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:
Your murderous half-sister has escaped, and you've got the last piece of your father's treacherous film projector...
Overall rating
4
/
5
15 of 18 found this review helpful
A Good Old Thriller Just Right For A Rainy Day- Based on Demo
PostedJuly 12, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Reviewers Note: Level of Challenge for me is primarily based on HOS and Puzzles.
Well, Eipix has been making some pretty good games lately, and Final Cut: Encore is added to that list. I really enjoyed the trial, but, once again I will wait for the SE release.
The storyline is favourite kind and starts brilliantly, which is what first got me hooked. Then, near the end of the demo, there is another sick twist that leaves you desperately wanting more. The game uses live actors for the cutscenes, making it just like watching a movie.
The HOS are great. There was just the right amount for me. The HOS include extra step objects and I found them rather easy, allowing me to collect a number of HOS achievements. For those who do not want to play the HOS, there is an option of Match 3. This is very fun and also easy.
The puzzles were great. Eipix took all gamers in to account as some were easy and others a little harder. On Casual mode, the Skip recharges incredibly quickly for those who find the puzzles too hard or just can’t be bothered doing them. The Strategy Guide provides solutions for the puzzles, but only through screenshots.
The puzzles were great. Eipix took all gamers in to account as some were easy and others a little harder. On Casual mode, the Skip recharges incredibly quickly for those who find the puzzles too hard or just can’t be bothered doing them. The Strategy Guide provides solutions for the puzzles, but only through screenshots.
The gameplay was nothing new to me, and I had no issues with getting stuck, which is a bonus. One thing that annoyed me though- You had to switch between 2 different “worlds” to get things- something which really drives me insane in games.
Something that I found to be more useful than usual was the hint. The hint acts as an interactive map, so you don’t have to waste time backtracking or using a map. Well done to the developers on this.
Something that I found to be more useful than usual was the hint. The hint acts as an interactive map, so you don’t have to waste time backtracking or using a map. Well done to the developers on this.
The graphics are excellently done. The cutscenes use real actors, and at times it’s like watching a movie. Other than that, the HOS are done really well, as are other scenes in the game. Kudos to the developers for their extra effort.
The voice-overs are nothing special, but they were done well enough to make the game interesting. There is nothing really to comment on the voice-overs.
The voice-overs are nothing special, but they were done well enough to make the game interesting. There is nothing really to comment on the voice-overs.
FEATURES
- Diary to keep track of events.
- Map. The map is interactive, although I did not use it as I had the hint.
- 3 modes of play- Casual, Challenging and Expert. I played Casual, as I always do when first playing a game.
- Hint and Skip- the hint and skip recharge incredibly quickly on casual and the hint is extremely useful outside HOS, acting as an interactive map.
- Strategy Guide (CE Exclusive)- Helped me solve a couple of puzzles.
- Achievements (CE Exclusive)
- Collectible film reels (CE Exclusive)
- Downloadable soundtrack and wallpapers (CE Exclusive- Bonus content)
- Bonus Chapter (CE Exclusive- Bonus Content)
- Concept Art (CE Exclusive- Bonus Content)
- Diary to keep track of events.
- Map. The map is interactive, although I did not use it as I had the hint.
- 3 modes of play- Casual, Challenging and Expert. I played Casual, as I always do when first playing a game.
- Hint and Skip- the hint and skip recharge incredibly quickly on casual and the hint is extremely useful outside HOS, acting as an interactive map.
- Strategy Guide (CE Exclusive)- Helped me solve a couple of puzzles.
- Achievements (CE Exclusive)
- Collectible film reels (CE Exclusive)
- Downloadable soundtrack and wallpapers (CE Exclusive- Bonus content)
- Bonus Chapter (CE Exclusive- Bonus Content)
- Concept Art (CE Exclusive- Bonus Content)
The demo is a solid 45 minutes and the game is packed full of CE Extras, but the file size is HUGE at 1.2GB. What’s with all the big games lately? If you have limited internet and/or computer space, I would advise waiting for the SE. If you like extras, take the CE. Either way, I recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
A letter offers new information about Elizabeth just as Lynn's powers have awakened. Help her overcome the darkness before it's too late!
Overall rating
3
/
5
10 of 12 found this review helpful
Has Potential, But The Demo Is Boring.
PostedJuly 12, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Well, I hated the last game in the series, but this one was better. While it didn’t hook me once, I didn’t mind playing the demo.
