Her Majesty's Spiffing: The Empire Staggers Back > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

54 of 63 found this review helpful

Refreshingly Hilarious and FUUUN!!

PostedOctober 16, 2018

KeishaJL

fromSparta, TN

Skill Level:Expert

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

Current Favorite:

Beyond: Light Advent Collector's Edition

(158)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I've only played the demo and I'm going to buy it now. I cant wait to play more of it! Absolutely try it first to see if it's your cup of tea. ;)

I don't know if it's just the trial version that does this but the screen did not widen for my wide screen, nor did it give me the option to do so. Also within the beginning options I could not get it to register that I'd hit the back button in the ...Show more

I've only played the demo and I'm going to buy it now. I cant wait to play more of it! Absolutely try it first to see if it's your cup of tea. ;)

I don't know if it's just the trial version that does this but the screen did not widen for my wide screen, nor did it give me the option to do so. Also within the beginning options I could not get it to register that I'd hit the back button in the top left but the ESC key to the rescue.

You play as cheeky Brit Captain English. You and Sub-lieutenant Aled are on this ship in a voyage through the stars. There are lots of objects to interact with, humorous items from "back in my day" like floppy disks you flip and such, as well as the absolutely hilarious banter. You choose the conversations in the order you wish, you can save later in the game once you get downstairs too even though it autosaves for you.

The only real thing I didn't necessarily like (aside from the minimal menu options I was able to access...again might not be an issue in the full game) was that some things you interact with seems to require a controller. English gets onto a couple of objects in the game and you click the left and right mouse buttons to move because you can't use the Y or A shown. Getting around is a bit tedious as you have to find and click the little white dots/arrows and that doesn't always flow well but totally worth it for the little jabs and jibes.

I hated to see the first hour end. I am going now to get the full game! Truly enjoyable and something different than your average adventure game. I only hate that this has been out two years and we're only just getting it. Show less

I recommend this game!

+45points

54of 63voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

16 of 19 found this review helpful

AN ENGAGING AND CHALLENGING ADVENTURE FILLED WITH DRY HUMOR!

PostedOctober 19, 2018

skullfun

fromIndie developers Billy Goat from the UK have created a unique and funny adventure that fans of this genre will enjoy immensly!!!

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, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This adventure game was released in 2016, It is a year that's going to forever live in infamy. It's the year in which the UK decided it'd be better off divided from the EU. Thankfully, Her Majesty's SPIFFING is here to put it all to rights by sending it up with some rollicking British humor, picking up with a tale set in this most horrible of years. Yes, it's an adventure game that pokes fun at ...Show more

This adventure game was released in 2016, It is a year that's going to forever live in infamy. It's the year in which the UK decided it'd be better off divided from the EU. Thankfully, Her Majesty's SPIFFING is here to put it all to rights by sending it up with some rollicking British humor, picking up with a tale set in this most horrible of years. Yes, it's an adventure game that pokes fun at Brexit. Tally-ho!

