Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path
- November 16, 2017
- Sunward Games
- 8h median play time
In "Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path," anthropologist Pamela Cavendish embarks on a new adventure to rescue a missing friend who was following the trail of Norse gods Hodur and Loki in Sweden. This hidden object puzzle game features 40 locations inspired by Norse folklore and offers a thrilling mystery to uncover. By purchasing the game, you unlock endless enjoyment of this spine-tingling experience from the creators of Enigmatis and Grim Legends.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a captivating story based on Norse mythology, which adds a unique twist to the hidden object genre.
- New features, such as indicators for collectibles, enhance the gameplay experience and reduce frustration for collectors.
- The variety of puzzles and mini-games, along with a bonus chapter, provide a fun and engaging experience, making it a solid addition to the Endless Fables series.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that the story lacks depth and can be confusing at times.
- Certain puzzles are overly simplistic or repetitive, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
- There are technical issues reported, such as cursor problems on Mac, and some players experienced bugs with achievements not registering.
- story52 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path" is a mix of Norse mythology and original elements, offering a refreshing change from typical puzzle game narratives, though it has been criticized for its lack of depth and predictability. While some players found the storyline engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, others noted that it felt contrived and occasionally lost focus. Overall, the narrative is seen as enjoyable but not groundbreaking, serving primarily to support the game's puzzles and hidden object mechanics.
“I had never heard of this fable, so it was nice to see a different story.”
“With a story built around the Nordic myth about Hod, Baldur, and Loki, Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path is a worthy successor to the brilliant first Endless Fables, which was based in Greek mythology.”
“A lot of liberties are taken with the Norse mythology, but you can forgive the inaccuracies as the story is well told.”
“The story and characters are the usual artifices that they usually grind out.”
“The storyline was half borrowed, half contrived, and mostly ludicrous.”
“Unfortunately, the present-day story got lost in too much minutiae to be compelling or even just fun (like the first game in the series).”
- graphics19 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their stunning and colorful artwork, with many reviewers highlighting the detailed environmental and creature designs. While some expected a winter theme based on the game's title, the diverse settings, including caves and castles, still showcase modern and well-executed visuals. Overall, the graphics are described as clean, clear, and evocative, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The whole Endless Fables series just looks gorgeous, graphically.”
“Stunning graphics, arts!!”
“Graphics: 10/10 - solid graphics.”
“I was expecting a winter-themed game based on the game's name and cover artwork, but after about a quarter of the way through, all of a sudden I'm playing in caves, a swamp, and a castle during the summer.”
“The artwork was well done, which was initially the reason I purchased it, but the gameplay left much to be desired.”
“Graphics: now, obviously, with a hidden object game this doesn't mean mind-blowing 3D models with exquisite texture work, etc. This really just refers to evocative, colorful, well-drawn environmental and creature art and scenic representations.”
- music11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting, enhancing the overall experience, though opinions vary significantly. While some players appreciate the eerie and cinematic quality of the soundtrack, others find it repetitive and mediocre, lacking depth and engagement. Overall, the music serves its purpose but does not stand out as a highlight of the game.
“Nice music, eerie artwork, great overall game.”
“It has a nice variety of puzzles and good music.”
“- a nice soundtrack which has cinematic quality at its best moments.”
“Music: nobody expects to be blown away or even anything more than mildly content with the music in Hogs, and this continues in that fine tradition of mediocrity.”
“Music/voice acting didn't add anything.”
“I found the music boring and too repetitive, and I didn't like the main character's voice acting.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring modern graphics and solid mechanics, though some players find certain elements, like morphing objects and repetitive mini-games, frustrating and reminiscent of larger studio titles. While the game offers around 7-8 hours of playtime, it is criticized for its lack of challenge and underutilization of characters, leading some to recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing. Overall, gameplay takes precedence over the story, which is considered secondary.
“The graphics are modern and the mechanics are among the best.”
“If you catch this one sale, it's a cheap price for 7 - 8 hours of gameplay going for all the morphing objects, flamelings, and the bonus chapter.”
“Gameplay: just plain fun, even if a lot of the mini-games are of the same sort as almost every single Artifex Mundi game in existence.”
“For me personally, there are only a few nitpicks when it comes to mechanics that are very similar to big studio games. The morphing objects thing, which I don't care much for, and particularly for Sunward, there are a few puzzles that just frustrate me a bit.”
“What disappointed me most, other than the light game mechanics, was how poorly the characters were utilized.”
“While the story is nice and has no real weak points, it is obviously in a secondary role compared to gameplay.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, with players appreciating the combination of engaging puzzles and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
“I really enjoy the atmosphere of the game and would recommend it.”
“The atmospheric soundtrack enhances the overall experience.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
“While the game attempts to create a unique atmosphere, it ultimately falls short and feels generic.”
“The overall ambiance is disappointing, failing to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report mixed stability experiences, noting some buggy items that can affect gameplay. While achievements are easily attainable, certain elements, like the mysterious miner, may lead to unexpected freezes.
“Cards, easy achievements, and some buggy items.”
“Your search will soon lead you down a dark path as a mysterious miner freezes people and objects!”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Replayability is limited, with some users noting a lack of substantial content to revisit, though an additional epilogue chapter and alternate hidden object scenes offer minor incentives for a second playthrough.
“The replay value is not really there, sadly, but you do get an extra chapter at the end (epilogue). If you want to do a second run to play with the alternate hidden object scenes, you could do that as well.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The story doesn't change much, and the gameplay feels repetitive on a second playthrough.”
“While the game offers some choices, they don't significantly alter the experience, making replaying it feel more like a chore than a fun option.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by a memorable scene featuring a character named Pamela, where the comedic tension escalates as characters react to a perceived threat behind a door, showcasing a blend of absurdity and situational comedy.
“The most hilarious part is when this lady, my bad, Pamela, comes in and everyone is like, 'There is a bad dude behind the door!'”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be dull, tedious, and disappointing, indicating a lack of engagement and enjoyment in the repetitive tasks required.
“In my experience, grinding was dull, tedious, and disappointing.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward.”
“I found the grinding to be repetitive and uninspired, making the game feel like a chore.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting smooth performance on high-end systems, while others experience significant frame rate drops and stuttering on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual system configurations.