The story continues where we left off from the last game, and the intro gives us a helpful reminder of what happened, so that’s a huge spoiler to those who haven’t played the last game yet. The story didn’t hook me at all. I believe the main reason was because the story took AGES to get in to. Seriously, the demo was all build-up (or at least that’s what I thought it was). The developers would have lost quite a few players there, as they did me. I’m sorry, but the story did not impress me. Here’s a tip next time- Make something interesting happen in the demo!
Where the Developer has improved big time is on the HOS. For the first time, players have the choice of either the standard HOS or the matching game. To cross an object off the list, the player must make 2 matches. You can switch over any time.
The HOS include extra step objects, which add extra challenge to it. The HOS aren’t too easy, but aren’t too hard either. I enjoyed playing them and found they were evenly spaced out (meaning that there wasn’t one in every scene).
The puzzles are a mixed bag. Some I found extremely easy, but others I couldn’t solve. What surprised me was how quickly the skip button recharged on Casual mode. It charged almost instantly, so if you can’t be bothered playing the puzzles, there’s your way out. Overall, I was impressed with the puzzles, so kudos to the developers.
The HOS include extra step objects, which add extra challenge to it. The HOS aren’t too easy, but aren’t too hard either. I enjoyed playing them and found they were evenly spaced out (meaning that there wasn’t one in every scene).
The puzzles are a mixed bag. Some I found extremely easy, but others I couldn’t solve. What surprised me was how quickly the skip button recharged on Casual mode. It charged almost instantly, so if you can’t be bothered playing the puzzles, there’s your way out. Overall, I was impressed with the puzzles, so kudos to the developers.
The gameplay is nothing new, so an experienced HOG player shouldn’t have any trouble with this. At the start of the game, you acquire an imp, which you get to name, that helps you with the occasional job. I was a little disappointed to find out that the imp is only used 10 times in the game, as I had used him 4 or 5 times throughout the demo. There are also achievements and collectibles in the form of “beyond” objects and jigsaw pieces. The game in itself though I am guessing is pretty short. The game has an in-game progress tracker that tells you how much of the game you have completed. By the end of the demo (about 35-40 minutes) I had completed 33% (approx. 1/3 of the game) which gives me the impression that the game is short, but I may be wrong.
The graphics were pretty decent. The artwork is pretty good but is at its best in the character designs. The character artwork is extremely well-drawn and everything else is clear. There are no issues with the graphics.
The voice-overs were standard. Nothing stood out either way. The developers have done a decent job with the voice-overs.
The voice-overs were standard. Nothing stood out either way. The developers have done a decent job with the voice-overs.
FEATURES
- 3 modes of play- Casual, Advanced, Hard.
- Hint and Skip- both charge fairly quickly on Casual and the hint is very useful outside HOS.
- Diary to keep track of events.
- There is an interactive map that is extremely useful.
- An imp that helps you with things. You get to name it.
- There is a Strategy Guide, but I didn’t use it. (CE Exclusive)
- Achievements (CE Exclusive)
- Collectible “beyond objects” and jigsaw pieces. (CE Exclusive)
- Bonus game (CE Exclusive)
- The usual bonus content (CE Exclusive)
- 3 modes of play- Casual, Advanced, Hard.
- Hint and Skip- both charge fairly quickly on Casual and the hint is very useful outside HOS.
- Diary to keep track of events.
- There is an interactive map that is extremely useful.
- An imp that helps you with things. You get to name it.
- There is a Strategy Guide, but I didn’t use it. (CE Exclusive)
- Achievements (CE Exclusive)
- Collectible “beyond objects” and jigsaw pieces. (CE Exclusive)
- Bonus game (CE Exclusive)
- The usual bonus content (CE Exclusive)
This game didn’t get me engaged at all, and while I don’t dislike the game enough to give it a two, I can’t really recommend it at all because of the demo.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore the magical world of Enchantia as you race to save the land from the evil Phoenix Queen.
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Did... Did I Just Play A Blue Tea Game?
PostedJuly 10, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I found this game to be quite boring to begin with, but it did get slightly better as the game progressed. Once again, Blue Tea has not floored me with a game, and I was very disappointed, considering the file size for the trial was 542MB.
The story was fairly uninteresting for me. It’s a typical good versus evil battle with some medieval and magical twists. The story interested me a couple of times, but overall, it didn’t intrigue me. I played 35 minutes of the trial before I got bored and quit.
Blue Tea’s HOS returned in this game. These HOS are so unique, and there are a lot of objects to find in each scene, so a Hidden Object lover will have no trouble. Unlike a few games these days, there is only one type of HOS.
