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:
With your carriage broken, and a wolf nearby, you must find shelter. What awaits you in the village just ahead?
Overall rating
5
/
5
102 of 106 found this review helpful
Still Delivering Uniquely Creepy Atmosphere
PostedJune 2, 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
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
I love the CE trial of this one, but decided to wait for the SE. I am satisfied with my choice. The SE game was enough of a challenge for me, and having finished it, I’d be too tired to go on with another chapter!
Last things first, the ENDING was FINE to me. Yes, it was abrupt, but it wasn’t unexpected, and it had a subtle emotional quality to it that made it feel right.
The game is NOT AT ALL CUTE, for those of you who are already sick of fantasies, which does not stop you being drawn into the game at an emotional level.
There is an emphasis on ADVENTURE in this game, so there are very FEW actual PUZZLES, but there are a LOT of INVENTORY ITEMS that require “puzzling out” before you can use them. Some it is just another item to combine with them, some it is a code, others are interesting and complex MIXES.
The HOS are also PUZZLES IN THEMSELVES. The interactive items on the list may take you half a dozen ECCENTRIC INTERACTIONS to collect them. I really enjoyed these.
The GLOOMY ATMOSPHERE for which this series is famous continues. WILD LIGHTNING, torrential rain, autumnal colouring of the GRAPHICS, along with THUNDER CRACKS & HOWLING WOLVES all combine to create a threatening air.
It is all very PROFESSIONALLY done, and this is personally my favourite of the series, because of the added complexity of both the game play and the emotional involvement.
I recommend this game!
Dark Dimensions: City of Ash Collector's Edition
A dark dimension has fallen over Phoenix Hill, turning its residents into volcanic ash. Help them rise from the ashes.
Overall rating
5
/
5
58 of 71 found this review helpful
I’m Keen To Get Into This One
PostedJune 1, 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
The Dark Dimensions series has a good track record of delivering challenging gameplay combined with an interesting story and excellent, but not ‘pretty’ graphics. This third game, though having a different ‘feel’ than the others, promises to deliver the same.
Another Dark Dimension has been created by a senseless tragedy in the town of Phoenix Hill, and your mission is to find out the source of the evil controlling the town and destroy it. Until you do, the townspeople will remain BEINGS OF ASH, the victims of the volcano eruption that has devastated the town.
I did feel more comfortable with this game than with the others. It felt easier, and more logical in the GAME PROGRESS.
However, not all the PUZZLES were easy, and there was one in particular, an ORIGINAL MODIFICATION of a well known one, that was transformed into A REAL BRAINTEASER.
The RATIO between PUZZLES & HO SCENES was tipped more towards the HOS in this game, which I liked. The HOS themselves were VERY INTERACTIVE LISTS, in which half the items you found needed to be used to find the other half. Some of the interactions needed were sufficiently COMPLEX to feel more like a logic puzzle than an HO scene.
There’s an EXCELLENT INTERACTIVE JUMP MAP, plus DIRECTIONAL HINT. And a DIARY. Which I found I didn’t really need so far.
Excellent VOICEOVERS accompanied very well CONCEIVED & DEPICTED characters that you encounter. Very INTERESTING, the way the ‘ash people’ were drawn.
MUSIC was unobtrusive. SOUND EFFECTS were good.
I found the game enjoyable, intriguing, and involving. The demo took me 40 minutes, and I was very disappointed when it ended.
BONUS CONTENT
STRATEGY GUIDE, GALLERY – wallpapers, concept art, music
BONUS GAME? – I am uncertain, from the demo, whether this is a BONUS CHAPTER, or some other DIFFERENT kind of bonus.
COLLECTIONS – these are a MYSTERY, because there is no indication of how these TROPHIES/COLLECTIBLES work, and I didn’t get any within the demo.
BONUS GAME? – I am uncertain, from the demo, whether this is a BONUS CHAPTER, or some other DIFFERENT kind of bonus.
COLLECTIONS – these are a MYSTERY, because there is no indication of how these TROPHIES/COLLECTIBLES work, and I didn’t get any within the demo.
I must admit, the not knowing exactly what these bonus features are tempts me to buy the CE.
For those people already complaining about too much cute, this should be a winner. It’s a serious game with an interesting story and no cuddly companions.
For me, a lover of “cute”, this makes a nice break from it without being depressingly ugly.
