TnT_TJ's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:1,756
- Reviews Submitted:76
- First Review:May 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 15, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Olivia has been kidnapped by the mysterious Lonely Hearts Killer who murders those suffering from a shattered love. Save her!
Overall rating
5
/
5
95 of 110 found this review helpful
Game of the Year? - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 15, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
*Review based on completing the full CE version of the game, re-posted here in the interest of the release of the SE version, slightly modified*
This must be a strong contender for the "Game of the year" here at Big Fish, and among the very best casual games I've had the pleasure of playing so far.
You play the character Owen Wright that together with a local police officer/detective try to locate your missing daughter that is in the hands of a serial killer. This is set in what seems to be 19th century Britain and plays very much like a Sherlock Holmes type story. Among casual games today I believe this is the most thought through story so far. We are talking high quality writing that lay the foundation of an equally high quality game experience.
The graphics are top notch all the way. The locations are highly detailed, sharp and interesting. This developer is lucky to have such a talented graphic artist/s. There is only praise to give to the animation department as well. Everything from cinematic cut-scenes to how the animated characters move and act is extremely well done when you compare to similar games in the casual scene. The characters are drawn (3d-modeled) and not real actors, and I think that is great for games like this. They look like 3d characters too, but as mentioned already they are done really well.
Every character is voiced too. And they have done a brilliant job. It might be the best voice-overs I've come by in casual games. They are believable and react well to what is happening around them. Your character is voiced as well, which makes you feel included in the storyline. The best part is that you communicate with the characters you meet here, and wherever you meet them they have something new to say. Not necessarily anything vital to the story, but still. It makes the game feel very alive compared to running around deserted places like most other games. There is a lot of dialog, and I know some people don't care for that. I, on the other hand, like that as it creates a fuller story and you get to know the characters around you and their motivation to do what they do. In some ways this game feels like an interactive movie. For those who likes less talk and more "walk" they have added a skip button on all dialog. I recommend to listen to it though, as it really creates a good chunk of the experience in this game.
The music is jazzy and cinematic and suits the game well. Sound effects and ambient sounds are brilliant.
As an adventure fan I sit left with a big smile after finishing the game. This game plays very much like an adventure game. And it is done so in a very nice way. It has a lot of the typical, but also adds its own touches to it. Of course it creates some back and forth movement through locations, but the developer has been clever and sectioned off parts, so it never become tedious and long stretched.
You also have a nice selection of cleverly made puzzles. Many of them seemed quite original (at least to me). Most of them were actually quite fun to solve, and several demands some time and attention. Non of them seemed unsolvable or very hard, but neither did they seem too easy. They also threw in a couple of mini-games for good measure that further added to the fun and variety. What I particularly noticed was how well the mechanics were in these puzzles. Nothing felt clunky and awkward. Good work.
There are of course the obligatory HO scenes too. And they look stunning, each and every one of them. Highly detailed, crisp and clear, and brighter than what we're used to in other games. At least in the main game, as there are some darker scenes in the bonus chapter. Some items are on the smaller side, but they are never difficult to identify. They have some very creative interactive elements to them that makes them even more interesting. You do have to do each one twice, but new interactive elements are put in the second time you are there. That keeps it fresh. They have also been more creative with items to find. There are some typical ones (compass, snail), but many not so common items to find. I.E. I did not have to find one single feather (if my memory serves me right)
There are three difficulty levels to choose from:
Casual:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows all points of interests
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows all points of interests
Normal:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows only basic info
-Sparkles on active zones/objects
-Map shows only basic info
Expert:
-No hints/skips
-No sparkles
-Map not available
-No sparkles
-Map not available
I played on normal because i wanted to have the map there. I wish they'd cut the sparkles in that mode as well as I prefer no sparkles. Luckily they weren't too annoying, but they do make it less challenging. Either that, or have had the map with no info in the hard mode. In the end I found out that it is not really necessary to have the map as areas are sectioned off in smaller chunks, but there is no way of knowing that until after playing the game.
The map in itself is quite brilliant and is a good guide to have. It is not interactive (transport able). It is partly ever present in the corner of the screen, which I found brilliant. There is no journal here, but it is not really needed either. The mechanics of the game are perfect. Most everything is smooth sailings. There might be some loading between few of the locations, but not enough to get annoying.
The game feels lengthy enough, but probably does that in part due to a lot of dialog and cut scenes. Still I really feel I'm getting my money's worth and then some from this game.