The puzzles were relatively simple and had easy to follow instructions and simple controls. A player should have no issue here, although I skipped all the puzzles because I couldn’t be bothered doing them. If you run in to any difficulty, the skip button is quick to recharge.
The puzzles were relatively simple and had easy to follow instructions and simple controls. A player should have no issue here, although I skipped all the puzzles because I couldn’t be bothered doing them. If you run in to any difficulty, the skip button is quick to recharge.
The gameplay is rather simple and straightforward, with the hint providing excellent help if you need it, telling you where to go and what to do. This would be a great game for beginners, as I did not get stuck once. One thing I must mention that annoyed me was the tutorial. It was the worst I’ve seen in a game. The tutorial has a VOICE-OVER! The voice-over for the tutorial was extremely annoying, dull and slow. I had read the text ages before the voice finished… Never again will I take the tutorial for this game!
The graphics, as always, were outstanding. A lot of detail was put in to artwork and character design, with everything being extremely clear. Character voice-overs were standard, with nothing outstanding, but they weren’t terrible either.
FEATURES
- 3 modes of play, the usual Casual, Advanced and Hard. I played Casual.
- Hint and Skip- they recharge quickly on casual, and the hint is extremely useful outside HOS.
- There is a compass that acts as a map that allows you to travel all over Enchantia. However, I did not find a map that allowed you to travel between different parts of the locations (e.g. to one area of the forest)
- There is no Diary, which is odd for games of this genre lately.
- 3 modes of play, the usual Casual, Advanced and Hard. I played Casual.
- Hint and Skip- they recharge quickly on casual, and the hint is extremely useful outside HOS.
- There is a compass that acts as a map that allows you to travel all over Enchantia. However, I did not find a map that allowed you to travel between different parts of the locations (e.g. to one area of the forest)
- There is no Diary, which is odd for games of this genre lately.
I found this game to be rather disappointing, and in all honesty, I believe it is not worth the 1GB download. For a game that large, the game has to be outstanding, and it just wasn’t. I can’t recommend this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Guide a mother who pursues a terrifying apparition into a twisted reality to save her daughter.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 8 found this review helpful
Loved It From The Start, But Will Wait for the SE.
PostedJuly 8, 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
5
/
5
Having enjoyed the trial of the first Stray Souls, I was happy to try this one, and I’m glad I did! I was hooked from beginning to end of the demo and really want to buy this!
The storyline is absolutely amazing. It’s gripping and scary and takes so many twists. Every cutscene left me wondering what was going to happen next, and the demo ends at a crucial point. At first, I thought it was just your average “find the missing family member” story, but as I progressed, I found it was anything but!
The games’ story features elements that return from the last game, such as the straw doll and the dollhouse. I saw reviewers complaining, but the game has just done this even better! Also, there are now voice-overs, which were missing from the last game.
The games’ story features elements that return from the last game, such as the straw doll and the dollhouse. I saw reviewers complaining, but the game has just done this even better! Also, there are now voice-overs, which were missing from the last game.
I saw 2 HOS throughout the demo I played, so I’m led to believe this is more of an adventure/puzzle game than an HOS, but I loved the HOS I did play. The HOS are the classic junkpile. I found them quite easy, but maybe that’s because I’m experienced. I don’t know.
The puzzles were quite good. Some puzzles I found quite challenging and others were a breeze. If I couldn’t solve a puzzle, I was aided by a fast recharging skip. It’s great that developers take every puzzler in to consideration.
The puzzles were quite good. Some puzzles I found quite challenging and others were a breeze. If I couldn’t solve a puzzle, I was aided by a fast recharging skip. It’s great that developers take every puzzler in to consideration.
The graphics were outstanding. Everything, from the cutscenes to the HOS and characters, was clear. The artwork is done brilliantly, as many reviewers have commented. Kudos to the developers for actually bothering to make the scenes great!
The game has 14 chapters, which seems like a lot, but they are short. I completed 4 in my 47 minute trial, which indicates to me that the game is about 3-3 ½ hours on casual mode. While short games are not an issue for me, other reviewers might be annoyed by this. However, this is one reason I am choosing the SE.
FEATURES
- 2 modes of difficulty- Casual and Advanced. There is not much difference except for hint and skip recharge times, no tutorial, and interactive areas not being highlighted.
- Hint and Skip recharge quickly on casual mode. They take approx. 30 seconds.
- Diary to keep track of events.
- Map. The map is useful and is interactive.
- Strategy Guide, which is, as I mentioned before, picture only. (CE Exclusive)
- Collectable dolls. Unsure how many there are.
