Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Oval Portrait > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

29 of 34 found this review helpful

Edgar Allan Poe's Prime

PostedOctober 6, 2018

dmartgamer

fromSterling Heights, Michigan

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This was a fun game and I enjoyed it very very much. Yes, it ended abruptly, but it was well done in everything else. I do not like hard challenges, and this was just right. It deserves more than two stars people. Just a longer game.

I hope to see more of these.

I recommend this game!

+24points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

43 of 48 found this review helpful

ARE YOU SURE THAT TUSSOLE SHOULD PAINT YOUR PORTRAIT?

PostedSeptember 28, 2018

biscuitsmama

fromVery busy finding a way to solve this latest case. Dupin needs my help

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

The next chapter in the Dark Tales series is here and I must admit I am a bit surprised at how much I have enjoyed the game considering how uninspired the past games in the series have been. In Dark Tales the Oval Portrait you and Dupin receive a letter from Mary who is set to pose for the celebrated artist Leonard Tussole. The problem is that Mary is frightened since other young women who have ...Show more

The next chapter in the Dark Tales series is here and I must admit I am a bit surprised at how much I have enjoyed the game considering how uninspired the past games in the series have been. In Dark Tales the Oval Portrait you and Dupin receive a letter from Mary who is set to pose for the celebrated artist Leonard Tussole. The problem is that Mary is frightened since other young women who have posed for the artist have disappeared, and after Mary received a letter telling her that the portrait will devour her soul. Even the police now suspect Tussole is behind the disappearances.

I love this developer because no one can beat the beautiful and realistic characters they create in their games. I only wish they would stop fiddling with Dupin’s appearance. I know that after thirteen games he should age a bit but he no looks rather “rough around the edges” and worn out. Perhaps that is why he stands around looking a bit lost as he directs you to do all of the work – lol. That being said, I still think that the Oval Portrait is a very good game and I’ve enjoyed playing although it did seem a bit short. Even with being a rather slow player, particularly since I have to gawk at every little detail in each scene, I still finished the game in only a few hours. I found the gameplay engaging that I was disappointed when it ended in such a short time. However, the past few Dark Tales from the AMAX team seem to be very short.

There are a lot of HOPS in the game but many of those are the mini HOPS that now seem to be springing up in all recent games. The HOPS include the usual variety of styles with silhouette, and the storybook to mention a few. Some of the scenes were creative and a lot of fun. The Puzzles seem to be the same as those we see in other games in the series but some of them were a bit more challenging.

Although the Oval Portrait seems to be much the same cookie cutter game as the last games in the series, I still found it to be a very good game and one I enjoyed playing. You can’t beat the graphics but many of the scenes seemed to be recycled from other games in the series. However, if you love the Dark Tales series I and this developer, I recommend that you try the demo to see if the Oval Portrait is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming! Show less

I recommend this game!

+38points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

52 of 57 found this review helpful

Burying this game now would not be premature!

PostedSeptember 28, 2018

Pilot1

fromTaos, NM

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

Path of Sin: Greed Collector's Edition

(38)

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

With all that Edgar Allan Poe endured during his troubled life, he really doesn’t deserve to be plagued by trashy games trying to cash in on his name and fame!

I played the Collectors Edition demo, which was noted as being an ‘Editor’s Choice' and said then, as I've said before, that Big Fish needs to get some new editors!

I posted a review of that demo, in which I did not recommend the ...Show more

With all that Edgar Allan Poe endured during his troubled life, he really doesn’t deserve to be plagued by trashy games trying to cash in on his name and fame!

I played the Collectors Edition demo, which was noted as being an ‘Editor’s Choice' and said then, as I've said before, that Big Fish needs to get some new editors!

I posted a review of that demo, in which I did not recommend the game, and now, having played the SE demo, my opinion has not changed.

The only connection between this game and Poe is the appropriation of the title and his name, nothing else.

This is a dull boring story, even if we discount that it’s one we’ve all seen before. Dull boring graphics, poor lip-sync, background music that is more annoying than game enhancing and, to tell the absolute truth, characters I just could not care less about saving!

The HO sequences and mini-puzzles are more time-wasters than even minor challenges.

Usually I suggest that you download the demo and make your own decision, but this time I’m going to strongly suggest that you waste neither your download capacity nor your time. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+47points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

26 of 28 found this review helpful

Can This Mark the End of Dupin?

PostedOctober 1, 2018

PATinPNS

fromPensacola, FL

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

This is posted after playing the demo.

I have most, if not all, in this series and this one will not be joining the collection. It simply was not fun on so many levels.

