Family Mysteries: Echoes of Tomorrow > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

54 of 58 found this review helpful

AT LAST, A TRUE SCI-FI GAME. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO PLAY A GAME LIKE THIS ONE!

PostedMay 10, 2020

biscuitsmama

fromI am doing my happy dance right now. What a wonderful surprise!

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Family Mysteries Echoes of Tomorrow is without a doubt the game that I have asked for over the past several years. Finally, a developer listened and stepped up to the plate and created true sci-fi game that is absolutely wonderful.

There is no need for me to go into the storyline because I don’t want to give anything away, but right from the beginning of the game you soon realize that Echoes of ...Show more

There is no need for me to go into the storyline because I don’t want to give anything away, but right from the beginning of the game you soon realize that Echoes of Tomorrow is different and not the usual cookie-cutter HOPA that we so often see.

The HOS are detailed, creative, and different. If you want easy HOS then you might be disappointed as the ones you will find in Echoes of Tomorrow are complex and take some time to complete. To be honest I felt that a couple of the scenes were difficult, and I had to use the hint button quite a few times to make it through the scene. Those difficult ones were at times frustrating and I simply wanted them to end. Fortunately, not all of the HOS were that difficult. I loved the developer’s creativity that presented some HOS that were more complex than the norm. Overall, the HOS are exactly what many HOPA lovers have been asking to find in games. Kudos to Brave Giant for stepping outside the box!

Wow, not only are the HOS different than the norm, so are the mini-games or puzzles. If you have read my previous reviews, you probably know by now that I enjoy the HOS far more than I do the puzzles. The puzzles in Echoes of Tomorrow are excellent and very well placed within the game. I did not feel overwhelmed by having to constantly play a puzzle or two in each scene. To be honest, I ended up skipping many of the puzzles because I didn’t understand the instructions, which I feel is one of the shortcomings in the game. There are some types of puzzles that I normally skip because they are ones that I don’t like such as navigating and avoiding obstacles, fighting opponents, or flipping switches. Even after skipping many of the puzzles, there were many left that I enjoyed solving. It was great to find a game where not all of the puzzles were basic and easy to solve.

Overall, I believe the game is excellent and can be enjoyed by all players but that being said, I think the game might be a bit complex for those just beginning to play HOPA games. Although the gameplay is fairly linear, at times it was tricky to find out what your first step might be within a scene. Sometimes the objects that were needed were easily spotted but that was not always the case and I found myself using the hint button far more than I have in years.

In the end, I am so happy to have a terrific sci-fi game that I know I will play again. My next time through the game I will try to find all of the elusive collectibles that I missed and to try to solve all those puzzles that I skipped earlier since not all of them can be replayed in the bonus content.

If you love sci-fi and want a true sci-fi game, I highly recommend Family Mysteries Echoes of Tomorrow. As always, please try the demo because you might enjoy this game as much as I did. Happy gaming! Show less

I recommend this game!

+50points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

28 of 30 found this review helpful

CAN YOU STOP A.R.N.O.L.D?

PostedMay 11, 2020

charlene_lane

fromWellington, New Zealand

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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, Match 3

Current Favorite:

Beyond: The Fading Signal

(14)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

REVIEW FROM COMPLETED GAME AND BONUS

Thank you Brave Giant - you created a masterpiece. This game is creative, visually stunning and, to top it off, challenging. There is:

* Voiceovers (with dialogue);
* Casual, Advanced, Expert and Custom modes;
* Interactive map.

The graphics are stunning and everywhere is crystal clear to see. You will be going to a lot of locations, so you are in for a ...Show more

REVIEW FROM COMPLETED GAME AND BONUS

Thank you Brave Giant - you created a masterpiece. This game is creative, visually stunning and, to top it off, challenging. There is:

* Voiceovers (with dialogue);
* Casual, Advanced, Expert and Custom modes;
* Interactive map.

The graphics are stunning and everywhere is crystal clear to see. You will be going to a lot of locations, so you are in for a treat.