- 2 modes of difficulty- Casual and Advanced. There is not much difference except for hint and skip recharge times, no tutorial, and interactive areas not being highlighted.
- Hint and Skip recharge quickly on casual mode. They take approx. 30 seconds.
- Diary to keep track of events.
- Map. The map is useful and is interactive.
- Strategy Guide, which is, as I mentioned before, picture only. (CE Exclusive)
- Collectable dolls. Unsure how many there are.
For me, it’s a no brainer to choose the SE over the CE for the following reasons:
• Picture only Strategy Guide
• Cannot see the bonus content- When I clicked on it at the start of the game, I was told that it was only available in the full version
• Game Length- I LOVE playing short games, but 3 hours main game for the CE? No. I’ll wait for the SE.
• Picture only Strategy Guide
• Cannot see the bonus content- When I clicked on it at the start of the game, I was told that it was only available in the full version
• Game Length- I LOVE playing short games, but 3 hours main game for the CE? No. I’ll wait for the SE.
So, to conclude, while this game was a delight, I’ll be happy to wait for a month for the SE.
I recommend this game!
A doctor has mysteriously vanished from a psychiatric clinic, and it’s up to you, hypnotist Maya Anderson, to solve the mystery!
Overall rating
3
/
5
43 of 51 found this review helpful
Something Different, But Will Prove To Be A Bore For Most.
PostedJuly 2, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
(163)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a real change of pace from the games we’ve been seeing lately. It’s a straight-up adventure, nothing else. I really enjoyed the time I spent playing it, but won’t be purchasing.
The story is actually quite interesting. As the game title suggests, you hypnotize your way in to someone’s mind and deal with problems. The reason you are doing this is you are trying to find your friend Dr. Blanche. I have no clue how long the story is, as there is no strategy guide, but I got through 2 patients and was on number 3 when I quit (with 20 minutes left of the demo). The patient visits are quite short.
Wandering around the game was simple and straightforward. When you did get stuck, there was the hint. The hint is rather helpful, so I did not have any point in the game where I was stuck. The game has an inventory, which is where you collect things that will help you solve the patients’ problems. The game mainly consists of wandering, collecting, fighting and entering patients minds. I found that the game does get really boring after a while, which is why I could only play it for 40 minutes.
Throughout the patients’ visits, there is a Phobia battle minigame that is a lot trickier than it seems! I failed quite a number of times. There is the option of fighting or skipping on all but the first phobia (where you must fight). The annoying thing about this was: Once you started, you couldn’t skip if things got hard, you either had to beat it or be stuck there. The phobia battles get trickier as you go along, and sometimes I was yelling at my computer in frustration. All the same, I did have fun with these battles.
Throughout the patients’ visits, there is a Phobia battle minigame that is a lot trickier than it seems! I failed quite a number of times. There is the option of fighting or skipping on all but the first phobia (where you must fight). The annoying thing about this was: Once you started, you couldn’t skip if things got hard, you either had to beat it or be stuck there. The phobia battles get trickier as you go along, and sometimes I was yelling at my computer in frustration. All the same, I did have fun with these battles.
The graphics were very well-drawn, with every scene exceptionally clear. The characters’ voice-overs were done well, too. I did not have a single issue with graphics or voice-overs. There is one thing, though: In the game, there was something in the subtitles along the lines of: “You’re parents still love you.” I was outraged by this- The developers have used the wrong your/you’re and have made a total fool of themselves in doing it! This is a mistake that a ten year old would make, not experienced adult developers.
FEATURES
- Hint. The hint has fast recharge speed and is extremely helpful.
- Store. The store features things varying from extra hints to clothes for the character to wear. These things can be bought from gems which are collected after solving a problem.
- Hint. The hint has fast recharge speed and is extremely helpful.
- Store. The store features things varying from extra hints to clothes for the character to wear. These things can be bought from gems which are collected after solving a problem.
So, while I enjoyed the time I spent on this game, I will not be buying it. I would advise beginners to steer clear of this game as there is NO WALKTHROUGH, MAP or DIARY, which may be quite a struggle for them. Other players should enjoy it though. I recommend the trial.
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
21 of 31 found this review helpful
Sheer Brilliance, But Is It Worth The 1.4GB Download? I Believe So!
PostedJuly 1, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
(163)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This developer has never wowed me before, so imagine my surprise when I got this gem! I was a little hesitant at first because of the large file size (trial is close to 500MB) and am still a little cautious about the full version size (1.4GB), but the demo I played was sheer brilliance! This is definitely a candidate for 2013.
