Tag: dragon

Blue Rose (The-white-cat.com)

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After a fierce battle with a dragon, Lena, a templar of the blue rose, finds herself in a peaceful village with no clue what happened to her comrades.  Not only that but the village is under attack and it’s up to her to save it.  Can Lena protect the village and find love?

Templars of the Blue Rose in this universe are special knights that draw on the power of the blue rose to help them fight.  Therefore, it’s like being a Jedi Knight only instead of relying on energy you rely on an incredibly rare flower.  Lena is one of them and that’s the character you play.  Usually when playing otome games, the maker assumes that every woman’s fantasy is be a helpless damsel in distress that relies on a big strong man for everything.  This is one of the few games that understands that some women fantasize about being strong and self-reliant.  Lena can pursue a relationship with four guys and a girl.  Tobias is the arrogant yet caring village leader.  Simon is your loyal comrade.  Gavin is the playful outsider.  Erin is the caring innkeeper.  Last but not least, Aran is the mysterious outsider.  Other than those simple facts, nothing about these characters really stands out.  You can unlock extra details about them but their side-stories only take up space.

The game play is that of your typical visual novel.  You read the story and choose the appropriate dialogue.  During most of the game, you can pick different locations to visit on a map.  You can also collect pictures for your gallery and each time you get a character’s good ending, you unlock an extra story.

This game is intriguing but doesn’t really stand out.  I give it 6 out of 10; more of a casual play than something to really get lost in.

Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir (Bigfishgames.com)

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The evil witch has turned Princess Isabella to stone.  Fortunately, her daughter, Bella, was spared due to a fairy and a dragon.  Now Bella must confront the evil witch and save her family from the curse once and for all.

Don’t worry, this is nothing like Twilight.  The only thing the two main characters have in common is that they have the same name.  The plot itself is quite simple.  You have a princess going after the evil witch to save her mother. 

The evil eye of Sauron, I mean the witch, watches over the castle to keep Bella from entering.  In one scene, where Bella’s about to enter the castle, instead of shooting Bella, the eye shoots the path in front of her so Bella can’t get past the fire.  Did I mention she easily puts it out with magic?  Therefore, our plot relies on the witch being cursed with Bond Villain Stupidity in order to make the game work.  The extra game footage found on the Collector’s Edition let’s you go from room to room destroying each curse in the castle and it would be great if the series ended there.  Unfortunately, there’s a hint that the series will continue and I don’t see what more it has to offer.  Everything’s been done and if the series continues, you’ll be trying to resurrect something that died.  The Jurassic Park movies are a great example of what happens when you try to continue something that’s already over.

The game play is simple but fun.  You travel from location to location solving puzzles and collecting items. 

Use the fairy if you’re stuck and use the dragon if you need an item destroyed.  Some items can be used to help you advance throughout the game.  Oh, and did I mention Bella could also learn spells during her quest?

This game is simplistic yet addictive.  I give it 5 out of 10; not the best, not the worst.

Awakening: The Skyward Castle (Bigfishgames.com)

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After awakening from a long sleep, traveling through Moonfell Well, and seeking the Goblins’ aid, Princess Sophia finally discovers her home.  For some reason, the people have been turned to stone and a man named Dreadmyre threatens the safety of it.

Like the last games, Sophia has no powers and is reliant on her own skills and her magic companions.  In this one, it works to her advantage because Dreadmyre can’t harm her.  She also meets the many servants of the castle and discovers why her parents did what they did.

The game play is reliant on logic.  You have to find objects throughout the game and figure out which object would be put to better use in which scene.

If you’re stuck, you can use a hint.  You also have two companions in the form of a pocket dragon and a wise owl.

After this, you can play the epilogue to discover that the series isn’t over yet.  If you feel like shelling out extra money, you can get some bonus content.

This game is beautiful and fun.  I give it 8 out of 10, great artwork and a great game.