| 13 JUL 2011 at 11:12pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | The general consensus around here seem to be that hidden object games are (for the most part) horrible. I have only played a handful, far too few to fully judge the genre, but I'm not a big fan of pixel hunting, in fact I really dislike pixel hunting, and hidden object games seem to have created an entire genre out of just that part of adventure games. Most (online) stores seem to clump hidden object games together with adventure games, without any clear indication of what game is what, so without a bit of genre knowledge, one might end up with a HoG instead of a proper AG, something that might be an issue for a new player, who is not yet fully familiar with the wonderful world of adventure games (they might end up passing judgement on the entire adventure genre and never return to it).
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 12:29am |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | I played one, because a friend worked on it.
I don't know, I found it a bit boring since I prefer some challenge in my games. Spot dead fish in a barrel of leaves is not my kind of challenge... I guess those games could be good if they had a really, really good story and objects that support it, that would give you more insight into what's going on in a subtle way. The one I played didn't, it was just random objects thrown around various locations...
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 1:08am |
| Deleted User | Since I let curiosity get the better of me I admit that I did play through one of them not all that long ago. :-X This particular game supposedly differentiated itself from other hidden object games by means of combining traditional adventure game elements integrated with the hidden object screens. [img]http://justadventure.com/yabb/Smilies/shrug.gif [/img] Well, I suppose it sounded interesting enough, at least in my perception. Even though the story itself seemed interesting and well thought out, playthrough was sooo uninspiring. Screen after screen of pixel hunting; back and forth, up and down, yada yada yada just to find some trinkets or keys that automatically advanced the plot quickly made the whole experience go south imo. [img]http://justadventure.com/yabb/Smilies/shaking_head.gif [/img]
One might perhaps take the photosensitive seizures warning far more seriously if one played these games on a regular basis. My only adverse reaction was a moderate headache.
I won’t say these games are horrible, some may even look pretty, but they darn sure are certainly a waste of time. My advice- find youself a good adventure game, a real one.
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 2:21am |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5536
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | There are a handful of HOGs with stronger adventure elements that I've really enjoyed (the Drawn series, the later Mystery Case Files games), but for the most part HOGs are very tedious and extremely repetitive in game play. The way they've overrun PC gaming is scary at best.
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 2:26am |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By skybluerob (13 JUL 2011 9:54pm)
I was interested to know what adventure game fans think of "Hidden Object" games?
Depends on which adventure gamers you ask and which hidden object games you're talking about. It also depends on whether you're talking about straight hidden object games, or interactive hidden object games (where you use the objects you find on other objects in the game), or "adventure-lite" type games like "rawn: The Painted Tower" or its sequel. At Gameboomers we have many members who play casual games like this when they can't find any new adventure games. The best ones have much more to them than squinting at a screen and trying to pick out tiny objects.
When I walk into a game store, I see a game with a cool cover called "The Haunting of the Manor of Doom" or some such title and think, 'that looks cool', and it turns out to be a frickin' hidden object game.
Yes that is aggravating. But as a rule, if you can find it in a store, it will be a hidden object game. I haven't seen any new adventure games in a brick and mortar store for years. I have to buy them all online.
Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (14 JUL 2011 1:07am)
Since I let curiosity get the better of me I admit that I did play through one of them not all that long ago.
I play them regularly -- at least the interactive and adventure-lite types. I've probably played over a hundred of them, and they vary significantly in quality. There will always be adventure gamers who don't enjoy them, just as there are adventure gamers who don't enjoy RPG's, strategy games, or other genres. They aren't the same as adventure games even though they share some similarities, just as RPG's and other genres may share similarities with adventure games but aren't the same.
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 5:03am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Andromus (14 JUL 2011 2:20am)
There are a handful of HOGs with stronger adventure elements that I've really enjoyed (the Drawn series, the later Mystery Case Files games), but for the most part HOGs are very tedious and extremely repetitive in game play. The way they've overrun PC gaming is scary at best.