The hidden object games are amazing. Yes, for the first time in ages we get challenging HOPs that take time to do. There are the usual interactive straightforward and silhouette (with morphs), but there are a few new ones as well that blew me away. Finally, I had to think, and for the first time in ages I didn't know what to do and had to nut it out (that's a good thing).

There are a great variety of mini-games ranging from easy to medium. In some you will need stealth and speed without being seen. All are accomplishable and I didn't skip any. The instructions are clear and I had a wonderful time doing them. I've been playing them again in the Extras.

In the CE, there are 28 digital articles and 14 morphs in the main game only. Most of these are easy to spot but a few are elusive. Somehow (I must have got distracted) I missed a digital article and 1 morph from a scene, so I can't tell you about them in the Extras. Are they extra mini-games or HOPs or a puzzle? I'm not sure, so I will play the game again some time in the future and find out. Its a pity we can't find any after the game has finished (sigh!).

So, do you get the CE or SE? In the CE there is 24 Achievements, find 28 digital articles and 14 morphs (main game only), 8 replayable mini-games and 8 replayble HOPs. My recommendation is that you get the CE because it is integral with the main game.

Overall, I had a fantastic time playing this game and I can't wait until the next one. For the first time in ages I had gadgets which I had no idea what to do with or how to use them. Does it fit there? Nope not even close. What about there? Yeees it does. The challenging HOPs and the creative
mini-games makes this game very special.

Definitely comes recommended. I know its not to everyone's taste, but if you are a sci-fi freak like me, then you will love it.

Happy playing fishes - this is a gem. Show less

I recommend this game!

+26points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

19 of 22 found this review helpful

A Refreshing Change

PostedMay 12, 2020

Dargonnoone

fromLondon

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Skill Level:Intermediate

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I enjoyed this game so much as it was such a change from the normal games. No supernatural stuff or monsters. The story line got me engaged from the beginning. Sometimes I'm playing a game and I completely forget what it's about. There was a certain amount of blundering about for me as sometimes instructions were a bit sparse but I think that's probably me. It didn't spoil my enjoyment as I felt ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+16points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

12 of 15 found this review helpful

Great adventure!

PostedMay 11, 2020

bulletproof_gran

Skill Level:Beginner

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Wow! This is truly an amazing game... From the start it gets you into a different world of science and never lets go. Great plot, excellent puzzles and hidden object (the last one one is my favorite) and some nice artwork. Still, several characters don't move and look like a cardboard stuff... Music is always the same three or four tunes... That's a little boring. But, in total this one is a great ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+9points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 11 found this review helpful

Modern adventure game with lots to do and fairly long too (SE)

PostedMay 27, 2020

xxPheonixx

fromToronto, Ontario, Canada

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The storyline ending is good. The plot begins slowly, then picks up speed. Variety of things to do and unique ideas. I found the game "refreshing" with modern graphics. Easy pace but not necessarily easy. I believe most will enjoy this game.

I recommend this game!

+7points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

7 of 8 found this review helpful

In the top 5 best games I've ever played, and I almost didn't buy it.

PostedJuly 10, 2020

BooksandGameFan

fromJacksonville, Florida

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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, Arcade & Action, Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Large File, Word

Current Favorite:

Family Mysteries: Echoes of Tomorrow

(14)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I almost didn't buy this game because the beginning was kind of confusing and boring to me but after playing the other game in this series and listening to the people who said it gets better as it progresses I finally purchased on a BOGO day. I'm so glad I did this turned out to be an amazing and very different game then all the other same old same old games we've been getting these past few years, you know, find an amulet put it here blah blah over and over. or hidden objects with the objects laying out in plain sight ugh! This was definitely not that!
Rarely do we see science-fiction games in the Hidden Objects genre and here comes Family Mysteries 2: Echoes of Tomorrow, which touches on topics of time travel, artificial intelligence and other great things
This game was highly interactive, thought provoking and immersive, I really felt like I was in the game and actually doing the tasks at hand. Many times I felt like oh no I don't think I'm going to be able to do this mini-game but I did and I was so happy with myself lol
The music was perfect for the environment, the graphics were fantastic and it was a very good length. I wish I purchased the CE. When we have a BOGO sale I'm going to buy the CE and play this game all over again!
I highly recommend buying this game you won't be disappointed! Show less

I recommend this game!

