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17 posters

    Beta Thread

    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


    Posts : 5142
    Join date : 2013-09-01
    Age : 61
    Location : Western Australia

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    Post by JustTheFacts Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:28 pm

    NEWLY UPDATED TO 8 NOV

    For those of us who'd like to know what to look forward to!

    I'll add any new ones to the top of the list here, but this is everything still out there, I (or rather, Pondfriends) got rid of the released ones.

    Daily Magic
    (Oct 17th, 2014) Dark Dimensions 5: Homecoming BETA (536,31 MB) -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27997/dark-dimensions-homecoming-survey/index.html


    Eipix Entertainment
    Sea of Lies 3: Burning Coast BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27773/sea-of-lies-burning-coast-survey/index.html
    Off the Record 3: The Art of Deception BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27813/off-the-record-the-art-of-deception-survey/index.html
    Oct 21st, 2014 Phantasmat 3: The Endless Night BETA (277,08 MB) -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/28092/phantasmat-the-endless-night-survey/index.html 
    Dark Parables 8: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide BETA -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/28004/dark-parables-little-mermaid-tide-survey/index.html


    Elephant Games 
    Mystery Case Files 11: Dire Grove, Sacred Grove BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27114/mystery-case-files-dire-sacred-grove-survey/index.html
    Grim Tales 7: The Color of Fright BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27323/grim-tales-color-of-fright-survey/index.html
    Haunted Hotel 7: Death Sentence BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27326/haunted-hotel-death-sentence-survey/index.html
    Christmas Stories 3: Hans Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier BETA -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27337/christmas-stories-3-tin-soldier-survey/index.html
    Surface 6: Game of Gods BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27398/surface-game-of-gods-survey/index.html


    ERS Games Studios
    Christmas Eve: The Secret of Pandora BETA #2 - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/24752/christmas-eve-the-secret-of-pandora-survey/index.html
    Oct 24th, 2014 Christmas Eve: Midnight's Call BETA#3 (346,11 MB) -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/28120/christmas-eve-midnights-call-survey/index.html
    Haunted Legends 5: Stone Guest BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27969/haunted-legends-stone-guest-survey/index.html
    Twilight Phenomena 3: The Incredible Show BETA (375,85 MB) -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27967/twilight-phenomena-the-incredible-show-survey/index.html
    (Nov 3rd, 2014) Reveries 2: Soul Collector BETA (226,39 MB) -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/28212/reveries-soul-collector-survey/index.html


    Artifex Mundi 



    Boomzap Entertaiment


    Maria Glorum Games



    Mad Head Games 
    Nevertales 3: Smoke and Mirrors BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27377/nevertales-smoke-and-mirrors-survey/index.html


    Orneon Games


    Brave Giant Studios 
    Demon Hunter 2: New Chapter BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27602/demon-hunter-2-new-chapter-survey/index.html


    Vast Studios


    Artogon Games
    (Nov 3rd, 2014) Shiver 4: The Lily's Requiem BETA#3 (310,85 MB) -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26807/shiver-the-lilys-requiem-survey/index.html


    Elefun Games


    Deep Shadows Games


    Alawar
    Weird Park 3: The Final Show BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26847/weird-park-the-final-show-survey/index.html
    Kronville: Stolen Dreams BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27300/kronville-stolen-dreams-survey/index.html


