Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

146 of 168 found this review helpful

Classic Dark Parables (recommendations at bottom)

PostedJune 30, 2014

turkthesnake

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Strategy, Time Management

Current Favorite:

Enchantia: Wrath of the Phoenix Queen Collector's Edition

(139)

If you have played any Dark Parables games before, you pretty much know what you're going to get. Here, with a few exceptions, we have more of the same.

The exceptions:
~There are a couple of different endings depending on a choice you make at the end. I like feeling like I'm having a real influence on the story, but I also resent having to play through the whole game to try out the different ...Show more

If you have played any Dark Parables games before, you pretty much know what you're going to get. Here, with a few exceptions, we have more of the same.

The exceptions:
~There are a couple of different endings depending on a choice you make at the end. I like feeling like I'm having a real influence on the story, but I also resent having to play through the whole game to try out the different endings. I do think it makes the game more re-playable, so the different endings achieve their likely purpose.
~The interactive element in the FROGs that we saw introduced in Jack and the Sky Kingdom is gone, THANK GOODNESS. That was really annoying. (mac version)
~There are a lot more references to our past adventures as the fairy tale detective. All of the games in the series do this a little bit, but it's never been integral to the story. I've played all of the Dark Parables games multiple times, so I thought it was fun to see where some old friends were. Others might find it annoying.

The same:
~FROGs - fragmented object games, instead of HOGs. I love these.
~Everything, yes EVERYTHING, is gilded, bejeweled, and colorful. Even the objects that relate to the game's darker elements are beautiful. The storyline was flower-themed, and the graphics reflect this.
~Morphing objects that make the hint charge faster (CE)
~A clever twist on a familiar fairy tale. Although this time around, I felt like the plot was a little too removed from classic Rapunzel. Except for one very contrived reference to her hair, the Rapunzel character could have been anyone.
~More crests and keys than tools. At any given time, your inventory will probably be at least 75% ornate items that fit into a slot somewhere.
~A bonus game that is separate and complete in itself, rather than a contrived continuation of the main game. This isn't true of all of the Dark Parables games, but it is an emerging trend. (CE)

It is fair to say that the series hasn't evolved much, but why on earth would you want it to? Blue Tea fills a niche in the casual gaming world that no other developer even approaches. No one else does FROGs, really. There are original fairy tale games and games that faithfully follow a classic fairy tale story or fable, but no one else does the clever little twists on familiar stories. At least, they don't do it well. I always expect a unique storyline from this series, and I am never disappointed. The ornate graphics have become a trademark of Dark Parables. When I encounter it in other games, it feels referential. Keep it up devs! Don't listen to the haters!

So no other games are really going to compare to this game besides the others in the same series, but if you need something to tide you over, you can try some others by Blue Tea:
Fabled Legends: The Dark Piper
Macabre Mysteries: The Curse of the Nightingale
Enchantia: Wrath of the Phoenix Queen
Cursery: The Crooked Man and the Crooked Cat

Enchantia probably resembles Dark Parables the most, so I've included the link at left (er ... right? no. Left.). Also, if you are intrigued by the choose-your-own-adventure ending, I only know of one other game that sort of does this; Spirit Seasons: Little Ghost Story. Show less

I recommend this game!

+124points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

59 of 66 found this review helpful

Always Something New

PostedJune 26, 2014

BoomchuckPxyNiki

fromSpringfield, MO

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Brain Teaser, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Queen's Tales: The Beast and the Nightingale Collector's Edition

(81)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I've been a Dark Parables fan since Briar Rose awoke from her slumber in Dark Parables #1, and it's a series that continues to improve with each new release.

Others have touched on the story summary, so I won't rehash that. One thing I do notice, however, is how often reviewers post after playing the demo but before playing the game, and that often leaves out the most important parts! I've, ...Show more

I've been a Dark Parables fan since Briar Rose awoke from her slumber in Dark Parables #1, and it's a series that continues to improve with each new release.

Others have touched on the story summary, so I won't rehash that. One thing I do notice, however, is how often reviewers post after playing the demo but before playing the game, and that often leaves out the most important parts! I've, however, played this one through twice now, and I can confirm that this episode not only adds to the series in quality and story complexity (not to mention this artist/English teacher's nerdy love of allusions!), but it adds a brand new twist:

Three possible endings! When it comes to the showdown scene, you have a choice of using one of three artifacts, and I tried two. The first ended with bittersweet tragedy, the second, bittersweet redemption. I don't know about third yet, but I'm willing to bet it's more on the tragic side. I won't spoil which is which, as the DP games all have replayability, so I want you to find out for yourself.

