Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

57 of 63 found this review helpful

One of My Current Top Ten Games

PostedNovember 19, 2011

StuMotor

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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

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

If you have stumbled across this game, please give it a try. The graphics are glorious, the story is cool, and the puzzles are fun. In fact, this game has puzzles that I haven't seen in any other game: very creative and challenging. This is a sweetheart of a game.

I recommend this game!

+51points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

36 of 38 found this review helpful

Very much its own thing

PostedJuly 14, 2012

Estara

fromGermany

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File

Current Favorite:

Sonya Collector's Edition

(8)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I may have played casual games here for a year now, but I can't rightly judge what is easy or hard for other gamers, so here are my bare-bones for why I loved this game (playing on the easiest setting).

The beautiful song on the title screen with the VW transporter (full song at that - if you watch the credits you get a link to the singer's website) really sets the tone for the beautifully weird ...Show more

I may have played casual games here for a year now, but I can't rightly judge what is easy or hard for other gamers, so here are my bare-bones for why I loved this game (playing on the easiest setting).

The beautiful song on the title screen with the VW transporter (full song at that - if you watch the credits you get a link to the singer's website) really sets the tone for the beautifully weird feeling of the whole game, from the graphics to the music to the gameplay (creating those symbols with cards and shooting targets to turn various gears into the correct position I have not seen used before).

The voice overs are lovely. It all sounded British enough for me, but I'm not a native Brit. The cutscenes have this weird - part photographic part drawn appearance that works really well - especially in the flashback scene to the youth of the heroine). And the places and things you interact with ... they remind me of ... I don't know... graphic artist Möbius' sense of the weird?

The HOD part is fairly average, but the scenes that the HOD are set in can be fun.

The game alone - the SE ending - is fully sufficient and happy end enough for this slightly melancholic story, but the bonus game gives you more of a sense of completion because the heroine deals with the original curse and its caster in a fitting way (wait for the amazing drawgate guardians).

Kudos to the graphic artists and designers here, and the sound engineers who mixed up into an amazing brew. I'd buy another game in this vein right away. Show less

I recommend this game!

+34points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

31 of 35 found this review helpful

Now one of my favorites!

PostedDecember 1, 2011

swinner

fromSolana Beach, CA

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

This game really impressed me. Many of the current titles have great graphics and this one does too. But what sets it apart is a better story than most (which often pretty silly!), really creative and fun puzzles (some on the tough side) and absolutely awesome music. Kudos to the developers and looking forward to their next title.

I recommend this game!

+27points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

19 of 22 found this review helpful

very enjoyable game

PostedJuly 13, 2012

PsychoPrincessX

fromVirginia, USA

Skill Level:Expert

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

Current Favorite:

Princess Isabella - A Witch's Curse

(40)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

took me few good hours to finish this game in hard mode. the story is lovely, so sad in the same time. you play as a girl who's going to find out how her parents died. you have a deck of cards with symbols that help you all the way through the game. i wont give any spoilers i'll let you enjoy it.

the graphics are absolutely beautiful, the music is mellow so watch out cause it almost put me to ...Show more

took me few good hours to finish this game in hard mode. the story is lovely, so sad in the same time. you play as a girl who's going to find out how her parents died. you have a deck of cards with symbols that help you all the way through the game. i wont give any spoilers i'll let you enjoy it.

the graphics are absolutely beautiful, the music is mellow so watch out cause it almost put me to sleep couple times. there's voice over all the time even for item decriptions but if it bothers you or you prefer to read you can turn it off from the options panel. i enjoyed the voice cause the girl had a sweet british accent

when it comes about the difficulty of hog and puzzles this game can be pretty challenging. the hidden objects are very well blended, but not stupid hidden like in other games. the symbols were sometimes hard to match. i had to use the hint couple times on the hog since the developer took good care to hide them right in front of your eyes lol Show less

I recommend this game!

+16points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 9 found this review helpful

Quite Possibly the BEST Game I've EVER Played. Wait. It IS the BEST.

