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:
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality Collector's Edition
Your friend vanishes after investigating the mysterious Theater of Emotions
Overall rating
4
/
5
8 of 9 found this review helpful
Well, I've Been Proven Wrong!
PostedMarch 24, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
After the last Puppetshow game was a disaster, I could think of nothing worse than a sequel to tarnish the name of a great series. Well, I have been proven wrong, because this was a very entertaining game.
I have mixed feelings about the story. It was good in some areas, but not in others. For me, where the story excelled was its creep factor. I was quite creeped out by all the puppets and dolls, especially that giant thing that moved the cups. The masks also intimidated me a bit too, but in a good way. It seems I've underestimated ERS's ability to creep me out, and I've been given a scary reality check. Kudos to the developers for actually scaring me in a game! It's the first time in a long time that has happened!
Unfortunately, part of me feels that ERS focused so heavily on the creep department, that they left out plot development. The opening was fantastic, don't get me wrong, but almost nothing happened afterwards. The story is very s l o w to develop, with major things only happening towards the end. Basically you could take out the first 10 minutes after the opening and you wouldn't miss a thing. The end of the demo was where things got really interesting. Things were revealed that I wasn't expecting, and I believe the cliffhanger at the end of the demo is the perfect place to pick up from.
Overall, a creepy story, albeit slowly developing.
Unfortunately, part of me feels that ERS focused so heavily on the creep department, that they left out plot development. The opening was fantastic, don't get me wrong, but almost nothing happened afterwards. The story is very s l o w to develop, with major things only happening towards the end. Basically you could take out the first 10 minutes after the opening and you wouldn't miss a thing. The end of the demo was where things got really interesting. Things were revealed that I wasn't expecting, and I believe the cliffhanger at the end of the demo is the perfect place to pick up from.
Overall, a creepy story, albeit slowly developing.
The gameplay was quite fun too, actually. ERS have finally stepped it up just a bit. The HOS were very enjoyable. I looked forward to each one I got to play. They came in a nice variety; mainly junkpile and place the item scenes, although the majority were junkpile. I personally found the HOS quite easy, but that did not effect my fun levels. The HOS are of a good number (4 in the demo), and were spaced out relatively well. I did find cause for concern with the fact that one scene was repeated extremely early, so I hope that's not a continuous pattern throughout the game. Otherwise, really enjoyable HOS.
I liked the puzzles as well. I actually prefer my puzzles to be easy, because I find I can get more enjoyment out of them, so the difficulty level was perfect for me. I liked each puzzle and found some of them to be unique, which was an added bonus. Like the puzzles, the HOS are spaced out well and there were a decent number (5) during the demo.
The adventure component was quite good, and I found very little to fault with it. Firstly, especially in the beginning of the game, the adventure component was quite prominent. Even though there are quite a few puzzles and HOS, the adventure component definitely made itself known. Secondly, there was not much backtracking, which I liked. Nothing kills a game more than excessive backtracking, so well done to the developers for recognising this problem. I found there was just the right amount of things to do in a scene, and the game progressed at a steady rate. I also appreciate the creativity the developers put in to this game, with the slingshot game being one of the most fun things I've come across. I've been critical ERS for not putting effort in to their games, and they've finally rectified that. The only slightly negative thing I would say is that the game is quite easy, which may annoy expert players, but I actually found this contributed to my fun factor. The main reason for the game's easiness was its straightforward tasks. Overall though, a really fun adventure component, quite a considerable improvement from the last game.
Just a quick note on the difficulty levels- they were done quite well. I played advanced- but with casual hint/skip times- and found there were NO sparkles anywhere, which is fantastic. However, I did not the map had indicators, which was quite disappointing.
Just a quick note on the difficulty levels- they were done quite well. I played advanced- but with casual hint/skip times- and found there were NO sparkles anywhere, which is fantastic. However, I did not the map had indicators, which was quite disappointing.
There are two additional features in this game: Finally, the developer has included + objects. The other feature is the helper. The + objects were quite good; the majority of them only required interaction, with a couple requiring a second item to complete. The indicator was very clear (indicator changed from red to green when object could be used), which was great. + objects were not over used and did not stay in the inventory long.
The other feature is the helper, which came in the form of a creepy puppet. I liked how the puppet was actually involved in the story- it was given dialogue and had its own cutscene- instead of just being something sitting on the side. The helper was used frequently, but not over-used, which was great. I actually really enjoyed both features. They added significantly to the game's fun factor.
The other feature is the helper, which came in the form of a creepy puppet. I liked how the puppet was actually involved in the story- it was given dialogue and had its own cutscene- instead of just being something sitting on the side. The helper was used frequently, but not over-used, which was great. I actually really enjoyed both features. They added significantly to the game's fun factor.
The graphics were typical ERS style. They were drawn with great detail, which was especially shown through the stunningly realistic character designs. All scenes were clear and weren't overly dark or too bright. The cutscenes were done well, so overall, quite a splendid job.
Voice-overs were standard. I have no issue.
Voice-overs were standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom options were limited, but I was pleased that advanced showed no sparkles at all, even if there were map indicators. I played on advanced but decreased the hint/skip charge slightly.
Hint/Skip- hint works well outside HOS. On some occasions it will act as a teleporter.
Map- Map was interactive and helpful but, unfortunately, had indicators.
+ Objects- These were done quite well. The indicator was crystal clear and they were used well. Quite fun.
Helper- I really enjoyed this. It was fun and used frequently.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom options were limited, but I was pleased that advanced showed no sparkles at all, even if there were map indicators. I played on advanced but decreased the hint/skip charge slightly.
Hint/Skip- hint works well outside HOS. On some occasions it will act as a teleporter.
Map- Map was interactive and helpful but, unfortunately, had indicators.
+ Objects- These were done quite well. The indicator was crystal clear and they were used well. Quite fun.
Helper- I really enjoyed this. It was fun and used frequently.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions, does show collectibles.
Achievements- there's a strange fact on the back of each achievement card
Collectible dolls for your dollhouse- they aren't in every scene but are quite visible.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Screensavers
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions, does show collectibles.
Achievements- there's a strange fact on the back of each achievement card
Collectible dolls for your dollhouse- they aren't in every scene but are quite visible.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Screensavers
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The bonus content was pretty basic. Nothing intrigued me whatsoever, so I'd definitely advise you go with the SE.
The bonus content was pretty basic. Nothing intrigued me whatsoever, so I'd definitely advise you go with the SE.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the demo in 43 minutes.
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the demo in 43 minutes.
While I do agree that the Puppetshow series has probably run its course, I can't deny this is a delightful game. It's got great gameplay and creepiness... what more could I ask for? Overall, it's four stars, for a very well put together game.
I recommend this game!
A murder mystery party turns deadly in real life!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Could Have Been Perfect, With A Little Creativity
PostedMarch 21, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I absolutely loved the debut game in the Dead Reckoning series (Silvermoon Isle), so I was desperate for a sequel, and overjoyed when one came. Needless to say, the expectations were high. While this was not as good as Silvermoon, I did enjoy the demo.
The story had a very interesting concept, and I was drawn to it immediately. However, I felt the opening was a little underdone. It could have been a lot more dramatic and really sucked me in, but it just didn't. From there, though, I found the story enjoyable. Although slow progressing at times, it still had its fair share of twists and drama. I thought all elements of a murder mystery were done quite well; the way the evidence is collected has me guessing multiple people, and the collection of evidence was at just the right pace so I wasn't overwhelmed and confused. Also, each piece of evidence further added to the suspense in the story and made me eager to find out more. Furthermore, I felt the interview scenes really added to the story. Finding out who was lying and who wasn't was very interesting. I loved this part of Silvermoon, so was thrilled when it came back. It really did make the story better.
The demo ends well, with quite a nice cliffhanger to pick up from. While the story was enjoyable, I wanted to be blown away, and I wasn't. I was excited, but not thrilled. I think Eipix played it a little bit safe with this story.
The demo ends well, with quite a nice cliffhanger to pick up from. While the story was enjoyable, I wanted to be blown away, and I wasn't. I was excited, but not thrilled. I think Eipix played it a little bit safe with this story.
The gameplay was enjoyable, too, but once again it wasn't thrilling. I just got the feeling Eipix was playing it safe. The HOS were quite enjoyable and weren't overdone with ridiculous interactivity, which was quite nice. I found the HOS fun and I looked forward to playing each one. The level of difficulty was just right, so they weren't a breeze, but weren't overly challenging either. The HOS were mostly junkpile, but I liked how each one was just that little bit different from the last. My favourite was definitely the detective kit one. I really enjoyed that and liked how it tied in with the story, but I thourougly enjoyed all HOS. The HOS were spaced out well and there was a decent number of them. All up there were 5 in the demo.
