| 21 AUG 2009 at 5:16pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Anna_Catherine (21 AUG 2009 4:55pm)
Slight change of plans. Next on my list is now The Lost Crown.
When I mentioned rather noncommitally that I hoped to play it soon, I had ordered it but messed up the digital download, so I wasn't able to actually get the product. I contacted the company about it, but assumed that they probably wouldn't do anything since the error was on my part, not theirs. However, they were very kind and accommodating, and refunded the money so I could reorder.
So next up, Lost Crown. Yay!
Did you order it from Darkling Room/Shadow Tor studios, Annacat? I had also made a mistake with an order there once, and I found their follow-up service excellent and very fast too. They also accomodated me with my little mistake, and left me with a very positive feeling .
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| 21 AUG 2009 at 5:32pm |
AnnacatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 97
Joined: 23 JAN 2005
Status : Offline | Did you order it from Darkling Room/Shadow Tor studios, Annacat? I had also made a mistake with an order there once, and I found their follow-up service excellent and very fast too. They also accomodated me with my little mistake, and left me with a very positive feeling .
I did.
I was very impressed with their customer service, both in terms of their pleasant attitude and their promptness. (I ordered a boxed product at the same time, and was also surprised by how fast they got it to me.) I've always liked their games, but I'm now doubly feeling positive about them.
I'll definitely order from them again.
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| 22 AUG 2009 at 1:13pm |
markornikovJourneyman
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Posts : 1302
Joined: 28 OCT 2011
Location: BE, Antwerp
Status : Offline | I'm playing Tales of monkey island 2: The Siege of Spinner Cay, but i'm a bit stuck.
So i'm probably going to switch to the lost crown too, giving it a second chance. The first time i played it, it seemed boring, but everybody seems to like it... :-?
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| 22 AUG 2009 at 4:16pm |
ThaumaturgeJourneyman
Posts : 999
Joined: 11 MAY 2006
Status : Offline | The Lost Crown can be a little slow at times (albeit, to me, in a positive way - I find it to suit the style and nature of the game thus far), but I think it worth noting that it seems to pick up later in the game. I haven't yet finished it, but some of the sections that I played last night, at least, gave me some quite effective frights. ^_^
That said, as I think that Traveller pointed out to me, it's not really a pure horror game. I think that I'd rather classify it as a supernatural mystery, thus far, at least.
MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
*ahem*
Sorry.
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| 22 AUG 2009 at 4:17pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | The first chapter is boring and slow going. I think it's meant to get you acquainted with the town and game system. After that though, it just seems to keep building up and up and up...
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| 22 AUG 2009 at 5:32pm |
ThaumaturgeJourneyman
Posts : 999
Joined: 11 MAY 2006
Status : Offline | Actually, I think that I found the slowness of the early parts of The Lost Crown to be quite suitable to what was being presented at the time, and the style of play. This is however, I daresay, a rather subjective area.
MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
*ahem*
Sorry.
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| 22 AUG 2009 at 5:38pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Agreed. It didn't bother me either. When I was playing the game for the review here on JA I felt the game was hovering in the low B to mid B range during the first chapter. After that though and things kept picking up, it became pretty apparent that Jonathan had really put a lot of thought and effort into the pacing of this game. Each successive chapter (or day) seemed more intense and intriguing than the previous ones.
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| 22 AUG 2009 at 6:16pm |
HalcyonSchattenjger
Posts : 1652
Joined: 17 NOV 2006
Status : Offline | pacing from start to finish = B+
avatar movements = D
atmosphere = A
script = B+
voice acting = A
I will play this one again.
_________________
Exercise your vision.
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| 23 AUG 2009 at 1:52am |
AnnacatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 97
Joined: 23 JAN 2005
Status : Offline | Well, I've started The Lost Crown-- haven't gotten very far, still just in the first chapter-- but I like it a lot.
The pace is slow so far, but it seems like the build-up to a good horror movie. Sort of creepy and foreboding, but not quite ready to tip its hand and show you everything. I'm certainly not bored, and I feel like the story is headed somewhere, so I don't mind being patient while the secrets are revealed.
Some nice unsettling touches, like Spoiler Alerteveryone seeming to know Nigel's name, the plate breaking in Harbour Cottage when no one is near it, the semi-audible faraway laughter, etc. that really add to the atmosphere.
So far I'm really glad I got this game. I'm feeling very into it.
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| 23 AUG 2009 at 3:55am |
| Deleted User | Admittedly the pace is slow at the beginning but it's presented that way for a reason. The style of the game is such that it’s just not meant to be rushed. I'm no expert on this but I felt that one of the best features in the overall creation of the story in this game was the apparent controversial ending and I can't over-emphasize the importance of observing and giving a lot of thought to everything that looks, sounds, and just feels a little strange as you proceed along. You do this one right and you’re much better off to grasp the big picture with this one.
