hermitcave's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.8
- Helpful Votes:407
- Reviews Submitted:240
- First Review:March 27, 2014
- Most Recent Review:October 27, 2016
- Featured reviews0
Status:
The mysterious League of Light has chosen you as their newest member. Are you up to your first assignment?
Overall rating
5
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
New to the League, your first assignment: investigate the abandoned castle of the Dark Lord and stop the attempt to resurrect him. Piece of cake.
PostedSeptember 21, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The year is 1866 and you have traveled to an ancient castle in the Carpathian Mountains to join the League of Light, an organization dedicated to investigating the supernatural and fighting the forces of evil. You are welcomed to the League but there is no time for celebration as an urgent request for help has been received from Elton Finch, Mayor of Sorrow's Well in the Black Mountains of the Western Kingdom. The long abandoned castle of the Dark Lord appears now to be occupied by forces unknown and the Mayor fears someone may be trying to resurrect the Dark Lord and he fears retribution on himself and family as his ancestor was the one who vanquished the Dark Lord so many years ago. Your first assignment is to investigate the castle and stop the resurrection of the Dark Lord. When you arrive, you are greeted by the Mayor and offered lodging for the night and as you get ready to retire for the night, a commotion occurs in the room of the Mayor's daughter, Penelope, as she is carried off by a winged beast heading toward the castle. The mayor shoots at the beast and wounds him and he and penelope fall to the ground just outside the castle gate. The Mayor has been wounded and asks you to save his daughter. When you arrive at the area where they fell, Penelope is unhurt but the winged beast grabs her and enters the castle locking the gate. You find a carriage near the gate with the remains of another League of Light member, Micheal Smith, who apparently was killed some time ago. Papers, scrolls, and paintings provide some background information on the Dark Lord and his minnions and how the Dark Lord was defeated. Now you need to find a way in to the castle, explore what is going on in the castle, find Penelope, and stop the resurrection of the Dark Lord. All in a day's work.
There is a journal that records the story as you progress and a second section entitled "Beastiary" where information on each supernatural creature encountered is recorded. There are eleven total to be found. One in particular, a smoggle, seems to be your most avid opponent being a faithful assistant to the Dark Lord and intent on resurrecting him. There is an excellent interactive map with undiscovered areas shrouded in clouds until they are uncovered and that show present location and locations of interest. There are 34 owls of various kinds and shapes to be found, one in each location, and they are marked on the map when found so you don't have to wonder if you found the owl in a particular location. I found at least two [might have been 3] that are hidden behind something and peak out for a second so be sure to look for that if you don't find an obvious owl. I was able to find all of them because they don't morph so I didnt't have to sit and wait for them to show up.
Hidden object scenes wer of two types - the usual interactive list type and a picture list type where items found are used on other items to expose additional items from the picture list. The last item found usually was an inventory item. Some item interactions required some thought to accomplish them. They were all well drawn and usually fairly easy to find. Finding the first item to start the sequence was usually the hardest part. There are the usual inventory item puzzles to do and some minigame type puzzles that were not very difficult. There is an info button but one of the achievements was to finish all the puzzles without using the info button which means you had to figure out just what to do to solve the puzzle. Most were logical, and with thought, could be figured out. There is a cube glyph puzzle where you had to move rows and columns of cubes with glyphs on them and if your cursor went outside the puzzle perimeter, it would crash causing the game to not respond requiring you to task manager close the game and then load again. It always started at the beginning of the puzzle so any progrees you had made was lost for the puzzle only. I was finally able to complete it by being very careful where the cursor was. Other then that one puzzle, the game played very well.
Not being an achievements fan, I usually don't worry about trying to find things or meet the requirements of achievements but if you are, there is one final item provided after you finish the game and that is to put together a jigsaw puzzle of 20 pieces that are awarded for completing all of the achievements.
The ending is the usual saving of the person needing to be saved and was satisfactory to finish the main story. The bonus chapter takes things a bit further when you find out that the smoggle has been using you to further his own desires to become the Dark Lord by having you prevent the resurrection and releasing the Dark Lord's magical energy which has been absorbed by his Black Throne and is now being siphoned off by the smoggle. You have to stop him but to do so you must find the dwarves who built the Black Throne and learn how to destroy it leading to an excellent absolute conclusion. In the last scene, you have reported back to headquarters of your success and are made a full member of the League of Light. A very well done bonus chapter that was as enjoyable as the main game.
A very enjoyable game not too hard nor easy and I can't wait to play the others in the series.
I recommend this game!
After crashing your car in the middle of nowhere, you stumble upon a mysterious town with a shady background. Solve a dark mystery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
A flooded town, spooky hotel owner, very friendly old woman and a young woman in a hurry to leave. What are their secrets?
PostedSeptember 21, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I really enjoyed this game. An intriguing, well written story revolving around only three characters after a devastating flood covered most of the town in which they all died. They are trapped there not realizing they are dead and you must learn their stories and find clues to convince them they are dead so they can find peace.
