Morning, all...

Let me just switch the lights on before I begin the review, so I can concentrate enough without being too spooked by what I have just been through with the game... *wipes sweat off her brow*

There are 3 gameplay modes.

There is only the custom cursor, but it's small and looks pleasing to the eye.

There is Widescreen.
When "Wide Screen" is ticked, I get the normal-size screen, when "Full Screen" is clicked, I get widescreen - go figure...

There is voice-over.

There are real people and real images.

The DIARY is at the bottom left. When opened, you can move it about the scene.

There is no MAP.

The HINT button is at the bottom right. It takes about 40 seconds to refill when used in the iHOS (interactive hidden object scenes), and refills instantly when used outside of the HOS - that's in Casual mode.

The iHOS have clear and clean graphics. It seems that you can go back into the HOS whenever you want.
Quite often, after you have found all the objects, there will be another one you can pick up. So hover about the scene to make sure you haven't missed anything.

Puzzles can be skipped. The ones I have encountered were easy enough for me to do, so I don't know how long it takes for the SKIP button to fill.

--- --- ---

This is a somewhat spooky game, with yet another mentally unstable person to reckon with.

There are some spelling mistakes, and the one real person I have come across so far isn't moving at all when she talks, and is often substituted for comic-book images, but I can overlook all that, because I am enjoying the whole of the game.

Gameplay is interesting, graphics are nicely done, and it's a buy for me.

Hi, fishies!
I just finished the demo and was surprised that my hour was up! This is a very different and interesting game that kept my mind turning. It is creepy but fun creepy, not in the occult sense.

The graphics have some live action mixed through, in a way that I found interesting and enjoyed more than I thought I would. The graphics are really well done but for a few drawings of the people in the cut scenes that I thought were rather cartoonish and didn't fit.

There are voiceovers which I thought were well done and I enjoyed. They enhanced the game experience quite a bit. The music was appropriate and I didn't really notice it after a few moments so must not have been too obnoxious. lol
The music and sound are controlled by separate sliders.

There are 3 modes of game play and a tutorial if desired. There were sparkles for hos and such but they do not seem to be as bright or as annoying as usual.

The game filled my widescreen monitor immediately. I know that will make many fishies happy! I have had a few do that lately. Not all do.

While the storyline is not exactly new, there is a different sense to it. A different "feel" if you will. I am looking forward to finding out where the whole family disappeared to!

I know I am forgetting something I wanted to report but I will try to add later. My sometimers is acting up. (Sometimes I just can't remember!)

I will be buying this game as I can't wait to get back to it after a little sleep!
I will definitely give this one 5 Bon Bons!
Grins,
gentlegranny

As no one has done a review on the advanced mode, here is a little of what I found.

Choice of 3 modes. Casual, Normal and Advanced.
Sound and Music volume.

Settings for Full Screen, Wide Screen,(Appears to be an oblong/square screen, with a golden brown border around it), clicking on full screen, did fill my screen. Window Mode and Low Quality, this last one if unchecked brings on a rainstorm with thunder and lightening. LOL!

There are absolutely no hints or skips in the advanced mode and no sparkles at all. Just what we asked for. This makes it nice and hard and for me, make the game last a lot longer. LOL!

I do not find the game creepy at all, at least not yet
For the type of graphics, I expected a rather dull game but it is far from it!

Well worth a demo if you have the DL time to spare.

Looks like it could be a very good game.

Have fun all.

Just to add. The HOS scenes are interactive, some are junkpile others are not. I found most of the items reasonably easy to find but beware as Valdy said

.
Quite often, after you have found all the objects, there will be another one you can pick up. So hover about the scene to make sure you haven't missed anything.

Excellent advice. I nearly could not continue because of this and a big thank you for this information
Also, sometimes the girl looks real and then she changes to a cartoon character. Very strange

All in all, as an SE, my opinion is that it is worth the money.

The last several nights prove that we really shoudn't complain when there are some "lesser" games, because when you are trying to release a new game every single day you'll have stretches of those games that are not so great, and, conversely, you'll have stretches of really outstanding games----like right now, as this game proves. What a great game this is.

From a new dev (to me, anyway) comes this very spooky tale of a young woman trying to determine the fate of her family. Her chase leads her to her brother's house where things get even more creepy and mysterious. And the way this unusually crafted game spins its yarn should immediately draw in anyone that considers themselves a fan of a good mystery.

Needless to say, the story is very interesting, using different devices to tell the tale. Sometimes live action, sometimes graphic novel style, but always intriguing. And the graphics and art work are very nicely done.

The HOS are different in that you have to be careful about leaving them, because there may be just one more thing to find. A different twist that is fun.

Sound effects are used to great advantage, adding to the overall spookiness.

And there is widescreen, without which the game would not look nearly as good. (Just to see, I looked at the black bar presentation----the difference is staggering, as it would be for any game. If only certain other devs--------)

At any rate, this is the 4th great game in 5 days, and I will be buying this gem. Great job, devs!

I'm really enjoying this game thus far. The trial period flew by, and I don't think I'm all that far into the game.