Bonus:
The CE has an extra chapter of game play that seems quite lengthy compared to many other CE's. It has an equally interesting story, but this time you play as Logan (the detective). They play out in new locations with new HO scenes and puzzles. Other than the game play you get concept art, wallpapers and a lengthy interview with the developers. There are no morphing objects or other collectibles and neither any achievements.
There is only one thing to say about this game. Buy it now. Throw money at these developers so they keep bringing us high quality games like this. I hope that they will carry on with the Brink of Consciousness series, but will probably be interested in whatever this developer puts out there. Can't wait! If you can afford the extra credit you should consider the CE.
For the guys:
You play as a male character in this game, so it is quite fitting for us guys. The story is intriguing and should suit all. I'd even recommend it for your dog ;o)
TJ
I recommend this game!
Investigate strange goings-on in the eerie town of Fort Nightingale!
Overall rating
5
/
5
146 of 161 found this review helpful
Extraordinary - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 8, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
*review based on completing the full CE version of the game in expert mode + bonus content, re-posted here in the interest of the release of the SE version, slightly modified*
This game is right up my alley. I'm mostly talking about the storyline. A sci-fi alien conspiracy mixed in with religion and Indian culture, and it is really well written. Now, this might not be for everybody, but for me it is perfect. Beware if you are extra sensitive about your religion, or find alien conspiracy theories blatantly stupid. You might get offended. If not, then there is nothing to think about, buy it as soon as you can and join a spectacular ride.
The graphics in this game are high quality on the most part. Like many others, it has mostly dark and dreary locations, but they are highly detailed and interesting sites. The cinematic cut-scenes might be the best I've seen so far in the casual game scene. It's dramatic, moves smoothly and basically looks similar to what you would expect in a movie. There are no live actors though, but the characters are well drawn. I tend to like drawn characters better anyway.
Animations are not that smooth elsewhere in the game though. They feel somewhat stiff and they have not spent much time on the lip-sync.
The voice-overs are mostly nicely done, but there is a few exceptions. It sounded like the same kid voiced all the children, and wasn't that believable. A funny note is that all the kids growing up with American adoptive parents in North America from birth had a very British accent. Unlikely.
The music ranged from OK to terrible. Something sounding like a orchestra warming up made a very intrusive sound in many scenes. Sound effects are perfectly fine though.
If ratings were separate I would give Visual Quality 5 (excellent) and sound 2 or 3, so ended up with 4.
The game had quite a bit of adventure elements. Some typical and some quite creative. I usually enjoy the adventure elements the most and this game kept me happy all the way through.
Puzzles were varied with some easy and some quite hard. Some we've all seen before, but also a few that had some originality to it (at least for me). I like when a game mixes the difficulty levels on their puzzles, so a nice fit to me here.
The hidden object scenes were quite cluttered clutter scenes, but were highly detailed and nice and colorful. There was a few objects that were hard to find in dark areas and rather small, but nothing that got too frustrating. All HO scenes were mildly interactive and had at least one smaller scene within it. You have to visit all of them (I think) twice, but once for finding items listed and another time to place (reverse HO) objects on/in/next to matching ones. That kept all scenes fresh and interesting, and it didn't feel repetitive.
The game mechanics functioned well as far as I can tell. The interface was easy to use. You have a journal and a map. The journal felt almost completely necessary a couple of times and the map is your best friend. The map is interactive and you can use it for fast-traveling. You can also opt for highlighted active zones and morphing object locations right on the map itself. Hook it on or off and own leisure. Brilliant.
You can choose between two difficulty settings:
Casual:
-Sparkles on interactive zones
-30 second recharge of hint/skip function
-30 second recharge of hint/skip function
Expert:
-No sparkles
-1 minute recharge of hint/skip function
-1 minute recharge of hint/skip function
I played it in expert mode and found the game moderately difficult. There was one or two times I had to use skip/hint. The map is of course very helpful to find out which locations you have stuff to do.
What's in the Collector's Edition?:
The CE version of the game also has a nice bonus chapter. Not lasting especially long, but was highly interesting and beautiful made as well. It also adds new locations and it is nicely connected to the main story. It does not ruin the conclusion of the main game, so in the SE you will not miss out on any essentials. It adds 40 morphing objects to find, a strategy guide and the typical wallpaper/art. It has no achievements or trophies
The main game seemed quite lengthy so you feel you get your money's worth. The CE doesn't add any essentials, but as far as CE's goes this one might be worth considering.
