catbag8717's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:8,793
- Reviews Submitted:584
- First Review:April 27, 2012
- Most Recent Review:September 23, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The lighthouse fails and darkness invades Willow Ridge. Your husband runs into the forest for answers, unaware of the shadow hunting him.
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
Absolutely BRILLIANT! Definitely Not Your Average HOPA!
PostedJanuary 9, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
NOTE:
Review is based on completed COLLECTOR'S EDITION
Review is based on completed COLLECTOR'S EDITION
I've been waiting a while to play this one. It had rave reviews and a ton of CE Extras, so I went ahead and bought the CE, which is something I never do, but I have to say, I'm glad I did! This is a brilliant game, extremely worthy of all the awards it received and will continue to receive. In my opinion, it is not only one of the best games of 2013, but of all time as well.
While, in my opinion, the game was gameplay driven, the story isn't that bad either. It's actually quite good once you get in to it, but that takes a while. You don't actually encounter a villain until after the demo, and after the demo is where it gets exciting. Don't get me wrong, there will still some exciting bits at the beginning of the game, but when you get closer and closer to the finish, the action gets more exciting. At first, I thought this was going to be your typical “avert the disaster” type thing, but it was anything but. What I particularly liked about this story was the villain. Their story is so moving, and you begin to understand how desperate they are and why they are doing what they're doing. In the end, I was think “Never mind Alan, I want to help this woman. She's the one who needs help.” It may be just me, but I think it takes something pretty special to make you want to help the villain instead of your husband!
Overall, the story is decent and does end conclusively. There aren't many twists and turns, but it's still enjoyable.
Overall, the story is decent and does end conclusively. There aren't many twists and turns, but it's still enjoyable.
As I said before, this game is definitely gameplay driven, because the gameplay is so much better than the story. The puzzles and the HOS are both unique and both very enjoyable.
The HOS were great fun and very unique. Some of them were normal junkpile, some silhouette and others were junkpile with a small twist. In the different HOS, when you found the object listed, you found a piece of another object that you needed to form to get your inventory item. This was great fun for me. In the other HOS, when you found all the items, you had one last item left to find, and that was your inventory item.
The puzzles were great. They were so unique, fun and challenging, and I think their uniqueness was what inspired me to try and finish them. I think I only skipped about 3 in the entire game, which is a first for me, especially since it's my first time playing it.
One of the standouts for me was the cinematic puzzles. These were so new and fun, I was overjoyed when I got to play more! In these puzzles, you watch a short little scene giving you more details about the story, and then you must place the items back in the scene in order to progress to the next scene. There are about 4 scenes in each one. In the puzzle there is a hint, so if you get stuck, you can use it. I really enjoyed these puzzles. This is a step in the right direction for HOPA games.
Adding to the unique gameplay, in this game, there is a feature that allows you to interact with some items already in the inventory to make it in to a complete item ready for use (e.g. lighting a torch, putting holes in something to make a sail, putting something together). This is a great and really fun addition to this game.
This game features all the “regulars” for a HOPA: Diary, Map, hint, etc, so experienced players will not have any trouble with navigation. I wouldn't recommend this for beginners, however.
The HOS were great fun and very unique. Some of them were normal junkpile, some silhouette and others were junkpile with a small twist. In the different HOS, when you found the object listed, you found a piece of another object that you needed to form to get your inventory item. This was great fun for me. In the other HOS, when you found all the items, you had one last item left to find, and that was your inventory item.
The puzzles were great. They were so unique, fun and challenging, and I think their uniqueness was what inspired me to try and finish them. I think I only skipped about 3 in the entire game, which is a first for me, especially since it's my first time playing it.
One of the standouts for me was the cinematic puzzles. These were so new and fun, I was overjoyed when I got to play more! In these puzzles, you watch a short little scene giving you more details about the story, and then you must place the items back in the scene in order to progress to the next scene. There are about 4 scenes in each one. In the puzzle there is a hint, so if you get stuck, you can use it. I really enjoyed these puzzles. This is a step in the right direction for HOPA games.
Adding to the unique gameplay, in this game, there is a feature that allows you to interact with some items already in the inventory to make it in to a complete item ready for use (e.g. lighting a torch, putting holes in something to make a sail, putting something together). This is a great and really fun addition to this game.
This game features all the “regulars” for a HOPA: Diary, Map, hint, etc, so experienced players will not have any trouble with navigation. I wouldn't recommend this for beginners, however.
The graphics on this game are outstanding. They are so well drawn and so detailed. You can clearly see the developers have put a lot of time in to it. The character designs are great too. Each scene was clear, nothing was every hazy or fuzzy, it was just great. The only bad thing was that the character's lips didn't move, thus, making it less realistic.
The voice-overs were standard, so I really have no comment on them.
The voice-overs were standard, so I really have no comment on them.
FEATURES
4 levels of difficulty: Casual, Experienced (Advanced), Masterful (Hard) and Custom. Custom allows you to set the game your way. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate and the hint is helpful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events. Is used quite often.
Map- the map is interactive and quite useful. It lets you know where there is an objective to be completed and when the scene is completed.
Hamster- Early in the game, you find a hamster, which you get to name. This hamster is your helper, but is not used often. I would have liked it more if the hamster had been used more often.
Interactive Inventory Items- In this game, there is a feature that allows you to interact with inventory items (indicated by a + sign). This is a really awesome feature that I hope continues to appear in future games.
4 levels of difficulty: Casual, Experienced (Advanced), Masterful (Hard) and Custom. Custom allows you to set the game your way. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable rate and the hint is helpful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events. Is used quite often.
Map- the map is interactive and quite useful. It lets you know where there is an objective to be completed and when the scene is completed.
Hamster- Early in the game, you find a hamster, which you get to name. This hamster is your helper, but is not used often. I would have liked it more if the hamster had been used more often.
Interactive Inventory Items- In this game, there is a feature that allows you to interact with inventory items (indicated by a + sign). This is a really awesome feature that I hope continues to appear in future games.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE?
There are SO many extras here. MadHead have put a LOT of effort in to their CE!
Bonus Chapter- A nice epilogue to the story. You enter the boy's dreams to undo the events of the past and make sure the boy gets home safely, thus, making the events of the main game never occur, meaning there IS no main game, meaning there is no game... (it's a little hard to wrap your mind around the whole concept). All the same, a nice bonus chapter, the second best chapter of them all (behind Chapter 3).
Built in Strategy Guide- Very helpful, especially for puzzles. The SG contains a step by step solution for all puzzles. It also tells you where to find all the collectibles.
Collectible Acorns (34)- These aren't like your average collectibles, because they actually have a purpose. You need all 34 to unlock one of the other bonus features in the game, Old Lady.
Collectible Morphing Objects (11)- Bonus Chapter collectibles.
Old Lady- Can only be accessed if all 34 acorns are collected. This is home to the famous 100-object HOS.
Achievements
Replay HOS (can be used to gain achievements)
Replay Puzzles (can be used to gain achievements)
Posters- these give character profiles for each character in the game. These have to be earn though. You have to build the posters before you can look at the characters. There are posters for Mysterious Stranger, Ethan, Villain, Alan, Hamster, Tree of Fears, Heart of the Nightmare and Nightmare Creature.
Wallpapers
Music
Concepts- This gives details on how some of the locations in the game were created. There are 6.
