December 25, 2012

Review: The Critter Chronicles

game format: classic point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic

playtime: 10 - 12 hours | difficulty: moderate | size: 6 GB

developer: KING Art Games | publisher: Nordic Games | links: official site | buy this game

The Critter Chronicles
game brief: The Critter Chronicles tell the story of how adventurer Nate Bonnett and Critter, his hairy sidekick, first met, all set before their appearance in Wilbur’s and Ivo’s adventure in The Book of Unwritten Tales. Enjoy a thrilling and hilarious point-and-click adventure in the fantasy world of Aventasia. Travel from the Northlands to the Mage’s Tower of Seastone and experience a story that offers tremendous fun for seasoned players and newcomers alike. (Official website)

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 3.5/5

summary: The Critter Chronicles adopts enough of the positive qualities of its predecessor to deliver another enjoyable adventure, but skids on some crucial issues to land somewhat short of true excellence.

Read my The Book of Unwritten Tales review, published in October 2011.


This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

December 7, 2012

Review: Lost Chronicles of Zerzura

game format: classic point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic

playtime: 10 - 12 hours | difficulty: easy | size: 3.2 GB

developer: Cranberry Production | publisher: dtp entertainment AG | links: official site | buy this game

Lost Chronicles of Zerzura
game brief: A young inventor named Feodor is building a flying machine with his brother in Barcelona. But his brother is soon snatched away by the Inquisition, and Feodor is left alone to travel through several countries and experience diverse cultures in order to answer the question of what unfathomable mysteries are hidden in Zerzura. (Official website)

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 4/5

summary: Though it doesn’t chart new territory with its premise, Lost Chronicles of Zerzura combines all the right elements to create a thoroughly enjoyable old-school adventure.


This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

November 21, 2012

Review: The Odyssey HD

game format: classic point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic | arcade

playtime: 5 hours | difficulty: moderate | size: 250 MB

developer: CrazySoft | links: official site / buy this game

walkthrough: here

The Odyssey HD
game brief: Step into the shoes of Odysseus (Ulysses) on his legendary journey home after the fall of Troy. But beware, this is no simple task. You will have to escape from the goddess Calypso, blind the Cyclops Polyphemus, face the witch-goddess Circe, visit the land of the dead and find an oracle, avoid the Siren mermaids, pass between the six-headed monster Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis, visit the Sun god’s island and finally unite your family.(Official website)

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 3/5

summary: Despite its drawbacks in puzzle clarity and localisation, The Odyssey HD stays on course with its story, quests, characters and art, offering about five hours of entertaining, old-school adventuring.


This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

September 24, 2012

Review: Secret Files 3

game format: classic point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic

playtime: 5 hours | difficulty: easy | size: 2 GB

developer: Animation Arts | publisher: Deep Silver | links: official site | buy this game

Secret Files 3
game brief: It should be the happiest day of her life, but Nina’s anticipation of the upcoming marriage with Max is being clouded by terrible nightmares of an apocalypse. Could this be related to the events that took place in Tunguska? As further incidents transpire and Nina comes across some major secrets, she realizes that she has just stumbled onto a new epic adventure. (Official site)

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 2.5/5

summary: Secret Files 3 replaces romance with rocket science, but its convoluted premise, simplistic puzzles, and slapdash resolutions make it the weakest link of the trilogy.


Read my Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis review, published in August 2009.

This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

July 23, 2012

Review: May's Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville

game format: casual point-and-click adventure

puzzles: logic | arcade

playtime: 20 hours | difficulty: challenging | size: 291 MB

developer: V5 Play Studio | links: official site / buy this game

May's Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville
game brief: In May’s Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville (PC, Nintendo DS), young May embarks on a thrilling and charming adventure to find her missing brother, but to do so she'll need to tackle over 270 puzzles and minigames as she ventures through 80 mysterious locations, meeting about 50 intriguing characters spread across four worlds. (AG Game Brief)

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 2.5/5

summary: May’s Mysteries is a substantial puzzler that is sure to satisfy fans of logical and mathematical brainteasers, but offers little of interest for those seeking more.


