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:
This was supposed to be the happiest day of your life. But instead of walking down the aisle, you're in another dimension, battling a mad inventor to save your family!
Overall rating
3
/
5
Marrying a scientist can be hard work
PostedJune 26, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
A mad scientist is working in his laboratory trying to create an energy source [for what is anyone's guess] and fails another experiment. Upset, he decides to kidnap another scientist [he has already kidnapped several others before with little success] to help him with his work. He just happens to have the local Tideville paper there which just happens to have a story about a young scientist, Tim Barton, who has discovered a revolutionary way to recycle poisonous gas into energy using a dragonfly contraption. Tim and Erin are preparing for their wedding tomorrow so he sends a boxed gift addressed to Tim's mother, Clarice, [why her? a test of Tim's scientific abilities? Who knows] congratulating her on her son's marriage [they are not married yet]. Being addressed to her, she opens it and the box releases a cloud of poisonus gas and she goes unconscious and dying. Tim, hearing the commotion, comes out of his lab and finds her unconscious and tells you that he thinks he can make an antidote but needs his toolbox that he loaned to his good friend, Rudy, a policeman, to complete the antidote. After telling Rudy about what happened, he discovers that the phone is dead and tells you the toolbox is in his locker. Once you recover it from the locker, you and Rudy return to your house just in time to see the mad scientist abduct Tim through a portal he created [doesn't a portal require some kind of energy to work?] to a parallel dimension. Now you have to create the antidote to save your mother-in-law-to-be, figure out how to create a portal to the parallel dimension, find and save Tim and defeat the mad scientist and then get back to your own dimension and get married.
Graphics were nicely hand-drawn scenes with good colors and basic animations but not groundbreaking. Voice acting was good and music was good but not memorable. There is a journal for the story and clues and a jump map that shows action areas. To be honest, I didn't use the map during the game as the gameplay was slow going and very straightforward providing little challenge with only a few scenes open to move between at a time. That said, the game does give you a lot to do with inventory puzzles and minigames around every corner and a lot of hidden object scenes sprinkled throughout. Some of the puzzles border on "filler status" to increase the length of the game and were not totally necessary but have often become the norm in these games. None of the puzzles presented anything new but were fairly fun to work through. Hidden object scenes were slightly cluttered with objects fairly easy to find and of the usual light interactive list type. There is an option to switch to a match-3 game if you prefer. Scenes are repeated with a different list and sometimes very quickly. A unusual tool provided in the game is the use of a dragonfly that has the ability to remove poisonous clouds in a scene and convert it to an energy ball stored in a box below the dragonfly and the energy balls are used in the last puzzle to defeat the mad scientist. It became basically the same procedure with each new scene to enter the scene, use the dragonfly and then solve the necessary puzzles to move on. The game did crash several times but I was able to reenter the game and did not lose any progress so was able to finish it.
I recommend this game!
Hop aboard to cross the border between life and death!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Can you, a live person, enter the Land of the Dead and beat the Baron of the Dead to save your fiancee or will she have to remain there forever?
PostedJune 24, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
When Catalina was five years old she was bitten by a poisonous snake and was dying and when her father wished for her to live, the Baron of the Dead offered to save her and allow her to live another 15 years but at the end of that time she was to become his and be taken to his manor in the Land of the Dead. The father readily agreed and she recovered and was given a snake bracelet by the Baron as a reminder of the contract. Now, at the age of 20, she has met Alan and fallen in love and he has asked her to marry him. She tells him that they must get her father's blessing first so they are to travel to his village by train. At the train station, Alan finds the Guide Book of the Dead that tells him that Catalina is in danger and that HE is coming for her so the two of you should leave. Before you can act, the Baron's train to the Land of the Dead swoops in from the sky and takes Catalina. You try to board the Baron's train as it flies up into the sky but you are knocked off and fall to the border between life and death near the town of Pecados. The Guide Book tells you that every year on the same day, a portal opens between the two worlds of the living and the dead and, on that day, the living celebrate the Day of the Dead while the dead celebrate the Day of the Living. The town of Pecados is located on the border between the living and the dead and acts as a waiting area between the two worlds. You see the Baron's train enter his city in the Land of the Dead but only the dead can enter the city so you must find a way to become dead for a day so you can enter and save Catalina.