There are SO many extras here. MadHead have put a LOT of effort in to their CE!
Bonus Chapter- A nice epilogue to the story. You enter the boy's dreams to undo the events of the past and make sure the boy gets home safely, thus, making the events of the main game never occur, meaning there IS no main game, meaning there is no game... (it's a little hard to wrap your mind around the whole concept). All the same, a nice bonus chapter, the second best chapter of them all (behind Chapter 3).
Built in Strategy Guide- Very helpful, especially for puzzles. The SG contains a step by step solution for all puzzles. It also tells you where to find all the collectibles.
Collectible Acorns (34)- These aren't like your average collectibles, because they actually have a purpose. You need all 34 to unlock one of the other bonus features in the game, Old Lady.
Collectible Morphing Objects (11)- Bonus Chapter collectibles.
Old Lady- Can only be accessed if all 34 acorns are collected. This is home to the famous 100-object HOS.
Achievements
Replay HOS (can be used to gain achievements)
Replay Puzzles (can be used to gain achievements)
Posters- these give character profiles for each character in the game. These have to be earn though. You have to build the posters before you can look at the characters. There are posters for Mysterious Stranger, Ethan, Villain, Alan, Hamster, Tree of Fears, Heart of the Nightmare and Nightmare Creature.
Wallpapers
Music
Concepts- This gives details on how some of the locations in the game were created. There are 6.
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE, by far, is the much better buy. I never buy CE's because I don't see it being worth the extra money, but when someone puts as much effort in to a CE as MadHead have, you really have to buy it. There are so many extras here, much more than the average CE. The CE is definitely value for money, not just achievements and collectibles like most CE's.
The CE, by far, is the much better buy. I never buy CE's because I don't see it being worth the extra money, but when someone puts as much effort in to a CE as MadHead have, you really have to buy it. There are so many extras here, much more than the average CE. The CE is definitely value for money, not just achievements and collectibles like most CE's.
Overall, this is an outstanding game. It really is. I'm so glad I got the CE. I can guarantee I'll be playing this again and again, and I'll guarantee you'll love it if you haven't played it already!
I recommend this game!
You came to the town of Brownville, Louisiana hoping to find a new job. But you weren't expecting to stumble upon a strange adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
I'm Still Undecided!
PostedJanuary 5, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is Blam's first HOPA of 2014, and it appears that they've started the year on a good note. However, while I enjoyed the demo, I think something's missing. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's the missing factor that's keeping me from buying this.
The story is great. It's unique and new and extremely exciting! As others have commented, the game kind of reminded me of Jumanji, the movie about the players being stuck in the game world, because this is exactly what happens in this game. It's a nice story with a couple of twists. If you asked me whether I liked the story or the gameplay better, I'd definitely say the story. This game, like most others by Blam, is story driven. The demo ended on a good note, and I'm kind of wondering what's going to happen next. One small comment I'd like to make is that I have issues with knowing who the villain is immediately. I'd prefer it if we were kept guessing for a little bit and then informed sometime during the demo. Not knowing who the villain is straight away adds to the excitement of stories. Had we been kept guessing for a little bit, it might have swayed me in the purchase direction.
After thinking for a bit, I think I've found out what's missing from this game. It's not really that fun. In a game that's not all that fun, the story has to be excellent, and this one was good, but not excellent. I would've liked something unique and different for the gameplay as well as the story. Instead, it's just the same old puzzles and the same old HOS.
That being said, it doesn't mean I didn't like the HOS and puzzles, because I enjoyed them a fair bit. There is only one type of HOS, and that is the classic junkpile. In an earlier game, this developer included silhouette HOS as well. This game would have been better if the silhouette HOS were a part of it.
The puzzles were better than most games. I was actually able to solve all of them, if I remember correctly. What I liked was that they weren't so blatantly obvious and weren't over in about two clicks. This game had puzzles that really made me think, but weren't too hard, and I enjoyed that.
This is a rarity for me, but I really enjoyed the cute little animal helper! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. I must be going soft! The animal, which I named Fuzzy (for obvious reasons), was a brilliant addition to this game, and I loved using it when I got the chance! I hope, if I buy the game, I get to use it a lot more!
That being said, it doesn't mean I didn't like the HOS and puzzles, because I enjoyed them a fair bit. There is only one type of HOS, and that is the classic junkpile. In an earlier game, this developer included silhouette HOS as well. This game would have been better if the silhouette HOS were a part of it.
The puzzles were better than most games. I was actually able to solve all of them, if I remember correctly. What I liked was that they weren't so blatantly obvious and weren't over in about two clicks. This game had puzzles that really made me think, but weren't too hard, and I enjoyed that.
This is a rarity for me, but I really enjoyed the cute little animal helper! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. I must be going soft! The animal, which I named Fuzzy (for obvious reasons), was a brilliant addition to this game, and I loved using it when I got the chance! I hope, if I buy the game, I get to use it a lot more!
The graphics are good, but I've definitely seen much better. With that said, I found the graphics to be clear, although not necessarily detailed. The HOS were clear, as were the character designs, but it's incredibly hard to give top marks when there are other developers out there who put so much more detail in.
The voice-overs were standard. They weren't outstanding, but they weren't terrible either. I have no comment.
The voice-overs were standard. They weren't outstanding, but they weren't terrible either. I have no comment.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a fair speed for the difficulty, and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events. It can also be used to replay cutscenes.
Map- the map is interactive and extremely helpful. It lets you know where your next task needs to be completed.
Animal helper- extremely adorable. I loved it. It is used a couple of times in the demo.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a fair speed for the difficulty, and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events. It can also be used to replay cutscenes.
Map- the map is interactive and extremely helpful. It lets you know where your next task needs to be completed.
Animal helper- extremely adorable. I loved it. It is used a couple of times in the demo.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus chapter- unsure if needed.
Replay HOS
Replay puzzles
Built in Strategy Guide
Achievements
Collectibles
All the usual stuff like Concept Art, music, etc.
Bonus chapter- unsure if needed.
Replay HOS
Replay puzzles
Built in Strategy Guide
Achievements
Collectibles
All the usual stuff like Concept Art, music, etc.
This is a good game, but is not great. At the time of writing this review, I'm still undecided as to whether I want it or not. I recommend the trial to see what you make of it. I also recommend that you get the SE as I don't think the CE is worth it.
I recommend this game!
Enter Ravenwood Park and discover the secrets hidden in the mists...
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
A Really Great Game! Definitely Worthy of the Praise!
PostedJanuary 4, 2014
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I waited a long time for the sequel and then a long time to get it. I must say, it was worth the wait! This was a great game, with only the one downer- the story did not end conclusively, but I think that was to set up a third Enigmatis.
The story was absolutely awesome. It started with a bang- a bang that lasted right to the end. It was a thrill for the entire game. I could not stop playing it. There are so many twists and turns, it just keeps you going. And the story with the relief pieces down in the prisoners cell in the tunnels just adds to the excitement, and you begin to uncover the true story behind the villain.
This is a true murder mystery, that comes complete with an evidence board that you can add evidence to as you collect it, and you begin to unravel the mystery with each bit of evidence you collect. Each bit of evidence uncovers the biggest kept secret of all, and that is one that I really wasn't expecting!