I recommend this game!
In order to save your life, your twin sister traded her soul to a witch. Now you must race through the looking glass to rescue her!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 34 found this review helpful
A Truly Beautiful Magical World
PostedMay 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 DEMO
Enter the MAGICAL WORLD of DREAMLAND to save your sister’s youth and soul from the evil witch terrorising this realm.
The BEAUTY of this game is marvellous. It takes your breath away. And I’m not talking just about the GRAPHICS which are imaginative and amazing works of art, but the AMBIENT SOUND of songbirds and waterfalls and the GAME DESIGN as well.
The GAMEPLAY is HOPA, with different HOGS. There are MULTIPLES, PROGRESSIVE SILHOUETTES and ‘find PAIRS that work together’. You visit them twice, but that’s cool, they’re well worth a second look.
The PUZZLES are not as easy as they originally seem, and I suspect I’ll be making use of the SG. They are very ORIGINALLY & BEAUTIFULLY conceived.
There is an INTERACTIVE JUMP MAP, and HINT is DIRECTIONAL.
This review wouldn’t be complete without mention of all the ENCHANTING COMPANIONS who join you for part of your adventure. From wounded wolf cup to rhyme-spouting trolls, even a koala!, they are all ADORABLE.
BONUS CONTENT (It’s A Long List)
BONUS CHAPTER that sounds like it will be a sequel.
There are ACHIEVEMENTS, COLLECTIBLES and a TROPHY ROOM.
WALLPAPER, CONCEPT ART, SCREENSAVER, VIDEO, PICTURE CALENDER, MUSIC (these all looked good to me)
REPLAYABLE HOGs & PUZZLES.
INBUILT STRATEGY GUIDE
This all sounds rather prosaic when what I’m really trying to say is I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, OH IT’S SO ADORABLE I LOVE IT!!
VERY PROUD to be one of the reviewers (AND OWNER OF COURSE) of your 50TH GAME ERS – YOU’VE EXCELLED YOURSELVES.
I recommend this game!
Rescue teenagers from the tragic fate of Romeo and Juliet!
Overall rating
3
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
The Emperor Has No Clothes!
PostedMay 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
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
I feel like that kid who was the only one to speak the truth, surrounded as I am by glowing tributes to another great Elephant triumph. If ever there was a game where the demo reviews should be ignored, it’s this one. Only playing the whole game and using an objective approach can get at the truth, which, sadly, is that Elephant GOOFED on this one.
There are 50 RAVE REVIEWS based on the demo you can read to get all the great stuff in this game (REAL OR IMAGINED), so I’ll concentrate on what went wrong.
The first issue is the total hash they made of an EXCELLENT STORY. The Alchemist and his admittedly well drawn EVIL PUPPET just pop up anywhere and grin sadistically without having any real role to play in the plot. Certainly, there is NO EXPLANATION for either the puppet or the Alchemist’s actions in the MAIN GAME. In the BONUS CHAPTER a very dodgy explanation is given that doesn’t come close to ringing true.
Then there’s the BOOKS. Why have we more than one at all, seeing we only visit “Romeo and Juliet”? And where does the weird life these books have come from and why. They don’t even represent 4 elements or something. Just randomly created magical books of unknown origin. And the same goes for the magical knight. What’s HE got to do with the story? And the ice hall, with a ski lift? Huh?
It’s as if the developers created the main game, decided it wasn’t “imaginary” enough, and threw in a few ideas that seemed like fun.
Then there’s the SPECTACULAR GRAPHICS which, like the emperor’s new clothes, CAN'T BE SEEN. In this case because, despite the gorgeous and Elizabethan colours used, the ENTIRE GAME was TOO DARK. I know the medieval era didn’t have electricity, but what about some MORE CANDLES?
Finally, there’s the most heinous crime possible. The Elephant name was always a GUARANTEE OF QUALITY, I thought. NOT ANYMORE. There were errors and inconsistencies all over the place. Particularly with that otherwise WONDERFUL 3D MAP.
Some code appeared instead of tasks. Tasks were indicated as active long after they were completed. There were tasks incorrectly stated, e.g. take the amulet from the Alchemist sarcophagus, when it was in Julie’s. Others never made it as tasks at all. And the boyfriend went from wearing glasses to not intermittently – while unconscious.
Such a promising story, starting out as a fun and beautiful game...
