Strange Cases: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake Collector's Edition Overview and Download

 for only $ 13.99 USD!

Hi there. Today I will review the brand new Big Fish Game - Strange Cases: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake. For now only collectors edition of this game was released, usual edition must become available in a month of so. We will start game review with the gameplay video.

As we may see, this is another game about ghosts, mysterious abandoned towns, missing friends and ancient curses. Graphics is traditionally good for Big Fish Hidden Object/Adventure/Puzzle games and so is music.

Strange Cases: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake is the third game of the Strange Cases series. The first part of this series - Strange Cases: The Tarot Card Mystery. It was released on Aug 2009. You are playing as FBI agent Claire Ellery. She's been called to a small strange town to find three girls, recently kidnapped there. Task isn't looks easy - nobody sends any ransom demands, there is no even smallest clues to the kidnapper. The local police doesn't happy to cooperate with you, looks like they are hiding something.

When you are completely stuck, someone begins leaving you various tarot cards as a clues, leading you to the missing girls. After long and hard searching you has been found missing girls and save them. Although many questions stood unsolved, the police quickly closed the case and sand you back to FBI headquarters. Game graphics was terrific for 2009, story and puzzles were good too. But the game was too easy and short for my taste - only about four hours of gameplay.

In May 2010 second part of Strange Cases - The Lighthouse Mystery was released. It was even more dark and twisted, then the first part. Storyline was build around mysterious woman with a blue pendant, possibly supernatural. Claire Ellery saw in her dream death of her partner, Tom, who also was FBI agent. Tom was working on a case of a missing scientist. Unfortunately, just the same thing happens in reality. Tom is dead. Police think that his death is suicide, but Claire didn't believe it.

Claire's investigation of his death transforms into search of clues left by Tom, investigating his own case. Soon Claire is finding out, that mysterious woman is guilty in her partner's death, trying to achieve unlimited power. Ready to be killed, Tom leaves trails to his future murderer, trails that Claire is going to follow. He wrote all needed info on the backs of illustrated cards and hide them throughout various locations ranging from his apartment and his office to an abandoned shack, an underground laboratory, a fallout shelter etc. Claire find them all and stop evil woman from attaining her dark goal. Gameplay and puzzles of this part was great and uneasy, sometimes even too uneasy. Some players even stuck without walkthrough or strategy guide.

In the third game, Strange Cases: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake, Claire Ellery with her new partner is going to Alaska. This time she sent to investigate some strange case into the town of Grey Mist Lake. Suddenly on the nigh road appears ghost, trying to bypass it Claire loosing control and car falls from the cliff. When Claire regained consciousness, her partner has disappeared from the wrecked car, so she must find him.

She started to explore town of Grey Mist Lake, only spoken of in legends, trying to find out, what happened, why this town is filled only with ghosts and where is her partner? Your task is to help Claire save the day and uncover the hidden truth, lying beneath Grey Mist Lake. It won't be easy: quests and mini-games games in the third part of Strange Cases become even tougher, then in the second one, but that is why we have Strategy guide, integrated into gameplay. Stuck, can't find something? Use it.

Summing up, Strange Cases 3: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake game is great. Story is interesting and twisted, graphics is good (for me, it's a little too dark - you won't see much light here, Sun - something you can only dream about). Music makes it's positive influence on The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake game atmosphere, there are lot of unexpected moments, some of them even can make you scream :). Scenario hasn't many connections with previous parts, so if you aren't played them - that will be no problem. If you like ghost stories, ghost towns and mysterious cases - Strange Cases 3: The Secrets of Grey Mist Lake is a good choice for you!

 for only $ 13.99 USD!

Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows Collector's Edition Review + Download link

 for only $ 13.99 USD!

Hello there. Today we are reviewing newest (as always) exclusive Big Fish game - Drawn: Trail of Shadows Collector's Edition. This is already third part of Drawn™ game series. First and second games was named as Drawn™: The Painted Tower and Drawn™: The Dark Flight. But us usual it's better to see once than hear a hundred times. So let's watch gameplay video.

