Fear for Sale: The House on Black River Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

274 of 308 found this review helpful

This House Has A Lot Of Fearful Baggage!

PostedMarch 17, 2016

pennmom36

fromGood thing Emma wasn't born a day earlier!

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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Phantasmat Collector's Edition

(100)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Emma Roberts is on assignment at The House on Black River, to investigate the disappearance of Jack Neilson a freelance journalist, whose last known whereabouts was at this house of horrors. This house has had it's fair share of drama, it's original owner Martin Spencer was thought to be a sorcerer responsible for several deaths that occurred, and a frightened mob burned down the house, killing ...Show more

Emma Roberts is on assignment at The House on Black River, to investigate the disappearance of Jack Neilson a freelance journalist, whose last known whereabouts was at this house of horrors. This house has had it's fair share of drama, it's original owner Martin Spencer was thought to be a sorcerer responsible for several deaths that occurred, and a frightened mob burned down the house, killing Martin and his entire family. One year ago, Alex Dean moved into the house, which would allow him the freedom to work on his paintings in seclusion, bad idea! He watched helplessly as a ghostly figure appeared through a doorway that wasn't there before, kidnap his daughter, and return through the door that vanished into thin air! His grief stricken wife, Sarah passed away shortly afterwards leaving Alex alone and desperate. The further Emma delves into the investigation, the more she fears that Alex may be planning some sort of ritual, a ritual that allows ghosts to possess the bodies of living souls who share something in common!

After a few shaky releases, it would appear that Fear For Sale has gotten back on track with excellent visual effects and an equally as impressive storyline. Just about everything in the game can be interacted with, animals react when clicked upon, candles lit, fireplaces ramped up, and paintings that transform into a paranormal freak show. There are complex inventory items to interact with, and several Achievements to earn throughout your investigation. There are 34 Beyond Objects and 5 different Collectibles for 5 different categories. As with all of the Fear For Sale games, finding these extras will earn you points and allow you to Rank up your Journalistic skills.

The Hidden Object Scenes are varied with Interactive List Finds that give you props to open up secret niches, leave behind fragments or puzzle pieces with puzzles to solve, Silhouetted Shapes and Multiple finds of a single object. There are several smaller HOP's that require you to find 5 items belonging to items such as a doll, newspaper or a phone, scattered about the room. There is an alternate Jigsaw Puzzle available if you're not into HOP's.

The Mini Games aren't bad, but tend to be on the easy side. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:

1) Join the halves of Dean's portraits by moving blocks out of the way.

2) Drag the three portraits to the house of matching color without letting their paths cross.

3) Assemble torn photo fragments.

4) Restore the painting of Dean's house by clicking on panels until the correct sections are displayed.

5) Rotate the tiles to form a continuous path leading from the mob at the bottom to the manor at the top using all tiles.

6) Restore the picture by locating all missing objects and placing them where they belong.

This Collector's Edition has 9 Wallpapers, 11 Concept Art pictures, 3 Screensavers, 3 Music Soundtracks, 25 Collectible items, 9 Achievements, 34 Beyond Objects, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy! Show less

I recommend this game!

+240points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

80 of 95 found this review helpful

A Spooky House, a Super Game!

PostedMarch 18, 2016

TeachumWell

fromSouth FL USA

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Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Marble Popper, Word, Mahjong, Card & Board

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Just when I thought I'd seen all possible variations on the "haunted house" theme, this game opens yet new twists and turns in the ghostly tales dept. The story is hauntingly sad, and the odd happenings at the old ranch house gave me the appropriate shivers and even a shock or two! The voices are well done, the HOGS are challenging, and the game's mechanics just right. So what's not to love? ...Show more

Just when I thought I'd seen all possible variations on the "haunted house" theme, this game opens yet new twists and turns in the ghostly tales dept. The story is hauntingly sad, and the odd happenings at the old ranch house gave me the appropriate shivers and even a shock or two! The voices are well done, the HOGS are challenging, and the game's mechanics just right. So what's not to love? Well...The purple/pink/blue color scheme while eerie, sometimes makes small objects hard to see, and could've inspired even more chills if colors had been more "normal" .After all, you might expect odd goings-on in a weird looking place, but would be even more distressed and downright horrified were the house quite ordinary in appearance. The HOGS are very ingenious but when frustration levels rise, it's nice to have the puzzle to fall back on. Altogether a great game and certainly worth a try. If you've never played this series before or are an "old hand", you'll find lots to enjoy in this "spirited" offering from a great developer. Enjoy! Show less

I recommend this game!

