Questerium: Sinister Trinity HD Collector's Edition
- January 15, 2015
- URSE Games
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamFinanced by the banker, the professor builds an evil machine that causes the meteor's energy to spin out of control, destroying the city and mutating its plants and animals. Citizens are evacuated, but rescuers fail to find and evacuate two children. In Questerium: Sinister Trinity HD, you play the investigator hired to work the case, and it's up to you to destroy the evil machine, rescue the aban…
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Reviews
- The game features a unique combination of live-action actors and 2D graphics, adding a charming and nostalgic touch.
- Puzzles are varied and challenging, providing a good mix of difficulty that keeps players engaged.
- The hidden object scenes are well-designed, and the inclusion of collectibles and secrets adds depth to the gameplay.
- The acting is often considered cheesy and poorly executed, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The bonus chapter is buggy and lacks proper guidance, making it frustrating to complete.
- Some puzzles have unclear instructions, leading to confusion and reliance on hints.
- story158 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally considered mediocre, with many reviewers noting its standard hidden object game (HOG) tropes and lack of depth or character development. While some found the live-action elements amusing and the sci-fi premise intriguing, others criticized the plot for being nonsensical and filled with clichés, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its shortcomings, the story serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, which many players found enjoyable.
“The actor's performances were done with such passion that you could feel the story playing out instead of just seeing it.”
“The plot of this sci-fi 'dramatic' story is original and fascinating.”
“The story in interesting enough to keep you entertained, and while it begins with the usual 'missing person(s) with supernatural elements' that most HOGs use, it moves away from it during the storyline.”
“Your typical and somewhat average HOG game, with an oddly designed city, typical lack of any logic in the story, and presence of common face-palm situations (like finding an unblemished pistol bullet within burned-out ashes in a fireplace), and cutscenes with live actors whose performance is so bad that they’re downright hilarious.”
“The story is really boring, the acting is mediocre, and there are glaring plot holes.”
“The story makes very little sense, so a typical HOG in that respect.”
- graphics64 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and detail, featuring a unique blend of 2D artwork, 3D props, and full-motion video (FMV) elements. While many reviewers highlight the stunning artwork and well-designed hidden object scenes, some note issues like camera glitches and mediocre acting that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, with a colorful and animated style that enhances the gameplay.
“This game stands out by combining live-action actors with the 2D graphics, which is not something I've seen in a game like this before, as well as through all its 'secrets,' where you can find money and plants throughout the game.”
“The graphics are a combination of 2D scenery with 3D props and full-motion video character acting.”
“The graphics are very beautiful, animated, colorful, and dense; a bit comic style.”
“The camera gets stuck all the time and it has several graphic glitches.”
“The graphics are average to meh, the story is beyond ridiculous but I loved it for that very reason.”
“Some decent graphics and scenes are ruined by gameplay and 'acting'.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Questerium is generally well-received, featuring smooth mechanics and a blend of hidden object challenges with live-action elements, though some players may find the story and acting lacking. The game offers four difficulty levels, enhancing replayability for completionists, while the inclusion of collectibles and mini-games adds depth. However, technical issues, such as problems on Mac laptops, and some gameplay hangups may detract from the overall experience for certain players.
“Questerium is an interesting hidden object game in that it combines live action characters with your standard hand-drawn backgrounds and hidden object gameplay, but does so with a certain amount of camp and gusto that I found quite enjoyable.”
“However, the addition of 4 difficulty levels really helps stretch out the gameplay, especially if you're playing on professional (no hints, sparkles, nothing) and looking for something that's a little more adventure-lite than casual hidden object games.”
“Gameplay is actually quite smooth and entertaining, so if you are an avid collector of hidden object games, you can consider adding this one to your library.”
“If you play on a Mac laptop and close the lid during normal gameplay, the game screen will be pure black (with only the cursor visible) when you open up the lid of the laptop. However, because you cannot alt-tab out of the game to exit, you have to restart your whole computer.”
“The gameplay is quite common: find items to unlock hidden object scenes or puzzles.”
“The gimmick both helps and hinders the story and gameplay.”
- humor30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as over-the-top and goofy, often eliciting genuine laughter from players, particularly due to its "so bad, it's good" moments. While the story and performances are criticized for their lack of logic and quality, they contribute to a comedic experience that many found enjoyable, despite the game's overall average quality. Players recommend it for its ability to entertain through its absurdity and awkwardness, even if some aspects may feel tedious.
