Dream Catchers: The Beginning > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

4 / 5

50 of 55 found this review helpful

Oh I'm Gonna Have A Seat On The Minority Bench With This One - Completed Game

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

sportygal2009

fromSouth Bend, IN

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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

GAME OPTIONS:
No widescreen - Instead of black bars there is a blue border.
No voice overs
You can control the sound/music effects.
System Cursor or not.
Journal: This just holds story.
Compass: This is above the hint button. At first I thought it was a map but it just points you in the direction(s) you can go. There is no map.
3 play modes - I played the hardest mode. I didn't come across any ...Show more

GAME OPTIONS:
No widescreen - Instead of black bars there is a blue border.
No voice overs
You can control the sound/music effects.
System Cursor or not.
Journal: This just holds story.
Compass: This is above the hint button. At first I thought it was a map but it just points you in the direction(s) you can go. There is no map.
3 play modes - I played the hardest mode. I didn't come across any sparkles however black bar tips.

GAME PLAY: No real emphasis on anything. This here meaning the HOS and puzzles are balanced. The "adventure" side while there is back/forth I would consider this lite. I didn't miss the map. I never got lost in this game. There were a few objects that needed to be picked up outside of HOS that weren't so obvious to me and this was great. This flowed nice and smooth for me. I really enjoyed this. I had no tech issues.

HOS: The objects found by either standard word list or picture of the object. They are not interactive. I'm sure some on here will consider them Sanford & Son junkyard however they weren't for me. I enjoyed these but then I'm a fan of these. I had no problem here. Graphics nice and clear for me.

PUZZLES: This is my least favorite part of any game. The usual run of the mill found in many games here on Big Fish. I came across nothing new. There is an info button. I believe one had a reset button. The rest of them didn't need one. With exception to the slider puzzle with the one piece missing as I loathe these I found the rest to be easy. I only skipped one puzzle. The slider one.

VISUAL/SOUND QUALITY: My only criticisms here is no widescreen and no voices for the characters along with actual character interaction as they just appear on the screen with text dialogue to read. There isn't lots of reading though. I thought the graphics were just great especially more into the game. Will definitely be too old school/dated for some people though. I also liked the sound effects such as the snow crunching. The music good.

LEVEL OF CHALLENGE: My only criticism here is black bar tips on the hardest mode. I hope to see a custom mode in this developer's next game offering.

STORYLINE: Well this definitely had me intrigued as I'm really into dreams. I just had to see where this would take me however I must admit this was hard to follow. Usually if the story doesn't have me by the end of the demo I quit playing but I was really enjoying the game play and scenery along with I had a coupon code that was getting close to expiring so I ended up purchasing this game. I must say I'm so glad I did. The story ended up really coming together for me but yes I think a bit more could of been put into the story. From the title of this game and how the game ended it looks as if there may be a sequel to this.

MY PLAY TIME: This was about 3 hours for me. No hints used. Skipped one puzzle. Just perfect for me. A very nice time passer game on a rainy day as it's raining here in my part of the world.

FUN FACTOR: I'm not familiar with this developer so I read the credits in this game and it looks to be only about a dozen people involved in making this game. If this is indeed so well I think they did a pretty good job of making this game. Overall 4 stars from me. I had fun with this game. Thanks Big Fish and developer for a pretty good game here. I hope to see more from this developer Show less

I recommend this game!

+45points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

23 of 24 found this review helpful

Mixed bag - try the demo - 3.5 stars

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

AverageSizeFish

fromUSA

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

The graphics are sharp and clear and the artwork is well done. The game does not expand for a wide screen but this didn't bother me. The music is unobtrusive and fits the theme. Atmospheric sounds are minimal but what is there is well done. There are no voice overs which, in my opinion, is better than poorly done ones.

The storyline is a "relative rescue" story but it is handled very differently ...Show more

The graphics are sharp and clear and the artwork is well done. The game does not expand for a wide screen but this didn't bother me. The music is unobtrusive and fits the theme. Atmospheric sounds are minimal but what is there is well done. There are no voice overs which, in my opinion, is better than poorly done ones.

The storyline is a "relative rescue" story but it is handled very differently than most. Your character, concerned about her sister's well-being, heads off to find out why her letters have stopped. The remainder of the story seems to flip back and forth between reality and dreams but it wasn't always clear exactly which was which. It unfolds in cut scenes and monologues from other characters that you meet along the way.

