sfr8rfan's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:5,257
- Reviews Submitted:171
- First Review:July 20, 2012
- Most Recent Review:March 25, 2023
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Solve the mysteries of Stoneville and escape with your life!
Overall rating
4
/
5
26 of 33 found this review helpful
Make Some Noise for Silent Mountain
PostedSeptember 11, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromEnjoying the view from the halfway point in my climb up Silent Mountain.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This review is based on completing about half of the main portion of the game on a MacBook Pro with OS 10.9.5.
Since I'm at 50% of the collectibles I'm guessing I'm at about 50% of the game. I'm well enough into this to review it conclusively, I think. Others, most notably Top Reviewer Pennmom, have well-described the nuts and bolts of this game, giving it a well-deserved, extremely positive rating across the board, and telling us what they like about it.
Rather than repeat what you already know, I'm going to focus on a few features that I think make this game special and tell you why. There may not be any new information here, but I want to give you my perspective on what is, perhaps, already known:
SPECIAL FEATURE #1: While most HO games have a female protagonist, Silent Mountain has done the intelligent thing: given an option for gamers to select a voice for a male or a female detective or no detective (no narration) at all. Three cheers to Mariaglorum. I wish more developers would employ this technique.
Perhaps it's unimportant to you...but you're probably a woman! If the vast majority of HOGamers were men I'm sure the developers would make more heroes than heroines. That isn't the case so it's kind of a big deal to me to play one of these games and inhabit a character who shares my gender. The developers have done a relatively simple thing...that is almost never done: give us a choice so all of us can feel like we are really seeing the game through the eyes of the hero/ine.
SPECIAL FEATURE #2: I quickly tire of HOGs and prefer games which are weighted more to puzzles and have a strong element of "adventure."
I don't have the exact count, but what I just described as my preference is exactly what Silent Mountain Delivers. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE: the HOS, as has been correctly and well-documented by PennMom, are VERY entertaining.
The "entertainment value" doesn't necessarily correlate with "difficulty." In fact this edition of LOL (League of Light) isn't hard at all...but it's fun...
...I don't want to spoil your fun, but I'm going to give one example of one object I had to find in a silhouette-type HOS that I played at the halfway point: The silhouette was of a mouse. There was a "live" mouse in the scene and I clicked on it. To my surprise, that didn't erase (or fill in...I can't remember which) all of the silhouette, but only half. So I had to look for another mouse. Very creatively, the next mouse wasn't a "live" one, but a depiction of a mouse engraved on a box...
...and speaking of boxes, Mariaglorum is thinking outside the box. The silhouette example is just one of the HOS with a refreshing and entertaining new twist on a reliable format. There are several others that make a standard HOS something special.
SPECIAL FEATURE #3: LOL: Silent Mountain has a a very coherent story line. Yes, it's a fantasy. The Detective isn't Stabler or Benson and this isn't a docudrama "ripped from the headlines." It's a game it also has a certain "literary license." I like police procedurals (Angelica Weaver: Catch Me When You Can, for instance). But, I like this fantasy as well.
Except for a strangely-named Belgian town with an even more strangely-named Mayor of a strangely-named Belgian town, this was a story that progressed logically (if fantastically) and had consistent details. (Another example of a great game with tight, logically progressing, and even more complex narrative, is the original Phantasmat).
Not only did the game progress logically, but the HOS and Mini-games were very well integrated into the story: when I played one, I knew why I was playing it, how it related to the story and how it moved the whole story along. A very nice change from games that have HOG after HOG just for the purpose of having another HOG. Don't get me wrong: I know and understand that that's exactly what some (most?) gamers like and that's what they should have. I wanted something different and am delighted to have found it here. In fact, I would say that if you want a lot of HOGs, this is not your game.
SPECIAL FEATURE #4: There is a terrible trend in games that is robbing gamers of a true challenge: hovering over collectibles and morphing objects (no "beyond" items in this game) changes the cursor from an arrow to a hand...or even worse, a flashing hand. NOT SO in this game. There are two sets of collectibles here. One is a gimme, but the other is a real challenge...very well hidden.
That's special because it's so rare these days.
SPECIAL FEATURE #5: Perhaps most importantly, this game is LOTS OF FUN. All of the "special features" I've written about combine to make this a great game for me, but in addition to that is the FUN FACTOR. The only way I know to quantify it is this: I played for an hour last night and bought it. A couple time today I thought about it and I couldn't wait to get back to it tonight.
So, if I like it so much, why am I only giving it 4 stars? As I said, high entertainment value doesn't necessarily mean great difficulty.
As much as I like this game, I would like it even more if the puzzles/mini-games were more challenging. At the halfway point, I wouldn't describe any of the games or HOS as difficult. Only the collectible is challenging. They're FUN, but a little too easy. I think the challenge factor should be kicked up a couple notches.
Thank you for suffering through this insufferable review. I promise you'll have more fun playing the game than reading my review of it. At least try the free hour. I bet you'll be glad you went Mountain climbing.
I recommend this game!
Answer a distress call at an arctic research lab where scientists have made a chilling discovery!
Overall rating
3
/
5
68 of 84 found this review helpful
Winterpoint: A 3-Star Challenge in a 5-Star Game
PostedSeptember 6, 2015
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This review is based on playing the entire Collector’s Edition game, start to finish, in a MacBook Pro with operating system 10.9.5. I will make a recommendation about which version, if any, to add to your collection.
The Mystery Trackers name has always been special. It stands for the finest in Hidden Object/Puzzle/Adventure gaming.
That hasn't changed with Winterpoint Tragedy. The gloss is here. The amazing graphics, the splendid script and a story line that pushes the HOG genre into uncharted territory are nothing new to us. Just for kicks, Elf is here as well, exploring places mere mortals can't because we're hindered by size.
