Stranded Dreamscapes: The Doppelganger > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

4 / 5

39 of 48 found this review helpful

CAN YOU OUTSMART THE DOPPELGANGER?

PostedOctober 26, 2016

biscuitsmama

fromI guess I should've stayed away from grandpas old mirror

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Sometimes the world and life in general can seem difficult particularly during those years when one forms a self-image. During those formative years as a teenager Alex always wished she was someone else, and the tragic loss of her sister only increased her desire for a new persona and an exciting life. Now Alex is a young woman on the doorstep of a new life with marriage to her “prince charming” Ryan but those old doubts and feelings of not being enough somehow creep into her feelings. As she is preparing her veil for the ceremony she happens to look at her grandfather’s creepy mirror and sees the face of her alter-ego staring back at her. Almost Immediately Alex is grabbed and trapped in the mirror while the “doppelganger” Xela taunts her and promises to keep her trapped forever. Can you help Alex escape this nightmare and reunite with her love before it is too late?

The game has all of the technical features I love – great colorful graphics, voiceovers, good soundtrack, custom setting, and an interactive transporter style map.

The HOPS are fun and the items are clear and fairly easy to find. There is some variety in the type of scenes presented and some are interactive. Although the puzzles are a bit easy side they are still enjoyable. Even those gamers who dislike puzzles in HOPA games will find these entertaining.

In the event you might rather look at the CE version of the game, IMHO, it really is not CE worthy with only one collectible and a smattering of other extras. It is surprising that the game even qualified as a CE. Still, there is the in-game strategy guide that is a nice feature for those who might be new to playing HOPA games and need that extra nudge when stuck.

Surprisingly, I really like this game. There are those who might think it is a bit too easy or perhaps juvenile but it is a nice HOPA game that still has, at least for me, good entertainment value. Sometimes I like to have a game where I don’t have to tear my hair out in frustration trying to figure out what to do next. I love HOPA games and for more than ten years I have played almost every one of them that BFG has offered. Yes the game is nothing new but I do like the storyline and the presentation so Stranded Dreamscapes the Doppelganger will find a home in my gaming library. Even though I love the game, as always, please try the demo to see if you will also find that this game is a keeper. Show less

I recommend this game!

+30points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

13 of 13 found this review helpful

Why the low reviews? I really enjoyed this game!

PostedNovember 9, 2016

BooksandGameFan

fromJacksonville Florida

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Large File, Word

Current Favorite:

Facility 47

(75)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Was this a 5 star stunner? No, but it was a very enjoyable game!
To me it was not any worse than 99% of the other supposedly great games out there, and better than at least 50% of them, in my opinion.
Sure the graphics weren't as state of the art as they are in Mad Head or Eipix games but that's not always a good thing, I tend to really enjoy older games so a bit of blurriness or not the ...Show more

The hidden object scenes and the puzzles are somewhat generic and can be solved without much brainpower but they are very well-engineered.

I really don't understand the low scores for this game.
I was in the middle of 3 other games by the big guys (all of them remain unfinished) when I purchased a bunch of games on the buy one get one sale. I tried each of them and this game was the one that kept calling me back. I really enjoyed the story, and the locations etc. It was one of those sort of easy games that you can just sit back and enjoy without pulling your hair out and I did enjoy it very much!

It does get better and more intriguing after the demo. I really look forward to more games by Friendly Cactus I think they are going to be a force to reckon with as they get more experience. Show less

I recommend this game!

+13points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

a pretty good game

PostedJanuary 16, 2019

denniann2

fromharrisonburg, virginia

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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

i have played better games. it does have a good hint system. 4 levels. i played on custom. i had to skip a few mini games. the game is about a woman that sends you to a mirror world so the other one that sends you there can take over your life just as you are about to get married. you need to figure out how to switch with her so that you are with your fiancee and not her.

I recommend this game!

0points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

2 of 2 found this review helpful

I'll Take The Other One

PostedNovember 6, 2017

coffeyfan77

fromPhiladelphia, PA

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

This game has the makings of a good story, but it appears to have dissipated completely during the development phase. What is left is a semi interesting game with far too many boring and repetitive elements. Any seasoned player will blow through this likely in one sitting. The HO scenes are incredibly easy, and you'll play most of them twice. In addition to the normal collection, you'll pick up ...Show more

As for the minigames, there were a couple twists on the standard variations, but overall it's just a quick spin as you wait for the next mirror world to step into. Your character suffered an unfortunate family tragedy as a child, the consequences of which she is still feeling to this day. As she approaches what should be the happiest day in her life, her wedding, she is suddenly thrust into a mirror world created by either her own internal monologue or her family's penchant for oddity. Either way, you'll have to clear several separate but linked areas to proceed.

And this, naturally, is the central issue. While the game promises the mirror area will unlock your inner fears, the whole thing is pretty tame and frankly not that interesting. You ramble through one spot after another collecting random junk in order to have a showdown with your "altar/alter" ego that is underwhelming and ridiculous. I'm willing to suspend disbelief, but not from the Empire State Building.

