Curse at Twilight: Thief of Souls CE (IHOG)
There is a loading screen between scenes, so you'll want to be sure to demo the game to make sure the loading doesn't take a long time (like it would on older computer systems.) Also, be aware that our inventory does not automatically scroll to show everything we have. If it seems like you're missing items, try scrolling back to the left! (Yes, I re-visited every location before realizing this fact.)
Options include separate sliders for Music, Sound, and BRIGHTNESS
(happy day!), plus full-screen and custom cursor. You can choose between Casual and Hard mode (I chose hard.) The tutorial is optional.
We have three sections to our task bar:
Inventory, Goal, and
Objects. Inventory and Goal are easy enough to figure out, but what is the Objects tab for? :Huh: That's what I was thinking at first, anyway... The Objects tab is for when you run across hidden object scenes. This tab shows you a list of which items to find. These scenes are
lightly interactive, with the items listed in white needing some kind of task to be done before you can find them.
In addition to the typical hidden object scenes you will run across, we also have fragmented objects. Periodically you will find an item and click on it, only to find that you need to find all of the pieces to complete the item before it goes into your inventory. The Objects tab will show you the shapes you need to find. They're sneaky, though, matching colors to the background, and sometimes making them much bigger or smaller than you'd expect!
There IS a rapid-misclick penalty on the find-the-object scenes, but not on the FROG scenes.
We have a MAP, but no journal. At the top of the screen, there is a title for your current location (ie. Manor Front Yard.) To the left of that is a counter showing how many gold coins you need to find on that scene. Once you find them all, a photograph of the scene will show up on your map, and this photo enables you to use the jump-to action for that location. NOTE: There is an option at the bottom of the photograph that says, "Do not show again." There is a box next to this sentence that you have to check in order to make the pop-ups actually stop. I mention it because the box is well-nigh impossible to see!
Hints WILL help you find these coins, if you need help.
There is a TON of to-ing and fro-ing in this game, and the devs help you out with that in two ways. The first is the jump-to ability mentioned above. The second is that on your map, each separate "area" is color coded by the pins used to hold the photos on your map. For example, the entry levels are turquoise, the next area has orange pins, the next has blue pins, and so on.
Using a HINT during the adventure portion of the game will make the possible exits glow if there's nothing else to do in that location. You will NOT get a directional hint, and it will not discharge your hint. Couple this with the fact that your map doesn't show active areas, and the difficulty level of the game amps up significantly!
The puzzles are quite interesting, not the same-old, same-old that we usually see. You can get instructions by clicking on the ? in the top left corner of the screen. One puzzle repeats, but it's an interesting one, so I didn't mind
CE Content:
- Integrated Strategy Guide
- Soundtrack - 7 tracks which you can listen to, but not save to your computer
- 4 Concept Art pieces
- 4 Wallpapers - NOT widescreen, but can be stretched and still look nice
- Bonus play is INTEGRATED, and is immediately available. Looking at the bonus content from the main menu will show locked categories... except for the bonus play, which will look something like this (depending on how far you are in the game):
As you can see, quite a lot to do!
The Collector's Edition bonus play is INTEGRATED into the main game, rather than adding on a bonus chapter. Here is how that works:
During the regular-edition game, HOS do not repeat. What happens is that as soon as you finish one, chains and a colored lock will appear over the area where you just looked. If you have the CE, you will eventually find keys to match these locks. Using a silver key will return you to that particular hidden object scene, BUT, instead of being your run-of-the-mill, everyday HOS, you get to do something new and different each time. For instance, you might have items to return to the scene, find items by riddle, pair items up... Much more interesting than the first time around! As a reward for finishing these scenes, you will find a "keystone" in each location. When you have enough, you will use these pieces to do a mosaic puzzle, which will allow you to advance to a new area. NOTE: The pieces do NOT snap into place, adding to the difficulty level, but at the same time, the pieces don't have to fit
exactly. You'll find out what the bronze and gold keys do
The game might be too difficult for those used to the usual IHOG's we are offered. The primary thrust of the game is adventure, and "true" adventures really aren't easy. If you enjoy the demo, I highly recommend the Collector's Edition. There is a lot of bonus content, and the integrated strategy guide is very helpful. This an excellent game for those who enjoy a challenge
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Honestly, I dislike fragmented objects in general, and usually don't enjoy games with this type of scene... and I didn't enjoy them in this game! Despite those scenes I think the game definitely deserves recognition, for the reasons I detailed a couple of posts up. ^__^
