Aurora Hills: Chapter 1

I enjoyed the Meridian trilogy and so played through this one, even though it’s chapter 1 of an unfinished series. It is an above average point and click adventure, with several nitpicking elements that pull it down from five stars. 1. As other reviews have said, the puzzles make no sense. There’s no reason for the puzzles and locks to be there. And even less for your character to not already know all the combinations. 2. This company’s games lack the humor that excuses similar logic gaps in Glitch games, from whom they’ve obviously borrowed a lot of other mechanics. 3. Too many of the puzzles require wild leaps that no sane person in the situation would attempt. If the game was more self-aware, this wouldn’t be an issue. But in trying to provide lots of puzzles while also trying to create any feeling of reality, they step on their own feet. Are we supposed to be concerned about being late to work or are we supposed to search what is allegedly our own home for our clothes? 4. This dichotomy of realism vs puzzle building also makes it very frustrating when a useful tool disappears after its intended use. 5. One final little style thing that bugged me - most of the game approaches photorealistic, except for your own hands or photos of your ranger partner. It’s slightly jarring to be walking down a beautifully rendered wooded path and suddenly your plastic looking gumby hand rises into frame holding a very realistic looking compass.

The last game by this developer was great. Puzzles made sense within the world and the ramp up worked. However in this game puzzles make almost no sense and are needlessly hard. The first puzzle when the lights go out has you decipher a lock in a very illogical way. This theme flows through the entire game. At the end the developer will even have the character lie to the player. The character makes a statement and then a puzzle later its proved that the character lied to them and you have to return. The location makes no sense also. There is supposed to be about missing people. Like 12 or something. But there are no police or anyone. All areas are trashed and the park is not one I would ever visit, its disgusting. The story is super predictable also. I was hoping through the entire game I would be proved wrong, that there would be something to change my mind. But no. Its a complete disappointment, just like this entire game. If I was told this was made before meridian I would understand. But since they have 3 games under there belt, the type of game I played is NOT acceptable. These developers need to hold themselves to a higher standard and not put out random trash like this. It feels like a cash grab, if that. Dissapointing.

I was so pleased with the Meridian 157 series, I was disappointed when I finished the game. Then I stumbled upon this lovely new series I actually made a verbal “yes” out load. My GF looked at me like I was crazy. I really enjoy the puzzles, the story, the simple point and click aspect. For a phone game, I think it’s just perfect. On a side note, I just finished Myst mobile. Yes, it took me a few days to complete as I had never played it before. But once completed, I went back to do a speed run, and was done in like 20 minutes. I don’t have that feeling to keep playing it like I do with the games this company makes. Every few months, I’ll go back and play the Meridian 157 series and it almost feels brand new each time.