    Other developers
    Mysteries of the Past: Shadow of the Wendigo BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/21808/mysteries-of-the-past-shadow-wendigo-survey/index.html
    The Curse of Port Bridge BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/24574/tales-untold-the-curse-of-port-bridge-survey/index.html
    Stranger than Fiction: Ghosts of Seattle BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/24913/stranger-than-fiction-ghost-in-seattle-survey/index.html
    Unrecognized Geniuses: The Master of Living Things BETA -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/25223/unrecognized-geniuses-master-living-survey/index.html
    Ancient Tales: The Roots of Evil BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/25621/ancient-tales-the-roots-of-evil-survey/index.html
    Haunted Camp: Evil Games BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/25707/haunted-camp-evil-games-survey/index.html
    Nightwalkers: Drawn to the Woods BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26098/nightwalkers-drawn-to-the-woods-survey/index.html
    Worlds Apart: The Descent BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26440/worlds-apart-the-descent-survey/index.html
    Fairly Twisted Tales 2: Snow White Black Night BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26457/fairly-twisted-tales-snow-white-night-survey/index.html
    Small Town Terrors 3: Galdor's Bluff BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26980/small-town-terrors-galdors-bluff-survey/index.html
    Dreamscapes 2: Nightmare's Heir BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26848/dreamscapes-nightmares-heir-survey/index.html
    Mountain Trap 2: Under the Cloak of Fear BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27328/mountain-trap-2-under-cloak-of-fear-survey/index.html
    Frankenstein: Master of Death BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27287/frankenstein-master-of-death-survey/index.html
    Love Chronicles 4: A Winter's Spell BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27784/love-chronicles-a-winters-spell-survey/index.html
    Contract with the Devil BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27302/contract-with-the-devil-survey/index.html
    Tearstone 2: Wolves & Owls BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27633/tearstone-wolves-owls-survey/index.html
    The Secret Order 4: Beyond Time BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27910/the-secret-order-beyond-time-survey/index.html
    Oct 21st, 2014 Taken Souls: Blood Ritual BETA (773,18 MB) -www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/26920/taken-souls-blood-ritual-survey/index.html
    Oct 30th, 2014 Lost Lands 2: The Four Horsemen BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/28160/lost-lands-the-four-horsemen-survey/index.html
    Oct 31st, 2014 The Emptiness BETA (1,019 GB) - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27527/the-emptiness-survey/index.html



    4Friends Games
    Living Legends 3: Wrath of the Beast BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27951/living-legends-wrath-of-the-beast-survey/index.html


    O2D Studios
    Mythic Wonders 2: The Child of Prophecy BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27442/mythic-wonders-the-child-of-prophecy-survey/index.html


    Hot Lava Games / Mumbo Jumbo

    Midnight Mysteries 6: Ghostwriting BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27316/midnight-mysteries-ghostwriting-survey/index.html


    Cateia Games
    Myths of Orion: Light from the North BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27023/myths-of-orion-light-from-the-north-survey/index.html


    Two Desperados


    BLAM! Games
    Limits of Sanity: Paradise Island BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/24342/limits-of-sanity-paradise-island-survey/index.html
    Revived Legends 2: Titan's Revenge BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27003/revived-legends-titans-revenge-survey/index.html
    Dangerous Games 2: Illusionist BETA#3 - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27655/dangerous-games-illusionist-survey/index.html



    NON HOG Games
    Fishdom 4: Depths of Time BFG-BETA - www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/27881/fishdom-depths-of-time-survey/index.html


    Last edited by JustTheFacts on Sat Nov 08, 2014 5:00 am; edited 25 times in total
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:54 am

    Strewth! Went to pondfriends to swipe their beta links (after an unflatteringly overdue invitation to post my reviews there).

    I now have a folder on my desktop with close to 50 games in it! I like reviewing from the beta's because you can take your time. You are not limited by time only by the end of the demo. Love this because it's more relaxing, and can check my facts if I forget something.


    Last edited by JustTheFacts on Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:11 am; edited 1 time in total
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:06 am

    THIRST FOR GLORY: BEYOND ILLUSIONS

    Wonderful Story, Great Game!*****


    BASED ON BETA

    FIRST IMPRESSIONS
    Excellent start. The opening fills us in on what’s happening. We are the ‘lovely assistant’ and wife to Jimmy, a talented illusionist, and we are offered a chance to compete in the Illusionist Competition.

