Arcana Sands of Destiny
- December 10, 2020
- Invoke Games
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Get on itch.io Store"Arcana: Sands of Destiny" is a magical archaeological adventure set in Egypt, where you play as Jenny Hopkins. After your fiancé falls ill and Alexandria becomes overrun with monsters, you must translate ancient texts, explore realms, and complete puzzles to uncover the truth and banish evil. With over 80 locations, 32 mini-games, customizable palaces, companions, and stunning visuals, immerse yourself in this captivating 5-hour journey.
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Reviews
- The game features a fascinating ancient Egyptian theme with beautifully drawn locations and a decent story that incorporates elements of Egyptian mythology.
- There is a good variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes, providing a challenge that appeals to experienced players, along with collectibles that have a purpose in upgrading the player's palace.
- The game has a unique point-and-click adventure style, with no hand-holding, allowing players to figure out solutions on their own, which can be refreshing for seasoned gamers.
- The game suffers from significant technical issues, including performance problems, lack of resolution options, and unresponsive controls that can frustrate players.
- Many hidden object segments are poorly designed, with objects often hidden off-screen or obscured by a sepia filter, making them difficult to find without clear indicators.
- The overall presentation feels outdated, with slow animations, unpolished voice acting, and a lack of customization options that detract from the gaming experience.
- story15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story in "Arcana: Sands of Destiny" is generally well-received, featuring an intriguing narrative enriched by Egyptian mythology and culture, alongside engaging puzzles and light combat. While some players found the story animations lengthy and uninteresting, many appreciated the plot twists and the ability to complete additional quests that enhance gameplay. Overall, the storyline keeps players guessing and offers a satisfying experience, despite some minor bugs affecting progression.
“Great story, and I like how there is light combat as well as puzzles.”
“The story is intriguing.”
“Good story, kept me guessing till the end.”
“The story animations take forever, in a really uninteresting way.”
“The first bug is that your in-game diary does not update after page 8, which is halfway through the first of the three missions you have to complete to finish the main game.”
“If this is not your first rodeo with a hidden object game, then you already know what to expect - a decent story, some puzzles, some mini-games, and some collectibles.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in *Arcana: Sands of Destiny* is highly praised for its thematic relevance, effectively complementing the game's Egyptian mythology and culture. The score is described as good and unobtrusive, enhancing the overall experience without overwhelming the gameplay.
“The music is very good for the game theme.”
“The music score is good and unobtrusive.”
“In that regard, 'Arcana: Sands of Destiny' makes accurate references to Egyptian mythology and culture through its beautifully drawn locations, story elements, and an adequate soundtrack.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of frustration and uniqueness, with some players finding the difficulty inflexible and bugs detracting from the experience. The game offers a larger playtime and distinctive mechanics that appeal to achievement hunters, though it features fewer but more challenging minigames and an abundance of hidden object scenes. Overall, while some aspects are praised for their uniqueness, the gameplay experience is marred by bugs and a lack of balance in difficulty.
“It’s twice as big as your average AAA title (5-6 hours without a guide vs. 3 hours), yet it costs less; it’s more inflexible in terms of difficulty, yet in some aspects it’s more unique and provides a much better experience for achievement hunters. Plus, it has some distinctive mechanics; it has fewer minigames (yet more difficult ones), but the hidden object scenes are more abundant in objects.”
“As a result of the bugs, I tried the game three times with a new gameplay.”
“I don't like when a game makes it easy for you, but I see no fun in the frustrating gameplay.”
“It’s twice as big as your average AAA title (5-6 hours without a guide vs. 3 hours), yet it costs less; it’s more inflexible in terms of difficulty, yet in some aspects it’s more unique and provides a much better experience for achievement hunters, plus it has some distinctive mechanics.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their impressive quality, but users note a lack of options for resolution adjustments and limited graphics customization features.
“The graphics are awesome.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“The graphics look outdated and lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including game freezes and missing inventory items that hinder progress, leading to frustration and abandonment of the game.
“On the third attempt, I encountered bug number 4 (and this is the last time... I gave up). A halfway completed inventory puzzle froze, and the inventory item needed to continue the puzzle disappeared!”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing hours of gameplay.”
“I experienced constant lag and random freezes, which completely ruined the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting that elements like the skeleton guarding certain areas contribute significantly to its immersive and engaging environment.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
“The haunting sounds and eerie visuals create a captivating atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
“Every corner of the game is filled with rich details that enhance the overall atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant performance issues, impacting overall optimization and user experience.
“This game has some serious performance issues.”
“The optimization is so poor that it makes the game unplayable at times.”
“I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, which ruins the overall experience.”
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