I recommend this game to everyone who likes these types of games, and especially if you like alien/government conspiracies and such. If you are a strict religious person, you might want to try it out before buying to be on the safe side. But for most people this should be pure enjoyment. I classify it as moderately difficult and it would suit mediocre and seasoned players. That does not mean that you should avoid it as a beginner. I think this game would be an excellent introduction game as well.
For the guys:
You play as a female character, but it is not very apparent. The story should suit both genders, so you don't want to miss this one.
TJ
I recommend this game!
The survival of an ancient kingdom has been threatened. Restore the four elements with help from an adorable fairy in this enchanting Puzzle game.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Another Addictive M3 - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 7, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
*review based on completing the full game*
This is a chain based, create a path type M3. That means that you play on a scrolling board, trying to reach the goal at the other end before time runs out. The longer the chain, the bigger explosion in the end and the faster you get there. Along the way you get power-ups that you charge with collecting certain colored gems on the board.
I find this type of M3 highly addictive and also somewhat challenging as you face obstacles on the way next to the limited time to reach your goal. The boards are creatively made and you get a feeling of adventuring as you progress through them, always eager to see what happens next. Sometimes you are required to do some alternative moves to progress, and other times you are dependent on the power-ups to make it.
The goal is to retrieve magical cards of beings from the books of the 4 elements to restore order to the world. There is very little story to the game outside that. You can read about the creatures after finishing their levels and restoring the text in the book.
Next to 64 levels of match 3 boards the game throws in a few "hidden fragment scenes" and "spot the difference" to break up the monotony.
Not only is it fun to play, but the game looks good as well. The boards are large with big "gems". Everything is bright and easy on the eyes. Even the backdrop underneath the board looks really good.
The music is not too intrusive, but it doesn't hurt to turn it down a notch. Sound effects are great, and is almost acting like fireworks during the play. Everything feels smooth and controls are easy. There are only 4 types of power-ups and they are very basic, so that left some to be desired. Also, the game itself seemed a bit short. A good thing though, is that it is so enjoyable so there is a high likeliness that you'd want to play it again down the line. Good stuff.
This game is well worth the money, even though the game seems a bit short. It is too enjoyable to miss, so if you are into M3's this should be in your collection. It might not be the most challenging one out there, but it sure has its moments. I recommend this to beginners and seasoned players alike.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Reveal the secret legacy of The Order of the Griffin and restore Sunward City in The Secret Order: New Horizon!
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Promising Start - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 6, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
*review based on completing the full game*
I think this is the first and only game so far from this developer, so that is why I say a promising start. The game has its share of holes, flaws and almosts, but still end up being intriguing, interesting and entertaining. Luckily the lacks are not too apparent and doesn't ruin the game much.
They have really put some time into the story in this game, and even though it has some small holes and flaws, it is a well written and exciting story you get to embark on. The best of all is that it feels believable and realistic (well, everything is relative). I don't mean that it feels like a true story, but it holds the same level of realism one finds in a good sci-fi movie. There is even a sense of urgency and thrill as you try to escape some mafia thugs and at the same time figure out what is really going on. The story progress in somewhat a comic book/dark movie way, but unfortunately there are no voice-overs. This makes it feel a bit lifeless. This story would have really benefited from having some good animated cut-scenes with voice-overs to build onto the drama. If that was the case, this game would be right up there with my absolute favorites.
Everything in this game (except for the mentioned comic-book-like cut-scenes) seems to have been drawn in 3D. It looks realistic and highly detailed. The on location animations are of high quality. This developer looks to have a real keen eye for details. It might be slightly grainy at times, but nothing to really complain about.
I played the game in its basic settings (didn't even check "options"), but found both music and sound effects to be rather low. Next to no voice-overs it all felt rather silent. It leaves a lot to be desired. There are moments where it is good too, but as a whole it could be a lot better.
The game plays much like an adventure game with added puzzles and HO scenes for good measure. But it does it differently than most of what I have seen in other games.
It has all the right foundations of an adventure game, but I feel that it could have some more adventure elements. What is there is really good though. Everything is logical and makes sense but still force you to use your head.
The puzzles are creative and original and range from easy to quite hard when it comes to difficulty. This part of the game was truly inspiring. There are several mechanical puzzles as well which adds to the variation and enjoyment, at least for me personally. A good mixture and all makes sense. Thumbs up again to the developer.
