Dark Romance: The Monster Within > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

7 of 10 found this review helpful

HOW DID I MISS THIS ONE?

PostedOctober 20, 2017

bmn5772

fromLas Vegas, Nv

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

Dark Romance: The Monster Within Collector's Edition

(22)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is a fun and interesting game.....don't know how I could have missed it...........love it!

I recommend this game!

+4points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

39 of 50 found this review helpful

DO NOT TOUCH THAT PORTRAIT AND IF YOU DO, DON’T LOOK IN A MIRROR

PostedOctober 6, 2017

biscuitsmama

fromI know that love will conquer hate and Nigel and Sybil will live happily ever after

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Marriage is off to a wild start for newlyweds Sybil and Nigel. The old adage of “beware of strangers bearing gifts” should apply when Sybil receives a gift from a stranger telling her it is a gift is from one of Nigel’s friends. Inside the package is a portrait of Sybil that is indeed “special” but certainly not in a good way. As Sybil takes the portrait in her hands she is overcome and quickly begins a transformation that is sure to unleash the beast within. Who would do such a thing to a kind and lovely young bride? As you play this new game in the Dark Romance series, the Monster Within, you will discover the answer to that question and even more as you find out who is behind this betrayal of friendship.

If you are like me and happen to love the Dark Romance series I think that you will find the Monster Within to be a game that you too will enjoy. Yes, for some, the storyline might seem nonsensical but I love the way the developer uses both characters to tell the story using a back and forth interaction between the lovers. Again there are many who love to analyze a game but I am such a game addict that for me unless a game is horribly dark, I play simply for the joy of playing each game that comes my way.

The graphics are beautiful and excellent as is expected from this developer. There is a custom mode available and the interactive map. There is an option on the map that you can click that will then show when a scene has collectibles not yet found. You also will find your father’s amulet that will grant you a useful power. Again, I don’t like to give away all of the details of a game because discovery is the most fun. A unique feature from this developer is the inclusion of little circles on the inventory bar that will be open or closed to show when there are collectibles or morphing objects to find in a scene.

The Monster Within has an equal distribution of 19 HOPS and 19 Mini-games. IMHO, the HOPS are very creative and interactive but if you would rather not hunt for objects, there is a Match-3 game. Some of the HOPS do have mini-games included and the one in the first scene is fun. There is good variety in the style of HOPS included in the game with silhouette, list, and storybook types to keep you entertained. The mini-games or puzzles are a lot of fun and many are included in the HOPS as well. The mini-games are familiar but that is not a big deal to me. This developer offers a choice between Easy and Hard when you play a mini-game, with Hard being the default. If you get stuck you can always reset the mini-game by selecting Easy.

If you prefer the CE version of a game this one includes 6 Chapters plus a Bonus Chapter and a 50-Page Strategy Guide. There are Morphing Objects, Collectible Brushes, and Paintings to find. Of course we have Achievements to earn, all with creative names. Other extras include Wallpapers, Concept Art, Music, Movies, and a Menagerie. IMHO, this developer always adds a lot of extra content making the CE version a great value.

Since I am a huge fan of fairy tales (I kept several of my favorite collections from childhood) and I love the Dark Romance series. I am a romantic at heart so I really want to bring Nigel and Sybil the happy ending they need to live happily ever after. Even though the game was an instant buy for me, I recommend that you try the demo to see if Dark Romance the Monster Within is a game you will enjoy. Other games in the series include Vampire in Love, Heart of the Beast, the Swan Sonata, Kingdom of Death, Curse of Bluebeard, Romeo and Juliet. Happy Gaming! Show less

I recommend this game!

+28points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

Wow, This Simple Little Game Surprised Me !!!!

PostedMay 28, 2021

yowzasma

fromCOWTOWN (Ft. Worth),TX

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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

Current Favorite:

Dark Romance: The Monster Within

(7)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I found this little jewel sleeping in my GM since Jan. of 2018 !
Wow what a surprise at how much I enjoyed it : )
The story-line was engaging , graphics, color and music was just fine & the hidden object games were not too bad but I did skip some of the mini-games because of time ; )

I'm giving this one a ****&1/2 out of ***** on my personal enjoy-ability list : )

I recommend this game!

0points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

20 of 23 found this review helpful

SOMEBODY SURE LIKES GREEN

PostedOctober 13, 2017

pennmom36

fromIf I'm so worried about the minotaur attacking me, why did I hang around searching for objects right next to him?