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| 23 AUG 2009 at 6:06am |
hatshepsutIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 53
Joined: 10 JUL 2009
Location: US
Status : Offline | Played Jack Orlando this week. It was a fun gameplay for me. Jack and swearing were not strangers. When he made a mistake out would pop his favorite swear word, I found this very funny. There is also a punching fist that is fun to punch the bad guys with.
I started Final Destination the Secret of Larsons Folly today. It looks like it is going to be a nice lonely gameplay.
She Who Would Be King
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| 23 AUG 2009 at 2:07pm |
MeghanIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 92
Joined: 15 DEC 2008
Status : Online | I'm playing Memento Mori and I started Delaware St. John: The Curse of Midnight Manor and I will admit, the latter is giving me the creeps.
Especially because the voices of the girl that tells you to got to room 104 resembles one in a dream a few nights back *shudders*.
But Memento Mori is going well so far. I love her voice. And her flat! It's beautiful .
I gave you everything to die with a smile, all you wanted was to live for a while&&you took everything but it left you empty&&you can't replace me, you can't.&&&&It's almost over and here we are, we're stuck inside this salted earth together.&&you'll pierce my lungs, my limbs go numb&&as my colors fade out, you watch me bleed.&&you watch me bleed.
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| 24 AUG 2009 at 3:54am |
HalcyonSchattenjger
Posts : 1652
Joined: 17 NOV 2006
Status : Offline | I'd love to hear more about MM. I was put off by everything I've read so far.
_________________
Exercise your vision.
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| 24 AUG 2009 at 8:34pm |
ThaumaturgeJourneyman
Posts : 999
Joined: 11 MAY 2006
Status : Offline | I've not much to add (I think, however, that once I've completed The Lost Crown - which I believe to be likely to be soon - I'll probably end up digging- or starting- up some threads related to it and to Mr. Boakes's games), but I did want to say that I think that I disagree with you on the voice acting, Halcyon - I've found the acting to bother me more than the actor animations at times.
Admittedly, a few characters are voiced well - Nanny Noah's character seems to be voiced rather well for the most part, I think - but others I find less effective (Nigel included, I'm afraid).
MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
*ahem*
Sorry.
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| 24 AUG 2009 at 9:01pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Thaumaturge (24 AUG 2009 8:34pm)
I've not much to add (I think, however, that once I've completed The Lost Crown - which I believe to be likely to be soon - I'll probably end up digging- or starting- up some threads related to it and to Mr. Boakes's games), but I did want to say that I think that I disagree with you on the voice acting, Halcyon - I've found the acting to bother me more than the actor animations at times.
Admittedly, a few characters are voiced well - Nanny Noah's character seems to be voiced rather well for the most part, I think - but others I find less effective [highlight](Nigel included, I'm afraid[/highlight]).
I was bitterly unhappy about the strange way of punctuating his sentences that Nigel used, and was quite shocked to find Jonathan declare in his blog, that he spoke like that on purpose to try and emulate a certain movie style from early in the previous century.
I'll dig up the reference/link tomorrow.
I think he and other posters on his blog was calling it "Nigelese" or "Nigel-speak" or something like that... :
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| 24 AUG 2009 at 9:57pm |
ThaumaturgeJourneyman
Posts : 999
Joined: 11 MAY 2006
Status : Offline | Wow. 0_0
Well, I suppose that if that's what Mr. Boakes was going for, then fair enough - I suppose that I'm simply not sufficiently familiar with my movie history. Admittedly a movie-inspired dialogue style would not be entirely inappropriate for the game as I've seen it thus far, but, from my perspective, not being familiar with that film dialogue style, I found Nigel's acting to be a little distruptive to my immersion, I think. :/
MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
*ahem*
Sorry.
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 12:05am |
MeghanIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 92
Joined: 15 DEC 2008
Status : Online | Originally Posted By TAS (24 AUG 2009 3:54am)
I'd love to hear more about MM. I was put off by everything I've read so far.
It's the kind of game that seems right up my alley. Quite easy, I guess, with a dash of complication to smooth things out. I'm usually not too good at completing some games, so this is a relief. It doesn't seem as linear as some games (like the Art of Murders and Scorpio Ritual), but it seems to be somewhat along the lines of them. So far they have been inventory-related puzzles and one puzzle I don't really know how to describe.
My favorite parts are the decision making and controlling the character, which is like Still Life 2, but totally less buggy, which is very good, as I love the real time 3d (I believe that's what it's called) graphics.
So if you didn't really like the Art of Murders, you might not like this one. The story line was not really apparent in the beginning, but as it goes on, it picks up a bit.
I'm still trying to get my hands on the new Nancy Drew Dossier, but no such luck. I'm probably looking too soon for it in stores, but it's not on Big Fish yet :.
Other than that, I think I'm going to start Return to Mysterious Island 2, since I've put that one off for a while that I forgot I had it :.
