Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition - New HOPA on Big Fish
#1144756
03/15/18 09:47 AM
03/15/18 09:47 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,384
near Yosemite
Marian
OP
Global Moderator
|
OP
Global Moderator
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,384
near Yosemite
|
Today's game for Club Members, tomorrow's game for all. You can download Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition here. Big Fish Editor's Choice! This title was selected for its exceptional quality and overwhelmingly positive reviews from our Game Club beta testers.
The Old Town located beneath the ruins of Grak Kingdom has been rapidly turning into salt in the past few days. This salt-transmutation appears to be caused by a mysterious species of white dragonflies. The Princess of Grak Kingdom went missing a hundred years ago. The Grak Palace also inexplicably collapsed at around the same time. However, a girl who might be the Princess has been sighted in the Old Town recently. You (Detective) are requested to find the Princess and solve all the mysteries behind the salt-transmutation. As you approach the ruins, you are attacked by an abnormally strong man with hostile intent. With the help of two sisters imbued with special powers, you are narrowly saved from peril. As you delve deeper in the case, you find hints that this mystery might be linked to a case that you investigated long ago...
See what our Beta testers had to say:
“Dark Parables is back and this is the closest to the original this series has come! Beautiful artwork and outstanding soundtrack coupled with an interesting story line make this a definite "must have" in my games library.” - Janet, beta tester
“Loved the story line and the intricate art work. Glad to see this game kept to the style of the other dark parables. Looking forward to buying it and seeing how the story ends.” - Rosa, beta tester
Thrilling story with a fresh take on classic fairy tales.
Find collectible notes to unlock the background stories and secrets.
Bonus Game - Moonlight Romance.
Extras include wallpapers, soundtracks, puzzles, movies and more! As always, please remember to come back and tell us what you think. Happy gaming! 
|
|
|
Re: Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition - New HOPA on Big Fish
[Re: Marian]
#1144759
03/15/18 09:59 AM
03/15/18 09:59 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,329
In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre
The Sassy Admin and PR Liaison
|
The Sassy Admin and PR Liaison
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,329
In the Naughty Corner
|
Thanks, Marian! Ana 
Don't feed the Trolls
|
|
|
Re: Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition - New HOPA on Big Fish
[Re: Marian]
#1144988
03/16/18 12:20 PM
03/16/18 12:20 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
8dognight
Settled Boomer
|
Settled Boomer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
|
Good Puzzle Alert
I've dropped into the underground ruins of the old city of Grak, at least I think that's where I am, and come across a lovely variation of Chinese Checkers in which each marble can only jump a limited number of times.
Last edited by 8dognight; 03/17/18 12:28 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition - New HOPA on Big Fish
[Re: Marian]
#1145023
03/16/18 04:37 PM
03/16/18 04:37 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
8dognight
Settled Boomer
|
Settled Boomer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
|
Lani Minella voices Serafina. Sadly, thus far, the voice acting is singularly uninspired.
That's my only criticism. I accept the Dark Parables cultural mores that countenance looting every jewel, cloisonne insignia, and mundane tool so that they can be hidden in a manner that necessitates locating each seriatim. I tolerate this in Dark Parables because the settings are easy on the eyes and not a grungy garage or broken auto-jack anywhere.
Last edited by 8dognight; 03/17/18 10:24 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition - New HOPA on Big Fish
[Re: 8dognight]
#1145028
03/16/18 08:21 PM
03/16/18 08:21 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Reenie
Addicted Boomer
|
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,229
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
|
I agree, 8dog. The series is formulaic in that regard, so I have to space out the games so I don't get bored with their repetitive HO scenes. Still, the graphic quality, the puzzles and the creativity compensate for that flaw. Like you, I am tired of everything in the other games being dirty, broken, rusty, bent, or missing pieces ~ and needing to be sanded, taped, glued, painted, reassembled, and nailed or screwed back together. ha ha
|
|
|
Re: Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition - New HOPA on Big Fish
[Re: Marian]
#1145089
03/17/18 11:54 AM
03/17/18 11:54 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
8dognight
Settled Boomer
|
Settled Boomer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
|
The closest I've come to what Reenie describes is using salt and a cloth to burnish my dragon lance. I'll take shining up a lance but I don't wanna stab a dragon.
The premise of "Return of the Salt Princess" reminds me of "Golden Compass" by Pullman, that remarkable novel of Jungian archetypes, animal soul mates, steam punk, and possibly either or both dark matter and dark energy.
Puzzles are replayable on the extras page.
Last edited by 8dognight; 03/17/18 12:29 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Collector's Edition - New HOPA on Big Fish
[Re: Marian]
#1145297
03/19/18 11:16 AM
03/19/18 11:16 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
8dognight
Settled Boomer
|
Settled Boomer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 906
deep south
|
I have finished the main game. The story is complex and poignant; actions and items needed at the finale dovetail with places visited early in the game. This last is a good thing because following the tale takes a bit of reading so don't miss the books and messages found in caches. Even so, I lost track of where I was and what was going on often. That doesn't bother me; as with reading a novel, keeping track of the action is my part of the compact with the writer, in this case developer. As I indicated earlier, better direction of voice actors would have turned a corner for this otherwise entertaining HOPA.
I read a year or so ago that Steven Zhao was making VR games, and I continue to suspect "Return of the Salt Princess" languished while his VR company was getting started. I'm grateful he once more turned his attention to Blue Tea and send him a wish periapt concealed in an elaborately enameled fang-ding that more Blue Tea games are in the pipeline.
Last edited by 8dognight; 03/19/18 11:20 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
acebook
witter
