonus chapter or no, this game offers a FRESH APPROACH and I’m looking forward to it.
I recommend this game!
Become the fabled detective and rescue the Final Cinderella from the evil Godmother's clutches!
Overall rating
5
/
5
62 of 70 found this review helpful
Save The Last Dance For Me...
PostedJune 21, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON ONE HOUR DEMO
The fifth Dark Parable in the series, this one follows the formula of the others, a delightfully told REWORK of classic FAIRY TALES into a new and more grownup-friendly story. In this, we find CINDERELLA being stalked by the WICKED QUEEN, but lo! There is more than one Cinderella, and the queen has got her hands on all but the LAST ONE. Near the end of the demo, you will also meet a charming young man from a totally different fairy tale.
This is a FRAGMENTED HIDDEN OBJECT game, where you compose BEAUTIFUL OBJETS D’ART out of their FOUND PIECES. The GRAPHICS are AMAZING, and the CREATIVITY that’s gone into designing these objects is incredible. Usually, the pieces are EASY to see, because the scenes are so CLEARLY drawn, WELL LIT and drenched in colour.
The PUZZLES did not strike me as overly difficult, and play second fiddle in any case to the HO SCENES. There is not much in the way of ADVENTURE GAMEPLAY.
There is a INTERACTIVE MAP, but no jump function. NO JOURNAL. HINT is DIRECTIONAL.
Even in this STANDARD EDITION, there are COLLECTIBLES.
• 45 Parable pieces, which give you interesting twisted fairy tales set on beautiful cards that constitute the BACKSTORY.
• Royal Clothing – 4 pieces each for the previous Cinderellas . What purpose these will serve is unknown.
One thing I really liked, the CAMEO MOMENTS of past Dark Parables characters. This and the teaser at the end are part of the TRADITION of Dark Parables and I always look forward to them.
The DEMO covers the first two of ten chapters, and the game looks to be a DECENT LENGTH, but not so long as to get wearisome.
EXPERTS, I didn’t really see a lot of challenge in this for you.
I recommend this game!
Solve a murder in the world famous Eastville Opera House! The Queen of Drama, Dolores Molinero has been killed and the suspect is still at large.
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
HO Gamers, Don’t Be Put Off ***
PostedJune 20, 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
4
/
5
BASED ON (ALMOST) COMPLETED GAME
Thought I’d get this in before the start of the day elsewhere... because this really is a much underestimated game, well worth the cost of today’s DAILY DEAL.
It is MOSTLY a HO game, there are heaps of them, and they are all STATIC SCENES with NON-INTERACTIVE LISTS, and a few MULTIPLES OF. We visit each only once.
There are plenty of PUZZLES too. These are generally straightforward, although I’ve had to skip a few. The thing that makes this game seem PRIMITIVE is the lack of any real ADVENTURE GAMEPLAY. I know that won’t bother MOST HO GAMERS.
Other reviewers have complained about the GRAPHICS, but I found them SURPRISINGLY GOOD photo-realistic “copy and paste” style (usually an automatic turn off for me, but they look good in this game). There is plenty of colour and variety. They are geared to widescreen, so no distortion.
The other most popular beef is the large amount of NON-VOICED WRITTEN DIALOGUE. Yup, there’s an awful lot of it, but it gives us our only handle on the progress of the investigation, and keeps the STORY in our mind. Necessary, because there is no journal. And it’s SKIPPABLE.
A couple of the things I liked are:
The way each chapter begins with a SHADOW PLAY of the latest drama in the case, with side panels as the curtains, and film grain on the screen.
The interesting RELATIONSHIPS and CHARACTERS in the investigation, and the intelligent questions asked by the investigator.
The different SOUNDS for items found in the HOS. Not always the same tone. And the MUSIC in general.
My SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENT would be a JOURNAL to record the details on suspects, etc.
Not for everyone, but it is a GOOD whodunit, and an EASY & ENTERTAINING game.
I recommend this game!
Uncover the true murderer as you investigate a haunted house!
Overall rating
5
/
5
83 of 92 found this review helpful
It’s Astonishing!
PostedJune 20, 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 DEMO (45 MINS)
I’ve only ever felt lukewarm about this series. But these “new generation” ERS games are ASTOUNDING. Each one comes up with a new way to INDIVIDUALISE the game and CAPTIVATE the gamer. In this one, COLLECTIBLES takes on a whole new meaning.
Let’s start with the KNOWN. Our STORY centres around that DEVILISH DWARF from the previous games in this series, SG. He plays a much more involved part in this game, but it doesn’t really matter what he’s up to, we know it’s going to be NO GOOD. Somewhat surprisingly, he claims he is innocent of the murder we are investigating. Considering what we saw in the GRAPHICALLY BRILLIANT & SUSPENSEFUL intro, this is hard to imagine.
It seems that at the heart of this mystery, is a magic book that grants wishes, VOX. And, clearly, SG is out to get it. At the moment it has an entire estate of GHOSTS caught in its clutches, and we will need to help them as well as find the answers to all our questions.
