Surface: The Soaring City Collector's Edition
4.7
5
123
123
my favorite series!
what can i say that hasn't already been said???? this series is the best! voice overs weren't synced but i forgive that. the mechanics were great.
i've read many people are having trouble playing for various reasons (i hope they get the help) but the game ran smoothly for me.
there is a problem with the achievements not showing up. i am missing a few. i hope a patch is in the works.
this game was middle of the road in easy/hard. HOS and mini-games were easy. i actually had a harder time figuring out what to use where! that's what i like in an adventure game!
i'm really glad these devs know what kind of game we want and are creating them for us! give yourselves a pat on the back for this game!
January 26, 2013
My expectations were not met...
I've played the other "Surface" games and I really liked them. I expected this to be as good as the others, but unfortunately it wasn't. The storyline was ok, the acting was awful. It was really easy even when playing inte the hardest mode. They've spent a lot of effort on special effects but they could've spent that time making an interesting game instead.
Sorry to say, but I can't recommend this game.
February 5, 2013
Lovely game, but not quite as good as the others
As with the previous Surface games, and as is usual from Elephant, this one has stunning graphics. Everything is bright and clear, and even the detailing around the screen is beautiful, like an antique brooch. You still have the basic journal with the option to replay cinematic journal entries, and the jump map. The game is broken up into three smaller areas, so you don't get lost, or have to make notes. The flowers you collect are used as currency to repair the various areas, and there are achievements. The latter were fairly basic though, mainly handed out for things you have to do anyway, and extras for not using hints/ships and 'philanthropy', ie restoring the ares.
This is still a lovely game to play, but I did feel there wasn't quite as much challenge as the previous two games. The puzzles and mini games are fun, and all a bit different to the norm, but all pretty easy. Working out what needed doing and where was all very straightforward too, not much thinking required. I think the main was only around 3 1/2 hours game play, maybe 4, so not the longest game out there but still a fairly decent length.
I also found the story a bit far fetched, yes I know it's fantasy, and I'm a big fantasy fan, but some things were still a bit of a stretch or made little sense. I was left with a few unanswered questions, but I shan't put them here so I'll put them on the forum where I can white them out, so people can look if they want to. I guess it's just my bug bare, but I didn't feel the story flowed quite as well as the first two games.
The bonus chapter was a good hour long for me, and is a proper bonus with extra story content. I think the quality was just the same as the main game, not stuck on as an afterthought to qualify it as a CE.
So all in all, still a lovely game, but just not quite as challenging as the others. I hope Elephant is going to start to sacrifice quality for quantity, as they seem to have released quite a few of late. Please devs, take note!
February 1, 2013
REVIEW OF COMPLETED GAME
I did not particularly care for the 1st of this series. The 2nd was much better. This one I found far too taxing. There are simply way too many machines and devices, which I do not recognize, and all are broken and you must find the parts and repair them. There are too many puzzles, one after the other, all requiring a level of ability I do not have, obviously, since I could not work them out. The backtracking is enormous. Even though there is a jump map, it became too much when I had to use it every few minutes. Same with the SG - had to use it all the time because the game is too convoluted and there is way too much to do in every location, and it is not fun stuff. I am not an Engineer or a Mechanic nor anything else in those fields and this was just plain boring. For 7 hrs I have been doing this and I am worn out and got no satisfaction and little fun. The story to my mind, is inane. Winged humans in a floating city. Your brother is an inventor and he found this city by chance and invented the wings ahd bestowed them on the citizens. Really? No, man, come on now. Then he messes with the leader's girl and they fall out and it's war. You have to rescue said brother. I have the ability to suspend belief, but this is just dumb.
The graphics are not much worth commenting on. Wide screen. Very ordinary. There are collectibles and achievements. The iHOS are ok, but you cannot complete them in one go because you have to find things in other areas for the interactive objects. There are too many notes all over the place, one after the other. You have to read them, or at least open them because they contain collectibles. They did not add to the story, or tell you anything you do not already know. The cut scenes are slow and jerky and would not close after completion so I had to hit skip all the time. The lip syncing is way off. The live actors are annoying.
There is something called Philanthropy, when you can go when you have enough collectibles and use them there to do various things. Rather lame. Music? I cannot even remember hearing it.
The hint button takes 60 secs to charge. Why? Why do we have to wait? To make the game longer? Believe me, this game is way too long for what it consists of, as it is. The guys will probably love it, and I wish them well of it. I will never play it again. The main game, 5.5 hrs. The BC 1.5 hrs and just as tedious as the main game, doing exactly the same stuff in different locations.
Sorry, Elephant. I am still a fan, but this was just too much for me. I am tired and I have a headache. I could have stopped playing but the thought of coming back to it tomorrow just was not bearable. I wanted it over.
January 24, 2013
Good game, not great--why the misleading rave CE reviews?
A colorful, beautifully drawn 3rd Surface game. All the bells and whistles are included--interactive map, strategy guide, colorful, well-drawn art, bonus items, achievements--that come with a Collector's Edition--however, not worth CE price. I purchase a CE when gameplay and plot are interesting and I want to know and see everything and miss nothing--artwork, music, bonus content.
A really good game, not great! What is it with the Developers' cheap costumes, though? Goggles and a couple sheets sewn together atop Converse sneakers! I love Converse but not paired up with advanced technology. It is comical and takes away any believability, boom, right from the beginning--but maybe the numbers are more important. I don't get it.
Everything else is done well and I love the vibrant colors!
Will purchase in the future.
Enjoy! -Mama Mia-
January 24, 2013
great game
I love this series but there were a few too many cut scenes. I love the achievements and I know some ppl did not like how to you had to find enough of the flowers to do the good deeds but they are pretty easy to find so its not too hard.
January 28, 2013
Another excellent Surface game!
This game is fun,very well done, loved the history and the graphics, could be a 5 star game if the mini games were more chanllenging, some of them were a easy level.
Although, it is a garantee of fun! I would buy it again!
January 28, 2013
dont waste ur money
it might b worth 6.99 not 20, the plot is awful, the gameplay is mediocre
February 11, 2013
ANNOYING AFTER A WHILE
When I started this game, I was pretty satisfied with the way it was going, but over time, I simply became annoyed with it. Although I played in Advanced Mode, I did not need any hints, which is good. The graphics are fine although the actors' mouths are clearly not speaking English... a small point. The story was fantasy and entertaining for a while. So what annoyed me? The length of time between when you find something for which you need a tool and when you are actually allowed to find it. It kept me running back and forth, which I detest in a game. By the time I released Jeremy (with what I thought was a totally implausible method) I was forcing myself to finish the game. I get so bored when the story bogs down in back and forthing, that I can't enjoy it. It becomes a chore to complete. I'm going to recommend this game because it's obviously a good game, just not for me.
June 10, 2013
it was the first game that i could progress well
i was glad that it game helped me .and the story attract me to continue it
June 9, 2013