Interesting and unusual. One of the strangest things - Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows is pure Adventure game, it doesn't including Hidden Object elements and contains only a few kinds of puzzles. Wonderful adventures in the painted worlds is all that you've got in this game.

In Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows game your goal is to save the painted worlds, created by the genius boy, that you were exploring in the first and second parts of the game. For those of you, who missed previous Drawn games, I will shortly tell about their story.

In Drawn®: The Painted Tower ™ happened your first visit into the world of Drawn. You were exploring the Painted Tower trying to solve challenging puzzles on your way to find and save the girl named Iris before it's too late. She was trapped on the top edge of this magical tower.

Every tower's floor was locked by the curse, so it wasn't easy to overwhelm all obstacles on your way to Iris. Moreover, on every floor you were entering the completely different world, each of them were really impressive.Your time was limited - mysterious darkness was approaching the tower, trying to consume it. Game was beautiful and unusual, a real break-through for Adventure games of that time (September 2009).

A year later, in September 2010 second Drawn game was released. The game name is Drawn®: Dark Flight ™. It continues the story of the painted worlds, with the same visuals and atmosphere. After escaping the painted tower in the finale of the first game Iris's troubles didn't ends. A princess was pursued by evil king and your task was to stop him and to save the princes. You were overcoming various obstacles to break through to princess.

Exploring the Kingdom of Stonebriar was really exciting. Your archenemy, as in the first part, were the shadows that prowl its streets of the kingdom and threatening to consume it completely. You were bringing the light to the shadows, destroying them. Just like in the first game, you were meeting various characters, some of them were your friends, others tried to stop you.

To restore light and peace in the kingdom and bring a future queen back to a people your main objective was to solve the mysteries of the three beacons. Game was even more interesting then the first one - not the single tower but the whole kingdom laid before you. And now, one more year later, third Drawn game - Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows was released.

Graphically Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows is even better than previous parts. This third part opening the gate of unknown for us: we will know more about the creation of this painted world. His creator - a genius boy, that painted the whole world and bring it to life with his art magic. We will know more about the mysterious darkness, that was the threat to the Drawn world. Trail of Shadows is the prequel of the first and second games. Now you are acting many years before the events of The Painted Tower and Dark Flight.

Shadows are scattering all paintings and destroying them, trying to stop the boy, that created Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows world, from his godlike achievement. So you must find those shadows on the paintings and destroy them to save a boy with the power to create painted worlds. It won't be easy, byt if you fails - whole Kingdom of Stonebriar will be destroyed and the events of The Painted Tower and The Dark Flight won't happen. Ever.

Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows game is unusual and, if I may say, very kind. You are traveling through the beautiful kingdom, exploring it and relishing. Storyline is interesting, gameplay isn't boring too. Collector's edition of Drawn: Trail of Shadows includes bout two hours of bonus gameplay, additional artwork (very nice pictures) and screensavers. It isn't much, but as far the Usual edition of the game isn't available, we have no choice, aren't we?

What I may say in the end? There is two category of people: first likes those creative games, second - no. I belong to the first category and love this beautiful piece of art. So if you liked what you saw in the video and screenshots of Drawn 3: Trail of Shadows Collector's Edition - play it, and you won't regret it. Good luck!

 for only $ 13.99 USD!

Haunted Halls 2: Fears from Childhood Collector's Edition Review + Download link

 for only $ 13.99 USD!

Hello, my dear friends. Today we will discuss newest Big Fish Game - Haunted Halls 2: Fears from Childhood Collector's Edition. As usual for collector's editions, this is Hidden Object, Puzzle, Adventure game. Some of you may remember the beginning of it's story from the first part of this game series - Haunted Halls: Green Hills Sanitarium. But before we will talk about game, let's first watch gameplay video.

I may say, graphics and gameplay were impressively improved from the first part of the game. Graphics is perfect for casual games, sometimes (specially in game videos) is looks like first-class horror movie, not a game. Disturbing music contributes to the gloomy atmosphere.