Each character plays their own role. It really is a delight. The only downer I'd pick is that this story follows the exact same format of the Nightmares From The Deep series: Bad guy with supernatural powers controlling some evil force. They've even added the 12-part backstory too. Will all their stories follow this format from now on?
I wouldn't say the ending to this story was conclusive. What happened to Whitmarsh? What happened to the prisoner? These, the two biggest questions, are left unanswered in the story, and this is really annoying. I'm assuming it has ended like that as the starting point for a third Enigmatis, but seriously. After about 3.5-4 hours of gameplay, I was really expecting a conclusive ending, and that wasn't it.
This is a true murder mystery, that comes complete with an evidence board that you can add evidence to as you collect it, and you begin to unravel the mystery with each bit of evidence you collect. Each bit of evidence uncovers the biggest kept secret of all, and that is one that I really wasn't expecting!
Each character plays their own role. It really is a delight. The only downer I'd pick is that this story follows the exact same format of the Nightmares From The Deep series: Bad guy with supernatural powers controlling some evil force. They've even added the 12-part backstory too. Will all their stories follow this format from now on?
I wouldn't say the ending to this story was conclusive. What happened to Whitmarsh? What happened to the prisoner? These, the two biggest questions, are left unanswered in the story, and this is really annoying. I'm assuming it has ended like that as the starting point for a third Enigmatis, but seriously. After about 3.5-4 hours of gameplay, I was really expecting a conclusive ending, and that wasn't it.
The gameplay was good, but not great. I'd say this game is definitely story-driven. On the plus side, unlike most other games by this developer, there is more than one type of HOS. In this game, there are three: classic junkpile, fragmented objects and silhouette. Each HOS provided an individual challenge and each one was equally as fun. I'd have to say my favourite was the fragmented object scenes.
The puzzles were all good. Most of them were challenging, but a few were easy. I was able to solve a few of them, but I had to skip a few as well. I'd say I solved half and skipped the other half. I wouldn't call the puzzles unique, but they were definitely on the fun side.
As I mentioned before, there is an evidence board, which is a great feature, and I hope it continues to be used in games. I loved and looked forward to each moment I could go back to it. There are 26 evidence pieces in total to collect, and these are spaced out evenly in the game.
Tied with the evidence part of the game, there is also the character of the prisoner. You interview him for helpful bits of information. His face appears in the reflection on the evidence board when he has something new to tell. This is more frequently used in the first half of the game, and is only used a couple of times in the second half.
There is also the 12-piece backstory, told by the prisoner after you collect a metallic relief piece to put on his cell door. This gives detail in to how the villain became the villain. I think it was used better in this story, because it was more interesting, and because you could replay any of the scenes by clicking on the pieces, something you couldn't do in the Nightmares from the Deep series.
I wouldn't call this your standard HOPA, but I'd still say it's fairly easy to navigate. It has a map, a journal and a hint, all the staples of HOS. Experienced players should have no trouble navigating their way through the game.
The puzzles were all good. Most of them were challenging, but a few were easy. I was able to solve a few of them, but I had to skip a few as well. I'd say I solved half and skipped the other half. I wouldn't call the puzzles unique, but they were definitely on the fun side.
As I mentioned before, there is an evidence board, which is a great feature, and I hope it continues to be used in games. I loved and looked forward to each moment I could go back to it. There are 26 evidence pieces in total to collect, and these are spaced out evenly in the game.
Tied with the evidence part of the game, there is also the character of the prisoner. You interview him for helpful bits of information. His face appears in the reflection on the evidence board when he has something new to tell. This is more frequently used in the first half of the game, and is only used a couple of times in the second half.
There is also the 12-piece backstory, told by the prisoner after you collect a metallic relief piece to put on his cell door. This gives detail in to how the villain became the villain. I think it was used better in this story, because it was more interesting, and because you could replay any of the scenes by clicking on the pieces, something you couldn't do in the Nightmares from the Deep series.
I wouldn't call this your standard HOPA, but I'd still say it's fairly easy to navigate. It has a map, a journal and a hint, all the staples of HOS. Experienced players should have no trouble navigating their way through the game.
The graphics, as always, are outstanding. The artwork is so well drawn and has so much detail, it's a visual delight. The character designs are great too. They are also very detailed. Each HOS is incredibly clear too. I have absolutely no issues with the graphics.
The voice-overs are standard. They aren't terrible, but aren't outstanding. I have no comment.
The voice-overs are standard. They aren't terrible, but aren't outstanding. I have no comment.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard.
Hint and Skip- hint recharges quickly for Casual. It is very useful outside for HOS.
Diary- diary is used fairly often and keeps track of events.
Map- the map is interactive, but is not very helpful at all. It tells you the area where there is something to do, but doesn't tell you the exact scene.
Evidence Board- this is where all evidence is stored in the game. It is a very good feature, and I really enjoyed it.
Collectible evidence (26)
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard.
Hint and Skip- hint recharges quickly for Casual. It is very useful outside for HOS.
Diary- diary is used fairly often and keeps track of events.
Map- the map is interactive, but is not very helpful at all. It tells you the area where there is something to do, but doesn't tell you the exact scene.
Evidence Board- this is where all evidence is stored in the game. It is a very good feature, and I really enjoyed it.
Collectible evidence (26)
Overall, I'd say this is a fairly good game, and is worthy of the praise it gets. I can see why it's called the best game of the year by reviewers, and why it won awards. The only reason it's getting 4 stars and not 5 is due to the incomplete story and the hardly useful map. I highly recommend this game!
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The only things that the CE really has to offer are a bonus chapter, achievements and collectible butterflies. I'd say the SE is the better buy.
The only things that the CE really has to offer are a bonus chapter, achievements and collectible butterflies. I'd say the SE is the better buy.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
The game length is at least 3.5 hours on Casual mode.
The game length is at least 3.5 hours on Casual mode.
I recommend this game!
The Emperor's son has a mysterious illness. As legendary healer Daiyu, you're called to the palace to save him, but you end up having to save yourself!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 27 found this review helpful
Fun and Unique, but not really Chinese!
PostedDecember 30, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I've been waiting for months to buy this game, and finally got the chance to due to the Christmas sales. I must say, it was well worth the wait! This is a good game, and I can see why people praise it so highly.
The story is great. It starts off ominously, and you know straight away that something evil is going on. Then, the game begins, and you are called to the palace of the Emperor by his brother Lei, who is very worried. He tells you that the Emperor's son, Jinhai, has been poisoned and asks you to heal him. At first, this seems straightforward: All you have to do is heal him and go home, right? WRONG! The story takes a great twist at the end of the demo that leaves you on a cliffhanger.
After the demo, the story takes a much lighter turn, and you are sent to someone known as The Wise One, a blue dragon, who will tell you how to defeat the villain. After speaking to him, you must find the ritual that will ultimately heal Jinhai before it is too late...
I have to say, what really impressed me about this story was the villain. The villain was one of the best that I've ever seen in any game to date. The villain's story was told during the beginning of the game, so you can clearly understand their motives, but what made the villain so exciting was that they did not pop up during every scene, but rather, you encountered them only a few times. I was always thinking “How long until I bump in to them?” or “when will I see them next?” It was just awesome. Credit to the developer for the genius to create such an amazing villain.
Other than that, the story is quite nice, and does end conclusively, so there's no need for the bonus chapter. The action is mostly in the first hour, and then it gets quieter. However, I still found the story enjoyable.
