Surface: Reel Life
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Surface: Reel Life

Average Rating Breakdown
Overall rating 
Liked it!
3.8 / 5
See average rating breakdown
Average Rating breakdown 24 reviews
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
2
1 Star
2
Fun Factor 
Good
3.8 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4.1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3.6 / 5
Storyline 
Good
3.8 / 5
PC
English
Elephant Games' genre-pushing Surface series continues... this time, in Reel Life!

Your sister and her daughter, Jane, were enjoying a screening of an old movie, when one of the actors literally stepped off the screen! Now Jane is missing, and the building is crawling with strange plants and animals from the movie. You solve all the puzzles in your way and rush to the theater to find a way into the world of the film to save your niece. But once you do… you realize that the mystery - and the danger - is much deeper than you could have imagined. Can you escape before your adventure becomes a tragedy? Find out in Surface: Reel Life, a thrilling Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Game System Requirements

OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8

CPU: 2.5 GHz

RAM: 1024 MB

DirectX: 9

Hard Drive: 874 MB

Big Fish Games App System Requirements

Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later

Reviews

Surface: Reel Life

Average Rating:
Overall rating 
Liked it!
3.8 / 5
3.8 out of 5 ( 24 Reviews Review )
82%(18 out of 22) of players recommend this game
Authentic Reviews Authentic Reviews
Average Rating Breakdown
Fun Factor 
Good
3.8 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4.1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3.6 / 5
Storyline 
Good
3.8 / 5
82%(18 out of 22) of players recommend this game
Authentic Reviews Authentic Reviews
Customer Reviews
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Ratings summary
Average Rating Breakdown
Overall rating 
Liked it!
3.8 / 5
See average rating breakdown
Average Rating breakdown 24 reviews
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
2
1 Star
2
Fun Factor 
Good
3.8 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4.1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3.6 / 5
Storyline 
Good
3.8 / 5
82%(18 out of 22) of players recommend this game
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Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
134 of 158 found this review helpful
It's Time To Take A Leap Of Faith!
PostedMay 4, 2014
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pennmom36
 
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fromI just gave that poor tiger a morphine hot dog!
  • Top Reviewer
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
Jane was engaged to Andrew Light when he was shot and killed in cold blood, his murderer never brought to justice. Several years later, Jane and her mother are watching one of Andrews famous films when disaster strikes, the actors suddenly begin to go off script and the jungle pours out of the screen! Andrew sees Jane in the audience and makes a split decision to grab her and they disappears into ...Show more
Jane was engaged to Andrew Light when he was shot and killed in cold blood, his murderer never brought to justice. Several years later, Jane and her mother are watching one of Andrews famous films when disaster strikes, the actors suddenly begin to go off script and the jungle pours out of the screen! Andrew sees Jane in the audience and makes a split decision to grab her and they disappears into the jungle! Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, and you follow your niece into the jungle. I will admit that I like the Collectors Edition better because I love the extras available, but this game is well worth the price, there are many areas of interest in each scene, some of the inventory items require you to assemble them or interact in some way with the item as indicated by a star above the item. My favorite part about the Surface games are the Hidden Object Scenes which require you to toggle back and forth between HO list and the inventory bar to retrieve items to use in the scene. There are also some unique mini games, my personal favorite was the King Kong arcade pinball game that you have to adjust flippers, flowers, planes and King Kongs arm itself to guide the ball from start to finish. This isn't my favorite Surface game but it ranks on top in my book, enjoy! Show less
I recommend this game!
+110points
134of 158voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes134No24
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
58 of 72 found this review helpful
Get REEL reviewers! This is a GOOD game!!!!!
PostedMay 4, 2014
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FORTUNATUS
 
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fromThis side of the moon (USA) :)
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
These comments are based on the CE version of the game yet the overall comments should apply to the SE as well:
I am disappointed with many of my fellow reviewers with their harsh and critical low-balling on this one. Yes it could be deemed a bit 'cheesy' in theme, yet it is supposed to be! AND in keeping with many Hollywood classics [seriously!? they are typically not 'deep' in plotline, ...Show more
These comments are based on the CE version of the game yet the overall comments should apply to the SE as well:
I am disappointed with many of my fellow reviewers with their harsh and critical low-balling on this one. Yes it could be deemed a bit 'cheesy' in theme, yet it is supposed to be! AND in keeping with many Hollywood classics [seriously!? they are typically not 'deep' in plotline, either!]* and SURFACE: REEL LIFE holds it's own in both theme and gameplay... eccentric, off-beat and imaginative gaming!
*[I am a true classic movie buff.. from silent film to 30's/40's... absolutely the BEST]
So, I am absolutely enjoying this VERY well designed game that offers great graphics and adventure HOG at it's best.... who can resist that silly monkey's face while he is eating the banana!@! SO adorable [and I am not usually 'taken' with cute/adorable, haha].
Give it a whirl and try to ignore the reviews of the CE... rate it on your level of gaming satisfaction... if you like adventuring... and light gaming with lots of imaginative exploring, you'll like SURFACE: REEL LIFE; it's not real [reel] life, but it's lots of reel [real] ENJOYMENT! : )
Happy gaming... have fun!
I recommend this game! Show less
I recommend this game!
+44points
58of 72voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes58No14
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
15 of 17 found this review helpful
Back to Reel Life!
PostedNovember 21, 2014
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pcpat923
 