Driving along a wet, rainy highway, you appear to be lost and decide to check your map. Suddenly, handprints appear on the windshield and you see glowing eyes in the rear view mirror that causes you to lose control of your car to crash in the middle of nowhere. You were lucky to survive and now need to find help. You see an old path that you decide to follow and meet a young woman [first of 3 characters] who tells you about an old hotel nearby that has a phone and she gives you directions on how to get there. She is the hotel owner's assistant and warns you that you should make your call and leave immediately and not stay there as strange things are happening there. You make your way to the hotel noting that most of the town is submerged and you encounter the hotel owner [second character] who tells you the phone is out because the power it out. Apparantly your car crash knocked out the power but they have a generator that needs repair. After fixing the generator and restoring power, you use the phone but receive a strange message that your call can't be completed as "the location you are calling from...doesn't exist anymore." The hotel owner does not seemed surprised and offers you a room for the night. What else can you do but accept and become entrenched in what is going on here. After arriving at your room, someone knocks on your door and you are visited by an old woman [third character] who invites you to tea after you have rested and promises to tell you some stories about the submerged town. She was an important person before the town suffered such devastation. Now you begin your adventure to find out what happened to the town and these three characters. A small cast of characters, each richly developed and brought to life with well developed dialogue and voice-acting, especially the old woman. I felt the hotel owner was a bit melodramatic and the young woman a bit rushed.
During the game, you suffer periods of dizzyness and seem to blackout during which you see bit and pieces of visions about the three characters and things that happened to them. They become stronger and more revealing as you advance in your adventure. Your attempt at trying to leave only causes you to pass out each time so you seemed to be stuck there until you find some answers.
The hotel owner - He was a gangster that decided to retire with his booty and live out his days in liesure. Did he really buy the hotel?
The old woman - She was the wife of the town mayor and felt she lived in his shadow. What did she do about it?
The young woman - She was to be wed on the day the dam broke and flooded the town. Where was her betrothed? Why was he not there?
The excellent ending answers all of these questions and more and you are finally able to leave. The bonus chapter does not continue the main story but centers around the young woman's refusal to believe the truth about her betrothed and accept her fate and move on which prevents the other two from also being able to move on. It takes place moments before the dam broke and flooded the town and you have to convince the young woman as to the truth and to accept her fate and release the town and it occupants. It was an interesting way to show some of what happened that day and was well done even though it was short.
There is no journal or map and only a task tab that helps keep you moving in the right direction. Actual locations are few compared to many other games so a map is not really needed. There are a lot of HOs and inventory puzzles to work through as well as some regular puzzles. They were not that difficult and the HOS were not overly crowded with all items visible with the usual few well blended for challenge. I really enjoyed this game and am looking forward to playing the others in the series. Just remember that it is now considered an "older" game so you do not find many bling items but a well written story and well conceived execution.
Driving along a wet, rainy highway, you appear to be lost and decide to check your map. Suddenly, handprints appear on the windshield and you see glowing eyes in the rear view mirror that causes you to lose control of your car to crash in the middle of nowhere. You were lucky to survive and now need to find help. You see an old path that you decide to follow and meet a young woman [first of 3 characters] who tells you about an old hotel nearby that has a phone and she gives you directions on how to get there. She is the hotel owner's assistant and warns you that you should make your call and leave immediately and not stay there as strange things are happening there. You make your way to the hotel noting that most of the town is submerged and you encounter the hotel owner [second character] who tells you the phone is out because the power it out. Apparantly your car crash knocked out the power but they have a generator that needs repair. After fixing the generator and restoring power, you use the phone but receive a strange message that your call can't be completed as "the location you are calling from...doesn't exist anymore." The hotel owner does not seemed surprised and offers you a room for the night. What else can you do but accept and become entrenched in what is going on here. After arriving at your room, someone knocks on your door and you are visited by an old woman [third character] who invites you to tea after you have rested and promises to tell you some stories about the submerged town. She was an important person before the town suffered such devastation. Now you begin your adventure to find out what happened to the town and these three characters. A small cast of characters, each richly developed and brought to life with well developed dialogue and voice-acting, especially the old woman. I felt the hotel owner was a bit melodramatic and the young woman a bit rushed.
During the game, you suffer periods of dizzyness and seem to blackout during which you see bit and pieces of visions about the three characters and things that happened to them. They become stronger and more revealing as you advance in your adventure. Your attempt at trying to leave only causes you to pass out each time so you seemed to be stuck there until you find some answers.
The hotel owner - He was a gangster that decided to retire with his booty and live out his days in liesure. Did he really buy the hotel?
The old woman - She was the wife of the town mayor and felt she lived in his shadow. What did she do about it?
The young woman - She was to be wed on the day the dam broke and flooded the town. Where was her betrothed? Why was he not there?
The excellent ending answers all of these questions and more and you are finally able to leave. The bonus chapter does not continue the main story but centers around the young woman's refusal to believe the truth about her betrothed and accept her fate and move on which prevents the other two from also being able to move on. It takes place moments before the dam broke and flooded the town and you have to convince the young woman as to the truth and to accept her fate and release the town and it occupants. It was an interesting way to show some of what happened that day and was well done even though it was short.
There is no journal or map and only a task tab that helps keep you moving in the right direction. Actual locations are few compared to many other games so a map is not really needed. There are a lot of HOs and inventory puzzles to work through as well as some regular puzzles. They were not that difficult and the HOS were not overly crowded with all items visible with the usual few well blended for challenge. I really enjoyed this game and am looking forward to playing the others in the series. Just remember that it is now considered an "older" game so you do not find many bling items but a well written story and well conceived execution.
I recommend this game!
Explore the Nightingale Theater, which was ravaged by a devastating fire 40 years ago, and uncover a dark mystery!