I've loved playing the Drawn series games with the mesmerizing music themes and captivating atmosphere. Hoping for more soon as I am really anticipating the conclusion of the trilogy of the series. I guess it is hard to draw the fine line, in this case, between casual and adventure games. :-/
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 8:39am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Andromus (14 JUL 2011 2:20am)
There are a handful of HOGs with stronger adventure elements that I've really enjoyed (the Drawn series, the later Mystery Case Files games), but for the most part HOGs are very tedious and extremely repetitive in game play. The way they've overrun PC gaming is scary at best.
...though I must remind you, also, that although the Mystery Case File games are indeed traditional HOG's, the Drawn games are not HOG's. They might lean towards the casual/puzzle department, but the puzzles are not HOG puzzles, (there are puzzles here and there with HOG elements yes, but they far from turn the game into a traditional HOG) and the gameplay itself leans rather more towards an adventure game style, like CB mentioned. Big Fish doeth not neccessarily a HOG make. :-*
On topic: though the hidden object search might be fun the first time you play such a game, I agree that it soon becomes old. Out of the ones I'd tried, I'd recommend Smantha Swift (fun, and something a little bit different, so I should really get tips from Jenny as to which of the later ones are even more interactive), and the second Ravenhearst game. Sadly the story follows on from the first Ravenhearst game, wich is more of a pure HOG than the second one is.
There's a Sherlock Holmes game in the casual dept (Lost Cases of SH?) that is also rather fun, though I couldn't continue with Agatha Christie's " Peril at End House" because it was so boringly absolutely traditional HOG.
..and why I mention these, is that at Big Fish, you have some traditional Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie AG's mixed in with HOG's about the same two famous detectives. Very confusing if you don't know your adventure proper titles very well... [smiley=shaking_head.gif]
I do plan to still try out Sherlock Holmes and the Persian Carpet though. Nothing can keep me away from SH, even the threat of HOG's...
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 9:40am |
walshSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 384
Joined: 15 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | So is Drawn worth getting? I really don't like HOGs at all but I like the screenshots and if a lot of people say a game is good it usually is.
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 9:58am |
markornikovJourneyman
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Posts : 1301
Joined: 28 OCT 2011
Location: BE, Antwerp
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By walsh (14 JUL 2011 9:40am)
So is Drawn worth getting? I really don't like HOGs at all but I like the screenshots and if a lot of people say a game is good it usually is.
I wouldn't classify it as a HOG, it's a simplified point and click AG.
hotspots shimmer when you move over them and it's really obvious where you have to use certain items. But the puzzles are brilliant
The only complaint i have is the shortness of each installment :-/
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 10:21am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By walsh (14 JUL 2011 9:40am)
So is Drawn worth getting? I really don't like HOGs at all but I like the screenshots and if a lot of people say a game is good it usually is.
To agree with Markonikov, and like I said in my post just above yours, Walsh, ...the Drawn games are not HOG's. They might lean towards the casual/puzzle department, but the puzzles are not HOG puzzles, (there are puzzles here and there with HOG elements yes, but they far from turn the game into a traditional HOG) and the gameplay itself leans rather more towards an adventure game style, like CB mentioned.
It plays like a puzzle adventure with hints. Some puzzles are Myst-like, other puzzles are inventory puzzles. What puts the game into the casual department, are the hints feature, the relatively short length, and the fact that although the story starts off with a promise of having quite a lot of depth, in the end the actual "story" falls a bit flat towards the end of the second game. I must admit that I was quite disappointed with the ending of the second game - I had expected more of a denouement there.
The games are very beautiful and atmospheric though, with some original ideas, and a lovely soundtrack and nicely done narration (first game especially) and in the graphics department the game delivers some pleasing eyecandy from an artistic, atmospheric POV.
The games are definitely worth playing. You don't have to use the hint system, in which case the gameplay is pretty close to that of an adventure game.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 7:12pm |
Lucien21Guild Master
Posts : 4876
Joined: 9 JUL 2003
Location: 0
Status : Offline | This should be in the other games forum
Dear Diary, My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a bodycount.