After the demo, the story takes a much lighter turn, and you are sent to someone known as The Wise One, a blue dragon, who will tell you how to defeat the villain. After speaking to him, you must find the ritual that will ultimately heal Jinhai before it is too late...
I have to say, what really impressed me about this story was the villain. The villain was one of the best that I've ever seen in any game to date. The villain's story was told during the beginning of the game, so you can clearly understand their motives, but what made the villain so exciting was that they did not pop up during every scene, but rather, you encountered them only a few times. I was always thinking “How long until I bump in to them?” or “when will I see them next?” It was just awesome. Credit to the developer for the genius to create such an amazing villain.
Other than that, the story is quite nice, and does end conclusively, so there's no need for the bonus chapter. The action is mostly in the first hour, and then it gets quieter. However, I still found the story enjoyable.
The gameplay is great too. I had quite a lot of fun with this game. The HOS were standard junkpile, with a couple of extra-step objects in each one. In each HOS, you also had the option of switching to a game of Mahjong. The HOS were not too difficult, but I enjoyed them quite a lot. There were quite a few HOS in the game, but not too many that it became annoying. I think there was the right amount in the game.
The puzzles were good too, but a little bit too challenging for me personally. That didn't stop them being fun. I enjoyed attempting each one of them.
In this game, there is something new and awesome called Healer's Kit. It is used for mixing things in to potions/dust, etc. Whenever there is an item found, you place it in the healers kit, and a fun minigame begins. This is not a puzzle, as there is no challenge to it, but it's still a great addition. I loved it every time I got to use it.
Other than the new feature, this is your standard HOPA.
The puzzles were good too, but a little bit too challenging for me personally. That didn't stop them being fun. I enjoyed attempting each one of them.
In this game, there is something new and awesome called Healer's Kit. It is used for mixing things in to potions/dust, etc. Whenever there is an item found, you place it in the healers kit, and a fun minigame begins. This is not a puzzle, as there is no challenge to it, but it's still a great addition. I loved it every time I got to use it.
Other than the new feature, this is your standard HOPA.
The graphics are pretty good. They are well-drawn and very detailed. Everything is clear, especially the character designs. The only issue I have is with things not being accurate to the setting. It is set in China, but the girl, Bo, is wearing a kimono, which is Japanese.
I have some issues with the voice-overs too. Most of them are accurate, but Bo's voice is clearly American, which kind of annoyed me. The voice-over for Bo repeatedly mispronounced Jinhai ( which should be pronounced Jin-high) as Jin-hey or Jinnae, which was terrible. If they're going to create a Chinese game, they should at least make sure the names are pronounced the way the Chinese would pronounce them.
I have some issues with the voice-overs too. Most of them are accurate, but Bo's voice is clearly American, which kind of annoyed me. The voice-over for Bo repeatedly mispronounced Jinhai ( which should be pronounced Jin-high) as Jin-hey or Jinnae, which was terrible. If they're going to create a Chinese game, they should at least make sure the names are pronounced the way the Chinese would pronounce them.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Challenging and Insane. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge relatively fast for Casual. Hint is useful outside HOS, and also acts as a portal, as it can teleport you to the location where you need to be.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Not used too often, but is used enough.
Map- interactive and lets you know where there is a task to be completed. Very helpful.
Healer's Kit- This is very fun. It is used somewhere between 5-10 times in the game. When an item needs to be mixed, a minigame begins.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Challenging and Insane. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge relatively fast for Casual. Hint is useful outside HOS, and also acts as a portal, as it can teleport you to the location where you need to be.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Not used too often, but is used enough.
Map- interactive and lets you know where there is a task to be completed. Very helpful.
Healer's Kit- This is very fun. It is used somewhere between 5-10 times in the game. When an item needs to be mixed, a minigame begins.
Overall, I was extremely pleased with this game. It's well deserving of its praise, and could seriously be given game of the year. I think the SE is the better buy, because in the CE, you only miss out on achievements/colletibles and the usual BC stuff, but I think you'll be happy with either game. It gets a well deserved 5 from me. I was going to give it a 4, but I don't think my issues with the character of Bo should take a star away from this game. I think I should also mention the Closing Credits. They are very entertaining, and not the usual boring stuff. Don't miss them!
ON THE GAME LENGTH
The game was about 3 hours on Casual mode, which is my ideal game length.
The game was about 3 hours on Casual mode, which is my ideal game length.
I recommend this game!
Something wicked has taken over Fate’s Carnival!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
A HUGE Improvement- But Is It Worth Buying?
PostedDecember 22, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
NOTE:
Review is based on Demo of STANDARD EDITION. I'm posting it here just in case I decide to buy the SE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I didn't play the CE because I didn't like the previous two Mystery Case Files games, but because of all the reviews, I trialed the SE. This is most definitely an improvement (and a big one at that), but I'm not sure if I want to buy it.
Review is based on Demo of STANDARD EDITION. I'm posting it here just in case I decide to buy the SE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I didn't play the CE because I didn't like the previous two Mystery Case Files games, but because of all the reviews, I trialed the SE. This is most definitely an improvement (and a big one at that), but I'm not sure if I want to buy it.
The story is great- far better than anything previously. You are called to a place where one of your past cases happened (Madame Fate's Carnival), and you soon discover something strange. Someone- or something- is attempting to kill all the people involved in the carnival, in ways that are similar to their acts! (E.g. cutting the magician in half, trapping the mermaid in water). This is a very gripping storyline that hooked me pretty much right from the start. It doesn't have many twists and turns, but as you uncover each victim, the story gets more and more gripping.
Keeping with the tradition of past MCF games, this game is very different and extremely challenging. The puzzles are unique, and some are very lengthy. For example, some puzzles require multiple different steps to get them done, and thus, the skip takes five minutes to charge on these puzzles. This provides and extra challenge, and motivates you to try and solve the puzzle.
The only thing that wasn't different was the HOS. They were the classic junkpile, but had some extra step objects. The HOS were fun and a little bit challenging for me.
In addition to this, you are given Madame Fate's cat, Isis, who will prove to be of great use to you. She is used 3 times throughout the demo. I would've liked it if she was used a little bit more.
In the end, the thing that's missing here is the fun factor. Despite the good story and the challenging gameplay, I wasn't really having fun with it. I have no idea why.
The only thing that wasn't different was the HOS. They were the classic junkpile, but had some extra step objects. The HOS were fun and a little bit challenging for me.
In addition to this, you are given Madame Fate's cat, Isis, who will prove to be of great use to you. She is used 3 times throughout the demo. I would've liked it if she was used a little bit more.
In the end, the thing that's missing here is the fun factor. Despite the good story and the challenging gameplay, I wasn't really having fun with it. I have no idea why.
The graphics are outstanding. Everything was so, so clear, it was a visual delight. The character designs are great. All the scenes and character designs were drawn with so much detail.
The voice-overs are standard, so I have no comment on those. They weren't good or bad.
The voice-overs are standard, so I have no comment on those. They weren't good or bad.
FEATURES
5 modes of difficulty: Easy, medium, hard, extra hard and timed. Timed is unlocked after completing the main game. Differences are hint/skip recharge times, sparkles and the cursor charging over areas (applies to mode 4 only).