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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Phantasmat Collector's Edition

(100)

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Usually when games go overboard with the color hues, they add way too much blues and purples, but in this episode of Dark Romance: The Monster Within, somebody sure must have liked green, because everything's so green. When the Standard Edition of HOPA games are released, I first play that versions demo, and then I finish the Collector's Edition version, if I felt it was worthy enough to buy during a sale. I tried to finish this game, but after completing the next chapter after the demo, I just found myself too bored to care. I kept trying to make myself return to it, to see if it got any better, or see if perhaps I was just having a bad day before. A week later, I still had no interest in completing the game. I really loved the first game in this series, which was about vampires, and since then, the storylines haven't been as interesting, and certainly not very dark, Dark Romances, and I think that's why. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version, if either are right for you:

Surely everyone knows by now, not to open that last wedding present, that nobody ever knows where it came from. Sure enough, it was a cursed gift, a portrait of the new bride, that's slowly morphing into a beast, and causing Sybil Vane, to morph as well! Nigel and Sybil aren't the only newlywed's hexed by a curse, because this is Dark Romance, this couple must work together to find out who and why, they are being targeted, before the beast within takes control, and Sybil is gone forever.

In true Dark Romance fashion, you will solve this mystery by playing both characters, Nigel and Sybil, which gives you a different perspective, from both characters point of view. In the Collector's Edition version, there are 3 different collectibles, with icons above the inventory bar that open up whenever there's an available collectible. You can choose to disable this function in the custom settings, there are 15 Morphing Objects, 12 Cursed Paintings (with a background bio) and 64 collectible Paint Brushes, which allow you to purchase animals in the Menagerie and paint their portrait. You don't really get to paint the picture, it just appears, and it paints the animal with other animal parts, like the fennec fox with a duck bill and feathers, it just doesn't make sense

I thought this game was going to give us a break with the gimmicky tool feature, but it turns out that the only thing papa had left, was an Amulet. What does the amulet do you ask? Well, it somehow gives us the ability to turn into a falcon and fly! This part leaves me with so many questions, why do I need a real falcon if I can just turn into one using my amulet? Why can't I find an amulet that turns me into a panther and we can both live happily ever after changing into a cat? How does an amulet such as this work in the first place, voodoo, dark magic, alien technology? How do I return to human form? Do I carry the amulet around my falcon neck? Do I eat rodents when I'm a falcon?

The Hidden Object Scenes aren't all that impressive, and you can opt for a Match 3 game in either version, but these alternate puzzles rarely offer a really good Match 3 game. There are Interactive List finds, Progressive Interactive Silhouetted Shape finds, and Keywords in Sentence finds requiring you to find and replace items correctly. There are also Multiple finds in smaller Zoom Zone HOP's as well.

The Mini Games however, I found to be creative and somewhat lengthy. Most games are available with an Easy or Hard difficulty mode option. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo:

1) Eliminate all but one token by removing tokens located between two matching tokens.

2) Point each dial to one of the symbols shown on the clue, by pressing the blue arrows to rotate the dials the total number of times shown on them. Rotating one dial may affect others.

3) Guide each flower to its matching corner without intersecting paths.

4) Perform first aid on Benjamin logically.

5) Press icons in the correct sequence.

6) Guide Nigel to the gates, avoiding the black hawks.

DARK ROMANCE GAMES AVAILABLE
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average Rating

1-Vampire In Love (February 8-14) 3.9
2-Heart of the Beast (April 23-15) 4.0
3-The Swan Sonata (October 17-15) 3.4
4-Kingdom of Death (April 21-16) 3.4
5-Curse of Bluebeard ( October 13-16) 4.7
6-Romeo and Juliet (February 25-17) 2.7
7-The Monster Within (September 7-17) 4.0

The Collector's Edition has 15 Wallpapers, 20 Concept Art pictures, 5 Music Soundtracks, 10 replayable Movie Videos, 30 Achievements to earn, 12 Cursed Paintings, 15 Morphing Objects, 64 Collectible Brushes to buy 12 Animal paintings in the Menagerie, 19 replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 19 replayable Mini Games, a built in Strategy Guide and a Bonus Chapter, enjoy! Show less