The HO scenes are not your typical clutter scenes you see in most games in this genre. Well, they're still clutter scenes, but here they are more "natural" environments with most items matching that certain environment. Things you'd expect to see there. They are also more naturally placed in the scene. Being in 3D they also have more depth, which in itself creates its own challenge. Some items tend to be rather small, especially if they are in the back of the scene. They can also be partly hidden by other items and/or shadows. It might be extra hard for the ones with poor eyesight. Luckily they aren't dark or grey. They all have mild interactive elements to them. The items you pick up is logical to both the scene and to what you get as inventory items. You usually get more than one item from each of the scenes. Even with the challenge of items being small and sometimes very well hidden, these are ones of the best HO scenes I have come around. Just because everything makes sense. I still think that too many of the items are retrieved through HO scenes, and wish more were through searching and finding, adventure style.
The game lacks difficulty levels to choose from, and therefore the game gives you sparkles whether you want it or not. That's a shame in itself, even though the game was still rather challenging with them. Another thing that helped making the game challenging was the totally useless hint system. Sure, it works fine enough in the HO scenes, but outside of them it either tells you nothing at all or might even point you in a totally wrong direction. I found myself trying everything I could on a pole it pointed me to only to find out that I couldn't do anything there for quite a while, seeing I did not have the objects I needed to interact with it. Horrible, horrible, horrible. The map seems a bit off too. It is neat in its own way, but has bad overview. Makes it difficult to use as a navigation tool. Not that the map is really necessary as portions of the game is sectioned off and there is little back and forth movement. It is not interactive. There is no journal either, but a Codex Book that you have to find the missing pages to. You also get SMS's from your nephew.
This developer shows a lot of talent and promise with this game, and I will eagerly await their next release. With a few fixes to the flaws in their formula we might be looking at a true classic. That does not in any way mean that you should pass this game and wait for the next. This game still holds its own even with its flaws. I would however recommend it more to mediocre and seasoned players than to beginners.
For the guys:
You do play as a female character in this one, but it doesn't affect the game play much, especially seeing there are no voice-overs. The story should fit any guy who likes a slice of sci-fi and adventure.
TJ
I recommend this game!
After restoring the Atlantis World Museum you have been accepted into the Grand Pelasgian University to become an apprentice in Chronology!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Nice Time Killer - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 6, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This is an elimination puzzle that can easily eat up quite a bit of free time. It is sort of a Sudoku meets Minesweeper where you have to mark out squares in a grid according to the given numbers provided for the rows and columns. They are all solvable in a logic fashion, there is no need for chance play. Another hint to help you along is that the title of the "picture/image" tells you what it should be. You have a limited amount of errors you are allowed to do and for correct choices you build up "hints" that help you on your way by revealing part of the solution. It has a clock but it is not time limited. It basically just shows you your record time if you want to go at it again.
I found it quite relaxing to sit and solve these puzzles and it surely put the braincells to work. In the beginning it is rather easy, but it gets quite challenging and time consuming in later stages. It is not a game I would sit down and play because of the attraction of the game itself, but rather something that functions well as a time killer or an inbetween thing.
The graphics are plain and simple and doesn't offer much esthetics for the eyes. Not that I would expect a game like this to be that either. It functions well with its simplicity. The music however gets annoying really fast. It is horribly repetitive. My tip is to turn that off as soon as possible.
It is a game that takes quite a while to play through, so in that manner you get your money's worth. I don't see myself playing it hours on end, but rather something I'd pick up now and again through a longer time period. Nice thing to have in ones catalog, but nothing you can't live without. It is a steal at a DD price and a good thing to spend a credit on. Well worth trying.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Explore the lands of the Pharaohs and the Cradle of Egypt! Enjoy the miraculous constructions in this awesome Match 3 game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Addictive - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 6, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
A highly addictive Match 3 game set in an Egyptian environment. It offers everything you would want in a M3 game. You have actual goals, resource collection, buying buildings, getting bonuses, collecting power-ups and achievements. It is challenging and engaging when playing in timed mode, but if you like a more relaxed play you can also play it without a timer. I like the challenge of having to solve a board within a time, and find playing without it quickly getting boring, but I know there is a lot out that who prefers that type of play and apparently so does the developer. Thumbs up.