Maybe I should have realised that something was up when the intro (usually a special treat with Elephant Games) seemed so unfinished, cut short, and just PLAIN SLOPPY.
I don't recommend this game.
Enjoy high-quality graphics, adjustable difficulty levels and ambient music in this customizable and relaxing puzzle game that is fun for everyone!
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 22 found this review helpful
Pleasant Enough, Not Sensational***
PostedMay 29, 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
3
/
5
BASED ON ONE HOUR DEMO
After seeing Jigsaw 365 & Jigsaw Boom! 3, this game really couldn’t compete.
It is a standard format, with a classy interface in keeping with the Royal theme, with the usual options for modifying the photos.
There are a good number of photos (70) to choose from, and you can raise the difficulty to 330 pieces.
The photos themselves are the major appeal. They all follow the Royal theme, with palaces, castles, crowns and queens figured prominently. They are as beautiful as you'd imagine them to be. Top graphics quality.
Worthwhile, but nothing new.
I recommend this game!
Jigsaw365
Start at today's date and work through the year with Jigsaw365; choose from 365 photographs or use your own digital pictures.
Overall rating
2
/
5
8 of 10 found this review helpful
If Only We Had A Recent One!
PostedMay 28, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
This is an awesome concept, and the game's options are unique. If it wasn't for the very old (therefore very poor - too bad to ignore) graphics, this game would win me.
365! photos, plus a further 'month' to put in some of your own!
Sliders for difficulty up to 200 pieces. REALLY odd shapes based on things like the US flag, or a fantasy castle. Rotation toggle.
Everything you could want, except the quality visuals.
Hey, Felix, can't you get "someone" (who recently released much less interesting jigsaw games) to do one like this?
I don't recommend this game.
Enjoy awesome art, optional difficulty control and relaxing music in this customizable puzzle game that is fun for players of all abilities!
Overall rating
3
/
5
17 of 18 found this review helpful
Pleasant Way To Pass The Time
PostedMay 28, 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
3
/
5
BASED ON ONE HOUR DEMO
Normally I wouldn’t be reviewing anything outside HOPAs, but I felt in the mood for something different, and it’s a long while since I’ve been able to play jigsaws (I have cats).
This one seems a good game. The 40 pictures are unrelated photos. There’s a bit of everything there. Aquatic shots, animals, landscapes, cityscapes. None overly impossible, but some would be tricky if enough pieces are used.
The interface is like a desk, with notes on it for options. You can change the difficulty by increasing the number of pieces up to a maximum of 726, and by skewing the pieces into more varied shapes. You can also opt for rotation or no rotation.
You can save your work along the way, get achievements, trophies and top scores. Pleasant music.
All of which is okay, but it’s really about the photos, and these are fine, but not dazzling. There’s not anything here, really to make me want to buy, but as I say, these days I don’t usually play this sort of game.
I recommend this game!
Track the treasure and solve the riddles of the past with Golden Trails 3: The Guardian’s Creed game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 37 found this review helpful
The Ultimate HO Game!
PostedMay 28, 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 NOT a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure, even though it combines all those elements in a unique style of gameplay that it is the best of any HO GAMES I’ve seen. I find this series of three games get better with each replay, and I feel at a loss about doing them justice.
The ADVENTURE is there in the STORY, a little mystery, a little danger, some romance and a touch of greed and treachery. But you’ll not be traipsing around looking for a crowbar.
Instead you’ll play a LINEAR game, where each COMPLETED HO SCENE will lead you to the next. There are also PUZZLES, but they are simple and very much a part of the HOS as well.
With this game (and the others before it in this series) you will have a number of PICTURED OBJECTS to find, some INTERACTIVE, some for INVENTORY use. You only see a half a dozen at a time, so more turn up as you find things. The items are CLEAR though CRAFTILY HIDDEN, and the GRAPHICS are EXCEPTIONAL.
Within the scene, you will also find COLLECTIBLES, in this case fleur-de-lis, which will UNLOCK REPLAYABLE HO SCENES. As well, there are MYSTERY items, which sparkle with cursor hover. (The only sparkles in the game, BTW)
These make up some of the 80 odd ACHIEVEMENTS you can get. You also get to SHOOT bandits that pop up at random. They do not affect the progress of the game, but UNLOCK extra HINTS.
