Detectives United: Phantoms of the Past > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

7 of 8 found this review helpful

a good HO game

PostedFebruary 14, 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

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

anna and james are sent to restville to see why agent brown hasn't returned. they meet a sinister mayor and there is something about the blue roses that is doing something to the people. i played on the custom level and there is a good hint system.

I recommend this game!

+6points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

15 of 21 found this review helpful

I AM a Fan of Detective United

PostedFebruary 1, 2021

pgillenw

fromDewey, AZ

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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):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I for some reason downloaded the SE and not the CE. After playing the game I now want to know what the bonus chapter is about in the CE.

Off to now download the CE.

I miss Elf.

I recommend this game!

+9points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

67 of 85 found this review helpful

MAKE US PUT ON OUR THINKING CAPS & YOU WILL BE AN UNSTOPPABLE DEVELOPER!

PostedJanuary 29, 2021

pennmom36

fromHOPAs have been out for nearly two decades...Most HOPA players are NOT beginners at this point yet devs refuse to tailor games toward the other 95%, seasoned players. Try just 1 game, if it flops, I'll stop complaining

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Completed Game approximately 4.0 hours
(including completion of all mini-games & CE Bonus Chapter)
18 Main Game Scene Locations +7 Bonus Chapter
Difficulty Range: Beginner

Restville is a picturesque, quaint sleepy town where time practically stands still, the ideal place to settle down and raise a family. Everyone knows everyone here, and everyone is proud of their unique flora. This is the town Agent Brown grew up in and his family is particularly proud of the rare blue rose hybrids they created, which has made Restville a town like no other. The problem is, you do not...under any circumstance, want to take the time to stop and smell these deadly little blue buds!

Helper/Gadget
There are no Gadgets, however, you will be playing as all three characters from Elephant Games popular series, eventually. James Blackthorn from the Haunted Hotel series, Anna Gray from Grim Tales, and Agent Brown from Mystery Trackers...without Elf it just doesn't work for me :(

Morphing Objects/Collectibles: (CE version only)
The Big Elephant has really been skimping on the CE bling lately. With the exception of their annual Christmas game, they have barely added ANY additional content, the chapter lengths have been remaining the same, but they never have had lengthy games. As for the Morphs, and Collectibles, those have dwindled to almost nothing, in the past 26 morphs were standard (1 in every scene) This game has a measly 13 Morphing Hats, so what they are doing now is combining the Morphs with the Collectibles, instead of offering a morph and a collectible in every scene, now they just make them morphing collectibles! There used to be a ton of Jigsaw puzzle pieces, now there are only 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Fragments, (which allows you to set 4 Screensavers w/o actually assembling the jigsaw) let's keep in mind that they haven't changed the number of scenes they offer in their games, they always have 18 scenes in the Main Game, and 7 scenes in the Bonus Chapter so we ARE getting less, way less, so unless I just sniffed one of those blue roses which clouded my thought process, we are paying the same amount of money, getting way less bang for our buck, lower quality (I'll get to that part)

Video/Audio Quality:
Elephant Games has always been one of my favorites when it comes to graphics, hands-down, and their story-telling abilities are phenomenal. I cut my teeth on Mystery Trackers: The Void and fell in love with HOPA games because of this developer! With that being said, recently, I have been able to count on multiple instances of game freezes or music that seems to get stuck on the same track loop. This game, in particular, actually quit and exited out to the GM when I woke up in the jail cell, again when James donned a disguise, and a third time when I finished the "bend the key" mini-game and entered the shed to meet Agent Brown. (how much you want to bet this visual/audio quality blurb section gets added to someone else's review next time bwahahaa)

Hidden Object Scenes:
There are only 9 Hidden Object Scenes +5 in the CE Bonus Chapter, not including several smaller zoom zone hidden object scenes where you are tasked with finding 1 object at a time that matches the silhouetted shape (usually 5 objects) For some reason, they have gone back to their old ways of making the objects really noticeable, or perhaps this game was just made a long time ago, but I could easily pick 95% of the items without looking at the list! There are Interactive List Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, Matching Pairs where you move items two at a time to find a matching pair hidden behind the object, Multiples of the Same Object Finds, and Swatches where you find areas on a bulletin board that matches tiny swatches.

