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
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Another bloodcurdling tale ripped from the pages of history. This time, the horrifying legend of Elizabeth Bathory is yours to discover!
Overall rating
4
/
5
30 of 41 found this review helpful
So Much Better Than Its Predecessor!
PostedDecember 7, 2014
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
This developer is fairly unfamiliar to me, with the only other game of theirs I know being the first of this series. That game was far from great, so needless to say, I was not expecting much of this game. This game was a lot better than I thought it was! I've been waiting for it for 3 weeks and it was well worth the wait.
The reason I'd been waiting for this game so keenly is its story. It is based on the true tale of Elizabeth Bathory, one of the worst serial killers the world has ever seen. When a game has a story based on that, I expect to be scared, terrorised, even, and this game delivered that. While I wasn't scared out of my socks, this story did extremely well on the creep factor and was a lot scarier than stories I've seen lately. I enjoyed that part of the story very much. I think playing the game with a gypsy as our main character added significantly to the story; as part of her “powers”, our character could see in to the past just by touching objects. These flashbacks added to the story and made it more interesting.
I also quite liked the characters, who each added vital information to the story and really hammered home the fact that this Countess was a vile person. I liked that each character, even the minor ones, had their own personality, which made them easier to relate to. Most developers don't bother with creating character personalities so I was pleased to see that here. I give kudos to the developers for this.
Content wise, the story was very easy to follow and I was never confused as to what was happening. The story had a very clear flow and I always knew where we were going. But unfortunately, the story's excitement level was fairly low, apart from the use of the creep factor. The story coasted along as I expected it to, with the only major twist coming at the end of the demo. This twist was very creepy and was quite unexpected, so it made me want to play on.
Overall, an enjoyable story, and quite creepy, but not as exciting as I'd hoped. The characters were great, though, and this was a huge improvement from the first game.
I also quite liked the characters, who each added vital information to the story and really hammered home the fact that this Countess was a vile person. I liked that each character, even the minor ones, had their own personality, which made them easier to relate to. Most developers don't bother with creating character personalities so I was pleased to see that here. I give kudos to the developers for this.
Content wise, the story was very easy to follow and I was never confused as to what was happening. The story had a very clear flow and I always knew where we were going. But unfortunately, the story's excitement level was fairly low, apart from the use of the creep factor. The story coasted along as I expected it to, with the only major twist coming at the end of the demo. This twist was very creepy and was quite unexpected, so it made me want to play on.
Overall, an enjoyable story, and quite creepy, but not as exciting as I'd hoped. The characters were great, though, and this was a huge improvement from the first game.
The gameplay was great and I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the HOS, which came in two forms: inventory-HOS list & silhouette junkpile. I have always loved inventory-HOS and there was no exception here. I found them incredibly fun and was overjoyed whenever I got to play them. The other scenes-silhouette junkpile were not as fun but I still enjoyed them. They still needed inventory items, which was quite nice. As far as challenge goes, I wouldn't call these overly-challenging, but it does not matter to me, as I loved them. The HOS were well spaced out; I didn't run in to one for quite some time after starting the game. Quantity is not a problem, though: there are 5 HOS in the demo, which is a brilliant number. It allowed for maximum enjoyment on my part.
I liked the puzzles too. They were fun to attempt, even though they weren't unique. I found the challenge in the puzzles varied: some were quite challenging, and others were easy. There was one puzzle that I was quite frustrated with though: the safe one. The hint for the safe did not match any of the symbols and this was incredibly confusing. The other puzzles did not cause me concern, though. The puzzles, too, are well spaced out and there are a good number of them. Including the puzzles associated with the psychic powers, there are 6 in the demo. Excluding them, there were 4. This is a very good number for me as I am not really the biggest fan of puzzles, so one more would have annoyed me.
The adventure component of this game was quite prominent and very fun. There were lots of things to do and locations to explore, which was great. Part of what made it so fun were the things to do with our gypsy character. We had a wagon, in which we could make potions (which was probably my favourite part of the game) and grow seeds. The whole potions and seeds shebang made the game a lot more enjoyable and is why I am considering buying it. I loved how much the developers explored the gypsy theme, because it has paid off. As far as challenge goes, this game sat well with me. Some parts I found easy and others I found quite challenging. I don't like games too easy, but too hard is dreadfully annoying, so it was nice to see a mix here. The tasks are nothing out of the ordinary, but the developers still found a way to make them a little difficult, so well done.
There are two extra gameplay features in this game: + objects and psychic powers. They were both fun, especially the psychic powers. The + objects were executed quite well. There was never more than one at a time in the inventory, which was great. There is also an indication of when they can be used, which I personally did not need, but it will be a great help to beginners. I enjoyed the feature as it was another example of how greatly this developer has improved on the previous game.
The other feature was the psychic powers. I loved this because it just goes to show how innovative the developers can be. I have never seen something like this before, so was intrigued by it. Its usage is limited- twice in the demo- which is a good thing, because over-using it would have been quite annoying. There is an indication of when the psychic power can be used. To use it, you click on an object, watch the cutscene and then have to do a minigame, which is quite simple. I thought this feature was very fun and hope it is used quite a bit as the game progresses.
The other feature was the psychic powers. I loved this because it just goes to show how innovative the developers can be. I have never seen something like this before, so was intrigued by it. Its usage is limited- twice in the demo- which is a good thing, because over-using it would have been quite annoying. There is an indication of when the psychic power can be used. To use it, you click on an object, watch the cutscene and then have to do a minigame, which is quite simple. I thought this feature was very fun and hope it is used quite a bit as the game progresses.
The basic features are great too and are yet another reminder of the game's improvements. There are 4 modes of difficulty, including custom, which is fantastic. I liked how, even in Casual, the sparkles seldom appeared. It states this on the difficulty selection screen and I found it to be true as I played the game. I don't think I saw any sparkles at all. I love it when developers have a Casual mode that does not hold your hand! It allows for more fun and challenge in the game- nothing is worse than having big blinking lights telling you what to do!
There is also a diary, which was awesome. It was very good for keeping track of events, which will prove useful to me as the game goes on. The map was interactive and also a great help. Kudos to the developers on how well they have done the basics- they really make the game!
There is also a diary, which was awesome. It was very good for keeping track of events, which will prove useful to me as the game goes on. The map was interactive and also a great help. Kudos to the developers on how well they have done the basics- they really make the game!
The graphics were quite good, especially in comparison to the last game. The characters and scenes were drawn with some great detail and realism. The scenes were clear too, which was great. There was lip-synch too, which was nice.
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. Differences are standard. I loved how there were virtually no sparkles in Casual.
Hint/Skip- hint recharges at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Great for keeping track of events. Also keeps track of tasks.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
Wagon- There is a button you can press to go back to your wagon instantly, and you will need to use it a lot. The wagon is where you grow seeds and make potions, both of which were really fun.
Psychic Powers- I enjoyed this as it was quite innovative. It added to both the story and the gameplay. It's great to see a feature that is relevant to the game.
+ Objects- Executed quite well. Never more than one at a time and there is an indication of when they can be used.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. I loved how there were virtually no sparkles in Casual.
Hint/Skip- hint recharges at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Great for keeping track of events. Also keeps track of tasks.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
Wagon- There is a button you can press to go back to your wagon instantly, and you will need to use it a lot. The wagon is where you grow seeds and make potions, both of which were really fun.
Psychic Powers- I enjoyed this as it was quite innovative. It added to both the story and the gameplay. It's great to see a feature that is relevant to the game.
+ Objects- Executed quite well. Never more than one at a time and there is an indication of when they can be used.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Shows locations of collectibles
Achievements
Collectible tarot cards- one in every scene.
Wallpapers
Screensavers
Music
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions. Shows locations of collectibles
Achievements
Collectible tarot cards- one in every scene.
Wallpapers
Screensavers
Music
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
CE Bonus Content has improved since the last game, but I will still go with the SE as there was not much in it to intrigue me. It will take a lot more extras to get me to buy the CE.
CE Bonus Content has improved since the last game, but I will still go with the SE as there was not much in it to intrigue me. It will take a lot more extras to get me to buy the CE.
MY PROGRESS
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the demo in 46 minutes on Casual. There are a total of 8 chapters in the main game, so I am hoping that means this will be lengthy. :)
There are 2 chapters in the demo. I finished the demo in 46 minutes on Casual. There are a total of 8 chapters in the main game, so I am hoping that means this will be lengthy. :)
This game is a huge improvement from its predecessor and was well worth the wait. I enjoyed every minute of the demo and will be sure to purchase the SE when it arrives. This isn't like your usual game, so I highly recommend giving this a spin.
I recommend this game!
The Sandman is back for revenge! This time his victim is Tim, Laura's husband. Will you succeed in pulling him out of this nightmare?
Overall rating
4
/
5
37 of 42 found this review helpful
For an Adventure Lover, This Game Is Perfect!
PostedDecember 5, 2014
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
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED GAME
I really enjoyed the first Dreamscapes, so was overjoyed when I saw the sequel. I played the trial and decided to use a free coupon to purchase. While this was not as good as the original, this still provided me with a great few hours of entertainment.
I really enjoyed the story, and part of the reason for that was its similarities to the first. This time, instead of Laura, we help Tim. We must go rescue Tim from each of his nightmares before the Sandman can claim his body and return to the living world. I liked how this game followed the same characters, making it a true sequel.
This story had a thrilling start, one that got me sucked in to the game immediately. The opening cutscene was fantastic in doing this. If the aim of the beginning was to get me to buy the game, it worked. I liked how, even though this was a serious game, there was still a touch of humour involved. That little creature who helps us along the way was extremely amusing and actually made me laugh a few times. I was glad that it played such a pivotal role in the game.
Each nightmare world added excitement to the story .It allowed me to get inside the mind of Tim and really get to know him, so I didn't feel like I was just saving a random citizen for no reason; it actually made me want to save Tim. Each of Tim's nightmares was quite creative and interesting, so I applaud the developers for that. However, there was a part of me that thought each world didn't tie together very well. That is always the risk with setting a story in multiple worlds and sadly, that risk came in to fruition for a bit. I think the developers could have done a better job linking the worlds together. It would have made the story more exciting, because it did die down for a bit. I think, in a game like this, there has to be a decisive plot and not six or seven mini-plots to do with each world. Also, I felt like the story was a little rushed towards the end. We raced through the last few worlds in about half an hour, which didn't give me much time to take in the story and also meant less focusing on why Tim was having this nightmare. I feel this story could have been executed a little better.
What this story did really well on though was the antagonist. I absolutely loved the character of the Sandman. Each encounter with him made the story so much more exciting, adding that little spark which would keep my interest. His whole reasons for returning have been done well too. Again, I give kudos to the developer for the way they've done the villain.
While the story itself was interesting for the most part, I can't help but feel a little disappointed with the ending. I was expecting a dramatic confrontation, a “final battle” with the Sandman, but instead it was just “place this, game over.” The final cutscene was very short, but still conclusive. However I still think the developers could have done a better job.
Overall, a good story, even if the connections between each world weren't very strong.
This story had a thrilling start, one that got me sucked in to the game immediately. The opening cutscene was fantastic in doing this. If the aim of the beginning was to get me to buy the game, it worked. I liked how, even though this was a serious game, there was still a touch of humour involved. That little creature who helps us along the way was extremely amusing and actually made me laugh a few times. I was glad that it played such a pivotal role in the game.