    SIGHTS & SOUNDS
    The graphics are lovely hand-drawn, in the style of ERS, colourful and dynamic. The characters’ movements, however, were sometimes very stilted. The sound is excellent, particularly the voiceovers, which sometimes sound a bit ‘false’, but only when someone is speaking onstage – where it’s appropriate.

    WHAT’S HAPPENING?
    At the beginning of the game, Timmy disappears in the middle of our most popular trick, and we have no idea what has happened. But other illusionists have disappeared as well. Our main competition is a Tiger tamer called Nathan, who also has many other illusions up his sleeve. He uses mechanical devices to convince people they are somewhere they’re not. It seems that he is ‘cheating’, and may be responsible for the disappearances.

    GAMEPLAY
    This is not a difficult game, but the puzzles, though somewhat familiar, are redesigned into a trickier form. And they are interesting. The HOPs are basically interactive lists. There is a journal, task list, and interactive jump map. Hint is directional and quick, on the easiest of 4 options.

    Some gadgets add to the fun. A pair of special glasses that see through illusions, and an electricity tracker that, well, tracks electricity. And it is fun to get to perform some magic tricks.

    CE BLING!
    Achievements. The usual. 35 morphing doves as collectibles.

    COMBINED IMPACT
    Great fun. Not necessarily the best game we’ll see this year, it’s certainly a wonderful one.

    I recommend this game!

    Try It Here!


    Last edited by JustTheFacts on Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:35 am; edited 2 times in total
    volnole68
    volnole68


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    Post by volnole68 Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:08 am

    So glad you are doing this Just.  Thanks!!
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:18 am

    You're welcome! Happy happy to do it! Happy bounce 
    djrum
    djrum


    Posts : 1073
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    Location : Ohio

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    Post by djrum Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:03 am

    I miss the Sneak Peek Thread so much at BFG and I used to read it all the time.

    Thanks, Genki & JustTheFacts for starting one here!!!!

    On a side note: After BFG closed CCC, I thought I would check out Pond Friends, but I couldn't find it. Now, I don't even want to. All the information I look for is right here at Genki's, so there's no need to go anywhere else.
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:11 am

    Same, same! All but the "Sneak Peeks", which they have for all the beta surveys, not just big fish. Even though they've grown really fast, they haven't got reviewers, apparently, and so are 'head hunting' me. But I have no need for HUGE forums with so many people I get lost. And I don't like their anti-bigfish ethos. I may gripe from time to time about the forums, but I love Big Fish! flutter eyelashes 

    Still, have bookmarked the thread and will update regularly.   Evil Grin
    RenaissanceMom
    RenaissanceMom


    Posts : 785
    Join date : 2013-01-05
    Age : 62
    Location : NYC

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    Post by RenaissanceMom Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:18 am

    djrum wrote:
    On a side note: After BFG closed CCC, I thought I would check out Pond Friends, but I couldn't find it. Now, I don't even want to. All the information I look for is right here at Genki's, so there's no need to go anywhere else.
    I hear you! I was never even interested in them. I feel like all my "pond friends" are right here.  FLOWERRS 
    Thanks JTF!!  heart flowers
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:36 am

    Chronicle Keepers (: The Dream Garden)

    Developer: Play Way

    Alright But Fuzzy***

    BASED ON BETA

    FIRST IMPRESSIONS
    From the start I was less than happy with the graphics on this one. The opening scenes are cartoony,  pixelated and grainy. So are the locations, but the characters and the close ups and HOP scenes are very nicely done. Particularly the leprechaun.

    WHAT’S HAPPENING?
    Your magic medallion suddenly starts glowing and pointing out otherwise invisible things, like the crest on a book in a store window. Clearly you must have it. Maybe it is related to the disappearance of your mother. Opening the book, you are captured by it and drawn into its world, somewhere totally alien and mysterious. With lots of scary stuff, and loads of magic.