For those who missed it: Haunted Halls 2: Fears from Childhood continues the story of Haunted Halls: Green Hills Sanitarium. In Green Hills Sanitarium you was exploring a decrepit mental asylum and was looking for your missing boyfriend. You found out, that some twisted experiments happening at the asylum, your boyfriend, Tim, find out it first and made an investigation of his own. As Tim dives deeper and deeper into the mystery, his messages to you was  abruptly stop coming. So your task was to find him. You found out, that evil Dr. Blackmore was after all of this, you saved the prisoners of mental asylum. But your friend Tim was dropped into the portal by Dr. Blackmore and your task in the Haunted Halls 2 - follow him, safe him and finally stop Blackmore! But where the portal leads?

Imagine: you are a child, that lays in a soft bed, peaceful and quiet. But then you are hearing some strange sounds from under the bed... You are looking there and seeing BIG RED EYES staring at you!!!
Or while you are asleep, wardrobe is opening and some dark figure coming out from it. Shadow is coming closer... And closer... This is the monster that comes after you!
You are talking with your friends and simultaneously writes a letter on your notebook. In one moment you realize, than nobody answers on your talking. You turn around and seeing, that your friends are slowly and silently coming to you. And there is something wrong with their faces...

Or maybe you are in the bathroom, under the shower, you are hearing your mother voice, humming some funny song from the other room. But suddenly you are hearing her screaming and then - only silence. You are coming out from the bathroom and seeing your dead parents on the floor, covered in blood...
Or after classes you take your time packing your stuff and stay the last one in the class. You leaving it and saw, than there is no one in the corridor, and the silence is complete. Тhе sun is down and there is darkness behind the windows. And then light bulbs starts turning off, first in the far end of the corridor, and then closer, closer... You are running to the exit, but there is no chance to escape. And you already can hear someone's steps in the dark...

You are coming home after school, happy to see your parents, but what is that? They are feeding an unfamiliar boy, kissing him and saying, that they loving their only son so much! And then they are throwing you away from your home and saying not to pretend that you are know them anymore.
Maybe once after classes you make a wrong turn and get lost. That's a dusk already, and the street you are on is absolutely empty, all doors are closed, windows are boarded up. You are going further and with the last sun beams you can see, that street ends and you are entering on the old cemetery. Moon has shown and in the moonlight you can see that ground on the burials is start to shake and move, like someone is trying to escape from the graves. And no one can hear your screams!!!

That's what Haunted Halls 2: Fears from Childhood about. Worst fears, nightmares, that you can even imagine, come true in this horrifying game. Dr. Blackmore build the world, where the worst fears become the reality, to study fear influence on his patients. And the portal from the end of original Haunted Halls game was leading to this world of nightmares. So your task is to help these poor children to defeat their nightmares, converting them into pleasant dreams. Then you must find, where evil Dr. Blackmore is (look carefully for the evidence, leading to his lair) and defeat him to prevent from creating new mad worlds and experiments. You are also must to find your friend Tim and help him (and yourself) to return home from this crazy Realm.

 As you may see, story of Haunted Halls 2: Fears from Childhood is pretty interesting and exciting: theme of helping to mentally ill by defeating their nightmares isn't popular in game development. Storyline realized very good, gameplay is exciting and striking - you are making comedy from the horrible nightmares.

Collector's edition of Haunted Halls 2: Fears from Childhood includes set of additional features, traditional for Big Fish Games Collector's editions:
1. Integrated strategy guide. Some quests are tough and not everyone will be able to beat them, so Strategy guide may be useful. For usual hidden object scene problems there are hints available, and that will be enough.
2. Bonus gameplay. In collector's edition there is some new quests to complete and new children to help. Few hours of additional pleasure guaranteed.
3. Wallpapers, concept art, screensavers. Standard set for any Collector's edition.
4. Soundtrack from the game. As I said before, music here is really intense and nice, but only three tracks? IMHO, too few.

It may appears strange, but I strongly recommend this game for children. It will shows them, that all fears are illusive and defeating them will help to set their lifes right. But it's also very interesting for adults too. F.e., I really loved it. So try this game, it will catch you for a long time. Good luck!

 for only $ 13.99 USD!

Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial Collector's Edition Review & Download link

for only $ 13.99 USD!