The puzzles, however, were not so enjoyable. They were more of a mixed bag; some I enjoyed, some not. I found the puzzles to be quite boring, actually. They were my least favourite part of the game. They were a bit difficult for my liking and I had to skip all but one, which was disappointing. I like to have fun with puzzles, so if they were a little easier, I would have enjoyed them more. The quantity of puzzles wasn't that bad. There were 4 in the demo.
The adventure component of this game was prominent. The game did feature quite a few HOS and Puzzles but I found the adventure component did stand on its own. While it was fun I did find it a tad problematic. Firstly, there was interactivity, but very little innovation. I found nothing in this game that set it apart from others. Secondly, the game was quite easy. I found it quite obvious what to do next, and I rarely had to use the hint. There wasn't much challenge involved as tasks were basic and straightforward, which took away from the fun a little. Thirdly, there was quite a bit of backtracking, which annoyed me. For instance, I could find something in one scene, then go back to another scene to use it, collect something in that scene and go back to the other one to use it. At other times I would have to move forward about three locations, and then retreat back a couple. Heaps of backtracking kills fun factor in a game, and developers need to realise that. For their next game, I want to see a bit less backtracking.
I have no issue with the difficulty levels and especially liked how much I could custom. I had absolutely no issue with advanced as sparkles were incredibly minimal and no map indicators were present. The only time I saw sparkles were on HOS, which I would have happily turned off, but it didn't affect my game at all.
I have no issue with the difficulty levels and especially liked how much I could custom. I had absolutely no issue with advanced as sparkles were incredibly minimal and no map indicators were present. The only time I saw sparkles were on HOS, which I would have happily turned off, but it didn't affect my game at all.
The only additional feature this game has is + objects, which, once again, is example of Eipix playing it safe. I seriously think Eipix needs to step up their game, add some innovation (which I KNOW they are capable of) and really blow me away. The feature itself was done quite well. Some objects required interaction, other just clicking. The indicator was clearly visible and the feature wasn't overused. So well done to the developers on that, but PLEASE, more innovation!
The graphics were great. I loved the sharpness and clarity of them especially in the cutscenes. The scenes were drawn with nice detail, but I found some colours to be quite ugly, especially in the outside areas of the game. They were offputting and annoying. The character designs were good, though. They were lifelike and had lip-synch, but only in the little character bubble thing. I dislike that bubble. I think it's un-necessary and kind of detracts from the game. I think Eipix would do a much better job if they just put lip-synch on the character themselves, without that bubble.
Voice-overs were standard. I have no issue.
Voice-overs were standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom difficulty is good, due to vast array of options. I played Advanced. I liked how there was no map indicators and limited sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for Advanced mode. Hint is useful outside HOS and acts as teleporter on some occasions.
Map- The map had no indicators on advanced mode, which was fantastic. It was interactive so saved some time on backtracking.
Evidence Board- This was set out well, with separate tabs for evidence and suspects. However, I found the writing a little small to read as it was zoomed out too far. This did not happen in Silvermoon, so was annoying for me.
+ Objects- The indicator was clearly visible; the feature was not overused. So it was done quite well.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom difficulty is good, due to vast array of options. I played Advanced. I liked how there was no map indicators and limited sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for Advanced mode. Hint is useful outside HOS and acts as teleporter on some occasions.
Map- The map had no indicators on advanced mode, which was fantastic. It was interactive so saved some time on backtracking.
Evidence Board- This was set out well, with separate tabs for evidence and suspects. However, I found the writing a little small to read as it was zoomed out too far. This did not happen in Silvermoon, so was annoying for me.
+ Objects- The indicator was clearly visible; the feature was not overused. So it was done quite well.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible cards- there's one in every scene, incl. Bonus chapter if previous Eipix CE's are anything to go by. There is an indicator, telling you when they've been collected.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS.
“Making Of” video
Wallpapers (8)
Bubbleshooter
Souvenir Room- one giant HOS, where you return to each scene to find one item.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Movies
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible cards- there's one in every scene, incl. Bonus chapter if previous Eipix CE's are anything to go by. There is an indicator, telling you when they've been collected.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS.
“Making Of” video
Wallpapers (8)
Bubbleshooter
Souvenir Room- one giant HOS, where you return to each scene to find one item.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay Movies
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I find collectibles distracting, so I would purchase the SE. In terms of value, I think Eipix has stepped it down majorly, so I would advise you to get the SE too.
I find collectibles distracting, so I would purchase the SE. In terms of value, I think Eipix has stepped it down majorly, so I would advise you to get the SE too.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the demo in 48 minutes.
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the demo in 48 minutes.
This was a good game, but had the potential to be mind-blowing, had the developers not played it safe. Everything is there, but the developers seriously need to think outside of the box and deliver the innovation I know they're capable of. This game earns a solid four star rating from me.
I recommend this game!
You're cordially invited to attend the world's greatest magic show! Thurman the Magnificent will give a performance no one will forget!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Fun, But Far Too Basic
PostedMarch 15, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I thought the last game from this developer (Lost Legends: Weeping Woman) was one of the most fun games of 2014, and I was hoping this one would achieve that same result. While this wasn't as good as Weeping Woman, I thought it was still enjoyable for the demo.
I am on the fence with the story. I honestly don't know if I like or dislike it. The opening wasn't very intriguing, but following on from that, there was a nice twist which got me in to the story. However, from there, I found the story to be slowly progressing with minimal twists. For the most part I found the story quite boring, with the only thing keeping me going, being the suspense, which was done well to a point. I liked how the character had a shady area of suspicion around him. It was probably the best part of the story. The demo ended with a nice twist, which I thought was well executed, and also unexpected. But those twists were the highlight of an otherwise pretty boring story. I thought it could have been executed a whole lot better than it did. I did, however, like the character interaction, Each character had their own personality and they were enjoyable to listen to. But overall, it was a pretty underdone story and it really could have done with some tweaking.
The gameplay was pretty basic and had limited fun potential. That being said, I enjoyed the HOS. Even though they were basic in nature, I enjoyed them, especially since they were a break from the overly interactive nightmares some games have. I especially liked how there was more than one variety: there was the standard junkpile as well as replace the item scenes. I did find the scenes to be easy, but it was of no concern to me. I liked the quantity: all up there were 4 HOS in the demo and they were evenly spaced out.
The puzzles were nice too, although I enjoyed the HOS more. I found the puzzles, for the most part, to be quite fun. However, some were confusing, with unclear instructions. In terms of challenge, I found the puzzles to be quite easy and only skipped the one (the confusing one). This made the puzzles more fun for me, but this will probably annoy the experts. Like the HOS, quantity is good. There are 5 in the demo.
I have mixed feelings about the adventure component. It was there, but I could definitely tell this game was more HOS/Puzzle driven, and unfortunately, the adventure component suffered as a result. The thing that jumped right at me was its basic nature. There are absolutely no extra features whatsoever, meaning the game plays like one from 2012. There was no innovation, or creativity, or anything of the like, which isn't even close to acceptable for 2015. Even worse, there was a LOT of backtracking. I would have to go back maybe three or four locations to get one item, then return to the location I was originally in! I'm glad I don't have to do all that walking in real life!
As a result of the simplicity, the challenge suffered, also. I found this game to be way too easy, and because the storyline wasn't great either, I found myself getting bored as the demo wore on. I'm glad the demo ended when it did, otherwise I might not have played on. The biggest problem was definitely the lack of innovation and this is something the developer NEEDS to work on. Next time, add a feature! + objects, helper... anything! PLEASE! I
As a result of the simplicity, the challenge suffered, also. I found this game to be way too easy, and because the storyline wasn't great either, I found myself getting bored as the demo wore on. I'm glad the demo ended when it did, otherwise I might not have played on. The biggest problem was definitely the lack of innovation and this is something the developer NEEDS to work on. Next time, add a feature! + objects, helper... anything! PLEASE! I
The one thing this game did really well on was the basic features. I liked how there was a journal- it was great for keeping track of events- and there were 4 difficulty levels, including custom. Even though there were no sparkles anywhere (not even on HOS), there were still map indicators on advanced mode, which annoyed me. I know that if I'm playing advanced mode, I'm WELL past the need for map indicators, and developers need to respect that. It made an already easy game even easier and decreased my enjoyment factor significantly.
The graphics were actually quite good and, really, were the only modern thing about the game. They were drawn with great detail and fantastic clarity, with awesome colours to match. I also liked the realism of the character designs, and how there was lip-synch.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. There are still indicators on advanced, which annoyed me.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. I liked how the hint's helpfulness changed with difficulties.
Diary- It was great for keeping track of events
Map- The map was helpful, and certainly saved a lot of time with backtracking. However, I would have preferred indicators off.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. There are still indicators on advanced, which annoyed me.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. I liked how the hint's helpfulness changed with difficulties.
