| 5 FEB 2009 at 7:37am |
AnnacatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 97
Joined: 23 JAN 2005
Status : Offline | I just finished Rhiannon, and am now replaying Barrow Hill.
Next on my list is either The Secret Files (EB had this one on sale for $3, so I couldn't pass it up) or the game based on Lost. I haven't decided which to play first.
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| 5 FEB 2009 at 12:15pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Anna_Catherine (5 FEB 2009 7:37am)
I just finished Rhiannon, and am now replaying Barrow Hill.
Next on my list is either The Secret Files (EB had this one on sale for $3, so I couldn't pass it up) or the game based on Lost. I haven't decided which to play first.
lol put Secret Files as the last choice. It's a favour you're doing to yourself.
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 5 FEB 2009 at 12:23pm |
SharonBSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 310
Joined: 24 JUL 2007
Location: US, Delaware
Status : Offline | I've finished playing Sanitarium and I loved it! I'm so glad I played it. Now I have to make up my mind what to play next. I'm leaning toward Witcher, but Scratches and The Lost Crown are top contenders.
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| 5 FEB 2009 at 12:47pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By sblack162 (5 FEB 2009 12:23pm)
I've finished playing Sanitarium and I loved it! I'm so glad I played it. Now I have to make up my mind what to play next. I'm leaning toward Witcher, but Scratches and The Lost Crown are top contenders.
For me, Witcher > Lost Crown > Scratches
Inesrocks wrote:
Annacat wrote:
I just finished Rhiannon, and am now replaying Barrow Hill.
Next on my list is either The Secret Files (EB had this one on sale for $3, so I couldn't pass it up) or the game based on Lost. I haven't decided which to play first.
lol put Secret Files as the last choice. It's a favour you're doing to yourself.
Hmmmm - have you played Lost, Inesrocks? I didn't play much of it, as it didn't hold my interest, whereas at least I found Secret Files interesting enough to finish. The ending was a slight anticlimax, but oh, well.
Haven't you got anything else on your list, Annacat?
I think I'll be doing The Last Express next, if I can get it to work on my PC.
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| 5 FEB 2009 at 3:57pm |
Taurnil MithrandirJourneyman
Posts : 1093
Joined: 13 AUG 2006
Status : Online | Currently I play nothing. I was about to purchase 2 games: Nikopol and Vampyre story but unfortunately the first is really irritating with all these time-sequence riddles plus you don't understand anything about the story and the second although the patch is released still there are issues that are unsolved such as dead ends and bugs. So, I just wait for other adventures.
....set the controls for the heart of the sun....
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| 5 FEB 2009 at 5:40pm |
AnnacatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 97
Joined: 23 JAN 2005
Status : Offline | Hmmmm - have you played Lost, Inesrocks? I didn't play much of it, as it didn't hold my interest, whereas at least I found Secret Files interesting enough to finish. The ending was a slight anticlimax, but oh, well.
Haven't you got anything else on your list, Annacat?
In the long term, sure. There are a couple of things I have my eye on.
In the "things already purchased and awaiting play," no. So I'll want to at least try what I already have.
I bought them because they were very cheap, and I was curious about them. I've been watching the show Lost, so I was interested to see how they made it into a game. With The Secret Files, I'm interested in the subject matter (loved The X-Files,) but I hesitated to purchase it because of bad reviews. When I found a copy for only $3, I figured I may as well give it a try.
I'm not expecting either of these to be stellar adventure efforts. If they're even reasonably entertaining, I will be happy. If not, I'd like to be able to say I've at least tried them.
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| 5 FEB 2009 at 6:21pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Anna_Catherine (5 FEB 2009 5:40pm)
Hmmmm - have you played Lost, Inesrocks? I didn't play much of it, as it didn't hold my interest, whereas at least I found Secret Files interesting enough to finish. The ending was a slight anticlimax, but oh, well.
Haven't you got anything else on your list, Annacat?
In the long term, sure. There are a couple of things I have my eye on.
In the "things already purchased and awaiting play," no. So I'll want to at least try what I already have.
I bought them because they were very cheap, and I was curious about them. I've been watching the show Lost, so I was interested to see how they made it into a game. With The Secret Files, I'm interested in the subject matter (loved The X-Files,) but I hesitated to purchase it because of bad reviews. When I found a copy for only $3, I figured I may as well give it a try.
I'm not expecting either of these to be stellar adventure efforts. If they're even reasonably entertaining, I will be happy. If not, I'd like to be able to say I've at least tried them.
Oh yes, you must at least try them!
Hey, that reminds me that I've ordered The X-files game a while ago. It's an FMV game, apparently, and quite old. I've read mixed reviews of the game, so it should be quite interesting to see what it turns out to be like.
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| 5 FEB 2009 at 11:12pm |
ShanyGuild Master
Posts : 3313
Joined: 19 JUN 2003
Status : Online | Finished Mr. Smoozles Goes Nutso yesterday.