Each nightmare world added excitement to the story .It allowed me to get inside the mind of Tim and really get to know him, so I didn't feel like I was just saving a random citizen for no reason; it actually made me want to save Tim. Each of Tim's nightmares was quite creative and interesting, so I applaud the developers for that. However, there was a part of me that thought each world didn't tie together very well. That is always the risk with setting a story in multiple worlds and sadly, that risk came in to fruition for a bit. I think the developers could have done a better job linking the worlds together. It would have made the story more exciting, because it did die down for a bit. I think, in a game like this, there has to be a decisive plot and not six or seven mini-plots to do with each world. Also, I felt like the story was a little rushed towards the end. We raced through the last few worlds in about half an hour, which didn't give me much time to take in the story and also meant less focusing on why Tim was having this nightmare. I feel this story could have been executed a little better.
What this story did really well on though was the antagonist. I absolutely loved the character of the Sandman. Each encounter with him made the story so much more exciting, adding that little spark which would keep my interest. His whole reasons for returning have been done well too. Again, I give kudos to the developer for the way they've done the villain.
While the story itself was interesting for the most part, I can't help but feel a little disappointed with the ending. I was expecting a dramatic confrontation, a “final battle” with the Sandman, but instead it was just “place this, game over.” The final cutscene was very short, but still conclusive. However I still think the developers could have done a better job.
Overall, a good story, even if the connections between each world weren't very strong.
The thing I loved most about the first Dreamscapes game was the fact that it was that no HOS were present, meaning the adventure component was quite heavy. While there are HOS in this game, they are still enjoyable. They are also sporadic, which means the quantity of the adventure component was not compromised in any way. The HOS all come in the form of extra-step junkpile, with a couple of extra-step objects per scene. While they were not overly challenging, they provided fun for me. As I said, they were sporadic; there were 8 HOS in the entire game, which is a very good number considering its predecessor did not have HOS. I noticed that they grew more and more frequent as the game wore on: I played 4 in the last hour or so I think. In the beginning they were few and far between, so the influx of HOS towards the end was strange. I found the HOS to be creative too; there was a HOS in black and white, as well as underwater with a torch. It just goes to show this developer was really aiming to show off their creative side.
I liked the puzzles too. They were nothing I haven't seen before but still very fun to play. I found them to be the easiest part of the game. They did not require much thinking at all. Of all the puzzles, I think I skipped one. The only one I really found challenging was that cave drawing one, and that was only because I was confused. I did really enjoy the puzzles, but I think these developers should make them a tad harder.
Similar to the HOS, the puzzles had a good quantity and were quite sporadic. There were a total of 7 puzzles in the game, which meant that there was a lot more adventure component than usual, which was great. In contrast, the puzzles featured more frequently at the beginning of the game and seemed to fade out as the game went on. In the last hour or so I only played one puzzle, which was quite strange to me. In the beginning of the game I seemed to be playing quite a few.
Similar to the HOS, the puzzles had a good quantity and were quite sporadic. There were a total of 7 puzzles in the game, which meant that there was a lot more adventure component than usual, which was great. In contrast, the puzzles featured more frequently at the beginning of the game and seemed to fade out as the game went on. In the last hour or so I only played one puzzle, which was quite strange to me. In the beginning of the game I seemed to be playing quite a few.
What I loved most about this game was it's extremely prominent adventure component. This game was very heavy on the adventure side of things, which is absolutely fantastic. There were lots of things to do and plenty of places to explore. It made the HOS and Puzzles feel like a thing to do on the side, and made the game so much more fun. I also liked how this game was a lot more challenging than I expected. I was using the hint a lot more than I care to admit, which is great, because it means I was actually being challenged by the game. There was no map either, which made the game all the more challenging. I have not actually been challenged by a game in quite some time, so this was a very welcome change. The tasks were a little difficult in some areas, but as the game wore on I noticed it began to get easier and easier, which was a little disappointing. I was expecting the high level of challenge to be maintained for the entire game.
The basic features have been done well. There are three modes of difficulty, and I was thrilled that even Casual did not give much help. There is a misclick penalty, and there are NO SPARKLES AT ALL! You receive pretty much no help on Casual, save for the hint. There are also special hints, where you can drag an item on to the hint button to learn exactly what to do with it. Before you can do this, you have to solve a minigame.
As I mentioned before, there is no map. People have complained about this, but I don't mind. Actually, I quite liked the game that way. It made it harder.
There is a diary, but it is not to keep track of events. You collect diary pages written by Tim about his dreams.
Overall, I thought the gameplay was quite good, and I especially loved the adventure component.
As I mentioned before, there is no map. People have complained about this, but I don't mind. Actually, I quite liked the game that way. It made it harder.
There is a diary, but it is not to keep track of events. You collect diary pages written by Tim about his dreams.
Overall, I thought the gameplay was quite good, and I especially loved the adventure component.
The graphics are absolutely BRILLIANT! I have never seen better in my life. The graphics are drawn with such amazing detail and great colours, making them look incredibly lifelike. The scenes have stunning clarity. Not one part of the game had grainy graphics, which was great. The character desings were also brilliant and looked amazingly lifelike. It was as if I was looking at real people. There was lip-synch too, which just made them feel all the more real. I cannot praise the developers' efforts on the graphics highly enough. Never before in my life have I seen graphics so good. Developers: WELL DONE!
The voice-overs are standard. I liked the Sandman's voice. It really helped with making him feel evil. The others were the usual.
The voice-overs are standard. I liked the Sandman's voice. It really helped with making him feel evil. The others were the usual.
FEATURES
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. I liked how even Casual had a difficulty to it. There was a misclick penalty in HOS and there were NO SPARKLES AT ALL!
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS. The hint also has the ability to perform “special” hints, where you could drag an inventory item over to the hint button to learn exactly what to do with it. Before you could use it you had to solve a minigame. This was a great idea.
Diary- Does not keep track of story events. Instead you find pages of Tim's diary that he has kept over the years. It fully explains his fears and his journey.
Achievements- there is a nice array of achievements here, such as “find x collectibles” instead of “find all collectibles” (although there is still an achievement for that), and “find x chapters of the diary”. I quite liked the achievements
Collectible beholders (100)- there are multiple in every scene. I quite enjoyed them in the last game, but this time, not so much. They were incredibly hard to spot, and in the end, became more of a distraction than a gameplay enhancer, which is what I'm guessing they were meant to be. In some cases I would stay in a certain spot for five minutes or more just looking for the beholders. They became easier to spot as the game wore on, but I still wish they had been a little more visible.
3 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced and Hard. I liked how even Casual had a difficulty to it. There was a misclick penalty in HOS and there were NO SPARKLES AT ALL!
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS. The hint also has the ability to perform “special” hints, where you could drag an inventory item over to the hint button to learn exactly what to do with it. Before you could use it you had to solve a minigame. This was a great idea.
Diary- Does not keep track of story events. Instead you find pages of Tim's diary that he has kept over the years. It fully explains his fears and his journey.
Achievements- there is a nice array of achievements here, such as “find x collectibles” instead of “find all collectibles” (although there is still an achievement for that), and “find x chapters of the diary”. I quite liked the achievements
Collectible beholders (100)- there are multiple in every scene. I quite enjoyed them in the last game, but this time, not so much. They were incredibly hard to spot, and in the end, became more of a distraction than a gameplay enhancer, which is what I'm guessing they were meant to be. In some cases I would stay in a certain spot for five minutes or more just looking for the beholders. They became easier to spot as the game wore on, but I still wish they had been a little more visible.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
This game was a good length for me. I'd say it was about 2.5 hours. I would have liked to have stayed in some of the worlds for a bit longer and done a bit more exploring, but that's my opinion only.
This game was a good length for me. I'd say it was about 2.5 hours. I would have liked to have stayed in some of the worlds for a bit longer and done a bit more exploring, but that's my opinion only.
Overall, while falling short of its predecessor, this game is still quite good in its own right. It was a great use of a coupon and a great time passer. I enjoyed the game very much and will be bound to play it again sooner rather than later. This earns a solid four stars from me.
I recommend this game!
The Rat King's wand has fallen into the hands of a vengeful baron. Team up with your new friend, the Tin Soldier, to stop him!
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 21 found this review helpful
I Hate Fantasy... Why Did I LOVE This?
PostedDecember 5, 2014
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
The Nutcracker series has never really sat well with me. I thought they were good, but not brilliant. So when this third one came along, I didn't kick up much of a fuss. But something about this game just grew on me and I will be getting this one!
When I first saw the game's description and trailer, I thought “oh, great, this is just a rehash of the first one.” When I started the demo, it looked like my worst fears were being confirmed. This story had a really slow start and I was bored, but I thought I'd better play out the demo to give a fair review. I'm so glad I did, because after that, the story did a complete 360 on me and I fell in love with it. I think it was definitely a combination of the cuteness and the humour, or maybe just the fact that it was completely different from my vast array of horror/dark themed HOPA games. I really loved the cuteness in this story. When it got to the waving teddy bear and reuniting the dog family, I just melted and I was sold. I guess it's that time of the year; it's time to open myself up to a little fantasy and this will be my perfect companion. Despite my heart melting over the cuteness of this game, I was pleased that it was not all cute fantasy- there was a level of seriousness in it, which was shown by the interviews and the backstory. Our first interview was interesting and added excitement to a story which mainly survived on the cute factor. I'm pleased at that- I don't think I could survive ALL fantasy! I also liked the backstory, which was very interesting yet heartbreaking at the same time. It added something for me to follow, and I enjoyed it.
Overall, a very good story, and that's coming from someone who doesn't like fantasy!
Overall, a very good story, and that's coming from someone who doesn't like fantasy!
As much as I liked the story, I liked the gameplay even more. I loved the HOS. They were really fun and came in a variety too. They were either jazzed up junkpile (pairs or finding fragments of an item to reveal an inventory item) or just plain junkpile silhouette. Despite not being all that challenging, I still liked them. I liked their quantity too- there were only 3 in the demo, which meant there was more room for other things, instead of the game being HOS dominant.
I liked the HOS, but I loved the puzzles even MORE! Every single puzzle I played was fantastic. They were so much fun and so lengthy! A lot longer than the usual puzzles, which was really nice to see. The puzzles raised the fun factor tremendously, and I would be happy to replay the puzzles over and over again. Once again, I would not say the puzzles are overly challenging, but it was their creativity that got me. I have not seen many puzzles like that before, and that made them all the more fun! As it stands I would be happy to just play this game full of puzzles like that, never mind the HOS! The quantity is great too. Not counting the minigames, there were a total of 3 puzzles during the demo. This was great because the rarity of the puzzles made them even more fun than they already were. I normally don't like puzzles, so when a game has puzzles this good, I know it's definitely one to add to my collection.
I liked the HOS, but I loved the puzzles even MORE! Every single puzzle I played was fantastic. They were so much fun and so lengthy! A lot longer than the usual puzzles, which was really nice to see. The puzzles raised the fun factor tremendously, and I would be happy to replay the puzzles over and over again. Once again, I would not say the puzzles are overly challenging, but it was their creativity that got me. I have not seen many puzzles like that before, and that made them all the more fun! As it stands I would be happy to just play this game full of puzzles like that, never mind the HOS! The quantity is great too. Not counting the minigames, there were a total of 3 puzzles during the demo. This was great because the rarity of the puzzles made them even more fun than they already were. I normally don't like puzzles, so when a game has puzzles this good, I know it's definitely one to add to my collection.