The "save your [fill in the appropriate noun]" story plot has been used so much that it is very hard to come up with something that is different enough to create interest but I think this game has been fairly successful. Placed in a mexican cultural setting playing on the Day of the Dead celebration, it provides a fairly unique experience using some interesting ideas emphasizing the seven deadly sins and the concept of a place between the living and dead where characters exist in limbo. Graphics may not be the best but are done well and gives the game a South of the border flavor that continues through the entire game. The cartoonish characters are very colorful and tatooed with good voice acting although the accent seems forced and stereotypical. The music provides an ethnic flavor but is looped and becomes old after a while. With a fair number of locations to explore, there is a lot of backtracking but the jump map provided early in the game makes passage between locations easy and the map indicates action areas so you always know where you need to go next. Inventory puzzles and minigames were designed to fit into the theme and present some variations on the norm making them more interesting with many arcade-like with medium difficulty. Hidden object scenes are the standard light interactive list type with some scenes being repeated but with a different list of objects to be found. All objects were visible although their shapes and orientation were sometimes skewed to add difficulty. There are a variety of achievements to be had, although I am not an achievement-seeking player so I seldom strive to collect them. A few I noticed were 26 sugar skulls to find, 16 posters or information papers to read and some phone numbers to find and then dial on a phone to get the achievement. The responses on the other end provided some of the humor in the game as did the Guide Book companion you carried with you during the game. The bonus chapter was not very long and involved your journey back to the Land of the Living aboard the train that becomes blocked and you need to repair it and clear the tracks before the day ends and Catalina is forced to remain in the Land of the Dead. For a game with a little different story presentation you may want to give this one a try.
I recommend this game!
The lighthouse fails and darkness invades Willow Ridge. Your husband runs into the forest for answers, unaware of the shadow hunting him.
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
What caused the forest darkness to cut off Willow Ridge trapping the residents and who is the woman in white and what is Alan's secret?
PostedJune 23, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Deep in the forest, Willow Ridge is surrounded by well preserved ruins of The Old City estimated to be over 1000 years old. It is believed by some that Willow Ridge was founded by treasure hunters searching The Old City for relics that have special properties needed for their protection from the forest. A joyous celebration and a tradition as long as anyone can remember is The Forest Rite, a ceremony for when a child crosses into adulthood. A child would enter the forest and go to the center of the forest and tie a ribbon with their name on it to a branch of the Glimmertree and receive a special acorn that is then planted near their home. The Glimmertree guides their soul towards the light keeping them safe from the darkness. Those that never see the Glimmertree are lost and swallowed by the darkness. Children of Willow Ridge always looked forward to the Rite but twenty years ago, young Ethan, who feared the dark, was pressured by the residents of Willow Ridge to take part in the Rite. He entered the dark forest alone while the residents and his sister waited for his return but the darkness he feared swallowed him. The residents returned to their homes after several hours, all but his sister, who begged for help in finding him but no one would help as it was not save to enter the forest after dark so she went looking for her brother and never returned. A darkness closed in around the town trapping the residents there for the last 20 years and hungers to swallow all of Willow Ridge. People have tried to find a way out but were never successful. Every year on the same date that Ethan went missing, the town of Willow Ridge holds a Rememberance Day memorial service at night to Ethan and this year they have unveiled a statue of the boy to commemorate the 20th year of the tragedy. For some time now, your husband, Alan, has been having nightmares about the forest and began collecting relics of The Old City, especially amulets, for his research. He insisted that your family amulet, an ancient relic blessed with the power of light and capable of fending off the darkness should always be in your possession. Its power is limited so it needs to be recharged periodically. Alan decided to enter the forest and try to lift the curse on the town. You followed him and, when you find him, he is near a house and tells you that you should not have followed him just as the trees begin to attack you. Using your amulet, you make it back to town and collapse. A gypsy helps you recover asking about Alan, but before you can answer, the lighthouse light explodes shutting off the light. The gypsy tells you that with the lighthouse not working, the town is defenseless from the darkness and needs to be repaired. Alan is the lighthouse keeper and you, his wife, knows the workings so you are elected to repair it. You must repair the lighthouse, recharge your amulet, reenter the forest and find Alan and find the cause for the curse and lift it.