    GAMEPLAY
    HOPs are a little different. As well as the standard word list, with its items that are hidden highlighted in yellow, there are also objects that are only visible with the help of your medallion. Your medallion makes many other important things visible in locations as well. There are runic symbols and pieces of pictures to collect to find out the story. And sometimes items needed for puzzles etc will also be hidden magically.

    Other notes: the directional hint empties for each arrow of direction, but refills quickly, at least on the lowest difficulty level of 3. The words in the HOP lists change from white to grey when found. This is not invisible enough and very annoying. Interesting trick with a cut scene within a close up window, while outside location waited it to finish before changing. It worked well. I don’t know if that would be cheaper or less arduous to do, but it seems like a good way to handle low definition graphics, avoiding those awful opening cut scenes.

    COMBINED IMPACT
    Okay game. In the survey I said I probably wouldn’t buy it. At least, it would never be very high on my wish list. The medallion is a fun inclusion, but not enough to tart up an otherwise mediocre game. Still, for a DD or coupon, sure!

    I recommend this game!

    Try It Here!


    Last edited by JustTheFacts on Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:23 am; edited 2 times in total
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:08 am

    (Grim Legends:) The Abyss

    I Liked It ****


    FIRST IMPRESSIONS
    The intro is up close and personal, right in your face. It is melodramatic and straightaway you know this is going to be a supernatural game involving witches, demons and curses. Not to mention revenge. One thing I really liked from the beginning – lots of people and activity going on around the locations. I get tired of empty, decrepit and filthy rooms.

    SIGHTS & SOUNDS
    This game has an eerie, spooky atmosphere, as opposed to scary spooky. The vibrant colours and cartoony graphics look good, and are clear and detailed. The cut scene into the abyss early in the game is breathtaking – literally. The music is superb, really setting the tone of the game, and I jumped more than once. A lot of voiceover, and well done.

    WHAT’S HAPPENING
    A ferocious bear attacks our carriage as we head towards our sister’s wedding. And things just keep getting worse!  She introduces her fiancé, and the next thing we know is she is dragged off by the bear, and we and her fiancé must find and save her. That soon becomes a task that requires magic. We catch up with the bear and our sister Lilly, but then new dangers present themselves from an unexpected source.

    MAKING PROGRESS
    There not a lot of HOPs in this one. We have both FROGs (fragmented object game) and Progressive Silhouette (find & use) HOPs. There are some interesting puzzles. Nothing too hard. More a case of entertainment than challenge.

    There is an interactive jump map, that showed active tasks available, but it annoyed me. Seemed that every time I thought to consult it, there were no active tasks indicated – just when you actually need it! There was also and good journal, and a directional hint.

    FAMOUS LAST WORDS
    I enjoyed this game. The quality was excellent for a standalone SE, and not so difficult that a walkthrough would be necessary.

    I recommend this game!

    Try It Here!


    Last edited by JustTheFacts on Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:39 am; edited 1 time in total
    djrum
    djrum


    Posts : 1073
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    Post by djrum Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:27 am

    Hmm...(Grim Legends:) The Abyss sounds like a beta I did awhile back, only that wasn't the title at the time.
    The storyline seems to be ringing a bell.  Hmm... 

    Same here, JustTheFacts. I'd have a problem with dissing the only site I buy games from and I love BFG, too! Though I may not agree with their business decisions.
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:33 am

    Yes, I did the beta for this a while ago. Been hanging around waiting for it to be released.
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:46 am

    Through Andrea’s Eyes

    Story:  Your daughter is in a coma and you decide to help her by participating in an experimental treatment to save her. You must go into her mind and pull together the pieces of her shattered memories in order to draw her back into the real world.

    Developer: Anino Games

    Top Quality Fun... ****

    FIRST IMPRESSIONS
    Very low key start to this game, but a very touching one. We join a mother and her young daughter on just another ordinary day. But tragedy strikes and Andrea is left in a coma. There’s a bit too much dialogue at first, but it’s justified by the need to explain the procedure.

