Detectives United: Beyond Time > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

4 / 5

11 of 13 found this review helpful

Better than previous Detectives United

PostedJune 17, 2023

Alicun

fromOzark, AL

Skill Level:Expert

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

Current Favorite:

Bridge to Another World: A Trail of Breadcrumbs Collector's Edition

(24)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

The flow of this game is very good. I own all of the previous games. All in CE format. Due to the bad reviews, I decided to wait for the SE, and even then, waited for a good sale to hedge my bet. I didn't try before buying this game. I had low expectations. BUT the game is enjoyable even for more experienced HOPA players. Different twist on the puzzles and HO's were quite inventive. I actually like Ewan. He fits in this game. James was always almost being killed in this series so as a newlywed his decision to retire made sense. I liked the sense of closure. Don't let the critical reviews deter you from this game!

It is a good game. Show less

I recommend this game!

+9points

11of 13voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

3 / 5

71 of 87 found this review helpful

ANOTHER BAD DECISION MADE

PostedJune 9, 2023

pennmom36

fromPoor Elf! დ Loki

Top Reviewer
This "Top Reviewer" is one of our most frequent game reviewers. We think you'll trust what they have to say and find their reviews helpful and informative.
Top Reviewer

Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Completed Game: approximately 4.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate

Let me start by saying that I actually enjoyed playing this game. The storyline isn't difficult to keep up with as long as you don't skip reading notes and the plots that unfold via the Keywords in Sentence HO scenes. I enjoyed most of the mini-games, and there was a good variety of Hidden Objects Scenes that were more challenging than in most HO's by this developer...but, there's always a but, eh?...

Whoever is in charge of the scripts in these once beloved series by Elephant Games must be getting mixed messages, or they don't bother to read reviews! The only reason there are multiple games in any given series is that fans of the game have made a connection with the main characters PERIOD!

Grim Tales has 23 games in the series which is quite impressive. What do they decide to do? Why they ditched Daddy Richard, of course! In Paranormal Files, they ditch the main character, Rick Rogers, who started the Paranormal Investigation Agency in the first place! Mystery Trackers has 19 games in the series. What did the writers decide to do? Ditch our beloved Elf, of course. To make matters worse, they gave Elf a cameo spot in this game, sitting inside a doghouse in the alley with no food or water, being harassed by a dumpster cat daily while being left outside alone to defend himself in the elements! (not to mention that they brought in a whole new MT team of tweenagers) Now I'd love to tell you what happens to this episode of Detectives United, featuring Anna Grey from Grim Tales, James Blackthorn from Haunted Hotel, and Dorian Brown from Mystery Trackers, but I don't want to ruin the disappointing moment for you.

Obviously, the writers are attempting to draw in a younger HOPA fan base by phasing out the original, aging investigative teams and replacing them with a much younger group. Newsflash...our age bracket is the reason HOPAs are a genre in the first place. Do you really think Gen X plays or wants to play a HOPA game? Do you really think our generation purchases 20+ games in a series while secretly hoping the beloved characters get replaced? Do you think maybe, just maybe, it might be a better idea to ask for advice and input from the generation who put you on the map?

GADGETS/HELPER:
There are no gadgets! Not even Agent Brown introduces a new gadget. They talk about safe cracking skills in the first scene, but even that scenario was "old-school" safecracking basics 101. Usually, you play as all 3 characters, Agent Dorian Brown from Mystery Trackers, James Blackthorn from Haunted Hotel, and Anna Grey from Grim Tales. However, as mentioned above, it's out with the old and in with the new generation as they eventually introduce a fourth Detective, a young boy named Ewan Florence who seems to have a lot of family baggage.

COLLECTIBLES & MORPHS (CE Bonus Chapter only)
Morphing Objects in an Elephant Game is a thing of the past. That feature walked out the door when they booted poor little Elf to the street curb! There are 24 Zoom Zone Puzzle Fragments that allow you to assemble a Screensaver. There are 12 Collectible Personal Items available as well, none of which are particularly interesting.

HIDDEN OBJECT SCENES:
The Hidden Object Scenes were more challenging than usual, or perhaps the instructions were just pretty vague? I liked that they had a small Zoom Zone HOP just prior to the main HO scene, some of which were pretty darn good, such as finding 2 halves of each picture, shown as silhouetted shapes, or finding sections on an Astrology Map via swatches. The main HO scenes included Interactive List Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, and Silhouetted Shape varieties.

MINI-GAMES:
I really enjoyed the puzzles because they were all doable, with the exception of one mini-game towards the end that I was just clueless as to how it was solved. The directions said to press buttons on a spiderweb formation in the correct order and maybe I was just having a duh moment but the clues seemed pretty vague to me.

BONUS CHAPTER: (Collector's Edition version only)
The Bonus chapter focuses on young Detective Ewan Florence who is anxious to visit the past with his mentor Anna Gray. His enthusiasm and lack of control over his newfound Magical skills may prove to have deadly consequences when they travel to the past and things don't go quite as planned. There are 6 additional Mini-Games and 4 Hidden Object Scenes that take place over 8 additional locations. You'll continue your search for the final 6 Zoom Zone Puzzle Fragments and 3 Collectibles. After completing the Bonus Chapter, you'll gain entry to the Expedition Room which allows you to return to the scene to search for missed Puzzle Pieces and Collectibles.

COLLECTOR'S EDITION EXTRA'S:
I'd like to mention that most of the CE content is blocked from view until the entire game, including the BC, has been completed. This is a deceptive practice and the only reason they are hiding the content is because they no longer offer decent CE content. They no longer offer Concept Art pictures, Movie Video Sequences, (contrary to the information stats in another review) no Morphing Objects, etc. When a developer hides their stuff, there's always a reason!

There are 6 Wallpaper, 1 Screensaver, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 9 replayable Mini-Games, 4 Music Soundtracks, 22 Achievements, 24 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments, a single Jigsaw to assemble, 12 Collectible Personal Items, an Expedition Room (return to scenes to search for missed Collectibles & Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments) 3 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide.

Are you disappointed in the direction these beloved series are heading? Lets talk about games at my new forum! thewoodsforum.boards.net Show less

+55points

71of 87voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

3 / 5

17 of 18 found this review helpful

James Blackthorne is gone now too?

PostedJune 10, 2023

sloopiel

fromBronx, NY

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

My favorite characters have been taken out of these games. I liked Richard, he was evil, interesting, and very witty. I found him entertaining. Now we only see him flitting through as a phantom, and Anna alone is boring. I liked James Blackthorne from Haunted Hotel days, and now he just quits at the end of this game?
I hope they will do something to make the personalities in these games a bit ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+16points

17of 18voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

2 / 5

12 of 13 found this review helpful

short expensive James and Richard missing

PostedJune 13, 2023

Loriekay1988

fromBoston

Skill Level:Intermediate

Got rid of James...No richard. Game is boring. Why do you keep doing that. James out of Haunted hotel too. Richard out of Grimm tales. Rick Rogers out of Paranormal files. All good characters are gone. If it works why change it? Changed Mystery trackers too. No Elf and it's the kids now.
This particular games lacks so much. Not a good story and James is absent from most. and no Richard so not ...Show more

I don't recommend this game.

+11points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

7 of 7 found this review helpful

too short

PostedJune 12, 2023

materin55

fromQld

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

This game, unlike the previous Detectives United, was no challenge at all and it's far too short. Not worth the money.

I don't recommend this game.

+7points

7of 7voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes7No0

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