Overall rating
4
/
5
A 40 year old mystery draws you to the Nightingale Theater where your grandpa disappeared
PostedSeptember 16, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
A letter arrives from your long lost grandpa who disapperaed 40 years ago and contains a golden ticket and an invitation to attend an 8 PM performance of his new show at the majestic Nightingale Theater. Of course you have to go to find out where he has been. When you arrive at the theater, you find it locked up and abandoned after it suffered a devastating fire 40 years ago. At the locked gate, you see the ghost of a ballerina and a sign on the gate that tells you to stay away. You see a demolition notice that the theater will be torn down in one week as ordered by Mayor Linden and find an old newspaper that tells of ghostly performers haunting the theater ever since the fire. You also find out your grandpa was the last director before the fire and was under suspicion of causing the fire. Looking for a way into the theater, you discover you are being watched by a large man creature who does not want you there. Now you really want some answers so begins your adventure.
With gorgeous graphics and an intriguing storyline, each scene is very detailed and has great lighting effects that make playing the game a treat. There are voiceovers including some from characters within the HOS but some were a little stiff. The music was pleasant and not overbearing. Sound effects were appropriate to the scenes.
This is a fragmented object game where most of the hidden object scenes require you to find parts of 3 pieces that join together when you have found all of the parts and make a single inventory object that is used to solve a puzzle or open a door, etc. All of the scenes are well drawn and most parts are visible but some require very close scrutiny to find them. The well designed HOS and puzzles are well thought out and keeps the story moving and usually prevents you from getting lost or frustrated. There is a journal with an intergrated map that shows each section of the theater with directional arrows to other parts which become visible when clicked on but finding your way sometimes has you going in circles as it is not a jump map. It usually shows the areas of interest but not always. The hint button [called hint vision] requires you to drag an inventory item on to it and click to get a "vision" of where it is to be used. Puzzles can be skipped but it disables the Hint button for five minutes.
In the game, there is a special ability that you have that enables you to see visions of the theater’s past. When you see a glowing eye icon, you can click on it and see into the past and observe what happened at that moment. It adds another level to the theater locations as you see how they were 40 years ago. It is used to further the background story.
There are 20 morphing collectibles called “Macabre Items” that can be found throughout but other then finding them, they provide nothing extra in the standard edition but probably do in the collector'd edition. They are not easy to find as there is a lot of time between the morphing requiring you to either be there at the right time or just sit and wait in each scene [they are not in every scene] hoping to see it. I am not a fan of morphs as I hate just sitting and waiting. I want to play the game and see what happens next so I seldom find all of them.
There are 20 morphing collectibles called “Macabre Items” that can be found throughout but other then finding them, they provide nothing extra in the standard edition but probably do in the collector'd edition. They are not easy to find as there is a lot of time between the morphing requiring you to either be there at the right time or just sit and wait in each scene [they are not in every scene] hoping to see it. I am not a fan of morphs as I hate just sitting and waiting. I want to play the game and see what happens next so I seldom find all of them.
There are some twists and turns with a couple surprises but the ending is satisfying as you find answers to the many questions and are able to clear your grandpa's name and free the spitits. With excellent artwork, game play, plenty of hidden object scenes and puzzles, and a grabbing storyline, it keeps you wanting to find out more.
I recommend this game!
After leaving something in your car, a hitchhiker vanishes! Track her down and return her things in Shiver: Vanishing Hitchhiker!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
What bizarre secret does a hitchhiker and the town of Gordon Creek share?
PostedSeptember 15, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
A wet, rainy night driving along the highway, You come across a hitchhiker and stop and pick her up. She was cold and wet so you lend her your jacket. Further up the road was the small, unremarkable town of Gordon Creek where she got out. Continuing down the road, you notice that she has left a sad, brown teddy bear in the back seat. You are shocked as you recognize the bear as belonging to a childhood friend. How did she get it? Was that someone you knew so long ago? You have to have answers so you turn around and go back to find her and find out how she got the bear and if she is your childhood friend. The town looks abandoned except for a house on the outskirts in which an old woman lives. She knows the girl and tells you where she lives. You now have to find her but what you soon discover is a town full of spirits bound by an ancient indian shaman curse that you have to break to free the spirits including the girl that left the bear.
The graphics are photorealistic giving a creepy, eerie atmosphere with subtle sound effects that enhances the spooky feeling of ghostly presence. Music was present and fit the mood of the scene but never overpowered. There are limited voiceovers but well done and four video clips that are saved in the journal and can be reviewed. Dialogue is presented at the top of the screen and must be clicked to continue. The journal keeps track of the story as you find notes and bizarre child drawings showing townspeople at the moment of their deaths. There is no map other then a drawing showing an area map with some locations marked but not of any real use especially for moving around. Each part of the town is opened up as you progress and there is some backtracking but it is kept to a minimum as most tasks are usually within several screens.
I like some of these "older"[released 2011] games where you concentrate on the game and not achievements and morphing items to find and this one has that traditional adventure game with hidden object scenes style. Most puzzles are inventory item based with traditional puzzles as well. Many can be skipped and there is a good hint system. There is a task list that helps you keep on the right track also. You have a flashlight that is used quite often in dark and very dimly lit areas and a camera that is used in certain areas that give you more details on the spirits and what has happened to them.
Hidden object scenes are well done with lots of decay and debris scenes typical of abandoned and unmaintained locations. They are presented as limited interactive list type usually resulting in an inventory item.
The story ends satisfactorily with you freeing the spirits including the girl but as you drive away, another child drawing showing your car crashing is presented. This apparently is not a hook for a sequel as I understand the Collector's Edition includes the bonus chapter that picks up at this point and continues the story. I did not play the CE so can't comment on how it finished.
As a fan of horror and mystery, I enjoyed this one and recommend it for those looking for a good game to play on a rainy afternoon.