The adventure component has quite a bit of back and forth built into it which slowed the game's momentum. The tasks are typical fare and not difficult to figure out. The overall objective, at any given time, was less obvious so at times game play felt task driven rather than objective driven. I performed tasks to progress in the game but I wasn't always sure where I was headed.

The HOS and puzzles are better than average and there is a good amount of both. HOS are clear and the objects you need to find are good sized. They ranged up to moderately challenging because some things are just well hidden. The puzzles were of varying types and they also ranged up to moderately challenging. The puzzles and HOS are a strong point of this game and they set it apart from the extremely easy games that seem to be the norm lately.

The user interface works very smoothly and I had no difficulties while playing the game. This is a second quality which sets this game apart from the many games coming out lately that have problems with a point and click system that requires too much precision to get things to work. I don't want to have to search for an unmarked, two pixel sweet spot to make something happen and with this game I didn't need to.

There is a journal that records your activities and gives insight into what is going on. The hint button works well. The game is an SE so there are no collectibles or achievements. There are three levels of difficulty but no custom option.

Overall, this game is a mixed bag that's hard to rate. There is much about it to recommend it including the graphics, ease of game play, and the puzzles/HOS. On the other hand, the storyline is a little difficult to follow and the pace is a little slow due to the back and forth nature of the inventory collection component. From reading other reviews it seems this might be a first game by a new developer. If so, I hope they keep making games because this one shows a lot of promise. I recommend trying the demo. 3.5 stars for effort. Show less

+22points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

23 of 27 found this review helpful

What an unexpected gem!

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

LeadingEdge

fromPleasantly Surprised

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong

Current Favorite:

Labyrinths of the World: Shattered Soul Collector's Edition

(58)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The story opens with a little back-story prompting a decision to visit your sister whose letters have abruptly stopped coming. As you are speeding on your way, suddenly, a specter appears on the road (surprised?) causing you to swerve and crash into a ravine (didn't see that coming riiiight?).

I was kept wanting to leave the game, but . . .

The artwork is exceptional, the voice-overs are well ...Show more

The story opens with a little back-story prompting a decision to visit your sister whose letters have abruptly stopped coming. As you are speeding on your way, suddenly, a specter appears on the road (surprised?) causing you to swerve and crash into a ravine (didn't see that coming riiiight?).

I was kept wanting to leave the game, but . . .

The artwork is exceptional, the voice-overs are well done, the music is soothing, and the game play is smooth.

OTOH, there were annoyances like no wide-screen (srsly?) and in the first HO (spoiler alert?) a garden hoe is the correct choice for "hammer" (groan).

Just when I was about to exit (like yeah I really want out of this now) the plot twisted, more like turned in on itself and I just had to see how it worked itself worked out.

It is a very minimalistic SE: no distracting morphing objects, no hunting for extraneous collectibles, no SG, no teleporting map, no a lot of things that have become de rigueur for HOs and HOPAs. Not only that, but there's more of the aforementioned annoyances - not a lot, but really there shouldn't even be one.

Even so, having finished the game, I am looking forward to the next installment.

I would give this gem an enthusiastic "5" overall, but for the poor translation and (sometimes) cryptic directions. Nonetheless, an enjoyable game.

As your experience may differ, try before you buy. Show less

I recommend this game!

+19points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

24 of 36 found this review helpful

Great timekiller!

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

UrusShaitan

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Strategy

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

A stylish game, made in an appropriate rhythm.
There is nothing new, but in general, the game makes a positive impression. If you are looking for a game to pass the evening and get a calm and positive emotions - this game is for you.

I recommend this game!

+12points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

4 of 5 found this review helpful

Unique! Demo Does No Justice!

PostedJuly 14, 2015

pcpat923

fromJersey Girl

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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):Large File, Mahjong

Current Favorite:

Top Secret Finders

(92)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Just goes to show how many of the glitter and glitz games realistically pale in comparison to a unique game with stunning artwork and a decent story line! The demo does no justice as gameplay starts out differently than what gamers are usually accustomed. However, if it's a gem you're truly looking for, then look no further.

Absolutely beautiful hand-drawn scenes and objects. Puzzles are fun and ...Show more

Just goes to show how many of the glitter and glitz games realistically pale in comparison to a unique game with stunning artwork and a decent story line! The demo does no justice as gameplay starts out differently than what gamers are usually accustomed. However, if it's a gem you're truly looking for, then look no further.

Absolutely beautiful hand-drawn scenes and objects. Puzzles are fun and do-able with no hair pulling. On with the game! Hidden object scenes are brimming with large hand-drawn, beautifully rendered objects to enjoy. Breath taking, creative scenes; lush, brilliant art and colors while gentle piano notes unobtrusively play a steady mellow tune in the background.