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 7:14pm |
skybluerobIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 10
Joined: 25 SEP 2006
Status : Offline | Some interesting replies. I was thinking that some players must like them, as they wouldn't make so many of the darn things otherwise.
I'll only turn to Hidden Object games when I have played every last proper adventure game in existance (which won't be for a looong time).
A poster earlier said that some adventure gamers wouldn't like these as some adventure gamers don't like RPGs and that's a fair point (sorry I don't know how to quote other posts).
However I still think all gamers could look at a RPG like say Mass Effect and think 'wow, cool game'. However, propably not the case watching someone squinting at the screen trying to find a starfish in the middle of a living room. I just don't get it.
But the biggest problem (as mentioned by another poster) is that a newcomer may pick one up thinking that it's an 'adventure game'. Then they play it and think it's sh*t and that all adventure games are like this and sh*t, when they're not.
Anyway, interesting discussion and that's what this website is all about.
At least I now have a purpose in life. Abolish Hidden Object games (or at least force a splash screen to be displayed at the start of each of them saying "THIS IS A HIDDEN OBJECT GAME, NOT, I REPEAT, NOT AN ADVENTURE GAME. By order of the Queen".
Rob.
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 7:32pm |
markornikovJourneyman
Posts : 1301
Joined: 28 OCT 2011
Location: BE, Antwerp
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By skybluerob (14 JUL 2011 7:14pm)
But the biggest problem (as mentioned by another poster) is that a newcomer may pick one up thinking that it's an 'adventure game'. Then they play it and think it's sh*t and that all adventure games are like this and sh*t, when they're not.
Anyway, interesting discussion and that's what this website is all about.
At least I now have a purpose in life. Abolish Hidden Object games (or at least force a splash screen to be displayed at the start of each of them saying "THIS IS A HIDDEN OBJECT GAME, NOT, I REPEAT, NOT AN ADVENTURE GAME. By order of the Queen".
I don't care what people say, some gamers have strong opinions about adventure gamers, i doubt HOG's makes gamers turn against us.
What is troublesome though that if HOG's generate more income (lower costs and more buyers) then AG's, developers may abandon AG's even more. Therefore it would be wise to boycott HOG's so that we hit the developers where it hurts: in their wallets
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 7:54pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Lucien21 (14 JUL 2011 7:12pm)
This should be in the other games forum
..that would totally defeat the object of the thread, since not all of the adventure gamers visit there, and the discussion is about how adventure gamers feel about HOGs, so ....
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 14 JUL 2011 at 8:28pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By markornikov (14 JUL 2011 7:32pm)
Originally Posted By skybluerob (14 JUL 2011 7:14pm)
But the biggest problem (as mentioned by another poster) is that a newcomer may pick one up thinking that it's an 'adventure game'. Then they play it and think it's sh*t and that all adventure games are like this and sh*t, when they're not.
Anyway, interesting discussion and that's what this website is all about.
At least I now have a purpose in life. Abolish Hidden Object games (or at least force a splash screen to be displayed at the start of each of them saying "THIS IS A HIDDEN OBJECT GAME, NOT, I REPEAT, NOT AN ADVENTURE GAME. By order of the Queen".
I don't care what people say, some gamers have strong opinions about adventure gamers, i doubt HOG's makes gamers turn against us.
[highlight]What is troublesome though that if HOG's generate more income (lower costs and more buyers) then AG's, developers may abandon AG's even more[/highlight]. Therefore it would be wise to boycott HOG's so that we hit the developers where it hurts: in their wallets
That has been worrying me as well, not just with casual games and adventure developers, but action games and RPG devs as well, who also seem to have been leaving behind RPG's in favor of action games, just like adventure game devs have been looking to the casual market to get a bigger market base.