The one thing that did disappoint me a little is some of the shortcuts made with animation (the rest of the artwork is so exquisite that I can't help but notice the drop in precise attention to details in animated sequences), and I do feel a little frustrated that the developers haven't yet made the transition to widescreen (this artwork is made to be seen in detail!), but neither bother me enough to affect my rating.

I'm a big follower of PC adventure games, having amassed a collection of over 200 (mostly adventure) games, and this one definitely fits cleanly into one of my top 20, if not 10 (and that's saying something, because there are some spectacular developers on the scene right now!).

4.9 stars out of 5.0, easy. And judging by the hints dropped about the next in the series, I'm going to be just as crazy waiting for Dark Parables 8 as I was for #7! (No, seriously, I scared my dog at 2 a.m. when I saw that this one was finally available. It's a good thing I don't have roommates, to say the least...) ;) Show less

I recommend this game!

+52points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

43 of 51 found this review helpful

Based off full game

PostedJune 26, 2014

NAVEMAN3

fromSan Antonio

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong

Current Favorite:

Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition

(120)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Oh my god. This is a good game. You can't really turn your self away and even though it felt like an hour and a half, it took me 3 hours to do. You have Rapunzel, Kai, Gerda(10 years later), Snow White, her brother Ross, and everything. And for those that thought the the kid in the demo was Gothal, big surprise she isn't.

The Good:
Visual: The most beautiful sernery ever since the last game and ...Show more

Oh my god. This is a good game. You can't really turn your self away and even though it felt like an hour and a half, it took me 3 hours to do. You have Rapunzel, Kai, Gerda(10 years later), Snow White, her brother Ross, and everything. And for those that thought the the kid in the demo was Gothal, big surprise she isn't.

The Good:
Visual: The most beautiful sernery ever since the last game and Cursery 10/10

Mood: Suspence and minor surprises 10/10

Voice-acting:Big improvement come the Sapranos sentence cuts and it fits the characters really well. 10/10

Story:Takes sometimes to put the pieces together but after a while it becomes less predictable and there are some surprises 10/10

FROGS: Too easy but hard on some of them 9/10

Puzzles: Too easy on some and others I had to go on guid for 9/10

Replayvalue: STOP MAKING US SIGN IN EVERYTIME WE WANT TO PLAY AGAIN!!! It's getting so annoying that now we can't stand it 3/10

Bonus game:Surprise surprise we get the prince from Snow Queen how a full grown man and he's hot. Also we got a true back story on 2 certain stories. Spoiler for one, flying monkies. 16.5/20

That Bad:
1. I'm not a big fan of achievements since they're my pet peeve but next time leave a hint on where we forget to find a shifted object or at least leave that one out and no achievement where we have to find ALL the pop-up notes cause there's going to some we're either going to skip or ignore. -2

2. I'm also not a fan of choice endings and if I do choose one, at least leave the other 2 open so I can see what I could've pick, not rewite myself in and play the WHOLE game again to see the endings. -5

3. Finally fix some of the bugs. There arn't many like last time, maybe 2 or 3, but they're getting a but noticable now here and there. -1.5

Overall, I'm giving this a 93% A-. A great game but in order to be a master you have to replay this a few times in order to get ALL the achievements and to not get lost more often then you should. Oh and before I forget, we got a hint for the next gam,e though we got it a lot early in my opinion. All I'm going to say is I hope you guys, as the detective, can swim. Show less

I recommend this game!

+35points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

26 of 30 found this review helpful

Beautiful graphics, nice storyline, a pleasure to play.

PostedJune 28, 2014

aralia01

fromJunction City KS

Skill Level:Expert

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

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I enjoy searching for beautiful jewelry and flowers. I own all of the Dark Parable games. They meet my visual preference. This game was a pleasure to play. It was not terribly challenging which is just the way I like it. The extra puzzles were not as pleasurable as the game itself, but they are easy to skip. I also noted the lack of an interactive map. It would have saved many help button ...Show more

I enjoy searching for beautiful jewelry and flowers. I own all of the Dark Parable games. They meet my visual preference. This game was a pleasure to play. It was not terribly challenging which is just the way I like it. The extra puzzles were not as pleasurable as the game itself, but they are easy to skip. I also noted the lack of an interactive map. It would have saved many help button requests. Your tasks are to kill a poison pollen plant, and save a special girl. It contains characters from previous games, which adds an air of familiarity. I like the collectors editions because once the game is finished, you can go back and redo all of the beautiful HOS's. Show less

I recommend this game!

