Gardenscapes [Game Download] Review
I rarely buy games at full price but after trying the demo I quickly realized this one is worth it. What sets Gardenscapes apart from other hidden object games is the unique way of leveling-up as you progress through the game. You start out with a dilapidated garden which needs restoration. To raise the money, you sell off items in your house to customers. The quicker you find items your customers need, the more money you make to use to buy better items for your garden. So not only are you racing against time to find all the items your customers need but you are racing to find items as quickly as possible in order to maximize your reward.
The garden environments you are able to create are quite varied with detailed high-resolution graphics. Your dog wanders through the garden making use of the various upgrades (strangely, a cat was frequently heard but never seen) while the butler maintains things as needed. Individual levels contain many items which shift slightly as you move your cursor past and special quests add variety by asking you to find twenty of a certain item such as trophies, golf balls or newspaper clippings. If you get stuck trying to find a particular item, you can request a hint which will show you the general area an item is hidden. You can also hunt for cameras and thermometers in each level to use as additional hints. The camera will flash the screen a bright white with only the items you need showing up ever so briefly. The thermometer allows you to pinpoint the items location by revealing your proximity by temperature. Finding hidden "question marks" replenishes any hints you may have used and gold pieces are sprinkled throughout each level which add to your total reward. Finally, one of the subtle things I like most about this game is it seemed the objects we are searching for are logically placed with very few tucked away in unreasonable locations. No more scissors hidden in trees, in other words.
Taken together, all of the individual flourishes make for a compelling and addicting adventure. It's a great game to play when guests are around as they can help you find things. The game also comes with a built-in screen saver so you can see your garden even when you're not playing. I estimate it took 20-25 hours to collect all of the items I needed to fully restore the garden and end the game. This brings me to my only gripes. First, you'll find yourself returning to the same 15 levels many times before you can finish the game. I wish a few were more included as it started to get repetitive toward the end. Secondly, while the ending was about what I expected, I would have loved to have been surprised with something unique and rewarding following completion. These are minor gripes, though. For the low casual-game price, this is a high quality title and it's highly recommended.
Gardenscapes [Game Download] Feature
- Over 1000 Cool Items To Find.
- Compete In The Best Garden Contest.
- Become An Outdoor Decor Pro.
- Bonus Garden Screensaver.
Gardenscapes [Game Download] Overview
Create the perfect garden! Comb the rooms of a gorgeous mansion for hidden items and restore a once stunning garden to its former glory. Choose from tons of garden accessories to customize the garden to your taste. Become part of the city's community and compete in the "Best Garden" contest as your amusing and witty butler, Austin, is there to assist. Become an outdoor decor pro in this cutting hedge game!
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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 23, 2010 15:30:19
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