+65points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

84 of 109 found this review helpful

YES . . . LET THERE BE GHOSTS!

PostedMarch 17, 2016

biscuitsmama

fromLooking for my old friends the "Ghostbusters" to help out on this one!

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Emma Roberts is back and this time her boss has asked her to track down a co-worker who is missing. Not only is Jack a co-worker but Emma considers him a friend as well. When Emma arrives at the Black River Ranch it doesn’t take her long to figure out that things are terribly wrong. She cannot get a straight answer from the reclusive owner of the ranch and there is something very odd about the ...Show more

Emma Roberts is back and this time her boss has asked her to track down a co-worker who is missing. Not only is Jack a co-worker but Emma considers him a friend as well. When Emma arrives at the Black River Ranch it doesn’t take her long to figure out that things are terribly wrong. She cannot get a straight answer from the reclusive owner of the ranch and there is something very odd about the maid, Lisa. Sign on for another episode in the Fear for Sale franchise and discover what Emma will do to save the day in this latest game, The House on Black River.

Even though there is a custom mode, IMHO, it is rather useless. The hint and skip buttons are sliders with the right end of the slider turning off the hint and skip times. The graphics are very good but there is a bit too much orange/blue tone for my liking. The graphics are a bit foggy in the opening scenes but improve considerably once Emma arrives in Eastwood to start her investigation.

Your tools include an interactive map that you acquire early in the game. The thing I like about the maps in this devs games is that they show where we have found all of the collectibles or where some might be missing. The voiceovers are very good with the Emma/Carrie voice used by this developer being very familiar.

The game comes to us from one of my very favorite devs who has created another series that I really love. One of the things that I enjoy most about their games is that their HOP scenes are excellent and they were the first to offer “the uncover so many of a certain item to open the HOP scene” style that has since been emulated by other devs. Of course if you have played other games by this developer, then you probably enjoy their HOPS as much as I do with this game offering a few new twists to the scenes. The HOPS are not overly interactive but some items can be tricky to figure out. For the most part, the scenes are list type but there is certainly some variety as well. The puzzles are not difficult, but eing very familiar with this dev’s games, I do know that the puzzles vary in difficulty and some will quite be challenging. I don’t think it is necessary to share the details of most HOPS or the puzzles because, IMHO, discovery is half the fun in playing a game. If you want the details there is another reviewer who pretty much lets you in on all the secrets and I recommend her excellent reviews.

Extras in the CE version of the game include several sets of collectibles and morphing objects to find. Of course there are achievements to earn as well. The remaining extras are fairly standard and include the Strategy guide, Bonus Chapter or Game, Wallpapers, Concept Art, Screensavers, and Music, Movies, Games, Puzzles, Artwork. IMHO this is a great CE package and worth the extra cost.

I love the Fear for Sale series and most of the games have been extremely good, although I must admit that I didn’t particularly care for the last one and maybe one other. That being said, this game is intriguing and the storyline captured my interest early in the game. What could be better, an eerie house, a reclusive artist, and a very strange maid. All of these elements add up to one great game. Of course with the Fear for Sale games being from one of my favorite game developers, it is perfect for me. Please try the demo to see if The House on Black River is a game you will enjoy. Show less

I recommend this game!

+59points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

34 of 42 found this review helpful

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!

PostedMarch 18, 2016

mmdgaston

fromeast texas

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Arcade & Action, Word, Card & Board, Family

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

what a wonderful game.......best for this series in a long time.graphics are beautiful. a great story that stays for the whole game. you have several collectables,the puzzles are easy, but very cool. i never go into great detail of any game, i think it spoils it for the gamer, that said, this one is a keeper for sure...have fun.

I recommend this game!

+26points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

18 of 20 found this review helpful

FEAR FOR SALE MAGAZINE ISSUE 8 IS AN AWESOME EDITION!!!

