“Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” is an enjoyable sci-fi game but it’s also a very easy hidden objects game. The fact that the game can be found in various Viva Media collection packs, the game is primarily for casual fans and beginners of hidden object video games.
VIDEO GAME TITLE: Amanda Rose: The Game of Time
YEAR OF INITIAL RELEASE: 2010 (the 4-pack was released in 2012)
VIDEO GAME GENRE: Hidden Objects/Fractal Objects/Interactive Hidden Objects
PUBLISHER: Viva Media
MEDIA: (Available on several Viva Media Packs or as a download)
MEDIUM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 7, Vista, XP, 1GHz, 512 MB ram, 405MB HD, Video Card 32MB 3D, DirectX 8.1 or Later
RATINGS: E for Everyone
RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2011
VIDEO GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
Amanda Rose is standing at the entrance to an abandoned mine. When she steps through the opening, she’ll discover something incredible. Only a few days ago, she watched her father leave their home to go on a secret mission. A few hours later, she was searching the desert site where his plane had crashed for clues to his disappearance. And not long after that, a strange device threw her back in time. Will you guide Amanda through the breach? Are you brave enough to walk boldly with her into the unknown? There’s only one way to find out!
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Viva Media is a distributor known for releasing hidden objects and adventure-lite video games created by Russian video game developer/publisher Alawar Entertainment.
And most often, there are some games that are featured in a variety of collector’s editions or video game packs.
One of those games is “Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” which can be found in the “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition”, “Legends of Terror -12 Game Mega Pack” or the most recently released “Mystery Masters Secret Stories Collection – 15 Pack” or available online via download.
“Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” revolves around a young woman named Amanda Rose who receives a message from her father that she will be receiving news that his plane has been involved in an accident, but he is doing fine. But he has discovered something that will require the help of his daughter, but first she must head to the crash site and find a cube that was left for her. And off Amanda goes to retrieve this cube that her father had left for her.
What is going with her father? And why is he sending these mysterious messages to her?
Sure enough, as Amanda goes to retrieve the cube, she collapses…but when she wakes up, she’s no longer in her own time period. Apparently, she was sent back in time possibly sometime during the 1800’s. With messages left with people in town for Amanda, it appears that her father and a friend also went back in time but have discovered something amazing. But what did they discover?
INSTALLATION:
“Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” was included with my “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition” and installation was easy. Viva Universal dashboard appears and you can select which game to install.
GAMEPLAY
“Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” is a game that is hidden objects (HoG), fractal objects (FRoG) and interactive hidden objects (IHog) with a few puzzles and about 15 chapters of quick gameplay. If anything, this game is casual and in terms of hidden objects, the game in difficulty if 1 is easy, 3 is average and 5 is difficult, it would be about a 2.5. Everything was very easy to find, puzzles were not difficult and as games typically get more challenging towards the end, this is one of those games that gets easier.
First, let’s discuss how gameplay works. “Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” has Amanda first searching a room for hidden objects, followed by a second round of hidden objects which can be interactive. Some objects are needed to open a door, drawer or activate some machine or vehicle. The scene is not isolated to one scene as objects may require moving to a room next door or room upstairs, but the load times are fairly quick and not noticeable.
And there are times where you run into a few puzzles but this game was too easy in the puzzle department and if anything, the focus is more on the hidden objects.
As for the storyline, the storyline is not CG-animated but told in a comic book panel type of way. But at least the storyline is coherent, easy to follow and does make sense. As each chapter is focused on, I found myself breezing through each chapter fairly quickly, some less than 5 minutes. Average gameplay time is about 3-4 hours at the most. And fortunately, the ending is not as abrupt like other early Alawar related games which last only a minute. This one lasts a few minutes but at least the ending coincides and supports the cut scenes.
I did encounter one major glitch and that is the final astrology-based puzzle. While the game crashed, when the final chapter reloaded, the puzzle wouldn’t load. All that is displayed was a swirling background and all I can do was skip the puzzle, since the puzzle wasn’t loading. And sure enough, by doing that, the game was over.
But overall, gameplay was fun, fairly easy and not as challenging. But for those who are looking for something not too difficult and are a beginner to these type of games, “Amanda Rose: Game of Time” is perfect for the beginner.
If by any chance, you do get stuck and need help, I recommend visiting this link on the Big Fish Games website.
GRAPHICS:
As for the graphics of this game, the settings are well-detailed, I liked the use of the comic book style panels but for the actual game and hidden objects, the scenery looks very good!
AUDIO:
The music is actually pretty good for this game. From a piano-based medley to sound effects that benefit that certain setting (such as an investigator’s radio or Native American drums).
REPLAY VALUE:
There is no replay value for this game. You beat the game and that is it.
For a game that comes with various Viva Media packs, “Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” is a fun game but it’s way too easy and probably not much of a challenge for experienced HoG gamers.  It’s a very casual game that beginners to hidden object games will probably want to try out, but even intermediate fans may like the overall gameplay and also its fascinating plot of time travel.
Also, the graphics and audio are pretty good considering the game’s easy difficult level. But the positive of this game is unless you are downloading this game, this game can be found in other it Viva Media packs or the “Sacra Terra – Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition” for free.
But despite the game being free, it still plays better than some other games I have played from Alawar Entertainment. And I liked how it incorporated hidden objects, fractal objects and also interactive hidden objects with puzzles all in this one game.
But there is potential with the Amanda Rose storyline and perhaps Alawar Entertainment can follow-up with her character in a brand new storyline.
Overall, “Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” is an enjoyable, casual and easy PC game for those wanting a hidden objects video game without the frustration.
For “Amanda Rose: The Game of Time”, I give it a RATING: C+