Hint/Skip- Hint recharges at a reasonable speed for the difficulty, but the skip takes a bit too long. Hint is very useful outside HOS.
Diary- unlike the original diary, this diary is picked up after starting play and contains clues to various puzzles, rather than keeping track of events.
Map- the map is interactive and lets you know where there is a task to be done.
Isis- Isis is your animal helper. She is rarely used.
5 modes of difficulty: Easy, medium, hard, extra hard and timed. Timed is unlocked after completing the main game. Differences are hint/skip recharge times, sparkles and the cursor charging over areas (applies to mode 4 only).
Hint/Skip- Hint recharges at a reasonable speed for the difficulty, but the skip takes a bit too long. Hint is very useful outside HOS.
Diary- unlike the original diary, this diary is picked up after starting play and contains clues to various puzzles, rather than keeping track of events.
Map- the map is interactive and lets you know where there is a task to be done.
Isis- Isis is your animal helper. She is rarely used.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Achievements.
Built in Strategy Guide.
Bonus Chapter
Play Solitary
A shop for Isis- this is where you can spend money on things for the cat.
Collectibles- Bobbleheads, morphing objects
Wallpapers
Music
Concept Art
Achievements.
Built in Strategy Guide.
Bonus Chapter
Play Solitary
A shop for Isis- this is where you can spend money on things for the cat.
Collectibles- Bobbleheads, morphing objects
Wallpapers
Music
Concept Art
I still haven't made up my mind as to whether or not I'm going to buy this. It's definitely a unique and challenging game and is definitely worth looking at! In the end, I think BFG made the right choice when giving this over to Elephant Games!
I recommend this game!
You’re on a train in the middle of nowhere, and a band of dangerous thieves demand you tell them where to find the Hope Diamond’s shards. As the newest Hidden Expedition recruit, you’ve got to find the shards before they do…
Overall rating
5
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
WOW! WHAT HAVE I JUST PLAYED!?
PostedDecember 20, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Ladies and Gentlemen, we may have a new contender for best HOPA of 2013! And what a time for it to come, with ten days left of the year! I had so much fun with the game and the demo flew by in a flash. I'll have to wait until next year to play it when the SE comes out, because I don't really care for CE Extras.
The story starts off with an absolute bang. It's fast paced and thrilling with a ton of action. Then, much to my confusion at first, we were transported back to three weeks earlier. I didn't understand this at all when it first happened, but when I played along, I found out.
After the move back in time, the story becomes mysterious right from the get go. It appears we're being followed by this mysterious man, and we must find out who he is. The demo ends on a cliffhanger and just makes want to click that little green buy button, regardless of the CE Extras. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to play more!
After the move back in time, the story becomes mysterious right from the get go. It appears we're being followed by this mysterious man, and we must find out who he is. The demo ends on a cliffhanger and just makes want to click that little green buy button, regardless of the CE Extras. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to play more!
The gameplay is where it really gets good. Like I said, I had heaps of fun with it, which is rare for me these days, because most of the games I like are story driven. The HOS were longer than usual and also quite challenging, because there were a number of different objects to find. Most of the HOS are junkpile, with the occasional silhouette scene. Let's take the first HOS, for example: This was divided in to three parts. The first was silhouette, the second was a small junkpile, and the third was a bigger junkpile. I applaud the developers for going outside the box with this and making the game slightly more challenging.
The puzzles were also fairly challenging. I was able to solve one, I think, but the others had to be skipped, which was a bit of a shame, but no surprise. The puzzles had clear instructions and some were fun to play.
The game also features a H.E.L.P Box, which stores clues about the investigation. It is not used much, but it's a nice feature.
The puzzles were also fairly challenging. I was able to solve one, I think, but the others had to be skipped, which was a bit of a shame, but no surprise. The puzzles had clear instructions and some were fun to play.
The game also features a H.E.L.P Box, which stores clues about the investigation. It is not used much, but it's a nice feature.
The graphics are great. They're very well drawn and are nice and colourful. Each scene is so wonderful and clear, and the character designs are good. The voice-overs are standard, not over done or under done. I have no comment.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Explorer (easy), Expedition Guide (medium), Journey Master (hard) and Custom. Differences are hint/skip recharge times, sparkles, misclick penalties and the map function. I played Explorer.
Map- is interactive in explorer difficulty and very helpful. It tells you where there is something to be done.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable speed for the difficulty, and the hint is helpful outside HOS. The hint also acts as a portal, and can transport you to the scene where your next task is.
H.E.L.P Box- as I said, it's not used much, but it's a nice feature. The H.E.L.P Box stores clues about the investigation, kind of like a Diary. I'm guessing this is used in place of the Diary.
4 modes of difficulty: Explorer (easy), Expedition Guide (medium), Journey Master (hard) and Custom. Differences are hint/skip recharge times, sparkles, misclick penalties and the map function. I played Explorer.
Map- is interactive in explorer difficulty and very helpful. It tells you where there is something to be done.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a reasonable speed for the difficulty, and the hint is helpful outside HOS. The hint also acts as a portal, and can transport you to the scene where your next task is.
H.E.L.P Box- as I said, it's not used much, but it's a nice feature. The H.E.L.P Box stores clues about the investigation, kind of like a Diary. I'm guessing this is used in place of the Diary.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Built in Strategy Guide.
Achievements.
Collectible cards (30)
Collectibe Smithsonian symbols (unsure how many)
Morphing objects- found only in HOS (17)
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed.
Concept Art
Replay puzzles
Replay HOS
Something called “Souvenir Room”- unsure what this is, as it is only revealed after completing the game.
Music
Wallpapers
Built in Strategy Guide.
Achievements.
Collectible cards (30)
Collectibe Smithsonian symbols (unsure how many)
Morphing objects- found only in HOS (17)
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed.
Concept Art
Replay puzzles
Replay HOS
Something called “Souvenir Room”- unsure what this is, as it is only revealed after completing the game.
Music
Wallpapers
This game has A LOT of CE Extras, so those who are wondering, the CE is worth it! However, as I don't like CE Extras, I will be happy to wait for the SE. This is truly a 5 star game, and I can't wait to see how it ends.
I recommend this game!
You're called to a health spa in the Alps, where an evil professor has something terrible in mind for his unwitting patients.
Overall rating
5
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
This is MY Type of Game!
PostedDecember 10, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
With this developer, it was always either good story or good gameplay, but never both. I have trialled most of this developer's other games, and this was always the case. Now, it seems we can have both! This game had a great story, great gameplay, and was just an all-round good game! I will be getting the SE!
The story is wonderful. It's just my kind of story! It's similar to other games I own and love, so when I read the blurb, I knew I'd love it. It's like a cross between Surface 2 and American Horror Story: Asylum. I loved both that game and that TV show, so this story is my dream! In my last review of a game by this developer, I was critical about the story having no twists and everything being predictable. Well, this game was the exact opposite! The demo had a twist that I wasn't expecting at all. I can't wait to see how the story ends! It was so exciting, and I was just playing on and on. The demo went by in a flash! The story just grips you. I guarantee once you start, you won't be able to stop!
With most games, it seems you either have a great story or great gameplay; one is always much better than the other. With this game, both are equally as good. I'll admit, the different HOS took me a bit of time to get used to, but once I did, I loved it! There are three types of HOS: Place the item in the scene, silhouette HOS and the standard junkpile. I had a lot of fun playing the HOS, and loved each type equally, but I'd say the most difficult one was place the item in the scene. The junkpile scenes included interactive objects, which was nice.
The puzzles were a bit of a challenge for me, but I was able to solve most of them. I think, from memory, I had to skip one. The other puzzles took some time and thinking, but I was able to solve them. I also had quite a bit of fun along the way! Well done, developers, for some great puzzles.
Now, for the normal gameplay:
It was a little weird at first, after having played so many games by this developer with the inventory at the top, to finally see it at the bottom, but that wasn't an issue for me. The game is quite easy to navigate, with all the usual controls and stuff. The game was pretty easy to play. I only had to use the hint a few times. I'd say experienced players won't have much trouble with this game.
The puzzles were a bit of a challenge for me, but I was able to solve most of them. I think, from memory, I had to skip one. The other puzzles took some time and thinking, but I was able to solve them. I also had quite a bit of fun along the way! Well done, developers, for some great puzzles.
Now, for the normal gameplay:
It was a little weird at first, after having played so many games by this developer with the inventory at the top, to finally see it at the bottom, but that wasn't an issue for me. The game is quite easy to navigate, with all the usual controls and stuff. The game was pretty easy to play. I only had to use the hint a few times. I'd say experienced players won't have much trouble with this game.
The graphics are the only thing that needs a bit of working on. I found the graphics to be out-dated, nowhere near as good as most of the graphics we see today. I found them to be a little grainy in some areas. I wished the developers had worked on the graphics a little more.
The voice-overs are standard, nothing really worth commenting on.
The voice-overs are standard, nothing really worth commenting on.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hardcore. Differences are hint and skip recharge times and sparkles, with Hardcore shutting off the hint/skip function and sparkles. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharged fairly quickly for Casual and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Used regularly.
Map- there is a map in this game, and it is interactive, It is helpful, telling you where there are tasks needing to be completed.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hardcore. Differences are hint and skip recharge times and sparkles, with Hardcore shutting off the hint/skip function and sparkles. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharged fairly quickly for Casual and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- used to keep track of events. Used regularly.
Map- there is a map in this game, and it is interactive, It is helpful, telling you where there are tasks needing to be completed.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Built in Strategy Guide- very useful for puzzles.
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed.
Achievements
Collectible canes- there are 31 in the game.
Bonus mini-games
Concept art
Built in Strategy Guide- very useful for puzzles.
Bonus Chapter- unsure if needed.
Achievements
Collectible canes- there are 31 in the game.
Bonus mini-games
Concept art
I have no interest in the CE Bonus stuff, so I'll go ahead and wait for the SE. This is truly deserving of its ratings. I'm giving this five stars.
My advice? Wait for the SE. Unless, of course, you like achievements and collectibles.
I recommend this game!
Once again black powers have seized the kingdom of Orion. The entire city is gripped by fear and it's up to you to save them, and yourself!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Fun, Challenging and Lengthy!
PostedDecember 8, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
NOTE:
Review is of completed STANDARD EDITION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've always liked the Echoes of the Past series, but this is the one that stood out for me. Unlike most games I own, I liked it for the gameplay and not the story. It was a decent sized game, but did not end conclusively. I believe this was to add suspense for the fifth game.
Review is of completed STANDARD EDITION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've always liked the Echoes of the Past series, but this is the one that stood out for me. Unlike most games I own, I liked it for the gameplay and not the story. It was a decent sized game, but did not end conclusively. I believe this was to add suspense for the fifth game.
Like I said, I bought this game for the gameplay, not the story. The story, in my opinion, was actually fairly weak. There were no twists in it at all. Everything just seemed to go along as predicted. It was set in medieval times with monsters and magic and whatnot, all that would be expected from a medieval game. The story goes like this: You've been transported to some medieval world where a magician asks for your help in defeating the witch. To do this, you must find 10 green gems and use the magical staff given to you by the magician.
Where I think this story went wrong was the fact that there were no twists, surprises or anything unexpected. Everything went the way I expected it to go, which eventually made the story boring. Also, as I said, the story doesn't end conclusively. It's a rather abrupt ending, and it kind of made me feel ripped off.
Where I think this story went wrong was the fact that there were no twists, surprises or anything unexpected. Everything went the way I expected it to go, which eventually made the story boring. Also, as I said, the story doesn't end conclusively. It's a rather abrupt ending, and it kind of made me feel ripped off.
The gameplay is where the game starts to get good. It was very fun and was quite a challenge. I had to consult the walkthrough a number of times to solve puzzles!
Speaking of puzzles, there were quite a lot of them. A lot of the puzzles repeated in this game (for example, the crystal puzzle, the magician puzzle and the aquarium puzzle), but I quite enjoyed them, especially the crystal puzzle. I guess it would have been better had the puzzles been different every time, but, oh well. One thing I will comment on is that the ratio of puzzles to HOS was not good in my opinion. There were way more puzzles than HOS. I would have liked to see things evened up a little.
On the subject of HOS, I quite enjoyed them. There were two types of HOS: Standard junkpile and place the item. Both were very fun and I found both to be quite easy. The junkpile scenes included extra step objects to try and make them a little harder.
The standard gameplay was a little different to most. After playing so many games with the inventory at the bottom, it was strange to have the inventory at the top of the screen for this game. It took some getting used to, but it was good. Other than that, navigation is quite easy. Experienced players should have no trouble completing this game. One thing that kind of annoyed me about the gameplay was the amount of backtracking. There is a lot of backtracking in this game, and I mean a lot. Old locations are revisited frequently, and with NO MAP, this became very annoying very quickly.
Speaking of puzzles, there were quite a lot of them. A lot of the puzzles repeated in this game (for example, the crystal puzzle, the magician puzzle and the aquarium puzzle), but I quite enjoyed them, especially the crystal puzzle. I guess it would have been better had the puzzles been different every time, but, oh well. One thing I will comment on is that the ratio of puzzles to HOS was not good in my opinion. There were way more puzzles than HOS. I would have liked to see things evened up a little.
On the subject of HOS, I quite enjoyed them. There were two types of HOS: Standard junkpile and place the item. Both were very fun and I found both to be quite easy. The junkpile scenes included extra step objects to try and make them a little harder.
The standard gameplay was a little different to most. After playing so many games with the inventory at the bottom, it was strange to have the inventory at the top of the screen for this game. It took some getting used to, but it was good. Other than that, navigation is quite easy. Experienced players should have no trouble completing this game. One thing that kind of annoyed me about the gameplay was the amount of backtracking. There is a lot of backtracking in this game, and I mean a lot. Old locations are revisited frequently, and with NO MAP, this became very annoying very quickly.
The graphics are clear, but aren't the best. The scenes are clear, but to be honest, the character designs are outdated and need a lot more work. The voice-overs are just standard. They aren't good, but they aren't bad either.
FEATURES
3 modes of play: Regular, Advanced and Expert. The differences in difficulties are hint/skip charge times and sparkles. I played Casual, which is sparkle heavy.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge fairly fast for casual. The hint is extremely helpful outside HOS.
Diary- Used fairly often, keeps track of the game's events. What was different about this diary was that it was written in narrative form, and begins keeping track right from the beginning of the game. This was a nice touch.