STORY:
Here's how it all kicks off: the Queen, no longer content with the dunderhead politicians in Westminster running the government, decides to launch the HMSS Imperialise into outer space. Hitting the big red button, the oh-so British spacecraft (half-Mini Cooper, half Harrier jump jet) blasts off straddling Big Ben (or what's now known as Elizabeth Tower, if you're a stickler for these things), carrying members of the Special Planetary Investigative Force For Inhabiting New Galaxies (SPIFFING), Frank Lee English and his sarcastic Welsh sidekick, Aled Jones. English and Jones are a likeable wise-cracking duo too, Her Majesty's SPIFFING delivering its own line of satirical tongue-in-cheek humor via its two lead characters. English is an endearing patriotic fool, while Jones is his sardonic foil, always keen to point out the game's genre conventions as and when they crop up. SPIFFING is brilliantly knowing and self-referential, stuffed with homages and nods to other games like Resident Evil and Mass Effect, as well as classic movies like Airplane, Alien, Die Hard, Jurassic Park and Planet of the Apes. It never fails to raise a smirk. Vitally, however, Her Majesty's SPIFFING is not only a genuinely funny adventure, but also excels in serving up some pretty strong puzzles that put your grey matter through its paces. There's never anything too complicated, but there's a sense of accomplishment when you do manage to wrap your head around some of the game's conundrums. Fittingly, it all starts with English making a cup of tea before the duo look to stake their claim on a barren, lifeless planet. Its stereotypes, daft puzzles and secrets are also brilliantly referenced in the game's smart trophy list, which rewards you for prodding at the envelope a bit, experimenting with various interactions that you could quite easily miss otherwise. Go through the motions, simply solving SPIFFING's puzzles in workmanlike fashion, and you'll miss a great deal of the game's humor and silly observations. It's definitely worth exploring and spending a little extra time messing around aboard the HMSS Imperialise. Wearing its Monty Python and other Brit comedy influences on its sleeve, Her Majesty's SPIFFING is a uniquely British adventure game packed with wry wit and a playful sense of fun that's more than welcome in a year of political upset. A game that uses Brexit as its jumping off point, Her Majesty's SPIFFING deals with its subject in a suitably knockabout manner, providing plenty of gleefully silly puzzles, some mildly biting satire and sharp one-liners. Developer Billy Goat has chucked in a bit of everything that more than a few of the jokes are guaranteed to land, even if you're not a cynical old Brit like me. Her Majesty's SPIFFING is fun, funny and well worth playing if you have the patience. It's almost enough to bring a patriotic tear to the eye.

MECHANICS:
Though the game has no instructions, I thought I could include some helpful tips on navigating through the adventure. This point and click old school adventure can be tricky. Your cursor has multiple uses here are examples.
When you click on an object of interest you should see the following choices:
• Hand (Interact / Grab)
• Magnifying glass (Examining objects)
• Mouth (Talking to or listen to conversation)
• Backpack (Use Inventory Items)
Also pay close attention to the dots at the top, bottom, left and right of your screen, click on these for direction arrows to move around. When you want to use the back pack LEFT CLICK on it so you can use inventory item, examine, or combine inventory items. Pay attention to the instructions regarding the hourglass as other reviewer's have commented about...consider yourself warned! (LOL)
As for quitting the game to break, I haven't found a way to close / save the game other than using Ctrl-Alt-Delete. If anyone knows an alternative please let reviewers know.

BASIC OBJECTIVES:
Retrieve a refreshing beverage for your colleague, Sub Lieutenant Jones. Fly the ship while Sub Lieutenant Jones take his tea break. Find something to replace the damaged cockpit controls. Install the driver to activate the controller in the cockpit. Reboot the ship's computer systems using the reset switch on the lower deck. Locate and talk to Sub Lieutenant Jones. Find something Aled can use to replace the rover's broken motor. Explore the planet surface. Locate the wreckage of the Beagle Two Too. Lure Antoine and Pierre away from the French camp. Remove the Tricolor and hoist the Union Flag. There is a lot more to do than this, so pay attention to the dialogue for an in depth synopsis of what to do throughout the game. If by chance you become frustrated with the objectives, there is as commentary free WALK THROUGH available on youtube. I'm not suggesting you watch the entire video...that would spoil the entire game. Perhaps, only watch the first few minutes to familiarize yourself with the FLOW of the game.

I thought the music was perfect for this game and the voice acting is superbly delivered, peppering its writing with the right amount of sarcasm to go with its humor. A fair bit of screen tearing rears its head when you're running around as Frank Lee English, but otherwise, everything looks very solid and nicely detailed. SPIFFING is not a bad looking game at all. I also think this adventure is worth playing through more than once to mop up all of its political satire and pop culture references, SPIFFING lasts a good 2-3 hours, boasting some smart puzzles and a little bit of lateral thinking, all injected with a sly sense of humor. Not content to cram loads of references and nods into the game, Billy Goat has chucked a bunch into its trophy list too. That it's also a good, solid list is a pleasant surprise. Great stuff. Who'd have thought that a game ostensibly about Brexit could not only be so funny, but also provide a selection of clever puzzles to boot? Her Majesty's SPIFFING is all of these things and therefore an adventure game you should most certainly play, if only for a little bit of levity with which to reflect on the year 2016. Cheers and happy gaming! Show less

I recommend this game!

