If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the
FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to
register or
login before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
| 29 MAR 2006 at 12:51pm |
jamarchandSchattenjger
Posts : 1665
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | I played only the first episode (London Scene). Excelent! Top-notch graphics and voice acting with solid story and huge documentaion. Quite short...but I know 2nd and 3rd episodes are longer and harder.
 &&&&[move]Actually playing SHIVERS and Rhem 2[/move]&&
|
| 29 MAR 2006 at 1:32pm |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | I was lucky enough to win the Mysterious Codex at a game giveaway at GB. I would have bought the game sooner, but I don't like buying downloads. At any rate, I'm a little apprehensive about the board games (since I really suck at strategy games, even tic tac toe :-[), but other aspects of the game look interesting.
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
|
| 29 MAR 2006 at 2:48pm |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | Yes, the suggestion of board game puzzles gives me shivers down my spine, as I recall playing The 7th Guest and hating it immensely.
The game does interest me, though, and I've heard great things about it. I just have little playing time right now, a whole backlog of games, and no store around here seems to be carrying it, which cuts out my usual impulse purchase on these kind of things. I'll get it eventually.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
|
| 29 MAR 2006 at 4:12pm |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | So far I am having a lot of trouble figuring out what to do next. It seems to keep me running around with no idea what I need to do. I havn't finished the first episode yet though. The puzzles seem simple but can't find any clues on what needs to be done to solve them. The notes amd papers I found have text so small I can read it so they don't help too much ether. I suspect the info I need is in the letters I can't read very well.
The graphics is very nice and looks great. The sound is very good and the interface works really well too.
|
| 29 MAR 2006 at 5:51pm |
jamarchandSchattenjger
Posts : 1665
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | The board games are only at online option. At least, in the first episode, there were none board puzzles. All the riddles are well integreted to the plot.
&&&&[move]Actually playing SHIVERS and Rhem 2[/move]&&
|
| 29 MAR 2006 at 6:56pm |
CrapstormJourneyman
Posts : 829
Joined: 18 FEB 2004
Status : Online | There is a board game at the end of each episode except the first one. Therefore, The Mysterious Codex contains two board games. A lot of people will certainly find it very hard to beat the AI, but once you learn the basic dynamics of the games, and a few tricks, you should prevail. These are real, historical board games that humans invented and enjoyed for centuries. AGON is a wonderful way to discover them and appreciate their subtleties. But if you really hate board games, you're gonna get stuck and you're not gonna like it.
|
| 29 MAR 2006 at 9:54pm |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5538
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | I played through the first two Agon episodes, and was pleasantly surprised by them. They had decent puzzles for an episodic game. I'm not a fan of AI board games, but the one board game I got to play (Tablut) was interesting, and reasonably balanced, not too hard or too easy.
|
| 30 MAR 2006 at 3:05am |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | I've played all 3 and really enjoyed them. The puzzles are fun, the graphics and stories are quite decent, and the voice acting is very good. The main character, Prof. Hunt, is very likable, too.
I should mention that for anyone with a hearing loss, there is a sound puzzle (not musical) in The Pirates of Madagascar that could prove frustrating. Oh, and the board games can be set to easy mode, if you prefer, although the one in the third game was still challenging on the easy setting.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
|
| 31 MAR 2006 at 2:04am |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | I got to The Pirates of Madagascar and I thought the graphics really outstanding. I am getting used to it now a little and it's a pretty good game.
The puzzles are really hard for me even in the easy mode. I changed it to easy thinking it would help but I don't see where it made any differece at all.