I was thrilled with the adventure component. It looks like the developers have taken my advice on board, because the adventure component is WAY more prominent here! I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but this made the game even MORE fun! For me, adventure components are the best part of the game, and this one was done really well. I loved how you got to interact with absolutely everything! It made the game feel so much more real and was especially great in the toy shop. I got to poke around at everything, just like I would in real life! However the fun and Christmas magic don't save this game from being quite easy. The tasks are fairly simple and do not require a lot of thought. I had to go in to custom to change my preferences because Casual mode has sparkles EVERYWHERE, so it was just making the game laughable. After I turned sparkles off (and they do stay well and truly OFF) I was fine. I found the most challenging thing of this game to be the puzzles. The rest of it was fairly easy, but I think the lack of challenge contributed greatly to the fun factor. I've always found the easiest games to be the most fun, because it allows you to focus on the game more and not worry about being stuck. So for this game, I didn't mind as much.
This game has done well with extra features; there are three here. Similar to the first game, we have a nutcracker helper who will help us fight the trolls. I liked this feature as it stayed relevant to the game and was not overly-used. It was used maybe twice in the demo period. I also liked how we had to interact further with it, such as putting it on a horse before we could use it. It made the feature more fun to use.
Another feature in this game was + objects. These were done well too, because there was never more than two or three in the inventory at one time, which means that it wasn't over-used. The developers have been guilty of this in the past so it's nice to see they learned from there mistake. I found there was no indication of when the + object could be used. This is not such a big deal for me, but may frustrate a beginner.
Another feature was the monocle and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if this only appears in the shop part of the game or not, but all the same it was fantastic. The minigame associated with it was so fun. I had a blast every time I got to play it. I desperately hope it makes more appearances during the rest of the game.
Another feature in this game was + objects. These were done well too, because there was never more than two or three in the inventory at one time, which means that it wasn't over-used. The developers have been guilty of this in the past so it's nice to see they learned from there mistake. I found there was no indication of when the + object could be used. This is not such a big deal for me, but may frustrate a beginner.
Another feature was the monocle and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if this only appears in the shop part of the game or not, but all the same it was fantastic. The minigame associated with it was so fun. I had a blast every time I got to play it. I desperately hope it makes more appearances during the rest of the game.
The basic features have been done well. There is a great map, as well as a working hint. There are 4 modes of difficulty including custom, which is lucky, because I did end up having to use the custom difficulty to turn those annoying sparkles off. It's always nice to see a custom mode, because it means the gamer can adjust the settings to get the best gaming experience.
Overall, brilliant gameplay. A huge improvement from the first.
Overall, brilliant gameplay. A huge improvement from the first.
The graphics were great too. They were drawn with some nice detail and looked realistic. I liked how the characters had lip-synch too, because it made them seem more lifelike, which is the key to a fantasy game. All the scenes are clear and have nice colours too.
The voice-overs were good, save for one issue. I didn't the American accents mixed with the British ones. I think they should have all been British. It wold have made more sense, with names like Albert and Charlie.
The voice-overs were good, save for one issue. I didn't the American accents mixed with the British ones. I think they should have all been British. It wold have made more sense, with names like Albert and Charlie.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Nina (Casual), Charlie (Advanced), Nutcracker (Hard) and Custom. Differences are standard, but Casual is too easy. It has sparkles EVERYWHERE. It frustrated me so much I had to go in to Custom and turn them off. Casual doesn't mean hand holding. There is no excuse for having that many sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected and the hint was useful outside HOS. Sometimes it even acted as a teleporter.
Map- The map was interactive and very helpful. It was divided in to sections so it was easier to navigate. It also tells you where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These were dome well. Not used often, but no indication of when they can be used.
Helper- Again, not used often, maybe twice in the demo. It was fun to use because you had to interact with it a bit more.
Monocle- Probably the most fun part of the game. That minigame was awesome.
4 modes of difficulty: Nina (Casual), Charlie (Advanced), Nutcracker (Hard) and Custom. Differences are standard, but Casual is too easy. It has sparkles EVERYWHERE. It frustrated me so much I had to go in to Custom and turn them off. Casual doesn't mean hand holding. There is no excuse for having that many sparkles.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected and the hint was useful outside HOS. Sometimes it even acted as a teleporter.
Map- The map was interactive and very helpful. It was divided in to sections so it was easier to navigate. It also tells you where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These were dome well. Not used often, but no indication of when they can be used.
Helper- Again, not used often, maybe twice in the demo. It was fun to use because you had to interact with it a bit more.
Monocle- Probably the most fun part of the game. That minigame was awesome.
CE EXCLUSIVES
2 bonus chapters- yes, that's right, TWO!
Built-in Strategy Guide- I found it useful for helping with finding collectibles.
Achievements- the standard gameplay based ones such as “find x objects in y seconds”
Collectible puzzles pieces (36)- these unlock screensavers.
Collectible cat figurines (15)
Wallpapers (16)
Concept Art
Soundtrack
2 bonus chapters- yes, that's right, TWO!
Built-in Strategy Guide- I found it useful for helping with finding collectibles.
Achievements- the standard gameplay based ones such as “find x objects in y seconds”
Collectible puzzles pieces (36)- these unlock screensavers.
Collectible cat figurines (15)
Wallpapers (16)
Concept Art
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE has some nice value, with all the collectibles and 2 bonus chapters, so I would say the CE is worth the money, and I am going to get the CE myself.
The CE has some nice value, with all the collectibles and 2 bonus chapters, so I would say the CE is worth the money, and I am going to get the CE myself.
MY PROGRESS
There are 6 chapters in the main game, as well as 2 bonus chapters, so I am hoping that means this game will be lengthy. There are 2 chapters in the demo and I finished them in about 53 minutes on Casual.
There are 6 chapters in the main game, as well as 2 bonus chapters, so I am hoping that means this game will be lengthy. There are 2 chapters in the demo and I finished them in about 53 minutes on Casual.
This game is a huge improvement from its predecessors. Everything I thought was wrong with the series has been fixed. This is definitely one of Elephant's most enjoyable games ever created, and I cannot wait to grab myself a piece of the Christmas magic.
I recommend this game!
A Mayan god is turning people into jaguars! Can you stop him before the world falls into chaos?
Overall rating
3
/
5
33 of 39 found this review helpful
Incredibly Fun, But Quite Problematic
PostedDecember 2, 2014
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED STANDARD EDITION GAME
I've never really been fond of EleFun games before, but for some reason, I really liked this game. It turned out to be quite fun, even if it was not the best game in the world.
The story started off quite well. The game jumped straight in to the action with your best friend, Gregory, pounding on the door demanding to be let in. From here, he was taken by our antagonist, turned in to a jaguar and chaos ensued. I was impressed with the story to begin with: it coasted along quite nicely with a couple of nice twists, and I was really looking forward to what was happening next. The demo ended on a great note and we finally found out who our antagonist was. This was a great move by the developers, to keep me guessing and not reveal our enemy straightaway. With the demo's great ending, I looked forward to an exciting continuation.
But that is where the story just dropped. And I do mean COMPLETELY dropped. I've heard of games slacking off for the middle portion, but this was absolutely ridiculous. If you asked me to sum up the story for the remainder of the game, this would be my response: “Story? What story?”
After the game picked up where the demo left off, all we did was collect fresco pieces to fix the broken altar. This dominated the remainder of the game- I'd say about half- and at the end of it all we found out was how to stop our villain. Talk about a huge let down! There was absolutely NOTHING after the demo ended which added to the story. The story was pretty much nonexistent for the remainder of the game, which is really disappointing. There were even things explored in the demo which were removed after it ended. For example, the story made connections between Gregory and our villain at the start, but then it was never mentioned again? Talk about weird.
I think that whoever came up with this story needed to do some serious editing, because if there was a plot after the demo, it was completely lost on me. Collecting the fresco pieces should not have taken as long as it did, only about half an hour at the longest. There should have been some more focus on the villain or at least our villain should have tried to stop us. I saw the villain go in to a temple and then he was gone until the end of the game. Speaking of the ending, it was conclusive, but not really entertaining. The ending could have been done a lot better, but based on the rest of the “story”, I wasn't expecting much. It did not exceed my expectations.
With pretty much no story after the demo's end, I'm disappointed. This story could have been executed so much better, and was in need of some serious refinement. It seems the developers put their best foot forward for the demo and then just chucked it together for the rest of it.
But that is where the story just dropped. And I do mean COMPLETELY dropped. I've heard of games slacking off for the middle portion, but this was absolutely ridiculous. If you asked me to sum up the story for the remainder of the game, this would be my response: “Story? What story?”
After the game picked up where the demo left off, all we did was collect fresco pieces to fix the broken altar. This dominated the remainder of the game- I'd say about half- and at the end of it all we found out was how to stop our villain. Talk about a huge let down! There was absolutely NOTHING after the demo ended which added to the story. The story was pretty much nonexistent for the remainder of the game, which is really disappointing. There were even things explored in the demo which were removed after it ended. For example, the story made connections between Gregory and our villain at the start, but then it was never mentioned again? Talk about weird.
I think that whoever came up with this story needed to do some serious editing, because if there was a plot after the demo, it was completely lost on me. Collecting the fresco pieces should not have taken as long as it did, only about half an hour at the longest. There should have been some more focus on the villain or at least our villain should have tried to stop us. I saw the villain go in to a temple and then he was gone until the end of the game. Speaking of the ending, it was conclusive, but not really entertaining. The ending could have been done a lot better, but based on the rest of the “story”, I wasn't expecting much. It did not exceed my expectations.
With pretty much no story after the demo's end, I'm disappointed. This story could have been executed so much better, and was in need of some serious refinement. It seems the developers put their best foot forward for the demo and then just chucked it together for the rest of it.
I would not have completed the game if the gameplay wasn't so fun. It was the highlight of this game for me. For starters, I really, really enjoyed the HOS. They were incredibly fun and came in a nice variety: there were word list junkpile, silhouette junkpile and fragment junkpile. All three included extra-step objects, which was nice. Even though I enjoyed them a lot, I found the HOS to be quite easy. I rarely used the hint, as I could generally find all the objects in about a minute. I think Elefun needs to work on making their HOS a bit harder. My other complaint is that the variety disappeared after the demo. They were all either junkpile word list or silhouette. My favourite HOS- the fragment junkpiles- were gone, never to be seen again. I think there was maybe 1 or 2 of them after the demo, then they disappeared, which was a real shame. I was hoping they would be present throughout the game. As far as quantity goes, the developers have done a fantastic job. All up, there are 21 HOS in the game, with some scenes being repeated twice, I think one even three times. This is a fantastic number. Also, I am ecstatic that the HOS outnumbered the puzzles for once! When it comes to spacing out, they are generally spaced out well, but I did note that, at one stage, there are 3 HOS one after the other. This might annoy those who aren't fond of HOS. I also found that I had to replay a HOS again IMMEDIATELY AFTER I had played it the first time. If I did not love the HOS so much, that would have annoyed me. For those who do not like HOS, there is a mahjong option available, and it is pretty basic.
The puzzles were another reason I kept playing on. They were fun to attempt and I enjoyed every single one of them. That being said, like the HOS, they were incredibly easy. They really did not offer much of a challenge at all, which was disappointing. I think I had to skip 3 in total. There were 19 puzzles in the game all up. Now I really am not the best at puzzles, yet I was able to solve 16 out of 19. What does that say for the difficulty? I thoroughly enjoyed these puzzles, but perhaps they need to be made a bit harder?