Diary- It was great for keeping track of events
Map- The map was helpful, and certainly saved a lot of time with backtracking. However, I would have preferred indicators off.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Morphing Objects (37)- one in every scene
Play Solitaire- Actually quite fun. You have to match pairs that add up to 13.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Morphing Objects (37)- one in every scene
Play Solitaire- Actually quite fun. You have to match pairs that add up to 13.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the SE is the way to go. Like the gameplay, the Bonus Content is only the bare essentials. There is nothing worth the extra cash.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the SE is the way to go. Like the gameplay, the Bonus Content is only the bare essentials. There is nothing worth the extra cash.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the demo, which I finished in 34 minutes. :)
There are 2 chapters in the demo, which I finished in 34 minutes. :)
While this was enjoyable, there really is no excuse for presenting 2012 gameplay in 2015. The developers really need to pick up their game (no pun intended) because sooner rather than later, they're just going to fall behind. I would definitely say this is a great place for beginners to start out. This earns three stars from me.
I recommend this game!
Redemption Cemetery: The Island of the Lost Collector's Edition
You crash-land on an island populated by ghosts. Like them, are you trapped here forever?
Overall rating
4
/
5
11 of 13 found this review helpful
Just As Good As Its Predecessor!
PostedMarch 7, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
After over a year since the previous Redemption Cemetery, I was beginning to think it had retired for good. Now, after playing the next installment, I'm so glad it's still around!
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
I was impressed with the story, however, not so much with its opening. It was incredibly unrealistic and I was instantly worried that this great series would be destroyed. After we crashed the plane, the ATC (Air Traffic Controller) somehow knew we had crashed right away and sent for a rescue team without checking if we were okay. This wouldn't have happened in real life. The ATC would have checked for a response first, THEN sent a rescue team. Apart from that, the story was fairly good. I liked how it didn't deviate from the central theme of previous games (going back in time and writing wrongs), because it irks me to no end when games do that. It also makes the Redemption Cemetery games more fun, because there's always that sense of eagerness within me, wanting to know who I have to save next and what their story is, so I commend the developers for this.
In terms of content, I found the story progressed well, but had with minimal twists. What there was was quite good and dramatic and I especially liked how the game kept going back to the person in danger to remind us, so they didn't sit there for hours in that perilous position, like in other games. The demo especially ended well. I wasn't expecting it at all and it will be the perfect cliffhanger to pick up from.
Overall, although the story had minimal twists, I enjoyed it.
I was impressed with the story, however, not so much with its opening. It was incredibly unrealistic and I was instantly worried that this great series would be destroyed. After we crashed the plane, the ATC (Air Traffic Controller) somehow knew we had crashed right away and sent for a rescue team without checking if we were okay. This wouldn't have happened in real life. The ATC would have checked for a response first, THEN sent a rescue team. Apart from that, the story was fairly good. I liked how it didn't deviate from the central theme of previous games (going back in time and writing wrongs), because it irks me to no end when games do that. It also makes the Redemption Cemetery games more fun, because there's always that sense of eagerness within me, wanting to know who I have to save next and what their story is, so I commend the developers for this.
In terms of content, I found the story progressed well, but had with minimal twists. What there was was quite good and dramatic and I especially liked how the game kept going back to the person in danger to remind us, so they didn't sit there for hours in that perilous position, like in other games. The demo especially ended well. I wasn't expecting it at all and it will be the perfect cliffhanger to pick up from.
Overall, although the story had minimal twists, I enjoyed it.
The gameplay was quite fun. I absolutely loved the HOS (or what there was of it). Instead of just the boring word-list stuff, ERS have finally jazzed them up a little! The HOS was assemble the item, and as I said, it was very fun. I breezed through it and just wanted more... and that was where my problem was. The quantity of HOS is severely lacking. In the demo, there was only ONE HOS. Yes, I know the demo was extremely short, but that is still no excuse. Even in the short time, I was still expecting at least one or two more. To have only one HOS in a HOPA game isn't really acceptable. But I mustn't take that away from how much I enjoyed the HOS, and I can only hope the future HOS in the game are as good.
In contrast, I didn't find the puzzles fun at all. There was maybe one puzzle I enjoyed (the nameplate one), but the rest just dragged the fun factor down significantly and had me waiting for the skip button. It wasn't that they were hard- although that contributed to the factor slightly- it was that they were boring. The first puzzle especially was awful. I really wanted the puzzles to be good, but they just weren't. I wanted them to be fun and unique, without too much challenge, but they just weren't. And, to add insult to injury, the puzzles were prominent throughout the demo. I played 3. I just wish that the situation had been reversed... it would've made the game much more fun!
I liked the adventure component. Although it was basic, I thought it was prominent and fun. I found I was really enjoying myself and was just wanting to play on. Unfortunately, with its basic nature, this means the game was quite easy. I would have liked a little more challenge, but I felt that if the game had been too challenging, it would have lost its fun factor. But definitely a little bit more challenge in there. I had absolutely no trouble figuring out what to do next. It should at least be somewhat challenging. However, I did enjoy myself a lot, so I will overlook that.
The difficulty levels were good in some areas but not in others. I played advanced and was thrilled to see no sparkles ANYWHERE. However, I think the hint and skip charge was a little fast for my liking. Since this is advanced mode, I would have preferred a slower rate. I also didn't like the custom difficulty, because of the slider. The hint/skip slider has to total 60 seconds, so if you want a 45 second skip charge, you'll only get a 15 second hint charge. That was really annoying and the sole reason I chose not to customise.
The difficulty levels were good in some areas but not in others. I played advanced and was thrilled to see no sparkles ANYWHERE. However, I think the hint and skip charge was a little fast for my liking. Since this is advanced mode, I would have preferred a slower rate. I also didn't like the custom difficulty, because of the slider. The hint/skip slider has to total 60 seconds, so if you want a 45 second skip charge, you'll only get a 15 second hint charge. That was really annoying and the sole reason I chose not to customise.
The game does really well on extra features. There are two here: + objects and the helper. The + objects were done a little differently to most and were actually executed quite well. Instead of the zoom in scene, all I had to do was drag one item on the other, which meant I could just get on with the game, and I was quite pleased about that. The + objects featured well and weren't too obtrusive, and the indicators were visible and clear.
The other feature was the raven helper. It, like the + objects, wasn't obtrusive and was used prominently. However it wasn't executed the way I'd like. I didn't like having to click the OK button after every use. I found it a hassle to keep doing so. Other than that though, the helper is good. And I was pleased to see it woven in to the story and not just appear there for no reason at all. Kudos to the developers.
The other feature was the raven helper. It, like the + objects, wasn't obtrusive and was used prominently. However it wasn't executed the way I'd like. I didn't like having to click the OK button after every use. I found it a hassle to keep doing so. Other than that though, the helper is good. And I was pleased to see it woven in to the story and not just appear there for no reason at all. Kudos to the developers.
The graphics, as always, were good. I love how ERS has chosen to stick with their same style over the years. It just goes to show that if something isn't broken it doesn't need fixing. I enjoyed the care and detail ERS put in to their graphics, finishing them off with a sense of realism. All scenes, especially cutscenes, were clear and designed well. I liked the character designs and was especially pleased to see lip-synch. I know it disappeared in recent ERS games so I'm glad its back.
The voice-overs, especially the demon, were done well. They weren't too over acted or underacted, which was good. The only one I have issues with is Emily. Her voice was way too echo-y. I know it was meant to be a ghost, but that was just annoying.
The voice-overs, especially the demon, were done well. They weren't too over acted or underacted, which was good. The only one I have issues with is Emily. Her voice was way too echo-y. I know it was meant to be a ghost, but that was just annoying.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom mode wasn't very good. Advanced mode had no sparkles anywhere.
Hint/Skip- Charge times were a bit too fast for my liking. The hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- I never actually used this. I found no need. Looking at the custom difficulty, there is no way to turn off map indicators, so I am guessing it has indicators for each difficulty.
+ Objects- Executed well. Instead of zooming in, all I had to do was drag one + item on the another, which allowed me to get on with the game.
Helper- This is a raven. It was used a couple of times, and I didn't find it to be too obtrusive. However, clicking the OK button after each item was brought back annoyed me.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom mode wasn't very good. Advanced mode had no sparkles anywhere.
Hint/Skip- Charge times were a bit too fast for my liking. The hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- I never actually used this. I found no need. Looking at the custom difficulty, there is no way to turn off map indicators, so I am guessing it has indicators for each difficulty.
+ Objects- Executed well. Instead of zooming in, all I had to do was drag one + item on the another, which allowed me to get on with the game.
Helper- This is a raven. It was used a couple of times, and I didn't find it to be too obtrusive. However, clicking the OK button after each item was brought back annoyed me.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Collectible figurines- Divided in to four sections of about 3 or 4 pieces each. Each section comes with its own little story, which I found intriguing, but I didn't bother collecting anything.