When I started this game it looked like it was going to be rather short and due to the one type of M3 play I was afraid I was going to get tired of it quickly enough. Boy was I wrong. There are tons of levels to play, and gathering the money and resources demand much more time than what I had expected. This, with the addition of new obstacles and hurdles, and not to mention power-ups and bonuses leaves me with the dangerous but appealing "just one more" notion.
The time limits are not that strict, at least not for quite a while, and if you run out you can buy yourself some extra time using resources that you have collected. If that doesn't cut it you have several lives to spend as well. Next to that you have power-ups that can help in that department. One thing I found particularly great about the power-ups is that they carried from one board to another, which makes you trying to collect and save some for coming levels if things gets a bit tight. I wish all these games did that.
The graphics are just fine and it is bright and crisp. Nothing too fancy, but rather pleasant on the eyes. The board designs are great and easy to play on. The music is of typical Egyptian theme and can get a bit annoying after a while, but that is why we have volume control ;o). The mechanics are smooth and nothing feels clumsy or clunky.
This game is a prefect time killer, but also a fun game to play by its own measure. I have no problem recommending this to both seasoned players and beginners. If you are a Match 3 addict this is probably one of the "must haves". Offers hours on hours of game play. Well worth the price. If you have any doubts try it before buying it.
TJ
I recommend this game!
A classic Christmas tale tail, with a whole new twist! Help the Nutcracker rescue the princess from the evil Rat King!
Overall rating
4
/
5
12 of 13 found this review helpful
Cute Game for the Holidays - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 5, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
*Review based on completing the full game + bonus chapter in advanced mode*
If you want ONE Christmas themed game for the holidays, I think this is the one to get. Beautiful locations, cute characters and plenty of stuff to crack your nut on.
You're invited to the Christmas ball, but arrive late, and end up having to help the Nutcracker rescue his darling princess Mary. Along the way you get to meet several fantastic characters and get to know their background stories. I absolutely love how the developers made the story progressions as it kept things interesting throughout the course of the game. The story itself is nothing of grandeur, but it is cute and fit the spirit of the season. Along the way several of these characters come to your aid to solve the tasks you encounter. Each with their own abilities. Fantastic.
The story is narrated and the characters voiced. And even though it is not done remarkably, they still do an acceptable job at it. Compared to similar games (genre wise) it has a lot of story to tell and is head and shoulders above many of them. Sure, it's sort of cute and sweet and fairy tale'ish, but it keeps the game interesting.
The story is narrated and the characters voiced. And even though it is not done remarkably, they still do an acceptable job at it. Compared to similar games (genre wise) it has a lot of story to tell and is head and shoulders above many of them. Sure, it's sort of cute and sweet and fairy tale'ish, but it keeps the game interesting.
Graphically the game is nice. Locations are interesting and fitting to the theme and looks quite astonishing. Nothing too dark and gloomy about this game. Everything is bright and crisp. The cut-scene animations are somewhat blurry, but by no means bad. Characters are animated nicely as well, but I was surprised to see that they weren't in the close-ups where they communicate with you.
The music is fitting to the game and of course revolve around "The Nutcracker Suite". Sound effects and ambient sounds are also of high quality. One thing that wasn't particularly good though is that it seemed like the volume was a bit delayed during narration and cut-scene vocals.
There is a good mixture of adventure, puzzles, mini-games and HO scenes to find here. Luckily it also offers a bit of challenge and some nut cracking is necessary.
There is quite the bit of adventuring involved, and it is done creatively and engaging. It causes quite a bit of traveling back and forth through locations, but luckily for many, there is an interactive map you can use to fast travel on.
You will encounter quite a few puzzles too, and these vary in difficulty from easy to quite hard. There are several familiar ones, but quite a few seemed original too (at least to me). The variations of difficulty keeps you on your toes, but does not make it frustrating. It is my philosophy that all games should do this, so it fits me perfectly.
The HO scenes are really beautiful scenes that fits the holiday theme as well as other themed elements. You actually solve puzzles to get to them instead of them just being sparkled zones in the location. They are clutter scenes, but not too cluttered. They are also interactive to keep them interesting, but I didn't notice any revolutionary new elements. Most of them are bright and even the ones that aren't aren't too hard on the eyes either. Items are sharp and never hard to identify. The best of all is that you only have to do each one of them once. That is dedication from the developer, and helps keeping the game fresh throughout. Thumbs up. There are quite a few of them as well, so you do not need to worry if you are a HO fanatic.
The game also features a couple of creative mini-games that also helps keeping the game interesting.
