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View posts by bjdibbins:
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bjdibbins' Review - June 23, 2007 |
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$6.99
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| Solve a mystery hidden deep within classic antique paintings! |
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What a masterpiece
This a hidden object game with a difference..
In most games in this genre, you need to find objects from a list in rooms cluttered with dozens and dozens of out-of-place items.
But in this game, your 'room' is a classic work of art, which makes most of the objects you need to find fairly obvious - HOWEVER, you can only click on them if they are one of five currently in your list.
Sounds fairly easy right?
Well, for the most part it is, though many of the objects are new to these games, and not always what you might expect. Many of them are darned elusive to find as well!
Each level consists of a single picture, but each level is unique.. I'm in the 50's so far and still going!
Along with the hidden object levels are 'spot-the-difference' levels as well, and some of these differences can be very hard to spot.
Fortunately in both games you receive 3 hints that point out something you need to find.
One of the nice touches in this game is the scoring. For each hint unused you gain extra points, the time remaining also gains you points and you lose points for wrong clicks (which provide an audible warning each time). This gives you a lot of incentive to save hints and making indiscriminate clicks!
There is a background story that is slowly revealed after each level, but I'm not going to tell you how that is unfolding.. It drags out a little as you might expect with so many levels, but you find yourself wanting to know what's going to happen. :)
In summary; the downside to looking for objects in paintings is that the objects themselves are mostly obvious. But on the upside, unlike most other games you aren't returning to rooms previously explored & knowing where many of the items are already.
There's another bonus too.. You get to view some great works of art that you've probably never seen before - and have fun at the same time!
Secrets of Great Art is a great game - try it! |
This review has an average score of 4.6 - Based on 45 ratings
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bjdibbins' Review - May 3, 2007 |
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Not just another hidden object game - its a mystery as well
Bravo!
First off, to all of you hidden object game fans, this is one you are going to enjoy. I'm sure you've already hit the download button above, and you'll be glad you did.
The rooms are what you would expect from a good quality game of this type, and the hidden objects vary from being relatively obvious to very deceptively concealed - often in plain sight. For the occassional almost impossible to find object there are limited hints per round that will point them out for you ("oh there it is!)
Apart from the random objects in each room to find, there are also some variations on the theme where you need to pick objects up and place them in the right location.
Since this game is a murder mystery, the reason you are looking around these rooms is of course to find clues to help solve the crime. So some of the objects you pick up are also clues that you'll be working on in the between level puzzles - of which there are several.
But, finding clues and putting the pieces together is only part of it. You also need to interview the various subjects as you find these clues. This process is more a case of playing a preset conversation between Poirot and the suspects than actually interacting with them and choosing an approach to take (as in law and order).
Still, you'll need to play close attention to the clues and the conversations if you hope to put everything together. If you've played Bedazzled you'll have an idea of the sorts of interactions you'll need to keep in mind if you want to solve the mystery.
All in all a very good game, with lots to like about it.
Definitely a keeper. |
This review has an average score of 4.5 - Based on 71 ratings
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bjdibbins' Review - April 5, 2007 |
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$6.99
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| Unlock the mystery of the Magic Academy in this mystical seek & find! |
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Should keep you occupied for a spell..
Magic Academy is one of the many clones cashing in on the popularity of the highly successful Mystery Case Files series. The gameplay is almost identical to Mysteryville, though with a completely different storyline and graphics that will prompt a feeling of deja vu if you're a Harry Potter fan.
The gameplay is smooth and polished without any of the clicking problems I've experienced in games like Paparazzi.
There is also a good level of variety in this game. In addition to the search for hidden objects from a list and from outline shapes, there are also spot-the-difference puzzles, memory match games and two jigsaw puzzle-style games.
Unfortunately it is clear that english isn't the first language of the developers, and as a result the between-level conversations are dreadful. Fortunately these can be skipped and have nothing to do with the real game anyway.