The graphics are photorealistic giving a creepy, eerie atmosphere with subtle sound effects that enhances the spooky feeling of ghostly presence. Music was present and fit the mood of the scene but never overpowered. There are limited voiceovers but well done and four video clips that are saved in the journal and can be reviewed. Dialogue is presented at the top of the screen and must be clicked to continue. The journal keeps track of the story as you find notes and bizarre child drawings showing townspeople at the moment of their deaths. There is no map other then a drawing showing an area map with some locations marked but not of any real use especially for moving around. Each part of the town is opened up as you progress and there is some backtracking but it is kept to a minimum as most tasks are usually within several screens.
I like some of these "older"[released 2011] games where you concentrate on the game and not achievements and morphing items to find and this one has that traditional adventure game with hidden object scenes style. Most puzzles are inventory item based with traditional puzzles as well. Many can be skipped and there is a good hint system. There is a task list that helps you keep on the right track also. You have a flashlight that is used quite often in dark and very dimly lit areas and a camera that is used in certain areas that give you more details on the spirits and what has happened to them.
Hidden object scenes are well done with lots of decay and debris scenes typical of abandoned and unmaintained locations. They are presented as limited interactive list type usually resulting in an inventory item.
The story ends satisfactorily with you freeing the spirits including the girl but as you drive away, another child drawing showing your car crashing is presented. This apparently is not a hook for a sequel as I understand the Collector's Edition includes the bonus chapter that picks up at this point and continues the story. I did not play the CE so can't comment on how it finished.
As a fan of horror and mystery, I enjoyed this one and recommend it for those looking for a good game to play on a rainy afternoon.
I recommend this game!
Explore the abandoned house and search for the missing heir!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Dark, gloomy, and creepy with ghosts and demons and an animated hand
PostedSeptember 10, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The owners of an old estate disappeared 40 years ago and you have been hired to find the heir. As you are driving along in a driving rain lost in your thoughts, an apprition appears in the road causing you to spin out. Of course you have arrived at your destination so you approach the front door. As you try the door handle, the floor of the porch gives away and you fall into the basement. The first thing you find is a book that becomes your journal and contains three tabs - Tasks, History, and Notes. The Tasks Tab gives you general and some specific goals to accomplish. The History Tab records the background story of the Fellowship of the Thistle. During your exploration, you will complete action areas that trigger a cutscene that is added to the History tab in your journal. They tell the story of an organization of chosen ones called the Fellowship of the Thistle that fight the forces of darkness that are trying to enslave the world. You discover the house has been taken over by these forces and now you must help repel these forces. The Notes Tab provides a place for the clues you find. The clues are usually folded pieces of paper that have to be clicked on to read even after being added to the journal.
Expecting to find an empty, abandoned manor, you soon discover the manor is haunted by a possessed heir and vengeful ghosts and spirits that attempt to prevent you from finding the truth. Some of these spirits add a horror element to the game as they are used as jump-scares usually with screams so be sure your volume is not to loud. Of course each one wants or needs something to appease them so you can continue your investigation. You do find one helpful spirit, an animated hand [think Addams Family and "Thing"] that apparently was severed from a member of the Fellowship of the Thistle when the forces of evil took over the house. A very nicely done "character" that added a lot to the game.
A typical horror Hidden Object Adventure game with a very dark, spooky and moody admosphere of dark creepy lighting that gives the feel of a haunted house. Shadows and special effects are very well done with photorealistic style graphics that enhance the feel of desolation and dispair. Music was some of the best I have experienced adding even more to the atmosphere.
The ending was satisfying as the possessed heir is freed of the demon who is again contained by the Fellowship of the Thistle through finding runes around around him. There are eleven runes to find in a timed sequence and two of the runes were hard to see and were located near the bottom of the demon. Once the demon is defeated and contained, the spirits and hand are freed from the house and in the final cutscene when you drive away, demon eyes are seen in the trunk of your car suggesting a sequel.
Inventory was at the top of the screen which took some getting use to as it is usually at the bottom so that is where you instinctively went to get an item. The inventory does lock open. Some of the action areas with inventory puzzles were good such as the wine distiller to get the windup key and many of the door opening puzzles like the bottle puzzle and the stuffed animals becoming animated and requiring the correct weapon to kill them again. Other action areas requiring you to do something or use something from your inventory showed you a picture of the item needed to solve the action when you clicked on the area. Some action spots were very particular where you use the item such as the point of a key on a padlock. One of the things that the animated hand helps you with is the keys to many of the doors you need to open and there was one key that was labeled STUDY but actually opens the door labeled OFFICE.
There were plenty of HOS of both the list type and a picture list type. The lists are again presented at the top of the screen instead of the bottom as usual. The pictures are actually sketches of items to be found which added a little more challenge to finding the items. Some items are superimposed on top of other items so they are almost invisible so you have to look closely. I found the three match sticks extremely hard to find. Solving Hidden Object Screens usually gave you two items for your inventory instead of the usual one.
There is an interactive map that is a scroll that rolls left and right revealing parts of the house. When i first started the game, it worked just fine but part way into the game, it would cause the game to not respond when clicked on so you had to use Task Manager to close out the game and restart. I finished the game without the map as it continued to malfunction each time.
There were some long load times when moving between locations that showed a map with footsteps moving around on it which were only there for effect as they really didn't show you moving to your next location. When the map was working, it did show where you were and a indicator of action.
Other then the map glitch, I enjoyed the game very much.