The story seems to start out like any other. The Emperors son is poisoned and you must cure him. I assumed the first step was curing him, and the second would have you turning in to a detective to find out who poisoned him. This was not so! The story takes a brilliant twist at the end of the demo. Talk about the perfect place to leave us wanting more! This instantly made me consider buying.
The HOS were great. The scenes were very clear. There were two types of HOS: Silhouette and Junkpile. Silhouette was a lot easier than junkpile, but I found both fairly easy. In the junkpile scenes, you have the alternative of playing a game of Mahjong, which I really enjoyed. The best part about Mahjong was, if you messed up, the pieces automatically reshuffled! Also, playing Mahjong counted towards your HOS Achievements. How awesome is that!?
The puzzles are where it gets a little harder, though. They were a little bit hard for me, so I was forced to skip every single one. This would normally infuriate me, but, get this: There is actually an ACHIEVEMENT for skipping puzzles! I kid you not, you must skip 5 puzzles to get this achievement. Finally, someone has taken me in to consideration!
On the subject of minigames, there was a Healers Kit, which is where you make all your potions. While this minigame was short and simple, I thoroughly enjoyed every time I got to play it.
The puzzles are where it gets a little harder, though. They were a little bit hard for me, so I was forced to skip every single one. This would normally infuriate me, but, get this: There is actually an ACHIEVEMENT for skipping puzzles! I kid you not, you must skip 5 puzzles to get this achievement. Finally, someone has taken me in to consideration!
On the subject of minigames, there was a Healers Kit, which is where you make all your potions. While this minigame was short and simple, I thoroughly enjoyed every time I got to play it.
The graphics were wonderfully clear, with the developers paying attention to artwork, which was brilliant. The cutscenes were almost like watching a real movie. I’ve got to say, these were probably the best graphics I’ve seen from this developer!
The voice-overs were standard. They weren’t boring, but weren’t over-done either, which was good. There is nothing that drives me insane more than over-done voice-overs!
The voice-overs were standard. They weren’t boring, but weren’t over-done either, which was good. There is nothing that drives me insane more than over-done voice-overs!
On a minor note, game players should be aware that there is a lot of stuff to collect, far more than the usual game, which surprised me. On the note of gameplay, it is fairly simple and straightforward. Intermediate and Expert players should have no trouble getting their bearings. The game has objectives, so there is always one objective to complete at any given time. I found this quite fun.
FEATURES
- 3 modes to play- Casual, Advanced, Insane. Mode cannot be changed in game. (I played Casual)
- Hint and Skip- both recharged very fast, with the hint useful outside HOS. Hint also acts partially as a map, to allow for us to get the No Map achievement.
- Diary to keep track of events.
- There is a map, which is interactive. It is very useful, but there is also an achievement for not using the map.
- Achievements. (CE Exclusive)- The usual HOS and Puzzle hints, plus some extra fun ones. Notable achievements include: Finish the game in one session, skip five puzzles and do not use the map.
- Built-In Strategy Guide (CE Exclusive)
- 3 modes to play- Casual, Advanced, Insane. Mode cannot be changed in game. (I played Casual)
- Hint and Skip- both recharged very fast, with the hint useful outside HOS. Hint also acts partially as a map, to allow for us to get the No Map achievement.
- Diary to keep track of events.
- There is a map, which is interactive. It is very useful, but there is also an achievement for not using the map.
- Achievements. (CE Exclusive)- The usual HOS and Puzzle hints, plus some extra fun ones. Notable achievements include: Finish the game in one session, skip five puzzles and do not use the map.
- Built-In Strategy Guide (CE Exclusive)
The bonus content includes:
- Bonus Chapter- I am yet to discover if this is a continuation of the main story.
- Replayable Minigames
- Replayable HOS
- Bonus HOS
- Concept Art
- Behind the Scenes video (Making of…)
- Movies (watch all movies from the game)
- Wallpapers for your desktop background
- Soundtrack
- Bonus Chapter- I am yet to discover if this is a continuation of the main story.
- Replayable Minigames
- Replayable HOS
- Bonus HOS
- Concept Art
- Behind the Scenes video (Making of…)
- Movies (watch all movies from the game)
- Wallpapers for your desktop background
- Soundtrack
Not only is this game packed full of extras, but the gameplay is great, too. The file size and some achievements indicate a 4-5 hour game. This is definitely one CE not to be missed! I highly, HIGHLY, recommend this game! This definitely moves in to my top 3 games of all time and is one of the best of the year!
I recommend this game!
Dreamscapes: The Sandman
Be the one to save Laura from her nightmares
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
I'm Seriously Considering Buying This!!!!! Great Puzzle/Adventure Game!