+6points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

1 of 1 found this review helpful

An Editorial Comment ...

PostedApril 18, 2021

blackblack100

fromWestern Oregon

Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Based on completion of the entire SE game.

Let me start out by saying that, in my opinion, almost all of the reviews of this game are correct, even though some are wildly contradictory.

Firstly, this is a Science Fiction game. It is described as such. If you dislike Science Fiction games, then you will likely NOT enjoy this one. If you DO like Sci Fi, then, like me, you will probably enjoy ...Show more

Based on completion of the entire SE game.

Let me start out by saying that, in my opinion, almost all of the reviews of this game are correct, even though some are wildly contradictory.

Secondly, I DID NOT play the demo. However, the plot builds up slowly. Most of the first part of the game is spent building up that plot (which I believe to be a fairly good one). Ergo, if your intent is only playing the demo, I suspect that (like those whose criticism is based solely on the demo ... or part of it) you will not enjoy it. If your intent is to play the entire game, then I suspect that you, like me, will find the experience well worth the cost, both in terms of purchase price and game time.

The graphics were very good and the music was engaging. The video was a little stilted, but did not detract from the overall gaming experience. I thought that most of the puzzles were a little on the easy side, but they were still fun and entertaining. A few of them were more complicated; especially if they were action driven. I wouldn't put any of them in the "Arcade" category, but action was still part of the repertoire.

In a few of the puzzles (and a bit more so with the HO scenes), I found myself trying to figure out what the designers were really wanting me to do. But in every case, I finally figured it out. I actually consider this a good thing. So many of these games just want the "same old - same old." When I find a game with a new puzzle gaming premise, I think it's refreshing.

AND NOW FOR AN EDITORIAL COMMENT. I do not write many reviews for Big Fish games. I DO read them, however, and rely on them when choosing my next game to buy. As a result, I found it interesting that so many top rated reviewers of this game based their write-ups solely on the demo, or even a part thereof.

I most strongly recommend that if a person does not want to go to the trouble of finishing the game ... or even the demo ... that he or she does not then go to the trouble of writing a review. At best, you will probably be considered lazy by many review-readers. And at worst, you will drive down the ratings of games that truly deserve to be played. This is one of those. Show less

I recommend this game!

+1point

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Overall rating

4 / 5

59 of 68 found this review helpful

YES, THE 1ST CHAPTER IS BORING BUT STICK AROUND FOR A WILD ADVENTURE!

PostedMay 10, 2020

pennmom36

fromI can assure you that the demo doesn't do this game justice, perhaps a lesson learned by the developer? BUT, please, at least try to pick this game up during a sale and get past the demo, I played the entire game and I know it is one unique game!

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Completed Game approximately 5.5 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
28 Main Game Scene Locations +8 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner-Intermediate-Expert

I know I have complained a lot lately about games with the same old unimaginative cliche tasks, boring plots, Hidden Object Scenes without the "hidden object" aspect, repetitive mini-games and above all, ridiculous storylines told so many times in so many ways that you know what's going to happen when it will happen, and why. You know who the bad guy will be, where the HOS locations will be the second you enter a new location, and you know what inventory item you're going to need for every problem that arises. Thank you, Brave Giant, you made me think, you made me solve problems, you kept me guessing, you surprised me with the plot several times with "I didn't see that one coming" you entertained me with creative hidden object scenes, you confused me as to what I was supposed to do (that's a good thing, folks!) but mostly, you kept me engaged from beginning to end...you went back to the drawing board and created a masterpiece!

