Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
3/ 5
This game isn't as good as some of the other recent Phantasmat games. I liked the puzzles and most of the HOP scenes, but the story line is weak and game play is barely 4 hours.
I had taken a break from playing HOPA games for 8 months and just came back and picked up a few new games and this one is a winner. Everything you'd expect from an EIPIX game, but it is a bit on the easy side, and story line is a bit predictable. I went with the SE because I typically don't need the Guide or bells and whistles.
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Arcade & Action
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
The original Roads of Rome games were among my favorite time/resource management games...so what did they do? They made the game even better. Now there isn't just a road to rebuild- an earthquake has brought destruction to much to Caesar's empire, and Victorius enlists his son Marcus Victorius to lead the rebuild effort. There are settlements to rebuild, aqueducts, altars and more. There are also now bombs to clear away huge boulders. Graphics are a bit more crisp. And I've only got 4 levels left. Surely after 6 months or so I will replay the game since I only achieved 3 stars on half the levels. Kudos to the game developer.
I have all the Big City Adventure games, and they seem to have always made adjustments, or additions to make one game better than the one before. That has ended. Music here all sounds the same. There are 25 original scenes they use a total of 60 times. Many of the scenes are streets with lots of shopping. Where is the Chinese history and culture? You will get some of it here- the postcards are still very informative, but I was also hoping for some Chinese hidden objects, not baseballs and Statues of Liberties. It's time to do a few more U.S. cities like Washington and L.A. where there won't be national laws saying "stay out with cameras". Barcelona is the best game, maybe now they are trying to do too many too fast?
It's a well-done game, but I'm comparing it to the first two European Mystery games, which were excellent. Plot here is shabby (trading poisonous flowers for profit), and given the plot, the game is too long. In the middle of the game, it seems you are just running around. I'm almost done but I'd say thumbs down if I had to choose again.
Sure, you get just about the same format, same 2 sleuths, graphics are good, but that's just about where it ends. The first game had a really good story and this one does not. I'm more than halfway through the game and I've only seen the Mr. Electric character twice. What's worse is that villain is copied from the last Spiderman movie, and Spiderman had an exciting clever way to deal with him. Also, the detective here goes back and forth from/to New York City and an empty Sing Sing like it's next door. Not so sure I want to see here if I keep playing. This is not worth $7, I'd stay away.
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Large File, Strategy
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
I started out with the original two games- San Francisco and New York. Next came Sydney and Vancouver, and now there are 10 games. No vendor does solely HOGs better than these guys (Jolly Games). Unmatched facts on each scene, bright colorful scenes, well concealed objects, and fun for hours. You have to find 12 objects in each scene- there are hint buttons and buttons to give you more time (typically it's 8 to 13 minutes a scene, as you get closer to the end of the games: scenes 50-60, you are pressed for time and it's not as easy as when you start out, thus 2 and 5 minute extra time buttons). They've added to the variety of mini-games, which also run from very easy to somewhat difficult. For the first 15 scenes, this can be a beginner or child's game, but not the last 15 scenes. Since I have all BCA games, I enjoy a break from Adventure/HOG games with playing a few HOGs scenes of these games. Barcelona is my favorite. The ambience music is well selected and new objects are used more befitting each scene.
I had already bought and played the other Danse Macabre games, and this one is as good as the first one. I have bought most EIPIX games since they exploded on the scene and I think they've taken the quality of HOS / Adventure games to the next level. I've also played the Amarathine and Final Cut games and enjoy those as well. This game is a whodunit- you arrive and a skating show is about to take place and you get a warning that something is amiss from the star skater's favorite fan, who winds up dead. It was a quick game - 5.5 hours on Casual Mode. Didn't need Hint much but it was only 10 second wait for it. Didn't need SG at all. If there is one complaint of EIPIX games, its that HOS are too easy with quick Hint, but you can adjust it. The game goes through seven characters, and you don't know who killed the star skater until 90% of the game has been played. It was very enjoyable and I dont give many straight 5 scores.
I didn't buy the original, but I'm enjoying this game. Reminds me a little of Island Tribe because it is a tropical setting. You collect the standard things, plus mana, make trades, pay off beggars, and build up villages. The only fault is the unrealistic timer, and this is big. I've yet to come close to beating the timer, and I am an expert at these types of games. You play sort of in relaxed mode and meeting the round's challenges. The timer, for me, typically ends when I'm 75% thru a round. It's still fun to play.
This was an outstanding game to play and slowly but surely, I'm choosing Eipix when I want a new game. They've set the standard for games higher, and the games really make you think even though HINT recharges every 15 seconds. Graphics are as good as you can get, puzzles are hard, HOP are not too plentiful and are silhouette format. The story is about a nurse pursuing a madman chemist who wants to poison the water supply, kill off a few neighboring towns, then burn them down. Title of game is deceptive. Voiceovers are for characters based on real people put into the game. Standards don't get any higher and you're on the edge of your seat throughout the game. Highly recommended.