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- Big Fish Games
- Big Fish Games
- Big Fish Games
- Big Fish Games
Dark Manor: A Hidden Object Mystery.
iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Released On: Jun 26, 2013
Metascore
Available after 4 critic reviews
2.0
All Platforms
But even though Dark Manor suffers from some needless online restrictions and early connectivity issues, once you’re actually able to get going on your hunt and start building up your haunted mansion, then the game becomes an absolute blast.
It's a little stingy on game time, but Dark Manor is a satisfying Free to Play Hidden Object game from Big Fish Games.
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 4 User Ratings
2.0
0% Positive
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
100% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 4 User Ratings
2.0
0% Positive
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
100% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
The Vandalization of Dark Manor's Artitistry
It's similar to painting a red mustache on the Mona Lisa and retitling it the Moana Leeza. It's no longer art.
I've played Dark Manor (DM) for over seven months. And when I say played - that's six to ten hours a day, every day. But I didn't start out that way. In the beginning, after using up the initial free Energy that came with the download, I only played three Hidden Object scenes (HOS or HOG or HOP) a day because that was all that the free daily Energy allowed. This went on for a while as I learned more about the game. Obviously three games don't take six hours to play. It was when I discovered the Big Fish Games Dark Manor Forum that things really changed. The Forum members have gone far out of their way to provide information and help to players. There's a discussion that is 'stickied' on page 1 of the Forum titled '*****Helpful Links for Dark Manor*****'. What I learned there and in the daily discussions is what has lead to hours of enjoyable daily playing.
The scenes were very different from those that I'd played in other hidden object games. It's like there are three planes of focus. If you zoom in (magnify) an area of the scene, it's possible to actually 'see' behind fore and middle ground objects. This was new and very interesting. The number of items in a scene vary - on a average around 60. Also there are five modes of play. Normal has no time limit and just a few items to find. Blitz is timed and, depending on how fast you are, all items will eventually be listed. Lightening Blitz is timed but you get additional time for each item you find. Scrambled Clue is timed and the names of the items have been scrambled. HOP Ticker is timed and the names of the items come in from each side as if they're on a ticker tape. There are also a few scenes that are split. You're given a count of differences between the two partial scenes and then have to find them. Lots to do and lots of fun!
Things that could be (a lot) better include the following. The in-game messaging is extremely crude and sometimes non-functioning. Invitations give you the opportunity to invite five strangers to be neighbors every day. I say strangers because the game offers around 50 names at a time that you can choose from. There is no way to directly invite someone that you know who is also playing DM. And some players are still having difficulties connecting to DM and/or are periodically thrown out of the game.
So what's with my title and first paragraph? Each Chapter contains four HOS's. At this point in time there are 17 Chapters and six additional Bonus HOS's. The artwork in the scenes and items is very, very good and is in keeping (except scene 1 of Chapter 15) with the name of the game "Dark Manor". Though items generally do not move about, they can be difficult to find due to the number of items, their location behind objects and the low lighting of some the scene. Difficult, but not impossible and easier over time as the scene is played again and again.
The developers of DM are currently vandalizing their own artwork. It started a while back and has now proceeded through Chapter 7. The redone scenes and items are only vaguely 'hidden objects' anymore. The items have been colorized and enlarged. The scenes are no longer carrying on the 'dark' theme of the game. It's sad that new players will have no idea what's been lost. Or at least until scenes that they've become familiar with are vandalized in turn.
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iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Started out as a unique combination of hidden object and create an environment game. The hidden object scenes were beautifully drawn and true to the story line, a gothic type of mystery set in the bayou. The ability for the player to purchase a variety of interesting objects to construct fanciful gardens and mini scenes on the mansion grounds was delightful. Although it was touted as free to play, it was always expensive to progress in any meaningful way. Bonus premium scenes were costly. Land expansions were not only progressively more costly but took inordinately lengthy times to mature or summon...some as much as two weeks. But the game was addictive and built a dedicated and extremely loyal following. Recently the game has deteriorated into a morass of horrible programming decisions, glitches, crashing, freezing, etc. making it more expensive to play and a frustrating experience. At this point, I would not advise anyone to play. It is simply an exercise in futility. The original scenes are being systematically replaced by cartoonish artwork that makes it difficult to consider them hidden objects. Sad really. It is a great game gone horribly wrong.
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iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Any more, Customer Service is the best part of this game. That's fortunate, because they've needed to be.
When I started playing Dark Manor last fall, I thought it was the best game offered by Big Fish or any other online gaming company. The hidden object scenes were beautifully rendered, and the game had an aura of dark mystery. Many of the objects were well and truly hidden, which made the game challenging and fun. New chapters appeared in a timely manner, as did new in-game items to add incentive to playing.
Now, not so much. Dark Manor seems to have fallen victim to its own success, because it seems that its demands have long since outstripped the talents and imagination of its developers. It's been stuck in limbo for, seemingly, forever.
There have been no new chapters offered in months. There have been no new plots of land to develop, and no new items to buy to decorate them. Recently, we lost a "zoom" ability that let us enjoy visiting neighbors' manors. Little by little, rewards for leveling up and playing daily have eroded, as have in-game opportunities to build up and replenish gold, silver, energy and juju. Freezes and glitches have become normal for many players. Others have been locked out of their games completely. Complaints, once rare, have become rampant. Customer Service can do only so much. They're apologizing for being unable to do more.
Instead of fixing obvious problems or continuing to advance the gameplay, the developers have been retooling the hidden object scenes to make the objects stand out! What's the point of playing a "hidden object game" if the objects are not only not hidden, but appear as bright, garish, tawdry stamps pasted over a dark background?
What's worse, the developers not only are not listening to the opinions of longtime players, but seem to be actively trying to discourage them from playing.
At one time, I'd have given this game a glowing review. Now, I can't. I'm sorry I opened a second manor, because I'm really not motivated to play dumbed-down scenes to keep it up. At this point, a slim hope that at some point the developers will change their minds and reconsider the terrible changes they've made is the only thing that keeps me from deleting the game completely.
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iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Loved, loved, loved this game when it first started (July, 2013). The scenes were beautifully drawn, objects were definitely hidden, and decorating the manor grounds was fun.
I stayed with the game through a myriad of difficulties: unable to enter the game, crashes, glitches, freezing, missing gold, messaging problems, you name it. I don't even know how many tickets I had to send to Customer Service. But I stayed a loyal fan. Until now.
Recently, they have removed or revised most of the best features of the game. No more zooming out to see the entire grounds, diminished gold from ??? Attractions, Select All has changed drastically, daily rewards considerably lower, replacing items already purchased with cheaper ones, but most disturbing is the new *artwork*. Objects are now bold and garish, and not *hidden* at all. What is the point of a Hidden Object Game if nothing is hidden?
The fun factor has definitely left this game.
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iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Summary The bayou. The roaring 1920’s. A supernatural secret. Step into Dark Manor, where ghostly hosts will help you find your way! Beautify your manor and explore the spine-chilling hidden object scenes… if you DARE!
Platforms:
- PC
- iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Initial Release Date: Jun 26, 2013
Developer:
- Tomozaru
Publisher: Big Fish Games
Genres: