Interesting game
I just finished playing "Darkmoor Manor" and Im left with mixed feelings. I heared of this app when I was looking for apps similar to "Forever Lost" because I really enjoyed playing that game. My expectations were high - maybe thats why I feel kinda disappointed now.
First I had the free version of this game. I wanted to try it before buyig it because I felt like this app was one of the most expensive I bought. I dont know what it is in dollars, but it cost 1.79€. Let me give you a comparison: Forever Lost cost 1.29€ and I felt like that was already a high price. Then again, developers work hard for these apps so I thought it was okay. There are many other apps which are much more expensive, of course - but like I said, I never bought apps over 1€ before. It always was like 0.79€ or 0.99€. I talk so much about the money because the value of iTunes cards is limited and for me its always a challenge to buy new cards, dont ask me why. Another reason is that I always ask myself: Is the app worth that money? Could I have bought a better app instead?
In this case the answer is maybe.
Why?
When I played the free version of the game, I was surprised about the good visuals and graphics. Its pretty amazing and did not seem cheap (sometimes you have apps where you can see that the producers didnt really care about the looking of their game). The app is great in this point! And I was very happy about it. A game is so much more enjoyable when you have good graphics.
When I ended the free version, there were some pictures of the situations youd get in when you buy the full version. You see a car, a map, a garden and some other things. It looks amazing. I didnt have to think about buying it for long, it was an easy choice. I loved the pictures because they seemed to promise action and they looked like nothing Id seen before. It seemed to be a different game which was refreshing. I was looking forward to playing.
However, it took me about a month to buy a new itunes card so I could afford this game because I didnt have much money left on my current itunes card (the itunes-card-struggle I was talking about before, my time management sucks) so I forgot how it was to play "Darkmoor Manor". Today I bought the full version and started again. Surprisingly, it was great going through the familiar situations a second time. Maybe I felt that way because I knew new situations are waiting for me this time. It was not boring.
The puzzles you have to solve and tasks you have to finish were not as hard as I wish theyd be. Sometimes it was too easy so you could predict what would happen next and I didnt feel challenged. That was what I wanted, being challenged. I missed this. There were some puzzles where you had to think very much, of course, but I wish there had been more of this kind. Dont get me wrong. It is an interesting game which was kinda addicting. I wanted to finish it as soon as possible to know what the end would be like. Could I escape "Darkmoor Manor"? If yes, how? If not, why? But looking at it now, I dont feel that way anymore, because I know the ending now and it disappointed me.
The background story of the game is very interesting. You get to know about the persons who lived in the manor through diary entries of a guy from America who is a professor I think (I dont remember it exactly :/), at least he is in England now because of some special circumstances. And he has to stay in "Darkmoor Manor". His diary entries clear some things up, but I still have questions left: Who was "I" while playing? Where was the professor (or who was he)? Was I him? If not, where did he go? What were the knock noises and help calls I heared (I thought Id find someone captured in the house but that was not the case, and if these were just sound effects to create a better atmosphere it was not a good idea because it was confusing)? Another question I ask myself is if there will be a second part because there are so many questions left. (Part 1)
Walkingdesaster about
Darkmoor Manor Paid Version, v1.3.0