The Dreamatorium of Dr. Magnus 2
- September 9, 2015
- Two Desperados
Immerse in the unknown as paranormal detective Iris Birdwood, investigating the mysterious kidnapping of Dr. Magnus's girlfriend Lara. Explore vibrant locations, solve challenging puzzles, and harness the power of a mystical amulet to uncover the truth in this 5+ hour hidden object adventure. Unlock achievements and collect Eye of Horus symbols along the way.
Reviews
- The game features decent graphics and well-designed hidden object scenes that provide a fun experience.
- Puzzles are generally easy and enjoyable, making it accessible for newcomers to the genre.
- The game includes a variety of achievements and collectibles, adding a layer of engagement for players.
- The voice acting, particularly for the main character, is widely criticized as being poor and distracting.
- The story is considered convoluted and lacks depth, with many players finding it uninteresting and filled with plot holes.
- The game is very short, typically taking only about 2 hours to complete, which may not justify its price for some players.
- story37 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story has been described as inconsistent and poorly executed, with a disconnect between its modern narrative and 19th-century aesthetics. While some players found potential in the plot and appreciated the variety of puzzles, many criticized the blandness of the story, subpar voice acting, and a lack of depth, leading to an overall impression of a missed opportunity for a more engaging experience. Despite some positive elements, such as interesting settings and a few compelling moments, the storytelling often fell flat, leaving players wanting more coherence and quality.
“You start with a tragic backstory regarding a man driven mad with grief.”
“The game follows a paranormal investigator looking for a missing girl and unraveling a story about a ghost along the way.”
“The story is a detective tale set in the 1930s with a female protagonist, who has to solve a supernatural disappearance.”
“The disconnect becomes even more apparent when you try to match the story with the look and sound of the game.”
“Add an utterly abysmal script and nonsensical story, and you're in for quite a ride.”
“I found it was too quick to complete, the story was rather bland, and the female protagonist's voice acting was atrocious.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally well-received, featuring a pleasing 19th-century aesthetic and decent visuals that enhance the overall experience. While some players noted that the graphics are not spectacular and may feel somewhat dated, they still appreciate the art style and the quality of the environments. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gameplay, despite some minor criticisms regarding cursor accuracy and cohesion with the story.
“At least it provides enjoyable content in this short while with nice-looking artwork, plus some simple, yet entertaining puzzles.”
“I want to mention that the visuals in the game are well done.”
“The scenes are graphically good and the mini-games are decent fun.”
“Here’s hoping that if they dive into the genre again, they’ll take the time to brush up on their graphics skills and learn what it takes to create a cohesive setting that supports, rather than detracts from, the story.”
“The game’s environments also reflected a 19th century aesthetic, and this led me to two conclusions: either Dr. Magnus was a visitor from another time (he isn’t), or the developers failed to consider how he or the environments fit into the story.”
“Graphics are not spectacular but again not terrible.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by classic hidden object mechanics, including puzzles and collectibles, but many players find it less engaging and enjoyable than expected. While the configuration menu offers various options, the overall experience is marred by distracting voiceovers and a lack of depth in the story and mechanics. Some users noted that the game felt shorter and less challenging compared to similar titles in the genre.
“The game also has a nice configuration menu, with a bunch of options regarding the gameplay.”
“I could see the mechanic being far more useful for a longer game with more varied or difficult collectibles.”
“The gameplay is the classic one for a hidden object game: puzzles, hidden object scenes, collectibles to find, etc. Sometimes, I had a hard time finding objects because I could mistake the answer for another.”
“While other aspects of the gameplay are less slipshod than this, they’re still not that much fun.”
“Even if you don't normally mind bad voiceovers, it's awful enough here to distract from the actual gameplay.”
“I normally like hidden object puzzles, but I was rather disappointed with the story and the mechanics of this one.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by bright and cheerful accordion tunes that create a relaxed atmosphere, contrasting with any intended spookiness. While some players find the soundtrack fitting and enjoyable, others describe it as boring and unremarkable, with sound effects that fail to impress. Overall, opinions on the music are mixed, with some appreciating its charm and others feeling indifferent.
“The soundtrack was also fitting.”
“For the music fans: I like it, and it didn't bother me in the game.”
“Bright, colorful environments and perky accordion music defy this idea, and make the game about as spooky as a trip to a well-lit grocery store.”
“The music is boring and the sound effects are nothing special.”
“I think the music's fine, too - it's relaxing.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its low replayability, with many users noting that it offers little incentive to play again due to unchanged puzzles and a short overall experience. Most recommend waiting for significant discounts before purchasing.
“It's not that long, and has no replayability.”
“It also has zero replay value, so if you still want to try it out, I would wait until it's at least 75% off or in a bundle.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is hit-or-miss, with some lines falling flat and failing to deliver genuine laughs. While there are moments that could be considered amusing in a "so bad it's good" way, overall, the writing and dialogue do not consistently succeed in being funny.
“And while you may think that some voice acting can be so bad it's funny, this is not the funny-bad kind.”
“But to think of it... you know that type of bad which is also almost good and funny?”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, particularly in a casual point-and-click format. Despite these issues, players still find it enjoyable enough to recommend.
“Either way, whatever you can imagine, this game's performance is worse.”
“A very short, especially casual point-and-click adventure, featuring a ridiculously dialed-in performance, and yet I'm giving it a thumbs up because it's fun enough.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its engaging narrative and well-designed puzzles, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“The atmosphere is immersive, drawing you into the world with its rich details and captivating sound design.”
“Every corner of the game is filled with a unique ambiance that enhances the storytelling experience.”
“The haunting atmosphere keeps you on edge, making every moment feel tense and engaging.”