textrekkie
|
|
Rank:"Old-Timer"
Status:
Worn Out
Posts:629
From: USA 
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 06:34)
Haven't quite finished the full demo. The story seems a little slow moving to me. Does it seem that way to you, Sam?
FYI to GG - The developer is Funswitch. Gogii is the publisher.
(Message edited by textrekkie On 04/28/2011 06:35)
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
All animals are created equal (but some are more equal than others)
|
Boopers 
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Status:
take the picture already.
Posts:1916
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 11:21)
Oh EM GEE ! You should get a special badge, a badge with extra features, a badge with bonus ribbons!!!
usertype:2 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
textrekkie
|
|
Rank:"Old-Timer"
Status:
Worn Out
Posts:629
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 13:47)
Yes - you should get a badge. I, on the other hand, should get a whipping! I bought the damn thing. I was home today because we were taking a break from packing and I thought what the heck...even though the demo was telling me..."don't". I'm so stupid! (Hanging head in shame.) So now I guess I gotta review it.
Game Name: Voodoo Whisperer: Curse of A Legend
Genre: iHOG
Developer: Funswitch
Bought From: Gogii
CE/SE/Demo Version: CE
Graphics:
Widescreen Y/N: No
Sounds:. Minimum Voiceovers Other background FX OK
Music:. Unobtrusive - but nothing that stands out
Cursor: System and Custom Option
Tech Issues:. None observed - But several people are reporting cursor problems.
Hints: Yes
Skippable Puzzles: Yes
Length:. In Advanced mode using no hints, skipping no puzzles, using no SG - 4.5 hours (that includes bonus game play.
Modes: Casual and Advanced
Impression:. New Orleans voodoo isn't new; however, the city (or at least part of it) is being possessed. This story takes us back in time (late 19th century) with a female heroine who has studied with Marie Laveau II. (Yes, it has to be the daughter). An evil spirt has possessed some of the people of the city (actually just a few) and our heroine has to use her powers to de-possess them and find out who (or what) is behind this evil. So the storyline gets some original marks, but I found it slow in developing. You find ingredients, make spells, talk to the dead and lift curses. All in a days work - and actually kinda fun. There are some things that could have been done better to maybe make it MORE fun and more voodoo like maybe...you know spice it up with a little more drama...but maybe we'll see that in the next offering.
Pros/Cons:. The graphics and fx are good. But after awhile, the dull hidden object scenes began to wear on the eyes. They were colorless for the most part, but they were staying true to their backgrounds. No scene was repeated more than twice. However, I did find some objects questionably labled: a "domino" was a mask; a "boneshaker" was a bicycle. And because there was no wide screen selection or aspect ration for full screen, I noticed at least one item that was almost totally off the screen - a circular box - that I could only catch a glimpse of in the far upper right corner. However, there are no extraneous sparkles in advanced mode (yeah!!!). Puzzles - The first word I'll use is unoriginal. The second is redundant. There are three basic types you'll see: those you'll find combinations for (easily) those you'll spin/match dials to solve and those you'll match pairs for (leaving odd man out).
Bonus Play - This developer had a clever idea. They added an extra map section in the middle of the game rather than a bonus game play at the end. Depending on your views, you may see this as brilliant or you may feel cheated. Personally, I see this as brilliant, because this means the buyers of the SE don't get stiffed at the end of the game, as they do in most CEs . Unfortunately, this didn't mean any longer game play--it only added 30 minutes for me.
Overall Verdict: My greatest disappointment with this game is the ending. I won't go into detail so as not to spoil it.
But my overall rating: For storytelling/originality; techinical merit/gameplaying mechanics/fx; puzzles; hiddden object scenes/ bonus gameplay I'll give it 3 out of five mugs. I'm withholding 2 mugs for shortness of bonus gameplay, redundancy and ease of puzzles, mislabeling of objects, lack of widescreen support and dissatisfaction with ending.
P.S. The developer is on site at BFG and didn't think very much of my comments. She found it hard to believe the bonus game play only took me 30 minutes when it took most of the testers an hour. It was only six rooms! And she didn't like what I had to say about the ending, either. I was trying to be honest but accurate with how it felt. Guess she didn't like the comparison to a soap opera.
(Message edited by textrekkie On 04/28/2011 22:05)
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
All animals are created equal (but some are more equal than others)
|
Genkicoll
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Posts:2279
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 13:58)
Yes, Tex, but look at the source. The Pond is renowned for posters who like nothing more than to criticize and nitpick games to death. It might be hard to pick out the real reviews (with constructive criticism) from those who just want to cause drama. You said how you felt about the game, and that's what a review is all about. We are not professional reviewers, so of course our comments are peppered with opinion and how we felt about the game(s).