I'm not sure what to think of it. It's not an adventure but it's not an action game either. While you do have hit points they are almost meaningless and you don't fight anyone, just run. The running away is pointless since most of the time you won't be able to avoid getting hit.
The story is shallow, and doesn't develop much. The game has plenty of characters, but few of them are interesting nor take much of a part in the story.
The gameplay is simple A to B stuff. You go talk to a certain character find out what he/she wants and get it for them. This repeats throughout the game with your area of gameplay gettng larger. Occasionaly you need to collect a certain number of shards which just means more going back and forth.
There is no customizing the game - you can't turn the music volume down, you can't make the slow subtitles go faster, you can only choose between full screen and window mode.
I had a strange bug where the game said I had collected a certain number of things when in fact I was missing at least one.
Alot of times I had to guess where to go next. One time a certain cutscene didn't trigger because the game let me do something I wasn't supposed to.
The ending was a little disappointing - why don't the people I save thank me?!
There were a couple of things I liked:
The music is great. Alot of times it sounds like an old-school Nintendo game, but it works. It's a shame there's no way to get the music seperately apart from one track.
The graphics are cute and cartoony. I especially liked the different architecture in one part of the game.
The gameplay is relaxing if you're in the right mood.
It was free.
I kind of enjoyed the game towards the end, but for the most part it was more annoying than fun.
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| 8 FEB 2009 at 5:28am |
TrunkyoIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 48
Joined: 13 JUL 2004
Status : Offline | Wow, I can't believe the adventure gaming tear I've been on since the beginning of the year!
First up was The Moment of Silence, which I started before Christmas. Intriguing plot, mostly great voice acting, some annoying characters, choppy sound in Bink video cutscenes. (And was Peter Wright really wearing the same clothes for the entire 12 days of the ordeal??! )
The next six games I was able to finish without using any external hints whatsoever (i.e. walkthroughs or UHS), a new record for me, I think.
Crime Stories (Martin Mystère) - Fairly easy game, some odd subtitles and dialogue, comic book plot (not surprising of course, given the title character's origins).
Chronicles of Mystery: The Scorpio Ritual - Really short game, interesting but clichéd plot, very abrupt ending à la Broken Sword 4.
Is this the first adventure game set in Malta?
Aura 2: The Sacred Rings - Very good sequel, challenging but not extremely hard. (I really like mechanical puzzles!) For some reason I had the same choppy sound in the cutscenes as in TMoS.
Scratches (Director's Cut) - I finally got to play this, to see why there was such intense discussion and speculation about the plot of the original game and The Last Visit (not to mention the alternate ending!) Some really chilling parts, of the jump-out-of-one's-seat variety. The Last Visit answered some questions but seemed to raise a lot more! :-?
Everlight: Of Magic & Power - Nice twist on the fantasy-type adventure with the day/night curse.
Ankh - Cute, humorous game, I'm hoping to play the sequels soon.
So now I'm trying to decide whether to finish Myst IV or start either Paradise, Culpa Innata or RHEM 3. Any opinions?
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| 8 FEB 2009 at 6:01am |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Trunkyo (8 FEB 2009 5:27am)
So now I'm trying to decide whether to finish Myst IV or start either Paradise, Culpa Innata or RHEM 3. Any opinions?
Finish Myst IV. Then play Culpa. Going by the other games you've selected, you'll probably enjoy Culpa over the other two. RHEM 3 is even more puzzle-oriented than Myst IV.
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| 8 FEB 2009 at 10:24am |
JelenaPrivate Detective
Posts : 587
Joined: 30 SEP 2007
Status : Offline | I'm currently playing Sherlock Holmes The Awakened (Remastered version).
I was beta testing a small part of this version last year and that part didn't impress me much so I was surprised to see the game (so far ) is very entertaining and has mostly very good puzzles. The kind that challenge me, but eventually, often after a pause, is manageable.
I'm now in the asylum and have finally entered the basement after having fiddled around with some equipment to open a gate. The only puzzle so far that was a little too much.
The story is creepy and intriguing. I wonder why I love these gory stories in my adventure gaming when I can't stand to watch a movie of the same kind. :-/
Temporary guest in your life.
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| 8 FEB 2009 at 2:42pm |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | I'm playing 'Get rid of the Malware on my XP' right now. It's quite challenging and it looks like I'm going to need some outside help.
:'(
Thankfully, I can still play my games. I'm having a lot of fun with Return to Ravenhurst and Ghost in the Sheet.
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
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| 8 FEB 2009 at 3:36pm |
HalcyonSchattenjger
Posts : 1652
Joined: 17 NOV 2006
Status : Offline | Have you tried Malwarebytes? Best free proggy there is.
http://malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
To stay on-topic: I just bought a big-box version of Sanitarium and I'm loading that today, while playing the two Nancy Drew games I won in the giveaway.