PostedMarch 20, 2016

skullfun

fromTennessee

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure

Current Favorite:

Fear for Sale: Nightmare Cinema Collector's Edition

(107)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Okay Emma Roberts (you) have been selected as the most qualified Investigative Journalist for this latest assignment. When the Editor of the magazine calls you on your cell he informs you that fellow Journalist Jack has disappeared researching paranormal activity in the Black River area. Four people were killed in a fire at the Black River Ranch in the 19th century. Now, their spirits from the ...Show more

Okay Emma Roberts (you) have been selected as the most qualified Investigative Journalist for this latest assignment. When the Editor of the magazine calls you on your cell he informs you that fellow Journalist Jack has disappeared researching paranormal activity in the Black River area. Four people were killed in a fire at the Black River Ranch in the 19th century. Now, their spirits from the past are back to haunt the residents living there. Even though the events revolve around the old house, the true evil is usually not in things but in people. You are now responsible for the case that your colleague was supposed to be working on. And he was... right before he disappeared. The house is now occupied by a lonely artist. But it has not always been like that. He used to have a daughter, who was kidnapped by a ghost, and soon thereafter his wife died. But wait that is not the whole story. This house used to belong to a person accused of sorcery and a few deaths and subsequently the house was burned by the villagers scared of the rumors. Will this house and its occupants need to be destroyed and stopped again? You'll have to discover this answer as you do everything you can to over come every challenge, puzzle, and intense hidden object areas to reach the banks of the Black River! Fear for Sale: The House on Black River's engaging story unveils in a quite dramatic way. The tension grows as you discover one part of the story after another. The beautiful graphics and the fitting music and voice overs do a great job creating the perfect atmosphere for the past to meet the present and for the natural to meet the unnatural. Whoever narrates the voice of Emma Roberts is bloody fantastic! I have been a huge fan of this series since it was introduced, and this installment is one of the best. A great starting point for beginners who aren't familiar with the series. This CE has all those media extras you would expect - wallpaper, screensavers, concept art, soundtracks, and music. The bonus chapter challenges you with another drama. You get to know the family of the original owner a little better. What a Blast!!! The investigation is real for you as a player too since you get to look at and interact with a lot of things in this game. First of all, it is fun that different little things and creatures are responsive to your touch, so point-and-click at lots of stuff. Photos, lamps, doors, crows..... you'll be surprised at the very least. Secondly, there is a ton of inventory to pick up and work with. Some are quite complex. Don't forget about all the Collectibles (25) and Beyond Objects (34) among all else. Achievements (9) earn you points to show off your journalistic skills. The hidden object scenes offer a variety of searches, some of which are multi-step with puzzles in them. There is a good variety of them, but if you want to skip some of them or all together you can switch to a jigsaw puzzle available instead. The puzzles are all fun and different too. They seem to be a bit easy, but that always depends on you skills. I hope this franchise continues to Trend.....I think fans are goings to love this! I highly recommend this paranormal thriller to players of every level. Good Luck! Show less

I recommend this game!

+16points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

19 of 24 found this review helpful

'Oh Alex, I'm so afraid. Come save me'.

PostedMarch 17, 2016

kdblueey

fromLeesburg, Ohio

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Adventure

Current Favorite:

Witches' Legacy: Lair of the Witch Queen

(37)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Review after the demo only:

WOW! I have all of the 'Fear for Sale' games (not that I've played them all yet). But this game grabs you initially from, of course, the handsome introductory picture of 'Alex'. But that aside, I won't go into the details about the story (because other reviewers will), other than to say that Alex lost his wife and his daughter was kidnapped. He lives in this big ...Show more

Review after the demo only:

WOW! I have all of the 'Fear for Sale' games (not that I've played them all yet). But this game grabs you initially from, of course, the handsome introductory picture of 'Alex'. But that aside, I won't go into the details about the story (because other reviewers will), other than to say that Alex lost his wife and his daughter was kidnapped. He lives in this big mansion alone, other than his maid, who has secrets of her own. He lives as a hermit, never leaving the house.

Here's what I liked about the demo:

The first HOS scene I came across was hilarious, IMO. You approach the porch, and sitting in a rocking chair is a rabid raccoon. Surrounding him are a lot of various items apparently he has been 'hoarding'. Whenever you click on an item, he bares his teeth, and growls at you. There's music playing in the background, but I'm not paying too much attention to it yet. Until I give the raccoon a cookie that's in my inventory. All of a sudden it's nirvana. 'I' hear the music now, only because the raccoon has drawn my attention to himself. He is now slowly rocking in his chair (and I mean slowly), munching ever so slowly on his cookie, and his eyes are closed. NOW you can get the items you need.

The second HOS scene (bathroom) that I came across in the demo was unique.You first need to shut off the water before you can do anything. The scene seem cluttered to me, so I just started clicking around. When I clicked on the bathtub filled with water, a rubber duck popped out of the water, one of the faucets appeared, and the water stopped. In the area where you normally have a list of items to look for, you have a fogged-up, wet screen. Then once you figure out what to do with this, when you click on an item, a bright blue symbol glows. You click on it, and it goes towards the mirror. Just another unique aspect of this game.

