Christmas Stories: Hans Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

131 of 143 found this review helpful

Christmas Classic!

PostedDecember 22, 2014

pennmom36

fromThe Nutcracker has some really bad luck!

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Top Reviewer

Skill Level:Expert

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

Current Favorite:

Phantasmat Collector's Edition

(100)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The poor Nutcracker has been turned into a toy once again, but by now he's probably used to it! To complicate this dire situation, his sister Nina and her fiance Charlie have become toy victims too! Charlie and Nina were childhood sweethearts who were planning their wedding when Charlie was called into war, but Nina vowed to wait for him as long as it took. Several suitors tried in vain to woo Nina, but her heart remained true and she waited for Charlie's return. The Baron himself was one of those suitors who wanted Nina for his own, he even ordered his servants to do whatever it took to assure that Charlie would never returns to Nina's loving arms. Charlie was severely wounded and lost his leg as a result of his injury, his love for Nina was the only thing that gave him the will to fight for his life! The Baron became filled with rage and turned everyone into teeny tiny toys when he saw that Charlie had returned, the Nutcracker was the only one who managed to escape just before the Baron threw poor Charlie into the fireplace and kidnapped Nina!
It's a good thing Charlie is now made of tin because you are able to meld a new tin soldier using Charlie's original crystal heart, and with a little bit of paint, he's as good as new and available at a moments notice to fight those pesky Box Trolls!

The Nutcracker joins us in the adventure as a hint icon, and you may want to consider the Collectors Edition because there are 36 collectible puzzle pieces that fit into three different pictures. When the pictures are completed, they become animated screensavers, and there are 15 Christmas packages throughout the game that contain miniature cat collectibles. Some of the inventory items you find are complex items as indicated by a snowflake, which means some type of interaction is required before using that item such as opening the package or combining the item with another inventory item.

The Hidden Object Scenes are stunning, with Christmas themed items, some are silhouetted shapes to find, interactive list finds that expose puzzle pieces that you swap to complete a picture and even moving items two at a time trying to find matching pairs. The mini games aren't difficult but certainly fun such as guiding soldier Charlie through a re enactment scene from the war, you have Charlie shoo away a crow, the crow drops the key into a haystack, Charlie pushes the cow out of the way to search the haystack to find the key that opens a chest containing an axe to chop down the door of a burning house and so forth.

I preferred the Collectors Edition, which has Wallpapers, Music, Concept Art, Animated Screensavers, Collectible jigsaw puzzle pieces, Collectible miniature Cats, Achievements, a built in Strategy guide and two Bonus Chapters. Either way you're in for a magical adventure, enjoy! Show less

I recommend this game!

+119points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

30 of 31 found this review helpful

A Perfect Piece of Christmas Magic

PostedMarch 27, 2015

catbag8717

fromTasmania, Australia

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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

Ominous Objects: Family Portrait

(30)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

BASED ON COMPLETED CE

I'm really not a fan of Fantasy games- I'm more of a murder mystery fan- but this one has changed my mind completely. The game I have played has both enthralled me and left me awaiting a sequel. It just goes to show that even the darkest of hearts can be touched by a little Christmas Magic.

When I first saw the blurb, and when I began playing, I was worried. The storyline's ...Show more

BASED ON COMPLETED CE

When I first saw the blurb, and when I began playing, I was worried. The storyline's concept sounded very similar to that of The Nutcracker, and I thought that I was just going to get a rehashed version of the original. But as I played on, I found that I couldn't be more wrong! This story definitely stands alone in its own right. And I loved that it had a touch of darkness, delivered by a perfectly executed backstory. The backstory was exciting and added that little something to stop this from being an all out cutesy, which definitely would not have sat well with me. Each segment had me wanting more, which is what a backstory should set out to do. Even with the fantastic backstory, the main game still had some great, unexpected plot developments which kept me going all the way to the end. Seriously, I've underestimated how much plot depth a fantasy story can have. All elements of fantasy were executed to perfection. There was magic, there was cuteness, there was love... and they all blended together in perfect harmony. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of the cute and cuddly, but it was toned to just the right level to make my heart melt without being sickly sweet. It was fantastic and made me feel good, which is what I look for in games.
But, as I said, the story wasn't all about cuteness. I thought the plot twists were great and unexpected, which is what kept me going when the backstory drew to a close. Furthermore, the twists were spaced out well, so I wasn't bombarded with cutscenes. If I had to pick something wrong with the story, I would say that maybe they should have spiced up the excitement a little bit more- there were a couple of times where I was bored- but other than that, nothing's wrong. Those worried about an inconclusive ending needn't be. The main game's ending is 100% conclusive, with no loose ends or plot holes.

While the story was good, the main reason I purchased this game was for the gameplay. It was innovative, and most of all, it was the most FUN I've had in a long time! The HOS were a perfect example of this. They were jazzed up just that tiny little bit, enough to be magical, but yet not overly interactive to the point of insanity. Every single HOS I played was enjoyable and I was ecstatic every time I came across one. They also came in a considerable variety: assemble the item, standard wordlist, silhouette junkpile, even a story HOS. As I said, all were lovely, and I was a little surprised by the quantity. There were 9 HOS, even though I thought there were a lot more. This is a good number, but maybe a couple more would have been perfect. But then again, less HOS means more adventure.