3 modes of play: Regular, Advanced and Expert. The differences in difficulties are hint/skip charge times and sparkles. I played Casual, which is sparkle heavy.
Hint/Skip- Both recharge fairly fast for casual. The hint is extremely helpful outside HOS.
Diary- Used fairly often, keeps track of the game's events. What was different about this diary was that it was written in narrative form, and begins keeping track right from the beginning of the game. This was a nice touch.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I GET THE SE?
Bonus Chapter. Game does NOT end conclusively, but I assumed that was to create a story for the fifth game. Unsure if needed.
Built in Strategy Guide. Some may find they need this for puzzles. I had to use the walkthrough multiple times for puzzles.
Bonus minigames
Something called “Game Designer Mode”.
Bonus Chapter. Game does NOT end conclusively, but I assumed that was to create a story for the fifth game. Unsure if needed.
Built in Strategy Guide. Some may find they need this for puzzles. I had to use the walkthrough multiple times for puzzles.
Bonus minigames
Something called “Game Designer Mode”.
So, without a doubt, I'd say I was happy with the SE, even with the inconclusive ending. The ending was really abrupt, as I mentioned, BUT I believe they only did this to build up to the next game, as the ending cutscene is pretty close to the beginning cutscene for the next game. This is a solid four star game for me. It's challenging, fun and lengthy (see game length note below), but falls short of being a five star game due to an incredibly weak story.
On the game length:
This game was very lengthy for me. I found it to be 4 hours on easy mode, which is VERY long for me. This is one of the longest games I have ever played. I timed my gameplay from beginning to end, no skipping cutscenes. I did skip a few puzzles, so the game would have been even longer had I not skipped them.
This game was very lengthy for me. I found it to be 4 hours on easy mode, which is VERY long for me. This is one of the longest games I have ever played. I timed my gameplay from beginning to end, no skipping cutscenes. I did skip a few puzzles, so the game would have been even longer had I not skipped them.
I recommend this game!
Solve the mystery of a seaside town as you uncover your lost memories!
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
Very Challenging and Entertaining!
PostedDecember 1, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Note:
This is a review of the COMPLETED game.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd had this game on my purchase list for a long time, so when a sale came up, I purchased it. This turned out to be a good game, but fell way short of being a great one.
This is a review of the COMPLETED game.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd had this game on my purchase list for a long time, so when a sale came up, I purchased it. This turned out to be a good game, but fell way short of being a great one.
At first, I was a bit skeptical about the story. It's an aquatic theme- I really don't like aquatic themes, and it's a love story, which I'm open to as long as it's not too lovey dovey. All I have to say is never judge a book by its cover, because the story was great! The story starts with you, Marcus, being pushed off a cliff and supposedly drowned, but you survive, with your memories completely lost and a locket in your hand of a girl. And so, you set off to reclaim your memories and get the girl!
One of the things that stood out for me about this story was the character of Vasco. He is, perhaps, one of the greatest villains in HOPA game history. I don't know why, I just liked him a lot. I liked how evil he was, and how he always seemed to be one step ahead of us. He also reminded me a little bit of a horrible movie villain- trying the same method to kill me over and over again, and not making sure that I'd died, as well as the trapdoors. I'd have to say, I did like most of the characters (as well as the dolphin), and I liked how the dolphin was used in the story.
Something else that stood out for me with this story was its little side plot. It wasn't all about the love triangle with the psychotic murderer, there was this little side plot of the Sea People, which began midway through the first chapter, and ended around the fifth.
I found the story had quite a few unexpected twists, but the biggest twist in the story is saved for last. I'll say no more, but it's one that I certainly wasn't expecting!
The only bad thing about this story was that it was sometimes confusing. From about halfway through chapter three to the start of chapter five, I had no idea if we were in the past or present, because Dolores looked a lot younger than she did at the beginning, but the main character's memories were still gone. Then, it cleared up and I found out where in time I actually was. If the developer ever did a story like this again, I'd say they should make it clear at all times whether we are in the past, present, or future.
One of the things that stood out for me about this story was the character of Vasco. He is, perhaps, one of the greatest villains in HOPA game history. I don't know why, I just liked him a lot. I liked how evil he was, and how he always seemed to be one step ahead of us. He also reminded me a little bit of a horrible movie villain- trying the same method to kill me over and over again, and not making sure that I'd died, as well as the trapdoors. I'd have to say, I did like most of the characters (as well as the dolphin), and I liked how the dolphin was used in the story.
Something else that stood out for me with this story was its little side plot. It wasn't all about the love triangle with the psychotic murderer, there was this little side plot of the Sea People, which began midway through the first chapter, and ended around the fifth.
I found the story had quite a few unexpected twists, but the biggest twist in the story is saved for last. I'll say no more, but it's one that I certainly wasn't expecting!
The only bad thing about this story was that it was sometimes confusing. From about halfway through chapter three to the start of chapter five, I had no idea if we were in the past or present, because Dolores looked a lot younger than she did at the beginning, but the main character's memories were still gone. Then, it cleared up and I found out where in time I actually was. If the developer ever did a story like this again, I'd say they should make it clear at all times whether we are in the past, present, or future.
I'd have to say this is one of the most challenging games I've ever played. The HOS I found rather easy, but some of the puzzles were really hard! I'll start with the HOS:
There were two types of HOS in this game: Interactive Silhouette and Junkpile. In silhouette, you were given the silhouettes of items and you had to find that item to use in the scene. At first, I found this difficult, but it became easier as the game progressed. The other HOS, junkpile, was the standard one seen in HOPA games, and also had some extra step items.
As for the puzzles, boy, they are some of the most challenging puzzles I have ever encountered! I had to skip the majority of them, and some of the ones I did finish took me a long time to complete. The two longest ones for me were the billiards puzzle (spent ten minutes trying to solve before skipping) and the exploding gems puzzle (spent fifteen minutes on it before eventually solving). I was really impressed with the effort Blam put in to these puzzles, so I commend them.
There were two types of HOS in this game: Interactive Silhouette and Junkpile. In silhouette, you were given the silhouettes of items and you had to find that item to use in the scene. At first, I found this difficult, but it became easier as the game progressed. The other HOS, junkpile, was the standard one seen in HOPA games, and also had some extra step items.
As for the puzzles, boy, they are some of the most challenging puzzles I have ever encountered! I had to skip the majority of them, and some of the ones I did finish took me a long time to complete. The two longest ones for me were the billiards puzzle (spent ten minutes trying to solve before skipping) and the exploding gems puzzle (spent fifteen minutes on it before eventually solving). I was really impressed with the effort Blam put in to these puzzles, so I commend them.
The graphics were good. They were up to date for a 2013 game and were very clear. The scenes for the HOS were the clearest drawn scenes in the game. The only flaw I found in the graphics was that the character's lips did not move in time with the speech, and I found that the character design could have been worked on a little more.
The voices were pretty much standard for any HOPA, so I have no comment.
The voices were pretty much standard for any HOPA, so I have no comment.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. There is also an option to turn the interactive map on or off. I played Casual and turned the map on.
Hint and Skip- both recharge rather quickly for their difficulty and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events in the game. It's used fairly often.
Interactive Map- extremely helpful. Let's you know where the next task needs to be completed.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. There is also an option to turn the interactive map on or off. I played Casual and turned the map on.
Hint and Skip- both recharge rather quickly for their difficulty and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- keeps track of events in the game. It's used fairly often.