When all scenes in an EPISODE are complete, you will see a SUMMARY of the evidence you have discovered and the implications of it. At the end of the MAIN GAME, you will open the SECRET MISSION, a BONUS CHAPTER much like you’d find in a CE. In fact, this game COULD have been a CE without any significant changes.
The VOICEOVER is EXCELLENT, and the AMBIENT sound very well done. The MUSIC is CONSISTENT with the STORY.
You wake up in a tavern with a nasty headache and a strange tattoo. Trying to track down your assailants leads you to a mystery involving the LEGENDARY KNIGHTS TEMPLAR TREASURE. What have you to do with the Knights Templar? Does the treasure really exist? Who are the good guys, and the baddies?
Questions that can only be answered by playing this WONDERFUL HO GAME.
I recommend this game!
Remove an evil curse that has caused a whole kingdom to be trapped in their dreams! Save a beautiful princess before it’s too late!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Different Style Of Gameplay
PostedMay 28, 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
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
This game is really quite different from any other game I’ve played. Though perhaps not so different from older games.
The TRAVELLING/ADVENTURE component is basically removed, and a MAP-DRIVEN action takes its place. Each LOCATION is reached by map, and it is within that that the HO are found.
You are given a set of FRAGMENTED OBJECT SILHOUETTES and must find them within the SCENE. Later, some of these objects may only be found by returning to a previously cleared location. With the OBJECTS you acquire, you must complete TASKS, such as making a dagger or creating a fishing rod.
Sometimes there are PUZZLES to complete, but they seemed FEW, and were not too difficult.
There is a HINT, only for HO scenes (because EVERYWHERE is a HOS), NO JOURNAL.
The GRAPHICS are GOOD, especially for a game this OLD. NOT meant for WIDESCREEN, it still manages to look clear enough to play.
There are also COLLECTIBLE maple leaves, and you are given the number of them to look for in each scene.
The STORY is that a young prince sets out on a quest to save an unknown kingdom from an evil witch, that he has been dreaming about. He finds the KINGDOM soon enough, but it seems to take forever for him to get any further. In the hour’s demo, I still had not made it through the castle gates.
The game looks LONG, but it plays very slow, and I found, in the end, that was what put me off this game.
It fits into my so-so category, but not high up enough for me to buy, and therefore I can’t recommend it.
I don't recommend this game.
Seven gnomes wait in silence, holding a secret. Take up the hunt if you dare, and find the path to the Chamber of Fortune.
Overall rating
2
/
5
108 of 129 found this review helpful
Remember 10 Green Bottles?
PostedMay 27, 2013
JustTheFacts
fromRural Western Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON ONE HOUR DEMO
I don’t know, maybe it’s me, but me and this game, we just don’t ‘click’.
This is how it goes. A confusing and VISUALLY VERY POOR INTRO tells us that the previous owner of the house went mad, trying to find the treasure that is allegedly to be found on the estate.
There is a SINISTER STRANGER as well, but that’s all ANCIENT HISTORY. We are the new owner and no nothing of this until we find his DIARY.
In there, we find the 7 GNOMES POEM. This looks more interesting. The first gnome is predicted to fall down the chimney, and after we light a fire to warm us, choke on the smoke, and put it out, there is GNOME NO. 1. It’s a RIDDLE, and maybe it leads to the TREASURE?
In any case, we are alone in a creepy house, with SERIOUSLY ODD background sounds, including VOICES floating in and out of STATIC.
Although the GRAPHICS IMPROVE in the HO SCENES, they are, on my admittedly large wide screen monitor, STILL POOR. The HOS are NON-INTERACTIVE LISTS, and there are a LOT of them. So far I have not had to revisit any.
The PUZZLES are DIFFERENT, enough to make me confused. In one, you must solve a riddle which requires you to count fish in a pond. But to finish the puzzle, you must write the answer down IN THE GAME, and I never figured out how to do that without pen and paper.
SKIPPING a puzzle costs you 15 minutes on your GAME TIMER. HINT is directional, and you only have to CLICK ONCE to be taken to the next action.
There are MORPHING OBJECTS to collect as well, but NO other ACHIEVEMENTS.
So it has the MAKINGS of a GOOD STAND ALONE SE, but I can’t like it. It’s as if the developer and I are thinking on different wavelengths. So I guess you’ll have to make up your own mind.
I can neither recommend or not recommend this one, I just know I won’t be buying it.