 An unusually nice production! |
| Review Date: April 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: P. B. Sharp, Las Cruces, NM |
"Magic Encyclopedia- First Story" was for me a fine example of serendipity because I did not expect a game of this caliber. The graphic scenes, all hand-painted, are absolutely beautiful. And the puzzles are challenging, fun and not all that easy. This is a feast for the eyes as well as the brain.
"Magic" is that species of hidden object game in which pieces of various items are scattered around the environment. -the motif is similar to the Mortimer Beckett games. The objects in their entirety that need to be found are pictured at the bottom of the screen but you have to hunt all over for the often weeny pieces of that object. When you have collected the entire item, say, a hammer or a shield, it goes in your inventory and you have to decide what to do with it as each object fits back into one of the scenes in a specific place, in other words it integrates and performs a function.
Many of the scattered pieces cannot be found until you successfully solve a mini-puzzle, and these puzzles are original and intriguing and challenging. In one you have to connect a series of pipe pieces so that none of the segments drip water- it's a leaky pipe to begin with. It took me many tries to solve this one but when I finally did essential information appeared, allowing me to proceed. All of these unusual mini-puzzles require solving, you can't skip them or you're dead in the water! They're timed, too, but not horrendously so. You can do them! There are many walkthroughs on Google if you get stuck!
You are guiding a young girl on a quest to find her brother and thwart manifestations of evil along the way as you careen from one exotic place to another- Mayan ruins, an English castle, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece. You visit an African shaman and a Native American wigwam and a spooky graveyard and many more colorful locations. Hints are readily available for each environment but you have to earn them.
CAVEAT: The cursor behaves rather erratically in this game. I had thought the problem was with my set until I read other peoples' complaints. There are times when it is very hard to control the cursor and it can be very frustrating. However, I enjoyed the game enough to put up with this annoyance and still award the five stars.
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Great Hidden Object-Adventure Hybrid
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| Review Date: November 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Leslie H. Basden, California |
This game is a beautifully made hybrid of the hidden object and adventure genres. The objects you seek are broken up into many pieces. Some pieces can be placed in their proper locations when they are reconstituted, but others must be used alone or in combination with other pieces to unlock the next door, rather like the escape-the-room games such as Trapped: The Abduction and Escape the Museum. The pieces are well-hidden but are not tiny, and the scenes are uncluttered, so you're not dredging through large heaps of items lying all over.
There is an adequate hint system, so you shouldn't find yourself stuck and frustrated often. The puzzles are challenging and some require concentration and patience, so this is a game for older kids or adults; a five-year old might not have the skills yet to complete some of the tougher tasks.
The game is a good value in that the time it takes to complete it is greater than most seek and find games, and it is challenging enough to play well several times. If you enjoy this kind of game, try also the second in the series, Magic Encyclopedia: Moon Light, which is equally worthy of your time. Other similarly made games include the two Mortimer Beckett offerings and Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, Campfire Legends: The Hookman, Department 42, and Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box. This new hybrid genre is growing rapidly, and these are among the best to date. |
So much fun
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| Review Date: June 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: D. M. Davis, Austin, TX |
| This game was great. I never would have figured out a couple of things on my own, but that's perfect. I'd rather it be too challenging than too easy. So bummed I'm finished! |
Best DL Game
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| Review Date: September 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: L. Schwartz, Weston, Florida |
| I have three more searches to go but I was very surprised how awesome the graphics are. The storyline is cheasy but cute and you are sent on a journey as a girl to find her brother through coded messages. There are five objects in each search that you must collect, piece by piece as well as jewels to store in the jewel box for later in the game. The game takes you around the world and you see the mayan ruins, graveyards, western scenes, russia, japan, etc. I love all the searches however the pipe puzzle and matching external numbers with internal numbers on a circular chart were the most difficult games. You are timed on the puzzles but you are given MORE than enough time to complete the puzzles. Great challenging game and not impossible to finish !! I suggest it to all people of age 10 and above, unless your child is a genius. |
So much fun!!!!
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| Review Date: June 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Chad M. Wilson, michigan |
| We loved this game. We like "task oriented" puzzlers and this fit the bill. The puzzles were challanging and fun. My 6.5 year old loved it. He beat it in 4 days. Can't wait for ME2 to come out. |
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