PostedNovember 3, 2014

sfr8rfan

fromIn the Pantheon of Great Games

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, Hidden Object, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart Collector's Edition

(50)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Fun Factor: From the first moment I thought this game was exceptional and very fun. I am NOT kidding: you begin the game with a track of music that would be a Top 25 hit upon release, I believe, That's just the beginning. While it has no bearing on how good the game is or isn't, how many games have you played that have a a SONG to introduce the game? The quality started at the top and just ...Show more

Fun Factor: From the first moment I thought this game was exceptional and very fun. I am NOT kidding: you begin the game with a track of music that would be a Top 25 hit upon release, I believe, That's just the beginning. While it has no bearing on how good the game is or isn't, how many games have you played that have a a SONG to introduce the game? The quality started at the top and just distanced itself from the rest of the pack as the game went on.

Visual/Sound Quality: Incredibly well done. Think the best you've played and then give it an up factor...you'll be approaching the level of Curse. I'm feeling like a shill with all the superlatives, but....that's the way it goes. I was enthralled by the detail of the visuals. Never so busy as to be distracting. Always throbbing with intensity, however.

The Sound Quality is unequaled. Begin with the music...not just the theme song, but the background music and sound effects were superior...poetic rather than prosaic. The lip synching is as good as it gets. Even when seen at a distance you could tell the characters lips looked as though they were really speaking. By the way, the voice actors are as incredible as every other detail of this game.

Level of Challenge: I have never played more difficult nor well designed HOS. The level of difficulty did not cause me to be frustrated. Rather, I looked forward to more and more HOG. I've never said that before. I can't explain why it's so good other than to say that was the plan. The scenes aren't "crowded." So often, items are poorly drawn and that causes the difficulty in finding them. Not so here. Drawn items seemed almost photographic and were perfectly hidden.

Storyline: A young lady's' parents have disappeared and she's summoned to help find them. Through magic and mystery she does just that. Helped along the way...but also interfered with (by surprising adversaries), she accomplishes her goal.

I don't have to think twice. This is the best.
How long it will maintain this position I do not know: I'll be playing the sequel next.

Get this game. I can't figure out how you'd not like it.
Typically, I go for police procedurals. This is not that at all. I was not disappointed.

I have not gotten to any of the CE "bling" yet but I'd be surprised if there's a sudden drop off in quality. Not surprised. Flabbergasted. Show less

I recommend this game!

+9points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 10 found this review helpful

Superlative game in every way!

PostedApril 17, 2016

LunaNik

fromI would love to see more adventures with Edwina Margrave! (Er...for the Mac, please.)

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

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart CE
Review based on multiple replays, including bonus chapter

PROLOGUE...
I purchased this game in mid-2012, and it remains among my favorites, to be replayed when I want to escape from the world and immerse myself into a story-driven game universe. Every aspect of the game’s design conspires to draw you into Edwina’s quest as she walks the thin line ...Show more

Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart CE
Review based on multiple replays, including bonus chapter

PROLOGUE...
I purchased this game in mid-2012, and it remains among my favorites, to be replayed when I want to escape from the world and immerse myself into a story-driven game universe. Every aspect of the game’s design conspires to draw you into Edwina’s quest as she walks the thin line between our reality and a world of myth.

ONCE UPON A TIME...
Edwina Margrave grew up in a small village in the English countryside where she lost her parents in a tragic accident under mysterious circumstances. She was raised by Elize Thorn, who ran an apothecary, and whom she hasn’t seen for years. Now, Edwina returns to uncover the enigma shrouding the death of her parents.

But the village appears nearly abandoned. Strange devices called shadowlocks guard its boundaries, but are they there to prevent something from getting in? Or to prevent anyone from escaping? Edwina will need sharp eyes, a clear mind, and her divination skills to unravel the story.

PLAY THE GAME...
HO scenes are all basic, non-interactive lists, but none are easy. The objects are truly ‘hidden’ in a number of ways—blended into the background, partially obscured behind other items, over- or under-sized. These are real HO scenes.

Puzzles run the gamut from fairly easy to medium difficulty, and the instructions are always clear. Quite a few run in series.
• Collect sheets of music for the piano in Elize Thorn’s parlor which, when played correctly, will reveal…secrets.
• Use Edwina’s divination cards to divine the names of animal spirits. A row of shapes is given, the halves of which are along the edges of the cards. You must match up the cards to make the shapes, and there is only one way to do so.
• Collect ‘recipes’ for the shadowlocks, then find the ingredients needed to unlock them.

Lots of the puzzles hearken to adventure games, where you find clues at one point that, eventually, match up to a puzzle later on. The gramaphone records are an example of this. So, explore, sketch, and pick up everything you can!