Expecting to find an empty, abandoned manor, you soon discover the manor is haunted by a possessed heir and vengeful ghosts and spirits that attempt to prevent you from finding the truth. Some of these spirits add a horror element to the game as they are used as jump-scares usually with screams so be sure your volume is not to loud. Of course each one wants or needs something to appease them so you can continue your investigation. You do find one helpful spirit, an animated hand [think Addams Family and "Thing"] that apparently was severed from a member of the Fellowship of the Thistle when the forces of evil took over the house. A very nicely done "character" that added a lot to the game.
A typical horror Hidden Object Adventure game with a very dark, spooky and moody admosphere of dark creepy lighting that gives the feel of a haunted house. Shadows and special effects are very well done with photorealistic style graphics that enhance the feel of desolation and dispair. Music was some of the best I have experienced adding even more to the atmosphere.
The ending was satisfying as the possessed heir is freed of the demon who is again contained by the Fellowship of the Thistle through finding runes around around him. There are eleven runes to find in a timed sequence and two of the runes were hard to see and were located near the bottom of the demon. Once the demon is defeated and contained, the spirits and hand are freed from the house and in the final cutscene when you drive away, demon eyes are seen in the trunk of your car suggesting a sequel.
Inventory was at the top of the screen which took some getting use to as it is usually at the bottom so that is where you instinctively went to get an item. The inventory does lock open. Some of the action areas with inventory puzzles were good such as the wine distiller to get the windup key and many of the door opening puzzles like the bottle puzzle and the stuffed animals becoming animated and requiring the correct weapon to kill them again. Other action areas requiring you to do something or use something from your inventory showed you a picture of the item needed to solve the action when you clicked on the area. Some action spots were very particular where you use the item such as the point of a key on a padlock. One of the things that the animated hand helps you with is the keys to many of the doors you need to open and there was one key that was labeled STUDY but actually opens the door labeled OFFICE.
There were plenty of HOS of both the list type and a picture list type. The lists are again presented at the top of the screen instead of the bottom as usual. The pictures are actually sketches of items to be found which added a little more challenge to finding the items. Some items are superimposed on top of other items so they are almost invisible so you have to look closely. I found the three match sticks extremely hard to find. Solving Hidden Object Screens usually gave you two items for your inventory instead of the usual one.
There is an interactive map that is a scroll that rolls left and right revealing parts of the house. When i first started the game, it worked just fine but part way into the game, it would cause the game to not respond when clicked on so you had to use Task Manager to close out the game and restart. I finished the game without the map as it continued to malfunction each time.
There were some long load times when moving between locations that showed a map with footsteps moving around on it which were only there for effect as they really didn't show you moving to your next location. When the map was working, it did show where you were and a indicator of action.
Other then the map glitch, I enjoyed the game very much.
I recommend this game!
Set out with Bella in search of her brother through the pages of well-known novels and true stories.
Overall rating
3
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Five adventures rolled into one provides a relaxing HOS adventure game
PostedSeptember 9, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Stan and Bella, brother and sister, were always close and when Stan found an ancient artifact and went missing, you started having dreams that showed you where to look for him. He had visited a library where the artifact opened a special book that pulled him into it and closed. Now you have to open the book and find your brother. When you touch the book, it opens and presents five other books breaking the artifact into five pieces with a piece going into each book. You now must explore these five books, find the artifact pieces, and rescue your brother.
The five books are Call of Cthulhu, Robinson Crusoe, The Three Musketeers, Jack The Ripper. Each story has characters that will help you retrieve the piece of the artifact but you have to do something for them first. The bonus book, Titanic, is not related to the main story and not really necessary to save your brother.
Call of Cthulhu - help save the town from the sea monster
Robinson Crusoe - get a compass so he can leave the island
The Three Musketeers - Save France by finding the Queen's stud earrings
Jack The Ripper - help a journalist discover the identity of Jack The Ripper
Once you have the artifact pieces, you are able to open the book and release your brother.
In the bonus book, Titanic, you have to help Rose prove that Jack did not steal the Hope diamond. After finding the diamond and clearing Jack, the Titanic sinks.
The graphics were well done but more cartoon style with ok cutscenes and animations. Music was pleasant sound effects were appropriate. There is a diary but primarily to recap your progress so not as useful as you would hope. You start with Call of Cthulhu and after completing it, another book opens up until you have completed each one. Within each book, there is an interactive map that helps with movement between sites for that book. There are a number of tasks to complete in each site and when a site has been completed, the map shows a checkmark that it is done. When the final task is completed, the book finishes and you return to the library for the next book. While you are visiting these sites within each book, if there is nothing further you can do at a particular site at that time, you receive a message that tells you there is nothing left to do and to click on the map. This can be annoying but some will find it helpful so that they don't waste time trying to find something to do there. There are some areas that have multiple tasks to be completed in a specific order.
The Mini-games are nothing new and are not too hard with the usual time consuming ones that can become frustrating. Some won't appear until you have completed a particular activity and they have glimmers like that usually indicating a HOS.
There are coins that can be found in each scene including the HOS that are used to buy artifact from the store. They really have nothing to do to further the game other then the artifacts are items you see in the game.
A good relaxing game for beginners and intermediates and recommended for true HOS fans. It is probably not for those who have played some exceptional CE games or for those looking for a real challenge. Really not worth the CE price.
The five books are Call of Cthulhu, Robinson Crusoe, The Three Musketeers, Jack The Ripper. Each story has characters that will help you retrieve the piece of the artifact but you have to do something for them first. The bonus book, Titanic, is not related to the main story and not really necessary to save your brother.
Call of Cthulhu - help save the town from the sea monster
Robinson Crusoe - get a compass so he can leave the island
The Three Musketeers - Save France by finding the Queen's stud earrings
Jack The Ripper - help a journalist discover the identity of Jack The Ripper
Once you have the artifact pieces, you are able to open the book and release your brother.
