A Gnome's Home: The Great Crystal Crusade
3.8
5
103
103
Deserves a better rating!
Well I've never reviewed a game before - but after playing through some of the levels, I had to put in my 2p about this one. This game deserves so much better than 2 stars IMO.
Positives:
This "road" type strategy/time management game is really cute in story line and graphics.
Game play is similar to the "Roads of Rome" and "My Kingdom" games in that you have workers that clear roads, pick berries and chop down trees which is (I think) just intrinsically fun.
Mouse over to collect resources is nice (much better than a click fest).
Resources don't disappear quickly or inconspicuously. There is plenty of flashing to alert you beforehand.
Maybe good, maybe bad:
Previous reviewers note about the time limit is accurate.
The challenge level is very high if you are trying to get gold as the time seems to run out very quickly. I have already had to repeat levels (in the tutorial!) for the gold star. Personally, so far, I love it! I enjoy having to strategize, rethink and really efficiently use resources in order to get expert. However. at level 30 or so, I might change my mind!
Negatives:
One timing negative is that while there seems to be plenty of time to get the bronze star, if the time runs out, you do have to restart the level.
Nothing truly unique yet - very similar to a lot of the other "road" games.
No queuing of workers' tasks. I hate when developers make the workers act like just another resource.
In a nutshell, if you are looking for very relaxed play, you may want to pick a different game. If you are like me and have played the others and are ready for a challenge, you may find this game as awesome I as I did!
July 10, 2012
Strategy and Time Management
Every time a new game comes out someone down-rates it immediately to the point where I don't even look at the first review any more. And that's a good thing because this is a great strategy game. And the opening movie was really fun to watch - good graphics and great music without any annoying voiceovers.
The gameplay is your standard "collect resources to repair or build" in order to complete a level. But there is strategy involved in that your resources are not unlimited. There's the challenge. It's quite good and I'll be buying it.
July 10, 2012
STRATEGY IS THE KEY!
I love these timed Strategy games. I own lots of them. This one is very challenging as you have to time everything perfectly otherwise no gold star. Can be frustrating for those who don't want to be timed. This would not be the game for you. This game definitely takes planning. You have just enough resources to build what you need to create new resources to finish the level. And you have to plan it just right. In the demo I had to do some levels three times in order to do it just right. And time does go by very fast. So the key to this game is STRATEGY. Not sure if I want that much stress right now. Definitely not a relaxing game.
Liked it though. Will recommend it to those who really love this type of game.
July 10, 2012
A Gnome's Home: Totally Awesome Game!!!
Extremely unique game! Magical Storyline/Plot and very creative features! Requires considerable strategy to complete some levels. Had opportunity to Beta Test 'A Gnomes Home' and was completely absorbed in challenge of achieving game goals, which I perfectly enjoyed. The music is so delightful and reminded me of walking through Disneyland. Game performs quite well considering how much visual/graphic content there is. Saying anymore would spoil element of surprise. Best TM game since Royal Envoy! Thank you Big Fish!
July 10, 2012
Good fun but needs a relaxed mode!
What a treat to have a new building type game! They are so few and far between that pretty much any new ones will be appreciated; this one doesn't disappoint apart from not being able to continue after the timer runs out. A major flaw that will stop many from buying, the timer is very harsh and I found it a struggle to even scrape through with bronze on some levels!
However, the graphics are deliciously cute, the music relaxing, plenty of levels and different lands to visit and overall a buy for me. The challenge of getting gold is something I can't resist!
The mechanics of the game I found a touch clumsy; assigning workers to the jam factory or sawmill could have been made a bit smoother to achieve but the developer has done an excellent job of creating a new building game that will challenge even the quickest players!
July 10, 2012
Too Timed
This is the type of game (among others) that I would normally buy, but I'm old and the word "fast" has been replaced by "relaxed" in my vocabulary, and there is no
relaxing in this game. I was still in the tutorial and ran out
of time! I know I'm slow, but I didn't know I was that slow...
it's a no buy for me.
July 10, 2012
Challenging and fun
I love time management games and if they truly add in strategy than all the better and this one does both. The solutions for highest ranks have to be thought through making it a game to play levels more than once to get the right sequence. You truly have to think and plan to make this one give you top marks and that is fantastic. The characters are cute and the story line is well done as well. This is a sure fire purchase for me! :D
July 10, 2012
Charming Game
I love this game. It's not complicated, the graphics are great and the game play is challenging. You don't have to click your mouse to death to play this game, just run your mouse over the supplies and it will be picked up. And, as far as playing with a time limit, that's the whole purpose of playing a challenging game, it's not unattainable if you enjoy the challenge.
July 10, 2012
I usually love this kind of game...
But I do not like it when you have time limits! If you don't finish within a certain time, your kingdom will not be rebuilt. Also, as the previous reviewer stated, the supplies does not regrow, you only have a certain amount.
I did love the storyline, but the time limits ruined it for me...
July 10, 2012
A few negatives, that will turn many away, i still recommend tho
i love the game...and will muddle thru till a walkthru is out....the timer for gold is rather strict. and the fact that you cant continue after gold will turn many players away, (not me tho,,,i am desperate for a game) also, you cannot chain tasks...(both things mentioned should be standard in builders imo).
those aside...its very cute....and at 65 levels, quite long (as some devs seem to think 40 is the norm) There are achievments to get, the animations are cute....an instant buy for me.....
July 10, 2012