Drawn?: Trail of Shadows Collector's Edition
4.1
5
74
74
short and sweet
Wow what a disappointment !! The Drawn series was my number one pick for my favourite games. So I bought the CE in a flash and settled into my lazyboy prepared for another epic adventure. Except it wasn't. It was a short child's bedtime story with lots of coloring..(a painting, a flower bed, some puppets) and a search for piggies in a pop up book. There wasn't even an extra chapter to extend the length. The game was beautifully drawn and animated with some interesting puzzles and some good special effects. It could have been really amazing. Perhaps my expectations were too high but I just can't get past how short it was with no real extras. So as games go this one was visually stunnng, a bit on the kiddie side, had a few good puzzles and special effects but was very short without a lot of worthwhile extras. I was disappointed with it and will hold out hope that the next installment will be more comperable to the first two. This was just an okay game for me hence the 3 stars out of 5.
November 14, 2011
Disappointing
The art work is excellent. Franklin's voice is just as I remember from the previous games, very good. The puzzles range from easy to tedious, with a few unique ones that I enjoyed. There was not much to the story, just the basic good against evil. It is a good quality game but very short to be sold as a Collector?s Edition. I completed the bonus chapter in only 30 minutes.
I occasionally used a hint, I did not skip any puzzles, I listened to and read all dialogue and I completed the game in 4 hours. The major negative factor is that there is not enough game content to justify the $13.99 price. Collector?s Edition games should last more than 4 hours in my opinion. I am sad there was not more content and I feel that I did not get my money?s worth. The first game in the series, Drawn: The Painted Tower, remains my favorite and it is half the price.
November 12, 2011
on a budget? skip the CE and get the SE version
Overall I loved this game, really enjoyable lovely break from normal HOPAs. But I can't recommend the CE to others. I have never played as short a bonus extra gameplay as this. So I would recommend getting the SE version. An A game but let down in easier gameplay, shocking short bonus gameplay, no integrated SG which makes it an overall B game.
comparing between the original-
Original drawn was darker, and much longer and had amazing interactive paintings of different styles. This is more joyous, fun but WAY shorter and doesn't have any hanging paintings interactions. The 1st had the pop up interactive puzzles this had them all in a book - I loved the book and the finding items but missed the photos interactive and missed the hardness of the first.
With the feel and fairytale graphics this is trying to reinvent itself as it is a bit different to the previous 2 games. But is MUCH easier, making this ideal for gamers that haven't played the 1st drawn yet, and as this is a prequel makes sense doing this.
things I love
- pop up book interactions and the hidden objects
- achievements - they are fun and can replay them easily in sections
- hidden inventory bar - so was immersed in game (can lock it)
- amazing graphics (but lack of color at beginning)
- some harder puzzles
- fun lighter gameplay
things not so good
- Bonus play was so short (I did like the drawings in the bonus though)
- Overall game was way shorter than original drawn
- Way easier than original
- No SG, the hints worked well most of the time but gave me spoilers - would have prefered 'phantom of opera' progressive hints - choose what hint you want or even a "nothing to do in this scene, come back later" or circle to what to do.
- one puzzle (first bonus one) was dreadful in telling the objective and hints
bonus gameplay the shortest ever in a game - (after replaying as I had a glitch at beginning) was about 20 mins, the shortest chapter in the game.
overall gameplay time was about 4hrs including bonus (I did spend another 10 mins going back to get the last 3 hidden items) While this may sound fine, I am not a quick player the original took me over 7hrs. I play on hardest and for achievements.
November 19, 2011
Drawn:Trail of Shadows CE
This game holds a special place in my heart.Love the graphics,sounds,the challenges.This game is so colorful and so waterpaint it's fantastic.The sounds are in tune with the game and the voice overs are very well acted.The challenges are excellent.Storyline is intended for younger audiences but it can be enjoyed by adults as well.This a very beautiful game all around.Can't wait for another Drawn game.
February 29, 2012
Beautiful Addition to the Series
Drawn: Trail of Shadows Collector's Edition is as beautiful, lush and as brilliant as its predecessors. The magic overtook me the minute I started the game and heard the first musical notes.
The story begins with Franklin and a very young Iris, sitting in front of a fire. Franklin is telling Iris the story of a boy who lived many years prior, who had "the gift" like Iris - the ability to draw pictures and have them come to life. This game is the story of that boy and his kidnapping by an evil wizard.
There is an option that allows the user to control screen movement (an important one for those who suffer vertigo or similar dizziness/nausea from screen panning).
The game played very well for me and has all the Drawn elements I've come to love - beautiful graphics, enchanting music, wonderful storytelling, charming and fantastic puzzles, pop-up books, and achievements. The use of cut scenes to tell the story and tie everything together was brilliant, voiced-over with the wonderful narrative by "Franklin".
Some of the puzzles/games are amazing. The croquet game - I can't imagine what it took to put that together. I also enjoyed the little "arcade" drawing game and, of course, the pop-up book pages were such a treat with all of the pull tabs and little hiding places.
All in all, a fantastic game and a must for everyone's collection
November 17, 2011
Game with great graphics!
The graphics in this game is just extraordinary. You're drawn into this beautiful world of wonderful colours.
The puzzles are original, some fairly simple though.
The game itself is rather on the short side, even for a CE. And the bonus-content is played while playing the main-story, which might be confusing for some.
I would recommend others to wait for the SE, because this really didn't feel like a CE to me, length-wise.
All in all: 4/5 stars.
November 13, 2011
I wanted to love it but...
I think the standard was set too high by the previous two Drawn games. This one was much easier than normal and not quite as engaging. I almost felt like I was way too old to be playing this game.
November 14, 2011
Gorgeous- wish it went on longer
The Drawn folks have brought us another winner. It?s a prequel of sorts, about a young boy who can draw images that come to life.
Gameplay is intuitive, and once again the image quality is absolutely gorgeous. The music is also incredible, haunting and beautiful.
However , my absolute favorite thing about the game is the diary. Rather than just a scrapbook of images and tasks, it?s an interactive pop-up book. There are pull tabs, sliders, wheels, all things the player can interact with. It?s got the elegance of Masahiro Chatani and the whimsy and technical skill of Robert Sabuda. I actually caught myself gasping once or twice at a page. Felt like a kid again, but with an adult?s appreciation for the incredible amount of work required to create something on this level.
My only downside is that the game is too short! I found that playing it only took a few hours. As always, the Drawn folks leave us wanting more.
There?s lots of replayability?I?ve played it twice completely through since I bought it yesterday, and will continue to go back and play parts, if not all if it, again. (Love the Easter Egg design- really enjoyable).
I?d highly recommend this to anyone who likes a game that?s more than solving mysteries or killing zombies (though I like those, too!).
November 12, 2011
Another Work of Art
I'm a long standing fan of the Drawn series and so I didn't hesitate to spend a little extra on the collectors edition. I was not disappointed.
As always, the artwork and soundtrack are top quality and the puzzles are creative, though a little too easy.
I did feel that this one was too short. The first two took longer to play and some of the puzzles more challenging. I recommend the whole series.
November 12, 2011
Good by short
Not my favorite of the series, but still fun. Graphics were great, story was intriguing, but the puzzles were pretty easy and the challenge just wasn't there. I was really frustrated with one puzzle in particular, regarding an amulet, which has many different solutions but only one will work. Still, I enjoy the environments of the Drawn series and it's all the reason to get this game. I loved solving the puzzles in the pages of the book - I wish there had been more.
My suggestion though, don't get the collector's edition. The bonus isn't really a bonus.
November 30, 2011