Hi there. Thursday has come and Big Fish releasing new Hidden Object game (as usual, with Puzzle and Adventure game elements) - Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial. Once again Big Fish firstly releasing Collector's Edition of the game to make gamers pay much. Let's firstly see game video to start our review and to discover, is this game worth paying $14.

I may say: not bad, not bad at all! But let's examine Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial to make more precise conclusion. And we will start from the heart of any game - from the game script. Name of the game series, "Dark Tales" isn't gives a clue, that you will play a game based on Edgar Allan Poe's novel. It's more likely must be about some Hans Christian Andersen's or Grimm Brothers tales. But Dark Tales isn't confirm this assumption. Moreover, Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial isn't the first Dark Tales game, based on the Edgar Allan Poe's novel - some time ago Dark Tales - Edgar Allan Poes Murders in the Rue Morgue and Dark Tales 2 Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat were released.

 Edgar Allan Poe is a world known horror novels writer. Stories about the killing in the Rue Morgue, committed by the giant gorilla, about mystical black cat (these were showed to us in previous games of  Dark Tales series) are really famous. But there is one motive, that appeared in many Edgar Allan Poe's stories - burying alive. As is well known, Edgar Allan Poe was panicky feared of being buried alive.

One of his stories is about the man who, just as story's creator, was afraid to death of being buried alive. He has some strange disease (something like epilepsy). Attacks of this disease, filled with seizures, leaves him in near-death coma state, when even best doctors can make mistake and decide, that he is dead. So he hired special servants with specific instructions what to do, when he will die (or only looks like dead). He wrote a note about his disease and always took it with him, so if someone found him look like dead, he will read the note and help. Hero builds for himself special mausoleum with light, ventilation and ability to open it from inside. But it won't help. One day hero awakes in the dark coffin and understands, that he was buried alive and his worst nightmare comes true...

In the other Edgar Allan Poe story (The Fall of the House of Usher, 1839) hero was invited by his friend Roderick to the family manor and become the witness of family madness, that ends in burying alive of Roderick's sister. In the other story - The Cask of Amontillado,1846 hero is killing his antagonist,making him drunk, luring him into the basement, chained to the wall and then immured him alive. So as you can see, this theme is one of the main in the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

This theme is also manifested in the plot of the Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial. You are the world famous Detective Dupin. You was hired on the investigation of a very strange case, where on the first sight wasn't committed no crime at all. Julien has hired you to discover the truth about death of his secret beloved one - Victorine. Looks like her death was natural, but her husband (not Julien, of course) buried her suspiciously too quickly. Husband didn't love her, so it's possible, that he killed her. Or just buried her alive.
Now Julien sees strange dreams and visions, he says, that Victorine's vengeful spirit comes to him and will avenge to the murderer. And maybe he is right. Will you be able to find out the truth about The Premature Burial?

As usual for Big Fish, graphics quality of Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial  is splendid, all landscapes, rooms and characters are drawn nicely to the smallest detail. Music soundtrack is also very atmospheric, there are lots of environment sounds and small animations in the game, that make it really magical. You feel that the game world on your screen is alive.
Collector's edition complectation of Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial is standard: Integrated strategy guide (with pictures), screensavers, wallpapers, concept art, bonus gameplay and musical soundtrack (only three tracks). Also original story of Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial is included (I guess, anyone can find it in any library). Bonus gameplay and early access are main advantages of Collector's edition.

Gameplay of Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial is pretty usual for Hidden object/Puzzle games - look for hidden objects, solve riddles and move on to the dark hidden secrets if Victorine's husband. On your way you are going to meet Victorine's spirit and other spirits too. Main difference from the other Hidden object games - this one is creepy. Real creepy. I wouldn't give it to my little children. You are going to spend many time on cemeteries, call the spirits of the dead like the psychic medium, search for hidden objects into the open coffins with dead bodies and so on. But for teenagers and adults The Premature Burial will perfectly suit.

So, is Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial game worth its price? For me the answer is yes. I spent many hours playing it and I liked it. Game is great, specially if you like ghost stories and dark tales.

for only $ 13.99 USD!