Hi everyone!  And hi to all the newbies!  

Sorry I haven't been around much for a while but I've been really sick.  But scary sick as I've been getting worse and worse since I got back and I've felt so weird these past couple of weeks that at times it's been a tad scary.  But I feel a bit better today so thought I'd drop by and say hi!



I've been too sick to play much of anything but I have demoed a few games briefly and I've slowly been playing the hardest nonogram I've ever come across.  I started out restarting every level as soon as I made a mistake (which happened often) until I got 3 stars.  Then it was getting ridiculous as I was restarting every level at least 6 times as it's so easy to make a mistake (or else I've been too sick to play properly ... or, more likely, I'm just too stupid to play this one), so I just play each level once and, as long as I get 1 star I keep going (because if you make too many mistakes you have to start again anyway.

It's called ... Nonograms - Wolf's Stories ... not yet released by BFG.  It's by a new developer to me - New Bridge Games - published by Alawar - and was released by GameHouse a few weeks ago.

It's a 3-colour nonogram, like the Fantasy Mosaic nonograms.  However, unlike in the FM games, where the grid changes when you change colours, in Wolf's Stories the one grid has all 3 colours at once and you have to remember to change the colour before you put that colour in (which I often forgot to do, hence all the mistakes).  You also have to remember that there are no gaps between different colours but there's a gap between same colours.  You get to 15x15 and 15x20 grids really quickly and most of the numbers are 1s and 2s, with a few larger numbers - very few larger than 4 - rarely anything bigger than a 6.  You may have a 15 or 20 row with 11 ones to fill in!  And ALL the rows are like that!  Okay, slight exaggeration, but there really aren't many big numbers.  Fortunately, for every 6 correct squares you fill in, the hint button slowly refills and you get another hint.  I used it constantly as soon as it filled as, if I waited until I needed it, it may not have filled in a square that helped me to continue and then I was stuck without a hint and had to start doing a lot of counting and checking how many yellow numbers there were in a row, for example, to work out the next move.

I would normally buy any nonogram that's this hard but I'm not sure that I'm actually enjoying it as I make so many mistakes.  But, as I said, that could just be because I've been so sick.  I like the Fantasy Mosaic games because they're relatively easy and quick and fun to do, whereas this one really taxes the brain, which has been a bit much for me lately.  So I'll keep playing with my FunPass (sometimes one grid a night is enough!) and put it in my list of possible games to get if I need to use an expiring PCC.

It starts with a story but I haven't come across any more story the further I've gone in.  It took me ages to get used to the different set up, with all 3 colours on the one grid, but I finally got used to it ... sort of.  But it took AGES for that to happen.  Even though you play with 3 colours, there are a lot more colours in the pictures - I forget how many but I think something like 6 or 7 (?) - and all the extra colours are added at the end to make the picture.  Sometimes it's a bit difficult to work out what the finished picture is supposed to be but, once you're told, except for one exception, I went, oh yeah, I can see it now!  LOL.

I definitely recommend this game for anyone who wants a real thinker nonogram.  Anyone can demo it at GameHouse, and don't forget that if you want to get it you can use the code FAVORITE to get it at half price - $5.99 retail or $2.99 for subscribers.



Oh, I've just remembered ... I think I'm playing on the easiest mode ... I can't really remember but I think you have the option of having the numbers that are completed in a line crossed off as you play or not.  I can't even fathom playing without having them filled in!  The numbers are also really small and you can't see them when they're crossed off and it took me AGES to work out that, if you hover the cursor over a line where there are empty squares, you can see all the numbers again.  That certainly helps!  And there's no timer!


 

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TiramaSue wrote:

I just got my February Eipix newsletter.

In addition to Sea of Lies: Beneath the Surface CE which will be released tomorrow for game club members, they will be releasing 2 more CE's this month.   Danse Macabre: Deadly Letters CE should be released next week, and it's their 50th CE!    And also scheduled for release in February is Dead Reckoning: Broadbeach Cove Collector's Edition.

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Tirama, thanks for keeping us up to date about upcoming games!  
 

stusue -- I'm so sorry you've been so sick.  Have you seen a doctor?  Is this just a not-so-nice-but-normal part of your illness?  I hope that's behind you and you'll feel good soon.

I have a whole bunch of games I want to buy.  Most are for series I have.  I haven't tried to purchase any as yet.  If I can use 2 GCCs to get ROYAL DETECTIVE, my cost would be even lower than the table you've worked up.  If I already own the GCCs I think of them as free. 

Lily and Wendy, thanks!   

Lily, it's just part of my illness so nothing any doctor can do about it.  
 

I didn't buy any games and didn't see anything about a bonus punch on my game manager.  Maybe lilyr bought some.  I signed on intending to ask her what she got.