This game has done quite well when it comes to additional gameplay features. There are two- + objects and an animal helper- and both are awesome. The + objects were executed well. There is an indication of when they can be interacted with, there was never more than two in the inventory at once and- save for the fan- they were used pretty quickly. There were also lots of them. I really enjoyed using them.
The other feature is the animal helper. I liked this because, for once, it was relevant to the game. Our helper here is Gregory, who has been turned in to a jaguar by our villain. Gregory is used realistically, which is always nice to see. His main purposes are retrieving things or using his claws to tear things. The feature was used fairly often in the demo period, but not so much as the game wore on, which was quite disappointing. I was hoping it would be used a lot more, mainly because I enjoyed it so much.
The other feature is the animal helper. I liked this because, for once, it was relevant to the game. Our helper here is Gregory, who has been turned in to a jaguar by our villain. Gregory is used realistically, which is always nice to see. His main purposes are retrieving things or using his claws to tear things. The feature was used fairly often in the demo period, but not so much as the game wore on, which was quite disappointing. I was hoping it would be used a lot more, mainly because I enjoyed it so much.
As much as I enjoyed this game, I must comment on the challenge level, or lack thereof, in the adventure component. This game is insanely easy. All the tasks, HOS and puzzles are incredibly straightforward and do not differentiate from the norm at all. I played this game on advanced mode and was not stuck ONCE. I even checked the map, and it still shows where there are tasks to perform. I was surprised at this, because it usually only does that for Casual. Also, there was a click penalty in HOS, but I had to click maybe 20 times before I got it? Even on advanced mode, this game was a cinch, which was a little disappointing for me. I like to be challenged in a game while being able to enjoy it. I shouldn't have to choose between one or the other. I strongly advise the developers work on making their games a lot harder.
The basic features have been done extremely well. There is a diary (YES!) which was really good for keeping track of events. I also liked to read the journal entries. There is a working map as well as a custom difficulty, which does allow you to tinker with things to make the game slightly harder.
Overall, kudos to the developers on such great gameplay.
Overall, kudos to the developers on such great gameplay.
The graphics were quite good too. They were drawn with some nice detail and great colours that suited the game's atmosphere well. All the scenes were clear, and I really liked the character designs. They were incredibly lifelike and excellently done. There was also lip-synch, which added to the realism.
The voice-overs were standard. I have no issues.
The voice-overs were standard. I have no issues.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. I played Advanced and really found no difference to Casual, apart from slower charge times.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for advanced mode and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- good for keeping track of events, and I liked reading the thoughts of the main character.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful, maybe too helpful for advanced mode. It shows where tasks need to be performed.
+ Objects- These are executed well. Never more than two at once and there is an indication of when they can be used.
Animal Helper- Used frequently and the beginning of the game, but rarely thereafter. I loved this feature and would have liked to see it used a lot more.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Differences are standard. I played Advanced and really found no difference to Casual, apart from slower charge times.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for advanced mode and the hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- good for keeping track of events, and I liked reading the thoughts of the main character.
Map- The map is interactive and very helpful, maybe too helpful for advanced mode. It shows where tasks need to be performed.
+ Objects- These are executed well. Never more than two at once and there is an indication of when they can be used.
Animal Helper- Used frequently and the beginning of the game, but rarely thereafter. I loved this feature and would have liked to see it used a lot more.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE?
Bonus Chapter- Not needed. Game ties up conclusively.
Built-in Strategy Guide- also not needed, due to game's easiness.
Achievements- some were story based and some gameplay based
Morphing objects
Collectible birds (25)
Mayan Horoscope- I haven't a clue what this is.
Wallpapers (9)
Soundtrack
Concept Art
Screensavers
Bonus Chapter- Not needed. Game ties up conclusively.
Built-in Strategy Guide- also not needed, due to game's easiness.
Achievements- some were story based and some gameplay based
Morphing objects
Collectible birds (25)
Mayan Horoscope- I haven't a clue what this is.
Wallpapers (9)
Soundtrack
Concept Art
Screensavers
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I got the SE and was extremely happy with it. I don't think this game is good enough to warrant getting the CE. There are not many extras, and the game in general is just far too easy. I would not have wanted any extra game time. I was happy for the game to end when it did.
I got the SE and was extremely happy with it. I don't think this game is good enough to warrant getting the CE. There are not many extras, and the game in general is just far too easy. I would not have wanted any extra game time. I was happy for the game to end when it did.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
This game is of standard length, probably because it is so easy. I'd say I got about 2.5-3 hours out of the main game on Advanced mode, although I really found no difference between that and casual.
This game is of standard length, probably because it is so easy. I'd say I got about 2.5-3 hours out of the main game on Advanced mode, although I really found no difference between that and casual.
Overall, this is not the best game in the world- it is actually far from it- but it is one of the more enjoyable ones I have played in recent times. I enjoyed this a lot, but it sadly must only earn a three star rating from me. It would not be fair to award this higher when I found so much wrong with it. This is more like a three and a half star game for me- the game was far too easy and the story was not very good after the demo, but I had so much fun with it. I definitely recommend this as a good game for beginners to start off with, but download the trial and see what you think.
I recommend this game!
Bring an end to Mr. Dudley's reign of terror!
Overall rating
2
/
5
16 of 20 found this review helpful
An Intriguing Game Ruined By One of the Most Poor Stories This Year
PostedNovember 30, 2014
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
1
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
I've never been a fan of Weird Park, but then this came out, and I had nothing to play, so I thought I'd try it. While this game was okay, it never went past that during the demo time.
The story had an exciting concept and a promising start, but it was executed poorly. The story was quite disjointed and lacked flow. As a consequence, I found the story difficult to follow and could not draw connections to the events. From what I could follow, there was an evil dwarf who had resurrected a dead clown, and a boy had gone missing. I'm sorry, that's all I can get at. The story was just all over the place and never really had a decisive direction it was taking. I really think the developers should have gone back to the drawing board on this one. There was only one highlight in the demo story wise, and I will not mention it, for fear of spoilers.
Also, I thought this series was meant to be scary? Others are saying so. If this game is an attempt at scary, then the developers have failed miserably. Maybe it's because of the horrible flow of the story, but I was not scared once. I know this developer is capable of making some really scary stuff, so I am really disappointed.
Overall, an interesting concept has been destroyed with terrible execution.
Also, I thought this series was meant to be scary? Others are saying so. If this game is an attempt at scary, then the developers have failed miserably. Maybe it's because of the horrible flow of the story, but I was not scared once. I know this developer is capable of making some really scary stuff, so I am really disappointed.
Overall, an interesting concept has been destroyed with terrible execution.
As poor as the story was, the gameplay was quite fun. I quite liked the HOS; they were a variety of extra-step junkpile, progressive silhouette and assemble the item scenes. All scenes provided a great level of enjoyment and variation of challenge. The assemble the item was a little difficult to get the hang of at first- instead of the items automatically moving, you had to place them yourself- but once I did, it was nice. I prefer it, actually. It brings more challenge to the game. As far as quantity goes, the developers have done a good job. There are 5 HOS in the game, with one location visited twice. I think this is the perfect number. Any more and there would have been too many for the demo period for my liking.
The puzzles were also quite fun. They were nothing I haven't seen before, but that was no matter to me. As far as challenge goes, they were quite easy, but I feel that would have taken away from the fun factor, so I really didn't mind that. My favourite puzzle would definitely have to be the one with the girl, where you had to interact with each scene to let her pass. Yes, it may have been the simplest of the lot, but it was extremely fun. I hope to see more puzzles like that in the future from this developer.
Quantity is not a problem for the puzzles either. There are 7 in the demo, which is a good number for me. Once again, I think one more would have been too much. The puzzles were well spaced out, so it was not one after the other, which saved me from going completely crazy.
The puzzles were also quite fun. They were nothing I haven't seen before, but that was no matter to me. As far as challenge goes, they were quite easy, but I feel that would have taken away from the fun factor, so I really didn't mind that. My favourite puzzle would definitely have to be the one with the girl, where you had to interact with each scene to let her pass. Yes, it may have been the simplest of the lot, but it was extremely fun. I hope to see more puzzles like that in the future from this developer.
Quantity is not a problem for the puzzles either. There are 7 in the demo, which is a good number for me. Once again, I think one more would have been too much. The puzzles were well spaced out, so it was not one after the other, which saved me from going completely crazy.
There is only one additional gameplay feature in here; the + objects. That is fine by me as I do not think this game needed anything additional, but it may annoy those seeking for a more challenging gameplay experience. The + objects were executed well; there were never more than 2 in the inventory at the one time and there was an indication of when they could be toyed with. That is always nice to see, even if I do not need it myself.
The adventure component was okay, but for me, mainly consisted of wandering around from scene to scene trying to make sense of the story. From what I picked up, I thought the adventure component was pretty basic and by itself did not offer much of a challenge. The most challenging thing about this game was definitely the HOS. I think the adventure component could have been made difficult and also been more prominent. I felt the HOS & Puzzles had a more dominant role.
The basic features were done extremely well. There was a diary (YES!) and a working map, as well as a great hint. The only comment I would make on the basics is that I think we've well and truly passed the time where only two difficulty modes is acceptable. I think there should have a least been a third, to cater for everyone's tastes. Other than that, though, great job on the basics.
Overall, the gameplay was much better than the story. It was what kept me going through the entire demo.
Overall, the gameplay was much better than the story. It was what kept me going through the entire demo.
The graphics were quote good. They were drawn with some nice details and colours. I especially liked the character designs; I think the developers did a great job on making their characters look creepy, if that's what they were going for. The scenes were also quite clear, which is nice. The only thing I would say is the graphics appeared a little hazy in the opening cutscene.
The voice-overs were good. The developers succeeded if they were trying to make them creepy. I especially liked the voice of the dwarf guy in the joker hat. He was pretty cool and entertaining too. I also really liked the mahjong guy. He made me laugh a couple of times too.
The voice-overs were good. The developers succeeded if they were trying to make them creepy. I especially liked the voice of the dwarf guy in the joker hat. He was pretty cool and entertaining too. I also really liked the mahjong guy. He made me laugh a couple of times too.
FEATURES
2 modes of difficulty: Casual and Advanced- differences are standard. I don't think there were enough levels of difficulty. I think there should have been at least three. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Keeps track of events. It was nice to see things from the character's perspective. The diary, in my opinion, is the most necessary feature. It allows me to connect with the character.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It lets you teleport and also displays locations where there are tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These were executed well. Never more than a couple at a time and an indication of when they were able to be used.
2 modes of difficulty: Casual and Advanced- differences are standard. I don't think there were enough levels of difficulty. I think there should have been at least three. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- Keeps track of events. It was nice to see things from the character's perspective. The diary, in my opinion, is the most necessary feature. It allows me to connect with the character.
Map- The map is interactive and quite helpful. It lets you teleport and also displays locations where there are tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These were executed well. Never more than a couple at a time and an indication of when they were able to be used.
This had the potential to be a good game, but it was ruined by one of the most poorly executed stories I have ever seen. This could have done with a lot more work. As it stands, the best I can award is a mere two stars. It's such a shame to be giving this a non-recommendation, because I absolutely love this developer.
I don't recommend this game.
A deadly secret lurks in the woods of Dire Grove!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
Good, But Not Great, Thanks to Poor Execution
PostedNovember 28, 2014
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
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Big Fish have started their own Thanksgiving tradition, and it is one that I always look forward to: the release of a new MCF. Most likely the first HO series ever created, and is responsible for some of the best HOPA games ever created. While this is far from the best game in the series, this latest installment has proved itself worthy to carry the name.