Two weeks ago, I played Dreamfall for the 3rd time. 2/3 through it, I got irritated and impatient with it. Knowing the puzzles and what to do kind of killed the suspense made me really hate the running and action sequences. It was all beautiful, though.
_________________
Exercise your vision.
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| 10 FEB 2009 at 10:00am |
simdelIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 19
Joined: 3 DEC 2008
Status : Online | I'm now playing two titles. I started Riven after finishing Sterling's Gift and was initially very impressed. The scope is fantastic. Unfortunately, I am finding it incredibly difficult and am really stuck with little idea what to do, but don't want to furnish myself with a hint or walkthrough. As a result, to take a break from incessent Riven headaches, I have also started to play Dead Reefs. I'm on the second morning and so far I am really impressed with it. Initially the controls infuriated me (for about 2 days), but now I am used to them, they aren't a problem. The graphics and atmosphere are first rate and the story reminds me of the brilliant movie, Sleepy Hollow. There are a few spelling mistakes and language errors, but these can easily be forgiven.
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| 10 FEB 2009 at 9:47pm |
AnnacatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 97
Joined: 23 JAN 2005
Status : Offline | As a result, to take a break from incessent Riven headaches...
Ah, Riven. Much as I love all things Myst, if I hadn't been playing with a friend who's really good at puzzles, I'd still be staring at the "waffle iron" with tears in my eyes.
Riven is a tough game, and alternating it with something else is a good call. But I do think Riven is worth finishing, so I hope you'll eventually push through and complete it. If I did, anybody can.
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| 11 FEB 2009 at 2:08am |
simdelIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 19
Joined: 3 DEC 2008
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Anna_Catherine (10 FEB 2009 9:46pm)
I do think Riven is worth finishing, so I hope you'll eventually push through and complete it. If I did, anybody can.
I certainly intend to keep at it and agree that it's a good idea to take breaks from it. I used walkthroughs and hints with some titles I played and found that this method gave me no satisfaction at all. In fact when I resorted to a walkthrough for a particular puzzle, my motivation to finish the game was much lower as I felt I had already 'cheated'. Thus I'm refusing to use a walkthrough for any part of a game now and even though it's mindbending at times, the satisfaction, enjoyment and interest garnered from solving puzzles myself are immensely high. I can see why so many people love this game and it must have been groundbreaking when it came out. It's quaint now to have it on 5 cd's which necessitate changing for each island.
You have no need to put yourself down. As you finished it, you must be in a rather small percentage of people that have managed it without a walkthrough.
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| 11 FEB 2009 at 8:39am |
SharonBSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 310
Joined: 24 JUL 2007
Location: US, Delaware
Status : Offline | I'm playing Overclocked and really enjoying it. The music is very good.
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| 11 FEB 2009 at 8:04pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | @Traveller
I haven't played Lost but I had such a hard time playing Secret Files that I assume every other game can be at least more entertaining. I'm not saying Secret Files was entirely bad though... I actually managed to finish it as I liked some parts... it's not as Belief &Betrayal which was so dreadful I didnt pass the 1st chapter.
it's just that everytime the main character would open her mouth I just had a subtle feel to quit the game. For me the character, as long as the story, has to grab me. If they can't have mature dialogues, it just turns me off immediately.
I finished Scorpio Ritual. I think this was the shortest game I've ever played. Right when you're getting into the story, it simply ends. I liked the story while it last though.
Now I really don't know what to play next. Maybe Overclocked or some Sherlock Holmes game...
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 11 FEB 2009 at 9:15pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Inesrocks (11 FEB 2009 8:04pm)
@Traveller
I haven't played Lost but I had such a hard time playing Secret Files that I assume every other game can be at least more entertaining. I'm not saying Secret Files was entirely bad though... I actually managed to finish it as I liked some parts... it's not as Belief &Betrayal which was so dreadful I didnt pass the 1st chapter.
it's just that everytime the main character would open her mouth I just had a subtle feel to quit the game. For me the character, as long as the story, has to grab me. If they can't have mature dialogues, it just turns me off immediately.
I finished Scorpio Ritual. I think this was the shortest game I've ever played. Right when you're getting into the story, it simply ends. I liked the story while it last though.
Now I really don't know what to play next. Maybe Overclocked or some Sherlock Holmes game...
Well, Inesrocks, I suppose I should play Lost properly before commenting on it, but...
Anyway, some of the Tunguska puzzles bothered me more than her voice, which I didn't find too bad - I found them a bit over the top in parts of the game.
Well, the tables are turned. I thought I might mention, that for the first time in about 2 years, I have been too busy to game fror about a week now.... ..I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms... :-/
Which S Holmes games have you already done, Ines? Overclocked is on my "to play soon" list as well, when I get back to gaming again... :'(
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| 11 FEB 2009 at 9:40pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | I have only played The Awakened which they say is one of the finest of the collection.