    SIGHTS & SOUNDS
    The graphics look really great. Detailed and boldly colourful. I particularly liked the HO scenes, where items were very clear and easy to see, and realistic, not photo realism, if you can understand the difference. The voice of the wizard is excellent. Music struck me as pleasant.

    WHAT’S HAPPENING
    We are charting our way through Andrea’s mind, tracking down her fears and feelings. Disturbingly there are nasty little imp like creatures populating her emotional universe, frightening her and creating havoc (really cute in an evil kind of way). The boogieman is horribly well done.

    MAKING PROGRESS
    It is a little slow to get started while we are learning the backstory, and the purpose of this treatment, but it picks up quickly once we enter Andrea consciousness. The HO scenes so far have been interactive lists, the puzzles have been okay, not especially difficult or new. The adventure tasks take up the most of the time, with interesting quests along the way.
    Interactive jump map shows active areas, journal keeps notes and task list.

    BLING!
    One unique feature is the option to come back to reality via the ‘wake up’ button. Unlike other games with the same story, part of this one is actually played in the real world, where you gather memorable objects from your daughter’s life to ‘scan’ into the memory machine for use in the dream world. Nifty.

    FAMOUS LAST WORDS
    I enjoyed this game immensely. Top quality and fun. Looking forward to its release.

    I recommend this game!
    genkicoll
    genkicoll


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    Post by genkicoll Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:46 am

    Coolness Sunny  Thanks for the beta thread, Justie!
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:52 pm

    Final Cut [3]: Homage

    Developer: Eipix

    Final Cut Is The Deepest!*****

    BASED ON BETA

    FIRST IMPRESSIONS
    Definitely the best yet of the Final Cut series, this game has a new twist that has it playing inside the world of another game. There’s also a new ever-present bad guy, reminiscent of “Dorian Grey Syndrome”. The mansion has changed yet again, this time we see it during the holiday season. (What’s with this Xmas obsession recently, developers? Yeah, I know it was Xmas just a little while ago, but normally doesn't affect subject matter.)

    SIGHTS & SOUNDS
    The opening scenes are in sepia, movie quality graphics. Not my cup of tea, but they add authenticity to the game’s atmosphere of the art deco era, which has been faithfully portrayed in both the other Final Cut games as well. Someone on the team must be a real fan! The graphics in the locations are as superb as you could want them to be. The integrated people are always a buzz. The HOPs are crystal clear, with large well lit objects. I love the cursor.

    The music is annoying. It is a ‘revving up’ tune, which is fine, but it just goes on and on. Perhaps that part of the game is not yet complete? The voiceovers are good, but seem a little bit off. But I’m quibbling. A great touch is the ominous voice of our bad guy coming to us while we are doing an HOP! Creepy! Early on, there is a lot of monologue diatribes by the bad guy. Perhaps too much for some, but it didn’t bother me.

    WHAT’S HAPPENING?
    We meet with a journalist who says he is convinced there is a serial killer on the loose who is staging his murders like scenes from our father’s greatest movies. I really love this story. What a great idea! Anyway, before we can get really into it, a package arrives for us that is from the killer, and we are “invited” to return to our mansion and prevent another murder. It is our old gardener Frank who’s in danger, and where we find is astonishing! We are on the deck of the ship from Dear Old Dad’s favourite movie “Sea Of Lies”! Brilliant!

    Can’t wait to see if that’s the only “movie” we’ll star in, can’t wait to see who this guy is, who has clearly been spying on us right from the time of Dad’s death. Those of you who have not played the first two games of this series may well want to play them first, because it really does make it easier to appreciate the story. And it wouldn’t hurt to have played other Eipix games as well, to better enjoy the joke.