In the bonus book, Titanic, you have to help Rose prove that Jack did not steal the Hope diamond. After finding the diamond and clearing Jack, the Titanic sinks.
The graphics were well done but more cartoon style with ok cutscenes and animations. Music was pleasant sound effects were appropriate. There is a diary but primarily to recap your progress so not as useful as you would hope. You start with Call of Cthulhu and after completing it, another book opens up until you have completed each one. Within each book, there is an interactive map that helps with movement between sites for that book. There are a number of tasks to complete in each site and when a site has been completed, the map shows a checkmark that it is done. When the final task is completed, the book finishes and you return to the library for the next book. While you are visiting these sites within each book, if there is nothing further you can do at a particular site at that time, you receive a message that tells you there is nothing left to do and to click on the map. This can be annoying but some will find it helpful so that they don't waste time trying to find something to do there. There are some areas that have multiple tasks to be completed in a specific order.
The Mini-games are nothing new and are not too hard with the usual time consuming ones that can become frustrating. Some won't appear until you have completed a particular activity and they have glimmers like that usually indicating a HOS.
There are coins that can be found in each scene including the HOS that are used to buy artifact from the store. They really have nothing to do to further the game other then the artifacts are items you see in the game.
A good relaxing game for beginners and intermediates and recommended for true HOS fans. It is probably not for those who have played some exceptional CE games or for those looking for a real challenge. Really not worth the CE price.
I recommend this game!
You are one of the planet's only survivors after a natural disaster devours all signs of life. Amid the destruction, the legend of a Mysterious Oasis offers a glimmer of hope...
Overall rating
3
/
5
Would have made a better game if more time had been spent making it
PostedSeptember 8, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
A natural disaster has occurred causing devastation on earth because mankind has exhausted all resources and affected all life leaving a few survivors and you are one. You have been holed up in your shelter for a long time and have had limited interaction with other survivors. Apparently an old friend from the past, Dr. Steiner, has survived also and has sent you a message telling you about a legend of a mysterious oasis and you need to find it. So you set out to find your friend and the mysterious oasis armed with an old dull sword. Along the way, you meet other survivors and help them to obtain objects needed in your quest. You also learn that the Spirit of Nature is mad at mankind for what it has done and is destroying all things of mankind and you have to change her mind through you actions. You have become mankind's last hope. You finally reach Dr. Steiner and he tells you of an old book of prophecy telling of the mysterious oasis but it is sealed with five elements - metal, earth, water, fire, wood and only someone of good heart and pure soul can obtain them and tame the enraged Spirit of Nature.
The game was very short. I had a glitch requiring me to uninstall and reinstall the game and play it over after completing three-fourths of it and was able to play back to the same point and finish the game in about an hour. The story was thin and could have been fleshed out more but the basic storyline was followed and the game was fairly linear. There is no map or journal but there is minimal back-tracking so the map is not really necessary and the story is so thin a journal is not needed.
Graphics were good depicting devastation, ruin and decay fitting for the story. Music was pleasant but of little importance to the story. Dialog was presented fairly quickly so read fast. There are no voiceovers. Screen loading takes several seconds. Action areas don't close after finding inventory items so you have to close them by clicking but they don't highlight again. Some inventory items are used more then once so be sure to remember where you used them last so you can retrieve them. One item used to retrieve a fishing pole was not logical as you had to use a lighter to burn the fishing line to take the pole. HOS were the limited interactive list type with some items to be found that were not the norm. The minigame information tab was very small and located on the right side of the inventory bar. The ending occurs when you find the five elements and open the portal to the mysterious oasis - a pristine green valley. The game was ok but many will not like the shortness of it and the thin storyline. Probably not worth a full price.
The game was very short. I had a glitch requiring me to uninstall and reinstall the game and play it over after completing three-fourths of it and was able to play back to the same point and finish the game in about an hour. The story was thin and could have been fleshed out more but the basic storyline was followed and the game was fairly linear. There is no map or journal but there is minimal back-tracking so the map is not really necessary and the story is so thin a journal is not needed.
Graphics were good depicting devastation, ruin and decay fitting for the story. Music was pleasant but of little importance to the story. Dialog was presented fairly quickly so read fast. There are no voiceovers. Screen loading takes several seconds. Action areas don't close after finding inventory items so you have to close them by clicking but they don't highlight again. Some inventory items are used more then once so be sure to remember where you used them last so you can retrieve them. One item used to retrieve a fishing pole was not logical as you had to use a lighter to burn the fishing line to take the pole. HOS were the limited interactive list type with some items to be found that were not the norm. The minigame information tab was very small and located on the right side of the inventory bar. The ending occurs when you find the five elements and open the portal to the mysterious oasis - a pristine green valley. The game was ok but many will not like the shortness of it and the thin storyline. Probably not worth a full price.
I recommend this game!
Escape an underground vault of clockwork wonders with the help of its mysterious and eccentric inventor in Fantastic Creations: House of Brass!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Was the house's inventor eccentric, possessed or mad?
PostedSeptember 8, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Your mother has died and while going through her belonbings you find an old brass pneumatic tube containing a letter, a picture, and a clockwork firefly. The picture is that of your great-grandmother with a clockwork firefly like the one in the tube and who looks very much like you and is standing with a man in front of a large house. Your mother used to tell you bedtime stories passed down through the generations about a big mechanical house powered by steam and the inventor who learned the secret of immortality. You always hoped the stories were true but your mother's death reminded you it was just a story. The letter was addressed to your great-grandmother from Edwin asking her to return. A sudden shudder catches your eye as the clockwork firefly begins moving and you are magically teleported to the front of the mechanical house. The letter contained a code that you enter on the door lock that is accepted but then the lock malfunctions and you drop through an opening in the porch and travel through a large brass tube to the basement several stories below ground. Now you must find your way out and explore the house and learn its secrets.