I gave you everything to die with a smile, all you wanted was to live for a while&&you took everything but it left you empty&&you can't replace me, you can't.&&&&It's almost over and here we are, we're stuck inside this salted earth together.&&you'll pierce my lungs, my limbs go numb&&as my colors fade out, you watch me bleed.&&you watch me bleed.
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 1:25am |
AnnacatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 97
Joined: 23 JAN 2005
Status : Offline | Still playing The Lost Crown. I've just finished ghost hunting at the church, and have returned to the museum. I'm still really liking the game. It's fun, creepy, and atmospheric, and while it has enough puzzles to satisfy me, I don't find myself getting stuck, everything's pretty logical, and the plot is moving right along.
The game has managed to give me a few good scares already.
Only minor gripes...
Admittedly a movie-inspired dialogue style would not be entirely inappropriate for the game as I've seen it thus far, but, from my perspective, not being familiar with that film dialogue style, I found Nigel's acting to be a little distruptive to my immersion, I think. :/
I don't think it was the best artistic decision, even though it was deliberate. It would have been fine if it had been a little more subtle, just a nod to that kind of movie dialogue. Making it this extreme and unnatural doesn't work for me, especially when only one character talks that way.
What I find an even worse artistic decision is triggering certain of Nigel's phrases to repeat, instead of having something new after you've already done it once. Sometimes it doesn't matter, if it's logical that Nigel would say/think the same thing on completing the same action a second time or more, but sometimes it just doesn't make sense.
Like whenever a written reference to the name Ager has come up so far, Nigel has said "Ager... hm... Ager" etc., as though he might have heard it somewhere but can't quite place it. That made sense the first few times, but at this point we've heard enough about the Ager family that we have a pretty good idea what's going on with a couple of them. Nigel has even asked various characters some detailed and pointed questions about them. So having him suddenly act like he only half remembers who they are when there's a print reference is kind of jarring.
I also can't help but laugh when he still says "Nothing ventured" when he squeezes through the Fenland Eye, even though he's done it about ten times and it still just leads to the beach, just like it did the previous nine.
Still, only minor quibbles. I'm really liking the game overall. Definitely worth the purchase.
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 3:21am |
LisaAnnIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 45
Joined: 19 JAN 2008
Status : Online | Well something must be in the water as I'm currently playing The Lost Crown too, really enjoying it so far. The puzzles make sense and I'm so enjoying the uniqueness of using the equipment and I love all the shout outs to Dark Fall.
I just finished Dark Fall The Journal so I seem to be on a ghosthunting kick.
I also went completely insane and downloaded several games in addition to the ones I've already got waiting for me that I physically have copies of, for a grand total of 20 that stare at me everytime I open up my games folder.
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 6:31am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By LisaAnn (25 AUG 2009 3:21am)
Well [highlight]something must be in the water [/highlight]as I'm currently playing The Lost Crown too,
Hmm, could that be Dark Fall 3, I wonder? :
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 3:48pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By TheTraveler (24 AUG 2009 9:01pm)
I was bitterly unhappy about the strange way of punctuating his sentences that Nigel used, and was quite shocked to find Jonathan declare in his blog, that he spoke like that on purpose to try and emulate a certain movie style from early in the previous century.
I think this is the kind of speech pattern he was going for
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPxAgy7lBA
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 4:13pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Jenny100 (25 AUG 2009 3:48pm)
Originally Posted By TheTraveler (24 AUG 2009 9:01pm)
I was bitterly unhappy about the strange way of punctuating his sentences that Nigel used, and was quite shocked to find Jonathan declare in his blog, that he spoke like that on purpose to try and emulate a certain movie style from early in the previous century.
I think this is the kind of speech pattern he was going for
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPxAgy7lBA
Oooh, I just loved that clip! Thanks for that, Jenny! 8-) 8-)
I think you are quite correct in that that was the effect that Jonathan had tried to achieve. Sadly though (sorry Jonathan ) , I don't think he quite managed it. The difference is that this style is very melodramatic indeed, and though Jonathan got the pauses and the punctuation to be quite similar, he just didn't quite manage to convey that sense of melodrama.
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 4:21pm |
JKingSchattenjger
Posts : 2349
Joined: 4 MAY 2008
Location: 0
Status : Offline | I concur: The Lost Crown had the mechanics, but not the effect. It's useless to speculate on what might have been, though, and I do find myself ignoring the inflection in retrospect, thankfully.
You can't kill someone in a studio.
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| 25 AUG 2009 at 4:28pm |
| Deleted User | Hmmm- I think the pauses are supposed to serve to heighten the sense of drama; you know - the way that actors also used to exaggerate on stage. Strangely enough, the pauses sounded more natural to me as well, when it was coupled with the over-dramatic inflections and body-language/facial expressions in the movie clip.
Maybe Jonathan had simply been born in too late an age, because he merely ended up sounding haltingly prosaic to me... [smiley=laughing.gif]
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