You are Mia's brother and must enter the dream world of your sister to wake her from an unexplained coma. Something is amiss! For some reason, you did not stay in the same condition as your sister and must put things right.

Story continues to unfold. Very simplistic in style and absorbing comparatively speaking to so many other rather boring razzle dazzle games whose demos seemed promising at the onset.

A very well thought out, relaxing game.
Enjoy! -Mama Mia- Show less

I recommend this game!

+3points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

71 of 84 found this review helpful

Am I Dreaming?

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

pennmom36

fromEnter their dreams and set an alarm clock, that'll work right?

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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

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Phantasmat Collector's Edition

(100)

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Put on your thinking cap because this story is all over the place, I'm not even sure I'm awake! When your sister Mia suddenly stops writing you letters about her teaching position at a private boarding school, you pack your bags and fire up the ole Studebaker and head for the Boarding school. Personally I would have called her first, anyway as you reach the summit near the school, a dark ...Show more

Put on your thinking cap because this story is all over the place, I'm not even sure I'm awake! When your sister Mia suddenly stops writing you letters about her teaching position at a private boarding school, you pack your bags and fire up the ole Studebaker and head for the Boarding school. Personally I would have called her first, anyway as you reach the summit near the school, a dark apparition with glowing red eyes causes you to swerve, slow down is my advice. You wake up at the bottom of a ravine and the first thing you notice is the Studebaker (I really have no idea what kind of car she actually had) mangled and car parts everywhere, the good news? There isn't a scratch on you, this must be your lucky day! As you make your way through the briars and thickets, you come across a hut in the middle of nowhere, this certainly is your lucky day! Tah dah...there's your sister standing all warm and cozy in the living room, but wait, she tells you that you're only dreaming and that it's not easy to escape the dream world, but she's going to help you do just that. (does she really want to wake up, that car accident looked painful) Next thing you know she's at the boarding school listening to the head mistress sob pathetically about an epidemic (epidemic!! it's a little late now don't you think) Turns out Mia and her students fell asleep last week and never woke up, nobody knows how to wake them up. Once you find the master key you open Mia's door, yep she's asleep and bam! you're asleep too, nite nite. You wake up and you're right back where you started from next to the ole Studebaker which somehow ended up at the bottom of a teeny tiny puddle of water? So at this point, I have no idea whether I'm awake or asleep, I thought I was awake the first time but Mia tells me I wasn't, so am I dreaming?

The demo stops abruptly after you fix two broken statues who invite you to join them with a promise that the evil entity cannot enter this realm. Eventually you will enter the dreams of the students and try to defeat the entity responsible, and if all goes well, save your sister Mia, or at the very least wake her up. The story is a good story, it's just not very focused. The introductory video was very well done, leading me to believe the graphics would be decent, I was disappointed to find this wasn't the case. The graphics aren't horrible, but they certainly can't compare to an exclusive, original BF game. There isn't much to do in each scene, you will be lucky to pick up one inventory item and either a puzzle to eventually solve or a hidden object scene. There aren't any voiceovers just dialog boxes to read but the soundtracks aren't bad. The inventory bar is pretty basic, the icons aren't even labeled, gears are for the main menu, an amulet for the hint button, the compass simply shows you directional arrows of the available paths you can take.

The Hidden Object Scenes are pretty basic with no frills attached, no interactions, just listed items to find or pictures of items to find. Some of the scenes are repeated which is something I hate because it's boring a second time around, especially when it was less than 5 minutes ago. The mini games were really just variations of puzzles, sliding tiles around by using an empty space as you complete a picture, or placing stained glass puzzle pieces together in the form of an owl. This game isn't a total waste of time, it has it's entertainment value, but BF has certainly got us all spoiled, enjoy! Show less

I recommend this game!

+58points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

34 of 48 found this review helpful

Give it a Chance!!

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

biscuitsmama

fromCalifornia, 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.
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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

As Dream Catchers the Beginning opens you are on your way to visit your sister Mia at boarding school. Mia regularly corresponds with you but since you haven’t heard from her in some time you are worried and have decided to check on her. Of course, what would you expect but a good old car accident to set the stage and, bingo, as you are driving you see a dark figure in the road and drive off a ...Show more

As Dream Catchers the Beginning opens you are on your way to visit your sister Mia at boarding school. Mia regularly corresponds with you but since you haven’t heard from her in some time you are worried and have decided to check on her. Of course, what would you expect but a good old car accident to set the stage and, bingo, as you are driving you see a dark figure in the road and drive off a cliff. It appears you are not seriously injured, or are you? It’s very early in the game and, unfortunately, this is where the storyline begins to lose its way. I have my own theory as to what is happening but since this is a game, anything goes and I will just have to keep playing to see if I can sort it all out.