This is one of those games that reveals the story a little at a time making you want to know more and feeding you just enough to keep you going. I thought the story was very well done giving the missing person plot a fresher presentation with a few twists that made it a captivating story. Animated story scenes are found throughout the game that further develops the story. Graphics were cartoonish but well done with sharp, detailed scenes, good voice acting, and pretty good music that was not looped. There is a fair amount of backtracking but the game is broken into pieces with a small number of scenes in each area and a very good jump map that places a white "X" on a location when nothing else is needed there. Inventory puzzles and minigames fit the game's story and setting and are well thoughout with good challenge. Some inventory items are interactive requiring some manipulation before they can be used. Hidden object scenes include fragmented objects, silhouettes, standard list type and a special list type where you find an object that reveals another object underneath that is used to make a final object. Scattered throughout the game were 34 acrons to find but I found nothing they were used for so not sure if they were part of the Collector's Edition carried over. The cuteness item in this game was a hamster found in a hidden object scene that can be named and helps in various scenes. This is one that may be worth giving a try.
I recommend this game!
With your carriage broken, and a wolf nearby, you must find shelter. What awaits you in the village just ahead?
Overall rating
4
/
5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
An ancient curse has trapped the people of Moonlit Grove making them keepers of the forest. can you break the curse?
PostedJune 20, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Wolves were the keepers of Moonlit Grove long before man arrived and messed things up by plundering the grove and killing the wolves. The Forest Master cursed the humans causing them to become wolves when a full moon rose so they took the place of the keepers. A village grew in the grove and became their home. A man, Rene Malot, is walking in the forest and comes up on a grisly scene of a wolf killed by arrows and a basket containing a human baby. He picks up the basket and the baby opens his yellow glowing eyes suffering from exposure. He took the baby out of the forest and brought him to where he has been the district doctor and gives the baby a special medicine that helped him to recover and Rene has raised him for twenty years as his own son since. Growing up, you became interested in medicine and went away to medical school and, just finishing your training, you heard that Rene went missing and no one seems to know what happened to him. Some believed wolves got him. You returned to the district and the town council proposed you take over his practice and become the district's doctor. It has been four years since he disappeared and all he left behind was his old medical bag and a strange box with a complex lock. He had told you when you were a child that the box contained a special medicine that could cure anything and this was the medicine he gave you that saved your life when he first found you. As your practice has become less busy, you have decided to try and find out what happened to Rene and maybe even find him. Riding in your buggy along a country road, a white wolf jumps out in front of you and spooks the horse causing it to start running off the road where the wheel of the buggy hits a rock and turns over dazing you. As you recover, the wolf is slowly approaching you so you grab your pistol and fire at it wounding it causing it to limp off. The buggy is wrecked and the horse has run off and night is approaching so you need to find shelter. You see smoke in the distance that may be from a village so you head in that direction. As you approach a group of buildings, you find a newspaper article about someone fleeing from the forest raving about the "real spirit of the forest" who was seven feet tall and walked on two legs like a man. His only proof was a tuft of wolf hair clutched in his hand. In the village only one building seems to be occupied. A large, badly scarred man with big axe opens the door and, when you explain that you are a healer and that your buggy was attacked by wolves, he tells you that his daughter is ill and you need to cure her or he will kill you. Observing the daughter, you find that she has been shot in the arm and unable to get out of bed. You clean and dress her wound and give her some of the special medicine from the box and tell her father that she needs time to recover. Out of gratitude, he locks you in a room until she does recover and in the room you find a trunk that apparently belonged to your foster father, Rene. In the trunk is a picture of him and the girl (his daughter?) and a page from a journal that contained notes about experiments he was conducting on how to separate human and wolf essences to make two elixirs, one to fix werewolves in human form and the other to fix them in wolf form. You need to escape from the room and find out what happened to Rene and see if there is some way the Forest Master's curse can be removed from these people.
I enjoyed this story as it was not your run-of-the-mill werewolf story having a logical purpose for what takes place during the game and maybe even allowing some sympathy for what happens. The graphics were very good with realistic animations, very good voice acting and music that provided good background. There is a diary with task list but no map so there will be a fair amount of backtracking. Inventory puzzles and minigames were well done and though not new, were entertaining and logical. Some inventory items require interaction before they can be used. I especially liked the lantern puzzle to finally get a light source. Hidden object scenes were highly interactive and very enjoyable with some clever interactions such as needing a feather for a hat that involved putting a stamp on an envelope, putting a letter in the envelope, having a pigeon take the letter and dropping a feather that is then place in the hat. Each interaction was fairly clear as to what was needed to solve it. A feature I liked what that when objects were found, the name of the object appeared on the object so you knew what object had been clicked on instead of looking at the list and wondering "ok which object did I just find." A nice little touch that made the game more enjoyable. Not really scary, this melancholy adventure will provide a few good hours of entertainment though.
