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Nightmare Adventures: The Turning Thorn 
ExclusiveTwo weeks after the events of Nightmare Adventures: The Witch's Prison, Kiera Vale finds herself drawn back into a web of occult sciences, mysterious dark entities, and government secrets -- woven by the agency known as A.R.C.A.N.E.. Kiera is happy to receive the call, but soon after her arrival finds that things are not at all how she remembers them to be. What are these agents hiding, and why didn't they tell her the whole story? What is the true nature of the Blackwater "Witch"? Why is Dr. Thorn's young daughter locked up in a containment cell? From the top secret labs in the depths of A.R.C.A.N.E.'s headquarters to the distant spires of alien worlds, Ms. Vale will seek answers, solve cryptic puzzles, banish evil otherdimensional creatures, and perhaps even make a new friend over a game of Piggy Princess along the way, in Nightmare Adventures: The Turning Thorn.
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Game System Requirements:
- OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8
- CPU: 2.0 GHz
- RAM: 1024 MB
- DirectX: 9.0
- Hard Drive: 392 MB
Game Manager System Requirements:
- Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later
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Reviews at a Glance
Nightmare Adventures: The Turning Thorn
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Customer Reviews
Nightmare Adventures: The Turning Thorn
74
74
Very good adventure game.
Unlock the secrets of the mysterious organization ARCANE!
Will Dr Thorn be able to find a cure for his daughter Abigail?
- Nice graphics, crisp and colorful.
- Many many "strange" places to explore.
- Many useful objects to be collected and used.
- Has journal and map.
- During the game you will taking pictures, which help in mini games.
- New mini games, and with a good level of challenge.
- The only negative is that it has too much coming and going.
A game without HOS, just adventure and provides a lot of interest and entertainment.
January 26, 2013
True Adventure Game - Intense and Entertaining
Clever game! Captivating story! I was drawn in immediately and the demo hour was over before I knew it. Kira is asleep and thinks she's dreaming but is being psychically contacted for help. Don't want to say more than that. You will love the spooky atmosphere and the humorous comments.
There is a sense of urgency and the gameplay moves quickly. Inventory is used in the current location. Once a location is complete, you move to the next so no map is needed. Great graphics and lots of challenging puzzles. No HOS, a nice change. Camera takes pictures of clues, which are easily accessible when needed. Instructions are clear and hint reveals both items needed and where to go. Cutscenes and voice overs are well done and enhance the experience. There's a story button that provides helpful background info. I didn't even notice the music, so it must be good!
Here's an example of the collaborative gameplay - During exploration of the first location, you find Kira's phone. Soon after, you discover a TV running an ad promoting the purchase of a certain item. Having discovered that you need this item, you use Kira's phone to order it. Within seconds, it is delivered to her door. I found this kind of interactivity really enjoyable.
This is a great game. Totally engaging. Definitely a purchase for me. Don`t miss it!
January 26, 2013
Frightening Adventure!!!!
Really creepy creatures, wow, never felt this shiver down my spine during any other game... Excellent graphics come along with a very thrilling story. Just couldn't stop playing! Tried it first before I purchased it, barely couldn't wait till the download was complete...
It is a pure point and click adventure game. No HOS. Lots of new, mainly very challenging minigames and puzzles!! Some of the items found, have to be combined in the inventory. Hint is very useful. Together with the inventory, we have a camera, which takes pictures of useful clues. (As I didn't play the previous game of this series, I purchased it with the today's bundle-offer)
A really high recommendable game!
January 26, 2013
CHALLENGING LONG DARK ADVENTURE GAME (1 HOS)
REVIEW OF FINISHED GAME
I can?t remember much of the first game which I played and I recommend you play first but it?s not vital as there is a recap in a journal by the bed giving you a recap and there is a ?story? button; which was enough for me to vaguely remember the plot. I?m not going to give a comparison review as I don?t remember that much except that I really enjoyed it but I did think I preferred the adventure side better in the first game.
It leaves of from the first game and the ending in this game ensures there will be another game in this series. I actually don?t like that type of ending and I don?t like the dark witches or that side of the plot at all but I play this series as I love the puzzles and gameplay.
This is a very dark game, one of the darkest here at big fish, but thankfully the scenes with the witches etc aren?t in every scene or chapter. While I don?t like that side of the story, the overall story is very well done, with a lot of journal notes as well as cutscenes, so do read everything.