If I'm brutally honest, I wasn't really fussed on the story. It seemed to me like it was just another of those “evil spirit unleashes a curse, go stop them” type story. This story has been done over and over, so when a developer takes it on, it has to be something fantastic, and this one was average. Don't get me wrong, it is a good story in its own right, but in comparison to previous MCF and Elephant games, it pales. Even still, there were elements of this story that I enjoyed. For example, I really liked that we could choose the gender of our detective; it gave the player control, something which I really like to see in a game. I also enjoyed the interviews, and the fact that we the player got to pick which question was asked first. The interviews were great as they made the story feel like a true detective story. As far as twists go, this game didn't have the “shock-a-minute, leap out of your chair” type twists, but rather, their twists revealed a lot of detail about the story. The twists were revealed by collecting evidence, and each evidence piece made the story that little bit more interesting. However, despite that, this story still lacked the exciting factor which would have differentiated it from any other spirit story. My demo was interrupted by getting stuck, and once I'd found the solution and started replaying from where I left off, I just did not get back in to it. I'll review the SE to see if my opinion differs, but as it stands, I found this story quite average.
With every MCF game, I've come to expect great gameplay, and this installment certainly did not disappoint. I enjoyed the gameplay a lot more than the story and it is the reason this one gets four stars instead of three. I really enjoyed the HOS: they were that jazzed up junkpile that I have grown to love. They weren't overly interactive or long, either, which was great. Each HOS was jazzed up in a different way, and thus, had a different level of challenge, which I really enjoyed. Every HOS breezed by in a flash and I couldn't wait to play another one. Unfortunately, the quantity lacks a tad: I played 2 HOS in the demo, which was extremely disappointing. I believe the minimum for a demo is 3. Anything less is just annoying, and doesn't really classify as a HOPA game to me.
I mentioned getting stuck in the game, and this happened with the second HOS. In this one, every few items I collected revealed a piece of a wooden disc, which was required to open the cage to retrieve the inventory item. The object was then to spin the disc around to properly attach the pieces. Now, my problem: those pieces were INCREDIBLY small. Given my vision is not the best (I wear prescription glasses), I had trouble locating these pieces. When I saw one missing from the disc, I was convinced I had not yet collected one. I searched all over for the piece and couldn't find it. I used the hint. It didn't help. And with the diminishing quality of Strategy Guides, I was well and truly STUCK. I went back in to the game and discovered that I had indeed collected the final piece and it was sitting on the disk; I just had to rotate the disc and place it and I would be done. This made me feel like more of an idiot than I had ever felt in my life. I put it down to the size of the pieces, which, as I said, were way too small. Developers, not everyone who plays these games has perfect vision. I left this trial suspended at halfway through for 2 days while I tried to figure out my problem (reading forum posts/watching videos, etc.), and to find out I didn't even have a problem and I'd wasted my time was a slap in the face. Take this in to consideration for your next game, please.
I mentioned getting stuck in the game, and this happened with the second HOS. In this one, every few items I collected revealed a piece of a wooden disc, which was required to open the cage to retrieve the inventory item. The object was then to spin the disc around to properly attach the pieces. Now, my problem: those pieces were INCREDIBLY small. Given my vision is not the best (I wear prescription glasses), I had trouble locating these pieces. When I saw one missing from the disc, I was convinced I had not yet collected one. I searched all over for the piece and couldn't find it. I used the hint. It didn't help. And with the diminishing quality of Strategy Guides, I was well and truly STUCK. I went back in to the game and discovered that I had indeed collected the final piece and it was sitting on the disk; I just had to rotate the disc and place it and I would be done. This made me feel like more of an idiot than I had ever felt in my life. I put it down to the size of the pieces, which, as I said, were way too small. Developers, not everyone who plays these games has perfect vision. I left this trial suspended at halfway through for 2 days while I tried to figure out my problem (reading forum posts/watching videos, etc.), and to find out I didn't even have a problem and I'd wasted my time was a slap in the face. Take this in to consideration for your next game, please.
I liked some of the puzzles, but not all of them. Something I loved from the previous MCF game, the super-long puzzles, has returned. These puzzles were great for adding challenge and fun to Fate's Carnival and I was overjoyed to seem them here. While the challenge was great, and they were fun to play, I will concede they were not as fun as the previous game. However, those long puzzles only accounted for 2 of the demo's 6. The others were fairly linear, quite boring and did not offer much in the way of challenge. Developers, if you are going to resort to linear after bringing out the unique stuff, at least make it fun. I felt the developer could have done a much better job on puzzles.
I liked the prominence of the adventure component. It definitely appeared a lot more than in other games from this developer. I also liked the level of challenge; it was not too easy, but it was not overly-hard either. I have been calling for more challenge in games for a while now, so it is nice to see this game has delivered. However, what I didn't really like about the adventure part of this game was the mountain of backtracking and jumping all over the place. It seemed that, whenever I collected something, it would need to be used two or three locations away. Whenever I used that item and collected another, that needed to be used two or three locations away. This was tolerable at first but eventually became quite frustrating. Excessive backtracking is one of the biggest fun killers in a HOPA game and these developers need to learn that.
This game really does not have much in the way of extra features, but I don't mind. There are only two here: the + objects and the evidence board. The + objects are pretty basic, but done well. They are not over-used, which is good. There is an indication of when the object is ready to be toyed with, which I did not need, but it is still good to have there for those who are just starting out.
The other feature was the evidence board, but sadly, this was not executed very well. Throughout the game, our character collects evidence, and when we have finished collecting all the pieces of evidence related to that clue, we go to the evidence board. From there, we click “deduction”. What I was expecting was a minigame, where we piece the evidence together ourselves. What I got instead was a laborious and quite boring cutscene in which our main character explained all the conclusions they had come to based on the collected evidence. This was a really poor move. There should have been a minigame for us to do it ourselves. It would have made the game a lot more fun and may have convinced me to purchase. The cutscene just takes all the interactivity and control away from the game, and this was really annoying.
The other feature was the evidence board, but sadly, this was not executed very well. Throughout the game, our character collects evidence, and when we have finished collecting all the pieces of evidence related to that clue, we go to the evidence board. From there, we click “deduction”. What I was expecting was a minigame, where we piece the evidence together ourselves. What I got instead was a laborious and quite boring cutscene in which our main character explained all the conclusions they had come to based on the collected evidence. This was a really poor move. There should have been a minigame for us to do it ourselves. It would have made the game a lot more fun and may have convinced me to purchase. The cutscene just takes all the interactivity and control away from the game, and this was really annoying.
The basic features have been done well, save for the fact that there is no diary. I have gone on about this for long enough, so I will not continue. But developers must know that the diary is the most important of the basic features, especially for a detective game. Focusing on what the game does have, there is a map, FIVE modes of difficulty (one of which even has TIME LIMITS) and a working hint. The map's layout was really good and simple to use, which was good.
Overall, good gameplay, much better than the story.
Overall, good gameplay, much better than the story.
The graphics are typical Elephant; drawn with nice colours and lots of detail. The scenes are done so well I thought I might have been a part of the game for a second. All the scenes are clear and the character designs are great. There is lip-synch too, so the characters feel more realistic.
The voice-overs are standard. As I said, I liked how we could pick between a male and female main character, I'm glad Elephant went to that extra work to please everyone.
The voice-overs are standard. As I said, I liked how we could pick between a male and female main character, I'm glad Elephant went to that extra work to please everyone.
FEATURES
5 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Extra Hard and Timed. I really liked the varying levels of difficulty: it meant the player could choose how hard they wanted the game to be. This is perfect for those who are missing the challenge in games. Differences in the first three are standard. Extra Hard offers NO HELP at all, and Timed is self explanatory. I played Casual because it was my first time playing.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the selected difficulty and the hint is useful outside HOS, sometimes acting as a teleporter.
Map- The map is interactive and is quite helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are done well, but basic. There is an indication of when they can be interacted with.
Evidence Board- Executed quite poorly. There should have been a minigame instead of a cutscene,
5 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard, Extra Hard and Timed. I really liked the varying levels of difficulty: it meant the player could choose how hard they wanted the game to be. This is perfect for those who are missing the challenge in games. Differences in the first three are standard. Extra Hard offers NO HELP at all, and Timed is self explanatory. I played Casual because it was my first time playing.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the selected difficulty and the hint is useful outside HOS, sometimes acting as a teleporter.
Map- The map is interactive and is quite helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are done well, but basic. There is an indication of when they can be interacted with.
Evidence Board- Executed quite poorly. There should have been a minigame instead of a cutscene,
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Alternative Ending- This is a really good move. I am hoping whichever ending is played is based on the actions a character performs in the game.
Built-in Strategy Guide- disappointingly, this does not show HOS solutions. If it had, I would not have been stuck.
Achievements
Collectible puzzle pieces (84)
Collectible Dire Grove figurines- these are morphing objects.
Wallpapers (15)
Concept Art (12)
Replay cutscenes
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Alternative Ending- This is a really good move. I am hoping whichever ending is played is based on the actions a character performs in the game.
Built-in Strategy Guide- disappointingly, this does not show HOS solutions. If it had, I would not have been stuck.
Achievements
Collectible puzzle pieces (84)
Collectible Dire Grove figurines- these are morphing objects.
Wallpapers (15)
Concept Art (12)
Replay cutscenes
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
The CE has some really good value in it, especially with the amount of collectibles and the alternative ending. I would opt for the CE if I were to buy this game.
The CE has some really good value in it, especially with the amount of collectibles and the alternative ending. I would opt for the CE if I were to buy this game.
MY PROGRESS
I completed the demo trial in 47 minutes. There are 2 chapters in the demo. This indicates to me this game will be of standard length.
I completed the demo trial in 47 minutes. There are 2 chapters in the demo. This indicates to me this game will be of standard length.
This was a decent game, but the story was lacking. It had the potential to be the best game this year, but sadly, poor execution means it remains at just good. It was definitely worth the trial, and I highly advise you give it a spin.
I recommend this game!
Find out who framed your fiancé for murder and clear his name
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 15 found this review helpful
Put The Popcorn Back In The Bag...
PostedNovember 23, 2014
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
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
Here comes Final Cut 4, another installment in the seemingly never-ending Final Cut series. Anyone who's followed my reviews knows that I've never really liked the Final Cut series, so I wasn't expecting much of this one. While this latest addition did not blow me away, it was still a good one.
Something I've always enjoyed with the Final Cut series is the stories. I've always liked their “thrill” factor and their ability to suck me in, so after three great stories, I was looking forward to seeing what the fourth would have in store for me. Unfortunately, I was less impressed with this story than with the three others. It was less interesting and had less of those “oh my gosh” moments. However, to its credit, it started quite well. I found the story to be quite uneventful for the most part, which is something Eipix needs to work on. I also noticed a total lack of emotion from the characters. Didn't Brian just die? Why is it that only his wife seems to care? Not even we seem to care. That was a major blunder by the developers.
I really liked the ending of the demo; it was a great cliffhanger and would be a great point for the demo to pick up from. It was my favourite part of the story and was really the really the only exciting thing to happen. I know Eipix is capable of the excitement factor, so I'm quite disappointed by this one.
I really liked the ending of the demo; it was a great cliffhanger and would be a great point for the demo to pick up from. It was my favourite part of the story and was really the really the only exciting thing to happen. I know Eipix is capable of the excitement factor, so I'm quite disappointed by this one.