The music tracks sound good and are enjoyable, but there just aren't enough of them. After a few levels you will probably find yourself turning the sound down once the repetition starts to become annoying.
As I've mentioned in my other reviews, I particularly enjoy the MCF hidden object style games, and I think I've played them all now. What I look for is good graphics and gameplay, with objects that are well hidden without being impossible to find without using hints.
Magic Academy does a good job of blending objects into the background, and for the most part could be considered on par with MCF.
The hint system reminded me of Travelogue 360 Paris, in that once you use a free tip, there is a recharge delay before you can request another one.
If there is a downside, it's that the game can be completed too quickly. There are 10 main locations and 21 stages with a variety of games in each stage.
The free demo will give you more than enough time to work out whether Magic Academy is a game you'd like to buy, so try it out and see what you think - its definitely worth the download. |
This review has an average score of 4.3 - Based on 19 ratings
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bjdibbins' Review - July 12, 2007 |
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Peak performance!
Hidden Expedition Everest is an excellent hidden object game.
Gameplay involves trying to find skillfully hidden objects in each scene from a random list provided, and the objective is to be the first to reach the summit.
Oh yes, the race is definitely on!
In what must be one of the best incentives I've seen so far, instead of racing to find all of the objects required before a countdown timer runs out, in this game you are racing against three other teams.
In each level you will see your progress move along a scale at the bottom, as well as the other teams. As the game says, you do not want to be in last place!
You might expect that in a game like this, you'll be presented with scene after scene of snowscapes - nothing could be further from the truth. As part of the underlying plot, you have to chase all over the world to find various clues needed to... oh wait, I won't spoil it for you!
Like Titanic, there are also five jewels hidden in each scene and collecting 5 jewels will give you one extra hint that you can use in that level.
The hint system itself is one of the better ones I've seen. For one thing, you get to choose which item you want help with, and rather than highlight the object directly, it circles the area where it can be found.
One of the 'cool' (pun intended) features is the ability to unlock a video if you finish a level in first place. These are from Ed Viesturs real life climbing expeditions in the himalayas. The scenes themselves have some minor animations as well.
The ambient sounds are good and the music is quite suitable for the game, and not too annoying (though the sound played when you've found an object gets close after a while).
The between level puzzles are some of the hardest I've played, especially some of the jigsaw type puzzles (eg, the map!). There are also games where you need to find 20 objects of a particular type in a level while competing against the other teams.
It's a great game - get it! |
This review has an average score of 4.1 - Based on 31 ratings
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bjdibbins' Review - February 27, 2007 |
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$7.99
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| Like no breakout game before it, Reaxxion is a unique entertainment experience! |
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Definitely NOT your average breakout game!
Ok, I admit it.. I got hooked on breakout games since the days of my old Atari 2600, and have appreciated the improvements to the basic game design that have occurred over the decades since then.
For those of you that haven't seen these games before, you control a paddle at the bottom of the screen which you use to keep your ball - or more often multiple balls - in play, while trying to guide your ball(s) at the various objects on the screen to clear the level.
What makes this game so interesting is that your paddle is made of liquid metal, which you use to launch balls of various sizes. This has the effect of shrinking your paddle, so you need to manage your available metal wisely.
Hitting the various objects around the screen can release more metal droplets to replenish your supply, allowing you to increase your paddle size, or launch more balls. If you find things start getting a little too fast paced, you can reabsorb some of your balls back into your paddle.
Another new game-style feature is the various chutes you need to aim for during play. One of these provides you with one of the various powerups available, while the other is used to store your balls to create a 'reaxxion' - this is also needed for special bonus rounds.
The levels are visually spectacular, and I liked the Schwarzenegger-esque comments during the game.
If you already like breakout-style games, then like me you'll think this is a fantastic game. If you haven't tried them before, then do yourself a favour and at least play the demo.
On the other hand if you don't like breakout games... it could be that Reaxxion will change your mind about them. |
This review has an average score of 3.9 - Based on 26 ratings
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