Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition
Разработчик: Eipix Entertainment
Описание
This title was chosen for its high standard of quality and amazingly positive reviews.
The bestselling Dark Parable series continues with The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide! Follow the clues as they take you to an underwater kingdom in this exciting hidden-object puzzle adventure game! You've been called to investigate a strange purple tide. And that's when the mermaid shows up...
- A variety of hidden-object scenes, including fractured objects!
- The bonus game unlocks the secrets of Prasino's mad king
- Achievements
- Available Strategy Guide
- Wallpapers and concept art
Поддерживаемые языки: english
Системные требования
Windows
- OS *: Windows XP,Vista,7,8
- Processor: 1.6 GHz
- Memory: 1024 MB RAM
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 862 MB available space
Отзывы пользователей
I really, really love this addition to Dark Parables. Finally, the puzzles get some love. I am so happy to find great challenging puzzles in this series. I am a puzzle lover, so this was great for me. Just had a lot of fun with them. But some where a little hair pulling, but that's perfectly fine! Are is gorgeous, the HO scenes are eye candy. Just a really great game that I can't recommend enough!
I love these hidden object games and especially this series. I'm so glad I was able to get it. If you also love hidden object games with a connected story, check out this series!
Somewhere in Greece, a strange Purple Tide rose, approaching the coastline leaving a path of destruction in its wake, along with reports of mermaids and a giant eel. Of course, once again, it is a case for the Fairytale Detective in this new installment of the Dark Parables series, the 8th and the first under a new developer, Eipix, although the old ones are still credited.
Along with the detective, another familiar face from the past also joins the investigation, similar to how Ballad of Rapunzel had Greta tagging along. However, this time, the character feels somewhat underused and the ties to some previous titles were underused at best, how they barely touched upon Prince Eric’s wife or Theresa. The story behind the machine itself is somewhat nonsensical as well if one stops to think for a moment, it was one of those plots for the sake of having a plot device to culminate with something exciting.
The biggest innovation are the fragmented inventory pieces, objects that need to either be examined or put together before using, which leads to a slightly heavier item-based tasks and a lot of backtracking, the later made easier thanks to the implementation of a fast travel system. Your mileage might vary on the enjoyment of this, but sometimes it feels a lot of busywork.
The hidden objects scenes can be downright unfair with transparent objects, obscured placements and even flipped images. And compared to the previous titles, the resulting items look amateurish collages with a bombastic sound effect and cue that should feel a nice accomplishment but it feels a little out of place.
The graphic in itself feels a little uncanny too, it is clear that Eipix was trying to keep the style from Blue Tea with mixed results. Some locations feels somewhat uninspired or with strange shading, and the proportions can also be something that takes a while to get used to. There is also many mini-animations and special scenes that tries to showcase how even opening a door is such a big deal that eventually everything loses the impact.
The bonus game takes place right before the curse that affects the antagonists of the title and gives some insight into one of the non-playable characters that you meet in the main story. Sadly it is riffled with bugs and sometimes it feels that a chunk of it may be missing.
With an interesting concept for a story but somewhat poor execution and an ending that amounts to not much, the game counts with many extras like locating all the hidden crescent moons and in-game achievements that make for some replay, but it is a rather short game. It might be best to buy in a sale.
It's alright....I mean, that is really the best and the worst thing I could say about this.
Everything, from the graphics to the writing to the music to the puzzles is............alright.
It won't give you or your computer some horrifying wasting disease if you play it, but it's not going to set the world on fire either.
Oh, and as an item of note, it is one of the unfathomably few games by Big Fish Games on Steam that actually has some Steam features (in this case, trading cards). So that's something to put in the plus column ;-)
Recommended, but I'm not gonna rave about it or something. It's just harmless, solid HOG fun, that doesn't sink to the worst of the genre, but doesn't really rise to the best either.
It's a fairly basic point and click HOb game. The achievements are not synced with Steam. There's a lot of open slots for items you need to find, in the exact shape of the item you need to find. Also, the dev' considered having the map mark rooms where you could do things to be entirely to much hand-holding on anything other than easy difficulty, The story is far from the corniest plotline I've seen in a point and click; but it's not Shakespeare either.