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says~~
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
|
govegirl 
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Posts:6333
From: Australia 
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 14:26)
deleted comments
(Message edited by govegirl On 04/29/2011 09:38)
usertype:1 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
textrekkie
|
|
Rank:"Old-Timer"
Status:
Worn Out
Posts:629
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 14:34)
GogiiGrace is the publisher rep there.
She posted after mine that it took the testers at least an hour to finish the bonus section and they thought it was a great way to end the story...(PM me if you want to know the ending...I don't want to spoil it for others).
So I sent her a PM explaining that I've been gaming for a very long time and cut my teeth on adventure games so casual games were probably a little easier for me than most people.
Then she sent me a somewhat snarky PM back that said:
"Hi there,
Again, we're very sorry that you didn't enjoy the game's ending - or much of the rest of it, it seems.
We do our best to please our customers and it's tough to satisfy everyone, especially individuals such as yourself who've been gaming for a very long time. We hope to better meet your expectations in the future.
My apologies,
Grace "
So I wrote back and said
"It's not that I didn't enjoy any of it. If you read my review you would see what I enjoyed and didn't enjoy. I give very fair reviews factoring in everything about a game from start to finish, storyline, technical merit, puzzles, everything. My greatest hope is that you read it and understand where I'm coming from in context to the entire game."
(Message edited by textrekkie On 04/28/2011 14:40)
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
All animals are created equal (but some are more equal than others)
|
_DD_
|
|
Rank:Silver Member
Posts:140
From: Germany 
|
Reply To govegirl
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 14:34)
Reply to govegirl (04/28/2011 22:26)
What name is the developer posting as there?
GogiiGrace
textrekkie's post and the dev's answer are on page 2 of the thread http://forums.bigfishgames.com/posts/list/20/156961.page#3067230 but be aware of the spoilers in this thread. ETA: @ textrekkie, I agree with you re. "story seems a little slow moving". I was all set to buy the CE and am still undecided after the demo now. Nice, but not wow... (Message edited by _DD_ On 04/28/2011 14:38)
usertype:6 tt= 0
|
govegirl
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Posts:6333
From: Australia
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 14:35)
ok thanks just found her.
(Message edited by govegirl On 04/29/2011 09:39)
usertype:1 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
Purplerabbit
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Posts:2254
From: United Kingdom 
|
Reply To textrekkie
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 17:31)
Reply to textrekkie (04/28/2011 20:47)
However, I did find some objects questionably labled: a "domino" was actually a mask; a "boneshaker" was a bicycle.
I don't know about the domino being a mask, but a boneshaker was a type of bicycle around the 19th century. Just looked up domino mask. "A domino mask is a small, rounded mask covering only the eyes and the space between them." I suppose it would have been fairer to include the word mask, I certainly would have looked for the game piece.
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes I just want to put on a bunny outfit and scream
|
Sablesshadow
|
|
Rank:"Old-Timer"
Status:
The more I learn, the more confused I become!
Posts:685
From: USA
|
Reply To The%5FOriginal%5FNONO
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 19:27)
Reply to The_Original_NONO (04/28/2011 15:30) Perhaps has aspirations of being a BFG Mod??   Nono, you slay me! (Message edited by cyndisa On 04/29/2011 10:04)
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
The more I learn, the more confused I become.
|
Howatch
|
|
Rank:Silver Member
Posts:189
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 20:01)
Textrekkie, I think your critical review of the game is very good (and by critical, I don't mean critical in the sense of criticizing but rather objectively laying out the pros and cons).  Having said that, maybe I'm just in one of my more witless moods today, but I'm not really seeing snark or sarcasm in what the Gogii poster was saying in return. That "my apologies" signoff, too, might have just been an attempt at elaborate politeness (maybe English is a second language?). I'll have to reread the whole shebang.  In any event, I did purchase the game, so here's hoping I enjoy it. 
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
govegirl
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Posts:6333
From: Australia
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 20:52)
Well it kind of reminds me of the time Mr. Thelen wrote to me and used the words "even hard to please customers". Really, that was supposed to endear me to the BFG system? 
usertype:1 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
textrekkie
|
|
Rank:"Old-Timer"
Status:
Worn Out
Posts:629
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/28/2011 21:48)
Some of the players are now saying that the bonus feature only took them 20 minutes to complete. So I guess I've been vindicated.
@Rabbit - If they are going to use obscure terms for items then the labeling is acceptable, as the argument can be made they are staying true to the time period, although I still find it a questionable choice for a game.
@NONO - you crack me up - LOL.