Full disclosure: I'm playing in "normal" mode.

The story is pretty typical - sister gets letter from brother, which prompts her to think something is wrong. She goes to visit and BAM she has a mysterious disappearance to solve and some seriously cooky cassette tapes and scribbled messages as clues (who uses cassette tapes? Are those even a thing anymore?) The atmosphere is creepy, but not overly so. I love the mix of live action, comic book style action panels, and animation they've used. Scenes are easily navigated, but the journal sub-menu takes some getting used to - it's not immediately obvious how to turn the pages. HO scenes are well lit with large enough objects, but be warned - this developer likes to make the objects blend in very well with the background in terms of color & orientation - there were very few objects just sort of laying around. You really have to search!

The mini games I've encountered thus far have been more of the "time consuming" variety rather than an actual challenge, but there are a few that I can't solve yet (I don't have all the items needed) that look like real treats. The hint system is well integrated and charges fast enough for someone who only uses them if they really, really need to.

A couple of things - the sound effects/music isn't too great - it repeats quite often and isn't edited very well. This isn't a huge deterrent, but worth mentioning. I've also found myself "forced" into the next section of the game, and unused inventory items taken away. I really hope this doesn't mean I've missed anything crucial; I'd hate it if the game was designed in a way that players could advance without knowing the whole story or picking up vital items they may have missed before moving on.

Overall, it's a buy for me - I'm going to trust in the developers that they haven't designed a game that I cannot finish because I didn't pick up a certain key before I passed a point of no return (the final threshooooold......). I'm having a great time solving this puzzle thus far, so I recommend you do, too.

I had to tear myself away from the game that I have been playing for 5 hours straight. I this game.

I bought the game within 2 minutes of the demo,I stopped the game to purchase it, this is how much I recognize a great game when I see it.

The voice overs and acting is very well done.

The graphics are beautiful.
The storyline compelling to solve it and be the heroine. My favorite part is the villain taunting her.

The hidden object screens are beautifully done with interactivity not just a static screen. There are no dark areas you have to worry about.
The hints and skip charge up very fast .

If I had one small complaint it would be please Dev less hidden object screens it breaks up the storyline.

The music is boring but I still give it 5 stars and look forward to the next game from this Game Developer and designer.
Highly recommend the game.

The game is easy to download and install. No tech problems with glitches so it proves it is possible to release a game without glitches

REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
I really loved this one, it's a winner. Not without a couple of problems, like exiting, which you cannot do. Also, towards the end the v/o and the text got stuck in a loop and kept repeating over and over till the end of the game. Had to mute it but couldn't do anything about the text.

The HOGs are meanies and there's a lot of them. Cluttered and indistinct and I used the hint a lot. They'are interactive though, and not all bad. The graphics are not remarkable but that didn't bother me because the game play is so addictive and interesting I just didn't notice. This game pulled me in a carried me along. I never got bored or fed-up, I just enjoyed the whole experience immensely. It's surprising what I can forgive when a game is this good. The puzzles are real brain teasers and I had to give up on a lot of them because my brain isn't wired that way, but that didn't stop me from admiring them. Smooth, instant navigation, something I so much appreciate. They could teach some other devs a lesson or two about setting these features up. Very well done.

It's refreshingly different - a psychological thriller, so no ghosts demons or ghouls. No spiders or snakes either. In fact no livestock at all, not even a mouse.

Strange mix of live actor and comic book character. Don't know what the idea behind that was, but no biggie. It took me 4.5 hrs and I was having such a ball, I did it in a sitting.

It's a clever game and really met all the criteria I wish for when I want something different. It's hard to express exactly how it's different, since it has all the usual features of this genre. I think maybe the story had a lot to do with that.

These devs are smart, creative and original and I hope we see more from them.

One point deducted for the few problems mentioned, and I rate it 9/10.

Review after playing part of demo (I don't know how much as I cannot exit the game!):

I am really enjoying playing this game! The graphics are really well done. I like the combination of "live actors" and "comic book style". The voices thus far are OK. I don't care for the constant "walking" sounds or the "drip, drip, drip" or whatever-it-is. Music - I don't care for it. But those audios are OK as I don't play with the speakers on once I listen to see how they sound.

In casual mode (which is the one I normally use while playing the demo) the hint button is extremely fast to refill and actually "points" if there is nothing else to do in a particular scene - something I much prefer over "nothing else to do here" or "search another location". Sometimes I just need a nudge toward the right path. I like the "notebook" as it keeps track of papers, etc I have run across some of which are actually clues needed later on.

The H0 scenes are good with some interaction. Possible spoiler: I do like that once the scene is finished, there may be something else I need to be able to use later so it pays to keep looking after the list is completed.

The storyline seems interesting also. Some of the puzzles are easier...some a bit harder but can be skipped.

The only thing I really didn't like about the game is the inability to exit it! I tried another poster's recommendation re windowed mode but it didn't work for me. Now I've lost all the demo time I hadn't used as I just got the pop-up message "free trial over" so I don't know how much time I lost. I do know the game (in demo) ran well on my computer with no other "glitches". I hope the game saved progress as I do want to buy it.