You have three levels of difficulty to choose from:
Casual:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
Advanced:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip
-No sparkles at all
-No sparkles at all
Hardcore:
-No hint or skip
-No sparkles at all
-No sparkles at all
Playing in advanced offered some challenge, which is good. If you like it very relaxing you should probably opt for the casual mode. I had to skip one puzzle (a slider (I hate them)).
The game mechanics are smooth as far as I can tell. Movement and interactions works flawlessly. The HUD is clean and familiar. You don't have a journal in this game, but it didn't really feel necessary either. Instead of using the journal to tell half the story it is much more clever the way they did here. The map is interactive and transport able, and I found myself using it quite a bit. I wish every game came with that now. It could have been slightly easier to use with having the whole world on one page. Instead it has areas sectioned off and arrows to connect them. It does highlight the areas where you have actions to do.
Bonus:
Well, there is no surprise here really. You get one extra chapter to play (half of the locations are the same as the main game), strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, screensaver, music, collectibles and achievements. If you are generally happy with what typical CE's offer of value for your buck, this should make you happy. I think it even offers more than what they typically do. I don't think it is worth the double cost, but that is just me. I want to see much more for the double price. I did however get this one at a discount and do not feel in any way ripped off.
A plus with the bonus chapter is that you get to meet several more cute characters that will help you with your tasks. It is not very lengthy, but felt longer than what they typically are. You also need to find 25 dolls spread out through the locations of the game, and you get a selection of achievements that you collect under the Christmas tree.
The game is very well suited for the holidays ahead and I can recommend it to anyone. Beginners and experts alike. It takes you on a joyful ride through snowy landscapes. The main game is lengthy enough to keep you occupied for a while. Should not be missed.
For the guys:
If you can stomach cute cats and a romantic fairy tale you should not miss out on this game. You might have to watch a good dosage of football afterwards to make up for it though ;o).
TJ
I recommend this game!
After being called to Paris, you find yourself in the middle of a shocking mystery involving an ancient werewolf hungry for revenge.
Overall rating
3
/
5
16 of 18 found this review helpful
Only OK - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 5, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in expert mode*
This is the third installment in the Shadow Wolf Mysteries, and I am sad to see that there is very limited improvement compared to its predecessors. Flaws, nonsense and inconsistency seems to plague this series, which to me is very surprising when one thinks about the amount of experience this developer has. I wish that they in the future will put more effort into their games and maybe even put some thought into the stories they put into their games as well. One can only hope. The game also felt rather short.
This time we get to go chasing a werewolf in Paris.Though, one doesn't really realize one's in Paris until one sees the Eiffel Tower in the background in one location. Well, maybe except for the music playing which is clearly based on French tunes. Only one character a way into the game speaks with a French accent, and even though you meet up with several store owners in the side streets of the French Capital they are all apparently Americans. Inconsistencies like that ruin the experience a bit for me. As the previous two games in the series the story is thin and fails to engage. It tries to be surprising but is very obvious from early on. Again the ending is nonsensical and dissatisfying.
The music is actually quite beautiful. It does however get monotonous after a while, but is proper to the location of the game. It actually makes you think of France listening to it, even to the time period. Nice job on that. Every character is voiced, and the quality is varied. Non of them are flat out bad, but there is a clear lack of passion and sense of urgency that matches the actions happening around them. As mentioned, only one is doing a French accent. I feel that several characters here would benefit from having that. Sound effects seems to be a big improvement from the previous games.
Graphics feel rustic and dated, but they are not bad in any way. The locations are quite beautiful and actually quite bright compared to the previous two games, and actually most similar games these days. Character animations too are quite OK, and lip-syncing is good. Cut-scene animations however are amazingly blurry. That should be non-existent in 2012. There is little improvement here compared to its predecessor.
I can live with dated graphics and bad story lines, and even flaws and inconsistencies if the game play makes up for it. It really doesn't. I appreciate the main focus of this game being put to the adventure elements, and the game plays more like an adventure than a HO game. But it is short, easy and unimpressive.
They do offer some new elements to the adventuring that I quite appreciated, even though as per usual in this series some things that needs to be done makes no sense. There is also a lack of explanation at times to what or why (something) needs to be done. The nonsense appears way to often and becomes annoying. I have a ton of examples, but I fear that writing them here would spoil some of the game for whoever reads this. But, trust me, you will recognize them in the game.