I recommend this game!
Explore the magical world of Enchantia as you race to save the land from the evil Phoenix Queen.
Overall rating
5
/
5
A 500 year old vendetta to destroy Enchantia and you, the Skybird destined one, and songbirds must prevent it
PostedJune 16, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The inhabitants of Enchantia had become arrogant and the Ancients decided that all of Enchantia was to be destroyed and a new Enchantia to rise out of the ashes. They called upon the Phoenix Queen to do their bidding and an epic battle occurred that destroyed the Elven Kingdom located in the Midnight Forest and the Elven Queen, Isandra, was killed and her body was possessed by the Phoenix Queen. A young Half-Elf, Terryn, a wizard, was there and was able to trap the Phoenix Queen and seal her in vault before she could carry out her desire. Five hundred years has passed and you, a young apprentice, are having nightmares about the Phoenix Queen's return. You awake from your latest dream riding in a carriage being driven by an old man, your teacher, Terryn. You arrive at your destination which is the site that was a worship altar to the Ancients and became the site where the Phoenix Queen was sealed and he remarks that the he has never seen the door glow as it is now. When he touches the door, an electrical shock knocks him back but he tells you that he is fine and to use an emblem to open the door. Placing the emblem opens the door and inside the chamber is an altar with a claw and spaces for two symbols, water and earth. After finding the symbols and placing them, a hidden nook opens containing the Elemental Artifact but you are not sure of its use yet. You show the artifact to your teacher when suddenly a plume of fire errupts from the altar and the Phoenix Queen appears. Terryn is surprised at her appearance and she tells him that she can now finish what she started 500 years ago by destroying all of Enchantia. Her attention is drawn to a birthmark you have calling it the mark of the Skybird and tells you she has to destroy you first. As she focuses her power on you, your teacher is able to prevent her from harming you but is injuried. As she leaves, the Phoenix Queen tells him she will return after finding a relic necessary to restore her powers and he will not be able to save you or Enchantia. Your teacher tells you that you must find the relic first and defeat her before she can destroy Enchantia. He gives you a Mystical Compass that will teleport you to various locations in Enchantia if you have the coordinates. The coordinates for the Midnight Forest has already been entered so you must travel there to begin your seach in what is left of the Elven Kingdom for the relic. You must fulfill the ancient prophecy of one born with the mark of the Skybird as the destined one to defeat the Phoenix Queen and save Enchantia.
This is a somewhat original story [yes it is a chosen one basic theme but the story is good] that chronicles the history of the Elves, Dwarves, and humans providing additional side stories that support the main objective. Unlike most games, not all outcomes are storybook endings as some may leave you less than satisfied much like real life. You encounter many well defined characters with quests to be completed to get to your final objective so there are a lot of things to do. With many locations to visit, the graphics are beautifully done and finely detailed with varying themes matching the story to each location providing a smooth and interesting path through the game. Voice acting is very well done enhancing the characters you meet. There is a map that allows you to jump between main areas but once in that area, there is no jump travel between the multiple locations within the area. There is some backtracking, some between areas, so it is a good idea to keep notes of what is needed where. Inventory puzzles and minigames are well done providing some challenge and fitting into the story and location very well. Hidden object scenes are fragmented objects that present a three section menu bar with multiple pieces of an object part displayed in each section that combine into a single object when all three parts are completed. Many of the pieces are well blended into very detailed scenes providing some challenge. This is a long game but the flow doesn't bog down so it goes by fairly fast and is definitely worth checking out.
I recommend this game!
Use your botany skills to survive the strange new planet of Botanica. Can you find your way back to Earth in this thrilling Hidden Object adventure?