The first DP game with Eipix is pretty good the Dialogues are different but not too bad and its harder to find all the parable fragements. The parables arent voiced like the first games but that is not too bad. Sadly they used the same minigames very often. Still i liked the story and the bonus was a nice little prologue. Can totally recommend it
I like the Dark Parables series and The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide was no exception. The story telling was original and the settings absolutely stunning. I found this game to be more interactive than previous games in the series. The bonus chapter felt far too short, perhaps because the story felt like a prologue to events I had just completed. Beautiful underwater scenery and magic.
This is game is so beautiful!!! I had tons of fun playing the hidden object puzzles, and the other puzzles are interesting and clever too. Story is great, and provide great twists on well known fairytales. All of the characters are interesting, and the protagonist is likable and sympathetic. The music is gorgeous!! And the sound effects are so good, I recommend playing this game with the sound turned on. I like the option for going back and replaying the hidden object puzzles and finding transforming objects (parables) and the concept art and wallpaper look phenomenal. Thank you for creating this game!
Loved every minute of it. Puzzles were enjoyable and not difficult. I flew through it in one sitting! Can't wait to play the bonus content. 10/10
This is Dark Parables #8, which enters a new phase in the series, switching the reigns to developer Eipix. Though it retains the series formula and tone, it features a newer, smoother, more animated game engine, a change of style, and a somewhat shorter game length. Also, the story is simpler than previous entries, which is actually refreshing considering that they had become quite convoluted.
Despite the changes, if you've been a fan until this game then I am sure you would enjoy this one, too. And you know what to expect: a fairy tale cocktail with excellent drawings and a point-and-click adventure that is mostly about collecting various kinds of keys while solving puzzles.
Also note that these are hidden-fragment games rather than classic hidden-object games.
Loved this game with all the little extra things you have to find. Also reading through the credits at the end is well worth it, so funny....and you gain another achievement :D
A pretty good story-oriented puzzle game in the Dark Parables series. Lovely artwork. Nice music. Expected playing time, including the bonus chapter, is 4.5 to 5 hours.
Works fine on Linux with Steam Play / Proton.
Easily one of the best in the Dark Parables series. Great detail, engaging storyline, beautiful art. All in all, a great HOG!
Dark Parables #8. A series of fragmented object games with puzzles and stories that each stand alone, but are also interconnected in the form of recurring characters. But each game tells its own story and they can technically be played in any order.
I believe this is the first entry in Dark Parables to offer fast travel. There are also achievements within the game, though they don't show up on Steam. There are collectibles that unlock lore. It also has a bonus adventure.
The story for this one is quite weak, but the artwork is parcticularly beautiful to me as it takes place in a sea kingdom. Recurring characters include Pinocchio, plus references to Frog Prince and Red Riding Hood sisters.
Short version: 55%
I can recommend Dark Parables 8 for those who want some balanced fragmented object scenes. If you want anything more though, like a good story or puzzles, then you may have to rethink buying this.
Long version:
Do you remember the giant lore behind the Dark Parables series? Keep them cherished in your memories because they are gone now. As Eipix took over from Blue Tea, they did their best to mimic some gameplay elements, but they never bothered to keep track of the story.
On top of that, the plot feels weak and rushed. There is an undersea kingdom, an antagonist with a little backstory, and some vague catastrophe we must prevent. Still, it lacks something to hold it together. In the end, it is not terrible, but it leaves no lasting impressions.
Okay, I will admit it: the fragmented object scenes in The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide are better than ever. They are easy, but the internal achievement system still makes them interesting. I also liked some of the puzzles, although they repeat too much.
However, the adventure gaming parts are terrible. We now have a quick-travel map, but we also have to backtrack way too much.
Game Information
"Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide" Collector's Edition is a Fragmented Object game. The game was developed by Eipix Entertainment and published by Big Fish Games Studio.
"The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide" is the eighth episode of "Dark Parables." Previous episodes: "Curse of Briar Rose;" "The Exiled Prince;" "Rise of the Snow Queen;" "The Red Riding Hood Sisters;" "The Final Cinderella;" "Jack and the Sky Kingdom" and "The Ballad of Rapunzel."
Since this is a collector's edition game, it comes with extra features that are not available in its' counterpart; the standard edition.
The Game Review
Game Visuals
I want to mention that the visuals in the game are nicely done. The visuals can be adjusted in the game's option menu.
Game Audio
I want to mention that audio for the game is well done. Even though the audio is somewhat simplistic and repetitive. The audio can be adjusted in the game's option menu as well.