I didn't like that board game as the end of lapland at all. After trying it 100's of times I had my wife do it because she is beter than I at them.
|
| 2 APR 2006 at 5:06pm |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Ok I finished it. I would say it's well wirth the money. I had some problems with the puzzles but I am not realy good at some of them. Other than that I was impressed with the graphics and sound. I thought it was very good even though I had to use a walkthrough fo some of it. To me it seemed that when I needed a clue for something it wasn't there but there were many clues in it. It just happened that the clues I saw where always for something I already had figured out. It has a very good story and I will be getting the next ones to continue the stroy when they come out.
|
| 9 APR 2006 at 1:33pm |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | I started it last night, and so far I'm having fun. I just gained access to the storeroom. The challenges are fair and had me thinking a bit Spoiler Alertloved sorting out the keys .
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
|
| 9 APR 2006 at 9:46pm |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | Installed it this morning. Haven't gotten past reading all the books in the rooms I have access to. Probably a waste of time, but I always indulge in the atmosphere of games. Expect some impressions in a week or two, time permitting.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
|
| 10 APR 2006 at 12:33pm |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | Colpet,
That was fun to figure out.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
|
| 10 APR 2006 at 3:51pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4941
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Have AGON, but haven't played it yet. Can anyone tell me whether the CD has to be in the drive to play it (ie. can it be played entirely from the hard disk)? And is there any nefarious copy protection (not interested in copying it, just don't want problems running it on my laptop).
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 11 APR 2006 at 1:23am |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | SirDave, I don't know if there are different versions, but there isn't any major protection on the one I bought in Canada. You have to enter in the serial number the first time you load the game (not when you install it, which I thought was odd), and as far as I can tell that's it. No CD in the drive either.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
|
| 11 APR 2006 at 6:08am |
WimliGuild Master
Posts : 3259
Joined: 14 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (10 APR 2006 3:50pm)
Have AGON, but haven't played it yet. Can anyone tell me whether the CD has to be in the drive to play it (ie. can it be played entirely from the hard disk)? And is there any nefarious copy protection (not interested in copying it, just don't want problems running it on my laptop).
Ok, totally off topic, but I just played and finished Black Mirror which included the copyright protection program Starforce (I think that's the one you are referring to). I already uninstalled the game. Should I check my computer (have a laptop too) for any remaining Starforce elements? How does it harm your computer?
On topic: Euhm... Agon looks great!
|
| 11 APR 2006 at 6:42am |
kuddlesPrivate Detective
Posts : 702
Joined: 22 OCT 2004
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Wimli (11 APR 2006 6:08am)
Originally Posted By SirDave (10 APR 2006 3:50pm)
Ok, totally off topic, but I just played and finished Black Mirror which included the copyright protection program Starforce (I think that's the one you are referring to). I already uninstalled the game. Should I check my computer (have a laptop too) for any remaining Starforce elements? How does it harm your computer?
On some versions of Starforce, the driver remains even after you uninstalled the game. If you want to be sure, you might want to go through the routines listed on this page.
The fact that Starforce is such an invasive copy protection scheme, since it uses that driver, tends to be what causes people to dislike it, and the fact that it doesn't get uninstalled from your system at the same time of the game hasn't helped things.
The most common problems that have been cited usually involve system crashes or instability, and disc drives that start slowing down or even completely failing. In most cases, things go back to normal after you remove it, although there have been a few odd claims that the effects can be irreversible. There are also some suggestions that it may cause a security leak.
Thus, some people have avoided any games that carries Starforce. But many publishers still use it because they believe it is more effective. Personally, I have had no problems at all with it, and remove the driver whenever I'm done with the game it uses. I know a few people who also had no problem. It's basically up to your own decision.
There's more I could mention involving other reasons why Starforce isn't well liked, but I think I'll skip it because I don't want to turn this thread into another Starforce debate. People tend to get pretty emotional about it.
[size=10][b]Games:[/b] Europa Universalis III&&[b]Music:[/b] [i]Awoo[/i] - Hidden Cameras&&[b]Series:[/b] Dexter (S1)&&[b]Movies:[/b] The Prestige (8/10) Little Miss Sunshine (5/10)&&[/size]
|
| 11 APR 2006 at 7:39am |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4941
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Wimli (11 APR 2006 6:08am)
Originally Posted By SirDave (10 APR 2006 3:50pm)
Have AGON, but haven't played it yet. Can anyone tell me whether the CD has to be in the drive to play it (ie. can it be played entirely from the hard disk)? And is there any nefarious copy protection (not interested in copying it, just don't want problems running it on my laptop).