So what's not to like? Well, the "what" is immediately identifiable by its glaring absence: CHALLENGE. Because we've come to expect "more" from Mystery Trackers, its formulaic presentation, though familiar, has never grown tired.
In Winterpoint, the formula is abandoned. No screams. No terror. No danger lurking beyond or behind each corner. This is not the problem. The storyline, in fact, grows more mature in this edition of Mystery Trackers. There's a detective, because there just has to be, but this story is more science than scream. It's technology. It’s high-tech terror. It will not keep you awake at night. AND THAT'S OK.
The change is refreshing...and promising! If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll recognize the eerie resemblance to the White Walkers from the “other side of the wall,” where the “nights are long and full of terrors.” Here they’re called Cold Stalkers. On the one hand, it’s pure delight, taking this journey into “days of future past.” On the other hand, it feels like amazing depth of storyline wasted on puzzles seeking a challenge to offer.
With all this promise, Winterpoint should be the best in the series. Then I played the first puzzle, which was decidedly un-puzzling. Then came the first UHOS, Un-Hidden Object Scene, a silhouette...followed by another, even less challenging UHOS, an other-worldly symbol repeated several times, spread across the monitor and not at all hidden. Then there was another puzzle...remember the placement of 7 marbles each of which had one of three colors.
FINALLY came what I expected all along: one of the famed multi-level puzzles only the best of the best of developers produce...MT and MCF. TRAGIC: It is so easy I finished it in about three minutes. I surveyed the parts of it and solved it. I was very disappointed. I finished the chapter as quickly as I could and took a break to write my review of Winterpoint, The Collector’s Edition.
I went back and finished the game and bonus chapter. There are more multi-level puzzles to come. They’re no better than the first, but still the best this game has to offer.
WINTERPOINT has all the gloss and glitz. The audio/visual quality is beyond superb. The storyline IS the best yet. Sadly, the challenge is missing.
TO CE or NOT TO CE
If you opt for the Collector’s Edition you’ll get morphing objects to identify, collectibles, achievements, a strategy guide, the “who cares?” assortment PLUS a bonus chapter twice the size of any of the chapters in the main game.
If you opt for the Collector’s Edition you’ll get morphing objects to identify, collectibles, achievements, a strategy guide, the “who cares?” assortment PLUS a bonus chapter twice the size of any of the chapters in the main game.
This is an easy recommendation: If you’re not familiar with the series, you’re going to be blown away by the production qualities. If you’re familiar with and LOVE the quality games of the past, this will leave you wanting more, wanting better.
Here’s what I recommend: Play the hour-long trial of both the Collector’s Edition and the Standard Edition. You will recognize what I’m writing about the lack of challenge. If it’s not bothersome to you, don’t just get the SE, invest in the CE. Despite my complaints, this is still something special. It’s a new chapter in Mystery Tracker topics, with fun multi-level puzzles. The challenge will return and MT will be on top of the gaming world again.
I recommend this game!
From the makers of the Rite of Passage series comes a ground-breaking new series that's as creepy as it gets.
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 41 found this review helpful
It's Chilling. (No, the air conditioner is just on too high).
PostedAugust 31, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromTrump This: Yes, I'm VERY frightened, but not by the game.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The original Collector’s Edition ad comes complete with a warning that “… Maze: Subject 360 is an intense psychological thriller intended for mature audiences."
With the SE they’ve junked that description. And with good reason: The warning is pure hyperbole. Consequently, I was disappointed with the CE version of the game the first time around. I expected to be a guest in the “Peaceful Hill Motel…and (become) an experiment in a twisted psychological maze.” That never happened.
For your information, I played the Collector’s Edition from beginning to end, including the bonus chapter, on a Mac Book Pro with operating system 10.9.5. While some apparently feel “trapped and desperate” and even “panicked from nearly drowning,” I’m sure you won’t forget that you’re playing a game and it’s not real life. More’s the pity in this case, though.
I love scary stuff, seriously scary. In my experience Stray Souls: A Dollhouse Story has come closest to being “scary.” If you want fright, give that a try. If, however, what you want is an obnoxious, petulant little girl as the center of attention, you have come to the right place.
I think it’s difficult to suffuse an animated story with the feelings and sensations one might associate with real primal, visceral fears of fire, or heights, or snakes, or enclosed spaces. There’s enough response to Maze: Subject 360 to say that some are, indeed, frightened. That is not my experience.
I don’t want you to start the game expecting and hoping for one thing and meeting with disappointment when you get something quite different. I thought The Silence of The Lambs was scary when I saw it in a theater for the first time (AND I HAD ALREADY READ THE BOOK!!!). THAT IS HOW I MEASURE “SCARY.” If you’re expecting that because of anything you read about Maze: Subject 360, you will feel misled as I did.
Let’s consider for a bit what the game does: Does the game present a clear and coherent theme? ABSOLUTELY. For that it should be praised. Is the theme dark and annoying? ABSOLUTELY. If you like that kind of thing, and I do, you will probably like this. AND I DID.
For those of us who are fond of fright, the game absolutely starts with a great deal of promise. I LIKE THE GRUESOME STUFF. Near the beginning of the game I got a taste. It's VERY realistic!! I was sucked in immediately but that was the last of it. (OK, a bit of whimsy: As I’m writing this review I see that Wes Craven has died…the creator of Scream and Nightmare of Elm St….a bow to his fright-night genius).
You view the proceedings from the eyes of the protagonist. There is a lot of reference to her fears and the need to overcome them. There is even a little "fear-o-meter" at the top of the monitor while playing some games. The longer you take to finish the mini-game the greater the degree of fear registered on the fear-o-meter. It's not like you're really more frightened...it's a measuring stick illustrating how close you are to finishing the mini-game/puzzle.
Somewhere I was promised my heart rate would accelerate. It never happened. In the end you're going to wonder what all the fuss is about. There's a bratty little girl who, in reality, is anthropomorphized evil. The actress who voices her is perfect and plays the part perfectly. While the protagonist's actor turns in boredom for a performance, the arch-villainess does make you, if not fear her, at least hate her...a little.