Extra- Take a look at how the game was made. There are additional sketches, art and videos.
Test- This was a really weird extra that I felt should not be in the game. It was a personality test to see which character you are. I found it an invasion of privacy.
Chronicle- This was a new feature and quite intriguing. It tells a little about the history of the characters in the game.
Bonus Minigame
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Photos
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Screensavers
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Collectible figurines- Divided in to four sections of about 3 or 4 pieces each. Each section comes with its own little story, which I found intriguing, but I didn't bother collecting anything.
Extra- Take a look at how the game was made. There are additional sketches, art and videos.
Test- This was a really weird extra that I felt should not be in the game. It was a personality test to see which character you are. I found it an invasion of privacy.
Chronicle- This was a new feature and quite intriguing. It tells a little about the history of the characters in the game.
Bonus Minigame
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Photos
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Screensavers
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I'm really impressed with ERS. They have stepped up their CE bonus content quite a bit. However, I still think the SE is the better buy.
I'm really impressed with ERS. They have stepped up their CE bonus content quite a bit. However, I still think the SE is the better buy.
MY PROGRESS
The demo was extremely short. I finished the demo in 27 minutes, and in that time, I had entered the second chapter. Whether or not I finished it I am unsure.
The demo was extremely short. I finished the demo in 27 minutes, and in that time, I had entered the second chapter. Whether or not I finished it I am unsure.
I was skeptical about a sequel to Redemption Cemetery after so long, but my doubts have been laid to rest. This is just as fun and engaging as its predecessor and I can't wait to see how it ends. This earns a well-deserved four stars from me.
I recommend this game!
Was Marion Ashworth murdered? Uncover the victim's true identity!
Overall rating
4
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
Thoroughly Well Done
PostedMarch 3, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I love murder mysteries. I'm a fan of Eipix. So naturally I was expecting this one to be pretty good, and safe to say, it didn't disappoint.
The story was done exceptionally well. It had a great opening that hooked me right in to the story. Immediately following that, Eipix delivered a stunning twist, one I had never seen before, and CERTAINLY one I wasn't expecting! I also liked how there was a lot of evidence collected early on. Each new discovery added a lot of suspense and I immediately wanted to know more. It got to the point where I was so enthralled I couldn't stop playing. Furthermore, the demo ended on a fantastic note, with yet another shocking twist. The perfect cliffhanger to pick up from.
Technically speaking, all elements of a murder mystery have been done perfectly. There are multiple suspects, and none of them have been ruled out too early, which is always key. I loved how each new discovery gave evidence towards a suspect, too. It kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. Nothing is worse than picking out the murderer early on in the story. I also liked how each character had their own personality, and evidence linking them to the crime. This is one of the better stories of 2015.
Technically speaking, all elements of a murder mystery have been done perfectly. There are multiple suspects, and none of them have been ruled out too early, which is always key. I loved how each new discovery gave evidence towards a suspect, too. It kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. Nothing is worse than picking out the murderer early on in the story. I also liked how each character had their own personality, and evidence linking them to the crime. This is one of the better stories of 2015.
The gameplay was quite fun too. I really enjoyed the HOS, especially the first one, where we had to look for clues on the victim. This was a great way to intertwine story and gameplay. I liked the other HOS too. They were fun and were jazzed up, but not the point of being overly annoying. However, I didn't find them to be as fun as the game's predecessor. I thought the HOS in Crimson Cabaret were fantastic, and I was hoping for a bit more of that sparkle here. I didn't find them to be too easy or too hard; they were the perfect mix of challenge me. The HOS come in a nice variety: mini-HOS, silhouette junkpile and word list junkpile. The quantity is good too. There were 4 HOS in the demo and they were evenly spaced out.
The puzzles were okay. Some were fun, some weren't. I also found the developers continuously were on the wrong side of challenge. The puzzles were either too hard or too easy, which I found to be quite annoying. The quantity and spacing was good, though. There were only 3 puzzles in the demo. I personally am not a fan of puzzles, so this was good for me.
I was impressed with the prominence of the adventure component. A lot of developers have been phasing out the adventure component over the years, so I was pleased to see it be featured well here. There is not much backtracking, either, which is good. Due to its basic nature, as well as a lack of innovation and extra features, I thought the adventure component would be quite easy, but I was actually very surprised. The game is challenging, which increased my enjoyment factor. I have been extremely critical of Eipix for making their games too easy, so I'm pleased to see them finally fixing the bad spots! Well done.
Me being me, I managed to pick one fault with the difficulty levels. For the most part, they have been done quite well. I played advanced- I try to avoid customising unless the modes are ridiculous- and was pleased to see NO map indicators, but unfortunately, there were sparkles on the HOS scenes as well as the occasional sparkle here and there. I believe that, if someone chooses advanced mode, they are well past the need for sparkles and the developers should respect that. Other than that, though, no problems.
Me being me, I managed to pick one fault with the difficulty levels. For the most part, they have been done quite well. I played advanced- I try to avoid customising unless the modes are ridiculous- and was pleased to see NO map indicators, but unfortunately, there were sparkles on the HOS scenes as well as the occasional sparkle here and there. I believe that, if someone chooses advanced mode, they are well past the need for sparkles and the developers should respect that. Other than that, though, no problems.
There is only the one additonal gameplay feature in this game: + objects. They were done well, with no more than a couple at once, but I found the indicators to be annoying. Firstly, they were small, and hard to spot, because the + items had the + indicator as soon as they came in to my inventory and flashed (instead of getting bigger) when they could be used. I found this a little confusing at first, but I eventually realised what was going on. I think that the indicator could have been done better. In addition, I would have liked to see another gameplay feature. Definitely not a helper- such a thing would have felt out of place- but something. I wanted something in there that would raise this game to superstardom, especially since its predecessor was so good in that respect. I think Eipix have taken a step back in the innovation side of things, and I think it's time the bar was raised back up to what I know this developer is capable of.
There is another feature, although it's not gameplay related, and that is the case file. I thought this was set out really well. I liked how each character had their own section, detailing case connections and evidence against them. With the mountain of evidence collected in the demo, I found it really helpful in remembering all that had happened. And, as an added bonus, the case file even contains a timer, so you can know how long you've been playing the game!
I thought the graphics were done very well. The cutscenes were very sharp, clear and well detailed. They had a nice sense of realism to them. The other scenes were drawn with great detail. They looked very realistic, as well as being clear and having nice colours. I also liked the character designs. I could see lip-synch in the characters, which I thought was a good move.
The voice-overs are standard. They have been acted well, not overdone and not underdone either. The voices are dramatic just at the right times.
The voice-overs are standard. They have been acted well, not overdone and not underdone either. The voices are dramatic just at the right times.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I liked how Advanced had no map indicators, but was displeased to see sparkles still present. I liked how much you could customise. Eipix's custom mode is probably the one with the most freedom. It gives you almost total control. In case you didn't pick it up from that comment, I played Advanced. :)
Hint/Skip- The recharge speed was decent, but just a tiny bit too fast for my liking. Maybe 5 seconds longer would've been suffice. The hint is useful outside HOS.
Case File- Excellently set out. I loved how each character had their own section, with all evidence against them and the link to the case. It was very handy. I also liked how there was a timer.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful on lower difficulties. However, on advanced, there were no indicators, which was fantastic.
+ Objects- The quantity is done right, but I thought the indicator should have been more noticeable.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I liked how Advanced had no map indicators, but was displeased to see sparkles still present. I liked how much you could customise. Eipix's custom mode is probably the one with the most freedom. It gives you almost total control. In case you didn't pick it up from that comment, I played Advanced. :)
Hint/Skip- The recharge speed was decent, but just a tiny bit too fast for my liking. Maybe 5 seconds longer would've been suffice. The hint is useful outside HOS.
Case File- Excellently set out. I loved how each character had their own section, with all evidence against them and the link to the case. It was very handy. I also liked how there was a timer.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful on lower difficulties. However, on advanced, there were no indicators, which was fantastic.
+ Objects- The quantity is done right, but I thought the indicator should have been more noticeable.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show location of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible masks (41)- One in every scene. Since the extras section says “unlocked at the end of bonus chapter”, I'm guessing that means they're in the bonus chapter, too.
Play Match 3 levels
Souvenir Room
Bonus HOS
“Making of” video
Wallpapers
Photo Session (photo shoot of the cast)
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Soundtrack
Replay cutscenes
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Does show location of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible masks (41)- One in every scene. Since the extras section says “unlocked at the end of bonus chapter”, I'm guessing that means they're in the bonus chapter, too.
Play Match 3 levels
Souvenir Room
Bonus HOS
“Making of” video
Wallpapers
Photo Session (photo shoot of the cast)
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Soundtrack
Replay cutscenes
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I found the CE to be of good value. I thought it was packed with some nice extras well worth the extra cash. I think the CE is a good buy, but I didn't enjoy this game enough to warrant CE purchase. For me personally, I'm picking the SE, but the CE is worth the extra money should you wish to choose that option.