Ok, totally off topic, but I just played and finished Black Mirror which included the copyright protection program Starforce (I think that's the one you are referring to). I already uninstalled the game. Should I check my computer (have a laptop too) for any remaining Starforce elements? How does it harm your computer?
On topic: Euhm... Agon looks great!
There is almost definitely stuff left-over from Starforce after uninstalling a game that used it. Some people will find no overt evidence of it as far as it affecting their system and others may have problems. In the future it's a good idea to set a Restore Point in Windows XP before installing a Starforce-protected game and then after uninstalling the game go back to that Restore Point so that there is no Registry record of Starforce. When it comes to playing games on my laptop, if I know that it is a Starforce game (as I did with Black Mirror), I actually save an Image of my enter Drive C before installing the game and then restore the image after finishing the game so that there is absolutely nothing left of Starforce!
@Kuddles: Thanks for the info!
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 11 APR 2006 at 8:55am |
WimliGuild Master
Posts : 3259
Joined: 14 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Thanks Kuddles & Sir Dave! Just checked my computer. Luckily the uninstall removed all those starforce files. Now I'll know what to do when I play other games that use Starforce copyright protection. Thanks again!
And now idd, let's get back on topic:
[size=20]What do you think of AGON?
|
| 13 APR 2006 at 5:24am |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (10 APR 2006 3:50pm)
Have AGON, but haven't played it yet. Can anyone tell me whether the CD has to be in the drive to play it (ie. can it be played entirely from the hard disk)? And is there any nefarious copy protection (not interested in copying it, just don't want problems running it on my laptop).
It runs just fine from the hard drive without the cd in the cd-rom drive.
|
| 17 APR 2006 at 9:12pm |
pike8Intergalactic Janitor
Posts : 51
Joined: 27 FEB 2005
Status : Online | i've got a copy of mysterious codex, which apparently includes first 3 episodes, right?
but, i would like to know some more about the story of the game; not details, of the story; i want to know if the story ends after 3rd episode (the one on madagascar), because it doesn't seem like a good idea for me to play first three episodes, get involved in the story, and then to wait who-knows-how-long for the next episodes, to finally finish the story of the game.
mi smo zeljini, zeljo je nas
|
| 17 APR 2006 at 9:23pm |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | Pike8,
There are about 14 episodes planned, so you may wait a long time for the series to end. The fourth one, longer than any of the others, is due out sometime this year.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
|
| 18 APR 2006 at 1:55pm |
CrapstormJourneyman
Posts : 829
Joined: 18 FEB 2004
Status : Online | As much as I love 'em, I don't think there is any way Private Moon Studios is going to finish all 14 episodes. They originally planned to put out one episode every 2 months after the first was complete. That goal has proven to be extremely unrealistic, because it is taking them about a year per episode now. Part of the slowdown is likely due to the fact that the development team can't quit their day jobs, which they probably thought they could when they embarked on this project.
In any case, the story doesn't wrap up at the end of episode 3. Still, I would recommend playing the Codex before waiting for episode 4. Each episode (except for #1) is a stand-alone mystery. The only character that overlaps multiple episodes is Professor Hunt. Like Sherlock Holmes stories, there is no reason to wait until you have them all, because the narrative thread that holds them all together is almost non-existent.
|
| 18 APR 2006 at 5:01pm |
jamarchandSchattenjger
Posts : 1665
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | It's impossible Private Moon conclude all the 14 episodes. Half-life of small studios is rarelly beyond a couple of years. The experience shown us this fact through the years.
To conclude the 14 episodes, PM will need - at least - 10 years.
&&&&[move]Actually playing SHIVERS and Rhem 2[/move]&&
|