+22points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

23 of 27 found this review helpful

A Big Fan of Dark Parables

PostedJune 27, 2014

flutterbyz24

fromFL

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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, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle, Mahjong

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I love the Dark Parable series. I will admit - Jack and the Beanstalk didn't grab me as the others had. I read all the reviews - good and bad for this one prior to playing the demo. As far as I am concerned this one has nailed it. Yes, it looks like a fairy tale - after all, it is!

I am good at games but don't like being frustrated trying to get through things. I play on Novice level just because ...Show more

I love the Dark Parable series. I will admit - Jack and the Beanstalk didn't grab me as the others had. I read all the reviews - good and bad for this one prior to playing the demo. As far as I am concerned this one has nailed it. Yes, it looks like a fairy tale - after all, it is!

I am good at games but don't like being frustrated trying to get through things. I play on Novice level just because games are a source of relaxation for me. I really enjoy this style of HO and the games have be a mix of easy and challenging.

The demo took me 65 minutes to get through and this was with no urgency whatsoever. Yes, I bought this game. I have been saving my credits since nothing has caught my attention like this one in a while. Show less

I recommend this game!

+19points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

91 of 125 found this review helpful

Save Floralia from Rapunzel's Pollen!

PostedJune 26, 2014

MSBAM100

fromTampa, FL

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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, Match 3, Time Management

Current Favorite:

Rite of Passage: Hide and Seek Collector's Edition

(115)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I love this series! It took me 89 minutes to finish the demo, because I enjoyed taking my time and solving the wonderful puzzles! This is the sixth game in the Dark Parables series, and they bring back characters from previous series, and throughout the game there are memorabilia from the other games -- an extra treat for those who have kept up with the different games and their fairy tale ...Show more

I love this series! It took me 89 minutes to finish the demo, because I enjoyed taking my time and solving the wonderful puzzles! This is the sixth game in the Dark Parables series, and they bring back characters from previous series, and throughout the game there are memorabilia from the other games -- an extra treat for those who have kept up with the different games and their fairy tale heroines.

You are the detective sent to Floralia to determine the source of the deadly pollen and eliminate it. Unfortunately, it seems every time Rapunzel sings, the pollen spreads and plants grow wild. Luckily, Kai the botanist gives you a book that tells you how to defeat the various plants. Rapunzel seems to be controlled by her evil half-sister Belladonna, whose favorite line is "Sing for me, Rapunzel." Belladonna, like Rapunzel, was locked in a tower. Her mother was Gothel, servant to Rapunzel's mother. Somehow Rapunzel's healing touch, which grew stronger as her hair grew, has turned into a deadly touch of pollen and wicked plants. Gerda, the Golden Child whom you saved from the Snow Queen in a previous game, turns up with Prince Ross to help you in your quest.

The game stays with the flower theme of Floralia. The HOS are all FROGs, filled with flowers and jewels. The collectibles are 20 Flowerstones. The mini-games have multiple parts, with lots of flowers as well. The 5 parables help explain the story for you; when you find 4 items, the parable is revealed to you. You can win up to 26 achievements, and there are 20 cursed objects to find that allow your hint meter to fill faster. There are 3 modes of play, along with the normal CE bling and bonus game.

The art work and cut scenes are beautiful -- the opening scene of Rapunzel with her hair blowing in the wind is quite realistic. The only blemish on an otherwise perfect game is the map, which doesn't teleport. There are so many places to go, I don't understand why they didn't make a jump map.

Take your time and enjoy the 90 minute demo. You don't have to skip the puzzles because of the way the demos now work. I love this game, and cannot wait to buy it! Show less

I recommend this game!

+57points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

22 of 26 found this review helpful

I really enjoyed this game

PostedJuly 11, 2014

eponym

fromSomewhere, NJ

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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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Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I think I would wait for the SE as I did not think that the Bonus chapter did anything but detract from the game. The only negative would be the squeaky voices of some characters which is minor. Some of the puzzles were to easy but the overall game was enjoyable.

