Echoes of the Past: Kingdom of Despair Collector's Edition

Story - you have to visit several different kingdoms to cure people cursed by a witch. The interesting side effect of this story is that each kingdom is totally tailored to the type of person you are curing. For example, one person is a painter, and all the puzzles and HOP's involve paintings and sculptures. In another kingdom, you are curing a scientist, and all the puzzles and HOP's involve machinery and lab equipment. I thought this was kind of neat, as it added a lot of variety to the game. Graphics - Decent, with a lot of little interesting animations to add to the atmosphere. HOPs - Good variety with list based ones, find x amount of one type of thing, and the put objects back into the HOP type. One HOP that I particularly enjoyed was a circuit board where parts had been ripped out or damaged. You had a list of parts and tools that you had to use to repair it. Puzzles - Like the other "Echoes of the Past" game on Steam, this game really shines in the puzzle and mini-game department. It's packed with them, with tremendous variety and originality. Most of them were even different than the previous "Echoes of the Past". I love it when developers really put the effort…

Don't bother...will only play when it wants to. See other reviews on the ridiculous solutions to getting this to play. "Problem signature: Problem Event Name: APPCRASH Application Name: EchoesOfThePast_TheKingdomOfDespair_CE.exe Application Version: 1.0.0.1 Application Timestamp: 520a9817 Fault Module Name: EchoesOfThePast_TheKingdomOfDespair_CE.exe Fault Module Version: 1.0.0.1 Fault Module Timestamp: 520a9817 Exception Code: 40000015 Exception Offset: 000fbc3a OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1 Locale ID: 1033 Additional Information 1: 3c2f Additional Information 2: 3c2f31760705412084bcaeca5c5cc72a Additional Information 3: 2410 Additional Information 4: 24104201e9cddcd5f7b477748450d1e4 Restart doesn't work either... FAIL

So, this time a book of spells shows up at a local bookstore, and you go to inspect it. Another young woman enters, and suddenly a portal opens sucking you both into a magical realm. That same old witch appears, and curses you to stay in her Dark Kingdom. Unless you can find a series of talismans. HO scenes are challenging, minigames fun, and the plot is… adequate. Would suggest getting in the bundle.

I was so involved enjoying the game , I forgot to take any screenshots.

Interesting story that doesn't stop for boredom. There was quite a lot of jumping around but it was worth it.

Strongly recommend if you don't care about narrative. Pros .Clear, clean artwork/graphics/scenes .Three difficulty modes (no custom) .Mini-map with fast travel .Lockable toolbar .Complex, challenging adventure play ,Various types of challenging hidden object scenes .Moderate to highly challenging mini-puzzles .Collectables (magic potions) .Bonus chapter .Strategy guide .Good length Cons .The stories told in the five segments were dull (and sexist) .Antagonists were ridiculous; victims were annoying .No atmosphere/interactive elements .Music did not support story or game play .Mini-map did not indicate available actions on advanced .Toolbar at top of screen .No indication when objects in correct position for possible use ,Repeat hidden object scenes .Click box tiny in adventure play and huge in hidden object scenes .Glitches: twice told I needed an object already found and placed Final words (7/10): The hidden object scenes, mini-puzzles and the majority of the adventure play were excellent. I can recommend the game on that alone. But this was not an adventure, this was doing chores for whiny people and cleaning up after the afflicted, not by standing up and making the locale s…