+17points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

14 of 18 found this review helpful

~~DARK ROMANCE 7: DOESN'T MEASURE UP TO PREVIOUS EDITIONS~~

PostedOctober 6, 2017

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):Adventure, Puzzle

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

It’s your wedding day and your wife, Sybil, has just received a beautiful portrait of herself from an unknown sender. But before you managed to celebrate the occasion with your beloved, the portrait unleashed a mysterious energy that turned Sybil into a beast! Play as both Nigel and Sybil and put an end to this insanity…This installment of the Dark Romance series suffered from slow-paced story development in this latest sequel. Casual gamers will still enjoy the concept of playing through two different perspectives, I wish the game could have picked up its pace a little. As for now, The Monster Within features a recycled storyline and predictable development, and is full of HOPA clichés. The gameplay also does not stray far from the traditional HOPA mold. The hidden object scenes are fairly enjoyable, but they are not the best. The majority of them are standard lists or silhouettes, with a few slightly more creative progressive types. None of them is particularly challenging, although the Match-3 alternatives provide a nice switch-up of pace. Similarly, the puzzles are not outstanding. Some of them are cleverly tied into the storyline, but do not offer any real challenge or complexity. If all else fails, at least Dark Romance: The Monster Within is a visually-pleasing game. The moody and haunting visuals are suitable for the dark fantasy theme of the game. However, the visuals are not without flaws. If you are a big fan of the HOPA genre, then you would have noticed the tendency that the developer relates the color green to anything sinister – The Monster Within takes that to another level. An overwhelming amount of visual effects in the game are of the green hue, to the point that make every scene of the game looks sort of the same. Dark Romance: The Monster Within takes just under four hours to complete. I remain a fan of this popular series, maybe Domini will raise the bar with the next game. Cheers! Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+10points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

6 of 7 found this review helpful

From Adventure To Zoo

PostedJanuary 6, 2018

coffeyfan77

fromPhiladelphia, PA

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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, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Time Management, Word

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

In this installment of the Dark Romance series, the love of your life receives a mysterious painting that begins turning her into a creature. It's a promising start, and one that's further developed by the presence of a thoroughly reprehensible villain with a very personal axe to grind. It's also a plus that you play both protagonists in this story, each member of the couple providing valuable ...Show more

Unfortunately, while all of those elements are good in their own way, the final result did not add up to the sum of the parts in my view. The puzzles are numerous but generally quite easy, even on the harder setting. HO scenes have a few very easily pieced together complex items, and really seem to be tossed in just to fill space rather than with any care. Music and speech are likewise generic.

The game is lengthy enough, but has a couple twists that are tough to swallow even for a fantasy. In addition, could we end the painful process of getting rid of something like a lighter only to have to collect another version of it in the very next scene? Your character might be able to spend less time fighting evil if they held onto everyday inventory.

Bonus point for dragons. Otherwise, pedestrian. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+5points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

19 of 22 found this review helpful

Hit or Miss? MISS!

PostedOctober 7, 2017

Granny_Gruff

fromSomebody on staff was "dying" to exhibit their knowledge of adrenalin and heart problems.

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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):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

**Spoiler Alert** This may let the cat out of the bag - pun intended!
Nigel and Sybil are newlyweds with a big problem - Nigel's psycho friend, Basil. Up until fairly recently Basil, Nigel, and Henry were friends - we know this from a portrait on the wall of Nigel's home. It shows the three grown friends together.
Apparently though, Basil has decided to blame Nigel and Henry for Basil's Father's gambling addiction which led to Daddy losing the family fortune when Basil was a child.
I guess it took him all those years to go over the edge mentally.
So Basil is taking his crazy out on his friends and their young brides.
Luckily, another friend, Dr. Benjamin, will try to help Nigel and Sybil after Basil's wedding gift of a portrait of Sybil starts to turn her into a monster. The good Doctor offers to hide her in the woods with Henry's wife, changed to a panther.
Good stuff: There are the usual game elements and a story along with art work that varies wildly between clean sharp lines and a blurry fuzz of over-colored shapes. The background noises are good as are the VO"s. There is a Match 3 alternative to the HOPs.
Bad stuff: Not only does the artwork fuzz out, but the characters’ movements are laughable as they often look like paper dolls in a stop motion cartoon by small children. The background sounds - birds in the forest, the crackling fire in the hearth, dripping water - will be drowned out by overly loud orchestral music that will suddenly invade a scene, thunder dramatically on, and disappear abruptly.
Beyond the irritation of all those bits, is the glaring lack of logic - Nigel transforms into a hawk to find Basil's house in the forest. When he lands, he is still carrying the hacksaw and rope he picked up at home!
When Sybil and Dr. Benjamin are attacked by Basil's henchmen, she not only bandages Dr. Benjamin's wound, but does a little cardiac massage and a shot of adrenaline to his heart before he rides off bareback on his way back to town!
Luckily the craziness provided an irritant that kept me awake long enough to finish the Demo, as the beginning was slow enough to set me nodding and there seemed a chance I'd doze off at one point.
I found this entry in the Dark Romance series to be a miss. The previous games have varied wildly from really good to awful. This one is a miss for me.
You may enjoy this game and I leave you to it.
Just, please, try the Demo before committing to this chapter in the Dark Romance series. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+16points

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