+13points

16of 19voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

13 of 15 found this review helpful

Not as bad as you first think

PostedOctober 22, 2018

Cyril48

fromNew Zealand

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:Intermediate

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The first thing I am going to say is that there is an easy way to exit the game.This is British wit at its best so they let you sort it out.Just push escape/esc on your keyboard and the menu comes up with all the options and an exit button. This is where the old forum on here is sorely missed for games like this that need a bit of explaining. Having lived most of my life in the UK I can appreciate ...Show more

The first thing I am going to say is that there is an easy way to exit the game.This is British wit at its best so they let you sort it out.Just push escape/esc on your keyboard and the menu comes up with all the options and an exit button. This is where the old forum on here is sorely missed for games like this that need a bit of explaining. Having lived most of my life in the UK I can appreciate this game a lot and yes it is a send up of the fiasco going on in Britain . I would reccomend you look on you tube as there are several walkthroughs there to give you an idea how it works Show less

I recommend this game!

+11points

13of 15voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes13No2

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Overall rating

5 / 5

12 of 14 found this review helpful

Old School Adventure Game with a UK flair

PostedOctober 25, 2018

Da_Wordmama

fromNevada

Skill Level:Expert

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Read the other reviews, then add in the following:
* Older gamers will likely do better at this game than some of the younger types. For example, it really helps if you remember that 3-inch floppies have a lock switch on the back.

* Gamers with a taste for British humor will cherish the writing and get more of the jokes than others.

* The point of lateral thinking puzzles is to stretch ...Show more

Read the other reviews, then add in the following:
* Older gamers will likely do better at this game than some of the younger types. For example, it really helps if you remember that 3-inch floppies have a lock switch on the back.

* Gamers with a taste for British humor will cherish the writing and get more of the jokes than others.

* The point of lateral thinking puzzles is to stretch your brain. Lose the logic, think like a cartoon character, and the rest is a cinch.

All in all, one of my favorites on Big Fish this year. Can't wait to finish it! Show less

I recommend this game!

+10points

12of 14voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

6 of 7 found this review helpful

Definitely try it!

PostedOctober 20, 2018

A_Holovacs

fromnj

Skill Level:Expert

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

From the opening scenes, this game is Laugh Out Loud. This retro style game is creative, intelligent and funny as heck. Excellent dialogue and great graphics give this old point and click style a refreshing makeover. The game so far is challenging without being impossible. The humor is very clever with nods to many comedies as well as references to various books and movies. Don't skip the intro ...Show more

From the opening scenes, this game is Laugh Out Loud. This retro style game is creative, intelligent and funny as heck. Excellent dialogue and great graphics give this old point and click style a refreshing makeover. The game so far is challenging without being impossible. The humor is very clever with nods to many comedies as well as references to various books and movies. Don't skip the intro and cutscenes, just watch them carefully for even more laughs. Show less

I recommend this game!

+5points

6of 7voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

5 of 6 found this review helpful

Comic Straight Adventure

PostedOctober 20, 2018

8dognight

fromrural farm

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The opening sequence of "Her Majesty's Spiffing" with the queen is my favorite beginning to a game ever.

"Her Majesty's Spiffing" is a point and click comic adventure that also allows use of WASD keys if you want to. It took me a while to get used to the examine/equip interface for inventory and that was frustrating at first.

I recommend this game!

