I started Hope Lake this evening. I'm only about an hour into it but am quite impressed with it so far. We will see how it goes. I wasn't expecting all that much when I started it but thus far it's a very solid game. There are some HOP scenes but it feels more like an adventure game.

I'm glad you mentioned Hope Lake Marian. I was sure I had this game but it was not on my games list. When I saw the picture on BF I was even more sure I had it (although I have it from Steam). I wonder what other games I have that somehow missed being listed.

I finished Hidden Expedition: The Crown of Solomon. It was pretty good. I also finished Drawn 2 and am about half way through Drawn 3. I'm also playing Mystery PI: The Vegas Heist (straight HOG).

I have one or two of those Mystery PI games. I do find them enjoyable.

I haven't played Crown of Solomon. I also haven't played Drawn 3. Will have to rectify that this year.

Most of the free iPad games I play are plastered with adverts throughout and mainly, lately, they have been about Casual games - including several by Five BN.

So rather nice that good Casuals are getting some extra publicity

Well, I just finished Hope Lake. I thought this was a really good game and it is also a very long game, longer than many CEs I have played. If you are looking for a long and mostly adventure game, I would definitely recommend it.

I have so many games in my Purchase History that I have picked up over the years with free game codes that this one could easily have been overlooked. I am so glad it was not. It makes me wonder what other gems I have yet to discover.

Mad, nice to know that the casuals are getting more publicity and Five BN is an extremely good representative!

Thanks, Marian. I will check it out today.

I played the Demo and immediately bought Hope Lake. It was a bit confusing at first since it doesn't have the usual breakdown of Settings choices. (The music was annoying and repetitive, but by turning it down, I lost all conversation and much ambient sound.) Still, it was worth it, to play this game. I was so into playing it that I don't think I stopped for any lunch.

I agree that it is much more Adventure-like than most of today's HOAs. The gloomy story was matched perfectly with gloomy set design. There was none of that purple smoke and candy-colored paint palette that seem more applicable to a child's game but is ever-present in HOAs these days. The HO scenes weren't obtrusive, and had their own little twists. There were a few minis that were quite original, something I appreciate. A few were deliciously challenging. I did end up skipping one because I couldn't figure out WTH I was supposed to be doing.

There is a lot of running around in this game, so map-drawing skills are vital to your progress, as is note-taking. If a game has me drawing a map, taking notes and scratching my head from the very beginning, I consider it to be well on the way to a winner. It is a bit lonely, being all by yourself, but that's not a biggee. All in all, a terrific play and it lasted all day. I marked this one down as a definite replay. I just have to wait a while, so I can forget enough of it to make it fresh again. Thanks for pointing me toward to Hope Lake, as I don't usually go only for the extended play offered in CE versions of these games. It is a helluva game!

Finished Drawn 3 tonight. This series would have been quite enjoyable for me if only the games weren't so glitchy and sluggish. I am thankful though that I was able to get through to the end of each of them.

Glad to hear you made it through, oldbroad. It will be interesting to see how the games run on my computer. Not sure when I will try one as yet.

After finishing Hope Lake, I played The Saint: Abyss of Death (interesting because the setting was kind of unusual) and also Committed: Mystery at Shady Pines, which I also enjoyed.

I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed Hope Lake, Reenie! Thanks for letting us know.

I have never heard of either of those two games Marian! I'm off to investigate.

Even better!

I put them on my list. We'll see. The Saint: Abyss of Despair does look different.

I've been playing Avalon Legends Solitaire for the last day or two. I have played it before but never got to the end. The goals get quite challenging as you go along. It is a very pleasant and relaxing game to play while I am trying to decide what game is next.

I spent so much time on the Adventure "A Tale of Two Kingdoms" that I very much neglected "Tibetan Quest : Beyond World's End CE" so now I will properly get back to it

I started Legendary Tales: Stolen Life tonight and played for about 3 hours. Definitely a good game as others have stated.

Mad, I hope you are still enjoying Tibetan Quest. Oldbroad, you really can't go wrong with Five BN.

I started the CE of Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove yesterday. I had only played it once back in 2009 when it was first released. Six hours in (the game keeps track of how long you play) and not done yet. I am enjoying it very much.

Oh, and on the Big Fish Fans Facebook page, someone reported that a new HOPA beta has been released for surveys, and it's called Redrawn: The Painted Tower. Yes, a remastered version of the original Drawn: The Painted Tower. I never saw that coming. I had been thinking about replaying the original Drawn but will hold off on that now until the remastered version is released.

Of course Marian. I talked about the game and they were listening.

In a different thread you mentioned two remastered HOPAs. I'm assuming one was Living Legends but can't remember what the other might be?

The two remastered games were both Living Legends; one was Living Legends: Frozen Beauty and the other was Living Legends: Ice Rose.

And yes, oldbroad, they must have been reading your posts.

Thanks!

"Mad, I hope you are still enjoying Tibetan Quest. Oldbroad, you really can't go wrong with Five BN."

Thanks, Marian. However, I haven't got back to any games, yet, due to being unwell from the ridiculously hot weather

I'm sorry the weather is getting to you again Mad!

For me, it's been the hottest summer here I can ever remember. It is unrelenting and debilitating, so I more than understand, Mad!

Thanks, Marian and oldbroad

I am replaying House of 1000 Doors: The Palm of Zoroaster and loving it every bit as much as the first time, back in 2012. I gave three out of four games in this series my highest personal rating. Superb artwork and animation, unique puzzles and mini-games, excellent graphic compositions in each scene, long game play. There are four "worlds" to explore and I have only gotten through about half the first of the four. Wish there were ten games in this series, instead of only four. (I didn't enjoy the fourth one as much as the others (Evil Inside). It seemed their creativity was lost in the shuffle and it devolved into the tired trope of vampires. That was a shame.)

Evil Inside was made by a different developer from the other 1000 Doors games. Some people seemed to like it, others not so much. I have not played that one.

Glad you are enjoying your replay of Zoroaster, Reenie.

Ah, thanks for the background, Marian. It makes sense now why I didn't like the fourth game as much as the others.