As great as the HOS were, I think the puzzles were even BETTER. Every single one was unique, incredibly fun, and better yet, most of them advanced the story in some way! This is perfect; I wish more games would do this, as it made me motivated to complete them. As weird as it sounds, each puzzle was better than the last. They were almost perfect; I found only the one that I didn't like. The puzzles were a delight to play and made me start to like something I have always hated. The puzzles were in a similar number to the HOS. There were 8 puzzles, and they were well spaced out. I quite liked the number as it made me appreciate them more.

The adventure component was great. Due to the limited number of HOS & Puzzles, I found it quite prominent, which was fantastic. I personally think adventure is the best part of a HOPA and it's great to see the developers reflecting it. I also really liked the interaction in the game. Such examples of this were the Christmas Magic minigames (which I LOVED), the shrink potion (which was fantastic but wore off WAY too quickly) and just how you could interact with certain items in the scene, such as the waving teddy bear, or the things in Ole's toy shop. It wasn't necessary to the game, but it added that little bit of enjoyment. This, combined with additional features and overall smoothness of the game's flow, made the adventure component extremely fun. I did find the game to be slightly easy, due to its otherwise basic nature, However, I had no problem with this, as I found that it allowed me to enjoy myself more. I find that harder games take away from the fun factor significantly. So, the adventure component is almost perfect.

The additional features have been done fantastically. There are two: + objects and a helper. The + objects were done well. They either required interaction or additional items, which was nice, because even features need variation. They weren't used a lot, and sort of faded out towards the end. They also didn't have an indication of when they could be used, which is what I wanted to see.
The other feature was the helper – a tin soldier, Charlie- and I thought it was done quite well. Firstly, it was unobtrusive; it just sat there in its own little space and didn't dominate the game. It was used sparingly but each time it was used was great. I also liked how, sometimes, you had to interact with the helper before you could use it. This included putting Charlie in a little cart before using him, or giving him a rope to climb down on. I really liked how Charlie was involved in the story too. I think developers should aim to do this with all helpers.

The difficulty levels were great. I played Advanced mode and found the hint recharged decently, and there were no sparkles ANYWHERE, not even HOS. However, there were still map indicators, which was quite disappointing. The custom difficulty was okay, with a bit to customise, but I was happy with advanced.
Overall, near perfect gameplay, which was almost impossible to fault.

The graphics are fantastic. They are drawn with such finesse and beautiful detail, with a vast array colours, which really showed off the Christmasy theme. I found the developers mixed their brights and darks really well. All scenes, especially cutscenes, were clear and designed beautifully. Furthermore, the character designs were probably the most brilliant I've seen. They were designed with such care and looked incredibly lifelike; so much so I could probably mistake them for real beings. The graphics in this game are a visual delight.
The voice-overs are standard. I have no issue.

FEATURES
4 modes of difficulty: Casual, Advanced, Hard and Custom. I played Advanced. There were no sparkles, but there were map indicators.
Hint/Skip- both recharged at a decent difficulty for Advanced. Hint is helpful outside HOS and sometimes acts as teleporter.
Map- The map was very helpful and set out well. It was interactive, but still showed indicators on advanced.
+ Objects- Good, but not used often; kind of faded out towards the end. There was no indication of when they could be used.
Helper- The helper was great fun to use. I liked how you could interact with it.

WHAT DO I MISS OUT ON IF I BUY THE SE? (Bonus Chapter Review at the bottom)
Built-in Strategy Guide- Shows collectibles but not HOS solutions
Achievements- some story based, some gameplay based
Collectible puzzle pieces (36)- unlocks screensaver
Collectible cat figurines (15)- There are NONE in the bonus chapter, which was disappointing. But they were very fun to find.
Concept Art
Wallpapers
Soundtrack

BONUS CHAPTER REVIEW
There were 2 bonus chapters, and both were good; a nice epilogue to the main game. The stories were quite good, although the chapters were heavily gameplay based. The HOS and Puzzles continued on their stunning form, being just as fun as the main game, maybe even more so. However, I noticed I jumped from HOS to puzzle to HOS, with very little adventure in between. It was quite disappointing, in all honesty. Overall, though, good bonus chapters. I especially liked how they ended with puzzles.

WHICH IS THE BETTER BUY
I bought and played the CE and see it as good value. There are quite a lot of collectibles and nice achievements, with incentives for collecting them all. The 2 bonus chapters add even more fun to an already stellar game.

WOULD I PLAY THIS GAME AGAIN?
Absolutely yes, no questions asked. This was a top-notch game, one of the best of 2014, and one of the best I've ever played.

Even though I'm a hater of all things fantasy, there is no doubt in my mind that this game deserves a place amongst the greats in the HOPA industry. This game has got me rethinking my stance on fantasy. I will definitely be returning to this in the near future. It is well and truly deserving of a 5 star rating. Show less

I recommend this game!

+29points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

41 of 46 found this review helpful

Absolutely Fantastic!!