During your exploration of the house, you learn that the inventor, Edwin Q. Cogglethorpe, invented this steam powered house of clockwork, wonder, and brass to provide every need for your great-grandmother, but he was so busy inventing and building that that he ignored her and after a while she finally decided to leave. After she had left, Edwin became so obsessed with the house and hope that she would return some day that he learned the secret of imortality and has been waiting for her. He constructed a female robot as a companion to keep him company until she does return and now the robot is trying to keep you from reaching Edwin. He thinks you are your great-grandmother and has returned to him. You need to find out why and get to Edwin.
The graphics were done well and depicted a mechanical house environment very well making exploration enjoyable but the lack of an interactive map and an elevator with four floors and the basement to explore made it less enjoyable and the necessity to keep notes of where to return to use items. There is a fair amount of back-tracking and the map would have been nice. Music was pleasant but added little to game play and voiceovers were ok.
Minigames were of the usual type and most were good with the usual few that can be time consuming and, thus, become frustrating. There were four clockwork theater puzzles that provided some of the background story and were enjoyable. The problem solving to finish an area involved repairing things and opening doors, providing light, etc. Most were logical and fit the situation.
The hidden object scenes were a little different in that instead of a list of objects or picture of objects to find, you had to find so many of a certain type of object, usually by shape, such as concave , pointed, transparent, square, etc. Most of the objects were easily identified but there was the usual couple that required you to think about the type you needed to find. A couple were borderline such as scissors wirth brown handles for silvery objects and horseshoe for concave. They were enjoyable for the most part and I found it a nice change of pace.
The ending was ok and had a bit of a twist but somewhat predictable and it ends without any epilogue. Some explanation of what happened to the protagonist would have been nice.
During your exploration of the house, you learn that the inventor, Edwin Q. Cogglethorpe, invented this steam powered house of clockwork, wonder, and brass to provide every need for your great-grandmother, but he was so busy inventing and building that that he ignored her and after a while she finally decided to leave. After she had left, Edwin became so obsessed with the house and hope that she would return some day that he learned the secret of imortality and has been waiting for her. He constructed a female robot as a companion to keep him company until she does return and now the robot is trying to keep you from reaching Edwin. He thinks you are your great-grandmother and has returned to him. You need to find out why and get to Edwin.
The graphics were done well and depicted a mechanical house environment very well making exploration enjoyable but the lack of an interactive map and an elevator with four floors and the basement to explore made it less enjoyable and the necessity to keep notes of where to return to use items. There is a fair amount of back-tracking and the map would have been nice. Music was pleasant but added little to game play and voiceovers were ok.
Minigames were of the usual type and most were good with the usual few that can be time consuming and, thus, become frustrating. There were four clockwork theater puzzles that provided some of the background story and were enjoyable. The problem solving to finish an area involved repairing things and opening doors, providing light, etc. Most were logical and fit the situation.
The hidden object scenes were a little different in that instead of a list of objects or picture of objects to find, you had to find so many of a certain type of object, usually by shape, such as concave , pointed, transparent, square, etc. Most of the objects were easily identified but there was the usual couple that required you to think about the type you needed to find. A couple were borderline such as scissors wirth brown handles for silvery objects and horseshoe for concave. They were enjoyable for the most part and I found it a nice change of pace.
The ending was ok and had a bit of a twist but somewhat predictable and it ends without any epilogue. Some explanation of what happened to the protagonist would have been nice.
I recommend this game!
Your grandfather disappeared while searching for Inuits' legendary treasure. Travel to the Arctic to find your missing grandfather and solve the Inuit mystery.
Overall rating
4
/
5
2 of 2 found this review helpful
Watch out for frostbite in this one
PostedSeptember 2, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Your grandfather, Umberto Nobile, was an arctic explorer who was aboard the zeppelin "Italy" when it crashed in a storm and was one of the few suvivors that was saved by Inuit villagers. While recovering in their village, he learned of a legendary treasure hidden in the Arctic somewhere. After being rescued and returned to civilization, he decides that he must find the treasure so he goes back to the Arctic and has not been heard from again. You, Henry Nobile, have been going through his estate and find his journal that details his stay with the Inuit and information about the treasure. You decide you have to find out what happened to your grandfather. You set out on a ship as the ship's doctor following the route of your grandfather's last expedition and as you get close to the Inuit village where your grandfather was cared for after the crash, the ship's engines malfunction and you are dead in the water. Ice closes in and your ship becomes a Prisoner of Ice. The captain and crew start acting weird and leave you in a icy ravine to die. You have to escape and find out what is making the crew act this way. Part of the legend of the treasure involved a spirit called the God of Wishes that takes the souls of those who pray to it for gold so you have to figure out how to defeat it by finding four artifacts and learning how to use them.
