Zarya - 1 > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

25 of 32 found this review helpful

More of a story than game,but what a story.

PostedAugust 28, 2017

sealsbroken13

fromUSA

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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, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The description of the game explains it well. When I first tried it I did not last long and so rewind time and I love this game because I am into good stories (normally in books and movies) I loved the fact that every time I re-winded the story it gave me a little more insight as to what was going on as well as built even more mystery,I kept playing until the free trial shut me off (a real rarity ...Show more

The description of the game explains it well. When I first tried it I did not last long and so rewind time and I love this game because I am into good stories (normally in books and movies) I loved the fact that every time I re-winded the story it gave me a little more insight as to what was going on as well as built even more mystery,I kept playing until the free trial shut me off (a real rarity for me.I bout the game played for hours and still have not run out of story. If there is one draw back I would say it does not let you skip conversations fast enough. If your not into great stories but game play only skip this game,but if you are then this is a great game can't wait to see if they come out with one for mars. Show less

I recommend this game!

+18points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

4 of 4 found this review helpful

Intriguing adventure game

PostedSeptember 6, 2017

moodyree

fromVictoria, Australia

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Puzzle, Strategy

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

A throw back to the choose your own adventure books I read as a kid. The big thing you have to know about this game is its text based, so lots of reading, don't expect to see anything but text. Have read several reviews slamming it because of that, sorry THATS the point of this game, it actually makes you use your imagination, something most games today don't make you do. Dialogue can be a little ...Show more

A throw back to the choose your own adventure books I read as a kid. The big thing you have to know about this game is its text based, so lots of reading, don't expect to see anything but text. Have read several reviews slamming it because of that, sorry THATS the point of this game, it actually makes you use your imagination, something most games today don't make you do. Dialogue can be a little slow at times.
Lots of choices to make to get your crew killed (I have yet to get them home). A few nice twists in the story lines. A nice change of pace from point and shoot, and hidden object games. Well done Big Fish, more like this please. Show less

I recommend this game!

+4points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

11 of 17 found this review helpful

STUNNING, FANTASTIC STORYLINE in this GRAPHICAL-TEXT BASED THRILLER. NO HOPS, NO POINT & CLICK, NO PUZZLES, NO 3D or 360

PostedAugust 29, 2017

SparkleGlow100

fromFavorites: Legacy-Mercy of the Gallows, Untold History Descendant of the Sun, Dominic Crane 1 & 2.

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Zarya - 1

(33)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Available at BFG since 2017. Review based on several hours of gaming. You are the commander of a particular moon mission. For the story to progress, there is constant communication between you and your team, including photo updates. The communication appears as typed wording. Tension builds in the storyline as witty banter gives way to exhaustion and confusion. Rising fear must be subdued and the ...Show more

Available at BFG since 2017. Review based on several hours of gaming. You are the commander of a particular moon mission. For the story to progress, there is constant communication between you and your team, including photo updates. The communication appears as typed wording. Tension builds in the storyline as witty banter gives way to exhaustion and confusion. Rising fear must be subdued and the mission completed. How you respond to the team questions and scenarios, and how you decide to proceed at each stage, will affect how the game unfolds. If you have a catastrophic fail incident, the game allows you to rewind to a previous stage and choose different options. It isn't a difficult game to play, it's an experience.

The sound-effects and simulated computerized glitches and interference create the perfect environment for the game. Although there are no scenes with detailed graphics and no voice-overs, it really felt no different to watching a great sci-fi movie or reading a fantastic book. It was very difficult to stop playing and drag myself away. A lot of the tension is created by pauses in communication between what is being attempted or experienced and then what actually happens.

Thanks for having this game on BFG! Show less

I recommend this game!

+5points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 4 found this review helpful

Out Of This World!

PostedAugust 31, 2017

Kirland

fromGlued to the computer trying to help the Mission stay alive.

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Large File, Time Management

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Very interesting game. I really like it. Reminds me of Lifeline. So far I am not have very much success in the various paths I am taking. I am having a great time exploring with the Mission, trying to keep them safe and to get them home safely.