Almost everything you click on in this game gives you some type of action, whether it's a squirrel, or a bird. Also beware of the pictures or windows in the mansion, for they hold a surprise!!

The graphics, music, colors, everything you can possibly think of are fantastic. ALL WRAPPED UP IN A DARK, GLOOMY, GHOSTLY, BOW!

Things I didn't like in the demo:

There was nothing that I didn't like.

So if you haven't tried any of the 'Fear for Sale' games, your really missing out. They are one of my favorite series. Like everyone says, try the demo first. You won't be sorry. Enjoy!

Personal note to Penmom36:

I 'always' look for and read your reviews first before I purchase or download a trial/demo game. I also love your phrases that you add under your name with each review. They always make my laugh. Thanks. Show less

I recommend this game!

+14points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

55 of 82 found this review helpful

Loved it from the beginning

PostedMarch 17, 2016

Sonseeahray27

fromGermany

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

Living Legends: Bound by Wishes Collector's Edition

(53)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Bought the gane after four minutes of playing.
Graphics are very good, story pulled me in from the beginning and I just love the Fear for sale games.
This one seems to be one of the nest so far.

I recommend this game!

+28points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

61 of 94 found this review helpful

Jack's in trouble...we need to find him...

PostedMarch 17, 2016

Anangelsprayer

fromHopefully one day in nice warm weather!

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Strategy, Word, Card & Board, Brain Teaser

Current Favorite:

Ominous Objects: Trail of Time

(12)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is one of my fave series where you on an investigation with the wonderful reporter Emma Roberts. The voices are awesome, the story is engaging, and I really got caught up with the game. You got collectibles and morphs to find. There isn't no animal helpers (which I do love), nor any special gadgets. The cutscenes are superb and the actor look live. I would recommend at least giving this game ...Show more

This is one of my fave series where you on an investigation with the wonderful reporter Emma Roberts. The voices are awesome, the story is engaging, and I really got caught up with the game. You got collectibles and morphs to find. There isn't no animal helpers (which I do love), nor any special gadgets. The cutscenes are superb and the actor look live. I would recommend at least giving this game a try.

Story: Emma's boss calls her in to send her to the house in Black River. Jack was originally sent there to found out what's going on with the house, but never returned. So he calls on Emma to find out what happened to Jack and also to see what's up with that house. Alex's wife died of grief due to the loss of their daughter Sonia, and Alex became a recluse in his own home because of the loss of both of them. When Emma gets there, she asks the maid if she could talk to Alex. She asks Alex if she could stay the night and Alex asks her if she could show her iD. He makes the comment "Only a day difference". She keeps seeing Jack but can't quite get to him. She finds a note by him that said "Alex said same day, what a coincidence". Emma finds another note saying "Dark Souls can only possess humans who share the same birthday'. Poor Jack. And onto finding him.

Graphics: They';re gorgeous and every thing is lifelike. The people do look like live actors.

Music: Nicely fitted with the game. Not overbearing in the least.

H0GS: So far I found: Lists with extra step words and put the gems into the lens and then find the ghosts, then find the words on the list.

Mini Games: Join the halves of the picture by sliding silver blocks out of the way so you can join the halves. Another was connect the tile to its mate by lines and you can't cross the lines. Another is restore the picture by putting all the objects back where they belong in the picture.

Map: Has 3 sections to it. Look on the side of the and you'll see 3 tabs (I,II,&III). Be sure to look at those tabs cause if they have a red exclamation point on one of them, means you have something to do in that area. On the map itself, a green circle means your current location, and a red circle with a red exclamation point means you can do something there.

Hint Button: I don't use it in H0GS because I like to go for the achievements. But outside the H0G it works great and tells you what you need to do.

I am truly looking forward to the rest of this story. Kudos to the team. I highly recommend this game. Show less

I recommend this game!

+28points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

11 of 14 found this review helpful

Black River overflows ...... with fun!

PostedMarch 19, 2016

Totty_Tara

fromTorquay, Devon, UK

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Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure

Current Favorite:

Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome

(214)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Only played the demo so far but as soon as I am ready to buy a new game this one will be it! I felt involved with the story and characters and I so want to find out where the tale goes after the demo.
Excellent!
Try it at least - I dont think you'll be disappointed!

I recommend this game!

+8points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 11 found this review helpful

worth the time

PostedMarch 20, 2016

tenshi_nanashi

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The story is supernatural and kinda creepy at times. Broken kid toys or ones that are out of place or move on their own always weird me out.

I recommend this game!

+7points

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