Sacra Terra: Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition (a J!-ENT Video Game Review)

Looking for a dark/eerie hidden objects/puzzle game that will last you longer than a few hours and with replay value (plus two more games to play after you’re all done), then “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” is highly recommended.  It’s definitely one of Alawar Entertainment’s better hidden objects games out there!

VIDEO GAME TITLE: Sacra Terra: Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition

YEAR OF INITIAL RELEASE: 2011

VIDEO GAME GENRE: Hidden Objects

CREATED BY: Alawar Entertainment

PUBLISHER: Viva Entertainment

MEDIA: 1 PC DVD

RATINGS: T for Teen (Drug reference, mild blood, suggestive themes, violent references)

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2011

VIDEO GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

There is no denying that dark, eerie and creepy games is attracting a lot of fans of the hidden object video game genre and as other companies are trying to raise the bar in adventure-lite and hidden object games by longer gameplay, better graphics and most importantly, a very good storyline.

For Russian video game developer, Alawar Entertainment, the company is one of the best known developer and publisher of casual games in the world and with a big following, they know that their audience wants nothing but better games and not something that was good 4-5 years ago.

Fortunately, Alawar Entertainment is listening and one of the better games they have released is “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” and now giving the title a “Collector’s Edition” release which includes a strategy guide, a bonus prequel game, concept art, wallpaper and two additional video games (“Amanda Rose: The Game of Time” and “Echoes of Sorrow”) for the price of one game.  Also, available is “Legends of Terror 6-Pack” which includes both the “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” and the “Twisted Lands: Insomniac” Collector’s Editions (and can be found for the same price online).

It’s important to emphasize that the standard edition of “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” does not come with the bonus prequel, strategy guide or the extra two games.

“Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” begins with a man being wheeled into a insane asylum by a doctor.  He is then taken to his room and an angel comes and mysteriously frees him from his bindings.

When the man leaves the bed, he notices the place looking very old and dilapidated.  And also what appears to be a bloody teddy bear with an IV hooked up to it.  What is going on here?

And immediately you partake in puzzles and hidden object games which you need to figure out how to get out of your bedroom but also open up other rooms to find out more clues about this hotel that you are in.  But one thing that you do know, the angel has helped you and she needs your help.

Especially since the demons of the seven Deadly Sins have been freed and are now finding their own permanent residence in the decrepit mental hospital.  You will need to use what you can find and solve every puzzle in order to defeat these demons but also find out more about Angel and this metal hospital that you have been kept in.

The bonus prequel game features how the main character you are playing, ended up in the mental hospital and what took place two days before.

INSTALLATION:

I installed “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition” with no problems whatsoever.  The Viva Universal Media installation panel came up and you select which game you want to install.

GAMEPLAY

One of the highlights of “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” that this game will take you hours, if not days to beat.  As your character reaches each room, each room will present itself a hidden objects game (which you will more than likely visit each room twice through the game to find hidden objects) and each time you beat a hidden object game, you are given a special item which can be used in opening another room, or important for your traps to destroy a demon.

Before beginning the game, you have the option to choose a normal for casual gamers or difficult mode for the hardcore HoG enthusiasts.  For the most part, the hidden object games, if rated 1 as the easiest, 3 as average and 5 as difficult, “Sacra Terra” would be about a 3.  Some may find it as a 4 but what I found out is having your brightness slightly up, you can find these items without using the hint (note: using hints are infinite, they do take some time to recharge).  Also, if you click everywhere or on wrong items, you will not get penalized for it.

If anything, for these hidden object games, it all comes down to patience and looking at the walls to anywhere they can place an item.  And it’s also important to remember that these items reflect possibly a different time.  So, for example, if you are looking for a “scissor”, some may look for what they think is a modern scissor, but instead, the screen will show the very old style of scissors that are metal.  So some items, you will need to look a little longer as these objects are more likely something representative of the past.

Also, hidden in each room are morphing items which your character must find all 42.  And with each room connected to another in some way, some of these rooms have puzzles that are challenging but using the same difficulty as the hidden objects game, I rate it about a three…not too difficult and not too hard.

There is quite a bit of backtracking in this game as some rooms will reveal an object that you need to take to another room and this will happen quite a bit.  Especially important urns that need to be taken to a church. Each time you find them, you need to return them back to the church.  And while backtracking in an adventure game can be tedious, the good news is that most rooms are close by and because it features a first person view, traveling from one place to another is done in seconds as opposed to an adventure game which can take a minute.  So, if you are impatient…you don’t have to worry.

“Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” will make a lot of people happy, mainly because it’s longer than most hidden object games and can take anywhere from 10-20 hours to beat (including the prequel bonus game), especially if you are looking for these morphing objects.  The prequel bonus game takes about an hour or two at the most and the difficulty is the same as the main game.