I found the CE to be of good value. I thought it was packed with some nice extras well worth the extra cash. I think the CE is a good buy, but I didn't enjoy this game enough to warrant CE purchase. For me personally, I'm picking the SE, but the CE is worth the extra money should you wish to choose that option.
MY PROGRESS
The demo has 2 chapters in it. I finished said demo in 37 minutes.
The demo has 2 chapters in it. I finished said demo in 37 minutes.
Overall, this game is very well put together. While not as enthralling as Crimson Cabaret, it is definitely a step up from Eipix's recent offerings. I'm giving this game a well deserved four stars.
I recommend this game!
The legacy of the witches continues when Lynn and her husband are lured into a trap by a mysterious sorcerer…
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 12 found this review helpful
Another Poor Installment
PostedFebruary 27, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I've never been a fan of the Witches' Legacy series- I hated the first, didn't mind the second, skipped the third altogether and didn't like the fourth- so I wasn't expecting much of a fifth installment. This didn't surpass my expectations.
The story really didn't interest me at all. It had a poor opening and, even though the cutscene immediately following was a good way to set up the events, I found that the story generally lacked flow and direction. There was no excitement in the cutscenes, no suspense, and no plot twists to drag me in to the story. Everything coasted along as expected, so I was quite bored. The one positive thing I will say about it is that I found the story of Thesis to be interesting. It was a new angle that had not been previously been explored in the series and was the best part of the story. However, that was the only highlight. I found the story as a whole to be mundane and uneventful. The demo didn't even end well. I think this could have been executed a lot better, but as is, this is a story to forget.
The gameplay was considerably better than the story. I found the HOS to be very enjoyable. They came in a nice variety: there were mini zoom-scenes, silhouette, junkpile and assemble the item. I found them to be the main source of fun in the game. For the most part, they were quite easy, although I did struggle a bit with the first HOS. I really liked the quantity too. There are 6 HOS all up in the demo, and they are well spaced out. Only one of the HOS repeats in the demo, so that's good.
I was pleased with the puzzles too. Even though they were exceptionally easy, I did like playing them, and I especially liked how the puzzles connected with the story. This is a great move as it provides a fun, interactive way of finding out the details. The puzzles are quite laid-back and didn't require much thinking, which may annoy expert puzzlers, but it sat fine with me. The quantity of puzzles is good too. There are 5 in the demo and they too are well spaced out.
My biggest issue with the gameplay is with the adventure component. Yes, I found it to be prominent, but it is also basic and exceptionally easy to the point where I'm pretty sure my 8 year old cousin could breeze through the game with no difficulties. It was blatantly obvious what to do next and I had no difficulty whatsoever. The game's quest for challenge certainly isn't aided by the ridiculous difficulty levels, either. The levels are so poorly designed that I had to switch to custom, and even that was poor! Firstly, there is NO WAY to turn off map indicators! This frustrated me, as I like to challenge myself and play with them off. Secondly, the maximum hint time without the hint being switched off was 35 seconds, and the maximum skip time 50. Are you kidding me? I've seen casual difficulties with longer recharge time than that! Pretty much all you could customise was HOS penalties, sparkles (which I had to turn off myself, as advanced still had them!) and charge times. I think Elefun seriously needs to work on their difficulties- both in game and level settings- because the game was just so ridiculously easy that it drained nearly all the fun factor.
The game does well with additional features. There are two in the game: + objects and the imp.
I thought the plus objects were done well. Some items had to have other items added on, whereas others only required minor tinkering with. There was also an indication of when the + objects were ready to be toyed with, so that was great. I also liked how there weren't too many, because over-use of a feature kills it. There was never more than two + objects in the inventory and they were used quite quickly too.
The other feature is the imp. It was used realistically and prominently, and I also liked how you had to interact with it sometimes before you could use it. Interactions included giving the imp a diving mask and wooden shoes. It made using the imp a lot more fun. I also liked how the imp was used in puzzles, too. The imp is used 5 times in the demo, I believe.
I thought the plus objects were done well. Some items had to have other items added on, whereas others only required minor tinkering with. There was also an indication of when the + objects were ready to be toyed with, so that was great. I also liked how there weren't too many, because over-use of a feature kills it. There was never more than two + objects in the inventory and they were used quite quickly too.
The other feature is the imp. It was used realistically and prominently, and I also liked how you had to interact with it sometimes before you could use it. Interactions included giving the imp a diving mask and wooden shoes. It made using the imp a lot more fun. I also liked how the imp was used in puzzles, too. The imp is used 5 times in the demo, I believe.
The graphics were done quite well. There was some nice detail in there, with clear scenes and nice colours. I also liked how there was lip-synch with the characters. It gave them a more realistic feel. I also found the character designs to be well-done. The only criticism I would have is of the first HOS. I found that scene to be quite dark and, therefore, the objects hard to see.
The voice-overs are fine. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are fine. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard & Custom. These are honestly some of the worst settings I've seen. Sparkles on advanced mode? Can't turn off map indicators? I had to customise, but even that had limited options.
Hint/Skip- I set the hint to the absolute maximum of 35 seconds, the skip to 40 (almost maximum). The hint worked well outside of HOS but was still too fast, in my opinion.
Map- It absolutely infuriated me that I could not turn off map indicators at all. That being said, I liked how the map was interactive, and it will be quite helpful to casual players.
+ Objects- These were done quite well and I enjoyed them. I liked how they varied up a little (some required objects, others just a couple of clicks).
Imp- I thought this feature was really fun. I liked how you got to interact with the imp, too.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard & Custom. These are honestly some of the worst settings I've seen. Sparkles on advanced mode? Can't turn off map indicators? I had to customise, but even that had limited options.
Hint/Skip- I set the hint to the absolute maximum of 35 seconds, the skip to 40 (almost maximum). The hint worked well outside of HOS but was still too fast, in my opinion.
Map- It absolutely infuriated me that I could not turn off map indicators at all. That being said, I liked how the map was interactive, and it will be quite helpful to casual players.
+ Objects- These were done quite well and I enjoyed them. I liked how they varied up a little (some required objects, others just a couple of clicks).
Imp- I thought this feature was really fun. I liked how you got to interact with the imp, too.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Collectible puzzle pieces
Collectible morphing objects
Achievements
Wallpapers
Art Gallery
Soundtrack
Screensavers
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Collectible puzzle pieces
Collectible morphing objects
Achievements
Wallpapers
Art Gallery
Soundtrack
Screensavers
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Definitely the SE. I found the CE had only the bare essentials and none of them were interesting to me.
Definitely the SE. I found the CE had only the bare essentials and none of them were interesting to me.
MY PROGRESS
The demo goes in to the third chapter. I finished it in 54 minutes.
The demo goes in to the third chapter. I finished it in 54 minutes.
Well, after 5 average games, I believe it is finally time to retire the Witches' Legacy series and let Lynn and Edward have their long overdue happily ever after. As much as I have not enjoyed this series, I strongly believe this to be the worst of the lot. What could have been fantastic has been ruined by a boring story and some of the easiest gameplay I've seen. Unfortunately, this is just another missed opportunity for Elefun.
I don't recommend this game.
Track down the truth about your grandfather's death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 8 found this review helpful
Amazing Story... Not So Amazing Gameplay
PostedFebruary 24, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I wasn't familiar with this series, so I had no idea what to expect from it. Well, I have definitely been delivered a pretty good game!
The story was brilliantly crafted, and honestly, I can't find a fault with it. The story started off with a bang and got me right in to the action from the get-go. It progressed with a clear and logical flow and was at just the right pace to keep me interested. I was especially impressed by the great developments in the story. There was twist after twist, some in the form of cutscenes, some in the form of notes, all of which were fantastic, unexpected and added to the story tremendously. I especially liked the audio tapes. I thought they made the story a lot more interesting. But what I was really impressed by was how well the developers have done a murder mystery. There is something shady about every single character I came across in the demo, so I have absolutely no idea who the murderer could be, which only added to the suspense and made me want to keep on playing.
And, to top it off, the demo ends on a brilliant cliffhanger which I really was not expecting! Kudos to the developers for a flawless story!
And, to top it off, the demo ends on a brilliant cliffhanger which I really was not expecting! Kudos to the developers for a flawless story!
The gameplay, however, paled in comparison and a tad basic for my liking. The HOS were okay. They came in a couple of varieties: silhouette HOS and standard junkpile. A couple of the scenes had a bit of variation (for example, the hamster one), but that was about as variant as they got. The HOS were quite easy and simple, identical to ones I would see in a 2012 game. I wanted a little bit of interactivity. Maybe one of those assemble the item scenes? I honestly found them a little boring. Had they been jazzed up a bit I would have been a lot more interested. The quantity is good though. I found 5 HOS in the demo, with a couple of scenes repeated twice.