SIGHTSEEING...
The graphics, while not cinematically realistic, are charmingly rendered with lots of detail, and fit in well with the ethereal theme of the storyline. The color palette is used wisely, with warmer colors used in comforting scenes, and darker cool colors in eerie scenes. The cutscenes are not fully animated, but a series of stills. However, I don’t find that this detracts one bit. NPCs are live actors overlaid with graphics, and they blend nicely into the rendered background.

SOUNDBOARD...
The music is stellar, starting with the lovely song that opens the game and extending to the ambient pieces that accompany every scene. I much prefer ambient game music to melodic, as the melodies become annoying after awhile. Voiceovers are extremely well done, professional and fitting. Environmental sounds are exquisite.

TOOLBOX...
You have a double inventory: one for usable items and one for ‘keepsakes,’ which are notes with clues and sketches. Switch between them by clicking the spotted egg. There’s no map, but you won’t need one. The village isn’t that large, and navigation is fairly simple since the areas are so diverse.

OH BOTHER!
Though the Mac requirement specifies OS 10.4, this game works perfectly with El Capitan.

OOH! PIECE OF CANDY...
The CE doesn’t offer the usual bells and whistles, but the bonus chapter is worthy. Edwina goes searching for Oban to remove the curse of the severed heart. (This occurs after the events of The Blacksmith’s Daughter.) And there’s the SG.

EPILOGUE...
Frankly, this is one of my All-Time Top Ten Games. You’re probably wondering why, since this is hardly an epic production with a laundry list of CE extras. It’s because the story is utterly superb and unfolds so perfectly that immersion is complete. A game is nothing without a great story as its foundation.

Next, gameplay wasn’t the usual ‘find a million shaped medallion to fit into matching indentations.’ It was varied and interesting. Third, the graphics were beautiful all around: color, dimension, perspective, light and shadow. Last, the music was ethereally gorgeous and aided immersion.

Straight up: five stars. Be sure to check out The Blacksmith’s Daughter too. Show less

I recommend this game!

+8points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

15 of 20 found this review helpful

Margrave: The curse of the severed heart collectors edition

PostedNovember 18, 2011

qbee2

fromOntario, Canada

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Excellent game, music was appropriate and the puzzles challenging. Cannot wait for the sequel.

Qbee

I recommend this game!

+10points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

6 of 6 found this review helpful

Very Imaginative Other World

PostedJune 11, 2014

MatildaRabbit

fromMS

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

There were two things I enjoyed the most about this game. One was what I was already hoping for: a mystery that involves a creepy old house we have to explore. The other was what I didn't expect: the unique world around the house and devices that the character had to figure out. It was unlike any other game I had ever played. I really enjoyed taking my time and lingering over the game rather just ...Show more

There were two things I enjoyed the most about this game. One was what I was already hoping for: a mystery that involves a creepy old house we have to explore. The other was what I didn't expect: the unique world around the house and devices that the character had to figure out. It was unlike any other game I had ever played. I really enjoyed taking my time and lingering over the game rather just rushing through and getting it over with. Show less

I recommend this game!

+6points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

13 of 19 found this review helpful

Great Game!

PostedDecember 10, 2011

mungo777

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Very unique game with unique puzzles. Give this game a try and you won't be disappointed! Lovely graphics, interesting story and quite the gem.

I recommend this game!

+7points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

4 of 4 found this review helpful

Beautifully Done!

PostedMarch 3, 2013

spiritlaughing

fromWest Columbia, South Carolina, USA

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

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

Current Favorite:

Drawn: The Painted Tower

(183)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is surely one of my favorites now! Gorgeous graphics, the kind that you wish you could actually explore physically. They provide a truly great aura for the playing experience.

Love the story line, the multitude of great puzzles, and there is not a plethora of HOS, but still just enough for me. I love the challenge of the puzzles more than the HOS. The voice overs are really good and your ...Show more

This is surely one of my favorites now! Gorgeous graphics, the kind that you wish you could actually explore physically. They provide a truly great aura for the playing experience.

Love the story line, the multitude of great puzzles, and there is not a plethora of HOS, but still just enough for me. I love the challenge of the puzzles more than the HOS. The voice overs are really good and your inventory is separate from your info, such as flyers, pieces of newspaper etc. Those info sheets carry some major clues. I am looking forward to the next Margrave!
I had so much fun doing this one! Show less

I recommend this game!

+4points

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