I found this game very interesting. It keeps you on your toes and you can't wait to find out what happens next. The only problem I have with it is there is no walkthrough. Will one be coming out?

I don't buy games without a walkthrough. However for those who don't care about the walkthrough it is a really good game, and the story line is really good.

Great game and like a lot of things about it. Hints do tell you where to go and what you need to do next.. (This is a plus for me). I Thought the graphics were good and the story line keeps me interested. The puzzles are something I can do and don't have to skip, (hate the hard ones as I always need to skip). Played smooth and had no problems. It's also an SE which I think it a bargain.. A fun game for the weekend. Give it 4 out of 5 stars..

Most everyone has reviewed the game very well. I might add that the game is a good start for this developer. I believe that this is a new dev. I like the mystery element of the game. I think it has been well made. A few more HOG scenes than I personally like, but not bad. I might add that in the HOG scenes, you must continue to search after you have gotten all the items for additional items, which is novel. The game storyline is excellent. The only think I dislike is the pounding of the feet when you move from one scene to another. Great job!

This is the kind of game that I really like ! Good story line that keeps my attention, the sound effects are very good, and the actual videos (not the cartoon ones) seem to enhance the intense feeling of the game.

To the Devs: Well done!!

I have now finished the game - and not too soon, I might add.

On the whole, this was a very interesting game. I liked the fact that the HOS as well as some mini games had added items hidden in them, and you were able to go back into the HOS.

What I didn't like was that there were quite a few HOS following each other, and lots of them got worse, i.e. junk piles, the further I got into the game.

Also, the ending was somewhat, dare I say it? Pathetic? A bid of a rush job there as well, I thought.

All in all, a very nice game, but I am glad it's over. It was getting quite exhausting, what with all those HOS. LOL

But I did enjoy most of the puzzles.

Forgot to mention that I particularly liked the fact that I was able to move the diary around while open. That way I was able to do the puzzles and look at the "result/how to" without having to open and close the diary all the time when I wanted another peek. That was well done.

I had the same problem as Valdy initially in that clicking on Widescreen didn't fill my widescreen monitor but clicking on Fullscreen did.

This game is definitely well worth its money in my opinion as the clear graphics, voiceovers and length of game are good. The game held my interest to such an extent that it shouted louder than my wrist and it is only now that I have finished it that I am saying ouch! with a capital O.

Yes there are a lot of hidden object scenes but for some reason this didn't bother me as much this time and having to find something else after the list was complete was certainly different and having an interactive element always makes them better as well.

There were definitely some creepy moments in there that made you wonder what you were going to encounter as you moved around. I played on the Normal setting where it took the hint button approximately 1.1/2 minutes to recharge. I managed to do all the puzzles so I have no idea how long it took to recharge the skip button.

It wasn't all good though because there were a few occasions where I was trying to look for that extra something in the HO scenes and found myself unceremoniously ejected and dumped back into the room. It was probably my fault though for looking for it by clicking on any items I thought could be useful that were too near the bottom of the screen .

I enjoyed this game and look forward to playing more by this developer

Cherb

As usual, no problem with wide screen. Why do these devs want o inject real people with cartoons? Really takes away from the whole graphic concept. Didn't care for that at all. Also didn't care for the need to find another item when you didn't even know you needed to find something. You waste a lot of time clicking aroudn trying to see if you need anything more in the scene. Someone really has a syringe fixation. Every HOG you need to find something to do with a syringe.

Otherwise, graphics aren't bad. Hint system not bad. Nice sound effects, game play good. Just didn't get into this one either. Started out good, but constantly clicking to find "something" else took away the fun. I like the games that actually tell you to find another item in the HOG. Couple of fixes and this would be a very nice SE.

Have to put this one in my puddle for awhile. Not sure I want it right now, but will hold on to it anyway.

Thanks for the reviews.

Played more of this game today. Absolutely hate it!! And that is saying some. Very confusing. They really need to close the HOG scenes when you are finished with them. I was pretty happy until I got to the basement. If you like electronics and mechanics, you will love this. However, I do not so this became frustrating and annoying. I would not recommend this game to anyone except an electrician or mechanic. These devs really need to rethink how they develop games. One of the worst I have played. This started out as a great game. Just got mired down in all the mechanical and electrical elements which can be difficult if you are not familiar with mechanics. Since most of the people who play these games are women (not trying to be sexist here), I would try to stay clear of all the mechanical elements of the game. And even this would not be so horrible, but when it takes up about one quarter of the game, it is very annoying. I don't like easy games, but this one is just too difficult due to the small items and HOG scenes which you have to continually refer to.

I HATE games with real people, the reason I play games is to get away from the real people I deal with every day. Then the hidden scenes are too small. The settings won't stay adjusted. If you go in and out, everything goes back to default - don't like that because I always lose the music first thing I do. The windowed mode wouldn't change until I went out and came back in and tried it again and then it worked. Just too many irritating things.