TELL ME IF THIS IS SCARY: Near the end of the story you encounter a large toy bear. You're given a choice: a) Pull on the already detached nose, or, b) replace the detached nose on the bear's face. I don't think you'll begrudge me this one little spoiler...but in case you do, YOU ARE HEREBY WARNED: SKIP THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND MOVE TO THE NEXT TO AVOID THE SPOILER!!! If you replace the bear's nose nothing happens. If you pull on the bear's nose he screams and doubles up in size and looks fearsome. Oh my, I was shaking. I almost forgot to snag my CE version collectible.
OK, spoiler alert over.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't a bad game.
a. Fun factor is a solid 4 stars. If "Fear Factor" were a voting category it would have gotten 3 stars and the stars would be awarded for the general malevolence of the character, not because of any real fear.
b. Sound and Visual quality get 4 stars because the sound track was superb and the voice acting of the little girl was brilliant as well. The other characters, frankly, sounded like they'd all missed their morning coffee. If they didn't sound great, at least they looked good. Characters and scenery were well drawn and nicely detailed.
c. Level of Challenge: This is not a challenging game. I played it on its toughest level and never wished I could skip a puzzle. The HOGs were well drawn but provided no particular challenge in finding the objects.
d. The storyline: As you progress through the game, you’ll see that it does have a unifying theme and everything you do supports the theme. As you get to the end of the game you realize the story line has not been about fear at all. It's about regret. (I'll say no more on the subject because I don't want to spoil you...)
Don't get me wrong. This isn't a bad game.
a. Fun factor is a solid 4 stars. If "Fear Factor" were a voting category it would have gotten 3 stars and the stars would be awarded for the general malevolence of the character, not because of any real fear.
b. Sound and Visual quality get 4 stars because the sound track was superb and the voice acting of the little girl was brilliant as well. The other characters, frankly, sounded like they'd all missed their morning coffee. If they didn't sound great, at least they looked good. Characters and scenery were well drawn and nicely detailed.
c. Level of Challenge: This is not a challenging game. I played it on its toughest level and never wished I could skip a puzzle. The HOGs were well drawn but provided no particular challenge in finding the objects.
d. The storyline: As you progress through the game, you’ll see that it does have a unifying theme and everything you do supports the theme. As you get to the end of the game you realize the story line has not been about fear at all. It's about regret. (I'll say no more on the subject because I don't want to spoil you...)
Here’s what you are missing if you purchase the SE rather than the CE:
a. 44 collectible items. As I played the CE, I found myself not playing the game at times, but instead looking for the collectible. This isn't progress...it's an interruption of progress.
b. There are morphing objects in each of the 19 re-playable HOPs.
c. There are achievements as well. As per usual you earn them simply by playing the game reasonably well. Don't you usually try to play HOPs without a miss-click? If you've done it once, do you not try to do it again? Do you not try to do it always? You don’t need an achieve-o-meter to see what you accomplish. You know what you’re doing.
d. Finally, there is a Bonus Chapter.
e. All the rest of the CE “bling” is of the "who cares?" variety.
a. 44 collectible items. As I played the CE, I found myself not playing the game at times, but instead looking for the collectible. This isn't progress...it's an interruption of progress.
b. There are morphing objects in each of the 19 re-playable HOPs.
c. There are achievements as well. As per usual you earn them simply by playing the game reasonably well. Don't you usually try to play HOPs without a miss-click? If you've done it once, do you not try to do it again? Do you not try to do it always? You don’t need an achieve-o-meter to see what you accomplish. You know what you’re doing.
d. Finally, there is a Bonus Chapter.
e. All the rest of the CE “bling” is of the "who cares?" variety.
To CE or NOT:
If collectibles, morphing objects, achievements and the bonus chapter are what you seek in a game then get the CE. For me, along with the Bonus Chapter in a great game, the value of a CE is found mainly in the Strategy Guide. And, the only real achievement I care about is whether or not I'm able to struggle through a tough game without giving in to the temptation to consult it.
If collectibles, morphing objects, achievements and the bonus chapter are what you seek in a game then get the CE. For me, along with the Bonus Chapter in a great game, the value of a CE is found mainly in the Strategy Guide. And, the only real achievement I care about is whether or not I'm able to struggle through a tough game without giving in to the temptation to consult it.
Yes, I recommend this game. It is a great game, when all is said and done. If your approach to CEs is the same as mine, stick to the SE. You will be very pleased.
Footnote: The last two games I awarded 5 stars were Alex Hunter: Lord of the Mind and Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart (Both in CE form). If by now you think I don't really like anything, check those two out...and while you're at it add in Stray Souls: A Dollhouse Story.
I recommend this game!
A mountain observatory is hiding a big secret!
Overall rating
4
/
5
45 of 87 found this review helpful
Dawn is Rarely So Prosperous
PostedAugust 27, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromFun Facts: "Sinister" comes from the Latin "sinistre" or "left." "Enjoy" comes from the Latin "gaudere." Latin is a dead language and rarely spoken in Butler County. Butlers seldom say "enjoy."
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Having just finished Grim Tales: Color of Fright, I am more than ready for something FUN.
I WANT to give this a 5-star rating but someday, maybe this day, I will stop handing out 5 stars for a game that's truly fantabulous today but I won't remember tomorrow. So, Dawn of Prosperity gets 4.75 stars. But I'll tell you, there are not enough Fun Factor stars available. I'd give in 20 out of 20 if I could.
Others will tell you what to expect around every corner. What I'll tell you is that this game is tons of fun. Typically, I will test a game using the free hour so generously given by BFG and then in a day or three make a purchase if the hour went well. I didn't want to wait this time. I COULDN'T wait.
