It has superior graphics, and a beautiful art-style for the backgrounds. There is lots of magical glitter around. Special effects move the cutscenes and animations along with cleverly used transitions. There are flowing fountains and decorative ponds surrounded by gardens. The animal Guardians in the game who are outfitted with brass fittings that are able to translate animal to human speech. The animals aren’t the only nod to steam punk in the game. Entire areas look like they have been detailed with shiny brass whatnots. It is beautiful, and once again like the first Empress of the Deep, all those pipes and plumbing, electronics and arcing electricity, is very reminiscent of the original game of Myst. My iPad Screen Shots:

Make your own animation

Far from being just a static hidden object puzzler, the game keeps you thinking. Although the puzzles are very easy to solve, the objects aren’t always easy to see or where you would expect them to be. Of course there are locked doors and passageways, but you will have to use all of your puzzle skills to get past them. One of the best parts of the game is the sound. The music is pretty, and it changes from one area to the next. The underwater bubble noises are soothing, and you do hear a little bit of whale song added into the mix.

The full version of the game is worth the price. They also did something different and they have a Collector’s Edition with extra content. The very best part is that you can enjoy a lengthy Free demo of the game from the Apple App Store.

DEMO

“A young girl…destined to rule but pursued by shadows. A trusted friend…broken but not defeated. A tyrant…wrapped in darkness, ambitious but cruel.” If that’s not a set-up for a great story, I don’t know what is. Big Fish Game’s Drawn: Dark Flight is the continued story of Iris, Franklin and the evil tyrant who destroyed her parents and now is looking for her. The game opens with promise, a beautiful animation sequence with those words above narrated to you along with your goal–light the three beacons so Iris can defeat the tyrant and rule as queen. I had high hopes for this game, because I absolutely loved its prequel: Drawn: Painted Tower.

While the opening animation sequence is beautiful, it was too brief. It finishes and you find yourself just staring at hole in the ceiling and feeling dumped in the middle of the game. What was so great about the original, was that it was an even mix of animated story and puzzles that weaved you into the game. The sequel lacked the same balance, and I missed it. That said, the graphics still have that dark, amazing, gnaw at your senses quality. You literally navigate through a world of shadows and, like the original, you pop into paintings that are intricately detailed and colored, making this feel like a truly magical place.

The music is familiar, poignant and effective. It haunts you through the game as you wander in the dark kingdom. A bright note, no pun intended, is that the music changes when you enter Iris’ paintings to a fitting theme, i.e. seaworthy music for a scurvy infested pirate, etc. It’s a pleasant break from the main score that runs through the rest of the game. Also, the sound effects are great–from ocean waves, books flying in the wind, rain failing, thunderstorms, and fire. Their sounds all add to the beauty of the game. The voice of the dark lord was a little overdone and I would have liked his shadow minion, Raven to have a voice, a creepy whisper or moan versus just typed text.

Dark Flight is similar to its prequel, where you have to defeat the dark tyrant to save Iris and make her queen. It is mouse driven and at times slow to load. There are two versions you can play, the tutorial mode or the experienced player mode. The tutorial sequence was helpful as is Franklin, your guide and hint giver through the game. The game relies on heavily on combination type puzzles, some harder and more frustrating than others. I would have liked there have been more of a balance between combination puzzles and hidden object games, but maybe I’m biased after the first version. Big Fish Games does provide a walk-through version online which I admit the first time through I had to reference out of frustration. If at some point you find yourself losing patience with the puzzle, the creators’ have also been kind of enough to provide a “Skip Puzzle” option, but you can only use it once you’ve put in a little time trying to solve it. Once the bar above “Skip Puzzle” is full then you can click it and move on. I don’t like to use this option if I can help it. I can’t let the game beat me! WHAT?

While some of the puzzle sequences feel redundant, creativity abounds in their presentation. One of my favorites was an arcade-like sequence where you have to catch a series of symbols and get them past the evil tyrant’s black crows to move on. I also liked the “Simon Says” sequence you play on coral tubes inside a frog painting to uncover your next clue, as well the paint-by-number game that leads to lighting the next beacon.

Overall, I enjoyed Drawn: Dark Flight but felt that it was too short in comparison to its prequel. The ending was anti-climatic and lackluster. SPOILER ALERT: Iris defeats the dark lord and becomes queen in a rather vague battle in the sky where she’s a phoenix and he’s a black shadowy bird creature. A bigger send off for the tyrant would have been nice, but for a six dollar price tag, you can’t really complain. The graphics are phenomenal and it’s a good way to entertain yourself for a few hours. Towards the end of the game, Iris hints that perhaps her mother and siblings are still alive and the game closes with “To be continued…” I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Big Fish Games can bring back the fun and intrigue of the original Drawn: Painted Tower if indeed they make another sequel. While this one certainly was entertaining, I think they can step up their game in both story line and length of play.

