Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises
- March 26, 2020
- Brave Giant LTD
- 9h median play time
Get on SteamHidden object puzzle adventure from Brave Giant and Artifex Mundi which stands as the rousing trilogy-opener for the "Family Mysteries" police drama, evoking a fanciful nostalgia for such TV hits like Miami Vice, Beverly Hills Cop and CSI.
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Reviews
- Engaging mystery with unexpected twists and a solid storyline that keeps players hooked.
- Good variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes, with decent graphics and enjoyable music.
- The game features a fast-travel map and collectibles, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- Voice acting is often poor and can detract from the immersion of the game.
- Some puzzles, particularly the sliding tile puzzles, are frustrating and lack clear instructions.
- The game is relatively short and may feel overpriced for its length, especially if played only once.
- story126 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises" follows Emma Emerson, a police detective in 1980s Miami, as she unravels a convoluted mystery filled with twists and turns. While some players found the plot engaging and the character motivations sensible, others criticized it for being overly complicated, poorly executed dialogue, and lacking depth. Overall, the narrative offers a mix of intrigue and predictability, making it a decent but not groundbreaking experience in the hidden object genre.
“This delightful hidden object game seamlessly blends mystery, detective work, and unexpected plot twists into an engaging experience.”
“The intriguing storyline, visually impressive artwork, and immersive music captivated me throughout.”
“Definitely an engaging storyline, and longer than some other hidden object games I've played.”
“The story is occasionally hard to follow; several scenes and situations are borderline nonsensical.”
“The story has more holes than a doughnut shop, like they are cops, but never call for backup.”
“The story/dialogue in this game is beyond stupid, even for the already incredibly low standards for Artifex Mundi games.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with many praising the artwork and attention to detail, while others found the cutscenes lacking and some scenes overcrowded or empty. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for the genre, though not groundbreaking, and the character designs were often criticized. The music and ambience were generally appreciated, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“🟢 Excellent artwork and attention to detail.”
“The intriguing storyline, visually impressive artwork, and immersive music captivated me throughout.”
“The graphics are great, I love the introduction of a person of color - let's have more of this.”
“Decent graphics but cutscenes are bad; some scenes are unnecessarily overcrowded by items, while others feel empty.”
“The visuals are passable (although I've seen noticeably better in similar games) and the music is 'meh'.”
“Graphics are pretty much the same for these types of games, and to be honest, I like them; they are nothing amazing, but for these types of games, they work.”
- music32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities, while others find it repetitive and lacking in excitement. Voice acting is generally considered decent, adding to the overall experience, but some users feel the soundtrack could be improved. Overall, the music contributes positively to the ambiance, though opinions on its effectiveness vary significantly.
“The intriguing storyline, visually impressive artwork, and immersive music captivated me throughout.”
“The music and scenery in this one are pretty cozy in a mysterious atmospheric way.”
“Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises is a well-made game, with exciting music, an interesting story, and it looks good too.”
“The visuals are passable (although I've seen noticeably better in similar games) and the music is 'meh'.”
“- dreary, melancholy and repetitive music and sluggish interface just make it seem drawn-out.”
“I certainly should have turned the music off far earlier than I did.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring varied but often shallow mechanics, including a peculiar match-3 system for combat and traditional item-finding tasks typical of the genre. While the inclusion of challenging mini-games and unique elements like evidence gathering adds some depth, many players express disappointment over the lack of impactful dialogue choices and deduction scenes. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a highlight of the game, with potential for improvement in future installments.
“The talented voice acting and challenging mini-games added depth to the gameplay.”
“The puzzles and mechanics, plus art and general flow of the game are all on par with the most recent games from Artifex Mundi, no complaints there.”
“The gameplay is the classic one for the genre: you find items, you assemble or examine them, you play mini-games, you search for items that are more hidden and even morphing!”
“Game mechanics are varied but shallow; using the match-3 mechanic for a fight scene is certainly a strange choice.”
“There are a few dialogue choices to be made that have zero impact on the game or plot, and the clue gathering mechanic/case building is reflective of the plot points.”
“My only disappointment in the gameplay is the lack of deduction scenes.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players noting that it elicited laughter and provided a fun experience. The voice acting contributes positively to the comedic elements, although opinions on the overall artistic style vary. Many players find the game to be hilariously entertaining, prompting them to explore other titles in the series.
“A ton of fun and really funny! I am going to grab the others in the series.”
“This game is rather hilarious.”
“What's hilarious is that I've been obsessively playing hidden object games for the last two months, and I recognize music from Lost Grimoires and voice actors from other Artifex Mundi games as well.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when required to complete multiple puzzles within a single puzzle to unlock items. The sliding tile puzzle, in particular, is frequently mentioned as a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially for those aiming for 100% completion.
“Later in the game, you have to do two or three puzzles within the same puzzle to unlock an item, which is a tedious bore and not fun.”
“If you're going for a full 100% for the achievements, the sliding tile puzzle was the only puzzle that became tedious as well as tempting to skip.”
“[The exception was a sliding puzzle of two seascapes that got tedious to complete.]”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a cozy yet mysterious ambiance, enhanced by its music and sound effects. While many appreciate the atmospheric elements, some players express a desire for a more uplifting tone as the experience progresses.
“The music and scenery in this one are pretty cozy in a mysterious atmospheric way.”
“I was just hoping the atmosphere it created was going to cheer up soon.”
“Music and sound effects just add that little bit of extra atmosphere.”
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