I may not be able to define "fun," but I know it when I'm having it. I am having fun playing this game. I played for a free hour and then bought it and played for another hour. I'm having fun. I've often confessed I'm a slow poke. This is a game where that's a value. I'm enjoying it. I do not wear "fastest to the finish line" as a badge of honor for completing a game. I'd rather take my time.
The protagonist is a female detective from some agency of "the Law" in Montana. This isn't a murder mystery (I don't think). There is an unexplainable or, at least, as of yet, an unexplained rise in seismic activity. The idea is that something sinister is the cause. Our purpose is finding it.
What you'll see and hear:
The game looks good (and bright). Colors, summer colors, are bursting on your monitor and it's a joy to behold (especially after the dark, dank, wet, drippy castle of the Gray Family in Grim Tales). The animation is good. Characters are well drawn. There is an effort at lip synching. It's certainly not the best but far better than the worst. At least lips stop moving at the same time the voice actors stop talking.
The game looks good (and bright). Colors, summer colors, are bursting on your monitor and it's a joy to behold (especially after the dark, dank, wet, drippy castle of the Gray Family in Grim Tales). The animation is good. Characters are well drawn. There is an effort at lip synching. It's certainly not the best but far better than the worst. At least lips stop moving at the same time the voice actors stop talking.
While the puzzles are plentiful, they are not at all difficult (at least not in the first couple of hours. I haven't seen anything "new" yet but there are some FUN twists given to familiar games. Aside from the "official" mini-games there are other "mini" mini-games as dawn prospers all around us. Again, while easy, they add a little extra challenge to the process. And they are all FUN.
There seem to be far fewer HOGs than mini-games. I think the HO scenes, thus far, are very well done. Part puzzle, part HOG, one object is used to advance and uncover other hidden objects. This multilayered HOG format is far more interesting than a simple list find. Other HOG formats in Dawn include finding multiples of an object or similar objects. No matter the format, the HOGs are all FUN.
The story line is straightforward, though improbable. The first cause...a lot of substantial earthquakes in Montana...is not outside the realm of possibility and so this game is closer to "real life" than SO MANY games in the recent past. It is a welcome change. So far, all of the elements of the game, the HOGs and mini-puzzles, are clearly supporting the story line. This is not a Hidden Object scene or a puzzle in search of a story.
This a Collector's Edition so it does have all the typical CE Bling (the "who cares?" stuff). In addition, there are the valuable CE items: collectibles in each scene; "fact cards" which will explain a number of scientific theories and seismic insights; morphing items; achievements; a teleporting map; and, of course, a bonus chapter. I believe there's also a souvenir shop. I can't tell you about the bonus chapter yet. You'll have to read my review of the SE version...in which I'll tell SE prospects what they're missing from the CE. Sinister. But FUN.
I strongly urge you to take advantage of the free hour and try this game out. I'll be surprised if you're not quite fond of it. In the midst of a deluge of princess-themed, fantasy-driven games, (of which, frankly, I'm very tired) Dawn of Prosperity is a very welcome change of pace enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Answer a distress call at an arctic research lab where scientists have made a chilling discovery!
Overall rating
2
/
5
11 of 23 found this review helpful
THE WINTERPOINT OF MY DISCONTENT
PostedAugust 21, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromWondering why Summertime is so Wint'ry. And why Winter is so cold.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
What a shame.
Mystery Trackers has always been special. That hasn't changed with Winterpoint Tragedy. The gloss is here. The incomparable graphics (well, along with MCF, its first cousin), the splendid script and a story line which pushes the HOG genre into uncharted territory are familiar to us. Just for kicks, Elf is here as well, exploring places mere mortals can't because we're hindered by size.
So what's not to like? Well, the "what" is immediately identifiable by its glaring absence: CHALLENGE. Because we've come to expect "more" from Mystery Trackers, its formulaic presentation, though familiar, has never grown tired.
In Winterpoint, the formula is abandoned. No screams. No terror. No danger lurking beyond or behind each corner. This is not the problem. The storyline, in fact, grows more mature in this Trackers edition. There's a detective, because there just has to be, but this story is more science than scream. It's technology. It high-tech terror. It will not keep you awake at night. BUT THAT'S OK. The change is refreshing...and promising!
And there's the tragedy: with all that promise, Winterpoint was poised to be the best in the series. Then came the first puzzle...which didn't resemble anything puzzling. Then the first UHOS, an Un-Hidden Object Scene, a silhouette...followed by another, even less challenging UHOP, an ethereal symbol repeated several times, spread throughout the scene and not at all hidden. Then another puzzle...remember the order of 7 marbles with one of three colors. Then, FINALLY, one of the famed multi-level puzzles we're accustomed to, but only from the best of the best of developers...MT and MCF. And with this puzzle came a confirmation that Winterpoint is a tragedy: this multi-level puzzle is so easy I finished it in about three minutes. I surveyed the parts of it and solved it. I was SO disappointed. I finished the chapter as quickly as I could and took a break to write this.
I'll go back to Winterpoint in a couple days. I'll finish it. Then I'll start looking forward to the next installment. I'm confident the many ambivalent, yet still five-star responses to this tragedy will become the five-star reviews we're used to with Mystery Tracker, earned because of a great game not a great pedigree.
I don't recommend this game.
Discover the secrets that lie buried in the eerie, crooked halls of Mnemosyne Asylum!
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
10th Clue: Get the Game
PostedAugust 18, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromOrinda, California. The Left Coast. Happily.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a great game and I had a lot of fun playing it. That's the most important part of a review right?. There are not a lot of bells and whistles.
Fun Factor: Once I started I didn't want to stop. It's lots of fun.
Visual/Sound quality:
What I saw: The art and animation is a bit of a throwback. These days we're used to games that are like animated movies. This game is more like a comic strip come to life. That has its appeal. (If you've played either of the Nick Chase games you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, you should. They are great games as well. Although they are compatible with iPhones and iPads, their computer compatibility is with PCs, not Macs.) Sorry for the segue.