These adventure games are refreshing. Although, I do like the fantasy and beautiful graphics of so many of the games Big Fish offer; it is nice to have ...Show more

Very interesting game. I really like it. Reminds me of Lifeline. So far I am not have very much success in the various paths I am taking. I am having a great time exploring with the Mission, trying to keep them safe and to get them home safely.

These adventure games are refreshing. Although, I do like the fantasy and beautiful graphics of so many of the games Big Fish offer; it is nice to have a change.

I love science fiction adventure games. Keep them coming Big Fish. Show less

I recommend this game!

0points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

3 of 7 found this review helpful

Old school text adventure meets modern fx

PostedSeptember 2, 2017

greengoosepumpki

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I am sooo tired of Hidden Object and Time Management games. I love that Big Fish is coming out with the modern versions of old genres. This game has a very engaging storyline!

I recommend this game!

-1point

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Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 18 found this review helpful

MOON SCIENCE FICTION, OR IS IT?

PostedAugust 30, 2017

pcpat923

fromJersey Girl, SC

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Midnight Calling: Jeronimo Collector's Edition

(42)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Please do not give away the story in your reviews! Yikes! Less is more.
Demo Review--
I'm impressed with the overall presentation. Thanks, BFG for including this unique gaming release. Unlike 99.99% of the usual games presented, this is more a visual, interactive novel with a riveting story line. You are the Commander ordered to oversee a 4-man astronaut team. Goal--attempt location of a signal ...Show more

Please do not give away the story in your reviews! Yikes! Less is more.
Demo Review--
I'm impressed with the overall presentation. Thanks, BFG for including this unique gaming release. Unlike 99.99% of the usual games presented, this is more a visual, interactive novel with a riveting story line. You are the Commander ordered to oversee a 4-man astronaut team. Goal--attempt location of a signal source on the moon's surface. Your decisions affect the crew and players can return to a dialogue point with possibly new directives for new outcomes.

I didn't get a chance to look at much else as the overall display was so intriguing, the demo time ended. Without question, this game is a buy for me. Admiration and a big thanks to the game developers who nailed the moon conspiracy/controversy mixing fact with fiction. Or, is it? Enjoy! Show less

I recommend this game!

-14points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

A great story. A lot like the "Lifeline" games.

PostedAugust 7, 2023

Draconity

fromShakopee, MN

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This was a lot of fun to play. I won't spoil the mystery, but it is a blast. You might want to play it on mobile though if you want to play it in "real time" rather than skipping dead time.

I recommend this game!

0points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

It's a Love it or Hate it Kinda Game

PostedMay 1, 2022

SuperOmmi

fromDakar, Senegal

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Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Lost Lands: The Four Horsemen Collector's Edition

(144)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

While I enjoyed myself tremendously playing this game, I recognize that this is not the kind of game for everyone. It's a story-driven, actually dialog-driven, game. You are the commander of an away mission to the moon, steering the story through your direction of the main characters. The action unfolds through the dialog of the main characters reflecting the choices that the player makes.

The ...Show more

While I enjoyed myself tremendously playing this game, I recognize that this is not the kind of game for everyone. It's a story-driven, actually dialog-driven, game. You are the commander of an away mission to the moon, steering the story through your direction of the main characters. The action unfolds through the dialog of the main characters reflecting the choices that the player makes.

The game is a science fiction mystery. The more risks you take in choosing alternative options (which ultimately kill all of your characters) the more you learn about what's actually going on... and there is a LOT happening behind the scenes. You're attempting to find the source of a strange signal and then get all of your characters home safely.

The characters you interact with through dialog alone are all very well-drawn. Through simple dialog these characters are fully fleshed out and the story is riveting. You get hooked right away.

In the event that you get all of your guys killed (you will) you can rewind the story to any previous point in the game to try to get a "Successful Mission" outcome. The other possibilities are "Partial Success" or "Failure."

I had a blast! I played through multiple times before I got a successful mission outcome. But I'm still going to play it again taking other choices so that I can get all the details of the story and have my unanswered questions about what was going on on that mysterious moon base answered.

I highly recommend this game for people who like a good story! Show less

I recommend this game!