PostedDecember 22, 2014

BSHADOW

fromMid Michigan

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This was one of the best games I have played in a long time. The graphics are beautiful. The story was excellent. The voice overs were great. It even had some humor which I really loved. This would be a really good game to play with the family. It was not very hard but I enjoy games that are just relaxing. I would have loved to share this game with a kid maybe age 6 or 7 and up. It was a beautiful fairy tale. It had bad guys but they were defeated without any violence. The puzzles were VERY unique but I didn't find any of them hard. It took me about 4 hours to finish the game (in one sitting cause I couldn't pull myself away from it). In conclusion, I think it had everything a good game should have. Show less

I recommend this game!

+36points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

23 of 25 found this review helpful

Worth the Wait!

PostedDecember 24, 2014

RevKellie

fromCentral VA

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, Match 3

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Every year I wait and wait for Elephant Games to put out their Christmas game - and this one doesn't disappoint. Amazing story, fun puzzles and just the right length.

Pros: Graphics, Music (much from the Nutcracker), movement, voice-overs all perfect. A cameo person makes it awesome, and the little mouse family is gorgeous. Perfect blend of 2D animation. Puzzles Easy to Low-Medium, Story is ...Show more

Every year I wait and wait for Elephant Games to put out their Christmas game - and this one doesn't disappoint. Amazing story, fun puzzles and just the right length.

Cons: Some puzzles don't have good directions on how they work (used SKIP), and the end is abrupt.

Overall, this is another winner in the collection of Christmas games from Elephant. (and it was fun to see Good/Bad Scrooge from last year too). :) Show less

I recommend this game!

+21points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

21 of 24 found this review helpful

Foiled Again

PostedDecember 22, 2014

Torpedo1

fromCeres lil-gal

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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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This game was so fun and what a great sequel to the first. Lots more to do, Great HO's, Collectables, Potions, and smooth game play with wonderful Ambiance throughout the journey. This goes on must buy list.

I recommend this game!

+18points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

18 of 20 found this review helpful

Bright and Shiny - just like Christmas is meant to be!

PostedDecember 30, 2014

VirginiaPat

fromWytheville, VA

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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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

This is a game that youngsters, as well as everyone else, would enjoy, I think. The scenes are "Christmas-y" and even the Baron #much like the Grinch# is more pitiful than frightening. There is a map, there is a war-wounded tin soldier who is helpful, and there is much to do. There are some rather unusual HO scenes, one of which involves uncovering objects and remembering which 2 objects contain a ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+16points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

17 of 19 found this review helpful

Merry Christmas to me!

PostedDecember 23, 2014

2kittiesmom

fromAvondale, AZ

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

What a thoroughly delightful and awesome game! I don't review often, but upon completing this, felt I had to put in my two cents worth.

Animation, story line, game play are all top-notch. Congrats to the devs and Big Fish for offering this fabulous game. Now I feel spoiled and it will be difficult to be impressed. Wish they could all be like this one.

Enjoy!

I recommend this game!

+15points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

12 of 15 found this review helpful

Charming and Fun

PostedDecember 26, 2014

clairepagan

fromnottingham, uk

Skill Level:Expert

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

Current Favorite:

Graven: The Purple Moon Prophecy

(102)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Beautiful graphics and lovely Christmassy feel. Lots of fun to play for all ages. Some simple stuff but some puzzles are harder.
Story is simple but game play is inventive and involving. You really feel part of the story.

Nice game to put you in Christmas spirit.

I recommend this game!

+9points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

13 of 17 found this review helpful

An Excellent Game ...

PostedDecember 24, 2014

OzGuy

fromAustralia

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Great Graphics, Sound, Animations, Effects, Voice & Video Bits ...

A Great Follow Up On Last Years Christmas Special , With Some Nice Finishing Touches ... Just A Pity It Was So Short, I Could Play A Game Like This For Days ...

I Found The Music A Bit Over The Top And Far Too Familiar ... So I Turned It Down To Almost Nothing And Turned Up The Ambient Audio Stuff For A More Enjoyable Experience ...Show more

Great Graphics, Sound, Animations, Effects, Voice & Video Bits ...

A Great Follow Up On Last Years Christmas Special , With Some Nice Finishing Touches ... Just A Pity It Was So Short, I Could Play A Game Like This For Days ...

I Found The Music A Bit Over The Top And Far Too Familiar ... So I Turned It Down To Almost Nothing And Turned Up The Ambient Audio Stuff For A More Enjoyable Experience ... The Kids Are Gonna Love This Game ...

The Bonus Chapter Was Very Short, And Seemed A Bit Detached From The Theme Of The Main Game ... But The Additional Dream Chapters That Followed On From There Helped To Bulk Out A Bit More Game Play ... Show less

I recommend this game!

+9points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

11 of 15 found this review helpful

well worth downloading

PostedDecember 22, 2014

almawings

fromDacula, GA

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

great graphic, great story line, lots of puzzles to solve

enjoyed it a lot

I recommend this game!

+7points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Christmas Stories: Hans Christian Andersen's Tin Soldier You've got a tough case to crack this holiday season! 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.