Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride
- August 21, 2014
- Artifex Mundi
- 6h median play time
A good witch, an evil prince and an anthropomorphic bear.
In Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride, enter a mystical world of dark secrets and superstitions, where a young woman returns to her twin sister's wedding in the secluded village of Ravenbrook, only to find a sinister force looming over the festivities. Unravel the village's ominous past, explore enchanted landscapes, and solve perplexing puzzles to protect Ravenbrook from the evil threatening to consume it. This immersive hidden object adventure game offers a captivating blend of fantasy, mystery, and intrigue.
Reviews
- Engaging story with unexpected twists that keeps players invested.
- Beautiful graphics and sound design that enhance the overall atmosphere.
- Variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes that provide a satisfying challenge.
- Some puzzles can be overly simplistic or frustratingly vague.
- Linear storyline with limited replay value, requiring multiple playthroughs for achievements.
- Occasional technical issues, such as glitches or awkward animations.
- story461 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in this hidden object game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and integration with gameplay elements like puzzles. While some find the plot predictable or cliched, others enjoy its fairy-tale themes, emotional depth, and the inclusion of twists that keep the experience captivating. The game also features a bonus chapter that provides a satisfying conclusion, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.
“The story is captivating and detailed, and the game has very pretty graphics and nice sound effects.”
“The forsaken bride uses a gripping story combined with compelling adventure gameplay and interesting puzzle mini-games to keep you in your seat from start to finish.”
“I really liked the logic and the storytelling in 'Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride'.”
“The story is hokey and what one would expect from a hidden object game.”
“The story was predictable to me; maybe I am not the target audience here, but I saw everything coming a mile away and it wasn't engaging at all.”
“The storyline has potential, but it is kept very shallow, and only acts to guide from one puzzle to the next.”
- graphics150 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beautiful artwork and immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the rich detail and aesthetic appeal of the visuals. However, some criticism is directed at the cutscenes and character animations, which are described as outdated or lacking in quality compared to the still images. Overall, while the graphics are considered a strong point, there are mixed feelings about the execution of animations and certain visual elements.
“The graphics are top-notch, and the game starts off with a bang.”
“The artwork is beautiful, the puzzles are well created - with bonus hidden objects, a beautiful romance story.”
“The graphics and animation are incredible as always and the storyline had a pretty unique twist in the middle.”
“A great story, and the animations are very good for its time, but it is time to acknowledge that it is a bit outdated in terms of graphics.”
“Looking at the lackluster graphics and awful 3D animations in cutscenes, the amateurish voice acting and the awkward dialogue, it's easy to disregard the game as a whole.”
“The artwork for both the backgrounds and the puzzles is beautiful, as is expected for an Artifex Mundi game, but some of the character designs and cutscenes were a bit of a letdown.”
- music92 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its enchanting and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Many players noted that the soundtrack effectively sets the mood, whether eerie or tranquil, and complements the beautiful visuals and engaging story. However, some reviews mentioned that the music can feel repetitive over time, suggesting a desire for a longer and more varied soundtrack.
“The game's audio, including the soundtrack and sound design, contributes to the immersive atmosphere.”
“The music fits the atmosphere of the game perfectly.”
“The music is beautifully atmospheric, and I found myself surprised that a point-and-click hidden object game had better music than some AAA titles.”
“The music was good if a bit repetitive after a while, and I think they could have added a bit more to make it last a bit longer.”
“Good, but repetitive music.”
“I generally turn background music way down or completely off in games as I find it distracting, but at a slightly lower volume, I found the music in this game added to my enjoyment of the whole experience.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, combining hidden object searches, puzzles, and point-and-click elements, which keep it fresh and enjoyable. Players appreciate the user-friendly interface, helpful hint system, and the balance between challenge and relaxation, making it accessible for casual gamers. While some mechanics, like the animal helper, received mixed feedback, the overall experience is enhanced by beautiful art, music, and a captivating story, providing good value for the time invested.
“The gameplay is solid, the pacing is good, and everything is just the right amount of ridiculous while still playing it straight.”
“The variety of puzzle types keeps it pretty fresh, and the core hidden object gameplay is superb with a good amount of challenge.”
“I found the story and fluid gameplay highly addictive and took my time looking at the beautiful scenery and the collectibles.”
“My only gripe is that I didn't enjoy the mechanics of the 'extras' along the way in the form of the elusive objects and sprites.”
“Tldr: even higher quality hog end up recycling the same minigames and mechanics and reskinning different art and simple thin storylines on each.”
“The gameplay is not innovative as it's always find items, clear hidden objects scenes, solve puzzles, find beyond objects but everything is well polished.”