What I saw: The art and animation is a bit of a throwback. These days we're used to games that are like animated movies. This game is more like a comic strip come to life. That has its appeal. (If you've played either of the Nick Chase games you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, you should. They are great games as well. Although they are compatible with iPhones and iPads, their computer compatibility is with PCs, not Macs.) Sorry for the segue.
There is an effort at lip synching but it's not great. However...
Sound Quality: The voice acting is GREAT!!!! The main characters, a couple of detectives, are something out of Helen Mirren's great TV series, Prime Suspect. Even better are the supporting characters. The putative head of the mental hospital that's the scene of the crime is a German nurse. I'm not an expert on German accents but hers sounds very real to me. There is another nurse, a couple patients and a janitor. Each was at the top of his/her acting game.
Script: The script the actors deliver is good. The spelling, punctuation and, at times, idiomatic expressions of the accompanying text are not. There are frequent misspellings and grammatical/punctuation errors. One idiomatic expression is so wrong, yet so close, as to be almost funny: Instead of "at the fateful moment" the German nurse says...and the written text agrees..."at the faithful moment." I prefer well-edited text and perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation. While this is far from it, it does not detract so much as to make this unenjoyable. I mention it, however, because this may drive you nuts and it is a big problem with an integral pat of telling the story.
Level of Challenge: This isn't a particularly difficult game. While Mini-games/puzzles are not new there are a few interesting twists that made them very enjoyable...again, not difficult, just fun. One example is of the typical puzzle where several connections must be made between base units and target units without lines intersecting. The twist in this puzzle is that it's done with reflecting mirrors.
HOGs: are also fairly run of the mill. I am not pleased that most HOG scenes are used twice. To me that's just laziness. In the overall scheme of a game, having single-use HOG scenes is a must.
Storyline: Well, it's a couple of detectives trying to figure out some murders at the asylum. The story line drives the game. It's interesting and logical and keeps pushing forward. Each of the chapters begins with a "scene." In expert mode the player is on his/her own to find 9 clues (ah, I get it) associated with items at the scene. In easy mode the cursor flashes. I moved from easy to expert after the first chapter so I had to work a bit to pull the information. You will get higher degree of satisfaction for very little work.
OVERALL: While this isn't one of the flashy games we see from MCF and Mystery Trackers, it's a solid game. I may be reacting to too many princess games lately, but this one is good. Some times simple is better. This is one of those times.
I recommend this game!
Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Tracks of Terror
Can werewolves be cured, or will one family's curse continue?
Overall rating
3
/
5
27 of 42 found this review helpful
Bonus Third Star Because This is an SE and There's No Bonus Game to Buy
PostedAugust 14, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromNo. I don't think so. Not. Even. Close.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This review is based on playing the CE and SE demos for the full 60 minutes on a MacBook Pro with operating system 10.9.5.
Pre-game instructions for both include the suggestion to use headphones for optimal playing enjoyment. I like the idea and would have even more if there were an internal volume control. Cut scene volume rose dramatically.
The game itself: Three stars. For BFG reviews, this is not a good rating. Those who dare to give such a rating (or worse) seem to incur the wrath of all who read. That said, it’s OK if you don’t like what I write, but I’m not trying to be mean. It’s just not worthy of more. FYI: I couldn’t progress beyond the free trial of the CE, and can’t beyond the free hour of the SE either. To be fair, I suggest you use the hour trial period for free and see if YOU like it. I did not because:
Storyline:
I've seen too many werewolves in game playing. Haven't they all been destroyed? This is a tired old storyline that should be killed off even if the werewolves haven't been. There's no mystery here. Werewolves=bad. Bad=get rid of them. Sadly, there is also ZERO terror. None. And the backstory just isn't compelling. Somehow the male side of the family has a were-wolf curse passed down from one generation to the next.
I've seen too many werewolves in game playing. Haven't they all been destroyed? This is a tired old storyline that should be killed off even if the werewolves haven't been. There's no mystery here. Werewolves=bad. Bad=get rid of them. Sadly, there is also ZERO terror. None. And the backstory just isn't compelling. Somehow the male side of the family has a were-wolf curse passed down from one generation to the next.
Visual Quality:
Not unlike the storyline, the visuals are tired and old: clunky, dull graphics that are neither crisp nor well defined.
Not unlike the storyline, the visuals are tired and old: clunky, dull graphics that are neither crisp nor well defined.
Audio Quality:
I heard every word and all the music very clearly (after all, I did use my headphones). The auricular clarity causes a few problems:
The voice actors are not on the same page. The deLupe family Patriarch, now dead, sounds appropriate for the mid-19th century. His son, Peter (get it? De Lupe-Wolf/Pierre-Peter) sounds like a Southern California beach bum with a “golly gee” view of life. At one point he says “Detective, you better start the machine!!” in his singsongy way. Two notes: 1) Were there detectives, per se, in 1881? 2) As young Peter the Wolf said this I couldn’t help but think of Sherman telling Mr. Peabody to use the “way back machine.”
I heard every word and all the music very clearly (after all, I did use my headphones). The auricular clarity causes a few problems:
The voice actors are not on the same page. The deLupe family Patriarch, now dead, sounds appropriate for the mid-19th century. His son, Peter (get it? De Lupe-Wolf/Pierre-Peter) sounds like a Southern California beach bum with a “golly gee” view of life. At one point he says “Detective, you better start the machine!!” in his singsongy way. Two notes: 1) Were there detectives, per se, in 1881? 2) As young Peter the Wolf said this I couldn’t help but think of Sherman telling Mr. Peabody to use the “way back machine.”
I have complained about the voice acting. The musical accompaniment is a different story. I really liked it. This is a new development from my review of the CE. The music sounded just right this time. (It’s the same music, it just sounded better to me.) While other things were anachronistic, the music seemed appropriate for the times.
