The graphics in the game are gorgeous, the music fits the mood and theme of the game, and the game plays in widescreen on Mac, so the player can appreciate the full effect of the artwork. There's a good balance of HOGs and puzzles. Some interactive items in some of the HOGs. Puzzles aren't too difficult. I don't recall getting stuck on any of them actually. Journal has the typical diary for notes, as well as map and tasks list. There are 33 origamis to find, which unlocks one of the games more interesting extras. The story starts with a car accident and a dark-cloaked entity coming for your husband. Then it jumps four years to your daughter's seventh birthday, when she's abducted by the same figure coming out of one of her drawings. You have to go into her drawing to find her. Her uncle Peter comes with you but is soon rendered useless. You're then separated entirely and you have to continue on to save your daughter alone. This is a dual mode HOPA: sparkles, faster help and tutorial in Casual; no sparkles or tutorial and longer hint recharges in Expert. It's a good length and took me a few sessions to complete, maybe about 5 hours total. The bonus game details what Uncle Peter got up to after he was separated from the main characters and takes you through a nightmare landscape that he needs to escape. There are only a few locations to explore, but the artwork is top notch, as with the rest of the game, and there's lots to do. It took me about 1.5 hours to complete, so a very good length for a bonus game, and one of the more compelling bonus games I've played on any CE game. It adds some background info on the dark-cloaked figures but isn't essential to the core game for those who decide to wait for the SE. Other extras - concept art, wallpapers (a higher number than other games offer), music files (can be saved) and instructions for creating 8 different origamis.

I really loved this one - Graphics are outstanding with very creative motifs. The music is ok. I found myself turning it down mid-way through. Unique activities in the HOS scenes were woven directly in as part of the story line which was a nice twist. The pace was fast with a sense of urgency to get the next object. If you like to relax, take your time to mosey along taking in the scenery, this is not the game for you. Things move fast. The emphasis on story line until the very end reminded me more of an old style adventure game with a sprinkling of mini-games and HOS for good measure. As the game neared the end the designers kept the fun going and did not just call in the final scenes by having the player laboriously schlepping from one HOS to the next until the clock ran out. The mini-puzzles were consistently clever but easy and quick to complete. One that was solved by using lines from a poem I found particularly fun - but still very easy. At one point I took a wrong turn and got out of sequence with the story line. Things started acting a little wacky and it required a trip to the Strategy Guide to get back on track. For the bonus play, which flowed well with the story, I found myself consulting the Strategy Guide a number of times as what to do next was not obvious. One irritant that I have run across with a few games. but really noticed when playing this particular game - It was unusually easy to accidentally exit a HOS or other scene when trying to click on an object. That one little pet peeve aside, this one I definitely recommend for fun factor, graphics, and, creativity. Well worth it.

I really liked this game, despite the sappy plot line, it was saved by the dark side of the game! Good hidden object scenes, moderately hard games. Wish the bonus content had been developed into the main game and vice versa. Loved the little lizard! Hidden object gamers should like this one!

Play on hard mode, the game still helps you and you'll have more fun! Little slow & sad in the beginning, but GO for it! You WILL get sucked in!

Overall, a great hidden objects game!

Game is good fun, different. Storyline is good, different; however I got confused between the end of the main story and the bonus. WHEN WAS EMILY RESCUED?? Puzzles in hardcore are really hard. You have no instructions telling you what to do; you have to do trial and error, until you hit it! They were great though, different; a good challenge. Graphics were good, except the HO spots were quite cluttered! And you do get some sparkles on the HO spots, which I didn't like! No voice, no jump map. It does tell you where the tasks are, though. I thought the game length and the bonus was pretty good, but I think that the bonus story could have flowed a little smoother. I thought that I had finished several times only to find more to do. I enjoyed this one.

It is very 'drawnesque' from the story (girl draws pictures that become real) to the look of it. But it lacks the interesting puzzles that the original drawn had. I like the graphics, and the cutscenes are very well done. I had a slight problem with the story (who would leave a very young girl at the edge of a cliff, when she was safe before you did something). I played on advanced mode and there were still sparkles. Story: Girls' 7 birthday, which is supposed to be a magical year. Girl likes drawing photos , and one night on this magical birthday night, a dark force takes her. You and the uncle can follow her through the picture and so the adventure begins. It was straightforward to me, what to do next and the puzzles aren't hard. You also collect origami during game to open bonus and I enjoyed that. I ended up really enjoying it, different kind of game to normal HOPAs. Story of bonus is good as the 'main story' is finished in the main game so SE players will be happy. I didn't think is was shorter than any other HOPA, but I don't look at walkthroughs or get hints. Overall a good solid B+ rating.

Review based upon completion of the game and the bonus content. However, I only found 29/33 origami, so I don't know what the unlocked bonus for that is. This one starts out very creepy. Some being, apparently one of those "extractors" (which feed upon children's creativity) loosens a rock that causes an accident, apparently killing a father of one. (You will find some more dead beings later on.) For me, it was not so clear what killed the father. Four years later, that being kidnaps the daughter. The mother and the uncle of Emily, the daughter, follow the Extractor to the Nightmare Realm. (Thank goodness the nightmares do not involve big spiders - thank you!) The Good: + graphics (a bit blurry in HO scenes though) + fantastic videos and animations + items are not put back into repeated HO scenes + hilarious 33rd origami! (looking for them gives you something to do) + map that shows you where to go next (no fast-jump-function though) The Neutral: o game is rather short, but decent if you include the bonus chapter o like I said above, graphics in HO scenes could be crisper and sharper The Bad: - for me, some questions were left open (what role did the Uncle play in the accident and Emily's kidnapping?) - no voiceovers! (for me a must if I am to shell out more money for a CE) Bonus Content: The Bonus Chapter deals with the goings-on of the Uncle who almost drowns when the Extractor floods the hole he is trapped in. You get to help another Mom and Child pair and receive some background information. The bonus chapter is not necessary for the understanding of the game and has decent length. Rest of bonus content: Concept art, music, wallpapers and some step by step manual for 4 origami figures. Bottom Line: The game starts out eerily, but loses that touch quickly. You do not feel threatened often by the Extractors. It's still a great, recommended to buy game. If you don't care about more story background get the regula

Great game. Similar to Drawn where you can partake in actually doing some stuff. There are some hidden object games in there to appease the hidden object crowd (not much of a fan... hate looking for stuff in my house, let alone in a game). I thought it was fairly short, though... they need to start making these games a bit more challenging and longer.

I loved the storyline for this game. It is rather similar to Drawn (young girl draws things that become real; is threatened by mysterious malevolent force), I suppose, but with enough differences that it doesn't seem too derivative. At any rate, the story leads to some very nice and inventive game play. Not your typical puzzles which makes for a nice change. The music and graphics are quite well done, especially the cut scenes. The atmosphere can be quite creepy, especially during the "nightmare" scenes. Still chilled by one where the little girl was coloring on the porch, and then she suddenly turns around... The game seemed sufficiently long to me, about 4 or 5 hours. The way the story ends is a bit of a twist, and kind of disturbing in a way, so I can see why some people didn't like it, but I didn't find it confusing.