Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

31 of 36 found this review helpful

Breath of fresh air!

PostedDecember 2, 2019

FORTUNATUS

fromThis side of the moon (USA) :)

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is a delightful change of pace and I am so happy the developer decided to create a good story line with realistic content (a female protagonist in the role of detective, a'la Nancy Drew-ish?) instead of the usual murky, dark paranormal, sci fi and gadget 'stuff' we've been spoon fed for so long. I am 'upping' my ratings just a wee bit because I believe this game was unfairly targeted (when one compares similar games to similar reviews it doesn't add up fairly at all. For example, how can one rate a HOG with tiny clutter scenes and very old fashioned graphics and similar inconsistencies in realism a "5" and then rate this game 1 or 2 because they claim the exact same? ). I'd also like to add that not ALL of us are tried and true HOG-only game players and appreciate when developers reach out to us and give us variety. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a HOG for the most part but the puzzles are unique and fun and also the HOG are NOT, IMO, "junk piles" any more then any other HOG games we get here on BFG that are often rated 5. So, the graphics aren't perfectly fleshed out but the story and game play is such that you probably will not notice because it is interesting, different and therefore, immersive.

I haven't purchased a game for a long time (other then TM by Game House developers) but THIS game is getting my cash.

Thanks so much developers and BFG!! Show less

I recommend this game!

+26points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

18 of 21 found this review helpful

Great detective mystery!

PostedDecember 2, 2019

Lisistrata86

fromNeverland

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Emma Emerson has been called to help her partner, Duke, whom she fancies a little, I guess. There is a strange case of drowning and there's a mystery to be discovered hidden behind the dead body and the secrets of the victim's family. That's when a roller coaster of action packed and unexpected story begins - and the action won't stop until you get the bad guy. But, to make it so you must use your detective skills as well as your cell phone, to collect all the evidence so you can analyze them and from that deduce your next step in the investigation. There are several old mini games and plenty new one. Also, there's a new type of HO scenes - where you can deduce - by searching for the clues, what happened to the victims and to the suspects. There are several suspects to investigate and I bet the game is existing as the first hour is. Definite buy. Still, try the demo so you can decide for yourself Show less

I recommend this game!

+15points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

6 of 8 found this review helpful

what a wonder game

PostedJanuary 12, 2020

storm011

fromaustralia

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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

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I loved everything about this game - the puzzles were able to do - not really into puzzles but completed all - the storyline was good and the characters were fun.

The length was good - it gave me a chance to relax for a couple of hours.

I recommend this game!

+4points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

2 of 4 found this review helpful

So-So...

PostedApril 20, 2022

Zurreen

fromAustin, TX

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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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Word

Current Favorite:

Delaware St. John: The Town with No Name

(17)

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

Let me start with the positive aspects of the game. The Hidden Object Puzzles (HOP's) were fair and fun. They were a bit long, compared to those in other games, because most of the items require an additional step before you can collect them. That is not a problem in this version of the game, however, because it is a Standard Edition and thus has no achievements and so you don't have to worry ...Show more

The other puzzles are quite original, easy, and fun. In fact, I think puzzles were the best part of this game.

Turning now to the negative... The storyline was original, but I found it quite boring and even... well, ludicrous. The main character is a female police officer. She has a male partner with whom (get this!) she is actually *madly* in love. The partner does play a part - or at least makes appearances - but is in fact good for absolutely *nothing*. Don't get me wrong now. I am all for "woman power" (being, in the interest of full disclosure, a woman myself). But when a woman goes in effect BOXING with male villains, while her male companion basically lies around doing nothing... well, that's a bit too much for me to swallow. There is no boxing actually in the game. We get to play a matching type of game, instead. But that is in fact what *she* is doing - boxing, often with villains much bigger than herself! And if that were not bad enough, just wait until she screams, something along the lines of "Oh, Duke! Don't die. I can't live without you!" and then, in the very end, "Aw, Duke..." She fights villains like a man, but is practically PUTTY in her boyfriend's hands! Rather nauseating, to say the least... :/

In short, it's that storyline that really turned me off. But if you don't mind such silliness and would like to try it for the sake of its HOP's and the puzzles, then Show less

I recommend this game!

0points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

59 of 90 found this review helpful

STORY HAS POTENTIAL BUT THE TASKS TO PROGRESS THE STORY ARE TEDIOUS & BORING

PostedDecember 1, 2019

pennmom36

fromI'm still a BraveG-fan, just being honest, think outside the box guys :)

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
*29 Scene Locations +7 CE Bonus Chapter*
Difficulty Range: Beginner-(possibly intermediate)

I love this developer, I love that he always visits and interacts with us at the pond, but I had to force myself to complete this game because I bought the game thinking this would be a great who-dun-it mystery game, a genre I happen to love! But, there are ONLY 2-3 AREAS OF INTEREST PER SCENE (zoom zones, hos, mini-game, etc.) there's nothing to do, nothing interesting to see, and when there is something to do, it almost always involves having to unlock a door or drawer, cut thru and/or use acid on a locked chain or cut the straps of a suitcase. How many times can I repeat these same 3 tasks before I go insane? The games are repeats, the games are boring, the HO scenes are boring, the repetitive tasks are really boring, the story is okay-ish but it's difficult to keep up with because the characters all look similar and getting from point A to point B is soooo slooooowww!

