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 Cursed Fables - Twisted Tower is a Hidden Object Adventure game.  This review is based on the Collector's Edition version of this title from Elephant Games.  In this title you are cast in the role of Genhelia, an apprentice witch, who is hoping to be accepted into the local coven.  Normally this would be a straightforward process but the waters have been muddied somewhat by the earlier actions of your mother who had been accused of committing crimes against the coven.

Prior to you entering this rather toxic environment and attempting to be accepted and restore your family's honour, you are granted access to a series of adjustments to create your preferred gaming situation.  Profiles can be set up so that different people can play the game and have their progress recorded.  Volume levels for music, sound effects, environment and voice can be set to suitable levels, as can graphics brightness. 

Further options allow you to select full and wide screen viewing mode using a custom icon with special effects turned on or off.  A choice of four difficulty levels are available to suit various skill levels as you select from Casual, Detective, Super and Custom.  These levels offer differing speeds of Hint and Skip charging plus the use of active area indicators.

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Featuring well-drawn scenes, the game opts for a slightly less cluttered interface for its supplied tools.  Running across the bottom of the various scenes, and centrally positioned, is an Inventory which can be locked in place or left to disappear when not immediately required.  To the left of the Inventory are icons for a Map and Task features while the right side houses Strategy Guide and Hint facilities.  Tucked away in the top right corner of the screen is a link to the game's Menu.

Spread over five chapters, the game opens as you, in your role of Genhelia, has to undergo a test to prove her worth as part of the initial stage of joining the coven.  This opening sets the standard for the rest of this task based adventure.  You will need to move between different locations added by a mouse cursor which changes shape to indicate when different actions are possible while pointers, such as sparkles, will identify Hidden Object areas that need examining.

Once the initial test has been completed, you will be assigned the task of helping villages who are being attacked by a winged monster.  These attacks always occur in the forest area surrounding the village and are targeted at men only.  Those attacked have their souls drained by the monster whose name turns out to be Rapunzel - now where have I heard that name before.

While finding the monster is a relatively easy task, defeating it and repairing the damaged caused in another matter entirely.  This task will involve casting spells, travelling between locations using either a self-made broomstick or a pair of wings while collecting twelve cards concealed at various points during the game.  Meeting other characters will help the story line flow as any dialogue will be delivered by a voice actor and printed in text format. 

At various times you will be required to complete 13 Hidden Object challenges and the same number of mini game puzzles.  With either type of task, the game offers a variety of challenge formats.  In the case of Hidden Object game play, the required items will be listed as text, silhouettes, images, samples and pairs of drawing.  Mini game puzzles include rearranging items. selecting paths across areas and defeating Rapunzel in a Match 3 type contest.

Once the main game has been completed, you will be granted access to the various bonus items that make up the Collector's Edition element of this package.  You can replay the Hidden Object scenes and tackle the mini game puzzles plus play a bonus chapter and check out the cards you have found.  Don't forget you will also be inducted into the local coven.

I downloaded my copy of the title from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $19.99.  You can also download the game from Big Fish Games priced at £15.69.The game requires a 1.8 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 1.14GB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.

Cursed Fables - Twisted Tower Collector's Edition | Big Fish Games

Cursed Fables - Twisted Tower Collector's Edition | GameHouse