My main disdain for the Final Cut games stems from the gameplay. Fortunately, the gameplay has changed for the better. I really liked the HOS. Now, Eipix is known for their overly-long, overly-interactive HOS, so I was a bit nervous when those sparkles appeared for the first time. I was very glad to see that Eipix have scaled it back a bit. The HOS are jazzed up, but not nearly as much as previous games, which was very good. They come in a variety, which means the challenge is varied too, which is nice. The HOS come in two different forms: jazzed up junkpile and progressive silhouette. Jazzing up methods were simple; unlocking lists with a key or cutting ropes away to reveal a list. I am impressed that Eipix have put their bag of tricks away for now; I didn't like their complications all that much. Just because there are less tricks does not mean the HOS were a breeze: I still had some challenge completing them, although I was able to earn the “Solve one HOS without a hint” badge.
As far as quantity goes, the developers have done quite a good job. There are 3 HOS in the demo and they were spaced out well. I think, for the length of the demo, 3 HOS is quite good. I would not have liked to see any more and one less would have been not enough. Eipix have nailed it with the quantity. If you don't like HOS, there is a Match 3 you can play instead.
As far as quantity goes, the developers have done quite a good job. There are 3 HOS in the demo and they were spaced out well. I think, for the length of the demo, 3 HOS is quite good. I would not have liked to see any more and one less would have been not enough. Eipix have nailed it with the quantity. If you don't like HOS, there is a Match 3 you can play instead.
I quite enjoyed the puzzles. Like the HOS, they were fun to attempt and also varied in challenge. I think Eipix have done a good job with them here. Some were new and others I had seen before. I liked how they varied in challenge, because it proves that Eipix are catering for everyone's abilities. Not counting the minigames, there were 4 puzzles in the demo, which I think is just enough. Even one more would have been too much, granted how far I got in to the game with the demo.
The minigames were really cool. They added to the interactivity and realism of the game. There were 2 minigames here (excluding the slider thing), but I wish there had been maybe one more. They were probably the most fun part of the game.
The minigames were really cool. They added to the interactivity and realism of the game. There were 2 minigames here (excluding the slider thing), but I wish there had been maybe one more. They were probably the most fun part of the game.
As far as extra gameplay features go, I think Eipix have done a good job here. There are two in this game: + objects and the slide viewer. The + objects were pretty standard, but were still executed well. There was just the right number of them, but I think they were used too quickly. I mean, one minute they were there, the next, they were gone. I think they should have remained in the inventory just a tad longer. The good thing about them was there was an indication of when the item was ready to be used. I personally am not fussed with this, but I still think it's a good thing to have.
The other feature was the slide viewer. I loved this feature, and personally, I think it's the best feature Eipix has created. Every time I found a slide, I would be able to play a “spot the difference” minigame. I loved this. It added fun to an otherwise really boring game. It was included only a couple of times, which is good, because nothing is worse than overusing a feature.
The other feature was the slide viewer. I loved this feature, and personally, I think it's the best feature Eipix has created. Every time I found a slide, I would be able to play a “spot the difference” minigame. I loved this. It added fun to an otherwise really boring game. It was included only a couple of times, which is good, because nothing is worse than overusing a feature.
I liked the adventure component of this game, too. I was pleased at how prominent it was. It definitely featured in its own right and not as a side thing to the HOS & puzzles, unlike most games these days. The adventure component was fairly basic, so did not really offer that much of a challenge, but there were still times where I found myself struggling to figure out what to do next. I thought there was a good level of challenge in this game overall. It is definitely harder than some of the games I've been playing lately. That being said, I still think Eipix could make their games a little harder. It has been a long time since I have been well and truly challenged by a game.
The basic features of this game have been done quite well. There are four modes of difficulty, including custom, which is always nice to see. There is a map, which works well, and the hint does its job. However, I was disappointed to see no diary yet again. Eipix used to do diaries all the time, so why have they suddenly stopped? I may sound like a broken record, but developers need to listen: the diary is important! Bring it back!
Overall, the gameplay was good, much better than the story.
Overall, the gameplay was good, much better than the story.
An Eipix game means the good old Eipix graphics. While the graphics in this one are not as good as I've seen in the past from this developer, they were still okay. They were drawn with some detail, though not as much as usual. The colour palette was boring, really not as creative as previous games. The character designs were still good, though.
The voice-overs weren't impressive, really lacking emotion, especially after the death of one of the characters. I think I could do a better job than that. One of the biggest killers of a storyline is poorly acted voices. Eipix needs to work on this,
The voice-overs weren't impressive, really lacking emotion, especially after the death of one of the characters. I think I could do a better job than that. One of the biggest killers of a storyline is poorly acted voices. Eipix needs to work on this,
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game your way (can change sparkles, hint/skip charge, etc.), differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. I'm glad to see Eipix have fixed the problem of fast charging. Hint works well outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are objects that require interaction to complete. They were used pretty quickly. There is an indication of when they can be used.
Slide viewer- Very fun. The game will tell you which scene to use it on. Every time you do, you play a minigame, which was the best part of the game for me.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game your way (can change sparkles, hint/skip charge, etc.), differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. I'm glad to see Eipix have fixed the problem of fast charging. Hint works well outside HOS.
Map- The map is interactive and helpful. It lets you know where you have tasks to perform.
+ Objects- These are objects that require interaction to complete. They were used pretty quickly. There is an indication of when they can be used.
Slide viewer- Very fun. The game will tell you which scene to use it on. Every time you do, you play a minigame, which was the best part of the game for me.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectible film strips (40)- one in every scene, including bonus chapter. You can go back in the game through the extras menu if you miss one.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS, including bonus chapter.
“Making Of” video- always fun to watch.
Souvenir Room
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Wallpaper
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Bonus Chapter
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Collectible film strips (40)- one in every scene, including bonus chapter. You can go back in the game through the extras menu if you miss one.
Morphing Objects- One in every HOS, including bonus chapter.
“Making Of” video- always fun to watch.
Souvenir Room
Replay HOS & Puzzles
Replay cutscenes
Wallpaper
Concept Art
Soundtrack
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
Eipix seems to have scaled back in their CE Extras, which is quite disappointing. Aside from the Making Of video and the Souvenir Room, nothing catches my attention. I would definitely advise the SE.
Eipix seems to have scaled back in their CE Extras, which is quite disappointing. Aside from the Making Of video and the Souvenir Room, nothing catches my attention. I would definitely advise the SE.
MY PROGRESS
There is one chapter in the Strategy Guide, so I'm assuming there's one chapter in the demo. If that's the case, then the developers have done a good job on length. I finished the demo in 45 minutes on Casual mode. Normally I would finish two in that time. This could be a lengthy game.
There is one chapter in the Strategy Guide, so I'm assuming there's one chapter in the demo. If that's the case, then the developers have done a good job on length. I finished the demo in 45 minutes on Casual mode. Normally I would finish two in that time. This could be a lengthy game.
Having failed to impress me after four games, I think it's time Eipix took Final Cut back to the drawing board. If this was the final cut of a movie, I'd be storming out of the cinema. This is one of Eipix's worst stories to date. I know they are capable of much better, so why haven't they delivered?
I don't recommend this game.
Your investigative report on the Weeping Woman of San Cristobal turns personal after you witness a kidnapping. Is the legend true?
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 16 found this review helpful
One of the Most Fun Games to Come Out This Year!
PostedNovember 21, 2014
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
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED STANDARD EDITION GAME
This game is certainly different from all the others we've been seeing lately. It's got none of those over-the-top tricks; it's just a plain, old-fashioned HOPA the way they used to be. It's that simplicity that attracted me to it. I'm glad I bought this game, because it turned out to be one of the most fun games I've played in a while.
What attracted me to this game at first, however, was its story. It centred around the legend of the Weeping Woman. This intrigued me, as I had never heard of this legend before. So this game was kind of like venturing into the unknown, as well as being a learning experience. I did some research while playing and discovered this story does differ from the legend slightly, but it is a good difference and one that did not have much of an impact on the game's events. The story started off relatively well. A major event happened within the first few minutes, so I was hooked from the beginning, which is what a story needs to do. All the beginning events led up to the demo ending on a brilliant twist, so of course, I had to continue.
The story continued on quite well for about half an hour after the demo period ended, but afterwards, became quite uneventful for a period of time. During this period of about half an hour, there was no major twist or discovery of any kind to keep me going, so at this point I was relying in gameplay alone. This should never ever happen in a story; if I had purchased this game simply for the story, I would have stopped playing at this point. I am lucky that I kept playing on, because there was a great plot twist that sucked me right back in. I was not expecting this at all, so good job to the developers for misleading me. This plot twist was the major thing that carried me to the end of the game.
With all the build-up the story gave me, I was expecting a great ending. Having never completed a game by this developer, at this stage, I was a tad nervous: Would it be conclusive or inconclusive? Fortunately, the ending did not disappoint! It really did the story justice, with no stone left unturned. I discovered who the true criminal wa. The criminal's backstory was fantastic, as it made me sympathise with them and their actions. This is what developers should be doing.
The story continued on quite well for about half an hour after the demo period ended, but afterwards, became quite uneventful for a period of time. During this period of about half an hour, there was no major twist or discovery of any kind to keep me going, so at this point I was relying in gameplay alone. This should never ever happen in a story; if I had purchased this game simply for the story, I would have stopped playing at this point. I am lucky that I kept playing on, because there was a great plot twist that sucked me right back in. I was not expecting this at all, so good job to the developers for misleading me. This plot twist was the major thing that carried me to the end of the game.
With all the build-up the story gave me, I was expecting a great ending. Having never completed a game by this developer, at this stage, I was a tad nervous: Would it be conclusive or inconclusive? Fortunately, the ending did not disappoint! It really did the story justice, with no stone left unturned. I discovered who the true criminal wa. The criminal's backstory was fantastic, as it made me sympathise with them and their actions. This is what developers should be doing.
From a technical point of view, the story did just fine, save for a couple of things: Firstly, that random lady from the beginning just popped up halfway through and suddenly decided to leave town forever. Secondly, we seemed surprised when we found out halfway through that Catalina was adopted, even though we had been told 10 minutes in.
Overall, though, the story was a good one; it just needed a few tweaks here and there.
Overall, though, the story was a good one; it just needed a few tweaks here and there.
The gameplay, for a reason I cannot figure out, was quite fun. I really enjoyed the HOS: they were a nice break from the usual overly-interactive and excessively long stuff. Every single one of them was the standard extra-step object junkpile scene. I liked how there were quite a lot of extra-step objects. It made them more fun. But the best thing about them is, the lists change with every game! When I trialed the CE, I forgot to create a profile (the game didn't prompt me), so every time I quit I would have to start over. When I got to the first HOS again, the list was different! It is the same here; every list I came across in the demo was changed slightly when I started playing again! I love it when developers do this as it really makes me think. Even though the HOS were incredibly fun, they were also very easy. Some HOS had a minigame in them, but that did nothing to the difficulty level. There are a total of 15 HOS in the entire game, which I thought was a very good number. To begin with, they seemed to be few and far between, but the more I played, the more frequent they became. This can be a bad move for developers, but I think this one managed it quite well. The HOS weren't piled on near the end, but they were definitely a lot more frequent than before.
