Drawn®: Dark Flight™ Collector's Edition
- March 8, 2016
- Big Fish Studios
Get on Steam"Drawn: Trail of Shadows Collector's Edition" is an immersive adventure game that takes place in the enchanting world of Drawn. As the player, you must follow clues within paintings to save a boy with the power to create painted worlds, while confronting the source of evil that seeks to possess that power. Explore diverse and beautiful painted environments, unlock mysteries, and interact with an evolving pop-up book world in this cinematic series installment.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features stunning artwork and a lovely soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Puzzles are unique and challenging, with the option to skip them, making the game accessible to a wider audience.
- The story provides a satisfying conclusion and expands on the lore established in the first game.
- Many players experienced game-breaking bugs and crashes, particularly on modern systems, making it unplayable for some.
- The voice acting is criticized for being monotone and lacking emotional depth, detracting from the immersive experience.
- Some players felt the pacing was slow and that the game lacked the sense of mystery and exploration found in the first installment.
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, contributing significantly to the immersive atmosphere and overall experience. Reviewers highlight the exquisite soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay and evokes nostalgia, while the art complements the music beautifully. However, some players noted repetitive elements in puzzle-solving that detracted from the enjoyment of the otherwise stellar audio-visual presentation.
“The accompanying soundtrack is exquisite with a slow soft violence that just stirs the edges of your consciousness as you play.”
“The art style is beautiful, the soundtrack is beautiful and the voice acting was well-done, which is rare in this genre.”
“The adventure aspects were slightly more frustrating, one section in particular was quite obscure, with lots of backtracking in order to obtain four musical notes, with each note following precisely the same procedure to acquire, making it frustratingly repetitive.”
“The music is something that has almost brought me to tears before now, both from nostalgia of the past but also from how touching and powerful it is!”
“23 music tracks (don't see a way to save them to the computer)”
- story14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, featuring a whimsical and engaging narrative that ties up nicely, although some players feel it could have been executed better. While the art and music enhance the experience, the complexity of the puzzles may not align with the childish themes of the story. Overall, it serves as a satisfying continuation of the series, with a heartwarming conclusion that leaves players eager for the next installment.
“Despite the initial slowdowns from the old animations, the game was beautifully illustrated, incorporated an engaging, whimsical storyline, and fun puzzles to tackle.”
“Astonishing scenes, mesmerizing music, adorable characters, and such a heartwarming story.”
“Even the story got a magnitude bigger, as we now must help Iris, the girl with the magical imagination, in her final battle against the forces of darkness that try to snuff out the last shining lights of human creativity.”
“Very childish theme and story, but way too complex puzzles even for adults.”
“There's no story to the puzzles either after the beginning; instead, they are routine solutions to surpass barriers, rather than a way to explore lore.”
“It extends the lore and the story did lend agency to its princess yet did not contain quite the same sense of wonder as its precursor.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics maintain the exquisite, hand-painted art style from the first game, featuring surreal angles and vibrant visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. While the artwork continues to impress, some users noted issues with cinematic scenes displaying incorrect colors, detracting from the overall aesthetic. Despite these minor flaws, the combination of beautiful graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and strong voice acting contributes to a visually appealing and immersive gaming experience.
“The graphics themselves are once again exquisite, the inventiveness of the puzzles is captured within the framework of the surreal art.”
“The slanted, surreal angles of the hand-painted graphics, the epic choir music, and the sense of urge to save a world in the name of imagination has turned out to be one of the strongest mixes ever created in the casual gaming scene, one that made this series notable even today.”
“The art style is beautiful, the soundtrack is beautiful, and the voice acting was well-done, which is rare in this genre.”
“It does tend towards cliches more this time around, with the darker tone being evinced by carnival caricatures and a black misty raven that don't quite hold the same significance to an international audience than its Americana aesthetics convey.”
“The other issue I've had with this (and the first game) is the cinematic scenes go weird colors, and while I receive the audio, I'm not getting the visuals that I know I'm supposed to be seeing on my computer. A friend of mine who purchased the first game recently also told me of having such issues.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay continues seamlessly from the first game, maintaining its engaging mechanics and artistic style while introducing a variety of puzzles that challenge players' logic and observation skills. However, the expansion of the game world has led to increased backtracking and longer puzzles, which some players may find less enjoyable. Overall, the gameplay remains captivating and magical, though it may feel stretched across the larger environment.
“From visio-spatial logic such as the color by spreading paint puzzle to mechanical, in rotating objects, to even a memorization puzzle that simultaneously tests your observation skills to decipher symbols on pillars.”
“The gameplay is just as good as the rest of the game, and in the end, you will need to find an item in almost every scene.”
“Thing is, they are now trying to fill a much bigger game, so the developers decided to use more backtracking and uncomfortably long puzzles to spread the same amount of gameplay on a much larger canvas.”
“The music, the gameplay, the voices... even the scenery is very similar to the first game, and yet, somehow, even more magical.”
“From visio-spatial logic such as the colour by spreading paint puzzle to mechanical, in rotating objects, to even a memorization puzzle that simultaneously tests your observation skills to decipher symbols on pillars.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its astonishing scenes, mesmerizing music, and adorable characters, all contributing to a heartwarming story that resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers express that the music evokes strong feelings, often bringing them to tears through nostalgia and its powerful impact. Overall, the game is described as beautiful and truly touching, making it highly recommended for its emotional depth.
“Astonishing scenes, mesmerizing music, adorable characters, and such a heartwarming story.”
“I played this game years ago when my brother bought this as a present for my mum, having bought her the first one before that. I cannot recommend these games enough; they are simply beautiful and truly touching!”
“The music is something that has almost brought me to tears before, both from nostalgia of the past and from how touching and powerful it is!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Dark Flight" is praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a stellar soundtrack, aiming to surpass the achievements of its predecessor in creating a captivating casual adventure experience.
“An immersive atmosphere with a stellar soundtrack.”
“Dark Flight wanted to be the quintessential atmospheric casual adventure game, topping the success of its predecessor in every aspect.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect enjoyable, appreciating the opportunity to revisit beautiful locations without feeling it becomes tedious.