There are a handful of puzzles in this game, but they are so easy that they offer next to nothing of a challenge. I guess this is a good thing for beginners and the most casual players, but if you are looking for something to trigger some braincells you will be disappointed. I did notice that they tried to come up with something new, and several did seem original to me. Unfortunate then that they offered so little.
The biggest shock might be the lack of HO scenes. There is less than a handful that you have to visit twice. Ranging from extremely bright to semi-dark, they will not be to hard on anyone's eyes. They are of course clutter scenes where a couple is overly cluttered. I say a couple, but there is basically just a couple altogether. They do have some mild interactive elements and again some nonsensical ones. I did not encounter any translation issues this time around, so that is at least one improvement. HO fans will probably be hugely disappointed with this game though. Especially if that is your main motivation to play these games.
You have three levels of difficulty to choose from:
Regular:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
Expert:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip
-No sparkles except for HO scenes
-No sparkles except for HO scenes
Hard:
-Very slow recharge of hint/skip
-No sparkles except for HO scenes
-Black bar tips disabled
-No sparkles except for HO scenes
-Black bar tips disabled
I would say that even a beginner and/or newcomer would breeze through this game in expert mode. My tip is to stay away from regular mode at all costs unless you want no challenge at all.
As before the game mechanics feels a bit clunky at times. It was especially apparent in the "planet puzzle" where the controls were horrible. There is no map, which I find a bit weird, though it isn't really necessary with one. There is some movement back and forth, but never for long distances, as everything is sectioned. I don't know if the journal was buggy or what, but after midways through the game it didn't seem to update anymore. Not that I ever felt like it was necessary to have it in the first place.
I can only recommend this game to beginners, newcomers and if you are looking for something very easy or just needs something to fill some time. If you are a seasoned player this offers little to nothing of interest. At least wait for a discount price. The game suits adventure fans more than HO fans. Either way, beware that the game is quite short.
For the guys:
I did not notice any gender bias when it came to the character you are playing, though the story is a bit romantic and "cute". Not so much so that it should scary anyone away though.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Return to the De la Fer estate to help the count unravel the curse that has been passed down through his family!
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 4 found this review helpful
Easy And Not Very Lengthy - A Guy's review
PostedDecember 4, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in expert mode*
This is the second installment in the Shadow Wolf Mysteries series and plays much similar to the first one. This time you need to help to find a cure for a sick little girl.
To me the story in itself felt uninspired and thin. The characters you meet aren't interesting and there is little to no explanation why characters help you or work against you. Except for one that is, who you quickly understand has a real motive to work against you. All characters are voiced and the voice-over talent is varied. To sum it up in the easiest way I'll just call it mediocre. Don't get me wrong, the story isn't annoyingly bad in any way, but it just fails to excite.
Graphics are good, but as with most games most of it is played in rather dark and grey locations. They do break it up with some lighter locations too though. Everything is hand drawn, and is done so well. More could have been done with the animated parts, but I was happy to see that at least lip-syncing was well done.
The game music is quite nice most of the time, but has some annoying moments. Sound effects are much better than its predecessor, but still leaves a lot to be desired.
Game play has a typical mix of adventure elements, puzzles and HO scenes, with most of the focus on the HO scenes. If HO's is your main source of entertainment this game has a lot of promise. They are also all hand drawn and most of them are brighter than what is usual in similar games I've played so far. That is a big plus. There is on occasion the darker and grayer ones too, but as long as we at least get a variation I'm usually happy. Speaking of variation, or in this case lack of it, all the HO's where very similar to each other and you have to do them all twice. They are all clutter scenes with some of them being very cluttered. They all have some mild interactive elements but, what seems to be typical to this developer, some of them are just nonsense. You can tell they are trying to come up with some creative twists, but when it doesn't make sense it fails. Also typical to this developer is minor flaws and translation issues. In this game they are very minor though, and offers very little frustration.
All the puzzles seemed very easy. It was a good mix of different types, but none that offered much of a challenge. A couple seemed original though, at least to me. You have a pop-up "help" function to explain your goals and what you need to do. I don't mind easy puzzles, but they should have put in some more challenging ones too to make it more varied and interesting.
The adventure elements are typical ones. I tend to prefer the adventuring in these types of games, and it has a fair share to scratch my adventure itch. Adventuring usually means a lot of moving back and forth through locations, and even though there is some back and forth here too, they have limited it to sections, so you never have to move long distances. I still wish there was a map even though it never felt really necessary.