Interactive Map- extremely helpful. Let's you know where the next task needs to be completed.
The story ended conclusively, so I was pretty happy with the Standard Edition. Like I said before, this is good, but not great. This is a solid four stars for me. I'd recommend buying the SE, but the CE has some good extras in it for those who like the extras.
I recommend this game!
Save the kingdom and reunite Princess Isabella with her prince in the exciting conclusion to the Princess Isabella trilogy!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 3 found this review helpful
One of the Most Fun Games I Have Ever Played
PostedNovember 29, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
NOTE: Review is of completed STANDARD EDITION
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This is the third and, I assume, the final Princess Isabella game. I hated the other two games with a passion, but for some reason, this game really took my fancy! Everyone knows I hate cute games, but this game was just so much fun! I bought the SE and loved it.
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This is the third and, I assume, the final Princess Isabella game. I hated the other two games with a passion, but for some reason, this game really took my fancy! Everyone knows I hate cute games, but this game was just so much fun! I bought the SE and loved it.
The story, I'll admit, could have been better. That being said, I did like it. The story begins with the witch capturing your three fairy godmothers, and then, with the help of Dragon, Fairy and Owl, it's up to you to stop them. There weren't many twists in this story, it was all what was to be expected. Bella goes after the witch, enters the castle and so forth. My favourite bits were definitely the cutscenes after your fairy godmothers were rescued. They added extra information to the story and gave you hints on how to beat the witch.
Overall, I'd say this story is a bit weak, even for a cute game, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
Overall, I'd say this story is a bit weak, even for a cute game, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
I found the gameplay to be very fun, but very easy (not that I'm complaining, I like easy). The gameplay was the best part of the game and what initially swayed me to buy this. I think Gogii can read my mind- I love collecting portrait pieces and having awesome powers to use! This is exactly my kind of gameplay. Gogii have almost created the perfect game.
The puzzles and HOS were fairly easy, although that's not a problem for me. The HOS were very simple. It was all junkpile with no extra step objects. The game is a bit HOS heavy for the first hour, but then slows down for the rest of the game. I had no problem with this, but for those who don't like too many HOS, this may not be the game for you.
The puzzles were also fairly easy, which I loved. To my delight, I was able to solve the majority of the puzzles, with only one or two needing to be skipped. The puzzles were also fun to play! I don't think I've ever had as much fun playing a game as I had with this one. I must mention that I especially like the HOS showdown and the battle with the eye at the end of the game. They were both unique and wonderful!
The puzzles and HOS were fairly easy, although that's not a problem for me. The HOS were very simple. It was all junkpile with no extra step objects. The game is a bit HOS heavy for the first hour, but then slows down for the rest of the game. I had no problem with this, but for those who don't like too many HOS, this may not be the game for you.
The puzzles were also fairly easy, which I loved. To my delight, I was able to solve the majority of the puzzles, with only one or two needing to be skipped. The puzzles were also fun to play! I don't think I've ever had as much fun playing a game as I had with this one. I must mention that I especially like the HOS showdown and the battle with the eye at the end of the game. They were both unique and wonderful!
Aside from the powers and portrait pieces, this is pretty much your standard HOPA. It's got all the basics: Hint, skip, diary, etc. but no map, which was a shame. This is a great start for beginners, and experienced players should have no trouble with it.
Like I said before, it's almost as if Gogii has read my mind. This is my type of gameplay; easy and fun. I commend Gogii on their efforts!
Like I said before, it's almost as if Gogii has read my mind. This is my type of gameplay; easy and fun. I commend Gogii on their efforts!
The graphics were good to look at, but could have used a bit more work. I mean, the artwork was nice and pretty, but it's not the best I've seen. One thing I liked about the graphics was when the rooms turned from evil to nice. The graphics were so pretty in those scenes! Well done to Gogii for making the graphics pretty. To improve on the next game, the graphics could be slightly more detailed.
The voice-overs were average. Some characters were good, others I hated. For example, the character of Fairy had the most annoying voice I've ever heard in my life, and I jumped for joy when she was killed off and I realised I didn't have to listen to her again! She sounded like a sped up squirrel or something. It was just terrible. The other voices were okay, though.
The voice-overs were average. Some characters were good, others I hated. For example, the character of Fairy had the most annoying voice I've ever heard in my life, and I jumped for joy when she was killed off and I realised I didn't have to listen to her again! She sounded like a sped up squirrel or something. It was just terrible. The other voices were okay, though.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Hard and Custom. Custom allows you to set the game how you want it. In custom, you can change hint and skip recharge times, sparkles and you can turn the tutorial on or off. I played Casual.
Hint and Skip- both recharged fairly quickly for the difficulty, and the hint is very useful outside HOS.
Diary- this is used regularly and keeps track of the game's events.
3 Fairy Godmothers- after being rescued, each Fairy Godmother gives you a power. These powers are Growth, Wind, and Rejuvenation. Each power is used fairly often in the game.
Dragon's Flute- This is used to call Dragon down to help you with obstacles in the game. There are two songs on it: Lift Song and Fire Song. This feature is used a fair bit in the first part of the game, but is hardly used from then onwards. I would've liked to see more of this feature.
Portrait Pieces- There are 4 portraits to assemble, each one having an increasing amount of pieces. The pieces are fairly easy to find, and are found rather quickly.
Magic Wand- This can be used to control animals or break things, but it's mostly used for the latter. It's used a bit throughout the game, but like the Flute, it's used more often in the first part of the game.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Hard and Custom. Custom allows you to set the game how you want it. In custom, you can change hint and skip recharge times, sparkles and you can turn the tutorial on or off. I played Casual.
Hint and Skip- both recharged fairly quickly for the difficulty, and the hint is very useful outside HOS.
Diary- this is used regularly and keeps track of the game's events.
3 Fairy Godmothers- after being rescued, each Fairy Godmother gives you a power. These powers are Growth, Wind, and Rejuvenation. Each power is used fairly often in the game.
Dragon's Flute- This is used to call Dragon down to help you with obstacles in the game. There are two songs on it: Lift Song and Fire Song. This feature is used a fair bit in the first part of the game, but is hardly used from then onwards. I would've liked to see more of this feature.
Portrait Pieces- There are 4 portraits to assemble, each one having an increasing amount of pieces. The pieces are fairly easy to find, and are found rather quickly.
Magic Wand- This can be used to control animals or break things, but it's mostly used for the latter. It's used a bit throughout the game, but like the Flute, it's used more often in the first part of the game.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter- not needed. The game ends conclusively.
Built in Strategy Guide.
Behind the Scenes- With this, you can see images from the making of the game.
Concept Art
Video Gallery
Wallpapers
Bonus Chapter- not needed. The game ends conclusively.
Built in Strategy Guide.
Behind the Scenes- With this, you can see images from the making of the game.
Concept Art
Video Gallery
Wallpapers
To conclude, I think the SE is the much better buy. With no achievements or collectibles apart from the portrait pieces, there is really no need for the CE. This is a wonderful game. It's the only cute game I've enjoyed, and I know you'll love it!
On the game length:
I'd estimate the game to be somewhere between 2.5 and 3 hours on Casual Mode.
I'd estimate the game to be somewhere between 2.5 and 3 hours on Casual Mode.
I recommend this game!