PostedJune 30, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
(163)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Having Played Iron Lord, I was looking for other titles by this developer and stumbled upon this. I’ll admit, I love HOS, but this all-adventure game was really enjoyable and I am seriously considering buying the full game!
The story is similar to that of another game I played and loved, which is why I was first attracted to this game. This story didn’t disappoint! While it was a little slow to get in to, from then on I was gripped. The main story is: You are a volunteer to help save Laura from a coma, which is caused by nightmares. You go through and collect her dreamcatcher piece by piece.
I loved the characters in the story, especially the Sandman. I don’t know what his motives are, but I’m keen to find out!
I loved the characters in the story, especially the Sandman. I don’t know what his motives are, but I’m keen to find out!
Despite being advertised as Hidden Object, this is an Adventure/Puzzle game. While this disappointed me to begin with, all was forgiven when I played the puzzle. Of the few I played, I only had to skip one. It’s nice when developers take in to account that not everyone is great at puzzles! My hat goes off to them.
The gameplay is relatively straightforward, with the option of a tutorial. I did occasionally get stuck, but that was not a problem because of the hint. People who are hesitating because this is a pure adventure game, don’t. This is exactly like the HO Adventures, just without the HOS. Experienced players should have no problem playing this.
The graphics had some great detail in them, with the artwork drawn brilliantly, as is to expect from PlayRix. Everything was so clear and wonderful. Not once did I have to squint or tilt my screen. Well done to the developers.
The voice-overs were fine, except there were times when I though the voice of the Sandman was over-done. One of the two things that infuriates me most in games is over-acting for the voice-overs. It was just a minor detail in the story that I picked up.
The graphics had some great detail in them, with the artwork drawn brilliantly, as is to expect from PlayRix. Everything was so clear and wonderful. Not once did I have to squint or tilt my screen. Well done to the developers.
The voice-overs were fine, except there were times when I though the voice of the Sandman was over-done. One of the two things that infuriates me most in games is over-acting for the voice-overs. It was just a minor detail in the story that I picked up.
FEATURES
- Hint and Skip- both recharge fast and the hint is useful in place of a Strategy Guide as there is no CE.
- Diary. The Diary does not keep track of events unlike the usual games, but rather takes you through Laura’s journey from childhood to where we are now.
- There is NO MAP.
- Achievements
- Collectable “Eyewatchers”- There are 108 total.
- Hint and Skip- both recharge fast and the hint is useful in place of a Strategy Guide as there is no CE.
- Diary. The Diary does not keep track of events unlike the usual games, but rather takes you through Laura’s journey from childhood to where we are now.
- There is NO MAP.
- Achievements
- Collectable “Eyewatchers”- There are 108 total.
So, overall, I must say I really enjoyed the demo, despite this being an Adventure Puzzle game, and my love for HOS. This will suit Intermediate and Expert players, but may be a problem for beginners. All the same, I strongly recommend this game.
I recommend this game!
Hop aboard to cross the border between life and death!
Overall rating
1
/
5
17 of 39 found this review helpful
This Game Should Remain Dead!
PostedJune 23, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
(163)Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game bored me right from the start. The gameplay in general was very slow and boring, and I quit, frustrated, after just 25 minutes.
For starters, the story is very plain and dull. The basic storyline is: Your fiancée has to go to Mexico to get your dad’s blessing, and after passing out, is abducted by some undead guy for reasons that are unknown (to me, at least.) The game also has some connection with the Festival of the Dead. The game tries to liven up the story with some Spanish music and Mexican accents, but this fails miserably.
The gameplay is a bit of a challenge for me. I constantly had to figure out what to do next, and it seemed like I always had to use the hint. I continuously used the strategy guide, also. The game is very slow and takes a long time to get in to the actual story. I played for 25 minutes and not once did the game interest me.
The HOS were well-done in my opinion, and were probably the highlight of the game. The scenes include one interactive objet and at the end of each search, you must find one more object, which is the one you take with you. The HOS were easy for me, and I tended to breeze through them. I only had to use the hint about once per scene.
The puzzles, though, were anything but easy. Although they had clear instructions, I could not solve any of them. I had to skip them all. The strategy guide contains detailed instructions on the puzzles, so this will be a great help to others, even though I forgot to use it.
The graphics were standard, with some well-drawn artwork, especially in the cutscenes. There was nothing outstanding about these graphics, but they were clear. Reviewers shouldn’t be complaining about them. I must admit that they could have used some tweaking, though.