Mini-Games:
There are 17 Mini-Games +4 in the CE Bonus Chapter. (less is more?) I was really happy that they include a lot of mechanical types of puzzles which is my favorite type, a feature Elephant Games has perfected! Here are a few of my personal favorites:

1-Enter the correct letters on the safe by searching for subtle clues located on the safe...in the form of various codes!
2-Guide colored water drops from the top to the flower of the same color at the bottom using colored buttons to turn pipes.
3-Swap lock pieces on the top and bottom so they will interlock correctly with the teeth on the center, sections can only swap with highlighted sections so you may have to move them around into the desired position.
4-Bend each section of the lockpick to match the teeth of the lock.

Bonus Chapter (Collector's Edition version only)
A new Mayor, Andrew Stevens has been elected to Restville and he has even bigger problems than the previous administration! No, they aren't having issues with blue roses, these roses are totally a different color...I so need a rolling emoji, lol! You'll play as Andrew Stevens the Mayor as well as one of the previous mayor's minions in this short Bonus Chapter spanning over 7 Scene Locations. There are just 4 simple Mini-Games and 5 Hidden Object Scenes, and you will search for the remaining 3 Morphing Hats and 5 Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments which allows you to "set" (no assembly required) the final Jigsaw Puzzle Screensaver.

Collector's Edition Version Extra's
5 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 23 Achievements, 13 Replayable Mini-Games, 14 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, a Secret Room to search for 40 Hidden Objects (objects shown on SG), 13 Morphing Hats, 20 Zoom Zone Jigsaw Puzzle Fragments to "set" 4 Screensavers (no assembly required) Expedition Room (allows you to return to scenes to pick up collectibles) 4 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-In Strategy Guide. Come visit my new forum! You can see all of my Series' Lists and chat with others at thewoodsforum.boards.net Show less

I recommend this game!

+49points

67of 85voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

3 / 5

8 of 9 found this review helpful

Insanely short!

PostedFebruary 6, 2021

bobbysian23

fromSussex, UK

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

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I'm not sure what's happened to Elephant Games, they've become ridiculously short. I completed the whole game in just under 2 hours. Thankfully I used a free game coupon otherwise i would have been annoyed.

The game itself is okay, but I was hoping for a more spooky atmosphere. The puzzles are quite easy, but that's okay as I don't want to be perplexed for hours. Also, it jumped around too ...Show more

The game itself is okay, but I was hoping for a more spooky atmosphere. The puzzles are quite easy, but that's okay as I don't want to be perplexed for hours. Also, it jumped around too much for me; one minute you were James, next you were Anna, then you were James again, then you're Anna in the past, then Anna in the future. Phew! Majorly confused at the end.

Not one of my favourites by any means, but it killed a few hours. Sorry Elephant! Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+7points

8of 9voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

2 / 5

8 of 11 found this review helpful

Skip This One

PostedFebruary 8, 2021

mar39

fromNew Mexico

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

Terribly boring. Not even worth using a free coupon code.

I don't recommend this game.

+5points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

6 of 9 found this review helpful

BUYER BEWARE

PostedFebruary 7, 2021

cinthag

fromUSA

Skill Level:Expert

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

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

The game freezes shortly into the game. When you drain the fountain to collect the key the game completely freezes and you cannot do anything. I had to do a hard reboot twice to get out of the game to try again.

I don't recommend this game.

+3points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

3 of 5 found this review helpful

boring

PostedFebruary 12, 2021

georgi101

frombellflower california

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Brain Teaser, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

this was so dark you can not see what you are doing just plain awful

I don't recommend this game.

+1point

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Detectives United: Phantoms of the Past Stop and smell the roses. 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.