I wonder if they don't take into consideration that the more "hardcore" adventure gamers and RPGers would be prepared to pay more for the kind of games they want?
On the other hand, I suppose an additional factor to factor into the profit margin, is that the typical casual game is cheaper and faster to make, especially with HOGs.
What makes me feel rather sad is that the artistic/creative aspect doesn't seem to matter anymore these days- only profit margins. I mean, a good writer or composer doesn't write or compose music just for the profit they can make, but because of their inner urge to create a quality product .
(Unless you're a hack churning our bodice rippers for the Mills and Boone type market, of course...) :-/
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 12:18am |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (14 JUL 2011 8:39am)
Out of the ones I'd tried, I'd recommend Smantha Swift (fun, and something a little bit different, so I should really get tips from Jenny as to which of the later ones are even more interactive)
The Witch's Prison had a single hidden object search in the whole game. The bulk of it was a puzzle/adventure game with puzzles of varying difficulty.
Azada: Ancient Magic isn't even new any more, but it was a collection of mini-adventure segments based on books and fairy tales.
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 2:55am |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5536
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (14 JUL 2011 8:39am)
Originally Posted By Andromus (14 JUL 2011 2:20am)
There are a handful of HOGs with stronger adventure elements that I've really enjoyed (the Drawn series, the later Mystery Case Files games), but for the most part HOGs are very tedious and extremely repetitive in game play. The way they've overrun PC gaming is scary at best.
...though I must remind you, also, that although the Mystery Case File games are indeed traditional HOG's, the Drawn games are not HOG's. They might lean towards the casual/puzzle department, but the puzzles are not HOG puzzles, (there are puzzles here and there with HOG elements yes, but they far from turn the game into a traditional HOG) and the gameplay itself leans rather more towards an adventure game style, like CB mentioned. Big Fish doeth not neccessarily a HOG make. :-*
A good point. I have a bad habit of labeling any casual game with even minor HOG elements as a HOG, and that's not really fair to the Drawn series as it goes far beyond the rather mundane traditional HOG.
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 7:57am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Jenny100 (15 JUL 2011 12:18am)
Originally Posted By placeholder (14 JUL 2011 8:39am)
Out of the ones I'd tried, I'd recommend Smantha Swift (fun, and something a little bit different, so I should really get tips from Jenny as to which of the later ones are even more interactive)
The Witch's Prison had a single hidden object search in the whole game. The bulk of it was a puzzle/adventure game with puzzles of varying difficulty.
Azada: Ancient Magic isn't even new any more, but it was a collection of mini-adventure segments based on books and fairy tales.
Jenny, thanks so much for that. I wish I had known this earlier - I've seen Azada at a good price, but because it was in amongst the casual games, I had assumed it was just another HOG. I'll definitely get it if I can still find it.
You know, sometimes one has just a few minutes of spare time in which you don't want to commit to an AG proper (like late at night when you are tired), when a casual or puzzle game can be a nice little diversion.
For just this very reason I started on Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Persian Carpet last night. Well, it is a HOG, but not the usual type of HOG - you only need to find 4 or 5 "clue" objects at the crime scenes, and then do little puzzles with them, like piece together a torn letter. My heavens - sadly I had to do one of the most tedious routines I have ever had to do in game - you have to wipe the paint off of an entire painting with mouse movements to reveal the picture underneath... - this is worse than hack 'n slash! [smiley=zombie.gif]
It looks like the game might be fun - so I'm not giving up on it yet...
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 2:16pm |
portiafimbriataIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 76
Joined: 12 FEB 2009
Status : Offline | Count me in the pool of people who play HOGs when there are no adventure games on the horizon to suit my taste. Most are mediocre and I play them looking for a diamond in the rough. Most recently, Mystery Trackers: Raincliff was somewhat of an unexpected delight. It was light on HOG scenes and heavy on puzzles, some of which were a tad challenging.