There's not much left to play before the releases of this year... only games like AGON, Agatha Christie's, Sherlock Holmes that I havent yet tried. But I was more into trying Overclocked or any of AC's series as its 3rd person just as I like.
Which do you suggest?
By the way, are there more Sherlock Holmes games in 3rd person?
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 12 FEB 2009 at 3:51am |
HalcyonSchattenjger
Posts : 1652
Joined: 17 NOV 2006
Status : Offline | The only people I know who -- honest people -- who finished practically any Myst game (Myst, Riven, URU) without a walkthrough, literally spent months working the math and possibilities.
I have no guilty conscience at all diving into a walkthrough with any Myst game. They are lovely and enthralling even with the answers. If I wanted a sheer puzzle, I'd play the New York Times crossword puzzle and call it a day.
Riven is a terrific experience. on't let puzzles stop you from enjoying it.
_________________
Exercise your vision.
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| 12 FEB 2009 at 3:59am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Inesrocks (11 FEB 2009 9:39pm)
I have only played The Awakened which they say is one of the finest of the collection.
There's not much left to play before the releases of this year... only games like AGON, Agatha Christie's, Sherlock Holmes that I havent yet tried. But I was more into trying Overclocked or any of AC's series as its 3rd person just as I like.
Which do you suggest?
By the way, are there more Sherlock Holmes games in 3rd person?
Sherlock Holmes : The Secret of the Silver Earing is the only SH game I know of that's third person. Not bad except for one very demanding timed sequence that pretty much (actually did) kill it for me.
I would have ranked SH Nemesis (Arsen Lupien), considering all its graphical wonders and large environments, a little higher than The Awakened if it wasn't for all the 'scavenger hunts' that just tended to become, imho, more of a distraction and somewhat tedious after a while since they were by no means very challenging.
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| 12 FEB 2009 at 6:23am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (12 FEB 2009 3:59am)
Originally Posted By Inesrocks (11 FEB 2009 9:39pm)
I have only played The Awakened which they say is one of the finest of the collection.
There's not much left to play before the releases of this year... only games like AGON, Agatha Christie's, Sherlock Holmes that I havent yet tried. But I was more into trying Overclocked or any of AC's series as its 3rd person just as I like.
Which do you suggest?
By the way, are there more Sherlock Holmes games in 3rd person?
Sherlock Holmes : The Secret of the Silver Earing is the only SH game I know of that's third person. Not bad except for one very demanding timed sequence that pretty much (actually did) kill it for me.
I would have ranked SH Nemesis (Arsen Lupien), considering all its graphical wonders and large environments, a little higher than The Awakened if it wasn't for all the 'scavenger hunts' that just tended to become, imho, more of a distraction and somewhat tedious after a while since they were by no means very challenging.
Unfortunately the AGON games are also still on my "to play" list :-[ , so can't comment on that. I would rank Sherlock Holmes above Agatha Christie, and I agree with Camaroboy, in choosing SH: Silver Earring, though I personally found Nemesis AKA SH vs Arsene Lupin; quite entertaining. It probably felt rather long drawn out, because it didn't have the tension of danger that The Awakened had.
I rather enjoyed the timed sequence in Silver Earring: I had to try it a few times, and cheered when I got it right...
I think the SH: Mystery of the Mummy is also 3rd person, IIRC, but I didn't like the game so much - it's ok if you like puzzles only, but the story and character sucked for me. EDIT: No, I didn't seem to remember correctly, as per Camaroboy, Mummy is a 1st person game.
Oh, and btw, Dracula Origin is a 3rd person graphically very pretty game, with quite varied and reasonably challenging puzzles...
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| 12 FEB 2009 at 7:11am |
AnnacatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 97
Joined: 23 JAN 2005
Status : Offline | The only people I know who -- honest people -- who finished practically any Myst game (Myst, Riven, URU) without a walkthrough, literally spent months working the math and possibilities.
That was certainly the case for me, although I'm admittedly far from the world's best puzzle solver. Riven took the longest, but Myst was a close second simply because I'd never played a game of any kind before Myst-- so when I played the original, I was partly just learning about how to play a game at all, and I had that down by the time Riven came out.
The only exception to this for me was Myst 5. We played through that in a weekend. It was enjoyable, but the difficulty was far lower than any other title in the series, and we never really got stuck or lost for any significant length of time. Doing that one fast without a walkthrough is certainly possible, though your mileage may vary for how easy it is depending on your drawing abilities.
Speaking of AGON, I've repeatedly pondered playing that, but the whole "board games" thing keeps stopping me. Are the board games annoying? Is the premise of having those board games at all reasonable and engaging? How well was that was integrated into the story?
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