This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

April 19, 2012

Review: Botanicula

game format: classic point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic | arcade

playtime: 4 hours | difficulty: challenging | size: 600 MB

developer: Amanita Design | publisher: Daedalic Entertainment | links: official site | buy this game

Botanicula
game brief: Botanicula is point'n'click exploration game created by Jára Plachý and Amanita Design. It's about five friends - little tree creatures who set out for a journey to save the last seed from their home tree which is infested by evil parasites. The original soundtrack and sound effects are by Czech alternative band DVA. (Official website)

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 4.5/5

summary: The seed of delight is planted early in Amanita's creative new adventure, and its abundant charm and surreal game world never stop growing on you.


This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

March 23, 2012

Review: Yesterday

game format: classic point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic

playtime: 8 hours | difficulty: easy - moderate | size: 4 GB

developer: Pendulo Studios | publisher: Focus Interactive | links: official site | buy this game

Yesterday
game brief: In New York City, homeless people are being burned alive, while a mysterious scar shaped like the letter 'Y' forms on the hands of seemingly disconnected people. Amnesiac John Yesterday has had his memory wiped, but now finds himself at the center of a worldwide conspiracy, and the fate of mankind may just depend on this unlikeliest of heroes.

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 4/5

summary: Sleekly packaged and eminently playable, Yesterday conceals the darkness of the human mind within a beautiful artistic canvas; drawing you in with glimpses of dreadful secrets and leaving you shocked, yet satisfied, with its twisted narrative.


This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

Walkthrough: Yesterday

March 13, 2012

Review: Shadows On The Vatican: Act I: Greed

game format: classic point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic

playtime: 5 hours | difficulty: easy | size: 2 GB

developers: Adventure Productions | 10th Art Studio | links: official site | buy this game

Shadows On The Vatican Act 1: Greed
game brief: A blood-red sky surrounds the city of Rome in a surreal, neverending twilight. Under the shadow of St. Peter, an American ex-priest investigates a series of events that exposes a deeper, more complex web of political and religious intrigue than he ever could have imagined.

review: Read my review @ Adventure Gamers® | rating: 3/5

summary: The debut episode of the four-part Shadows On The Vatican sets great expectations, but Act I: Greed serves mainly as a prelude to the real deal, saving the action for the sequels.



This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.

February 13, 2012

Review: The Jolly Gang's Spooky Adventure & The Jolly Gang's Misadventures in Africa

game format: casual point-and-click adventure

puzzles: inventory | logic | arcade

playtime: 2 hours each game | difficulty: easy

developer & publisher: Alawar Games

links: Spooky Adventure | Misadventures In Africa

Jolly Gang Adventures
game brief: (1) Investigate eerie hijinks and uncover a mystery with Moxxie and her pals. Get the scoop on the next huge tabloid story by solving puzzles and chatting with a colorful cast of characters. (2) Join the Jolly Gang as it heads to Africa in search of treasure! Once there, embark on a madcap adventure through the African outback in search of a missing professor, his gems, and a way to give the pesky customs officials the slip!

review: Read my reviews @ Adventure Gamers®

The Jolly Gang's Spooky Adventure | rating: 1.5/5

The Jolly Gang's Misadventures in Africa | rating: 2/5

summary: The Jolly Gang's Spooky Adventure focuses neither on the gang nor on the spooks, and offers at best a couple hours of lighthearted but linear, generic casual adventuring.

The Jolly Gang's Misadventures in Africa fixes some of its predecessor's design flaws and considerably improves the puzzles, but still disappoints with its often-ambiguous gameplay and subpar production quality.


This is an original review written by me and owned by Adventure Gamers®. Please do not distribute / adapt the text and images in any way without written consent from Jack Allin, Editor-In-Chief, AG.