This game won't be everybody's cup of joe, first of all, you'll have to be a sci-fi fan, or perhaps a computer geek to appreciate it. Yes, the story is similar to a popular Arnold movie series...but it's a great plot and to the best of my knowledge, it's a plot that hasn't been turned into a HOPA before. I haven't played a game with such an interesting plot since my Phavorite original Phantasmat! With the exception of a few logic fails (hey, that's just HOPA world) the story is credible. I loved that most of the tasks weren't obvious, that solutions had to be thought about versus clicking here, clicking there, always on auto-pilot because you've done it a thousand times. I will admit that it started out a little slow, but once the plot unfolded, they had me hook line and sinker. IF you are looking for a game with a great storyline and very creative Hidden Object Scenes, I think you will love this game. As I said, it starts out a little slow, so stick with it, the real fun begins at chapter two :)

웃G.A.D.G.E.T웃
I gotta tell ya, I was completely annoyed by a Watch Gadget that appeared in the first scene. This watch allows you remote access to A.R.N.O.L.D. but every time this feature becomes available it's I.C.O.N would start making the most incredibly annoying N.O.I.S.E. until you clicked on it to pick it up and clicked a second time on the screen to use his services. Within the first 3-4 scenes, it was used 7 times and I was ready to turn the sound completely off by this point, thankfully, the watch went M.I.A shortly after. There wasn't any game or HOP attached to its use so hang in there, it's only used 7 times and only at the beginning of the first chapter.

☽☾Morphing Objects/Collectibles: (CE version only)☼
There is a Digital Article in each scene, some of which are very nicely hidden. There are only 14 Morphing Photo Fragments that morph at a great pace. I loved the collectibles but I HATE the fact that they don't allow you to return to the scenes to pick up any missed collectibles! I missed both collectibles in one scene when I exited out of the game for a bit, and when I returned, I simply forgot that I hadn't looked for the morph. So now I have no idea what the outcome of these two features are unless I replay the entire game again all because I missed a single digital article and a single morphing photo fragment :(

◔Hidden Object Scenes◕
There are 18 Hidden Object Scenes +3 in the CE Bonus Chapter. If you have read my reviews in the past, you'll know that HOP's don't ever challenge me. I can usually click on all the objects without looking at the list because they stick out like a sore thumb. Brave Giant just ruined my track record with some of the most creative, and challenging HO scenes I've ever seen! There are a few somewhat average scenes, but Boris put on his thinking cap for these HO scenes folks, every one of them is incredibly interactive, and/or Progressive, and include at least one object that morphs and can only be clicked on when it is in the correct object form. There are Interactive List Finds, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, or Spot The Difference Finds. There were two in particular that I went bonkers over. The first type I fell in love with, was a bunch of symbols and icons located on a Honeycomb Grid, some icons morphed, some were cleverly blended between cell outlines, others required rotating 3 cells to recreate a particular symbol (another variation required swapping a single cell or group of cells for the same scenario) My absolute favorite (in HOPA history) were 2 different HOP's, both were located on a computer screen and required several not-so-obvious progressive interactions. They were very similar to a Rube Goldberg type of puzzle where you have to fiddle with several aspects and use discoveries to unlock the next interactions. Simply genius, Boris! I may be the only one who appreciates the thought process but you really thought outside the box with these! If you don't appreciate the huge entertainment factor of some of these HOP's, there is an alternate Associated Pair game available where you flip two tiles at a time and match objects that are similar such as a Horse & Car.

