Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path
- November 16, 2017
- Sunward Games
- 7h 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 well-designed atmosphere that enhances the Norse mythology theme.
- Puzzles and hidden object scenes are varied and engaging, with some unique twists that keep the gameplay interesting.
- The addition of a collectible indicator and a bonus chapter adds depth and replayability to the game.
- The story can feel disjointed and lacks depth, with some characters and plot points not being well-explained.
- Many puzzles are too easy or repetitive, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
- story89 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path" is centered around Norse mythology, featuring a plot that involves gods and ancient crimes, though it has been criticized for being predictable and lacking depth. While some players found the narrative engaging and appreciated the incorporation of mythological elements, others felt it was thin and poorly executed, with abrupt endings and a lack of character development. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, which includes hidden object puzzles, but it may not satisfy those seeking a compelling narrative.
“Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path has again become a great hidden object game that consists of a complete package of story, puzzles, and graphics.”
“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.”
“I enjoyed the story of Hod; it's a Norse god/tale I hadn't heard much about before, and it's piqued my interest enough to find out some more.”
“The story is often not interesting, puzzles are too easy, and finding the objects is always totally illogical.”
“The story line was half borrowed, half contrived, and mostly ludicrous.”
“The end, for both the main and the side story, was really too abrupt; I wasn't expecting a lot more, but even a few sentences from any of the side characters would have helped, rather than just an abrupt 'the end' screen two seconds after your last action.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful artwork and atmospheric scenes, particularly in the Endless Fables series, which showcases modern and well-drawn visuals. However, some users note issues such as blurriness compared to newer titles, a lack of resolution options, and a disconnect between the art style and the game's theme. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good to excellent, there are inconsistencies that detract from the experience for some players.
“The whole Endless Fables series just looks gorgeous, graphically.”
“Stunning graphics, arts!!”
“As per usual with Artifex Mundi, the graphics are sharp, but not photo realistic; the voices are mediocre, but the puzzles are tough enough to be fun and easy enough to keep the game moving.”
“I'm not sure why, but the visuals in this game look blurry compared to the newer games published by Artifex Mundi.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“The artwork was well done, which was initially the reason I purchased it, but the gameplay left much to be desired.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting the reuse of mechanics and a lack of innovation, particularly in puzzle design. While some appreciate the modern graphics and smooth gameplay typical of the genre, others find the experience frustrating due to repetitive mini-games and illogical point-and-click elements. Overall, the game offers a decent length of playtime, but many recommend waiting for a sale due to its perceived high price relative to the gameplay experience.
“The graphics are modern and the mechanics are among the best.”
“A very good length of gameplay.”
“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.”
“A lot of the mechanics are reused, and sadly, some of the mechanics that get that treatment are the ones that I didn't enjoy.”
“What disappointed me most other than the light game mechanics were how poorly the characters were utilized.”
“At least the first Endless Fables had some inventive mechanics, but Endless Fables 2 has humdrum hidden-object scenes (and not very many of them), trivial puzzle mini-games, and the point-and-click adventuring somehow manages to be illogical and easy at the same time.”
- music17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and suitability for the gameplay, while others find it repetitive and unremarkable. While a few highlight moments of cinematic quality, many agree that it does not stand out and is often described as mediocre. Overall, the soundtrack serves its purpose but lacks memorability, making it more of a background element than a focal point.
“Nice music, eerie artwork, great overall game.”
“It has a nice variety of puzzles and good music.”
“Music, like graphics, is at the highest level; there are no complaints about it.”
“Up there for 'strangest thing to need a key in a hidden object game.' There was at least one background music error (in the bonus chapter, but that just made it creepier, so it worked out).”
“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.”
“Besides, I found the music boring and too repetitive, and I didn't like the main character's voice acting.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the atmospheric graphics and soundtrack that evoke a sense of charm and cultural depth, others criticize the lack of tension and coherence in the setting. The art style is also noted as inconsistent with the theme, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is seen as a highlight for some, but a disappointment for others.
“I do like the atmosphere of the game and do recommend it, but some puzzles.”
“The graphics are good, the scenes are atmospheric, the puzzles are a normal level of 'why is everything in this world locked with symbols??'”
“This chapter of the Endless Fables series leads us to the northern part of Europe and aims to create an atmosphere of the Norse culture and faith.”
“No story to speak of, point & click 'puzzles' that are the equivalent of paint by numbers. The setting - unlike in the first - evokes neither atmosphere nor tension, and the art style does not fit the theme at all.”
“Either the matter is in the gloomy atmosphere, or in the national charm that accompanies every game in the series. It is difficult for me to explain, but this is a fact.”
“This chapter of the Endless Fables series leads us to the northern part of Europe and aims to create an atmosphere of Norse culture and faith.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, primarily offering an extra epilogue chapter and an option to revisit hidden object scenes on a second playthrough. With a playtime of around four hours and a price of 15 euros, many players feel the lack of substantial replay value is a drawback.
“Replay value is not really there sadly, but you do get an extra chapter once finished (epilogue). If you want to do a second run-through to play with the alternate hidden object scenes, you could do that as well.”
“It's a 4-hour long game with no replay value, and it costs 15 euros.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report a smooth interface with no bugs, others encounter occasional glitches and buggy items.
“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!”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as lacking depth, with some players finding it to be lighthearted and fun, while others criticize the developers for not fostering a stronger emotional connection. This divide leads to mixed reviews, with some enjoying the casual tone and others feeling disappointed by the absence of emotional engagement.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be dull and tedious, leading to a disappointing experience, particularly regarding achievements.
“It was, in my experience, dull, tedious, and disappointing.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing character interactions, such as the comedic entrance of a character named Pamela and the irony of a kind man giving you a lucky coin that is quickly used for trivial purposes before being discarded. Overall, the humor is characterized by clever situational comedy and playful character dynamics.
“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!'”
“It's pretty funny that a kind man gives you his lucky coin and you use it immediately for something minor and then discard it.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
"Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path" is criticized for its monetization strategy, being perceived as a cash grab by its developers, Artifex Mundi, after being ported from a free mobile app to Steam.
“Endless Fables 2: Frozen Path is a free mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a blatant cash grab by the mobile app developers, Artifex Mundi.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be accessible through regular gameplay.”
“It's frustrating to see a game that could be enjoyable turned into a paywall experience, where progress is heavily gated behind microtransactions.”
- 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 and efficient resource usage, while others experience significant lag and technical issues. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual system configurations.