This overall is a very challenging game so if you usually play casual on a HOPA and like a bit easier games then I wouldn?t recommend this for you. There is no choice of modes to play but there is a skip and hint button and I thought both seem to charge quickly. There is a choice of a tutorial at the beginning. While the beginning of the game may even seem easy or straightforward, this game is hard for the average person.
There is no transporter map but as each chapter is quite contained you aren't hitting the back button for long periods of time but there are quite a few 4 or 5s in there. It would be nice to have one. The hint button is a "shows you if there is something you missed in a scene" type.
I?d class this as a 60/40 puzzle ratio to adventure game if you count the amount of time doing puzzles. Of course this ratio will change from person to person but I seem to have spent a huge amount of time doing puzzles. The ratio of hardness of a HOPA of puzzles is switched here as most puzzles were hard with only a few about medium and only a couple were easy and even then not that easy.
There were a couple of very hard puzzles in there but I think most would be able to work them out (as only those who like more of a challenge will buy this game.) But don?t despair if you don?t like that as I thought how they technically did the puzzles was brilliant as there was a multi-layer help system.
The hint button turned into a puzzle info button during puzzles giving you an over-view if you want it. On a lot of puzzles you either clicked on the photo or story button to give you a clue sometimes or the actual objective/what the puzzle should end up looking like or even the solution.
I loved this as you can get more of a challenge if needed but by using all of these ?hints? most of the puzzles although took me a while (most were 5 mins+) were comfortably solvable. Sometimes when I got round to hitting the hint button or the buttons on the left hand side, they were easier than I thought! And if you are really stumped there is a skip button or a walkthrough.
When you view each puzzle individually I don?t think many were real stompers but when put all of them together and some within a short period of time, that?s what made the game hard for me.
I don?t know if the gameplay itself from the middle to the end was actually hard, as I thought at the beginning it was very straightforward but because I played this game through in one sitting and must have expended my brain cells on the puzzles, the gameplay seemed to get harder!
The puzzles even ones that are well known are so different that it takes a while in a puzzle to realise the goal sometimes. Some are so well thought out and actually not hard at all once you realise the goal and that?s clever.
Even once it was making fun of hard puzzles - if anyone worked out the ?integrate with respect to g? puzzle well done as I find it hard to count 2 + 2, I didn?t do it, but for the average person they weren?t supposed to and you might appreciate the humour when you come to it.
I usually hit the windows key in games and go out to record all numbers for reviews but this game is very slow in returning in and would take me about 30 secs to get back in, so be aware of that if you look at walkthroughs.
So my numbers for puzzles (has a skip button) are so far out and I mean really roughly there were about 38 puzzles. Quite a few interactions didn?t have any skip buttons.
There is one list HOS (and I think it?s the same in the first game how it?s done but not sure) and for people who hate HOS, even you I think will appreciate the humour of how it?s done. I thought that whole bit was so funny as I have just recently finished a game like that. There is a lot of humour throughout this game, and as this game is aimed at those who like a challenge I thought some of the sarcastic comments if you were trying something wrong were really funny.
The not so good ?
Reviews aren?t for recording tech issues as the guidelines says but will mention the first chapter was a bit buggy and once when I entered the game again all the inventory went white. I played through it all which is why I am recommending it but try it first.
I will say that if ever a game was crying out for unlockable puzzles after the game, this one is. As there were puzzles I didn?t want to do at the time but knew if I didn?t do it, I couldn?t replay them later.
There are voiceovers sometimes in the game, the only exception is the small boxes cutscenes which I think is weird.
The graphics look really dated as if the game had been made years ago but were awaiting all the puzzles to slot into the game, as those puzzles most have taken ages to work out and do. I did not like the graphics but then again I thought it looked the same as in some recent games and some people were raving about the graphics, so it depends on your taste. I didn?t like them but the gameplay and difference of the game and the puzzles kept me engaged.
Time ?8-9hrs. It was over 8hr could have been over 9hrs, but it depends on how quick you are with puzzles. Some types I?m not that quick at. I?m just giving my time, some may finish in 5 others over 10hrs etc. I do think that even if you skip quite a few puzzles it is quite long.
If the graphics were better, and had unlockable puzzles I?d have no problem giving this 5 stars especially for a straight SE.