Level of Challenge
There is no great challenge. The HO scenes are neither difficult nor creative. The few games I played weren't either.
I think the game wherein you time turning discs to perfectly pass a ball from the first to the fourth disc is the best game. SINCE IT'S THE FIRST REAL GAME and I didn't see much more in the trial period. Maybe they get better. This is only minimally interesting. Fiddle with speeds a little bit and then move on. Yes "you do have start all over again if you don't get it right." Is that unusual? Notable?
There is no great challenge. The HO scenes are neither difficult nor creative. The few games I played weren't either.
I think the game wherein you time turning discs to perfectly pass a ball from the first to the fourth disc is the best game. SINCE IT'S THE FIRST REAL GAME and I didn't see much more in the trial period. Maybe they get better. This is only minimally interesting. Fiddle with speeds a little bit and then move on. Yes "you do have start all over again if you don't get it right." Is that unusual? Notable?
This game isn't interesting because it's not a multi-level challenge. It's all about timing. There is no surprise outcome or any creative way to accomplish it. It's simply trial and error. Once you get the timing down you’ve figured it out. It’s a far cry from the incredible puzzles of an MCF game which require thought and more thought and still more thought to realize the solution to one of their signature comprehensive puzzles.
OVERALL:
I know I'm taking a leap, suggesting that the whole game is bad. I criticize others for pronouncing a game the "best ever," so I will take your criticism for suggesting this is not. I don’t think I’m far off from reality, though: Developers know that there's a free trial period. They're smart enough to show off the best in the beginning as an inducement to purchase the whole game. So if this is the best, YAWN. I actually didn't enjoy it.
I know I'm taking a leap, suggesting that the whole game is bad. I criticize others for pronouncing a game the "best ever," so I will take your criticism for suggesting this is not. I don’t think I’m far off from reality, though: Developers know that there's a free trial period. They're smart enough to show off the best in the beginning as an inducement to purchase the whole game. So if this is the best, YAWN. I actually didn't enjoy it.
The only remaining questions: should you purchase the CE or the SE or…wait for it…NOT BUY ANYTHING AT ALL?!?!?!
Since I didn’t like regulation time, the concept of overtime is not inviting. A bonus chapter of this is anything but a bonus. The other CE "bling" is not very shiny...all the who-cares additions that don't bring particular value to the table (unless you want to replay the boring HOS or listen to the music multiple times). So, i give a thumbs down to both the CE and the SE.
I did not ENJOY. I don't think you will ENJOY. I certainly won't try to convince you this is a game worth buying.
However, we all like different things. Some seem to like everything. Find out for yourself if you like this. You can stop before the hour expires. I gave this three stars while only giving the CE two, simply because it’s not nearly as expensive. That’s the only thing that makes the SE better than the CE. Save your money. Save your time.
I don't recommend this game.
From the makers of the Rite of Passage series comes a ground-breaking new series that's as creepy as it gets.
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 19 found this review helpful
Somewhat Less than a-MAZE-ing
PostedAugust 12, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromBecause I wanted a challenge, I stopped playing this game for awhile and went back to play some of the amazing puzzles from MCF Fate's Carnival. That's a challenge.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
"Warning - Maze: Subject 360 is an intense psychological thriller intended for mature audiences."
This is what you see first, big and bold in red type, when you look at the ad for Maze: Subject 360 Collector's Edition. It's what the developers think of their creation.
Then I read what was written about Subject 360, that, for instance, "there has never been a game like this before," and I thought that meant great things were in store for me (especially since it was 5 stars across the board). Next, I read it was "...an adult horror game," and I thought, "finally! A game that will rival Stray Souls: A Dollhouse Story" which I had awarded 5 stars quite some time ago.
Sadly, neither of my thoughts and neither of my hopes came to fruition and NONE of the descriptions I read were true.
Perhaps the warning is for the trial hour not the whole game...WHICH I PLAYED, by the way, in final form (i.e., not a beta tester) on a Mac Book Pro with operating system 10.9.5.
The game absolutely starts with a great deal of promise. I'll be honest. I LIKE THE GRUESOME STUFF. Near the beginning of the game we see tucked away in a side room two dueling circular saws. By moving forward, the illusion is proffered that you've been cut by them and there's blood spatter. It's VERY realistic!! I was sucked in immediately. Too bad it was the last scary thing I saw.
There was quite a bit of reference to the protagonist being scared or overcoming her fears. There was even a little "fear-o-meter" at the top of the monitor while playing some games. The longer you took the greater the degree of fear you were feeling. WAIT. That isn't what's going on. This is what really happened: The more you progressed in the game, the closer you came to ending the game, the more fear is registered in the "fear-o-meter." AND the fear is not yours (I challenge you to be scared) but is really the fear of the protagonist, who, by the way, sounds VERY unconvincing as a scared person.
I've read that one person is still panicked from nearly drowning. STOP RIGHT THERE. THIS IS A GAME. IF AT ANY POINT THE LINE IS CROSSED FROM FANTASY TO REALITY you should go straight to an asylum. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Although I was promised my heart rate would accelerate it never happened. In the end you're going to wonder what all the fuss is about. There's a bratty little girl who, in reality, is anthropomorphized evil. The actress who voices her is perfect and plays this little **** perfectly. While the protagonist's actor turns in boredom for a performance, the arch-villainess does make you, if not fear her, at least hate her...a little.
TELL ME IF THIS IS SCARY: Near the end of "regulation" play you encounter a large toy bear. You're given a choice: a) Pull on the already detached nose, or, b) replace the detached nose on the bear's face. I don't think you'll begrudge me this one little spoiler...but in case you do, YOU ARE HEREBY WARNED: SKIP THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND MOVE TO THE NEXT TO AVOID THE SPOILER!!! If you replace the bear's nose nothing happens. If you pull on the bear's nose he screams and double up and looks fearsome. Oh my, I was shaking. I almost forgot to snag my collectible.