- atmosphere31 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting, fairytale-like aesthetic, complemented by captivating visuals and a beautifully composed soundtrack. Players appreciate the immersive experience it provides, often finding it relaxing and engaging despite some narrative clichés. Overall, the combination of art, sound design, and thematic elements creates a memorable and atmospheric gaming experience.
“The game's audio, including the soundtrack and sound design, contributes to the immersive atmosphere.”
“I've always found the atmosphere and music to be phenomenal when it comes to Artifex Mundi games, and The Forsaken Bride is no exception.”
“The voice acting was pretty lackluster, however, which was disappointing because it almost completely ruined the mysterious and intriguing atmosphere that the beautifully composed soundtrack combined with the art style had created.”
“Everything is clearly set in a fairytale decor and there’s an overall eerie atmosphere conveyed in this game which fits the story well.”
“I really like the creepy atmosphere of these games.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to its linear storyline and lack of alternative endings, with many players noting that the main draw for replaying is to achieve collectibles or complete hidden object puzzles. While some enjoy the engaging content and different difficulty levels, the limited gameplay length and repetitive elements diminish its overall replay value. Players recommend waiting for discounts before purchasing, as the entertainment value does not justify a full price.
“Extras include replayable hidden object puzzles, cutscenes, wallpapers, concept art gallery, and downloadable music.”
“I like this game because it is engaging and replayable.”
“Replay value is moderate due to playing the game on different levels (like expert, easy, and moderate) and for collectibles.”
“The storyline is linear, which means replay value is limited, and there is no alternative ending.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“Be advised that the actual playthrough takes four hours at most, and the game has very little replayability unless you are going for all the achievements like I am.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as heartwarming and engaging, particularly in its portrayal of family relationships and the whimsical elements involving witches and animals. While the voice acting lacks emotional depth, it still manages to draw players into the storyline, fostering a sense of investment in the characters. However, some character decisions may feel inconsistent, impacting the overall emotional resonance.
“I think, in its own way, it was a bit heartwarming.”
“He does his best to help you, and your relationship with your family is very wholesome.”
“Emotionally, he was more her father than the man who shared DNA with her.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by amusing inconsistencies, such as characters maintaining a constant facial expression that contrasts with their dialogue, leading to comical situations. Players appreciate the clever voice acting and find the overall experience entertaining, often enjoying it more than expected.
“Speaking of models, a tiny funny issue (which doesn't really affect the experience that much) is that most of the models stay with a constant specific emotion on their face throughout the entire game, which leads to hilarious scenarios like a woman angrily telling you to get out of her house while smiling ear to ear.”
“While the voice acting is hilarious, I really enjoyed the puzzles in this game.”
“Funny thing is I actually bought it for my partner and his little girl, but I think it's well won me over to buy more like this.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences significant bugs, including glitches and instances where it gets stuck, although there are no major crashes. Overall, the stability of the game appears to be a concern for players.
“Unfortunately, my game was really buggy.”
“Glitches and games getting stuck in the middle.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in [i]grim legends[/i] received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the beautiful artwork and detailed environments, while others found the character designs and cutscenes lacking in depth and appeal. Overall, the visual presentation is praised, but the character design did not resonate with all players.
“[i]Grim Legends[/i] is beautifully presented with lush and detailed backdrops as well as lovely item and character designs.”
“The artwork for both the backgrounds and the puzzles is beautiful, as is expected for an adventure game, but some of the character designs and cutscenes were a bit of a letdown.”
“The character design didn't quite win me over, but hey, you can't love everything.”
“The artwork for both the backgrounds and the puzzles is beautiful, as is expected for an indie game, but some of the character designs and cutscenes were a bit of a letdown.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the interesting puzzles but note that the initial learning curve can make the beginning of the game feel slow and tedious, contrasting sharply with a fast-paced finale that resembles a mini-game gauntlet.
“They tried to build in a learning curve for new players, but it just makes the start of the game feel very slow and tedious, and the end of the game feel like a flash-round, mini-game gauntlet.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of voice acting in the game is inconsistent, with the main character's voice actress delivering a strong performance, while the supporting voices are criticized for being underwhelming and lacking depth.
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Many users express frustration with the prevalence of microtransactions in the game, leading some to prefer paid titles instead for a more straightforward experience.
“I enjoyed the gameplay, but the constant microtransactions became frustrating, leading me to switch to paid titles.”
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel overly aggressive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend.”
“I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to earn in-game currency without having to spend real money.”
“I liked playing them on my tablet, but grew frustrated with endless microtransactions, so I switched over to paid titles.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases ruined the experience for me.”
“It feels like the game is designed to make you spend money rather than enjoy the gameplay.”