Gadget:
You will use your Smartphone to take pictures of 18 different Evidence items. (the pictures are taken automatically) After collecting several evidence pictures, you will click the Phone Icon to make 6 different Case Analyses Deductions. This involves rifling through the images (how did phone snapshots magically turn into old polaroid photos???) and then placing them into the correct categories while hearing the conclusions the detective has concluded.

Collectibles/Morphing Objects (CE version only)
There are 32 Collectible Playing Cards and 29 Morphing Presents. The Cards are huge and stick out like a sore thumb and the Presents morph way to quickly. Even if they didn't morph at all they would still be easily spotted because all you have to do is scan the scene for a square or round object lying in the middle of the floor.

Hidden Object Scenes:
There are 13 Hidden Object Scenes +6 in the CE Bonus Chapter that vary with Interactive Listed Item Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, and Multiples of Related Items. There are a few Keywords in Sentence Finds, but they are listed as Mini-Games, not HOP's. The scenes are nothing more than large, unorganized lumps of clutter-junk and the items to find are usually blurry and difficult to recognize. To make matters worse, the scenes are located in unappealing, uninteresting locations. This would be a perfect time to add a "Skip" feature to a HOS, fortunately, there's an alternate Matching Pairs game where you flip over 2 available tokens at a time to find related images, such as a Rose and a Vase,

Mini-Games:
There are 25 mini-games +10 in the CE Bonus Chapter. These are the same exact puzzles that were offered in the last couple of games released by this developer, most of which are easily solved on the first attempt and not all that impressive. One of the mini-games that this developer has used in nearly all of their games is repeated several times as a "Fight-Scene" scenario. You are challenged with dragging lines between 3 or more tokens that match your colors and hopefully, not your opponent's colored tokens which drains your amounts. There are 3 different boards to clear before you deck your male opponent (Do you really expect me to believe that I could win a fistfight with a testosterone, pumped-up dude who is ruthless enough to punch a woman?) however, the game is maddening because there are no more than 3 matchable tokens in your color vs. 7-10 matchable opponent tokens so the game is completely boring and not fun to play once much less 3 boards, and then having to agonize through the same game two additional times is maddening! I have listed a few games that were slightly more interesting:

1-Click directional arrows to slide 2 tokens to their matching slot, using obstacles as bumpers to change the destination paths.
2-Swap groups of 2 triangle puzzle pieces to complete the image.
3-Use directional arrows to steer the ship clear of obstacles.
4-Connect ends of colored wires into partial symbols to recreate the symbols.
5-Assemble a series of jigsaw variation puzzles (jigsaw-square tiles-rings)

Bonus Chapter: The Great Storm (CE version only)
Relive that stormy night from a Coast Guards point of view as you rescue the crew of the Yacht. This is an average-length chapter that takes place pretty much entirely aboard the yacht with 7 additional scene locations. There are 10 Mini-Games and 6 Hidden Object Scenes to stretch out the length of actual gameplay. There are no Collectible Playing Cards or Morphing Presents to find which I find odd considering the game takes place on the yacht that is owned by the Present-giver? Once again, the Giant Brave guy does not give us an opportunity to pick up any missed collectibles or morphs. (I missed a card because 3 scenes had 2 cards instead of 1 and I just wasn't paying attention)

Collector's Edition Extra's:
16 Wallpapers from 16 of the scenes & w/o characters, yay! (can't download until completion of the main game...why, do I not own this game??) 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Movie Video Cutscenes, 8 Replayable Mini-Games, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 24 Achievements, 32 Collectible Playing Cards, 29 Morphing Presents, 4 Main Chapters with 29 Scene Locations, +Bonus Chapter with 7 Scene Locations, and a Built-In Strategy Guide. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+28points

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Overall rating

1 / 5

40 of 57 found this review helpful

COMIC BOOK GRAPHICS AND JUNKPILE HOS MAKE THIS GAME A BUST FOR ME

PostedDecember 1, 2019

biscuitsmama

fromCould have been so much better without the junkpile HOS and more refinement to the graphics

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

Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

1 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

I love a good whodunit game but this is not one of them. What I played of the game seemed rather hokey to me and simply wouldn’t hold my attention. The cartoonish graphics that seemed flat in the scenes simply made the game seem second rate and couldn’t compare to some of the better games from this developer.

The worst part of this game for me were the overcrowded, junkpile HOS that had almost ...Show more

The worst part of this game for me were the overcrowded, junkpile HOS that had almost invisible items to locate and the mini-games that were far too easy. I dislike too many puzzles in HOPA games and it seems like the ones in this game were far too many and simply thrown in to give the gamer something to do.

As much as I appreciate a good mystery, Family Mysteries Poisonous Promises just wasn’t one of the better ones. I guess the voiceovers and the graphics simply didn’t appeal to me at all. At times the game seemed that it was pieced together and rushed to publication. The storyline was okay but the gameplay didn’t appeal to me. In fact, I could hardly complete the demo as the game didn’t hold my attention. I happen to know that this developer is capable of so much more than this comic book type game. I guess the bad HOS in the beginning of the game simply put me off. As always, I recommend that you try the demo because you might enjoy this game far more than I did. Happy gaming! Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+23points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises Unravel this family mystery and solve the case! 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.