GRAPHICS:

As for the graphics of this game, the game looks fantastic.  The major part of the game is well-painted and heavily detailed.  While the game is creepy in look and despite the bloody teddy bear seen at the early part of the game, “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” is not scary at all in terms of look.  You will not find any horrific scenes but you will read of how dark Angel’s personal life and what happened to her.  Mainly dark suggesitve themes but nothing horrific visually.

While the main game is done well, the CG is good.  Not as good as major console CG cut scenes but for a hidden object game, it was better than what I have seen in other Alawar games.

AUDIO:

The audio is another positive factor in the game.  The musical soundtrack was pretty good, as well as the special effects.  One thing that they did to make things dark and eerie is have these residual noises of someone coughing, crying or screaming while you venture in a room.

While there are no spoken dialogue, fortunately this game did have the music and sound effects.  It’s mentioned that the collector’s edition comes with a soundtrack but not sure where that is located in the game.  I’m guessing that it may be an extra if one beats the more difficult mode or if one finds all morphing objects.

REPLAY VALUE:

There is replay value for those who want to find the morphing items.  By the time I completed the game, I found 36 of 42.  So, I was so close but next time, will put much more emphasis on finding all morphing items.  Not sure if it affects gameplay or ending if you do find them all.  But I feel it may also open the soundtrack to the game (unless this is an extra that is opened when you beat it in the more difficult mode).

“Sacred Terra: Angelic Night” is no doubt an ambitious and fantastic step for Alawar Entertainment.  For so long, fans have complained about short games, abrupt endings, bad storyline or game play but with so many games under their belt, I’m thrilled that Alawar Entertainment has been listening to their fanbase.  And “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” is the right direction and I hope they can keep this momentum up for future hidden object games.

The balance of the game is well-done with hidden objects, puzzles, involving storyline with mystery and intrigue, enough eerie and darkness for fans of the genre to enjoy it, as well as casual fans who don’t want anything too dark or gory.  And balance that off with very well-done graphics, musical score and ambient effects and a lot of other extras and it makes for a very entertaining game.

Buying the Collector’s Edition of “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” makes things even better as you get the prequel game and strategy guide for those who need it.  And of course, you get two more games included, thus if you are looking for a really awesome game for under $10, this collector’s edition is definitely worth owning!

But what are the caveats about this game?  Well, for one, there are other dark and eerie hidden object/adventure-lite games that are much better, but that all comes down to development and how much wants to put into the game.  The Mystery Case Files is an example of games where video and spoken dialogue are utilized and that is one area that Alawar Entertainment should look into.  Granted, I understand the development for such a thing can be expensive as the need to hire voice actors that can act in English may be difficult for a Russian-based company and also video adds to the cost of hiring actors and this is on top of the actual development of the game and music which can be expensive as well.

The other caveat is difficulty.  Some hardcore hidden object players may find it much to easy for both hidden objects and puzzles.  I felt it was average in terms of difficulty, not too difficult, not too easy.  But I like that… I don’t want something made difficult in terms of it becoming frustrating, but I do expect things to progressively become more challenging as you near the end, not easier.  Which this game does get easier towards the final moments.

Another is more of a peeve that I have read on forums, not so much a bother for me but for those who are impatient and that is the actual presence of Angel, which goes through a clip of her spreading her wings and watching a feather fly.  Impatient gamers will probably be put off by the temporary wait.  Personally, I wasn’t too bothered by it but I’m not impatient either.

Last, not necessarily a caveat but for those interested in this game, will want to do their research as “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” is included with many of Viva Media sets.  From the Legends of Terror to the Mystery Collection Packs, these are all enticing as they included many games but may be the standard edition, not the collector’s edition.  As of May 2012, there are two versions of the Collector’s Edition out there that I know of, one is this “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition” and the other is a Double Collector’s Edition which includes “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” and “Twisted Lands: Insomniac” plus four bonus games.  While the version I am reviewing can be found for $9.99-$12 online, I noticed the latter can also be found for nearly the same price or by a little more.

If you are in it for “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night”, then this 6-pack is the way to go.  Otherwise, more than likely you will also want to play “Twisted Lands: Insomniac” (the sequel to “Twisted Lands: Shadow Town”) and with the 6-pack, “Shadow Town” is not included in the 6-pack, but with the “Twisted Lands: Insomniac” game.  Also, you get two very good games with the regular “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night – Collector’s Edition” stand alone with the “Amber Rose: The Game of Time” and “Echoes of Sorrow” game.   So, you may want to do your research of which versions you want to buy.

Overall, “Sacra Terra” is an enjoyable game that really is a magnificent step up for Alawar Entertainment.  There are way more positives than negatives and the storyline leaves things open for a sequel.

Looking for a dark/eerie hidden objects/puzzle game that will last you longer than a few hours and with replay value (plus two more games to play after you’re all done), then “Sacra Terra: Angelic Night” is highly recommended.  It’s definitely one of Alawar Entertainment’s better hidden objects games out there!

For this second game alone, I give it a RATING: A-