    GAMEPLAY
    Varied HOP styles along with new and sometimes challenging puzzles keeps your attention in this game. There are interactive word lists, silhouettes, and HOPs within another, nested in much the same way as the game stories are. No mention is made of an alternative game, but the previous Final Cut games have a Match-3 option. The puzzles vary from ludicrously easy to "where’s the SG"? One puzzle I particularly love is a 3D maze. Really cleverly done and fun to play.

    Getting around is tricky because the signature feature of this game is the film projector which alters our perceptions of reality. So a given place may swap between two interpretations by the flip of a switch, and you must achieve your goals by travelling between them. There is a directional hint, but if you are in the wrong “view”, you will have to refill it. There is also a interactive jump map which is unusual in the way it displays the various locations, but again does not allow you to jump between views. The journal has objectives and a diary.

    There is one thing that could be better. The loading between locations is a bit slow.

    COMBINED IMPACT
    Wonderful! I was not a big fan of the first Final Cut, but I could see its quality and artistic merit. This game, though, is five stars all the way for me. I can hardly contain myself, speculating on the identity of the villain!

    I recommend this game!

    Try It Here!
    Frodo
    Frodo


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    Post by Frodo Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:06 am

    Thanks for doing this, JustTheFacts.   Big smile    I'm another one who misses the Sneak Peek thread at BFG.  And I haven't had a beta for AGES   Rolling Eyes
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:21 am

    Well, you'll have plenty to choose from from now on! Don't know if all of them will still be open for responses, but that isn't necessarily the point is it? It's just knowing what is coming your way!

    Like the latest in - Grim Tales, Nightmares From The Deep, Dark Tales, Dark Parables, and the latest from Mystery Trackers - Raincliff Phantoms!! Looking forward to all of them. Bit of a loss where to start, so many goodies!
    luvtoread
    luvtoread


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    Post by luvtoread Sun Jan 26, 2014 5:47 am

    Its nice to have a Beta thread here.   I did  couple of them from the Pond. 
    A new MT game... Happy bounce
    JustTheFacts
    JustTheFacts


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    Post by JustTheFacts Sun Jan 26, 2014 6:20 am

    Am testing the new Dark Tales. Now, I'm officially in love with M. Dupin, so I'm biased, but boy am I wowed! So many clever new ideas in one game! And fun! Not too hard, but with enough flexibility that it could be if you customised it that way.

    Had to take a break, exhausted from all the fun! Another great reason for betas! I reckon I'll probably play this twice before I write my review, am enjoying it so much and don't want to leave anything out!
    JustTheFacts
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    Post by JustTheFacts Sun Jan 26, 2014 6:53 am

     Whew~! typingcat Belly laugh Me and Jackpot the cat got back into Dark Tales 6 after our rest, and had 30 seconds left to play to the end of the demo! I guess my subconscious is geared to demo-time  Hmm... Better to refuel, then I'm back in the trenches! ThanksMeal

    Frodo
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    Post by Frodo Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:01 am

    Love the Dark Tales games.  Can't wait for the new one to be finished.   Big smile 
    And JustTheFacts, you'll have to share Monseuir Dupin, I'm afraid.  He's one of my favourite game characters.   Happy bounce
    JustTheFacts
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    Post by JustTheFacts Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:20 am

    Think we'll have to share with a few hundred others too!  La la la! He's my number one favourite character, with Sooky in Dying for Daylight my next.  Don't get to see a lot of her. Cry 
    JustTheFacts
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    Post by JustTheFacts Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:41 pm

    Dark Tales [6] (Edgar Allan Poe’s):
    (The Fall Of The) House Of Usher


    Story:  Join Detective Dupin in solving another Edgar Allan Poe mystery. This case will take you both to the home of the Usher twins. The twins suffer from a unique and strange ailment, leaving them totally weak all their lives. Each suffers whatever befalls the other. Now, the sister has gone missing from their home. It is critical that the missing twin is found before both suffer some misfortune.