The puzzles were okay; they were fun to attempt, but really not difficult at all. Even though they were incredibly easy, I had fun playing them. The puzzles are nothing I haven't seen before, so I have a feeling experienced players will be annoyed by them. Like the HOS, the puzzles were in good quantity; there were 20 all up in the main game. But my main issue with the puzzles is their spacing. I thought that, especially towards the end, the puzzles were very close together. My pet peeve in a game is solving one puzzle to go straight in to antoehr, and I found this to be present quite frequently in this game, much to my annoyance. The “solve one puzzle, go straight to another” trick happened a grand total of SIX times in the game. In fact, the puzzles towards the end were so close together that I played four of them in about five minutes. For puzzle lovers, this would be joyous, but for me (who is not a fan of puzzles), this drove me insane. I think the developers seriously need to work on the spacing of their puzzles. Remember: less is more! I would rather play 14 or so puzzles in this game and have them all spaced out well than play 20 and have four in five minutes.
Unfortunately, what this game lacks is originality and challenge in the adventure component. For starters, there are ZERO additional gameplay features here. There aren't even any + objects, which I thought were a HOPA game staple. In the game I noticed that some items formed together by themselves. I thought it would have been much better to let the player do it themselves; it would have been much more fun. Aside from that, this game is incredibly easy. I breezed through the game and did not run in to any difficulty at all. It is incredibly easy to figure out what to do next. Every task was pretty much the same I see in every other HOPA. With this level of challenge, I think it would be great for beginners, but expert players will get very annoyed. I think this developer seriously needs to work on their challenge factor. While I enjoyed this game a lot, it was far too easy for my liking.
The basic features have been done quite well. There is a diary, but it only lists your tasks and not any entries. There is a map, which works quite well. It tells you where you have tasks to perform but does not list exact locations (for instance, it listed “Town Square” but not the three or four locations within it). This was as challenging as the game got. There are also four modes of difficulty, including custom. Unfortunately, I had to utilise the custom difficulty to change how the hint worked. I started on Casual, but I tell you: it is the EASIEST Casual I have ever come across! In Casual mode, the hint directs you to EXACTLY where you need to go, instead of just telling you to go back a location. I had to enter the custom difficulty to change the hint settings to only nudge me along (in other words, if I did not have anything to do in the location, it would point an arrow upwards or donwards and that was it). I play easy mode to enjoy, but that much hand holding was ridiculous.
The graphics were fantastic. It felt very nice to play a darker themed game with graphics as bright and colourful as these. The scenes were also drawn with some great detail and were very clear. I really liked the character designs, too. They were very realistic and looked great.
I was pleased with the decision to use Mexican accents in this game. I thought it tied in very well with the Mexican theme. The voice-overs themselves were just standard; not over-acted or under-acted. I think they were just right.
I was pleased with the decision to use Mexican accents in this game. I thought it tied in very well with the Mexican theme. The voice-overs themselves were just standard; not over-acted or under-acted. I think they were just right.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom- I played Casual, but found it was way too easy, so switched to Custom. I kept all the casual settings and changed the hint to only nudge me along. In Casual, it tells you exactly where to go. The differences in the three preset difficulty are standard.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for Casual. However, on Casual, the hint is a bit too helpful outside HOS. In Advanced mode, it works the way it should. Hence, why I switched to Custom.
Diary- Lists tasks with only a couple of lines below them. I would have preferred the journal entries.
Map- The map is very helpful, but structured differently to most. It will list locations such as Town Square, but not the locations within it, so it makes it a bit harder. The map indicates where you have actions to perform.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom- I played Casual, but found it was way too easy, so switched to Custom. I kept all the casual settings and changed the hint to only nudge me along. In Casual, it tells you exactly where to go. The differences in the three preset difficulty are standard.
Hint/Skip- both recharge at a decent speed for Casual. However, on Casual, the hint is a bit too helpful outside HOS. In Advanced mode, it works the way it should. Hence, why I switched to Custom.
Diary- Lists tasks with only a couple of lines below them. I would have preferred the journal entries.
Map- The map is very helpful, but structured differently to most. It will list locations such as Town Square, but not the locations within it, so it makes it a bit harder. The map indicates where you have actions to perform.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE?
Bonus Chapter- absolutely not needed. The main game wraps up 100% conclusively, and the Bonus Chapter is a different story entirely (although still based around a legend).
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions and, with the lack of challenge, not really needed for anything else.
Achievements
Collectible golden skulls- hidden quite well; you actually have to interact with the scene to find them. This was a nice touch and almost made me consider the CE.
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Collectible morphing flowers- ties in well with the theme.
Bonus Chapter- absolutely not needed. The main game wraps up 100% conclusively, and the Bonus Chapter is a different story entirely (although still based around a legend).
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions and, with the lack of challenge, not really needed for anything else.
Achievements
Collectible golden skulls- hidden quite well; you actually have to interact with the scene to find them. This was a nice touch and almost made me consider the CE.
Concept Art
Wallpaper
Collectible morphing flowers- ties in well with the theme.
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I bought the SE and was extremely happy with it. Truth be told, with this level of challenge, I think I would have been bored had I gotten the CE. . The CE does not offer much in the ways of extras and the bonus chapter is not needed. Definitely get the SE.
I bought the SE and was extremely happy with it. Truth be told, with this level of challenge, I think I would have been bored had I gotten the CE. . The CE does not offer much in the ways of extras and the bonus chapter is not needed. Definitely get the SE.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
The game was pretty much the standard length.. I played for 3 hours on Casual settings, so that is my perfect game length. There are 6 chapters all up in the game, which is just enough for me.
The game was pretty much the standard length.. I played for 3 hours on Casual settings, so that is my perfect game length. There are 6 chapters all up in the game, which is just enough for me.
Had this game been released in 2012, I probably would have awarded it five stars and maybe considered it for game of the year. However, this game was released in 2014: the year of innovation.All the same, this was a welcome break for me. I cannot remember the last time I had this much fun playing a HOPA game.
.
I recommend this game!
Save your friends and escape from a deadly game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 16 found this review helpful
Another Brilliant Installment in the Surface Series!
PostedNovember 21, 2014
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
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON DEMO
NOTE: FULL RATING IS 4 1/2 STARS
NOTE: FULL RATING IS 4 1/2 STARS
Surface has always been my most favourite game series of all time. I own three of the five that have come out, so my expectations for number six were incredibly high. It's safe to say, after playing the demo, that I'll be adding number six to my collection!
The thing I love about Surface is its ability to create entirely unique storylines without deviating from the game's underlying theme: visiting other worlds. This storyline was certainly no different! I have never seen a story like this in my life, and I loved every second of it! I was engrossed from the opening seconds. Every new twist just got me more and more sucked in to the game. The demo's ending especially drew me in: it was the perfect cliffhanger, which made me scream for more.
I really liked how this game alternated between past and present in the story; it gave the game more of a realistic feel. Our character sitting in the police station recounting her experience, hopefully catching the thieves. I don't know if this comes in to play yet, but I am hoping it will. I also liked how we got to choose our responses in some cases. First in the police station, then meeting the lumberjack. It may not have influenced the course of events, but it felt nice to be able to choose some things in the story. The game's events progressed at a reasonable pace so it wasn't excruciatingly slow, but I wasn't bombarded with new events every few seconds either, unlike some other games from this developer. I give the biggest kudos to this developer for coming up with such an amazing, intriguing story that had me hooked from the get-go. This is definitely one of my most favourite storylines this year, and I can't wait to see how this ends.
I really liked how this game alternated between past and present in the story; it gave the game more of a realistic feel. Our character sitting in the police station recounting her experience, hopefully catching the thieves. I don't know if this comes in to play yet, but I am hoping it will. I also liked how we got to choose our responses in some cases. First in the police station, then meeting the lumberjack. It may not have influenced the course of events, but it felt nice to be able to choose some things in the story. The game's events progressed at a reasonable pace so it wasn't excruciatingly slow, but I wasn't bombarded with new events every few seconds either, unlike some other games from this developer. I give the biggest kudos to this developer for coming up with such an amazing, intriguing story that had me hooked from the get-go. This is definitely one of my most favourite storylines this year, and I can't wait to see how this ends.
I really enjoyed the gameplay too. Unlike most other games these days, the HOS were not overly interactive or super-long. They were all pretty much just slightly jazzed-up junkpile scenes, which is what developers should be doing with their HOS. I enjoyed the first HOS especially, as it seemed to be part of the story. While the HOS were quite easy, I had such a blast playing them that I really did not care. The quantity of them was great too. There were 4 in the demo and they were spaced out quite well. These are probably some of the most enjoyable HOS I have played in a HOPA game and I hope to see many more as the game wears on.
I also liked the puzzles, but I was less thrilled with them than the HOS. They offered nothing different from the usual, but were still fun to attempt. I found the puzzles to be varying in levels of difficulty; some were easy, whilst others were not, which meant I had to skip a couple of them. Despite having to skip some, I did appreciate the different levels of challenge. It showed that Elephant was catering to puzzlers of all abilities, something I like to see in HOPA games. Like the HOS, there was a great number of puzzles. I counted 6 in the demo, excluding a couple which I counted as minigames. The puzzles were also spaced out quite well.
I found the adventure component of this game to be quite enjoyable. The level of challenge is definitely there, albeit not as prominent as it was in previous installments of the series. However, this does not mean the game was a cinch; I did actually run in to a couple of troubles along the way, which required use of the hint. I will admit the adventure part of this game is not perfect: I would have liked to see more unique things in it as the majority of it was the usual HOPA content. Despite its unoriginality, I did like the adventure component of this game. I found it to be a welcome accompaniment to the HOS & puzzles. I would have liked to see it feature a little more prominently than it did; it seemed to take more of a backseat role to the HOS & Puzzles, however it still made enough of an appearance to be classified as a HOPA.
This game has only one additional gameplay feature: complex objects. This is certainly becoming the standard these days, but it is always nice to see them. The objects are indicated by a star above the object, but there is no indication of when they are ready to be used. Being a quite experienced player, this did not bug me, but may annoy the novice players. I thought the feature of complex objects was executed quite well. It was used just enough times to balance between nonexistent and annoying. Elephant has made the mistake of overusing + objects before, so it was nice to see them learn from criticism.
Other players may be disappointed in the lack of additional gameplay features, but I could not be more happy. Surface has prided itself on being dark, yet maintaining a form of realism. Extra features such as animal helpers or fancy medallions would have ruined that for me.
Other players may be disappointed in the lack of additional gameplay features, but I could not be more happy. Surface has prided itself on being dark, yet maintaining a form of realism. Extra features such as animal helpers or fancy medallions would have ruined that for me.
The basic features of this game have been done really well. There are four modes of difficulty, including custom. There is a diary (WOOHOO!) as well as a working map, I love the fact that Elephant has started adding the diary back in to their games. It makes the story so much more enjoyable, as it gives us the character's perspective of events, allowing me to connect more with the main character. I hope to see it return in future games.
Overall, fantastic gameplay, but I would have liked to see the adventure component feature more prominently.
Overall, fantastic gameplay, but I would have liked to see the adventure component feature more prominently.
The graphics were fantastic, as usual. The scenes were drawn with some great detail and nice colours to fit with the game's atmosphere. Every scene was clear. The character designs are great, as well as being realistic. There is also lip-synch in the game, which made it more realistic.
I have no complaint about the voice-overs, but I have one about the music. My PC volume was on 14 for the duration of the demo, yet I still found it to be quite loud and obtrusive to my gaming experience. I had to turn it down to about 20% before I was comfortable. I think Elephant need to make their music a bit quieter in their next game.