Gameplay
There are four different game difficulty modes to choose from: Casual; Normal; Hard and Custom.
There is no notebook in the game. But there is an objective panel in the game. It is used to keep track of all of the game's objectives.
There is a padlock feature that's available to lock the inventory panel in the place to make it stationary.
There are some interactive items in the game. Some of these interactive items may require extra components before they can be interacted with. All interactive items are marked with a symbol in one of the corners.
There is an interactive map in the game. It allows the player to fast travel between each location quickly without having the need to constantly backtrack. It also indicates that there are a variety of tasks that can be completed at various locations within the game. The interactive map is automatically given at the start of the game.
The hidden object scenes consist of the following: Fragmented items. Some of these hidden object scenes may require a little or no interaction.
The puzzles are fairly easy to solve without having the need to skip any of them.
There is a collectible in the game: Parables. They are scattered throughout the game for the player to find.
There are morphing objects (beyond objects) in the game. They are scattered throughout the game for the player to find as well. The morphing objects are used to refill the hint bar.
There are twenty different achievements that can be unlocked from playing the game. Each of the achievements does come with some requirements that need to be completed before they can be unlocked. These achievements are in-game only.
Since this is a collector's edition game, there is a bonus chapter, but it can be accessed only after the main story is completed.
Miscellaneous
There are extra features in the game: Bonus Chapter; Wallpapers; Concept Art and Game's Strategy Guide. Some of these extra features can be accessed only after the entire game is completed.
There are six different trading cards to collect. Only three of those trading cards are given out by the game. There are several ways to get the rest of the trading cards: Purchased from the Steam's Community Market; Trade with friends; Booster Packs and its Booster Pack Creator.
Final thoughts: I have found the game enjoyable to certain extent. The replay value for the game is low. I would recommend this game, but not at the game's full price value.
I personally enjoy hidden object games, so I found playing the title a real treat. Great art, beautiful music and some seriously difficult objects to find make this game a winner. On the other hand, the mini-game puzzles became repetitive and stale. I am not a fan of those.
Pick it up on a Steam sale; the title will not disappoint.
You can clear it in under 10 hours of play.
I was pleased to see Big Fish Games releasing more casual adventure games on Steam, though I'm a little disappointed to see that there is no achievement added. However, there are ingame achievements. Anyway, Dark Parables is a huge series in the casual world, first by Blue Tea Games before being developed by Eipix.
The series is a chronicle of investigations in the world of fairy tales: the fabled detective is sent to different kingdoms or fantasy worlds in order to find what evil is wrecking havoc and how to appease it. This game concerns the tale of the Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide (not really familiar with this one, as the only mermaid tales I know are the Disney movie, Lorelei and the ancient Greek myth - as for the tale itself, I've vaguely heard of it in the Wolf Among Us).
There is a temple undersea that suddenly appeared and a monster is terrorizing everyone. However, arriving there, a mermaid seems to want to help you while a cloaked figure (from a previous game if I've understood clearly as the detective was familiar with the voice) is also waiting to enter the temple and to find a lost kingdom.
The story is full of twists and questions: the mermaid is helping you AND also trying to slow you down, the cloaked figure is a suspect but his identity is quite shocking, the ghost you encounter is blaming himself but isn't opposed to your presence and the mermaids, well, some of them are also tied to other investigations (which is not really a shock as the fabled detective is acquainted with nearly everyone - however, as the game isn't the first in the series, it's making you wanting to play every Dark Parables out there).
The gameplay is standard: find objects, use them, combine them, solve puzzles and clear hidden objects scenes. Everything is quite easy, though you have sometimes an hard time to see some objects or to link them to an area of interest. Even these areas can be hard to spot. On the other side, you have the hunt for Parables (to unlock the whole background on your case), for Moons and even for cups of tea (a nod to Blue Tea Games I suppose). Achievements are also present ingame but they can be upgraded: you have to find a cup of tea, then 3 then the whole pack. Even the fish mascot (Felix I think) from Big Fish Games is present.
I'm not going to tell you every bonus in this Collector's Edition but well, there is a bonus chapter on Bluebeard, wallpapers, etc...
I loved the graphics as the general ambiance of the game.
Anyway, this game is really a must-have, though I would prefer Artifex Mundi's work (developped by them like Enigmatis or Nightmares from the Deep) but well, while I find the price tag a little high, Big Fish is now participating on sales, so, when you see a discount, go for it.