+4points

5of 6voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 3 found this review helpful

Awesome

PostedNovember 8, 2018

likefever

fromWA Australia

Skill Level:Beginner

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure

Current Favorite:

Syberia - Part 1

(166)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

it was awesome can't wait for next exciting episode.

+1point

2of 3voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

4 / 5

48 of 52 found this review helpful

Great send ups!

PostedOctober 16, 2018

Kay_Erin

fromLovely gold, red and yellow leaves! Wisconsin is at its best in the Fall

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:Intermediate

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

Current Favorite:

Dead Link: Pages Torn

(33)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I rarely, if ever, give reviews before I've even finished the demo, but I think this one deserves it.
First of all, for those of you under 30, this is a traditionally old style adventure game on the level of the early (and really fun) games like "Monkey Island", "Leisure Suit Larry" and "Space Quest" from those iconic leaders in graphic gaming (Lucas Arts and Sierra On Line) who've since left the ...Show more

I rarely, if ever, give reviews before I've even finished the demo, but I think this one deserves it.
First of all, for those of you under 30, this is a traditionally old style adventure game on the level of the early (and really fun) games like "Monkey Island", "Leisure Suit Larry" and "Space Quest" from those iconic leaders in graphic gaming (Lucas Arts and Sierra On Line) who've since left the field as far as I'm aware. Anyway they were great games
BUT:
There are _rarely_ hints, and _no_ maps (you had to draw your own, which gave one hours of pleasure/frustration:) Also no morphs. The only hidden objects were to further the game. They were a lot of work, children, but they were also a lot of fun. And the humor was mostly of the satiric type, or Easter-egg type where there were fun allusions to other people or games, etc.
That being said, I can see why someone used to the type of games put out since, oh say 2000, this game could be very frustrating.
My suggestion is that you wait for the walk-through to appear or google a walk through to help you get started.
Now it might end up that this really _is_ a 3 star or less game, although I'm betting against that, but in the meantime you've experienced some old time fun and yes maybe a little frustration, but mostly fun! Show less

I recommend this game!

+44points

48of 52voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

4 / 5

43 of 55 found this review helpful

Now Here's an Adventure Game!

PostedOctober 16, 2018

MissAbby

fromColorado

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

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This is what Adventure Games are like! No one holds your hand. You get caught up in the story whether it's silly or serious and you use your brain to figure out what to do next. It is NOT just brain numbing picking up and putting down!

If the point and click interface had been better I would have given 5 stars, but it's just a bit clumsy.

All in all this is the type of game that keeps you ...Show more

This is what Adventure Games are like! No one holds your hand. You get caught up in the story whether it's silly or serious and you use your brain to figure out what to do next. It is NOT just brain numbing picking up and putting down!

If the point and click interface had been better I would have given 5 stars, but it's just a bit clumsy.

All in all this is the type of game that keeps you busy for days, not just a couple of hours, and is fun to boot! Thank you! Show less

I recommend this game!

+31points

43of 55voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

4 / 5

9 of 10 found this review helpful

Entertaining classic style adventure game

PostedOctober 17, 2018

mrchang

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

This is my genre of choice, so I was very excited to try the demo. About 15 minutes in, I knew I had to buy the full game. I'm glad I did. Great voice acting, quality graphics, intuitive interface, and decently witty dialog make for an enjoyable experience. I wish the storyline were a bit richer and the game longer. I'm at 92% complete right now and have played for just a few hours. Still, overall ...Show more

This is my genre of choice, so I was very excited to try the demo. About 15 minutes in, I knew I had to buy the full game. I'm glad I did. Great voice acting, quality graphics, intuitive interface, and decently witty dialog make for an enjoyable experience. I wish the storyline were a bit richer and the game longer. I'm at 92% complete right now and have played for just a few hours. Still, overall a fun, lighthearted game that fulfills my point-and-click nostalgia. Show less

I recommend this game!

+8points

9of 10voted this as helpful.

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Her Majesty's Spiffing: The Empire Staggers Back Travel through the cosmos in search of new planets! 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.