OK, spoiler alert over.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't a bad game.
a. Fun factor is a solid 4 stars. If "Fear Factor" were a voting category it would have gotten 3 stars and the stars would be awarded for the general malevolence of the character, not because of any real fear.
b. Sound and Visual quality get 4 stars because the sound track was superb and the voice acting of the little girl was brilliant as well. The other characters, frankly, sounded like they'd all missed their morning coffee.
If they didn't sound great, at least they looked good. Characters and scenery were well drawn and nicely detailed.
c. Level of Challenge: This is not a challenging game. I played it on its toughest level and never wished I could skip a puzzle. The HOGs were well drawn but provided no particular difficulty finding the objects.
d. The storyline. Well, I understand one person was so rattled by this game that he/she forgot to collect a collectible item. (Yes, there are collectibles.) Since the game is advertised as SCARY, shouldn't something frightful be a part of the storyline? As we find at the end of the game, the story line has not been about fear at all. It's about regret. (I'll say no more on the subject because I don't want to spoil you...)
This is a CE, so let's review the features:
First, the collectibles. 44 of them. Here's my theory about missing one of them: It wasn't because anyone was rattled. It's because it stood far outside the course of the game. Shouldn't collectibles at least blend with the "ambience" a bit? At times I found myself not playing the game, instead just looking for the collectible. This isn't progress...it's an interruption of progress.
First, the collectibles. 44 of them. Here's my theory about missing one of them: It wasn't because anyone was rattled. It's because it stood far outside the course of the game. Shouldn't collectibles at least blend with the "ambience" a bit? At times I found myself not playing the game, instead just looking for the collectible. This isn't progress...it's an interruption of progress.
Along with the annoying collectibles, there are morphing objects in each of the 19 re-playable HOPs. The next of the top four CE features of import, achievements, are available as well. As per usual you earn them simply by playing the game well. Don't you usually try to play HOPs without a miss-click? If you've done it once do you not try to do it again? Do you not try to do it always? These are achievements you earn. Note to self: don't include this on a resume. Your employer won't care if you got the achievement award for getting all the achievements.
The final feature setting this CE apart from it's plain-jane stepsister is the bonus chapter. All the rest of the CE bling is of the "who cares?" variety.
If collectibles, morphing objects, achievements and the bonus chapter are what you seek in a game then by all means get the CE.
For me the value of a CE is found mainly in the Strategy Guide. And, to finish that thought about CEs...the only real achievement I care about is whether or not I'm able to struggle through a tough game without consulting the SG and choosing a difficulty level that precludes hints.
Yes, I recommend this game. It's not a bad game at all.
No,I don't think you're gonna be rattled. Still, if you want to justify a cocktail, you can say it's just to calm your tattered nerves from MAZE 360.
No,I don't think you're gonna be rattled. Still, if you want to justify a cocktail, you can say it's just to calm your tattered nerves from MAZE 360.
Footnote: The last two games I awarded 5 stars were Alex Hunter: Lord of the Mind and Margrave:The Curse of the Severed Heart (Both in CE form). If by now you think I don't really like anything, check those two out...and while you're at it add in Stray Souls: A Dollhouse Story.
I recommend this game!
Your daughter Cathie has been kidnapped by an evil creature! Solve the mystery of the elephant and bring Cathie home!
Overall rating
1
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
The Macabre Mystery ONLY a Mother Could Love
PostedAugust 5, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromOf course my mom loved it.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I'm reviewing this game after having played the free trial for 45 minutes (I couldn't stand it any longer) on a Macbook Pro with operating system 10.9.5,)
This is a game only a Mother could love. Reliably, Mom, of course, LOVES IT, only wishing the graphics and acting were better. Well I'm going to be the disagreeable son...on almost all counts.
a. The game is absolutely ZERO fun. For me it began with a system cursor that a few minutes into playing the game was joined by my regular mouse pointer. I quit and re-started the game several times. Each time, for awhile, the custom cursor appeared alone. Each time, after awhile, the mouse pointer re-appeared. This is a distraction.
Bad grammar and poor idiomatic English is not fun for me. In the very first HOP one of the listed items to find is a lamp. WELL...there was very clearly a lamp in the upper left hand of the screen. I clicked on it in several places (no over-click penalty) and the lamp would not "convert." Although it appeared some light was emanating from the lamp, I still clicked on a lightbulb, thinking it might need to be placed in the lamp to work. Not quite: the desired "lamp" listed was in fact the lightbulb! Very poor English.
Later on (not much later) there was a skeleton missing a tooth. There was a piece of information given in a dialog box: "The skull is seems to miss one tooth." WHAT???? OK. HIRE AN EDITOR, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE. I'm sorry I'm such a scrupe for proper grammar, but I am and reading this was as pleasurable as listening to fingernails on a blackboard.
Visual/Sound Quality: Well, my mom is partially right about the acting...just not enough right: the acting is always bad, not sometimes bad. None of the script lines were delivered with the appropriate "feeling" of anguish and fear of a mother whose daughter has gone missing.
Additionally there is no lip synching, just spoken words with written script and no pretense that the characters are actually talking.
As for visuals: The screen is too dark (not for lack of color, I just believe it is under-lit). At the beginning of the game the characters were drawn as though in a cartoon but without movement. I thought this style of drawing/animation did a good job of communicating the disjointed nature of the proceedings (a missing daughter, a scared mother) in a way the voice acting did not.
I thought the visuals were uniformly spectacular. Even though the game play was poor, it looked good while playing bad.
The upshot of all this "analysis" is this: I think Visual Quality and Sound Quality deserve their own separate star rating system. I'd have given visuals a 4-star rating and sounds a 1 (only because I can't award less).
