So, today I demoed  Harrowed Halls: Lakeview Lane CE  by  Daily Magic.  
Okay, I know most lakes don't normally have big dumpers like that wave but my choice was kinda limited.  
And, had yesterday's code still worked, I would most likely have used it to get this first in a new series.  

PROs:

  -  one touch
  -  no plus-item indicators means NOTHING !  Yippeeeeeeeeeee!
  -  no contextual pointer changes
  -  inventory objects jump straight in !  Yay!!!!
  -  44 morphing jigsaw puzzle pieces
        -  you can do the jigsaws as you find them - you don't have to wait until you've finished the game
        -  you never know whether a scene has 1 or 2 !!
  -  collectibles - I'm not sure as you can't see but I think 11 objects for the 11 sins (? - I found 1)
  -  the graphics were good and realistic, just not WOW gorgeous
  -  there are some extra scene clicks - both comments and some animation
  -  the diary has both notes (everything you collect) and a Clues Board (loved that)
  -  there are sliding zoom scenes!  Yay!
  -  somewhat challenging gameplay with no plus-item indicators and contextual pointer changes
  -  I really liked the gameplay and the atmosphere - I didn't even mind the gimmick mobile phone
  -  according to Valdy the main game is long

CONs:

  -  the 44 morphing puzzle pieces are more often than not huge and easy to spot - schade
  -  you come across the ubiquitous broken zipper right at the beginning
  -  the BBTs give way TMI - if you could turn them off the game would be almost perfect for me

Recommendation for me:   CE?

As you can see, I have lots of pros and not many cons, and I really liked what I played of the demo.  I also stopped playing the demo early because I didn't want to spoil the game when I play it.  I didn't need to play the whole demo to decide if I wanted it.

I will definitely get the game - with touch and most importantly no plus-item indicators at all it's basically a given - but it's just a question of CE or wait for the SE.

The game isn't overflowing with extras so the bonus game will be important - is it fun, does it add something to the game (and isn't just something thrown together to make it a CE), and is it of a good length?  So far no one has commented on the bonus game.

What I wrote after I stopped the demo:

  -  I really liked what I played of the demo
  -  interesting story with the missing children and the 11 sins (even though it's not terribly original)
  -  very atmospheric and challenging with no plus-item indicators - yay!
  -  only problems are:
        -  BBTs give way TMI
        -  the huge honking task box - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
        -  you can only replay 10 MGs and no HOPs!
  -  but I think I can live with those because I really wanted to keep playing and play the whole game!
  -  but what about the bonus game? 
  -  is it worth the CE without a whole heap of extras?

Recommendation for others:   SE definitely if you like the demo - CE if you think the extras are worth it

It seems that the majority of fishies hated the game.  Last I looked, I was definitely swimming against the tide in agreeing with the few who liked it as much as I did.  I think it's going to be one of those games where you either love it or hate it.  Which means it's a game that you'll have to demo yourself to see in which camp you belong.



Extras:

The usual (wallpapers, etc)
Developer Diary - 41 concept art scenes and scenes with the developers in them (boring)
Replay minigames - only 10 and no HOPs !!!!
6 jigsaw puzzles you can play as and when you find the 44 huge morphing jigsaw pieces
Collectibles  -  11 (?) objects that go with the 11 sins (?)
                    -  not sure if you do anything with them or whether they're just displayed
                    -  the one I found was animated
Achievements  -  most earned, some unusual
                         -  they're objects displayed on shelves - fun and much better than a boring list!


 

I finished the main game of 9: The Dark Side.  The gameplay was good and the puzzles were excellent, but something still felt lacking.  I realized it was that the story was too generic.  A clan of 9 that are all ghosts now and you play as the last descendant and you must fight off some evil.  What am I the last descendant of? The clan of 9, who are they?  Why am I fighting off a demon?  Nothing was made clear, everything was so vague. Story was too bland for me.  I am all about the story.

So, I am seeking recommendations on a game with a great story.  Any suggestions? 

Hi, everybody.  I had to rejoin the other day because my one lone credit was expiring.  I didn't have internet when they had the BOGO for Columbus Day so I was faced with the choice of using it for one single SE or investing $7 more bucks and waiting for another BOGO,  At least I will get 4 SEs for $7 instead of one free SE.
I've been playing Halloween games since late September.  Incredible Dracula, I'm working on both of them, Queen's Garden Halloween, I love making the gardens.  Campfire Legends, I'm done with The Hookman and partway through The Babysitter.  I love, love, love this series.  You can't pick anything up until  you need it.  Things are in logical places, you have to make hot chocolate and all the ingredients are in the kitchen.  They might be in a zoom zone or they might be in the main scene, probably both.  Tools are in the shed or the closet/storeroom.  They're pretty short games, only a couple hours even with my slow pace, but I like getting something over and done in one or two sittings for a change.  I still have Final Act from that series to go.  I'm partway through a Shiver game, and also the Gizmos one.  I have a hard time not making a mistake (I play late at night in bed, so pretty tired) or using a hint, and I can never come anywhere near the time, if you need to do it in 10 minutes my time will bee 20!!!.
I've already played Save Halloween Witch's City, pretty good, and I still want to play Cursed House 3.  For November I'll have to really focus on GameHouse because my pass ends in December and I don't know if I'll have the money to renew it.
I love the Laruaville series, too, and I'm stoked to see #5 at GH.  I tend to use my free game tickets for M3 or TM over there and then use the Reward Coupon for a PE, although usually TM or M3 PE.   I'm finding HOPA CEs are a waste for me.  I'm not enjoying collecting things or waiting 5 minutes in a scene hurting my eyes waiting for something to morph.  I'm usually sick of the game by the time I make it to the end and I'm not even interested in the Bonus Chapter.

I have finished Mystery Legends: Beauty and the Beast  more like replayed this one since I forgot I played it before until I started it again.   A nice game... I liked it even the second time through.  Also, finished Strange Discoveries: Aurora Peak...I liked this one too. 

Wendy, welcome back!      How was your season this year?  

Tirama, welcome back!      I hope you had a fun time!  

Tirama, you may be right about the sale codes.  However, I think they've always said that a sale can't be combined with other discounts.  But you couldn't even if you wanted to as you can only put one code in, so there's no way to combine any discounts.  And there's also a Grim Facade sale on today, and the weekend's code still works, so I'm not sure that it has anything to do with combining codes.  However, once again, the code works and the sale wasn't $6.99 for CEs.  I'm waiting to see what happens when we have another $6.99 sale (BOGOF or 65%) and see if the code works then the day after, as that's the only common thing that I've noticed so far.  But maybe they're just playing with us.