(Message edited by textrekkie On 04/28/2011 22:16)
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
All animals are created equal (but some are more equal than others)
|
Ex-member
|
|
|
Reply To The%5FOriginal%5FNONO
(Date Posted:04/29/2011 08:31)
Reply to The_Original_NONO (04/28/2011 14:30) Perhaps has aspirations of being a BFG Mod?? OMG's! LMAO!  (Message edited by govegirl On 04/29/2011 09:41)
|
phatkhat 
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Posts:2452
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:04/29/2011 14:46)
Yes, Domino is a mask. Like a Carnival mask, just over the top part of the face. Think: Lone Ranger, LOL. When asked to look for a domino in a HOG, that's always one of my options, like all the kinds of a "bat".
usertype:1 tt= 0
|
Ex-member
|
|
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:05/01/2011 08:35)
Now that it's May, I'm free to start a new punchcard and this game is going to be one that I buy. I have a special affection for it since it was my first (and only) beta test so far. I enjoyed the beta, and I'm looking forward to playing the finished game.
First I have to finish The Treasure of Mystery Island: The Ghost Ship though. I couldn't find a thread for it though, so I can't do a review of it when I'm done.
|
oregonpandora
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Status:
I used to think I had mellowed in my old age. Tur
Posts:1717
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:05/01/2011 09:22)
I bought it too,esmeqt! With the buy a CE or two SE's deal at BigFish where you earn a free game (limit one) I talked myself right into it!
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
I used to think I had mellowed in my old age. Turns out I just don't give a shit.
|
Ex-member
|
|
|
Reply To oregonpandora
(Date Posted:05/01/2011 15:23)
Reply to oregonpandora (05/01/2011 09:22)
I bought it too,esmeqt! With the buy a CE or two SE's deal at BigFish where you earn a free game (limit one) I talked myself right into it! Sounds like we think alike then! I can usually convince myself to get a game if I really, really want it! 
|
Ex-member
|
|
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:05/03/2011 19:41)
Okay, finished Voodoo Whisperer and I actually enjoyed it. It probably took me 4-5 hours, and I liked how the bonus section was woven into the middle of the game instead of tacked on at the end... though I am eager to discuss the ending with those who've finished it. I rather like finding out new words and terms for things such as "domino" for the mask, so that sort of thing doesn't bother me in the least. The graphics were quite good... with the exception of the people- Lillian especiallly. She seemed a bit bobble-headed to me. The atmosphere was spooky and I liked seeing New Orleans in that time period. I have no complaints really... well, other than the cliffhanger ending, but since I totally saw it coming, I guess I didn't mind it as much as I might have. For me, it was worth my investment, and I really, really liked the inclusion of the bonus game in the middle. out of five... but maybe they're "lite" beers. 
|
oregonpandora
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Status:
I used to think I had mellowed in my old age. Tur
Posts:1717
From: USA
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:05/03/2011 20:20)
I just finished this one esmeqt. Also finished another in the last couple days both dealing with New Oeleans and both with cliff hanger endings. I didn't much like the other one (Don't remember name...fallen something) so by the time #2 comes out, I will have forgotten which is which and buy the wrong one!!!! I really liked Voodoo Whisperer! I think it took me at least that long to play, maybe longer. I hadn't read too much about the game so was not expecting ending. It POed me! I thought "Use your moving spell, girl...and let's continue the game!"
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
I used to think I had mellowed in my old age. Turns out I just don't give a shit.
|
Ex-member
|
|
|
Reply To oregonpandora
(Date Posted:05/04/2011 03:55)
Reply to oregonpandora (05/03/2011 20:20)
I just finished this one esmeqt. Also finished another in the last couple days both dealing with New Oeleans and both with cliff hanger endings. I didn't much like the other one (Don't remember name...fallen something) so by the time #2 comes out, I will have forgotten which is which and buy the wrong one!!!! I really liked Voodoo Whisperer! I think it took me at least that long to play, maybe longer. I hadn't read too much about the game so was not expecting ending. It POed me! I thought "Use your moving spell, girl...and let's continue the game!" LOL That's exactly what I thought, OP! But noooooo... she just stood there with her big, drippy "puppy eyes" and watched it happen. D'oh! 
|
Purplerabbit
|
|
Rank:Posting Wizard
Posts:2254
From: United Kingdom
|
RE:Voodoo Whisperer Curse of A Legend
(Date Posted:05/04/2011 04:57)
Since I now have coupons coming out of my ears, I will wait for the SE, especially as the bonus doesn't extend the story.
usertype:3 tt= 0
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes I just want to put on a bunny outfit and scream
|
|
|
Thanks, boops. I knew you would understand 
