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
- The game features beautiful artwork and engaging puzzles that are varied and enjoyable, making it a solid entry in the hidden object genre.
- It offers a well-crafted fantasy world with a captivating atmosphere, enhanced by good music and voice acting.
- The gameplay is smooth with a variety of hidden object scenes and mini-games, providing a satisfying experience for both casual and dedicated players.
- The story is considered lackluster and generic, lacking depth and emotional engagement, which may disappoint players looking for a compelling narrative.
- Some achievements are seen as unfair or overly challenging, requiring multiple playthroughs to complete, which can be frustrating for achievement hunters.
- The game can feel repetitive at times, with some puzzles and hidden object scenes lacking in innovation, leading to a dragging experience.
- story111 mentions
- 42 % 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 appreciate 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.”
“The story is epic and compelling, the graphics are gorgeous, the puzzles are challenging, whether they are inherent to the story's progression or just to make your life miserable.”
“The story is where the game is weak; the main character Susan is an absolutely generic Barbie doll housewife in search of her stolen son by a tiresome dark spirit that is simply evil because it's dark, has glowing red eyes, desires world domination, and possesses small children's souls.”
“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.”
“As with all the kidnapped-kid plots in this genre, we know that Jimmy will be saved at the end, so there's no suspense and no plot development.”
- graphics63 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork, vibrant colors, and captivating animations, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted minor issues such as slightly blurry cutscenes and robotic character movements, the majority found the visuals to be solid and engaging, with many rating them between 7 to 8 out of 10. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and well-designed environments contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The graphics are incredibly stunning.”
“Absolutely beautiful artwork.”
“Plus, the beautiful music, graphics, and environments make the atmosphere quite enjoyable to play and relax.”
“- the game is an older one so consequently the graphics look a bit blurry.”
“The visuals were okay and the story was fine.”
“Graphics: 8”
- music28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % 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 of overcoming challenges. While some users noted the music can be repetitive, it contributes to a captivating atmosphere alongside the beautiful visuals and engaging puzzles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, adding to the cinematic experience.
“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.”
“The music is fantastic.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its smooth mechanics, varied and engaging activities, and beautiful visuals, making it enjoyable for players, especially those who appreciate puzzle and hidden object elements. However, some players feel that certain mechanics, like the collectable tracking feature, can detract from the experience by making it too easy. Overall, while the gameplay is solid, the story does not meet the same standard, which may affect the overall enjoyment for some players.
“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.”
“Mechanics/gameplay were very smooth.”
“The gameplay is generally smooth and the pictures have clearly rendered fore, mid, and backgrounds in which to hide objects.”
“I'd recommend the game on the proviso you're not looking for a compelling story but rather some solid puzzle, point-and-click, hidden object gameplay.”
“Expect 4 1/2 to 5 hours of gameplay including a bonus chapter and four jigsaw puzzles in the extras.”
- atmosphere8 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. Players find it enjoyable and relaxing, contributing to a highly engaging experience.
“The beautiful music, graphics, and environments make the atmosphere quite enjoyable to play and relax.”
“Immersive atmosphere”
“Very magical atmosphere.”
- grinding6 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 repetitive tasks like "align the rings" and "sort the mosaic." However, the inclusion of hidden collectible items encourages further exploration, adding a layer of fun to the grinding experience.
“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.”
“Fun, but some parts were a little tedious as every item you needed required solving a puzzle.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received negative feedback due to excessive advertisements that appear before the game loads, which many users find unappealing and intrusive.
“Final thoughts: I have found the game developer's method of advertising their other games is unappealing.”
“Their advertisement pops up in the beginning before the actual game loads.”
“I only give it a negative review because they make so much advertisement for their games.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its funny story and entertaining challenges, despite acknowledging the presence of plot armor for the main characters. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“I know as main characters we have plot armor... but it was funny.”
“Funny story, decent challenges.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has been criticized for its lack of engaging storytelling and plot development, leading to a dull experience that fails to resonate with players.
“Boring story with no plot development.”
“Boring story with no plot development.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, with multiple users indicating that there is little incentive to play it again after the initial experience.
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”