“It was so over the top goofy and had me laughing out loud multiple times.”
“Your typical and somewhat average hog game, with oddly designed city, typical lack of any logic in the story and presence of common face-palm situations (like finding an unblemished pistol bullet within burned-out ashes in a fireplace), and cutscenes with live actors whose performance is so bad that they’re downright hilarious.”
“Both are weird and awkward in ways that are absolutely hilarious; the guy playing Gustav in particular would be chewing on the scenery if he wasn't stuck in front of a greenscreen somewhere.”
- stability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, particularly in the camera controls and hint system. Many players report that the bonus chapter is especially problematic, often rendering it unfinishable. While some users experience fewer issues, the overall consensus highlights a frustratingly buggy experience that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
“Overall, the game runs smoothly and is largely bug-free, providing a stable experience.”
“The stability of the game is impressive, with minimal issues affecting gameplay.”
“Despite a few minor click registration issues, the game remains stable and enjoyable.”
“Sadly, it's very buggy; both the quest marker and the hint system get stuck on the first screen, making things a lot more frustrating.”
“The bonus chapter is hideously buggy and appears to be unfinishable due to bugs.”
“Buggy map and hint/task system never updated from the start of the game and prompted me to try and solve the very first puzzle I'd solved in the bonus chapter.”
- music18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for being atmospheric, fitting, and of high quality, contributing positively to the overall experience without being repetitive or annoying. While some reviewers find the music decent yet unspectacular, it effectively enhances the game's ambiance and complements the story. Overall, the soundtracks are considered a strong aspect of the game, adding to its immersive qualities.
“The story was good, the music was very much part of the atmosphere.”
“The soundtracks of the game were good and fitting, none of them was looping or annoying.”
“The music and sound effects of [i]questerium[/i] are fitting, atmospheric and clearly of high quality.”
“The graphics and music are fine for this type of game, though as is common for a HOG, the acting is kind of terrible, but it's that kind of terrible that's amusing more than anything.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised, as it runs smoothly and features enjoyable graphics. However, the inclusion of live-action cutscenes has drawn mixed reactions; while some find the performances amusingly reminiscent of 90s FMV, others criticize the lack of logic in the story and design. Overall, the technical performance is solid, but the narrative elements may detract from the experience for some players.
“This game runs smoothly and has enjoyable graphics.”
“The actor's performances were done with such passion that you could feel the story playing out instead of just seeing it.”
“Your typical and somewhat average hog game, with oddly designed city, typical lack of any logic in the story and presence of common face-palm situations (like finding an unblemished pistol bullet within burned-out ashes in a fireplace), and cutscenes with live actors whose performance is so bad that they’re downright hilarious.”
“The acting is passable, but the performances feel reminiscent of 90s FMV.”
“And then there are the in-game FMVs... snippets of live actor performance projected into the painted scenery... and these were so incredibly bad, they were good!”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in *questerium* is highly praised for its engaging visuals, quality music, and sound effects that enhance the overall experience. The inclusion of FMV elements adds depth, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate its humorous tone, while still being a solid choice for fans of the genre.
“The story was good, the music was very much part of the atmosphere.”
“The music and sound effects of [i]questerium[/i] are fitting, atmospheric and clearly of high quality.”
“The fact is, the FMV in [i]questerium[/i] adds a lot of atmosphere.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspects of the game to be a mixed bag; while some puzzles and collectibles provide a welcomed challenge, others are seen as tedious and unnecessary. The overall experience is marred by lackluster graphics and poor acting, which contribute to the feeling of tedium during cutscenes.
“That could make it funny, now it just makes it tedious.”
“Because the acting is so terrible, any cutscenes are enormously tedious.”
“The puzzles were decent except two that were tedious for nothing.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally considered low, though some players find enjoyment in uncovering secrets, which adds a slight incentive to revisit the game. Overall, while the experience is enjoyable, it may not encourage multiple playthroughs.
“Overall, I really enjoyed playing the game, and finding all the secrets gives it some replay value.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“Overall, I really enjoyed playing the game, and finding all the secrets gives the game some replay value.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and growth for both the player and NPCs. The narrative is described as standard and unremarkable, typical of the genre, which does not prioritize strong storytelling or character arcs.
“The story is okay, pretty standard hog silliness (the genre is not known for good storytelling) with no real character development either for you or the people you meet.”