0points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

31 of 40 found this review helpful

THE ORPHEUS MISSION

PostedAugust 29, 2017

pennmom36

fromTo boldly read what no man has read

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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Phantasmat Collector's Edition

(100)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I get it, this game can be quite boring if you don't like to read endless dialog conversations. This game is very similar to Lifeline, however, with this game, you don't have to wait in real time for missions to be completed! The first few minutes of the game are very boring, but I stuck with it, and discovered that it has an amazing sci-fi storyline, and likeable characters. The best part about ...Show more

I get it, this game can be quite boring if you don't like to read endless dialog conversations. This game is very similar to Lifeline, however, with this game, you don't have to wait in real time for missions to be completed! The first few minutes of the game are very boring, but I stuck with it, and discovered that it has an amazing sci-fi storyline, and likeable characters. The best part about this game, is that you are in control of the mission, the choices you make, really do have an impact, and the choices you make, could get everyone killed. (you know that sounds cool)

Zarya-1 begins with a confidential encrypted e-mail from United Nations Space Exploration and Exploitation Direct, also known as UNSEED. You have been given a new assignment as Liaison-in-Command, sent to investigate an unidentified signal coming from the far side of the moon. Your team includes the leader Sarg, camera technician Savvy, doctor Bones, and my personal favorite character, Chase, the wise cracking civilian weapons and defense guy. I'm not sure if the Star Trek references are intentional (Jim, Bones etc) or coincidence.

You don't need to do anything other than read the dialog boxes and choose which questions to ask or directives to assign. Other reviewers have stated that the dialog moves way too slow, but if you go into the games settings, you can choose the dialog speed. This game will utterly bore you if you're not into reading, because there's nothing else to do or really see, but if you don't mind reading and decision making, the storyline is a fantastic sci-fi, is it humans or aliens plot!

Unlike the game Lifeline, which is the same exact concept, that requires you to wait for hours at a time for missions to be completed in real time, Zarya-1 gives you the opportunity to Fast-Forward the time frame, or if you prefer, you can wait, sometimes as long as two hours. The really cool part, is that IF you fail the mission by making the wrong decision (yep, I somehow managed to get everyone killed) this game allows you to Rewind the mission and start over. You can either rewind to the very beginning or to a later specified spot, allowing you to make different decisions that will hopefully change the outcome.

This obviously isn't a game for everyone, there aren't any puzzles to solve or inventory items to collect. There aren't any fancy graphics or cutsie helpers. There's just a black screen, with lots of dialog texts to read. Again, if you don't enjoy reading, you're going to hate this game. But if you can look at this as more of an interactive sci-fi online book, I think you'll find the storyline fascinating, so keep an open mind and enjoy! Show less

I recommend this game!

+22points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

7 of 7 found this review helpful

Interactive Space Novel

PostedAugust 30, 2017

Just_Joie

fromLouisiana, USA

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Strategy

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is strictly a text based interactive novel where your decisions and responses drive how the plot unfolds. If you enjoy a good read, this is your game. It has a great plot and is a lot of fun.

If you don't like reading or needing to use your imagination as it moves along, it is not. There are few pictures, the imagery flows in your own imagination as you read and respond. If your ability ...Show more

This is strictly a text based interactive novel where your decisions and responses drive how the plot unfolds. If you enjoy a good read, this is your game. It has a great plot and is a lot of fun.

If you don't like reading or needing to use your imagination as it moves along, it is not. There are few pictures, the imagery flows in your own imagination as you read and respond. If your ability here is limited, it is going to be very dull and slow and will not make you happy.

For those who enjoyed LIFELINE, this is similar, though moves a bit faster. I found it less immersive, perhaps because I did not feel I was there, but was safely away somewhere else simply texting to the team who was at risk. The sequels also got to me more so, because I knew the threat and felt more invested. That is lacking for me here a bit. I can't say why. Maybe it is because this has fewer descriptions and expressions of personal feelings. Even so, Zarya was a good tale. LIFELINE got a 5 off me, this one fully deserves the 4 I gave it. It is nice to see a few text based games turning up again in the industry.

I do not like most HOGs, and I actively dislike most match 3 games, so I do not review those types of games unless something about it really was exceptional. Zarya does not deserve the flood of low ratings it has been given. It is quite good and involved for the style it has been created in. It could have described more and given a bit more for the imagination to work with, however. Show less

I recommend this game!

+7points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Zarya - 1 An interactive sci-fi thriller set on the Moon. 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.