The graphics, and sound were very well done as were the voice overs. I did like the colors used. They weren't dark and drab, but normal as a graphic can portray.

I was so disappointed in the mini games. These are not my ...Show more

This is posted after playing the demo.

I have most, if not all, in this series and this one will not be joining the collection. It simply was not fun on so many levels.

The graphics, and sound were very well done as were the voice overs. I did like the colors used. They weren't dark and drab, but normal as a graphic can portray.

I was so disappointed in the mini games. These are not my favorite parts of a game anyway, but these seemed to just be repeated over and over in the short time the demo lasts. Several were in those small pop-up windows and perhaps my eye sight is failing faster than I thought, because I had difficulty seeing them. One mini I just can't stand is where, "do this and it will effect another". That was the one I remember as being repeated so much. Hidden objects were okay, but just not enough of them.

Having not read the original Poe presentation I can't pass judgement on how the game follows it, but the short demo story left me begging for something to catch my attention.

I do wish I could find more positive things to say, but disappointment fills my mind. I have been waiting for this to come out in SE and was excited to see it, and perhaps my anticipation led to my disappointment. As always, play the demo and perhaps you will find this game to your liking. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+24points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

12 of 13 found this review helpful

Sadly,

PostedOctober 8, 2018

Kay_Erin

fromLovely gold, red and yellow leaves! Wisconsin is at its best in the Fall

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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger 8

(54)

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

this, one of my most favorite of game series, has declined. Perhaps it is because of the story lines, but I think it more likely that someone doesn’t really understand Poe and the art of the story. The story line was disjointed and at times confusing, and the endings of both the main game and the bonus were abrupt, leaving many questions unanswered.

The HOS were ok. I really feel sorry for ...Show more

this, one of my most favorite of game series, has declined. Perhaps it is because of the story lines, but I think it more likely that someone doesn’t really understand Poe and the art of the story. The story line was disjointed and at times confusing, and the endings of both the main game and the bonus were abrupt, leaving many questions unanswered.

The HOS were ok. I really feel sorry for those who like the puzzles; in this game even I was bored with them.

At least the voice of Dupin was better, as in more mature, not sounding like a 17 year old. After all Dupin is supposedly a man of the world and at least in his 30’s. And in this latest story no one pronounced our hero’s name as “doop’-in” rather than the more correct “Do-pahn”.
The villains also suffered from ennui. They needed more background, especially the old witch.

I did enjoy seeing the raggedy cat again. And the drawings of certain unique items were interesting.

In the end, though, I cannot recommend this game. If you haven't tried the earlier games, even though they might not be as technically advanced, I highly recommend the earlier games in this series, like "The Gold Bug" "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Mystery of Marie Roget" Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+11points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

8 of 10 found this review helpful

Too much cinema.

PostedOctober 2, 2018

gameonagain

fromU.K.

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Good Art work. Quite good games, just too much video and talking.

I don't recommend this game.

+6points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

4 of 6 found this review helpful

Not worth the money

PostedOctober 6, 2018

rhondajj

fromJasper, Tn

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

I love these games, but this one was way too short.

I don't recommend this game.

+2points

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Overall rating

1 / 5

43 of 47 found this review helpful

EVEN MORE BORING THAN I HAD REMEMBERED

PostedSeptember 29, 2018

pennmom36

fromTime to hang your hat up Dupin and retire.

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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Abandoned: Chestnut Lodge Asylum

(219)

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

1 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

I actually bought this game in the CE version during a BOGO sale simply because I needed one more Collector's Edition to go with the game I actually wanted. Wow is this the shortest game ever? It might have 5 main chapters, but if you blink a couple of times, you're finished with the chapter and half-way through the next. I usually scan through the Strategy Guide to get a feel for the length of a ...Show more

I actually bought this game in the CE version during a BOGO sale simply because I needed one more Collector's Edition to go with the game I actually wanted. Wow is this the shortest game ever? It might have 5 main chapters, but if you blink a couple of times, you're finished with the chapter and half-way through the next. I usually scan through the Strategy Guide to get a feel for the length of a game, the average chapter in most games takes up anywhere from 5-9 complete pages. If you look at the SG for this game, each chapter is only 4 pages and those pages are only half used!