This game is not as clunky as some other of this developers games, but it still have a few light issues. Sometimes you have to be very exact to where you interact with certain objects and such. The game has smooth transitions.
You have three difficulty levels to choose from:
Regular:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones and object
-Sparkles on active zones and object
Expert:
-Slow hint/skip
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
Hard:
-Very slow hint/skip
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
-Black bar tips are disabled
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
-Black bar tips are disabled
I played it in expert mode and still found it very easy. If you want any sort of challenge do not play it in regular mode.
The game never caught my attention and my main goal just ended in wanting to get to the end of it. It will still probably be perfectly OK for beginners and newcomers to the genre. It would suit the HO fans the most, but for the ones who are looking for a challenge, it offers very little. It also felt quite short, so I would be looking for this one at a discount price.
For the guys:
I didn't notice any gender bias and the story is equally interesting/uninteresting to both. Try before you buy.
TJ
I recommend this game!
Called into a small city from the capitol, you have been put in charge of solving a string of mysterious murders!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Good Game, but Inconclusive - A Guy's Review
PostedDecember 2, 2012
TnT_TJ
fromKongsvinger, Norway
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
*review based on completing the full game in expert mode*
At the time I'm writing this review there are three games to this series, and this was the first one released. Having all three games I wanted to play them in sequence, but found it hard to figure out which one came first. I wish Big Fish could include release dates on their game info pages, or that the developers could number them in the title.
Well, let's concentrate on the game itself.
You play as a detective set to investigate some disappearances of the townsfolk and rumors about a werewolf. The storyline is quite alright and is told through a narrator, characters you meet and through pages in your journal. The characters and narrator are all voiced, and the quality varies. The narrator and the prefect is done quite well, but the fortune teller is done horribly bad. The story ends abruptly and rather inconclusive and kind of ruins the satisfaction in the end. I don't know why they did this, or if there is a conclusive ending in the CE? But to end a game like this is just bad.
The music is not bad, but it becomes very repetitive. Sound effects are actually not very good. I wish they had put some more time and effort into this.
Luckily, game play holds the entertainment levels up. You get a good mixture of adventure, puzzles and HO scenes. The adventure elements is typical inventory play. Pick up here, use there. It of course involves a bit of back and forth moving through the locations. A few times quite the distances as well. And you have to do this without the help of any map. That is unfortunate, but to be frank, it didn't feel that I would need it that often.
The puzzles has a varied mix, and though most felt rather easy, there were a couple that offered a bit of challenge (at least to me). Most puzzles I had seen similar or same ones before, but luckily for me most of them were of the kinds I like.
The HO scenes too were quite typical. Clutter scenes (but not too cluttered) that had rather dark/grey areas to find items in. It might offer some eye strain for some. It is all hand drawn, but mostly not hard to identify objects. They are mildly interactive as well, and you have to visit all of them twice. There is a misclick penalty, and with very little/no aura on the items they might be hard to get sometimes. There are also a few flaws in translation, but nothing you can't figure out if you put some will into it.
You can choose to play one of two difficulty levels:
Regular:
-Quick recharge of hint/skip
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
-Sparkles on active zones and objects
Expert:
-Slow recharge of hint/skip
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
-No sparkles except on HO scenes
I played it in expert and found it rather easy, so if you are looking for some sort of challenge be sure to chose the expert mode.
I found the lack of a map a minus with this game, but also the fact that there is no hint function outside the HO scenes. I did however find the journal of use, which often it isn't. Traveling through locations can be a bit clunky at times, so can interactions with certain objects. If I wasn't absolutely sure that one item had to go somewhere and had to find the exact right spot to use it, I would not have been able to get through without help from some guide or something. There are some odd flaws here and there throughout the game (like flickering in the animation every time you click continue in conversation and shaky mouth animations when characters are talking) but they are easy to ignore, and do not ruin the game.
If I was to grade this game purely on game play enjoyment it would probably end up with a 4 star rating, but because of horrible ending, some horrible audio and a handful of flaws I can not give it more than 3. I'd still recommend this game to anybody who enjoys HO adventure games, especially in the beginner to intermediate stages. If you are an expert and is looking for a challenge you might have to look elsewhere, or at least try it before buying.
For the guys:
You seem to be playing a male detective in this one. If you are into werewolves and such, it should suit you either way.
TJ
I recommend this game!