The puzzles were good, actually. The thing I liked about them was they were not too complex, and didn't require a ton of thought. So all I had to do was enjoy them.. and that I did. The puzzles were all ones I'd seen before, but were still enjoyable. Even though the majority of puzzles were easy, I did have to skip a couple (the one with the candles and the one with the fuses), but I really didn't mind, because they were still nice to attempt. The quantity of the puzzles was good too. There were 6 in the demo and, unlike the HOS, none repeated.
I was quite pleased with the adventure component. It was both prominent and fun, even though it was quite basic. Due to its basic nature, I expected the game to be quite easy, but looks can be deceiving. The game was actually quite challenging for me and I had to use the hint and map a lot more times than I care to admit. So good job to the developers for sneaking some challenge in to a simple design!
When I say the adventure component was basic, I do mean BASIC. The design and execution of the adventure component is exactly the same as 2012. I was extremely disappointed to see that there were absolutely NO extra features here. No + objects... no helpers... absolutely nothing. It had quite an impact on the fun factor, to the point where I got bored with the game, and had it not been for the amazing story I wouldn't even think about purchasing. For their next game I am sincerely hoping Vast flex their creativity and think outside the box, because as it stands, the gameplay is quite linear and was nowhere near as fun as it should have been.
When I say the adventure component was basic, I do mean BASIC. The design and execution of the adventure component is exactly the same as 2012. I was extremely disappointed to see that there were absolutely NO extra features here. No + objects... no helpers... absolutely nothing. It had quite an impact on the fun factor, to the point where I got bored with the game, and had it not been for the amazing story I wouldn't even think about purchasing. For their next game I am sincerely hoping Vast flex their creativity and think outside the box, because as it stands, the gameplay is quite linear and was nowhere near as fun as it should have been.
In terms of basic features, I was extremely pleased to see a diary. It kept track of all events and added an insight to what the main character was thinking, which I think is key to any story. I also think the difficulty levels have been done quite well. There is a custom difficulty, but I played advanced. Advanced had no sparkles ANYWHERE, which was pleasing to see. There were map indicators, but because of the game's difficulty, I can tell you that I needed them, so this time I won't be complaining.
The graphics were quite good. I found they were drawn with nice, realistic detail and great colours. All scenes were clear. I also liked the character designs. I thought they were realistic, but I wish there had been lip-synch. It would have made the game better.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Normal, Hard and Custom. I played Advanced and was pleased to see no sparkles anywhere. Differences in others are standard.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for Advanced and the hint was helpful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary is divided in two sections: one for notes and one for audio tapes. The diary also keeps track of events, which was very helpful.
Map- The map was interactive and quite helpful. It also had indicators, but I didn't mind because of the game's difficulty.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Normal, Hard and Custom. I played Advanced and was pleased to see no sparkles anywhere. Differences in others are standard.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for Advanced and the hint was helpful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary is divided in two sections: one for notes and one for audio tapes. The diary also keeps track of events, which was very helpful.
Map- The map was interactive and quite helpful. It also had indicators, but I didn't mind because of the game's difficulty.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements- a mix of gameplay and story based
Collectible masks (46)- I did not attempt to find these.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Wallpapers
Soundtrack
Concept Art
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements- a mix of gameplay and story based
Collectible masks (46)- I did not attempt to find these.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Wallpapers
Soundtrack
Concept Art
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I would definitely advise you to go with the SE. Bonus Content is extremely limited and is only basics.
I would definitely advise you to go with the SE. Bonus Content is extremely limited and is only basics.
MY PROGRESS
The demo actually goes in to the very start of the third chapter. I finished it in 62 minutes. There are 6 chapters in the main game.
The demo actually goes in to the very start of the third chapter. I finished it in 62 minutes. There are 6 chapters in the main game.
An amazing story and not so amazing gameplay means I am left with one almighty purchase dilemma. The story is crafted well, but the gameplay left much to be desired. What had the potential to be a 5 star game is now only a 4 star one. But still, I highly recommend it. The story is too fantastic to ignore.
I recommend this game!
Dark Tales™: Edgar Allan Poe's The Mystery of Marie Roget Collector's Edition
A newlywed is threatened, and supernatural forces are afoot!
Overall rating
3
/
5
21 of 23 found this review helpful
Dark Tales By Name, Not by Game
PostedFebruary 22, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Dark Tales is probably my favourite ERS series, and since Dark Tales 5 & 6 were fantastic, I was eagerly awaiting number 7. However, I have been severely let down.
The story was good, but I was unable to get in to it as much as previous Dark Tales games. I thought the plot seemed poor when I read the blurb, but it was a little better in execution. The story it had a spooky opening, which intrigued me and left me wanting more. Coupled with dramatic cutscenes and a couple of great twists in the demo, I thought this story might not be so bad. However, one thing that killed it for me was the ghost factor. I knew the ghost would be involved somehow, but it just popped up EVERYWHERE. It ruined the creep factor and just descended in to overkill. In fact, the creep factor, or lack thereof, was a real problem in this game. The developer's attempt on creepy was actually quite cheesy and did not achieve the desired effect at all. A great example of this would be the demo's end. What I am guessing was meant to be a creepy cliffhanger was instead moronic, cheesy and laughable. It did not influence my decision on whether to buy or stop playing.
So, while the story was good in some areas, I just found it difficult to get in to. I was nowhere near as excited by this story as its predecessors.
So, while the story was good in some areas, I just found it difficult to get in to. I was nowhere near as excited by this story as its predecessors.
I was quite disappointed by the gameplay. I found it to be run-of-the-mill and incredibly boring, thus limiting the game's potential. The HOS would be an example of this. They were just the same boring word-list junkpile, which I am pretty sure the HOPA industry surpassed months ago. I completed them quickly and found them to be quite boring. With no variation offered, this ruined one of the most fun parts of a HOPA game for me. Adding to my frustrations, there was a scene in the game that was repeated extremely early. This is quite ridiculous and is actually one of my pet peeves. I can understand repeating a scene maybe an hour, forty-five minutes at the VERY LEAST, in to a game, but about ten minutes? Surely the developers can be a bit more creative than this.
While quality was a problem, quantity was not. There were 3 HOS in the demo and they were evenly spaced out.
While quality was a problem, quantity was not. There were 3 HOS in the demo and they were evenly spaced out.
I really was not a fan of the puzzles. I found them to be unoriginal, quite boring and, for the most part, quite easy. There was maybe 1 or 2 puzzles I skipped. I really wished ERS had made their puzzles fun, or even remotely interesting, because these ones were not. They were just the same old bore I see time and time again. They were probably my least favourite part of the game.
Like the HOS, quantity was no problem. There were 5 puzzles in the demo and they were evenly spaced out.
Like the HOS, quantity was no problem. There were 5 puzzles in the demo and they were evenly spaced out.
The adventure component was okay. It had a reasonable amount of fun and was one of the better things about this game. There was some backtracking, but only enough for a reasonable amount. The adventure component was prominent to a degree, but I thought it could have been featured a little more. I found the adventure component to be quite basic and also incredibly easy. It was blatantly obvious what my next task was. I would have appreciated a little more difficulty to make the game a bit more fun. I also found the adventure to be quite repetitive. I would have liked a bit of variation; maybe some + objects could have been thrown in. I think variation would have made the game tolerable.
There is only the one additional gameplay feature here, and that is the Magic Mirror. I absolutely LOVED this feature! It was innovative and incredibly fun. It was my absolute favourite part of the game, and I wish it had been used more often (it was only used twice in the demo). Items that can be used by the mirror are highlighted, so there is no confusion as to when you can and can't use it.
However, that was the only additional feature of the game, and I am disappointed. I was at least expecting + objects, or something more. I think ERS seriously needs to improve on their gameplay because the run-of-the-mill stuff they've been producing lately is incredibly boring. I don't want to play the same thing over and over again. The Magic Mirror is a sign of good things, but I really think ERS needs to take a leaf out of the books of other developers and be creative; think outside the box. Trust me, it usually pays off.
However, that was the only additional feature of the game, and I am disappointed. I was at least expecting + objects, or something more. I think ERS seriously needs to improve on their gameplay because the run-of-the-mill stuff they've been producing lately is incredibly boring. I don't want to play the same thing over and over again. The Magic Mirror is a sign of good things, but I really think ERS needs to take a leaf out of the books of other developers and be creative; think outside the box. Trust me, it usually pays off.
In terms of basic things, I thought the difficulty levels were done pretty well. I liked how there was no sparkles on anything, even HOS. I did notice there were objective indicators on the map, though. I would have liked no indicators on the map at all.
I was pleased to see a diary present, too. It recorded down all case findings and made it easy for me to keep track of events, which I have difficulty doing sometimes. So kudos to the developers for including a diary in their game.
