Azada: Elementa Collector's Edition
3.2
5
98
98
Not an AZADA
Change the name of this game and give me back my AZADA's games. Please...
March 11, 2013
Azada Series
I beta tested this game and haven't played the Demo. So I don't know if any changes were made since I played. I liked this game a lot. My interest in adventure games is not what it used to be, but that's a personal preference. If you love adventure games, this is one to purchase. The story line is interesting and the game is challenging -but not overly so. I played it on the hardest mode and it wasn't easy. The Azada series is one of my favorite story lines. In fact, I may come out of 'adventure game retirement' to play the entire game and find out if that nasty uncle finally gets put in his place.
March 9, 2013
2 sides of a medal
For all those who judge my opinion based on the first few sentences - read till the end.
I have followed the Azada series from the very first game, for they charm, original aproach to puzzles and somehow enchanting storyline. It was something different, something... magical. The first two games I loved with my whole heart, the third one... not us much, but it was not bad and I still enjoyed playing it.
You can imagine how happy and excited I was, when I saw that the new Azada is comming out. My hopes were in even more excelent art and puzzled levels, and major gameplay imporvement, based on the mistakes pointed out from the third game.
And how wrong I was.
The magical Azada transformed into something new and unexplored, having only the name as a link to the previous games from this series.
But, as my title states, ever medal has two sides.
As a standard HOPA game, this one is briliant. It has beautifull artwork, and well done cutscenes (through character movement is very, very awkward and unsetteling), the hidden object scenes are good, through delirious from time to time and... well and here's where the dawnfall starts. Or maybe I should start with the worse side of it?
First of all, you will find nothing of the previous games in this one. Some of you might say, that after all we always crave the change, and moan when the games are exactly the same, but with this specyfic title, that has no other like it, fans would be rather keen, on keeping the things as they were. The start menu, and the extras are chaotic and hard to navigate, being there not only too many options, but also the way they are set on the page without any logical order.
The unskipable tutorial (or at least parts of it) and the misstranlated objects, make the playthrough fairly difficult from the very beggining.
And what is the point of the little magic bottle you get at the very start? I really don't see one, since you have to use it on literally every location. It would be more convinient for both the player and the developer to just remove the feature.
And let's not talk about the pet. The little rascal makes the most annoying sounds, while constantly reminding the player of its useless to the gameplay existence, through if not for it's constant popping up in fron of you, I would find t perhaps... amusing?
I liked the creature book... untill I started reading it. I loved the map... untill I had to clisk 'yes' for the 50th time. I loved the voice acting... from time to time, and I liked this game... till I really started playing it.
The game is chaos and lack of logic, wraped up in a stunning visual package.
If it was done under a different title. "The amazing adventures in the world of dreams", "Save the elements" or "Be carefull, pest around!", I would have given it... 4 stars. It's not a bad game itself afterall, and it has many good sides. However, it is under the title Azada... and it makes it so much worse. Because as a player, I was really expecting another Azada game, another adventure through the pages of the magical book and another set of challenging but fun puzzles.
If you are lookign for just another HOPA game, you will love this one. If you want more Azada, I'm afraid, you will have to simply play the previous games once again.
March 25, 2013
IT IS AZADA!
It is still the Azada that is interesting and challenging.
It is quite strange for me to judge a game by whether it's like or unlike the first one in the same serial.
To me, it's beautiful. The developer has made a lot effort to add a MAP( the map is not necessary to me).
March 13, 2013
An All New Azada
I was so excited for this game to come out, I had been anticipating its arrival for a few weeks, so it was a nice surprise to wake up and see this available. Azada is one of my favorite series and I was not disappointed with this installment!
I was a little apprehensive because some of the reviews I saw here were not exactly kind to this game. I kind of understand why--this game is not like the other Azadas. In fact, after playing this one, I went back and played the other three just to gain perspective on some of the reviews here. Previously, Azada has been puzzle centric--there are no hidden object scenes in either of the first three games. Azada Elementa is different--it is a hidden object adventure game. Part of me wonders if we didn't bring about this change ourselves...HOPAs are extremely popular. And in the HOPA category, this game is very, very good.
The story is awesome, the adventuring is intuitive--you use the object you find in a way that makes sense. The length of the game is excellent and I was engaged the entire way. Of particular note is the bonus content, while not necessary to wrap up the story, was particularly engaging. I was very happy with this game.
The puzzles in the game should be noted because I feel a little let down with some of them. However this is a common theme with Azada where a lot of puzzles you finish and think, "Wow that could have been a whole lot harder." And in most cases a little harder would have made it more fun. Not to say that it wasn't fun, because it was, just a little more casual than I would have liked.
My only complaint, and this has been touched upon in other reviews, was that the hidden objects scenes at times were a little unclear. I think there may be some mistranslation in some spots, and some items were difficult to see, but not so much that it was frustrating.
If you like HOPAs, try this game, because it is a lot of fun. If you liked Azada and realize that this game has evolved quite a bit from the original and are ok with that, then try this game. If you are a fan of Azada, but not HOPAs, then you'll probably be disappointed. I'd tell you to try it anyways, because it really is a well done game experience.
March 10, 2013
azada elementa great game really enjoyed
the bonus game was almost as good as main game, you wont be disappointed with this one! fun to play all the help you would need. my girls found this just right for them
March 10, 2013
A fun game
Because of all the irate comments above, I decided to give the previous Azada games a try. I have to say, I understand why the developers felt like they had to update the series. The first Azada was nothing but a series of puzzles with no adventure. In the second (excellent) game, some storyline was woven in, a development that is taken further in In Libro (very good). It's true that in Elementa, almost nothing is left of the original concept, but really, based on the direction taken In Libro, Azada fans could have seen this coming and at least not have downloaded without demoing first.
As it is, I found this game very fun, though a bit childish (because of the pet, maybe?) I wound up playing with my 12-yr-old. But I didn't mind. There weren't actually many HO scenes compared to a lot of other games. I liked the ambience, soft colors and graphics. I guess these are a matter of taste. However I strongly recommend a more experienced player choose the "Fearless hero" level of difficulty from the start, otherwise gameplay is really easy.
I especially liked the Russian themes throughout the game, same as In Libro. Keep it up!
March 30, 2013
Azada does it again
This is the fourth Azada game and I have bought them all. This latest one is a good, long game, and full of puzzles and HOS with clear pictures, so that while things may not be too easy to spot, they are possible.
There is an interactive map so that coming and going isn't a drag, and the hints are helpful. I loved dressing up my little companion to match the current weather and beating up the baddies.
I have to say, before I go , that I am deaf, so I cannot really grade the sound quality, but the visuals were absolutely crystal clear.
Great game for fantasy lovers.
March 12, 2013
Everything and the Kitchen Sink
Have a pet. Collect characters you meet in the game. Magic and creatures. At first I did not think I would like it. I really like the way the first game functions better. This game is great unto itself. It lacks for nothing. Must have list for sure. Beautiful graphics and good music. Nice interaction with characters.
March 7, 2013
Super!
There is really a large range of reactions to this game, but I personally love it! It is much in the manner of Azada-In Libro, and I really liked that one. I have made liberal use of the built-in SG. I don't as a rule buy a CE unless I really can benefit from the SG being easily accessible. (That means I need frequent help). That is more important to me than the extra length.
March 18, 2013