Overall rating
4
/
5
You need to prevent the flower blossom portal from falling into the wrong hands or earth will be invaded
PostedJune 15, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I loved going camping with my scientist father, "Crazy Dr. Wright," as a child as he would tell me stories of strange and wonderful places that he said really existed. I remember his last words he spoke to me as he departed on an expedition twenty years ago, "Expect the unexpected!" and was devastated when I heard the news that an earthquake had destroyed his camp and his body was never found. The stories inspired me to pursue the study of Botany and to make a name for myself by exploring exotic places seeking out new plant species. While in a cave in Oceania, I made a discovery of a large, as yet, undiscovered plant. While taking a sample, the plant began to react and a blossom opened up revealing what appeared to be a portal to another place. Intrigued, I touched it and felt lightheaded and disappeared from my world only to reappear on a cliffside in a wonderous new world of lush vegetation and strange animals. If I had known it was a one-way portal with no return, I may have thought twice about touching it. Looking around the area, I found a note written by someone named Ian Garrett who apparently fell through a portal winding up here and is looking for a way home. The strange thing about the note is that it was written on my father's university stationery. Had my father survived the earthquake only to fall through a portal bringing him here all those years ago? And who is Ian? Did he know my father? In the distance I saw a large lizard and decided to keep my distance until I know if it is friendly. Sampling the fauna with my botanist kit, I discover some leaves that apparently are the favorite food for the giant lizard so I decided to entice the giant lizard with some to see what happens. Surprisingly, the lizard reacts favorably and even allowed me to climb on his back and ride him as he climbs the cliff where I found a cabin on the plateau. In the cabin I found a paper referring to the land of Botanica, apparently the name of this wonderous world, and a wanted poster for Ian Garrett issued by Queen Kassandra, the ruler of this land who wants all newcomers captured and brought to her. I am a newcomer so I need to hide from the Queen and find Ian to learn what is going on. Maybe there is a way to get home and Ian may be able to help. What is the Queen's interest in newcomers?
Graphics present a wonderous, colorful fantasy world with some unique and interesting locations with animals, plants and flowers to explore. Along the way you meet several characters that provide information and assistance - for a price of course - you do something for them and they do something for you. Voice acting is pretty good and, even with static characters, the cutscenes are good. Music was easy to listen to but not memorable. There is a journal for the story and clues, a task list, an Encycopedia Botanica that details plants and creatures you find, and a map that was all but useless as it was not a jump map nor did it indicate areas of interest so be sure to keep notes of where items are needed as there is a fair amount of backtracking. Additionally, you have a Botanist Kit that allows you to carry out experiments (minigames) on various substances and plant found. I found the use of it to be sparse feeling like adding it it was an afterthought. Maybe if it was used more it may have felt like it belonged. Inventory puzzles and minigames were varied and well designed to fit in the story and were fairly easy. there is a skip button for the minigames. When you do finally get to a hidden object scene deep in chapter one, it was not like many I have seen before. You are presented with a story that names various objects in the story and you have to find the object that corresponds to that word. Other hidden object scenes had you finding pieces of items in one scene and then using them in another scene. Another had you find details in a picture and color them correctly. There are the usual interactive list types also. With six chapters to play through it has a nice length with a less then traditional ending. This one will entertain for few hours of diversion if you like fantasies.
I recommend this game!
After the wizard began his mission of wrath and destruction, you, a mere alchemist, have been sent to stop him.
Overall rating
2
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Track down your brother who is turning people to stone and stop him
PostedJune 9, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
A wizard becomes angered and resigns from the Order of Sorcerers and vows to take revenge (on whom we don't know, the sorcerers probably) and goes on a rampage. The order has tasked you, an alchemist, to find and stop him. As you sit in your lab, someone sneaks up behind you and knocks you unconscious. When you awake, you find yourself confined inside a coffin, buried alive. You need to find a way out. Once you escape the coffin and pick up the trail, you find several people petrified to stone so you must be on the right trail. As you progress, you reveal that the wizard is your brother which is why the Order tasked you to find him but you are not sure of his goal. Following a trail of stoned (literally) people, you discover he is conducting experiments to learn how to return life to the dead as he wants to bring back his dead love that has been buried in the graveyard. When you catch up with him, he tells you he will continue the experiments and disappears in a puff of smoke and ends with the silhouetted figure saying he found a potion that should change the stoned people back and ends with a sign that says "The End.....or is it?"