The puzzles, though, were anything but easy. Although they had clear instructions, I could not solve any of them. I had to skip them all. The strategy guide contains detailed instructions on the puzzles, so this will be a great help to others, even though I forgot to use it.
The graphics were standard, with some well-drawn artwork, especially in the cutscenes. There was nothing outstanding about these graphics, but they were clear. Reviewers shouldn’t be complaining about them. I must admit that they could have used some tweaking, though.
FEATURES
- 3 modes to play- I picked casual. The first and second modes do not vary much, the only differences being hint recharge speed and HOS click penalties.
- Hint and Skip- The hint and skip recharged fairly quickly on Casual, but need to be used often. The hint is very useful outside HOS.
- There is a diary to keep track of events. Unlike most games, the diary is hardly used.
- There is a map that is interactive and saves a lot of time back tracking.
- Collectable skulls. (CE Exclusive)
- Built-in Strategy Guide, which is very useful. (CE Exclusive)
- Achievements (CE Exclusive)
- Bonus Chapter (CE Exclusive)
- 3 modes to play- I picked casual. The first and second modes do not vary much, the only differences being hint recharge speed and HOS click penalties.
- Hint and Skip- The hint and skip recharged fairly quickly on Casual, but need to be used often. The hint is very useful outside HOS.
- There is a diary to keep track of events. Unlike most games, the diary is hardly used.
- There is a map that is interactive and saves a lot of time back tracking.
- Collectable skulls. (CE Exclusive)
- Built-in Strategy Guide, which is very useful. (CE Exclusive)
- Achievements (CE Exclusive)
- Bonus Chapter (CE Exclusive)
To be honest, I could not be more disappointed with this game if I tried. Everything about this game was so slow, and I could not wait to get rid of it. This is definitely a contender for worst Hidden Object game of 2013.
I don't recommend this game.
Uncover the true murderer as you investigate a haunted house!
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 12 found this review helpful
Far From The Best, But Still Enjoyable.
PostedJune 21, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
(163)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
(Reviewers Note: Level of Challenge for me is a rating on HOS and Puzzles, not game difficulty.)
The latest Haunted Legends release had me excited after I remembered how much I loved the last one, The Undertaker, so much, but to be honest, I was a little bit disappointed. I mean, not taking anything away from the demo I played, because it was great, but it was nothing compared to the Undertaker.
The story for me was a little bit below par to begin with. A cursed book and a family necklace of rings? At first, I thought that it was going to be a little bit cheesy, but as I progressed, the story got gripping and exciting. The little dwarf thing from the last game is back and is now involved from the start instead of about a quarter of the way in. While I’ve seen much better, I didn’t mind the story.
The HOS were great! There were 2 different types, all of which I really enjoyed. The two types were silhouette and junkpile. Junkpile included interactive objects and was pretty easy. I hardly had any difficulty. I think I finally got the hang of silhouette as I had absolutely no trouble doing this either. Each silhouette consisted of one mini-puzzle.
Speaking of puzzles, the first thing I noticed was there is NO RESET BUTTON. That means if you screw up a puzzle, as I did, you either have to figure out how to get it back to the original position or wait for the skip!
On the subject of difficulty, I found 2 puzzles (one of which I thought I’d solved, only to find I had the rooks in the wrong positions!). I was able to solve the other one without much difficulty. This is probably the best run I’ve had with HOS and Puzzles ever.
The graphics were great, with the cutscenes especially clear. Artwork is very well done, as always, and the HOS were also clear, probably the clearest, best designed HOS I’ve seen. Voice-overs were standard with nothing really wowing me.
Speaking of puzzles, the first thing I noticed was there is NO RESET BUTTON. That means if you screw up a puzzle, as I did, you either have to figure out how to get it back to the original position or wait for the skip!
On the subject of difficulty, I found 2 puzzles (one of which I thought I’d solved, only to find I had the rooks in the wrong positions!). I was able to solve the other one without much difficulty. This is probably the best run I’ve had with HOS and Puzzles ever.
The graphics were great, with the cutscenes especially clear. Artwork is very well done, as always, and the HOS were also clear, probably the clearest, best designed HOS I’ve seen. Voice-overs were standard with nothing really wowing me.
One more minor note, the game did not start too well for me, as I found myself stuck at the very beginning. I was forced to use the hint and strategy guide many times.
FEATURES
- 3 modes to play- I picked casual. Difficulty can be changed during gameplay.
- Hint and Skip start off recharging a little slow, but are sped up by the acquisition of a watch during the demo.
- Diary to keep track of events. Diary also holds a Ghosts and Garden tab.