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fromJERSEY GIRL
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Mahjong
 
Current Favorite:
 
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
Okay, so I didn't like the game during 1st release. Now, I'm back trying to find a decent game on BFG and decided to replay Reel Life. Obviously, there was nothing wrong with the game, only the reviewer as I find the game very creative and fun. That's what I call a good game--one that stands up to the test of time. Please forgive me, Elephant Devs!
Ahead of it's time, Reel Life HOS are large and, ...Show more
Okay, so I didn't like the game during 1st release. Now, I'm back trying to find a decent game on BFG and decided to replay Reel Life. Obviously, there was nothing wrong with the game, only the reviewer as I find the game very creative and fun. That's what I call a good game--one that stands up to the test of time. Please forgive me, Elephant Devs!
Ahead of it's time, Reel Life HOS are large and, if you don't pay attention to your Inventory list, you'll be clicking around like me before realizing that an item just may fit into the scene!
As another reviewer stated, either Surface games are very, very good or very bad. This certainly is one of the good.
Enjoy! -Mama Mia-
Show less
+13points
15of 17voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes15No2
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
do not know how I missed it, but I'm getting the CE
PostedMay 23, 2015
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psylocibin
 
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Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
I just played the demo and then I checked and there is a CE so despite this being a sale today, I am going to get this in the CE game. So this is a review of the SE game the playing of which has inspired me to get the CE.
This is an excellent game and I want all the bells and whistles that a CE game has to go with it.
What was excellent? well the story was actually engaging...I like the idea of
...Show more
I just played the demo and then I checked and there is a CE so despite this being a sale today, I am going to get this in the CE game. So this is a review of the SE game the playing of which has inspired me to get the CE.
This is an excellent game and I want all the bells and whistles that a CE game has to go with it.
What was excellent? well the story was actually engaging...I like the idea of going into the movie through the screen. Before we get to go there, we have a lot of adventures some of which we have seen before, lots of keys to find and missing pieces to assemble, monkeys need their banana, that sort of thing that keeps the story going. I was especially impressed by the King Kong pinball machine game and the move the statues but do not let them get eaten by the 'gators. The difficulty of the puzzles was a challenge and welcome for my sense of challenge and fun. They were hard but not hard based on chance which I hate, but hard based on figuring out how to align things and that is what I like.
There were things to do all along the way. The clock that had to get the trumpets and then have the hands move was not hard, but it was interesting as it had to be collected and then figured out.
The HO scenes could be a bit more interactive, but I did appreciate the use of inventory items to complete them.
I do not know if one gets to go in and out of the movie...that would be an interesting change. However, all in all, I was impressed by the game enough to want it in the CE but I would strongly recommend it for those who are on a budget in the $2.99 sale. Show less
I recommend this game!
+10points
10of 10voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes10No0
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
6 of 8 found this review helpful
OMG!!! im in love! WHAT A GAME!!
PostedJune 24, 2016
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Jensjens14
 
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fromAdelaide, SA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
I am so picky when choosing my big fish games so when i read about it i wasn't 100% convinced but now that i have played it! WOW!
Jane your niece, husband Andrew light was mysteriously killed. Mary your sister calls one night as her and jane have gone to watch an Andrew light movie at the deja cinema and disaster has struck, the movie has literally come out of the screen and Andrew lights ...Show more
I am so picky when choosing my big fish games so when i read about it i wasn't 100% convinced but now that i have played it! WOW!
Jane your niece, husband Andrew light was mysteriously killed. Mary your sister calls one night as her and jane have gone to watch an Andrew light movie at the deja cinema and disaster has struck, the movie has literally come out of the screen and Andrew lights character has kidnapped jane. we follow Andrew and jane into the movie world to encounter plenty if intriguing mini games and captivating HOP's and the storyline is phenomenal you won't be able to stop playing.
you will not be disappointed with this purchase! Show less
I recommend this game!
+4points
6of 8voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes6No2
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
8 of 14 found this review helpful
Good one.
PostedJuly 30, 2014
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babs262
 