I was pleased to see a diary present, too. It recorded down all case findings and made it easy for me to keep track of events, which I have difficulty doing sometimes. So kudos to the developers for including a diary in their game.
The graphics were great as always. So much care has been put in to the detail of the graphics to make them realistic, yet with a sense of antiquity about them. The scenes were clear and visually appealing, with some great coloiurs. I was also pleased to see lip-synch back in their games.
The voice-overs were generally good, but I do have one minor problem. ERS have done a horrible job at pronouncing the French names, mainly due to the American accents. For example, “Jacque” (pronounced something like Jark) was pronounced as “Jack”. This is completely ridiculous. Even I, someone who has very limited knowledge of the French language, knew this was pronounced incorrectly. If ERS are going to set a game in France, they should at least pronounce French names the French way.
The voice-overs were generally good, but I do have one minor problem. ERS have done a horrible job at pronouncing the French names, mainly due to the American accents. For example, “Jacque” (pronounced something like Jark) was pronounced as “Jack”. This is completely ridiculous. Even I, someone who has very limited knowledge of the French language, knew this was pronounced incorrectly. If ERS are going to set a game in France, they should at least pronounce French names the French way.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom options are good, but I played Advanced. There were no sparkles, but there were map indicators.
Hint/Skip- The hint was too long for advanced, so I had to customise. The hint worked well outside HOS.
Diary- Great for keeping track of events.
Map- The map was interactive and quite useful. Map indicators still appear on advanced.
Magic Mirror- Very fun. There are indicators of when you can use an item on the mirror. It wasn't used enough, in my opinion.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom options are good, but I played Advanced. There were no sparkles, but there were map indicators.
Hint/Skip- The hint was too long for advanced, so I had to customise. The hint worked well outside HOS.
Diary- Great for keeping track of events.
Map- The map was interactive and quite useful. Map indicators still appear on advanced.
Magic Mirror- Very fun. There are indicators of when you can use an item on the mirror. It wasn't used enough, in my opinion.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter- Some reviews are saying there's no bonus chapter, but rest assured, there is. It's right up the top of the bonus content page.
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Morphing Objects- they are apparently there, but I did not find them, nor attempt to.
Replay cutscenes
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Screensavers
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter- Some reviews are saying there's no bonus chapter, but rest assured, there is. It's right up the top of the bonus content page.
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Morphing Objects- they are apparently there, but I did not find them, nor attempt to.
Replay cutscenes
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Screensavers
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I'm not buying this game, but if you are thinking of doing so, I advise you to go for the SE. The Bonus Content in this game is very minimal.
I'm not buying this game, but if you are thinking of doing so, I advise you to go for the SE. The Bonus Content in this game is very minimal.
MY PROGRESS
The game goes in to the beginning of chapter 3 during the demo. This means the length might be a concern. I finished the demo in 41 minutes.
The game goes in to the beginning of chapter 3 during the demo. This means the length might be a concern. I finished the demo in 41 minutes.
I wanted to love this game. I tried to force myself to love this game. But soon, I had to face the ugly truth: this is nothing like the previous Dark Tales games. The entire thing just had a sense of mediocrity. A potentially good story has been ruined by boring, run-of-the-mill gameplay. It earns three stars from me.
Do I recommend? The story's good, so if you can get past the lackluster gameplay, go for it.
Do I recommend? The story's good, so if you can get past the lackluster gameplay, go for it.
I recommend this game!
You've been asked to cover a highly anticipated competition in New York City when something goes terribly wrong. Can you escape the world of illusions?
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
FANTASTIC! Tremendous Improvement By Blam!
PostedFebruary 18, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
After their last game was a complete disaster, and recent games from Blam being mediocre, I wasn't expecting an awful lot from this game. However, it has totally passed my expectations! I thoroughly enjoyed the demo.
I thought the story was fantastic. It had a very exciting, unique concept and was executed wonderfully. The opening was very well done and drew me in immediately. It was followed up by very dramatic cutscenes, with excellently written dialogue and great encounters with the villain. The character of the villain has been done exceptionally well.
The story was very intriguing from the get go; I immediately wanted to know what was going to happen next and what the story of our villain was. There were also some great twists in the demo, which were unexpected, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The story had a high level of excitement and has been executed to perfection. I give huge kudos to the developers for their efforts. I am eager to find out what happens next.
The story was very intriguing from the get go; I immediately wanted to know what was going to happen next and what the story of our villain was. There were also some great twists in the demo, which were unexpected, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The story had a high level of excitement and has been executed to perfection. I give huge kudos to the developers for their efforts. I am eager to find out what happens next.
In their last few games, I was extremely critical of Blam for having linear, boring gameplay. It appears Blam have finally taken that criticism on board, because the gameplay was quite fun! Blam has definitely progressed beyond the boring standard word-list junkpile. The HOS came in a great variety: silhouette junkpile, interactive junkpile, story HOS and assemble the item. I loved each and every single HOS I came across! The HOS are a little close together, but I didn't care, as I loved them so much. There was a fantastic number of HOS (5) in the demo too. The HOS were my favouriite part of the game, gameplay wise. Fantastic job to the developers on these.
The worst part of the game for me was definitely the puzzles. Contrary to the rest of the game, I found them to be unoriginal and quite boring. I think I enjoyed one of the 5 that appeared in the demo. I definitely think the puzzles could have used some work. Whether they are too hard or too easy doesn't matter; I like to attempt puzzles and enjoy doing so, and I really didn't in this game. I hope the developers fix this up for their next game. On the plus side, though, I did find that the puzzles were well spaced out.
I wouldn't exactly call the adventure component prominent. I felt it took a backseat role to the HOS & Puzzles. There wasn't very much to do in the locations at all, and what there was, was quite basic. Because of the minimal adventure and basic design, I found the gameplay to be quite easy. However, that being said, I also found what there was of the adventure component to be quite fun. I liked the laid-back approach it took and how it didn't try to over-complicate things to take away from the story. I felt that would've happened if the game had been harder. For their next game, I'd like to see a bit more
adventure.
adventure.
The game does really well on additional features. There are two here: + objects and Magician's Tricks. The + objects were done well. There were never too many at once and there was an indicator of when they could be used. Most, if not all, of the + objects, were simply just pulling one item away from another. I would have liked to add items on to some of them. It would have made the feature much better.
The other feature was the Magician's Items. These were magic items that only had a couple of uses each, but almost as soon as the magic item was gone, it was replaced by another. This was a lovely, unique feature, which raised the fun factor tremendously. I uncovered 2 in the demo, and I am sincerely hoping there are more to come.
The other feature was the Magician's Items. These were magic items that only had a couple of uses each, but almost as soon as the magic item was gone, it was replaced by another. This was a lovely, unique feature, which raised the fun factor tremendously. I uncovered 2 in the demo, and I am sincerely hoping there are more to come.
I have a little issue with the difficulty levels. That is, once again, the black bar tips. I started out on advanced but customised due to this problem. The black bar tip's purpose is to give you a hint what to do. On advanced that didn't happen. I wouldn't have minded if there were no black bar tips at all on advanced, but instead, every time I clicked on something, the game would tell me I was wrong, and I wasn't even doing anything. This frustrated the living daylights out of me. I personally felt it was a bit insulting, a bit of a put down to me as a player to say I was wrong just for clicking on something. I switched to Casual and found that this annoying feature was only on advanced, so I was forced to customise the gameplay. This really shouldn't happen and I hope the Blam fixes this.
Another issue I have is with map indicators. Even on advanced mode, they appeared. I believe that, if someone picks advanced mode, they are well past the need for indicators, and developers should respect that. This was another reason I had to customise.
Another issue I have is with map indicators. Even on advanced mode, they appeared. I believe that, if someone picks advanced mode, they are well past the need for indicators, and developers should respect that. This was another reason I had to customise.
The graphics were quite good. In particular I loved the awesome colours the developer used. They really attracted my attention and were visually appealing. The scenes were done in great detail and were very clear. The cutscenes looked very realistic. I also liked how there was lip-synch for the characters.
The voice-overs were standard. I have no issue.
The voice-overs were standard. I have no issue.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I started out on advanced mode but had to customise, due to AWFUL black bar tips and map indicators being present. Customisation was limited.
Hint/Skip- Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and quite useful, but there shouldn't have been map indicators on advanced mode.
+ Objects- These were mostly just interacting with items to remove something from them instead of adding things on to items. I would've liked a mix of both.
Magician's Items- These were incredibly fun and raised my enjoyment levels tremendously. There were 2 in the demo and I am hoping they are present throughout the whole game and not a CE Extra.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I started out on advanced mode but had to customise, due to AWFUL black bar tips and map indicators being present. Customisation was limited.
Hint/Skip- Hint is useful outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and quite useful, but there shouldn't have been map indicators on advanced mode.