I have no complaint about the voice-overs, but I have one about the music. My PC volume was on 14 for the duration of the demo, yet I still found it to be quite loud and obtrusive to my gaming experience. I had to turn it down to about 20% before I was comfortable. I think Elephant need to make their music a bit quieter in their next game.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set things you way; differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is quite useful outside HOS, sometimes acting as a teleporter.
Diary- The diary was very good. It kept track of events as well as allowing me to see things from the main character's perspective.
Map- The map was interactive and quite useful. It let me know where I had tasks to perform.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set things you way; differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- Both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is quite useful outside HOS, sometimes acting as a teleporter.
Diary- The diary was very good. It kept track of events as well as allowing me to see things from the main character's perspective.
Map- The map was interactive and quite useful. It let me know where I had tasks to perform.
CE EXCLUSIVES
Bonus Chapter- knowing Elephant, this will not be needed.
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Shop- This is called “Bonus Room”. You can buy things to upgrade it by finding collectible flowers hidden in the game.
Collectible figurines (13)- they are not in every scene, so will require some attention to find.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Screensaver
Bonus Chapter- knowing Elephant, this will not be needed.
Built-in Strategy Guide- does not show HOS solutions.
Achievements
Shop- This is called “Bonus Room”. You can buy things to upgrade it by finding collectible flowers hidden in the game.
Collectible figurines (13)- they are not in every scene, so will require some attention to find.
Wallpapers
Concept Art
Soundtrack
Screensaver
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I'll be going with the SE and advise you to do the same. My main reasons for this are minimal CE Extras (Shop and Collectibles just aren't enough) and the fact that this may be a short game. I would not pay double the price for something that will get me about 3 hours gameplay tops.
I'll be going with the SE and advise you to do the same. My main reasons for this are minimal CE Extras (Shop and Collectibles just aren't enough) and the fact that this may be a short game. I would not pay double the price for something that will get me about 3 hours gameplay tops.
MY PROGRESS
The one worry I have for this game is that it may be considerably short. There are 2 chapters in the demo and 5 chapters in the main game. I finished the demo in 36 minutes on Casual mode. I was quite shocked when I discovered how long I had left on the trial. I reached page 9 on the SG when the demo ended. Forum posters tell me there are 43 pages in the SG including bonus chapter. I think the developers should work on making their games a little longer.
The one worry I have for this game is that it may be considerably short. There are 2 chapters in the demo and 5 chapters in the main game. I finished the demo in 36 minutes on Casual mode. I was quite shocked when I discovered how long I had left on the trial. I reached page 9 on the SG when the demo ended. Forum posters tell me there are 43 pages in the SG including bonus chapter. I think the developers should work on making their games a little longer.
This is another brilliant installment in the Surface series from Elephant Games. Please don't let the fact that this may be short put you off. I regretfully award only 4 ½ stars due to not enough of the adventure component. Nonetheless, this game is solid proof that Elephant Games is well on the way back to being the industry's best developer.
I recommend this game!
After a suspicious accident, you find yourself stranded at a run-down motel. But you soon realize the area hides a terrifying secret...
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 16 found this review helpful
Fright is a Wonderful Delight!
PostedNovember 17, 2014
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
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
BASED ON COMPLETED STANDARD EDITION GAME
WOW!
This game was certainly different, but it was that uniqueness that attracted me to it. This game felt so real that I felt like I was actually in the game. This is one of the best games I have played this year, and it will surely be a contender for game of the year.
This game was certainly different, but it was that uniqueness that attracted me to it. This game felt so real that I felt like I was actually in the game. This is one of the best games I have played this year, and it will surely be a contender for game of the year.
The story was fantastic. It had a bit of a slow start, but it just got better and better as the game went along. I give kudos to this developer for actually making their story like a real-life situation. It dealt with situations that other developers are too scared to deal with, such as violence and family disputes. This game's story was aided by multiple flashbacks, which came in the form of HOS. Each flashback put together some of the pieces of the story and I began to see the whole picture. This story had numerous twists and turns, each one being better than the last and getting more and more sucked in to the game. It got to the point where I was so engrossed I just could not stop playing. I ended up playing the last hour or so of the game in the one sitting. Events in this story flow clearly and logically. I was not once confused or questioning the realism of this game. I also loved how real the story was. It actually felt like I was in the game as the main character. If this is what the developers were aiming for, they have well and truly achieved it.
Every twist and turn built up so much suspense that I was extremely excited for the ending. I was sincerely hoping it would be worth the game time, and it did not disappoint. The ending was brilliant; it was a just reward for the events of the game. It finished 100% conclusively, leaving no stone unturned and no loose ends in the plot. My only complaint about the story is that I found the dialogue scenes to be quite laborious. They stretched on necessarily and would have been way more effective if they were shorter.
Overall, this is probably the best story I have seen in a HOPA game this year, along with one of the best of all time. I give my most sincere thanks to this developer for the journey they have taken me on and very much look forward to their next story.
Every twist and turn built up so much suspense that I was extremely excited for the ending. I was sincerely hoping it would be worth the game time, and it did not disappoint. The ending was brilliant; it was a just reward for the events of the game. It finished 100% conclusively, leaving no stone unturned and no loose ends in the plot. My only complaint about the story is that I found the dialogue scenes to be quite laborious. They stretched on necessarily and would have been way more effective if they were shorter.
Overall, this is probably the best story I have seen in a HOPA game this year, along with one of the best of all time. I give my most sincere thanks to this developer for the journey they have taken me on and very much look forward to their next story.
As great as the story was, I liked the gameplay even more. I really, really enjoyed the HOS; they were probably the best I've ever seen in a game. They came every time I picked up a photo; I would be sucked in to the photo and would have to do a HOS. When I finished, a flashback would play, giving me extra details about the story, which I just loved. I was also impressed with how little a part they played in the game. There were a total of 6 HOS in the entire game, instead of the 20 or so we see in standard HOPA games. Yes, you read that correctly: 6 HOS in the entire game. They were very well spaced out; sometimes I went for about 40 minutes without playing one. I did noticed they increased in frequency towards the end, but that wasn't a problem to me, because I loved them so much. I think their rarity made me enjoy them even more. All 6 HOS were the same type; they were progressive junkpile and were heavily interactive. You had to move and drag everything in the scene, which I really enjoyed doing, as it made the game more real. The HOS are not the most challenging thing in the world, but all the same, they were brilliant. There was a perfect amount in the game for me. More than 6 would have made the story a bit confusing.
I also really enjoyed the puzzles. They were incredibly fun to play and were a lot different from the norm! I loved every single one of them. There were none of those “match this” or “connect the pipes” type puzzles; each one of them was different. Even though they were incredibly fun, they weren't overly challenging. I skipped a couple because they were too hard, and I got stuck on the American Geography one (because I'm not American!) but that's it. In quite the contrast to the HOS, the puzzles featured prominently in this game; there were 14 of them and they were well spaced out. The only minor complaint I have about this game is that you solve one puzzle and go straight in to another one. This is my pet peeve in a HOPA game and I wish it hadn't been there. This was only a slight damper on a brilliant game.
I absolutely loved the adventure component of this game because it featured about twice as prominently as usual. I truly felt like I was playing an adventure puzzle game and I enjoyed every second of it. Part of this game's appeal is its realism and I believed the frequent use of the adventure component aided in that. Every task performed is realistic; I could see myself doing that in real life. The tasks themselves weren't overly difficult, but there was still the occasional time where I needed to use the hint. I think the level of challenge in this game was quite good; it was certainly a lot harder than most games out these days. The adventure component made the game so much more fun than it already was. I had been waiting for a long time for a game to focus more on adventure, and this game delivered. I'd say about 65% of the game was taken up with the adventure component. This is definitely what I want to see more of in HOPA games; developers, please take note. The more adventure, the better, as far as I'm concerned.
This game does not have any additional gameplay features, but because of the real-life feeling of the game, I feel that extra features would have ruined it. I was quite content to just play a game with laid-back gameplay and no fancy tricks for a change. The lack of extra features made the game feel more real.
I was quite impressed with the basic features of this game too. There are 4 modes of difficulty (including custom), a diary (WOOHOO!) and a map. The map was quite useful in helping me if I ever got stuck, which is what it's designed to do. The map was interactive and showed locations where I had tasks to perform. The diary was great too, because it helped me keep track of events, which actually proved quite useful for this review.
Overall, fantastic gameplay that was lots of fun and quite different than usual!
Overall, fantastic gameplay that was lots of fun and quite different than usual!
This game feels a bit like an interactive movie, as the locations and characters are real. This makes it hard for me to judge on the graphics. I thought the quality of the scenes was great and the characters looked a lot like '60s people, which is where the game is set. I liked the developer's choice to use real people instead of cheap cartoon garbage. I hope to see more games with live actors in the future.
The voice-overs weren't impressive. Most of the dialogue scenes were terribly overacted and therefore laborious. I thought the actors were just trying way too hard for dramatic effect, which got a bit annoying after a while. I think, for their next game, the developers just need to tone the voice-overs down a bit. After all, it is a game, not a movie.
The voice-overs weren't impressive. Most of the dialogue scenes were terribly overacted and therefore laborious. I thought the actors were just trying way too hard for dramatic effect, which got a bit annoying after a while. I think, for their next game, the developers just need to tone the voice-overs down a bit. After all, it is a game, not a movie.
FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game to your liking; differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary is good for keeping track of events. I also really liked being able to see how the main character felt about the main character's perspective! The diary is hidden inside the camera, which has a photo come out every time there is a new entry.
Map- The map was interactive and really helpful. It showed where I had current tasks to perform.
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. Custom lets you set the game to your liking; differences in others are standard. I played Casual.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent speed for the difficulty I selected. Hint is useful outside HOS.
Diary- The diary is good for keeping track of events. I also really liked being able to see how the main character felt about the main character's perspective! The diary is hidden inside the camera, which has a photo come out every time there is a new entry.
Map- The map was interactive and really helpful. It showed where I had current tasks to perform.
WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE?
Bonus Chapter- absolutely not needed. Everything ties up conclusively.
Built-in Strategy Guide- I got by just fine without it.
Achievements
Gift shop- There are collectible dollar bills in the game you can use to buy stuff from the gift shop.
Soundtrack
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Bonus Puzzles
Bonus Chapter- absolutely not needed. Everything ties up conclusively.
Built-in Strategy Guide- I got by just fine without it.
Achievements
Gift shop- There are collectible dollar bills in the game you can use to buy stuff from the gift shop.
Soundtrack
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Bonus Puzzles
WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY?
I bought the SE and was extremely happy with it. The CE does not offer much in the way of extras; plus, the game ties up well, so there is no need for the Bonus Chapter. I would definitely advise you go with the SE.
I bought the SE and was extremely happy with it. The CE does not offer much in the way of extras; plus, the game ties up well, so there is no need for the Bonus Chapter. I would definitely advise you go with the SE.
ON THE GAME LENGTH
I'd say it was pretty standard; maybe about 2.5-3 hours on my speed, but I am a very fast player, so it may be more for you.
I'd say it was pretty standard; maybe about 2.5-3 hours on my speed, but I am a very fast player, so it may be more for you.
Overall, this was a brilliant game. It had a fantastic story with even better gameplay. I could find hardly anything to fault with it. Thus, I can see no reason not to award five stars. This was one of the best games of the year, and I eagerly await the next installment from Lesta Studios.
I recommend this game!