barregar wrote:

I did the beta for Royal Detective: Queen of Shadows CE (Elephant Games)

This will be a CE because there are achievements/collectibles - you have to collect 25 dragons.  The graphics are lovely.  I don't like the Hint, it is a skull and it takes 40 sec. to recharge, but if you click the hint there is a picture that comes up and the word Teleport....quite convenient. Puzzles are not very difficult.  I wasn't that impressed with the game so maybe I'll just get the SE.  I prefer The Crooked Man and the Crooked Cat. 

I wasn't that thrilled with either.  I didn't even play the whole beta.  I think I'll give it another go when I run out of the list of betas I want to try.
 

I finished the beta for Fearful Tales: Hansel & Gretel (Eipix)
It is not in the customary graphics style that we have been accustomed to from Eipix. The graphics for this one is similar to the Drawn series. The map opens up like a book with pop-ups for the locations, it has indications for where you are and where there are active objectives. It can be used to jump. The music is soft and gentle, I quite liked it. There are achievements which pop up during the game when you have achieved a particular one. There are collectibles (40 cookies). HOS are clear and interactive.  Puzzles are not that difficult (I don't think I came across too many in the beta). The hint is a gingerbread boy with a silly voice, appropriate to the character I guess. If you click on him for a hint, a picture opens up and you can travel to the place. The story is about 2 kids who disappeared with a strange woman. Your job is to find them. As I progressed through the game, it really reminded me of Drawn, except with a different story. Sometimes I don't put too much emphasis on the story if I find the game fun and interesting, and this one certainly kept my interest. I also like the art style.
I absolutely love it and I will buy the CE without any hesitation. 

Last edited by barregar (August 18, 2013 7:30 pm)

Might be interesting.  I like caves.  Have you seen the one behind the waterfall in  Settlement Colossus?  Breathtaking.  What flavor of game is it?

I did all the betas listed on Pond Friends (except 2 non-HOs). 47 betas, in all.  

 I am burned out on HOs, as a result.  I cannot envision myself looking for another key to unlock any door, chest, casket - anything. There were only 2 games out of all of those I am willing to buy - even as a SE.   Arrrgh......!

It really brought to focus how very similar all these games have become.  Not much new anymore.

I'm going back to reading my Dresden Files book and maybe I'll do a classic point and click adventure again soon.

 

Last edited by jkuci (August 19, 2013 9:34 pm)

I finished the beta for Sable Maze: Norwich Caves. (Daily Magic Productions)

The setting is in a college.  It seems that a professor discovered an underground maze located right beneath the campus grounds and he went exploring with some students (4 I think).  Then the students and the professor went missing, and you are sent there to investigate.  The graphics are nice, nothing fantastic. There were lots of HOS as well as puzzles.  The hidden object scenes were interactive, interesting.  Puzzles were quite okay.  I don't remember if there were collectibles/achievements, maybe because they were not obvious or I was just not that impressed with the game.  Not a likely buy for me.... In fact, Sable Maze: Sullivan River impressed me more than this one but I didn't buy it when it came out as a CE, then later on I forgot about getting the SE.