January 26, 2013
Possibly the best SE game for quite a while.
Based on the completed free trial (and rapidly completed purchase!) of this sequel to the Witch's Prison episode, I would class this as a very enjoyable adventure/puzzle game. There are apparently no HO scenes and the game play is definitely considerably more challenging than many recent games.
The story is built around similar paranormal phenomena investigations as in the first episode and again a lot of your tasks are sorting out the organisation's extremely dodgy maintenance issues.
Altogether a delight for the adventure fan and heartily recommended.
January 26, 2013
Adventure Game
This review is based on playing the demo.
First thing I liked is that in Options you can choose the brightness level of the game. Thank you Developers for listening.
The game gets off to a slow start. Reading everything helps understand the previous chapters of Ms. Vail's interaction with ARCANE, but I don't believe you NEED it to play the game itself. Just gives you background from the earlier game.
The story proceeds slowly in the demo, building up info to use as you move forward without giving away the farm...works to draw you in. I like that...keeps me guessing and wanting to play more of the game.
So far this is mostly a figure out what you do next game with puzzles thrown in to get you from one level of play to the next. As an Old School game player (think Sierra and Lucas games) I don't mind that you have to look around to figure out what happens next. There's a bit of back and forth, but again as an old school adventure gamer I'm used to that and it's not bothersome to me.
The puzzles are not too hard/not too easy. I couldn't always make it do what I knew it should, but that's my bane and in the demo I don't want to waste my play time trying to make it work. I save that for when I've purchased the game and play at my own speed. The hint/skip button comes in very handy if you just can't figure it out. It recharges quickly to boot.
Usually play with the sound off, but decided to turn it on for this game. Background effects seemed appropriate for the mood being set. The music in the demo was appropriate, sparse and unobtrusive to me...I like that. The voice acting was OK, but based on the demo I'm not sure the actors were sure of the tone they should set. I did like that the character's mouths did NOT move. Short of using live actors it's a waste of animation in my book.
I liked the graphics...smooth and moody to the game. But, I'm an easy player...even cartoony games don't bother me if the gameplay is good. At any rate they seem standard for games these days and I have no complaints about any uneven switches between styles.
What I did find interesting is the subtle humor interspersed if you click several times in the same area. Gave it more of that old time adventure game feel (think Space Quest and the "Two Guys from Andromeda" design team.)
The hour went buy quickly and I like this game well enough to purchase it to see where the story goes. It's a bonus buy weekend so why not.
All games are subject to the mood of the player. I liked this game and think you should at least give it a demo and make up your own mind.
January 26, 2013
Creepy, Smart, & a Long Time Coming... Excellent Adventure!
i've waited so long for this game... Just brilliant, & a long time coming from a very small group, Ghost Ship games, with the talent of many. I do recommend playing the first Nightmare Adventures first even tho' this one gives a good recap via our heroine's diary before the adventure gets into full swing. The 1st Nightmare Adventures is a D&E lover's delight #i've played it 4 times! If you like this genre & haven't already, i'd say go for it - Sale weekend, right #, & tho' i haven't finished this one yet, i had to stop to give this a huge thumb's up & say it's just as good as the original, with a bit more of an updated look & nuances that weren't in the 1st one. This takes place mere weeks after the last game ends, after you've become unwittingly involved with a group called A.R.C.A.N.E. #you'll figure it out#, who've been involved long term in investigation & interaction with paranormal events & beings... which is way over-simplifying the concept, but I won't give more away, sorry. I am absolutely loving this adventure, & having smooth, glitch-free gaming. It's HO-free , with good puzzles; very nice, often crystal clear graphics with very occasional use of black & white art that lends a different visual interest momentarily; & great atmosphere-enhancing sound fx & music for this spooky game. Imo, the voiceovers & animations are really quite good. Like the 1st MA game, the storyline is interesting & imaginative with loads of Creep Factor, & gameplay & storyline are well integrated. There's a helpful hint button, a camera that takes occasional pics for visuals that you'll be using in puzzles,etc, & a diary on a PDA. Once again this dev shows they are amazingly adept at interjecting humor into a pretty darn creepy game, an aspect that i really like - it gives my goosebumps a reprieve during the course of the game:# This is adventure lite, so it's gonna play a bit differently than HOgames if that's what you're used to. It may feel like slower play to some who don't play adventure much, maybe 'cause you're more engaged in trying to figure out what to do & where to go with little or no give-aways. Here you'll be on the move a lot, searching, acquiring items, figuring out things with imagination & little gray cells fully engaged. Click on everything, more than once #no penalties# -you'll often be getting more than one piece of info, so stay alert to that. This is released as a SE, so no bonus stuff, except that, imho, a game like this is bonus enough. It's smart, engaging, well thought out & skillfully done entertainment, & definitely worth giving it a try. I highly recommend both Nightmare Adventures especially for D&E lovers. Just a sidebar, but I'd love to see this dev get a lot of support, 'cause they certainly have a lot to offer casual gaming. Mega kudos to the dev, & thanks to BFG for this excellent piece of work. Enjoy your gaming, folks!