+ Objects- These were mostly just interacting with items to remove something from them instead of adding things on to items. I would've liked a mix of both.
Magician's Items- These were incredibly fun and raised my enjoyment levels tremendously. There were 2 in the demo and I am hoping they are present throughout the whole game and not a CE Extra.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Collectible “Magician's Tricks”- I did not notice them, nor attempt to. I collected one by accident.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Replay Cutscenes
Replay Puzzles
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions
Achievements
Collectible “Magician's Tricks”- I did not notice them, nor attempt to. I collected one by accident.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Replay Cutscenes
Replay Puzzles
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
My recommendation is to absolutely, 100%, DEFINITELY go with the SE. The CE bonus content is unapealling, quite basic and definitely not worth the extra money. I can tell Blam haven't put much effort in.
My recommendation is to absolutely, 100%, DEFINITELY go with the SE. The CE bonus content is unapealling, quite basic and definitely not worth the extra money. I can tell Blam haven't put much effort in.
MY PROGRESS
For one chapter, the demo was quite long. I finished it in 36 minutes.
For one chapter, the demo was quite long. I finished it in 36 minutes.
This is definitely the best story this year so far, and one of the most all-round enjoyable games to come out this year. Blam has finally taken it up a notch with their gameplay, and it has most certainly been worth the wait. This game earns a very well deserved four and a half star rating from me, with the only reason it's missing out on a five being the puzzles.
I recommend this game!
A famous painter finds herself in over her head!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Enjoyed The Demo, But Needed Some Fine-Tuning
PostedFebruary 16, 2015
catbag8717
fromTasmania, Australia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Current Favorite:
Ominous Objects: Family Portrait
(30)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I'm not really the biggest fan of the Off the Record series, so I wasn't expecting much from this third installment. However, it did turn out to be quite good.
The story was quite interesting, actually. The opening wasn't thrilling, but it was decent enough to be a good setup for the rest of the demo. The story did really well on suspense. There was quite a lot of it in the beginning which really made me want to know more. This is always key in a story, as it makes it really exciting, so well done to the developers on this. I also really liked the cassettes. Each one added excitement to the story that wanted to make me play on. However, I also found the cassettes spoiled the story a little bit. After listening to the cassettes and talking to the next character, I knew exactly who they were and made a pretty good guess as to what was going to happen, so the twist at the end of the demo did not have as much of a wow factor as it was supposed to. This was a problem I had in the last Off The Record game, and it really did ruin the story for me. I hope that, if Eipix makes another Off The Record game, they keep the surprise in the story.
Overall, the story was quite well done, but plot twists were spoiled during the demo, so it wasn't as good as it could've been.
Overall, the story was quite well done, but plot twists were spoiled during the demo, so it wasn't as good as it could've been.
The gameplay was relatively fun, too. I liked the HOS, especially the first one. I thought that was really innovative and a nice change from the norm without being too overly-interactive. The other HOS were quite simple and just a mix of the ordinary silhouette and word-list junkpile, so quite boring in comparison, but still okay. I quite liked the quantity of the HOS during the demo; there were 5 all up and they were spaced out evenly. I would have liked it if all the HOS had been jazzed up slightly to make them as fun as the first though. It would have made them a lot more fun.
I quite liked the puzzles. I found them to be different from the norm and, for the most part, quite fun. There was maybe one or two puzzle I didn't like. I really like it when developers make their puzzles different, as it adds to the fun factor, so kudos to the developers for that. I found the puzzles to be of a good number (5 in the demo) and well spaced out too. Some puzzles did have confusing instructions though, so I think this is something Eipix needs to work on. In terms of challenge, the puzzles were a mixed bag, Some were easy, some were not. So it's good to see the developers catering to all puzzlers.
I was pleased with the adventure component too. It was relatively prominent, as well as being fun and having some things different from the norm (the sheep scene was pure gold, and extremely fun, thanks developers). If I had to pick out the worst thing about the adventure component, it would be that there wasn't much to do in each location. There were quite a few locations in the demo, but I skipped past them relatively quickly. I like to be able to explore the scenes in games, and not having much to do in scenes doesn't allow that. For their next game, Eipix needs to add more things to do in each location.
In terms of challenge, I did find the game quite easy, mainly due to minimal things to do and quite basic adventure design. There was innovation, as I mentioned, but nothing that made the game overly challenging. This is something I am continuously commenting on in Eipix games, so I am hoping that they fix this up sooner rather than later.
In terms of challenge, I did find the game quite easy, mainly due to minimal things to do and quite basic adventure design. There was innovation, as I mentioned, but nothing that made the game overly challenging. This is something I am continuously commenting on in Eipix games, so I am hoping that they fix this up sooner rather than later.
There are two additional features in this game- one game related, one story related-: they are + objects and cassettes. The + objects were done well for the most part. They were quite sporadic, so there was no overkill. However, I found the indicators to be a bit confusing. Sometimes I couldn't tell whether it was an indicator or the game's design. I think Eipix should have made this a bit clearer.
The other feature was the cassettes. As I said, I loved the excitement they added to the story, but I also feel like they spoiled the story a little bit. I think the developers should have worked on this. They could've been a real killer if executed well.
I'm a little disappointed that the + objects were the only gameplay feature. I would've liked to see something else; something unique to the game, something to make the gameplay a lot more fun, to push it up to that five star level. + objects are standard now, so having just them isn't going to cut it anymore. I hope the developers add some more additional features for their next game.
The other feature was the cassettes. As I said, I loved the excitement they added to the story, but I also feel like they spoiled the story a little bit. I think the developers should have worked on this. They could've been a real killer if executed well.
I'm a little disappointed that the + objects were the only gameplay feature. I would've liked to see something else; something unique to the game, something to make the gameplay a lot more fun, to push it up to that five star level. + objects are standard now, so having just them isn't going to cut it anymore. I hope the developers add some more additional features for their next game.
The only thing I'll comment on about the basic features is to do with the difficulty levels. I played advanced mode and really liked how there were no map indicators. A lot of developers leave them in for advanced mode and I don't think they know how frustrating it is. To see them taken out here is wonderful. The difficulty box says there are still sparkles in the game on advanced, but the only sparkles I saw were HOS (would've preferred them off), so that's a bonus for me too.
The graphics were good, but not the best I've seen from Eipix. I found the graphics to be a little hazy in the cutscenes, but apart from that, they were generally clear. The details in each scene are great and the colours are realistic and match the atmosphere well.
The accents in the voice-overs annoyed me a little, but other than that, they were fine.
The accents in the voice-overs annoyed me a little, but other than that, they were fine.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom seemed a bit too complicated for me (I was always un-checking the wrong things because the buttons were placed weirdly) so I picked Advanced. I liked the settings for that. No map indicators and minimal sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for advanced mode and the hint was useful outside HOS.
Map- No map indicators, which was fantastic to see. The map is interactive, and also helpful on lower difficulties.
+ Objects- Quite sporadic, which was nice. However, the indicators were confusing. Sometimes I couldn't tell what was indicator and what was game design.
Cassettes- Great addition to the stories, but also spoiled them a bit.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom seemed a bit too complicated for me (I was always un-checking the wrong things because the buttons were placed weirdly) so I picked Advanced. I liked the settings for that. No map indicators and minimal sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for advanced mode and the hint was useful outside HOS.
Map- No map indicators, which was fantastic to see. The map is interactive, and also helpful on lower difficulties.
+ Objects- Quite sporadic, which was nice. However, the indicators were confusing. Sometimes I couldn't tell what was indicator and what was game design.
Cassettes- Great addition to the stories, but also spoiled them a bit.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions; does show locations of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible paint tubes (42)- One in every scene
Behind the Scenes
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Photo Session- photo shoot for the game
Souvenir Room- very fun
Painter's Den- I'm quite intrigued by this. Not sure what it is.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions; does show locations of collectibles.
Achievements
Collectible paint tubes (42)- One in every scene
Behind the Scenes
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Photo Session- photo shoot for the game
Souvenir Room- very fun
Painter's Den- I'm quite intrigued by this. Not sure what it is.
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE is packed with a lot of stuff and has some very appealing extras- namely painter's den, souvenir room and behind the scenes- so I would definitely say the CE is the better buy here. I'm not buying this game, but if I was, I'd definitely pick the CE.
The CE is packed with a lot of stuff and has some very appealing extras- namely painter's den, souvenir room and behind the scenes- so I would definitely say the CE is the better buy here. I'm not buying this game, but if I was, I'd definitely pick the CE.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the demo, which I finished in 46 minutes.
There are 2 chapters in the demo, which I finished in 46 minutes.
This is far from Eipix's best, but was still enjoyable for the demo period. I had fun and was interested by the story, but I think this game needed a bit of fine-tuning to bump it up to the five stars I know it was capable of. As it is, I'm giving this one a well-deserved four stars.
I recommend this game!