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fromMilw. WI
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
Liked the story - different than most. Kept me interested and it was a pretty long game.
I recommend this game!
+2points
8of 14voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes8No6
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Very entertaining
PostedAugust 9, 2016
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Robcol
 
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fromVictoria, BC
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
Moves along well, graphics fun, story line unpredictable, I really liked this game.
I recommend this game!
0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes1No1
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
12 of 33 found this review helpful
EXCELLENT!
PostedMay 4, 2014
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Blackie110
 
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fromLong Island, New York
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
Bought this one after only playing 10 minutes. Another great one from Elephant Games.
I recommend this game!
-9points
12of 33voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes12No21
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
19 of 21 found this review helpful
Reel entertaining
PostedMay 7, 2014
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gposchman
 
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fromSan Francisco, Ca
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
I would have given the game 5 stars, but there were a few flaws, but over all an excellent game.
I like using items in the inventory to solve hidden object games. I liked the fact that the hidden objects actually related to the scene they were in, ie a sports shop was full of items one would find in a sports shop.
The flaws were that when you were finished with close ups they still sparkled, a ...Show more
I would have given the game 5 stars, but there were a few flaws, but over all an excellent game.
I like using items in the inventory to solve hidden object games. I liked the fact that the hidden objects actually related to the scene they were in, ie a sports shop was full of items one would find in a sports shop.
The flaws were that when you were finished with close ups they still sparkled, a programming error.
You were not sent all over the place to resolve puzzles. The map and hint were excellent. A great story line, imaginative. A couple of the games were more complicated then I like, so I did some skipping. I prefer puzzles to be quick to solve, because I like moving on with the game/story.
This was a great game. Show less
I recommend this game!
+17points
19of 21voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes19No2
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Welcome to Cinecity--the movie world that is better than the Real world!
PostedJuly 12, 2016
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Italia47
 
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fromLights! Camera! Action! Now a little more feeling, Andrew! Cut! Perfect! Hey, where are you going?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Good
4 / 5
Though not an unusual or unheard of concept, as the movie, The Purple Rose of Cairo,1985, and the Last Action Hero, 1993, Surface: Reel Life was rather very good, I must say. The storyline was great. Not the best Surface game of the series but pretty much up there. I liked the fact that we weren't dealing with witches, and demons, and mental institutions with dead bodies in cells!
There were ...Show more
Though not an unusual or unheard of concept, as the movie, The Purple Rose of Cairo,1985, and the Last Action Hero, 1993, Surface: Reel Life was rather very good, I must say. The storyline was great. Not the best Surface game of the series but pretty much up there. I liked the fact that we weren't dealing with witches, and demons, and mental institutions with dead bodies in cells!
There were several typos such as the word 'wok' should have read 'work'; the word 'that' should have been 'than'. When Andrew Light wrote in his journal about stunts it read as follows: 'I can all the stunts myself!' The word 'do' or 'perform' should have followed the word 'can'. It's one thing for us to miss a word now and then, or have grammatical errors in our own reviews, but we're not editors or the creators of these games, so it would behoove the developers to see that the text and dialogue is edited more than once before the game is finalized. Also, the storyline may have been written in another language and translated into English. Devs, don't be too hard on the text editor. But in the future, just hire a few more copywriters and proofreaders.
Aside from that, though, I really liked this game. One of the best parts for me was while in the Hiddien Object Scene you had to use one or two items from your inventory list to complete the task. A few times, I didn't have the item and had to get out of the HOS and find the object elsewhere. If you don't, you can't move forward. Pretty cool!
The puzzles were very good as were the mini-games. Not that difficult but tedious and fun. This game was one of a ricochet effect--you were here, there, and everywhere. That alone could be part of the challenge and many gamers love this sort of thing. I think it upsets the flow of the game but ironically, I didn't mind it so much this time. Elephant Games' devs are very well known for their cleverness and beautiful artwork, lovely music and sound effects. No cartoon artwork for these devs!
I played the SE version and was impressed with many of its aspects. The map was wonderful. I do prefer a transparent inventory box as opposed to one that isn't. I always have the feeling that when it's solid, it's blocking a crucial part I need for a task. But the option to lock it is a plus!
The voiceovers were great -- lip syncing a little bit off, but all in all it was a wonderful game. I'm giving this a 4-star rating and definitely recommend it. Show less
I recommend this game!
+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
Was this review helpful?Yes7No0
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