Cthulu loves me, this I know&&The Necronomicon tells me so
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 6:05pm |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | There are so few new adventure games for my tastes, that I play far more casual games now. Here's a list of what I've played so far in 2010 and 2011 (blue are casuals):
2010
Last Half of Darkness Tomb of Zojir - Dec 7 -Jan 17
Uru Live
Big Brain Wolf
Fall Trilogy 1 - Separation
Echos of the Past Royal House of Stone
Cate West Vanishing Files
James patterson Women's Club Twice in a Blue Moon
Steve the Sherrif
Slip-Space: The Burma Shave Analogy - May 19 - June 11
Drawn the Painted Tower
Amertis - June 11 - Aug 2
Redemption Cemetery Curse of the Raven
Haunted Maonor Lord of Mirrors
Puzzle Bots
Dream Chronicles Book of Air
Mystic Diary Haunted Island
Dead Time Stories
Drawn Dark Flight
Hidden Secrets the Nightmare
Haunted Hotel 2 - Believe the Lies
James Patterson Womens Murder Club - Little Black Lies
Eden's Quest Hunt for Akua
Love and Death Bitten
Dark Tales Edgar Allen Poe Black Cat
Fall Trilogy 2 - Reconstruction
2011
Mystery Case Files - 13th Skull CE
Nancy Drew Warning at Waverly Academy - Jan 22- Feb 27
The Filmmaker - Aug 7/10 - March 6/11
Rhem 3 - March 7 - March 26
Rhem 4 - March 26 - April 10
Tiny Bang Story -
Blood Oath
Fall Trilogy 3 - Revelation
Gravely Silent House of Deadlock
Midnight Mysteries 3- Death on the Mississippi
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 7:32pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Well, I'm still busy with Sherlock Holmes and the Persian Carpet, and although you do have to click for objects inbetween puzzles, this definitely seems to be pretty much a puzzle game mixed in with the HOG screens - the higher the level, the more puzzles.
After this one, I'd definitely like to try some other puzzle games, so I'm glad of this thread! Are there any puzzle games in that huge collection of yours that you could recommend, Colpet? Nice to see you around again, btw.)
(PS. I can't wait for the next real Sherlock adventure game to come along...)
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 8:11pm |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | After this one, I'd definitely like to try some other puzzle games, so I'm glad of this thread! Are there any puzzle games in that huge collection of yours that you could recommend, Colpet? (Nice to see you around again, btw.)
Sherlock Holmes Persian Carpet is one of my favorite HOGs. Of the above list I really liked:
the Drawn games
parts 1 and 2 of Fall Trilogy ( the 3rd one sucked)
James Patterson Twice in a Blue Moon
MCF 13th Skull
Tiny Bang story (not near as good as Machinarium, but still fun)
Puzzle Bots
Eden's Quest Hunt for Akua - similar to the Professor Laton games, lots of puzzles.
P.S. I check in daily, but have been caught up with RL. Any spare time is spent with A Song of Ice and Fire reread and looking forward to start the long awaited Dance with Dragons.
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
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| 15 JUL 2011 at 8:20pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By colpet (15 JUL 2011 8:10pm)
Eden's Quest Hunt for Akua - similar to the Professor Laton games, lots of puzzles.
I haven't played that one.
I just checked the promo for it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2dkzQ4l_X0
The music sounds an awful lot like the music from The Dig to me.
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| 17 JUL 2011 at 10:04am |
walshSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 384
Joined: 15 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By markornikov (14 JUL 2011 9:58am)
Originally Posted By walsh (14 JUL 2011 9:40am)
So is Drawn worth getting? I really don't like HOGs at all but I like the screenshots and if a lot of people say a game is good it usually is.
I wouldn't classify it as a HOG, it's a simplified point and click AG.
hotspots shimmer when you move over them and it's really obvious where you have to use certain items. But the puzzles are brilliant
The only complaint i have is the shortness of each installment :-/
Having played it for a bit, I think I agree with you - it's an adventure. It actually reminds me of some of the early 90s games like Death Gate or Gateway with a simplified interface.
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