Not content material with filling the Xbox Retailer with month-to-month hidden object video games, Artifex Mundi at the moment are within the enterprise of remastering their previous video games too. Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride was one of many first hidden object titles to hit the Xbox (releasing virtually seven years in the past to the day), and it’s admittedly begun to indicate its age. That staleness is sufficient to tempt Artifex into waving its 4K wand.
As somebody who has performed each single Artifex Mundi hidden object title on the Xbox (one thing I’m undecided whether or not we’re pleased with or not), there’s one thing fascinating about returning to one of many video games that began all of it. In my evaluations, I typically complain that Artifex Mundi really feel like they’re standing nonetheless: hardly ever innovating, and failing to enhance their collection over time. However with Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Xbox Sequence X|S Version), I’ve to eat my phrases. Artifex Mundi will need to have improved their video games over time, as a result of taking part in this one is like chewing on an previous, ragged candy that’s nicely previous its promote by date.
Let’s cowl the remaster stuff first. Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Xbox Sequence Version) does undoubtedly look higher than its Xbox One counterpart. It’s most evident within the character animations. In neither model are they good (this is among the early Artifex video games, the place the characters seem onscreen and animate like uncanny mannequins. Uncannyquins?). However whereas the unique felt like they have been smeared in vaseline, with an excessive amount of motion-blur to make them clear, they’re sharper right here. That sharpness highlights the issues within the character artwork and animation, however it’s nice to see the fog clear.
The hidden object scenes appeared nice within the authentic, and are larger but within the Xbox Sequence Version. The whole lot is totally clear. When you may’t spot an merchandise within the tableaux, it’s as a result of Artifex have hidden it too nicely. There’s a behavior of tucking objects into sneakers and helmets so solely a miniscule quantity of it reveals.
Usually, for those who cherished this recreation the primary day out, then Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Xbox Sequence Version) whacks out the Mr Sheen and offers it a radical, glowing clear. There aren’t any recreation additions, no gobsmacking enhancements, however there are sufficient constancy tweaks to make this value a second visitation.
In the event you’re comparatively new to the entire hidden object and Artifex factor, although, then this wouldn’t be our first selection. It’s surprisingly flawed, and has not one of the smoothness that we’ve come to anticipate from their extra trendy titles.
The Forsaken Bride is a protracted record of stuff that Artifex simply doesn’t do anymore. Take the way in which it handles areas. There’s a sprawling map in Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Xbox Sequence Version) that means that you can revisit previous areas. In actual fact, you have to revisit just a few, as they continue to be related even if you find yourself a dozen screens additional on. Maintaining twelve-or-so areas on the forefront of our thoughts, remembering the objects that they want, was greater than our puny brains may deal with. We relied on the map, teleporting to screens that had a useful ‘!’, denoting one thing that may be accomplished. However we didn’t need to depend on that map. We needed to do it ourselves, but the sport was too huge for its personal good.
Then there are the minigames. There are a great deal of them right here, and so they gradual the whole lot all the way down to a crawl. They’re dense, typically troublesome, and so they can kill any momentum you might need. Plus, they only don’t have the required indicators and suggestions to make them good puzzles. One has you matching the make-up of your sister, however it’s virtually unimaginable to discern the hue from the little data you’ve gotten. One other is a chess knight puzzle, as you attempt to land on each sq. of the board, however it’s weirdly onerous to inform which sq. has been ticked off the record, and which has not.
We’ve a sweet-spot for problem in Artifex hidden object video games. If we end the sport having used a touch anyplace from as soon as to a few occasions, then the sport might be pitched nicely. In Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Xbox Sequence Version), we used hints seven or eight occasions. And that’s largely as a result of we couldn’t be arsed: the puzzles merely weren’t legible sufficient, not laying out their guidelines in a transparent method.
These hidden object scenes aren’t proof against the identical downside. Our least favorite scenes are the place you’re given a silhouette of an merchandise, somewhat than the identify of it. It simply leaves an excessive amount of open to interpretation: is the merchandise huge or small? The silhouette doesn’t make it clear. What if the merchandise is massively obscured within the scene? A silhouette isn’t a lot use for those who can solely see a 3rd of the merchandise. Once more, the trace system turns into too tempting.
Credit score ought to go to the story in Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Xbox Sequence Version), because it’s acquired one thing that has been misplaced alongside the way in which. Trendy Artifex video games are too protecting of the participant’s consideration spans, so typically run a singular plot over the course of the entire recreation: discover the sorcerer; get better the crystals. Right here, the plot really develops. Characters cross and double-cross one another, and revelations seem at a fairly quick cadence. You don’t see that a lot within the trendy titles, and we miss it.
In the event you’ve come to this evaluate as a time-worn hidden object participant, otherwise you’ve performed Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride earlier than, then you definitely might be reassured: this Xbox Sequence Version is fastidiously preserved and up to date. The character animations specifically have nowhere to cover, wanting crisp in 4K.
However for those who’re used to the friction-free expertise of a contemporary title then you definitely is likely to be in for a shock. Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride’s (Xbox Sequence Version) remaster has additionally preserved the puzzles, and so they’re an summary, messy bunch. They simply don’t do an excellent job of explaining themselves, which might make the trace system tempting. Too tempting.
We take all of it again. Artifex Mundi: possibly your video games have improved over time, in spite of everything.
