Dark Strokes: The Legend of the Snow Kingdom Collector’s Edition
- December 20, 2017
- Alawar Friday's Games
- 6h median play time
"Dark Strokes: The Legend of the Snow Kingdom Collector's Edition" is a captivating hidden object game inspired by the tales of the Brothers Grimm. As a hunter, you must rescue your kidnapped beloved from a warlock's icy spell and reveal the gold-leafed tree's secret in a once glorious kingdom. Upon completion, unlock a bonus episode, wallpapers, sketches, and character art to further delve into the Snow Kingdom's mystery.
Reviews
- Beautiful artwork and engaging visuals that enhance the fairy-tale atmosphere.
- The gameplay features a variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes, providing a fun and interactive experience.
- The story, while somewhat predictable, includes interesting twists and a cohesive narrative that keeps players engaged.
- Voice acting is inconsistent, with some performances being subpar and detracting from the overall experience.
- The game suffers from repetitive music and some puzzles that are too easy, leading to a lack of challenge.
- There are technical issues, including game-breaking bugs and a lack of Steam achievements, which can frustrate players.
- story71 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of familiar fairy-tale tropes, featuring predictable elements and some plot holes, yet it remains engaging and visually appealing. While the main narrative is described as charming and cohesive, the bonus chapter tends to disappoint, and the voice acting is often criticized. Overall, players find the story enjoyable despite its clichés, with some appreciating the intriguing twists and the integration of various fairy tales into a unique narrative.
“The story combines several fairy tales into one unique story, and throws a bit of clockwork-steampunk into the mix!”
“The story's twists were super fun; I enjoyed the intrigue from beginning to end.”
“The music is quite beautiful, and the characters and story kept me playing for longer periods than I'd normally spend on a hidden object game.”
“The story is trite and the voice acting is mediocre at times.”
“But what irked me most is that it was not really enjoyable to play, the story was rather illogical, you had to run from here to there, picking up items that were rather more random than really part of a thought-through narrative.”
“Sadly, this summary almost encompasses the entire storytelling segment of the game, even though it had the potential to be so much more.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and quality, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning artwork and clear visuals. While some found the art style to be cartoony and less appealing, the overall presentation, including animation and settings, received positive remarks, making it a standout feature of the game. However, a few noted that the graphics could feel dated compared to earlier titles in the series.
“The graphics and overall look of the game was definitely the highlight of the entire thing.”
“Beautiful, clean, clear artwork/graphics/scenes.”
“Pretty run of the mill story, but the artwork is of high quality...quite stunning at times.”
“The first game in this series, Sins of the Father, is considerably better, even with its now very dated graphics.”
“Very pretty graphics, but no true widescreen.”
“Its ok .... when I started playing I really felt it was lame; and I really did not care for the cartoony art style.”
- music21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as beautiful and soothing, enhancing the overall experience with its fairy-tale quality and lovely presentation. However, some players find it to be repetitive and annoying, particularly due to a lack of variety between chapters. Additional features like downloadable soundtracks and customizable audio settings are appreciated, but the voice acting could use improvement.
“This is a very pleasant game with beautiful artwork and music.”
“Good fairy-tale story and excellent presentation (especially visuals & music).”
“The music is quite beautiful, and the characters and story kept me playing for longer periods than I'd normally spend on a hidden object game.”
“Fun game, but the music is extremely repetitive and annoying.”
“At the very least, can't they change the music from chapter to chapter?”
“Music is nice, but incredibly repetitive, so it eventually becomes tiresome.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring smooth mechanics, beautiful art, and a variety of activities across multiple locales. While some players note a degree of repetitiveness and simplicity in certain puzzles, the engaging story and charming design elements help maintain interest. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a solid balance of adventure and hidden object elements, typically lasting around 4 to 6 hours.
“The art is very beautiful even amongst hogs, gameplay smooth.”
“It's long, with plenty of things to do, multiple locales, many beautifully drawn scenes, and nice little corners of gameplay and design.”
“The gameplay is a bit repetitive, and some of the actions are so simplistic that I hesitate to call them puzzles.”
“I picked it up on sale, which was probably just as well as it is about 4 hours of gameplay.”
“Although this title can be a bit repetitive, the combination of story, graphics, and heavy adventure-esque gameplay kept me interested enough to want to finish the game (twice) in a day.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and frustrating, with some players feeling it detracts significantly from the overall experience. Many express that the repetitive nature of the tasks can lead to a loss of interest, making it a major drawback.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
“Without those, this kind of game is only a bad point and click with tedious mini-games, especially bad in this one.”
“There's also an equal amount of tedious frustration.”
“It came to a point where I almost stopped playing it altogether because it got tedious in the end.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability with 12 mini-games and 22 cutscenes that players can revisit, providing varied experiences and encouraging multiple playthroughs.
“The game features 12 replayable mini-games that keep the experience fresh and exciting.”
“With 22 replayable cutscenes, players can enjoy different perspectives and outcomes each time they play.”
“The variety of replayable content ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“The game features 12 mini-games, but they quickly become repetitive and lose their charm after the first playthrough.”
“While there are 22 cutscenes to watch, they don't change with each playthrough, making the experience feel stale.”
“Despite having multiple mini-games, the lack of variety in gameplay mechanics limits the overall replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its impressive voice acting and appealing character designs, which enhance the overall engagement and depth of the characters.
“The voice acting and character designs are great.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to have excellent stability, with no significant bugs, glitches, or errors, ensuring a smooth and fully playable experience.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
“I experienced multiple glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
“There are constant connection issues that ruin the overall stability of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a whimsical fairy tale quality, immersing players in a magical and enchanting environment that enhances the overall gaming experience.
“The game immerses you in a fairy tale atmosphere that feels both enchanting and mysterious.”
“The atmosphere is rich with detail, creating a world that feels alive and full of wonder.”
“Every corner of the game is filled with a captivating ambiance that draws you deeper into its story.”