Graphics were well done with cutscenes that are stored in the journal so they can be replayed. Music was ok, nicely done voiceovers and sounds were appropriate for the scene. Some may not like the constant wind blowing but it was appropriate. The journal functions as always to record the story and clues and there isan interactive map tab attached for fast travel to locations. There were three collectibles I found during the game - 10 relics that were easy to find, 18 beyond objects that morphed and not so easy to find, and coins that apparently can be used to buy things in the store. I am not a fan of stores so don't know what the items are. Some of the coins were obtained by completing small puzzles found in some scenes. Hidden object scenes were of the usual list type with some items interactive. The HOS could be avoided by doing a jigsaw puzzle. I like HOS so did not do any puzzles so have no idea how involved they were. Most of the puzzles were fairly easy and nothing new. There was one puzzle where you had to isolate some viruses by using drops of blood that was a little tricky to get the hand of as the drops had to be formed and dropped without touching the virus within a limited area. Another puzzle involved the three monkeys from see, speak and hear and you have to arrange their arms and hands according to a picture you find. The problem is that the picture shows the arms in a position that the puzzle monkeys are unable to achieve so you have to trial and error the positions.
A good basic hidden object adventure game with an ok story and a dramatic explosive ending.
Graphics were well done with cutscenes that are stored in the journal so they can be replayed. Music was ok, nicely done voiceovers and sounds were appropriate for the scene. Some may not like the constant wind blowing but it was appropriate. The journal functions as always to record the story and clues and there isan interactive map tab attached for fast travel to locations. There were three collectibles I found during the game - 10 relics that were easy to find, 18 beyond objects that morphed and not so easy to find, and coins that apparently can be used to buy things in the store. I am not a fan of stores so don't know what the items are. Some of the coins were obtained by completing small puzzles found in some scenes. Hidden object scenes were of the usual list type with some items interactive. The HOS could be avoided by doing a jigsaw puzzle. I like HOS so did not do any puzzles so have no idea how involved they were. Most of the puzzles were fairly easy and nothing new. There was one puzzle where you had to isolate some viruses by using drops of blood that was a little tricky to get the hand of as the drops had to be formed and dropped without touching the virus within a limited area. Another puzzle involved the three monkeys from see, speak and hear and you have to arrange their arms and hands according to a picture you find. The problem is that the picture shows the arms in a position that the puzzle monkeys are unable to achieve so you have to trial and error the positions.
A good basic hidden object adventure game with an ok story and a dramatic explosive ending.
I recommend this game!
After the Countess is discovered dead, it’s up to you to find her murderer in Mystery Chronicles: Betrayals of Love!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Illicit love affair, murder, betrayal and more murder
PostedSeptember 2, 2015
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The year and location: 1903 Laura River, France and the Countess has been murdered and the Count gone missing and the police have arrested a poaching fisherman who found the body. Commissaire Jean Bertineau has telegraphed you, a renowned investigator, to come and help solve the crime as they have no clues. You arrive by horseless carriage to begin your investigation. You soon discover other suspects that could have motives including the Count. You learn about an Illicit love affair between the Countess [then a Duchess] and the Count and the mysterious death of the Duke [murdered?] and the quick wedding between the Count and Countess[Duchess]. Did the Count then become tired of the Countess and murder her? Only your investigation will tell.
This is a simple who-done-it seek and find with situational puzzles to solve in each scene and no special achievements to worry about. During the game you do have to find 16 pieces of paper that you will have to put together to form a picture that is used to solve one of the puzzles toward the end of the game. There is a lot of backtracking as there is no map so it is wise to keep notes as to where you need to use some of the items you acquire. You will be acquiring an extensive inventory throughout the game with some being carried for some time before being used. As usual, each item has one function even though it could have been used in several places. Most of the time there is a logical progression as clues are added to the journal but eventually you reach the point where you wander from scene to scene to find the next HOS to obtain the item you may need some distance away. I did not use the hint button but have read that it does give specific scenes to return to when used outside HOS.
The graphics were a mixture of well-done pictures and side scrolling cartoon style scenes that worked ok but were a little hard to get use to but since the game was released in 2011, it was not bad. Fortunately, there were only a few side scrolling graphic scenes. There are a lot of HOS scenes and they are well drawn and clear with all items visible although some are extremely faint such as a snowflake against a very light background. Again, as it is becoming the norm, many items to find are at odd angles so you need to look closely to identify them. The music was ok, nothing special, but was not continuous frequently starting and stopping , especially during HOS. There are no voiceovers so all dialog is by text that is clicked to continue. Makes for a quiet game as ambient sounds are not abundant.
Nothing spetacular in this one but not a bad way to spend a few hours.
This is a simple who-done-it seek and find with situational puzzles to solve in each scene and no special achievements to worry about. During the game you do have to find 16 pieces of paper that you will have to put together to form a picture that is used to solve one of the puzzles toward the end of the game. There is a lot of backtracking as there is no map so it is wise to keep notes as to where you need to use some of the items you acquire. You will be acquiring an extensive inventory throughout the game with some being carried for some time before being used. As usual, each item has one function even though it could have been used in several places. Most of the time there is a logical progression as clues are added to the journal but eventually you reach the point where you wander from scene to scene to find the next HOS to obtain the item you may need some distance away. I did not use the hint button but have read that it does give specific scenes to return to when used outside HOS.
The graphics were a mixture of well-done pictures and side scrolling cartoon style scenes that worked ok but were a little hard to get use to but since the game was released in 2011, it was not bad. Fortunately, there were only a few side scrolling graphic scenes. There are a lot of HOS scenes and they are well drawn and clear with all items visible although some are extremely faint such as a snowflake against a very light background. Again, as it is becoming the norm, many items to find are at odd angles so you need to look closely to identify them. The music was ok, nothing special, but was not continuous frequently starting and stopping , especially during HOS. There are no voiceovers so all dialog is by text that is clicked to continue. Makes for a quiet game as ambient sounds are not abundant.
Nothing spetacular in this one but not a bad way to spend a few hours.
I recommend this game!