Nothing is perfect and It would have been nice to be able to use the map to jump from one place to another since there was a lot of ...Show more

I think I would wait for the SE as I did not think that the Bonus chapter did anything but detract from the game. The only negative would be the squeaky voices of some characters which is minor. Some of the puzzles were to easy but the overall game was enjoyable.

Nothing is perfect and It would have been nice to be able to use the map to jump from one place to another since there was a lot of walking around.

Overall I loved the FROGS, they were beautifully drawn as was the entire game. Show less

I recommend this game!

+18points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

14 of 17 found this review helpful

Hope There Is More "Dark Parables" To Come

PostedJuly 1, 2014

Lydia2010

fromHighland Falls, NY

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

Dark Parables: The Final Cinderella Collector's Edition

(192)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is a fantastic game. There was not that much hidden object scenes, which was awesome because I hate games that have too much hidden object scenes. Anyways, this Dark Parables, is very amazing and it captures you into the storyline and game. Graphics: Awesome Sound: Good Storyline: Captured Me Plot: Excellent.
I recommend this Dark Parables Game to anyone who likes/loves/Looves this game ...Show more

This is a fantastic game. There was not that much hidden object scenes, which was awesome because I hate games that have too much hidden object scenes. Anyways, this Dark Parables, is very amazing and it captures you into the storyline and game. Graphics: Awesome Sound: Good Storyline: Captured Me Plot: Excellent.
I recommend this Dark Parables Game to anyone who likes/loves/Looves this game series! Show less

I recommend this game!

+11points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

17 of 22 found this review helpful

not dissapointing

PostedJune 28, 2014

PsychoPrincessX

fromVirginia, USA

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

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

I have never been dissapointed by this developer and this game fulfilled all my expectations. Everything is what the other dark parables got us used to. Great storyline and crisp beautiful graphics.

I personally never had trouble with the HOS, but the puzzles were pretty hard for me, reason why I played it with my husband for some little help.

The only difference from the other DP was the ...Show more

I have never been dissapointed by this developer and this game fulfilled all my expectations. Everything is what the other dark parables got us used to. Great storyline and crisp beautiful graphics.

I personally never had trouble with the HOS, but the puzzles were pretty hard for me, reason why I played it with my husband for some little help.

The only difference from the other DP was the ending. It leaves room for me to believe that the story of Rapunzel will be continued in one of the following releases. Can't wait for the next one, little mermaid is one fairytale to look forward to. Show less

I recommend this game!

+12points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

55 of 82 found this review helpful

Toxic Pollen and Singing Rapunzel?! I am in love!

PostedJune 26, 2014

MusicNat

fromNew England

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):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition

(120)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

What can I possibly say to give this game justice?

I nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw that a new "Dark Parables" was released by the great developers "Blue Tea Games". I have been waiting for this release impatiently.

In this game journey we will meet a "singing" Rapunzel! That's right folks! We also meet 2 surprise guests from a previous game...wohoo! Talk about an interesting spin on a ...Show more

What can I possibly say to give this game justice?

I nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw that a new "Dark Parables" was released by the great developers "Blue Tea Games". I have been waiting for this release impatiently.

In this game journey we will meet a "singing" Rapunzel! That's right folks! We also meet 2 surprise guests from a previous game...wohoo! Talk about an interesting spin on a fairy tale! I immediately purchased the game without hesitating and was not disappointed in the least.

When the game started I immediately felt at home on a Dark Parables journey as I have been many times in the past. This time we are exploring Mount Snezka, Chechoslovakia. All of the previous games in this lovely series had exceptional hand drawn graphics, exquisite story-lines, and unbearably beautiful music. I have been compelled to replay these games many times to savor every moment.

This game series is not really difficult, and it is very much fairy-tale based; however, it is a series that seems magical to me. It is a perfect escape from real life and to immerse yourself in a stunningly beautiful world with an equally compelling and beautiful story. I will spare you the rest of the details so that you are left surprised, but I highly recommend that you try this CE version, since it has so many extras. This time they even included achievements. I don't remember having them in the last games. There are cursed objects (morphing) to collect as well as flower-stones, and parable notes.

I am loving it and highly recommending all of the games by this developer and to play through all Dark Parables Games! They are just magical!

Blue Tea Games please keep them coming! Show less

I recommend this game!

+28points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel Collector's Edition Track down the source of a strange and deadly pollen! 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.