January 26, 2013
WOW!
I played the first game in this series on my android phone and loved it. It was one of the first adventure games I had played since Myst, but it still holds my interest today. This new one however is SPECTACULAR! I love the atmosphere. Very creepy. The atmosphere alone sold me on this game in the first 2 mins, but then it just kept getting better. Just the right level of difficulty and just the right amount of assistance when needed. I can't wait to play the whole game through and finish the story. Starting the game off in a dream, brilliant. And what I had to use the phone for just cracked me up! You'll see what I mean. I hope a lot of people buy this game and give good reviews because this company has shown itself to have great minds making their games. I am SO sick of HOGs. I don't understand those who want to just pick stuff out of a junk pile all day. I can do that in real life in the dumpster down the street, or in my closet. ;) It isn't fair to judge this game based on whether or not it has HO scenes, its not a HOG. Its straight adventure, and when you rate this game based on that, it is one of the best I'v ever played, if not THE best, we'll see. I wish I could give this game 10 stars.
January 26, 2013
Ghost Ship Studios Sails Another Winner! Kiera Vale is back! Woohoo BFG!
Thanks to Tim Scheiman and Ghost Ship Studios, Inc. who promised that Kiera Vale was coming back and y'all came through brilliantly!
Pure genius to the Sequel "Nightmare Adventures:The Witch's Prison" which HOG lovers can also enjoy playing both of these not-so-complicated, fun, exciting and mysterious Adventure style games.
New developments have surfaced regarding the "secretive" government agency, A.R.C.A.N.E. and Kiera Vale is involved. A well thought-out and focused adventure, so, enjoy clicking to catch little gems of Developer Tim Scheiman's subtle humor written into the story--as well as to progress.
What's REALLY GREAT is, Ghost Ship Studios present their own style and genius--a simplified, do-able adventure--downright fun and creative.
Also, you can play this 2nd sequel first "The Turning Thorn"and then go back and play the 1st--"The Witch's Prison" as both story lines dovetail beautifully.
Enjoy! -Mama Mia-
January 27, 2013
The Witch Is Back!
Our story continues from where we left off and Kiera must once again battle wits with A.R.C.A.N.E and uncover the secrets within the agency's old base. The really creepy looking Witch with the rather large teeth is back and I do look forward to settling the score with her.
I bought the first of the series when it came out in 2010 and after having played the demo, I found it not unlike the first game: same style of graphics, same game features and same game mechanics. What you have here is adventure light with lots of puzzles and mini-games. For those who are new to the genre, the game is not as complex as the large files adventure games but mostly point and click gameplay with many different mini-games to solve. I would recommend that you do take advantage of the sale today and buy the first installment so as to get the background story on Kiera Vale.
The storyline is spooky and interesting, the graphics are dark but sharp, the voice-overs are passable and game play at times can be frustrating due to all the pointing and clicking. There is no map but and inventory bar, a journal that will also give you a synopsis of the first story and a catalogue of photos that will hold your clues. The hint system does tell you where to go but basically you are on your own. There are no levels of difficulties to choose from and no handholding. If, like me, you enjoy these types of adventures and also take guilty pleasure from dark and spooky stories, then this would be a definite treat to be played at night with all the lights turned off. A fun and challenging game that personally, I thought could have been done a lot better. After all, it has been three years since the first game and alot of changes have taken place with game techniques. However, I really enjoyed the demo and absolutely love mini-games, so I guess I have a date with the nasty Witch later on tonight.
January 26, 2013