- Map is interactive. Very useful as it saves a lot of time back tracking.
- Built-in Strategy Guide (CE Exclusive)
- Garden. This is probably the only time I’ve ever really questioned the point of a CE extra. The last CE I played (The Masque of Red Death) gave me a kitten and an office, which I really enjoyed. This extra, though, bored me right from the start.
- Bonus Chapter (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Replayable mini-games (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Replayable HOS (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Replayable movies from the game. (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Soundtrack. All music from the game is stored here. (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Photos of the ERS team developing the game (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game. I don’t know why people would want this.)
- Wallpapers ((CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Concept Art (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Screensaver (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- 3 modes to play- I picked casual. Difficulty can be changed during gameplay.
- Hint and Skip start off recharging a little slow, but are sped up by the acquisition of a watch during the demo.
- Diary to keep track of events. Diary also holds a Ghosts and Garden tab.
- Map is interactive. Very useful as it saves a lot of time back tracking.
- Built-in Strategy Guide (CE Exclusive)
- Garden. This is probably the only time I’ve ever really questioned the point of a CE extra. The last CE I played (The Masque of Red Death) gave me a kitten and an office, which I really enjoyed. This extra, though, bored me right from the start.
- Bonus Chapter (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Replayable mini-games (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Replayable HOS (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Replayable movies from the game. (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Soundtrack. All music from the game is stored here. (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Photos of the ERS team developing the game (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game. I don’t know why people would want this.)
- Wallpapers ((CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Concept Art (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
- Screensaver (CE Exclusive. Part of the Bonus Content unlocked at the end of the game.)
This game is jam-packed full of CE Extras as always. The game was enjoyable for the demo, but far from the best of ERS Games and this series. I’m not at all giving this a non-recommendation; this is a great game to play, but it can only get a four star rating from me.
I recommend this game!
If you have enough courage to challenge the darkness, then you’ll manage to find out the mystery of the Rossolimo family.
Overall rating
3
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Average Game. Trial is Worth It.
PostedJune 20, 2013
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Current Favorite:
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart
(163)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I’ve never actually liked the Secrets of the Dark series, but, while this one didn’t wow me, I was happy to play out the demo.
The storyline was actually pretty good. Don’t be fooled by the opening scene, as I was. There ARE voice-overs!
The story is the classic ghost story. The ancient ghost of a family member is awakened after the crypt lid is opened, (WHOOPS! My bad!) and it’s up to you to stop him. I’ve always been a sucker for ghost stories, so I must admit I’m a bit curious to see how this ends… The demo ends horribly, though. The end wasn’t when I thought it would be, and I was shocked and a little angry to discover this…
The story is the classic ghost story. The ancient ghost of a family member is awakened after the crypt lid is opened, (WHOOPS! My bad!) and it’s up to you to stop him. I’ve always been a sucker for ghost stories, so I must admit I’m a bit curious to see how this ends… The demo ends horribly, though. The end wasn’t when I thought it would be, and I was shocked and a little angry to discover this…
To be honest, I wasn’t too keen on the HOS. There were three different types: Place the object, a mixture of Place the object and our old favourite, junkpile, and our old favourite, junkpile. I didn’t really like the place the object one (I never have) and I had mixed feelings about the mixed one. (No pun intended.) The classic junkpile was my favourite. That being said, all three types of HOS provided me with a good challenge, one that forced me to use the hint a few times.
The same cannot be said for the puzzles, however. I skipped every single one, given that one was out of frustration, not for being too hard. The puzzles were way too hard for me.
The same cannot be said for the puzzles, however. I skipped every single one, given that one was out of frustration, not for being too hard. The puzzles were way too hard for me.
The graphics were standard. The artwork was well done, and the scenes were clear. The only complaint I have is that some of the character artwork was a bit grainy.
The gameplay allows you to alternate between two different ‘lights’ as the game calls them. I was never a fan of this and still am not. I don’t get why the game couldn’t just let us play in one world!
FEATURES
- Diary to keep track of events.
- No map, which was very disappointing.
- Hint and Skip- Hint recharged fast on casual, skip did not. Hint is very useful outside HOS.
- 3 modes of difficulty. I picked casual, as always.
- Diary to keep track of events.
- No map, which was very disappointing.
- Hint and Skip- Hint recharged fast on casual, skip did not. Hint is very useful outside HOS.
- 3 modes of difficulty. I picked casual, as always.
While this game is not going to have me clicking the ‘Buy’ button, it’s still a worthwhile game to play the demo for. I will happily recommend it.
I recommend this game!