Dream Catchers the Beginning is certainly an interesting game that at first glance seems like an older game that might have been dusted off and recycled since it lacks many of the more sophisticated features of the newer type HOPA games. There are three modes of gameplay – easy, normal and hard. Those of you who hate sparkles in a game might find Dream Catchers more to your liking since the few there are appear to be extremely faint and not too noticeable in the easy mode. The other big issue is that there is no option for widescreen. Normally, I would quit playing at this point but there are some things I like about the game in spite of its lack of newer features. I found that even though the game did not have widescreen it didn’t seem to interfere with my enjoyment of the game. The graphics are very clear and lovely, with a lot of color and, IMHO, the artists have done a great job in creating the scenery and characters. There are no voiceovers and although the dialogue is written, it is clear and easy to see, and most importantly, at least for me, does not appear to have too many glaring issues with language or grammar.

The tools in the game are very minimal with a compass on the lower left that only provides a directional arrow to point the way. The journal on the lower right is far more helpful and provides more information on the story.

The HOS in the demo are straight-forward and require no interaction to find objects. The first HOS was the type where I found items by picture, and unfortunately the pictures were very small and I had to put some thought into what they were. The others in the demo were fortunately the list type and it was much easier to find the items since I didn’t have to play a guessing game. I didn’t encounter many puzzles but the first one was a slider type where I had to arrange tiles to create a picture.

I’ve seen many reviews for this game, some of them not very positive, but I am intrigued enough that I think it will be a buy for me. It is not a glitzy game that is polished but it has some great HOS and, hopefully, more puzzles that provide some challenge. Since I have not previously heard of this developer, I think this might be their first attempt at a hidden object game and I congratulate them on their effort, and hope to see more from them in the future. Yes, the game may not be for everyone but I did find the demo entertaining and decided that this is a game I want to continue playing. As always, try the game for yourself to see if Dream Catchers the Beginning is a game you will enjoy. Show less

I recommend this game!

+20points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

7 of 9 found this review helpful

Good game for a punch code freebie!

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

jocasta1

fromToronto Canada

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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, Large File

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

This is a pleasant enough game, not great, but not bad. It plays kind of slowly, and even the most challenging level isn't very hard, but it has nice graphics and an OK story line. I am going to use a free game code on it, as it is nice to have a pleasant, easy-going game to play in between the more hard edged and super challenging ones.

I recommend this game!

+5points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

23 of 39 found this review helpful

This is a really good game..........5 years ago!!

PostedSeptember 10, 2014

LogieBaby

fromDartmouth, Ma.

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):Word, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Brain Teaser

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

The developer is a new one and if this game had hit the market a few years ago, lots of folks would have enjoyed it immensely.
However a game with 2009 standards just doesn't cut it in 2014.
I assume the developer does not have the technical knowledge to create something that is commonplace in today's gaming world. On the plus side, the hidden object scenes are well done with some items cleverly ...Show more

The developer is a new one and if this game had hit the market a few years ago, lots of folks would have enjoyed it immensely.
However a game with 2009 standards just doesn't cut it in 2014.
I assume the developer does not have the technical knowledge to create something that is commonplace in today's gaming world. On the plus side, the hidden object scenes are well done with some items cleverly hidden in plain sight. Graphically the game looks good and is easy on the eye. The story line is nothing new. What few puzzles I encountered in the demo which for me ended after 35 minutes of play were all easy to master. This game is geared toward the beginner HOPA player. For those of us who have thrilled over MCF games, the Awakening series, the Dark Parables, etc. Dream Catchers cannot fill the bill. Since the game is called the Beginning perhaps the developer has a sequel in mind. If so, refine and broaden the techie side of game creation. Then you might have something compelling. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+7points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

3 of 7 found this review helpful

Okay

PostedSeptember 18, 2014

Torpedo1

fromCeres lil-gal

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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

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Two and a half stars. I almost got board. The game did not flow real smoothly. I am not sure I would buy this one.

Graphics were nice. Characters were good. Compass was good to have. Puzzle were okay.

I don't recommend this game.

-1point

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Dream Catchers: The Beginning Enter other's dreams to save your sister! 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.