♙Mini-Games♙
There are 32 Mini-Games +11 in the CE Bonus Chapter, most of which are mechanical, digital, or computer-related, and some of the most creative, and entertaining games I've played in a long time. That seems like a ton of games, but don't freak out if you aren't a mini-game fan, because a lot of the mini-games are 3-part puzzles that have a few different variations, they aren't brain-burners, but do require a bit of thought. The only ones I wasn't a fan of are the ones where clicking on one affects others because to me, they are annoying and frustrating (I want to solve a puzzle using logic not trying to guess the correct combination of moves a developer decided upon!) My only complaint with the mini-games is that out of 43 mini-games, only 8 can be replayed in the extras menu??!!?? Here's a list of a few of my personal favorites:

1-Several variations of connecting color-coded wires. (including connecting the left to the right via path connectors) ♡♡♡
2-Select directional arrows to move 3 nodes to their slots, using obstacles as bumpers. ♡♡
3-Assemble items in the correct sequence by solving various math equations (loved the clever use of equations, but up the ante next time with some real brain-burner math problems to solve!) ♡♡♡
4-Move to every spot along tracks without backtracking. ♡♡
5-Shoot several Drones moving at various speeds when the target is located within the "zone" and briefly turns green---harder and more fun than you'd expect! ♡♡♡
6-Select points on columns & rows according to clues in the descriptions. ♡
7-Move characters by selecting a chosen path at the correct time to avoid capture (3 different variations, one of which has drones that move 2 spaces each time you move 1 space) ♡♡♡
8-Untangle wires (a somewhat challenging version for once!) ♡♡
9-Rotate the central hub and select outer fragments to lock onto the central hub when they align. (I would love to have 2-3 outer layers to make this more challenging!!) ♡♡♡

✯Bonus Chapter (Collector's Edition version only)✯
I'm not going to say much about the storyline folks, to say anything would give away the awesome plot of the main game. The only thing I'll say is that the show continues and it's a good one at that. There are 8 Scene Locations in this decent-length bonus chapter with an additional 11 Mini-Games and 3 Hidden Object Scenes, however, there are no Collectibles or Morphing Objects.

♕Collector's Edition Extra's♕
16 Wallpapers (none of which have characters on them, whoo-hooo! 5 Music Soundtracks, 8 Cutscene Videos, 24 Achievements, 8 Replayable Mini-Games, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 14 Morphing Photo Fragments, 28 Digital Articles, 4 Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.

FAMILY MYSTERIES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating

1-Poisonous Promises (December 1-2019) 3.4
2-Echoes of Tomorrow (May 10-2020) n/a

by: Brave Giant Show less

I recommend this game!

+50points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

2 of 2 found this review helpful

a pretty good HO game

PostedMarch 31, 2021

denniann2

fromharrisonburg, virginia

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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

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

an inventor is on the brink of an invention and celebrating his anniversary with his wife when a time traveler appears and his wife turns against him. there's lots of questions from here on out. there are some twists and turns to make it interesting. i played on the custom level. there is a good hint system.

I recommend this game!

+2points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

4 of 6 found this review helpful

Different but the Same

PostedMay 28, 2020

northswirl2

fromBritish Columbia Canada

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle

Current Favorite:

The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana

(104)

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

This game wasn’t totally engrossing for me as there weren’t any “sweat to solve” puzzles. Although the graphics are different, the sci-fi /tech aspect is window dressing over the usual game play - you spend most of your time finding this to open that. In its favour, the game is linear and logical within its context. The story is quite good, and I don’t usually pay attention to the story that much. I liked the cute coffee stain in the office container - someone has a sense of humour. The commentary is sometimes needed as there are unusual gizmos and gadgets. There are some spelling errors and odd language. It was annoying to get black clouds that slow you down in the HOs even though the scenes seem designed to require searching through a lot of choices. I really dislike most HOs so I switched to playing pairs, but the developers didn’t change the choices of pairs from one HO to the next. I started out hopeful with the game, but interest waned while trying to escape from the building, and then the helicopter, and then the mine. All the grey-blue metal seemed kind of dispiriting. This game will be great for HO lovers, and those who like to blow things up, and those who want the usual game play cloaked in sci-fi, tech graphics. Show less

I recommend this game!

+2points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Family Mysteries: Echoes of Tomorrow An inventor faces the consequences of his own invention! 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.