Other then the beginning scene of being trapped in a coffin which was well done, the rest of the game and story was very flat and uninspiring. Graphics were plain with static characters often displayed as silhouette between locations. Voice acting was ok but mundane. Game progression was repetitive moving from location to location doing the same things usually involving the making of a potion to dispell something and then you are finished. A fairly short game that leaves you dissatisfied as you really don't solve the problem as the wizard escapes setting it up for a sequel. There were very few puzzles none of which had any directions on how to complete them and no option to skip or restart them and the hidden object scenes were basic list type scenes with no interaction. The scenes were repeated including finding the same objects in the same places several times. This is one I would pass up unless you are really bored and want to be bored more.
I don't recommend this game.
Your father was murdered while he was investigating a crime. Travel back through time to save him!
Overall rating
4
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Your detective father is killed chasing a murderer but you get a chance to save him by going back in time to find the murderer and prevent his death
PostedJune 9, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Being the daughter of a police detective leaves you in a constant fear that someday a knock on the door could turn out to be the shocking news that he has been killed in the line of duty. You have even had nightmares about this and the most recent involved his latest case with him chasing a murderer, Thomas Gray, into a theater where Gray shoots and kills him. After waking from your dream, a police van pulls up in front of your house and a solemn policeman knocks at the door and informs you that your father has been killed and gives you a box containing his belongings. Devastated and crying, you open the box and find among the articles a diary. It contained some notes and pictures about his latest case, the murder of Lady Diana Campbell, the owner of the Blood Ruby. Also in the diary was a family heirloom medallion that your father always carried with him and as your tears fall on to the medallion, it reacts by glowing and you are suddenly teleported into the past to a room in the house of the murder victim but one month before your father is killed. Lady Campbell appears at the door of the room and is startled by your presence wanting to know who you are and why you are in her house. She remarks that you must be after her Blood Ruby and shuts and locks the door telling you that she is calling the police. As you search for a way out of the room, you see a small shadowy figure appear behind her silhouette on the frosted glass door and stab her in the back. When you are able to open the door, you see the body of Lady Campbell just as someone rushes you and knocks you unconscious. When you revive, your father is there wanting to know what you are doing here so you tell him about his being killed and the medallion sending you back in time and that you witnessed the murder and that maybe this was a chance to help him and prevent his being killed. He decides to call for backup and leaves to return to the station as the phone line has been cut and, as you prepare to leave, you see a small cloaked figure meet with a larger figure calling him "master" and giving him the ruby. The larger figure then shoots the smaller figure and leaves but, when you are able to search the scene, you only find blue paint and no blood or body. You have to find and save your father, find out the connection between Lady Campbell and Thomas Gray and who is this young boy that was shot and why is there no blood or body?
I liked this game as it had good game progression with enjoyable inventory puzzles and minigames that fit the scenes and hidden object scenes with objects visible but still challenging. They included interactive lists and silhouettes that are used in the scene to unlock or change parts of the scene resulting in receiving multiple objects. The graphics were good, clear and detailed with good animations and voice acting. the music was ok. There is a journal with task tab and a jump map with action areas indicated. Backtracking is minimal as the locations are broken into sections that become locked once completed. I liked the story twists with an interesting ending even though it was quick. This one is worth a few hours of diversion.
I recommend this game!
A late-night subway ride takes a bizarre turn into a mystical cemetery. You have been summoned by a strange entity to free the cemetery’s lost souls. Will you succeed, or is this the end of the line?
Overall rating
4
/
5
Why did my dog have to get off at that stop? I guess he is not afraid of the Keeper of the Cemetery
PostedJune 2, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It is late at night and you are dog tired after a long day at work and heading home. You and your dog (have no idea why the dog was with him in the first place) board a commuter train but, being so tired, you are slow to realize the passengers and train seem strange and that the train is not making any of the usual stops. When the train begins to slow and finally stops in front of an old cemetery, you get that sinking feeling. The passengers pass through the unopened doors and when the doors do open, your dog follows them off the train with his ball so you have to exit the train and get him back. Finding the ball, you throw it for the dog when a smoky apparition grabs the dog and drags it away. You rush to follow in the direction your dog was taken when the apparition suddenly materializes into a woman and tells you that she is Hina, the Keeper of the Cemetery, and that you have been chosen to help three restless souls here to find peace. Your dog is to be held hostage to make sure you complete your assignment and you won't be able to leave until then. Your dog is guarded by three ghosts on a dais containing three nitches that require an object to be placed in each of them to remove the ghosts. When all three are placed, your dog will be free. She gives you the aid of a special stone raven that can be charged with four different elements you receive from the restless souls that gives it special powers - Air to retrieve things high, Earth to dig things up, Fire to fly through flames, and water to fly through water. As you use the raven, 20 percent of their charge for that element is used up and eventually it has to be recharged which is done by playing some minigames. The three restless souls all caused untimely deaths of someone and you now have to go back to before their deaths and change the outcome so they can rest in peace. They come from different time periods including a zoo, hydroelectric plant, and a medieval village and each opens a portal that sends you back in the past right before the events.