The GRAPHICS are typical ERS, colourful, detailed, beautiful. The MUSIC is ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT. Good on you, guys! The VOICES too are GREAT.
The GAMEPLAY. We have 2 types of HO SCENES, interactive LISTS and PROGRESSIVE SILHOUETTES (find this to get that, to do that, etc.), visited twice each. There are a few NOT EXCEPTIONALLY HARD PUZZLES, mostly simple, some involving more than one TYPE to clear the obstacle. Getting around and finding INVENTORY ITEMS is about AVERAGE level of difficulty, and reasonably logical within the CONTEXT of a magical game. HINT is DIRECTIONAL, there is a JOURNAL and a JUMP MAP (I don’t think it gives ACTIVE TASKS), so there's help if you need it.
Then there are the COLLECTING SUB-GAMES. In order to HELP the GHOSTS and progress in the game you must first find POLTERGEIST SEALS which unlock bonuses such as INCREASED HINT RECHARGE SPEED, and help us with EVIL GHOSTS. Then, we must also find RINGS, to attach to a NECKLACE, which will eventually allow us to DISPEL the TRAPPED GHOSTS and beat VOX.
We can also collect PLANTS for our GARDEN. This is an involved process. First, we must find the SPROUTS and a SPROUT EMBLEM. They can then be PLANTED, we must WATER THEM, and when they BLOOM, CUT them (more emblems need for this). With the CUT BLOOM we earn GOLD, kept in our TREASURE CHEST, with which we can BUY MORE exotic plants. Just where all this leads is STILL a MYSTERY, but it looks like fun.
The list of CE EXTRAS is huge. GALLERY ITEMS (incl. SCREENSAVERS, and behind the scenes PHOTOS, MOVIES), SG, BONUS PLAY, REPLAYABLE HOS & PUZZLES, and your GARDEN.
Such an amazing array of COMPLEX COLLECTIBLES is of itself worthy of a CE, but with everything else as well... I simple can’t force myself to wait till Punchcard Monday to buy!
I recommend this game!
An organ grinder seeks revenge, marking his victims with cards. Can you stop him before he destroys the entire city?
Overall rating
5
/
5
55 of 58 found this review helpful
I Had To Upgrade! BONUS CONTENT REVIEW
PostedJune 20, 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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
GAME PLAYED & PLAYED & PLAYED AGAIN
This game has me spellbound. The ORGAN GRINDER, drawn beautifully with MACABRE GRAPHICS both COLOURFUL & DARK, weaved his enchantment upon me, and the STANDARD EDITION just wasn’t enough.
The haunting lyrics of “LENORE” stayed with me for days, as did the story of dishing out fiendishly APPROPRIATE fates, using BEASTS from legends and myths, to those who deserve it. (For more detail on the main game, see my review of SE game).
BONUS CHAPTER
The MAIN GAME finished CONCLUSIVELY, and the extra chapter picks up where it stopped. With an UNEXPECTED TWIST. It took me a bit over an hour to finish. It has the same ATMOSPHERE as the rest of the story, and a SIMILAR FEEL to the GAMEPLAY.
There are both NEW & OLD LOCATIONS in this part of the story, although the OLD ONES are transformed into a SURREAL version of themselves. The HO SCENES & PUZZLES are ALL new. The PRODUCTION QUALITY and the MYSTERY is as good as the MAIN game. There is no sense of this being ‘tacked on’. It does move a little FASTER and there is a greater sense of URGENCY to this tale.
STRATEGY GUIDE
This is not an overly challenging game. I only used the SG twice, to help with PUZZLES I couldn’t do. Unfortunately, they were ones that the guide couldn’t help me with (multiple correct answers/ random factors). It is however well set out with info on next moves and most puzzles, if needed.
WALLPAPER, CONCEPT ART, MUSIC
Well, the MUSIC is sensational! The WALLPAPER looks spectacular on my desktop, CLEAR & DETAILED, but a bit busy for my taste. I like to be able to see the few icons I have on there!
BESTIARY
This is great FUN, and almost constitutes a GAME in itself. The 9 BEASTS used in the game are here in JIGSAW form, but the jigsaws are TRICKY. Also, there is a brief description of the myth surrounding the creature.
I WISH we had THESE shots available as WALLPAPER. They are the best of the game – except for the ORGAN GRINDER himself who we do have on wallpaper.
LOST PETS
There are 10 of these to be found throughout the game. They are NOT HARD to FIND, because they shimmer. Some PETS are only accessible from the BONUS CHAPTER.They are gorgeous mythical creatures, and again, I wish we could have their ‘page’ in the bonus content as a WALLPAPER.
CURSED CARDS
There are 13 cursed cards, but they are necessary to the game play, so they’re not really collectibles. They are NOT available as a COLLECTION in the SE. They give the story from our point of view as it is played out, and act the part of a journal within the game. Again, beautifully drawn images of beasties.
EXTRA MINI-GAME
Not exactly a game. We get 3 records and 3 cylinders for the ORGAN, and we can mix and match to CREATE DIFFERENT TUNES. Fun!
For me, CHIMERAS is irresistible!
I recommend this game!