    Developer: ERS

    Curiously Creepy Case*****

    FIRST IMPRESSIONS
    One of the lovely things about this series is that each story stands alone, and is sufficient in itself, while they also linked by the illustrious career of the famous detective M. Dupin, and of course, ourselves. With each new mystery our role has grown, and this investigation finds us with not only our own office, but a lab as well, where we must analyse vital evidence! [Note: I suspect this is a CE only extra]

    SIGHTS & SOUNDS
    Beautiful hand painted graphics, clear and colourful, with excellent cut scenes. The acting is very good, in particular the melancholy twins are very convincing. The locations are richly detailed and varied, a delight to the eye.

    The soundtrack is great. The series signature tune is joined by jaunty but mild music, then with sudden startlingly loud and unexpected crescendos. Some delightful violin and piano pieces. The voiceovers are nicely done, although some of the accents were a little too broadly American for my taste.

    WHAT’S HAPPENING?
    We have been called to the estate home of the Usher family by their doctor. The last survivors of the family are twins who have been ailing all their lives with a mysterious illness. As well, each suffers whatever befalls the other, and they are both continually weakened by that. Now, Roderick is deathly ill, and Madeline has disappeared! It is up to us to find answers before the twins bring about the Fall Of The House Of Usher. The back story is delivered to us in various ways, some character reminiscences, combined with sepia animated sketching.

    GAMEPLAY
    Fun stuff here! There are a lot of things to do and to find. The HOPs come in several flavours: interactive word list, riddles, silhouettes and multiples of, one is a diorama – and that’s just the demo! When you return to a scene, it will be with a different search method. If you wish, you can play an very intriguing Match-3 game that is easy to learn but fun to master. Definitely good. There are easy puzzles, some with a new twist, not very many of them so far. You can make some of them more difficult by choosing that option within the puzzle.

    As with all the Dark Tales, this game is not very hard, but we can customise it. For help, we have an interactive map and directional hint. There's the journal, which was left behind by a previous investigator. He took photos, so matching them to the scene they are in gives us valuable pointers about where to go next. A message written to us on the backs are compiled here too. At one point, even the Usher’s black cat gives us a nudge in the right direction. We can also take photographs of locations for ourselves for our office photo album, and which can be saved as wallpaper.

    Early in the game we come upon a “Reborn One”, who takes the role of the normally cute companion (but we already have M. Dupin!). Certainly not cute, it is interesting and visually striking. Its particular skill is to ‘create life’.

    CE BLING!
    The beta doesn’t tell you a lot, but we do know we have the location photos we take ourselves throughout the game.

    There are achievements that are attractively and imaginatively displayed in our office. The collectibles are a fine and fun twist. We need coins to purchase equipment for our crime lab. We will find these in toy houses scattered about the game.

    Yes, I said, TOY HOUSES, yes, I said IN. These houses are our collectibles. We can look inside them with the magnifying glass and among the miniature furnishings are our coins. The lab is, I believe, a bonus game, where we will have to sort out 3 suspects by analysing the evidence of a crime that is not part of the main game. Just a little overtime, you might say.

    COMBINED IMPACT
    I’m officially hooked on the remarkable M. Dupin, and am sure it is only a matter of time before the detective agency becomes a family business. So I am necessarily biased. But this is an exceptional game regardless, delightfully dark. Although all of Edgar Allan Poe’s are creepy, Dark Tales usually haven’t been. This one is the creepiest yet, sometimes scary, often startlingly unexpected. Also lovely, involving and intriguing. And most of all, fun.

    Try It Here!
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    Post by djrum Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:35 pm

    Move over, ladies, I've had a crush on Dupin since forever.  Big smile 

    Although he temporarily lost his good looks when he gained a voice, but that's beside the point. I love hanging out with him!  Wub
    JustTheFacts
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    Post by JustTheFacts Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:46 pm

    He looks different again in the intro of this one and i like it, but his hair is too light! For the rest of the game they use old shots of him. Looks kinda weird.

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