Level of Challenge: Well, it was very challenging, from one perspective and that caused me to give up after about 45 minutes. It challenged my last nerve. And I lost. Perhaps the game got much better. I seriously doubt it. Generally developers want the free part to be good enough to entice a potential customer to purchase the game...best foot forward....well if this is enticement I doubt many people get beyond the free trial.
Storyline: We've seen missing children story lines before. It always brings out the animal in a mom and we see just how fierce moms can be when you mess with their kids. All I can say is that the Mom in this story doesn't seem all that upset. So the storyline? "Child missing, Mom pretty casual about it." is not my idea of good. I couldn't tell you much more beyond this.
As always, I suggest you try the free trial, rather than listening to me (or my mom). I have a feeling you won't last the free hour.
This is an SE. Don't buy it. My hunch is that they knew it was terrible, and certainly not worthy of the Big Fish, or they'd have led with a CE. Take the hint and RUN AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS GAME AS YOU CAN.
SAVE YOUR MONEY. SAVE YOUR GAME CREDITS. SAVE YOUR FREE GAME COUPONS. THIS IS A DISASTER.
I love puzzles, hidden objects and adventures. This game is puzzling and it's a misadventure. The object of the game? Very well hidden.
I don't recommend this game.
A masked vigilante has the town of Coldstone in a death grip!
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
A Sinful Delight
PostedJuly 18, 2015
sfr8rfan
fromIt's not "Judge, lest ye be Judged." It's "Judge NOT, lest ye be judged!" I think I will Judge.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
My process for reviewing this is a little convoluted. Let me explain what I did and what I'm doing and why:
1. Before tonight I'd neither purchased nor played any version of this game.
1. Before tonight I'd neither purchased nor played any version of this game.
2. Tonight I downloaded and played the CE first for an hour next I downloaded and played the SE for an hour, speeding through what I already knew from the CE I'd just played.
3. The value of doing this is that I can fairly judge the features of the CE versus the SE and determine if, in my mind, the CE is worth the extra coinage.
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
By any means, purchase or use game credits toward the CE if that's an option. If not, then get the SE. Whatever you decide, you need to know this before you purchase:
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
By any means, purchase or use game credits toward the CE if that's an option. If not, then get the SE. Whatever you decide, you need to know this before you purchase:
1. From the ratings you can tell something is strange about this review: Fun Factor rates 5 out of 5 while every other measurement is 2 or 3 out of 5. The total is 4 stars (which doesn't add up) and that's because the sum is greater than its parts.
2. There's nothing grim about this game in my opinion. There's nothing scary. Yes, there are some murders and they're well-depicted, but this is not photography, moving or still. Though the methods for killing could be considered gruesome, what you see is not...at all. I'll not give anything away, but I don't think you'll be scared awake after playing this game. It's no scarier than Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou.
3 . From the Fat Cat who cracks wise, to the jaunty Mr. Jinx, no ordinary rat, this Hidden Sins is a character-driven adventure much more than a hardcore puzzle/HOS game. No matter which version you get, if you're the type of player who turns off the soundtrack and lives for the very difficult HOS and Mini-games/puzzles, then this is not for you. Stop here and now. If you buy this game you'll feel as though you've wasted your time and money. Because...
4. ...The puzzles couldn't be easier. The HOS, ,while not difficult, do, at least, present some interesting divergences from the norm. Replacing items in an HOS is not new...but I think in this version, placing items takes a little more concentration to get it right. And it's entertaining.
5. Finally, the last little quirk about this game: it's first person. You are the detective. So as not to force a "personality" or gender on you, your words are shown in dialog boxes while those with whom you interact actually speak. Thus, you are reading a lot. Side note: what you won't read is lips. The lip synching is an epic fail.
What is there to like?
I think you'll enjoy the very dry humor. Hidden Sins is part Game of Thrones (think the White Walkers), part Alice in Wonderland (think Rabbit Hole) and 100% amusing and entertaining.
I think you'll enjoy the very dry humor. Hidden Sins is part Game of Thrones (think the White Walkers), part Alice in Wonderland (think Rabbit Hole) and 100% amusing and entertaining.
Imagine (if you will) the smart-alecky cat. You're having a conversation with him. Or, rather he with you. After you read your line to the cat, "you're under arrest," Fat Cat says to you: "Detective, you slay me. Or rather you'll be the one slain." To me that's hilarious...but I've been accused of having a very strange sense of humor often in the past.
Read the description and you'll see what the story is about. Nothing earth shattering. Again, nothing challenging. Just a fun adventure.
There is a minimum of HOS (12) and games (18)...so even if you like them on the easy side, there's not a lot of either to keep you busy for long. You collect coins along the way and can spend them on a few items which will help you navigate through the game. You have a transporting map which is helpful but not really needed.
Finally, there is a Memory Device which, after filling it with the necessary memory bytes (in the form of silver balls) you can use to get information about the killings that have occurred. Again, I remind you, this is very much an adventure. To that end, there are many cutscenes. A few of them are laboriously slow but these are the nexceptions. The cutscenes are very entertaining.
With the CE you'll get a bonus chapter where you'll learn the beginnings of the murderer (the Avenger); you'll also collect 16 "dark arts" themed items; you get 24 "achievements." They are uniquely identified and sometimes hilariously meaningless (which I'm sure is done tongue-in-cheek). Examples: a. Complete one HOG. b. Complete one puzzle without skipping. Finally, you also get the standard assortment of CE Bling...that can't possibly be your reason for spending the extra money...
So, after all is said and done, I've probably convinced you NOT to buy this game. If that's the case...and you're not in it strictly for difficult HOG and puzzles...then please do yourself a favor: play the hour long trials of both the CE and the SE. I really believe you will be highly entertained. Even if not moved to purchase either version, you'll be well-entertained by a little sin...Show Less
I recommend this game!
I recommend this game!
I recommend this game!