The Dark Parables series has always been a favorite. Glad to see some are available on Steam. Hope more will be added in the future. The art style and puzzles make this game series very engrossing.
Lovely ! Wonderful !
One of the absolute best ! Beautiful graphics, lovely music, great story , and great puzzles !
In addition, you have three different types of hidden stuff to find , which makes the game even better !
You play as a Fairy-tale investigator - what could be more interesting and fun ? :) And this time you have to
investigate the story of The Little Mermaid .
Some said the game is pricy, but I do not agree - it is worth every penny.
And now there are cards added ! The Mermaid background is Beautiful !
So , the only thing missing here, is Steam achievements - ! But !
There are lots of achievements in-game, and really fun ones to try and get !
These achievements added to Steam would have made this game Perfect !
Highly Recommended !
Hi: I just wanted to share how I feel about this incredible game. I am a huge steam powered user and purchaser of these games. Dark Parables has to be one of the best if not the best pc games I have played to date. It is just wonderfully done and fun and wonderfully colourful with a great storyline, mapping and hidden treasures. I really hope you make another one soon because I am a huge fan ! All the best.
8th game in the Dark Parable series. (The Dark Parables series does have an overall series story arch which this game references. However, it is stand alone as it.) I highly, even passionately, recommend this game.
Storyline: In 510AD the palace of the Alexandros, King of Prasino sunk beneath the ocean waves ending a decades long war with King Bluebeard of Kokkino. Centuries later the palace rises from the ocean depths causing a tsunami and a lethal purple tide. As the Fairy Tale Detective you have been tasked with discovering the reason for this occurance. Upon arriving you free a mermaid, Althea, one of the former King Alexandros's 5 daughters, cursed by the Sea Goddess, Thalassa for the father's betrayal and imprisonment. And meet a mysterious stranger who has the key to everything. Find out why the palace rose again, break the mermaid's curse, free the Goddess, and stop the purple tide - all in a day's work for the Fairy Tale Detective.
Gameplay: A mixed combination of Hidden Object picture assembly, easy point and click, find and use inventory, and a variety of puzzles with a built-in strategy guide. Nothing overly hard and the sheer variety of things to do makes the gameplay smooth and effortless. The lock puzzles are logic "match" games and logic "mazes" (move a ball of energy from point A to point B without losing all the energy). There are sliders, picture puzzles, recipe, assembly, and a Master Puzzle (which is a puzzle with many smaller puzzles included). There is a skip option on the puzzles, and a hint feature. Also the inventory is interactive in some cases when assembly or disassembly is required.
There is a interactive fast travel map which shows the location of things that need done and the chapter objective. (One of the few maps I actually use.)
There are the 3 usual modes: casual, normal and hard. Though this game has a custom mode feature which allows the player to pick and chose how much or how little "help" they wish to receive while playing.
Extra finds: 40 crescent moons, 20 morphing objects which are the parable story pieces, and 2 sets of "secret" extra finds - 6 teacups and 3 Big Fish Game Felix the Fish mascot.
The 5 Parables tell pieces of the story line, a bit of back story and three tell the fate of the mermaid sisters Naida, Calliope, and Theresa. Which is pretty impressive considering each parable is only 4 pages long and about 100 words each.
Extras: Lots and Lots. Bonus chapter which recalls the events just prior to the palace of Prasino disappearing beneath the ocean waves, and tells of Bluebeard, King of the rival Kingdom Kokkino. An extra game called collectibles, where the player goes back through every scene in the game to find a single item or object (easy and fun). Replay feature of all HO scenes and puzzles. Plus wallpapers, music, video, etc.
Achievements: In-game only but there are Steam trading cards. The achievements are fun too and not the usual find everything in less then a minute variety. There is an achievement for idling, over-clicking and watching cutscenes. There is even one for watching the credits, which are really worth reading since they are so funny.
So the big question: Is this game worth the price? Yes, and well worth FULL price. The game itself takes about 4-5 hours to play and all the extra gaming that can be done probably adds at least another 3-4 hours. So an 8 hour HO game is well worth full price. Big Fish Games is not known for putting their games on sale either, and this is less expensive then the price in their web store.
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Дополнительная информация
| Разработчик | Eipix Entertainment |
| Платформы | Windows |
| Ограничение возраста | Нет |
| Дата релиза | 24.01.2025 |
| Отзывы пользователей | 93% положительных (40) |