Graphics were nicely done with detailed scenes, good animations and fairly good voice acting. Each scene had multiple objects that could be interacted with just for fun. I thought the character Hina was dull with bland and monotone voice acting. There is a journal for notes and a jump map with areas of interested indicated. Scattered throughout the game are trivia papers giving information about various things tied to the time period you are presently exploring. They pop up at unexpected points and really have no use in the game but an attempt to educate. Inventory puzzles and minigames were ok but some bordered on tedium. Hidden object scenes varied between interactive lists, find a number of objects, and silhouettes and were nicely done. This is the fourth in the series and has used the same format of a cemetery with three restless souls to save in each so those familiar with the series will not find much new but it may still provide a few hours of diversion.
I recommend this game!
Detective, it is your job to destroy the evil machine that is tearing the city apart and arrest the crazed professor responsible for the destruction!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
Weird plants, mad scientist, meteorite fragment, electric-man and children in distress with you in the middle
PostedMay 28, 2016
hermitcave
fromGig Harbor, Wa
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Some time ago, a meteorite fragment with an unknown power source similar to nuclear power was found near the town of Fortuneville and three of the leading citizens, the Mayor, the banker, and a local scientist, decided that experiments should be conducted with it that could lead to free energy for everyone. All were assured that the power was safe. Professor Gustav was in charge of the lab where the experiments were conducted and went a little mad experimenting on plants and then decided to experiment on a human. The results were disastrous causing earthquakes and the town becoming overgrown with alien plant forms and the human subject becoming charged with electricity. The town is being evacuated but two children have become trapped and you, a detective, have been called to help rescue them. As you work to do so, the electric-man grabs the children and blocks your egress to follow him. Your investigation is further hampered by Professor Gustav who keeps showing up and setting up obstacles in your path. You need to save the children, decharge the electric-man and stop Professor Gustav before his experiments extend beyond the town.
I found the storyline rather weak, predictable and less than entertaining. With basically four characters, two of which are the children in distress (or are they?) and a mad scientist that keeps doing things for no apparent reason and a test subject who has been charged with electricy that seems to be kidnapping the children (or is he just trying to protect his children from the mad scientist?). The Mayor and the banker are only learned about through information found during the game and when their bodies are discovered. The four characters are played by live actors, three of which were fairly good but the fourth, Professor Gustav, was weirdly presented by creeping around for no apparent reason to creep and madly laughing or giggling which I guess was to show he was a mad scientist. I found the performance silly and poor. Graphics were good for the most part but those scenes where closeups of the characters occurred were not as well done being obviously added to the scenes. Most voice acting, except for the Professor, was good. Music was not memorable. I also noticed misspellings that were not hard to miss such as "map" instead of "man" at the beginning and the name of the town as "Fortunewille" instead of "Fortuneville."
There was the usual journal and task list and a jump map that showed areas of interest as well as whether there was a secret area in that location by a dollar sign icon. There were 2o secret areas indicated on the map but their locations in the scenes were not marked so you had to do the cursor search by clicking on various spots in the scene until a closeup occurred. Some were very difficult to find. They contained money that you collect so you can spend it in the store to flesh out a garden. Money could also be found scattered in some scenes including the hidden object scenes. One thing I did like was the use of an inventory item throughout the game that was a multitool (swiss army knife) that was used for a knife, screwdriver, corkscrew, etc. I wish more developers would use something similar. Even though not a collector's edition, there were achievements to earn including the collection of 15 alien plants. Most plants were easy to spot but a couple were not. Inventory puzzles and minigames were nothing new and ranged from easy to medium difficulty. Hidden object scenes were the list type with a lot of interactive objects and most scenes were used only once. An ok game with multiple flaws and wonky live actor cutscenes that some may find worth a few hours of diversion.
I recommend this game!