Lost Lands: Dark Overlord
- June 26, 2015
- FIVE-BN GAMES
- 9h median play time
In "Lost Lands: Dark Overlord," players assume the role of Susan, a determined mother who must rescue her son from the clutches of the Dark Overlord. The game is a hidden object puzzle adventure that combines intricate puzzles, captivating storylines, and immersive environments. Susan traverses a mystical world filled with mythical creatures and supernatural elements to save her child and restore peace to the Lost Lands.
Reviews
- Beautiful artwork and graphics that enhance the immersive experience.
- Variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes that keep gameplay engaging.
- Well-designed mechanics with a helpful interactive map and strategy guide.
- The story is lackluster and lacks depth, making it less engaging.
- Some achievements are frustratingly difficult to obtain in a single playthrough.
- Repetitive backtracking across the map can feel tedious at times.
- story54 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it lackluster and predictable, particularly criticizing the generic protagonist and the absence of suspense. However, others appreciated the engaging cutscenes and the overall premise of a mother searching for her son in a fantasy realm, noting that while the plot has its flaws, it is complemented by enjoyable puzzles and music. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary element to the gameplay, appealing mainly to those who prioritize puzzles over a compelling story.
“I am so happy that you get a real conclusion to the story in the main game, and that the bonus chapter is not just a tacked-on addition.”
“The storylines in each of the series carry our imagination from start to finish through the use of brief video and character interaction to pull us into another reality where what we see in our mind feels real - if you don't get this, then I pity you.”
“Great game with a great story!”
“The story seemed rather lackluster to me.”
“You play the utterly insipid Susan, who plods zombie-like through the story after son Jimmy, then completes an unrelated bonus story for no particularly good reason.”
“There is nothing unique or interesting really to captivate one in the story, or compel one to complete the puzzles as there is little sense of urgency or even empathy.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beautiful artwork, vibrant colors, and captivating animations, creating an immersive atmosphere. While some users noted minor issues like slightly blurry cutscenes and robotic character movements, the overall visual experience is considered stunning and engaging, with many reviewers rating the graphics between 7 to 8 out of 10. The combination of solid visuals and orchestral music enhances the gameplay, making it enjoyable and visually appealing.
“The graphics are incredibly stunning.”
“Absolutely beautiful artwork.”
“Gorgeous, clear, clean artwork/graphics/scenes.”
“The game is an older one, so consequently the graphics look a bit blurry.”
“The visuals were okay and the story was fine.”
“Graphics are pretty and movements are well done.”
- music14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its orchestral quality and ability to enhance the storytelling, with a total of six tracks that align well with the game's themes. While some users noted the music can be repetitive, it is described as enjoyable and atmospheric, contributing to a captivating gaming experience alongside beautiful visuals and engaging puzzles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, adding depth and cinematic quality to the gameplay.
“The short: beautiful artwork, captivating stories, great cross section of medium to challenging puzzles, very apt orchestral music, detailed but simple menu system that allows instant travel across accessible places.”
“Music has been composed with full understanding of the plot behind the Lost Lands series - hardship in overcoming challenges towards the end goal.”
“Plus, the beautiful music, graphics, and environments make the atmosphere quite enjoyable to play and relax.”
“On the technical side, the game is a well-done craft, featuring nicely drawn images and good (if a bit repetitive) music.”
“Music has been composed with a full understanding of the plot behind the Lost Lands series - hardship in overcoming challenges towards the end goal.”
“- cutscenes, soundtrack, and dialogue have cinematic quality at times.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its smooth mechanics and visual appeal, offering a varied and engaging experience with plenty of collectibles and puzzles to explore. While it excels in traditional genre elements, some players feel that certain mechanics may detract from the challenge. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking enjoyable puzzle and hidden object gameplay rather than a strong narrative.
“For this title, the enjoyment came from the gameplay.”
“It's gorgeous, the gameplay is interesting and varied; there is a ton of things to see and do. If you're an achievement hunter like me, just try to let it go and enjoy the game.”
“The gameplay is generally smooth, and the pictures have clearly rendered fore, mid, and backgrounds in which to hide objects.”
“Expect 4.5 to 5 hours of gameplay, including the bonus chapter and four jigsaw puzzles in the extras.”
“I'd recommend the game on the condition that you're not looking for a compelling story, but rather some solid puzzle, point-and-click, hidden object gameplay.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its magical quality, enhanced by beautiful artwork, immersive environments, and captivating music, creating an enjoyable and relaxing experience for players.
“Very magical atmosphere.”
“Good artwork and atmosphere.”
“Plus, the beautiful music, graphics, and environments make the atmosphere quite enjoyable to play and relax.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable overall, though some puzzles can feel tedious, particularly the repetitive "align the rings" and "sort the mosaic" types. However, the inclusion of hidden collectible items encourages exploration and adds a layer of engagement, making the grinding experience more rewarding.
“Fun, but some parts were a little tedious as every item you needed required solving a puzzle.”
“Puzzles: 6/10 - a lot of 'align the rings' and 'sort the mosaic' type games, which I find tedious.”
“This would be tedious except the designers did hide 'collectible items' throughout the areas, which are particularly hard to find, encouraging further exploration in areas you've already progressed through.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received negative feedback due to excessive advertisements, particularly intrusive promotions for other games that appear before the actual gameplay begins, which many users find unappealing.
“I only give it a negative review because they make so much advertisement for their games.”
“Final thoughts: I have found the game developer's method of advertising their other games to be unappealing.”
“Their advertisements pop up in the beginning before the actual game loads.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players finding it amusing and entertaining despite the presence of plot armor for the main characters. The combination of a funny storyline and decent challenges contributes to an overall enjoyable experience.
“I know as main characters we have plot armor, but it was funny.”
“Funny story, decent challenges.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of engagement, with users noting a boring story and insufficient plot development that fails to evoke any meaningful feelings.
“The story is boring and lacks any meaningful plot development.”
“I found the emotional aspects to be flat and unengaging.”
“There was no emotional depth to the characters, making it hard to connect.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, with users indicating that there is little incentive to play it multiple times.
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”