Platform:

RENT/DEMO

Dream Chronicles throws you in to a world where fairies can be evil and/or good.  You play as Faye, a mother and wife that was under a sleep spell, and found her daughter in a similar state and her husband missing.  What’s the catch? You can’t run out of the door and look for your missing husband, oh no! That would be too easy. Instead you have to solve a series of puzzles in order to get out of each room.  It’s enchanting and at times, addicting.  Some puzzles can be simple and yet some puzzles are challenging and/or frustrating at times.  It has a nice balance between teaching you how to play the game and ramping up to the bit more demanding ones.

This game felt like it was made for the PC and then ported to the iPhone, and then sent to Xbox live.  At first it was clumsy and difficult to control.  You use your controller as if it were a mouse but of course, that never works well.  It was slow to move and counter intuitive.  Most commands had to deal with just hitting the A button, and trying to nail a small movement in order to pick up a part or gems.  I kept pressing buttons until I realized that the X button speeds the mouse-cursor-like and that RB and LB takes you immediately to your inventory strip.  I guess I should have looked into the “controls” diagram before playing it (hehehe).  Once I figured those things out, the game went faster and a little easier to control, still nailing the arrow on the gem I needed to get, not the easiest task.

The graphics in the game were nice, with inviting and colorful panels, where more of the action took place, and by action, I mean puzzle.  The music was nice yet repetitive.  It reminded me of a game my sister and I use to have for the NES when she was 4 ) Barbie .  I owned the NES and Imighthaveplayeditacoupleoftimes but it was in the name of SCIENCE! *ahem*  ¬_¬

If you like games like the “Crimson Room” you might find yourself delighted with this version of the Dream Chronicles.  After you finish it once, you can play the game again to try to beat your time, as there is plenty of achievements for those of you achievement hunters.  You can also play the game in co-op with someone online.  I was unable to try this part of the game at this time.  If I do, I’ll update this article.

Dream Chronicles is just one of many in the series, so if you like the Xbox LIVE version, you might want to check out Playfirst website for the next installment.  In my opinion, I think this game is best fit for the PC and perhaps for devices like Android/iPhone/iTouch where you can touch and/or control a mouse.  The learning curve on the Xbox controller isn’t as bad,  but if you are not use to the controller, you might want to skip this version and go directly to the PC one.

A review copy of this game was provided by the publisher and did not affect the outcome of this review.

“As with every engrossing mystery, Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull offers rich and textured character development,” said Patrick Wylie, vice president of Big Fish Games Studios. “The game is wonderfully cinematic; the film production techniques used in its development bring each character to life, adding depth and providing visual clues as players discover who’s lying and who’s telling the truth. Players get the experience of an enjoyably addictive mystery novel or movie, while the interactive element takes it a level deeper as objects and information are passed between players and characters.”

13th Skull is available at BigFishGames.com for both PC and Mac. The Collector’s Edition includes extra gameplay, including a bonus chapter and collectables – hidden pirate cards, behind-the-scenes content, the soundtrack and concept art and carries a price of $19.99

Today, Target Entertainment Properties launched their new downloadable Hidden Object Adventure game, Venus: The Case of the Grand Slam Queen. Developed by Action Games in collaboration with, and featuring the voice of, Venus Williams, the game challenges players to use their puzzle solving and object finding skills to uncover clues and discover the motive and identity of a mysterious stalker who follows Venus throughout her stay in London as they learn fun and interesting facts about Venus herself as well as the game of tennis.
I recently had the opportunity to ask Venus about the game and get a behind the scenes look. Enjoy!

GA: Firstly, can you tell me what was the inspiration behind the creation of Venus: the Case of the Grand
Slam Queen?
VW: I have always enjoyed playing games, so it was really fun to create my own game that people can enjoy as well, with a tennis aspect to it.

GA: What made you want to get involved with the making of a video game?
VW: Just being able to do something new that I have always been interested in, and share my experiences with others through this new game.

GA: I see that your voice is included in the games. How much were you involved with the creative process behind the game?
VW: I did do all the voiceovers so that is really me you hear in the game. The creative process involved a lot of collaborative back and forth between the gaming company and myself.

GA: Do you play games yourself? If so, what is your favorite?
VW: Yes, my favorite game is the Wii Active game. It is a great workout and a different workout from what I usually do!

GA: What do you think about being a positive, successful role model for younger girls who play?
VW: Being a positive role model for younger women and girls is very important to me. When you’re young it is important to have someone to look up to and aspire to be like, so I take it very seriously and I always try to be the best person I can be.

GA: What will we learn about Venus in Venus the case of the Grand Slam Queen?
VW: That I can solve mysteries!

GA: Any inside tips or easter eggs you can share with our readers?
VW: Look for my dog Harold in the game!

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Venus: The Case of the Grand Slam Queen is available for both PC and Mac from Big Fish Games starting today!