The game looks like it's from ten years ago. Voice acting is acceptable, and the music was fine but I barely noticed it. I can't recommend due to the brevity and silliness of the game. I wish the story had been as complex as promised. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+2points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

52 of 59 found this review helpful

Facing The Fears Of Your Altar Ego

PostedOctober 26, 2016

pennmom36

fromI'm pretty sure that no pond has a current that rolls in with waves.

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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Phantasmat Collector's Edition

(100)

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

It took me three days to finish the demo of the Collector's Edition when it was first released because it was a horribly boring game with lackluster graphics and annoying voiceovers. I needed another game to add to my cart during a BOGO sale so reluctantly I purchased this game and I just finished the main game, but I have no desire to play the Bonus Chapter. I will say that after the demo, the game becomes slightly more interesting mainly because the locations become more appealing. This is such an easy game to play that it became a monotonous chore due to the lack of challenge. The puzzles are so easy you can complete them in the first try and there are so many boring HOP's that I simply dreaded them, especially on the ones that were repeated in the same scene. I was able to complete the game in about an hour and a half, after the demo, without skipping any of the puzzles, thankfully it's not a long game. I know many reviewers gave this game high marks, but frankly I don't know why and I'm glad both versions are now in the past!

After losing her sister, Alex became very critical of herself. Time and time again she would look into the family mirror and imagine what it would be like if she were "different" and had more self esteem. All that changed once she met Ryan, they fell in love and their wedding was just around the corner. Today, however, would be a day that tests one's self esteem, when Alex, finds a strange key which mysteriously reveals itself. Even stranger, the family mirror mysteriously reveals a keyhole, and naturally Alex places the key into the mirror and voila! Xela appears and Alex disappears, only to reappear inside the mirror world where she is forced to watch her more brazen doppleganger take over her life, and her man! Well, after all, Alex did create Xela, so be careful what you wish for, because sometimes wishes come true but not always with the desired outcome.

I gave the CE only 1 star because the demo was horrific, but after finishing the game today, I have bumped my rating up one star because the locations became more interesting, a tad more interesting. The graphics are dreadful, the story is stupid, the mechanics are painfully archaic and don't even get me started on those annoying dolls. They didn't even bother giving them names, they simply go by, Red and Blue, ridiculous to say the least. and the voiceovers for the dolls are so fake and annoying they made me cringe. The jest of the game is to search the mirrorworld for shards of memories (memory shards for 3 different mirror portals one mirror represents each chapter) and fight your way back into the loving arms of Ryan, who probably likes Xela's personality better anyway! In the Collector's Edition version, each scene has a large obtrusive wine glass to find that look so out of place they immediately catch your eye, and other than a few Achievements, that's about it, and certainly not worthy of the Collector's Edition price.

The Hidden Object Scenes are boring and just not fun, to make matters worse, most of the scenes are repeated at least once which is even more boring. They are mostly Interactive list finds but there are also matching pairs, multiple finds and even spot the difference, Keywords in a story finds and replacing items into the scene. The scenes are cartoonish and child like in my opinion. One of the scenes requires you to prune a branch off of a rose bush and inside this small little bush is the biggest pile of random junk I've ever seen attempted before. There was a sandwich, beads, knives, a compass, a scoop, cards, jewelry, a mask, a birds nest complete with a bird, there was even a 50' garden hose. But wait, there's more! When the scene was repeated this same rose bush just 5 minutes later had all that stuff plus the addition of a baseball cap, a sword, a frisbee, a goblet, a cellphone, a rat that must have eaten the bird because he was alone in the nest, a rocking horse, a lock, and for some strange reason a zinnia flower inside a rose bush! Just how big is this bush, I can't wait to see what's hidden inside the oak tree!

The Mini Games aren't impressive either. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo and a few notable games during the main game:

1) Start with the red key and press piano keys in order according to the color clue shown.

2) Arrange the pages so they form the notes shown.

3) Move all books to the far right shelf, books cannot be rotated.

4) Reassemble the glass door by placing shards correctly.

5) Separate the roses from the leaves by drawing only 3 straight lines. Select two pins to draw line that can't cross leaves or roses.

6) Light up all the pins by traveling to each pin only once.

7) Connect pairs of bulbs without crossing paths.

8) Rotate square sections so that all the tokens are in their color coded slots.

9) Select the lockpicks to rotate the circles and deliver both balls to the center at the same time.

10) Swap runestones to complete the symbols.

The Collector's Edition has 13 Achievements, 4 Music Soundtracks, 5 Wallpapers, 8 Sketches, 40 Collectible Wine Glasses, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+45points

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Overall rating

1 / 5

11 of 12 found this review helpful

Not worth playing

PostedOctober 28, 2016

Peta52

fromUK

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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):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

I beta tested this game and didn't like it then. The game doesn't know who its audience is. The two dolls are a little spooky, the storyline is probably aimed at young adults (female only) but all the puzzles/hops are aimed at a younger audience and are far too simplistic.

I don't recommend this game.

+10points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Stranded Dreamscapes: The Doppelganger Escape the mirrored world! Heres what your review will look like once it’s posted. Click Submit if you’re happy. Your review should appear soon. To make changes, use the Edit or Cancel buttons. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this game! You’ve already shared your thoughts about this game. Thanks for submitting the review below.