It's probably for the best, by the time I reached the third chapter I was bored to tears, the storyline moved at a snail pace and it offers nothing remotely interesting. The dialog was so uninteresting that I just started skimming through them because all it said was blah, blah, blah, soul-stealing, blah, blah, blah, Dupin needs medicine, blah, blah, blah, what kind of medicine, blah, blah, whip up something quick!, blah, hotel, blah, re-sort all drawers, blah, blah, fix all the room number plaques, blah, blah, fix everything in hotel, blah, blah, does anyone work at this hotel? blah, blah, evil red-eyed rat, blah, giant hole in banister, blah, blah, note to self "don't get a room here", blah, blah...chapter 4, blah, blah! In case you're stil interested, here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either, is right for you:

A good artist can draw a painting that is almost lifelike, but a great artist can make a painting come to life. Leonard Tussole was such an amazing artist, it was an honor to pose for a portrait from him. His portraits were incredibly realistic, and the women he portrayed were absolutely beautiful. These beautiful women soon discovered the price to have Leonard paint their Oval Portrait was costly, but there's always a price to be paid for immortality, there's always a Price to be paid for Beauty.

Although I found this game to be dull and uninteresting, I have to give Amax credit for a job well done on the Morphing Objects offered in the Collector's Edition version. They are somewhat small (remember the huge paw prints) and they morph at a slower pace to make them somewhat challenging. I can't say the same for the Statues because they stick out like a sore thumb and are located in obvious places. I'm sure die-hard fans will love this rendition of Edgar Allan Poe's The Oval Portrait, but there's nothing here folks if you've played any of the Dark Tales games, you'll find this game to be just more of the same. The scenes all look alike, the people all look the same, the graphics are the same, the music is the same, the mini-games and HOS are all the same. In my opinion, Amax should have ended this series after The Masque of Red Death because it's gone downhill ever since...way down!

The Hidden Object Scenes are better than the mini-games, not great, but better than. They are varied with Interactive List finds, Multiples of the same Object finds, Silhouetted Shape finds, Finding and Replacing Objects, and several Zoom Zone HOP's where you are tasked with finding Matching Pairs of flowers or several pictured items. There are no alternative puzzles available but some of the HO scenes have a small puzzle to solve.

The Mini-Games are mostly just fragments that require placing them onto highlighted slots, and they aren't really interesting or challenging. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:

1-Place 12 fragments around the ring into highlighted slots.
2-Rotate the rings to create the image.
3-Place torn photo fragments into highlighted slots correctly.
4-Swap pieces to create the correct image.
5-Swap pieces to create the correct pattern.
6-Create a path from point A to B using the pattern shown.
7-Swap books to create the images shown above them.
8-Swap hexagonal tiles to recreate the portrait.
9-Swap tile images to place them into associated categories.

The Collector's Edition has 6 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 5 Screensavers, 5 Music Soundtracks, 21 Movie Cutscenes, 12 re-playable Mini-Games, 12 re-playable Hidden Object Scenes, 12 Achievements (that don't tell you why you earned it after you earn it?) 26 Morphing Objects, 13 Collectible Statues, 5 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter and a built-in Strategy Guide,

DARK TALES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating

1-Murder's In The Rue Morgue (December 17-2009) 3.7
2-The Black Cat (October 8-2010) 4.0
3-The Premature Burial (November 4-2011) 4.4
4-The Gold Bug (February 8-2013) 3.5
5-The Masque Of The Red Death (May 24-2013) 4.2
6-The Fall Of The House Of Usher (April 18-2014) 4.1
7-The Mystery of Marie Roget (March 20-2015) 4.2
8-The Tell-Tale Heart (December 13-2015) 2.2
9-Metzengerstein (August 19-2016) 3.5
10-The Raven (January 27-2017) 2.9
11-Lenore (September 8-2017) 2.1
12-Morella (January 14-2018) 3.8
13-The Pit and the Pendulum (May 4-2018) 3.0
14-The Oval Portrait (September 29-2018) n/a

by: Amax Interactive Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+39points

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Overall rating

1 / 5

3 of 4 found this review helpful

Too many puzzles

PostedSeptember 7, 2019

roaming

fromTexas

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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

There were so many puzzles, the story could hardly move forward without having to solve another puzzle, but even so the story development itself seemed extremely shallow. I played the demo on custom settings, so the puzzles could be skipped quickly. Nevertheless, there were so many puzzles doing nothing to advance the plot, as my mother would have said, just busy work. I doubt the devs even ...Show more

There were so many puzzles, the story could hardly move forward without having to solve another puzzle, but even so the story development itself seemed extremely shallow. I played the demo on custom settings, so the puzzles could be skipped quickly. Nevertheless, there were so many puzzles doing nothing to advance the plot, as my mother would have said, just busy work. I doubt the devs even thought much about a story line. They definitely didn't do Poe any favors. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+2points

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Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Oval Portrait

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