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Your small boat has capsized near a dark, deserted island. Your belongings are scattered and your wife, who was traveling with you, has mysteriously disappeared. Farther up the beach, a larger ship is beached with a gaping hole torn into its hull. And the people who were once aboard are nowhere to be found…

What secrets does this seemingly abandoned island hold? And why is your heart pounding in fear…?

The game comes out later this month for the PC with a $19.95 (US) Collector’s Edition that includes a built-in strategy guide/walkthrough and a bonus chapter that you’ll unlock after playing through the main story. This bonus chapter promises about 25% more gameplay. This edition of the game will be exclusive to Alawar Entertainment and Big Fish Games. A standard version of the game, without all the bells and whistles will be available later this fall.

How do you feel about the idea of a horror casual game (casual horror game)? And if you’re a fan of the typical casual game set, are you going to be interested to check this one out? I think it looks like it might be worth it to check out. It has a very Nancy Drew vibe to it.

Below, you can check out some screenshots from the game:

Today at Casual Connect in Seattle, Women’s Day and Big Fish games announced a partnership that will bring access to the 2500 game strong catalog from BigFish Games to Woman’s Day readers and visitors of WomansDay.com.

“The breadth of our catalog offers Woman’s Day readers and website visitors a vast array of great games,” said Jeremy Lewis, chief executive of Big Fish Games. “Our games are a great fit for Woman’s Day readers, who seek to live well every day. Casual games are relaxing, mentally stimulating, and fun. ”

The partnership also includes a special offer exclusively for Woman’s Day readers int he back-to-school September issue, which hits newsstands in the beginning of next month. There are also special offers every day here.

“Woman’s Day Magazine speaks to the CEO of the household, the woman,” says Carlos Lamadrid, senior VP and chief brand officer of Woman’s Day Brand Group. “Our readers – and women everywhere – are now driving the online gaming market. Through this partnership with Big Fish Games, our readers can now access unique content and special offers for fun, family-friendly games.”

Rating: E (for Everyone)
Players: 1
Genre: Casual
Developers: Fugazo, Inc.
Website: www.Fugazo.com

BUY

While not a PC gamer, ever so often I find myself on the search for a new casual PC game that I can play… casually. It’s usually a pain wading through all of the casual gaming garbage for that rare gem (yeah, Bookworm Adventures!), but I was referred to Fiction Fixers: Adventures in Wonderland and I thought, “what the heck”.

The story starts when a member of the secret society “The Illterati” steals a copy of Alice in Wonderland from the Fiction Fixers headquarters. The Fiction Fixers sure aren’t going to take that lying down, so they send you on a mission to save Alice and return the literary classic. Throughout Adventures you play a series of mini-games to advance the story, which is just like every other PC game in the history of the world. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Adventures in Wonderland wasn’t limited to just hidden object games. During my trip down the rabbit hole I played a variation of Bejeweled, a round of hedgehog mini-golf, solved countless puzzles, and helped lobsters make it to the ocean safely using a trampoline (what?), to name a few.

What made the game appealing was the fact that some of the mini-games are actually challenging and don’t play down to the audience. It was a little frustrating when the occasional hidden object didn’t look like its description, but these times were rare. I also grew tired of backtracking and then re-backtracking to a location, but I can understand the need for it in such a small playable space. This complaint could’ve easily been fixed with a fast-travel option, which I’m sure will come in future installments should developer Fugazo choose to make them. Overall, Adventures is aesthetically pleasing and the environments are fun to interact with. I’m not even going to mention the cuteness of the giant dog, which is off the charts in cuteness.

Any fan of the classic story should absolutely give Fiction Fixers a chance. It’s available on Fugazo’s website, or on Big Fish’s. If purchased through Fugazo’s site, you get a bonus game of Hansel & Gretel which comes with a bunch of other goodies to enjoy.

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Big Fish Games has just announced the launch of Faunasphere. In this browser-based CMO (Casual Multiplayer Online) game, players adopt and care for cute and quirky creatures known as Fauna and collaborate to build and explore beautiful virtual worlds. From the creator and lead designer of Asheron’s Call, Faunasphere engages a broad casual gamer audience through non-violent game play, rich social networking elements, and an immersive storyline. The game is free to play, and features micro-transactions and premium membership to enhance the game play experience. I just adopted cute little kwirk and am exploring the rock garden. Come Join Me! I am Casual_Angel.

About the Game
* Fauna lay eggs as they level up. Eggs can be hatched to create new Fauna or traded between players.

* 12 Fauna breeds to adopt and care for, with an endless array of visual variations to explore. Players can try to breed Fauna for specific traits, or can purchase special items to transform them.

* Players can customize their own corner of the world by designing a Faunasphere to shelter their Fauna. Items to decorate and improve a player’s Faunasphere can be collected via game play, traded between players, or purchased.

* Players advance through the world via unique, non-violent game play. Fauna clean up pollution and complete tasks to earn game currency and level up.

* The game can be played as a no-commitment diversion, but offers deeper involvement for committed players.

I am not sure which I am, but I am completely engrossed in this one. Come see what I mean!