You can download Echos of the Past: The Castle of Shadows Collector's Edition here.



As always, please remember to come back and tell us what you think.

Happy Gaming,
Ana

I like this game but can't use credits on it, only purchase it. May still buy it though. Will decide later.

Looks good but the screen shots look awfully dark... I like bright and cheerful scenes. I'll try the demo though.

EDIT: I was very wrong on this one. I tried the demo despite the dark screen shots and yes, there are dark areas, (supposed to be scary) but never in a hidden object scene. Most of the game was very light. For some reason the screen shots on BFG looked dark.

I'm glad because this one is very very good. I especially like putting the objects where they belong. Great idea and I bet more games will be doing that.

Hi, Ana!

I played the demo and really enjoyed it, but I think I'll wait for the regular version before buying.

I did buy "Echoes of the Past: Royal House of Stone" earlier this year and would recommend that one as well.

Susan

Thanks Ana, This is a great IHog. Lots of interaction. Puzzles can be skipped, finding mirrors add to the hints, built in strategy guide, a little of everything. I finished all my BF games and I just finished the demo so I guess I can't wait or resist buying it. Great game

It wasn't even 10 minutes into the demo that I knew I could not wait to purchase the game. Fantastic graphics,storyline, easily refillable hints, skip-able mini games. This game I rate 5 stars all the way. clearly defined HO and lots of interactive things to find and do.

I love this game. In my opinion it is up there on the par of Ravenhurst. Five stars all the way, and somethings are too good to wait. One big bonus is from what I understand in collectors there is another mystery to solve. This game has everything I am looking for. Congratulations on a fantastic game BFG.

EDIT One of my favorite parts is putting things back where some of the special hidden objects belong. The game designers put a lot of love into this game.

the animation is really fantastic like for instance to get a feather in one scene you must feed the bird some bread the bird goes back into the birdhouse and out pops a feather. This is only one small example of the love that went into this game. I want to see more games like this. It sure is above any HO games I have played thus far. Just my opinion.

Please help! I am really stuck for the first time in this fantastic game.

You can tell the game designers put a lot of love into the big and little things in the game like animation. Highly recommend the game. Now having said that, I really need help though the stragedy guide isn't helping where I am stuck.

I am at the castle gate and have the stone ball and do not know where to place it. I looked at stragedy guide and it shows it is to be placed on the outside of the castle but I can't find a place that looks like that outside. There is no damage wall like it shows in the stragedy guide.

I see the sparkling by the wall for another puzzle but know I need a special key which I will get after the stone ball is placed according to Stragedy guide.

Please help how do I find where the stone ball goes?

Of course I can't open the castle gate or progress further until I do this. Already got the quill, doll, but did not find anything to dig up the area on the beach. Thanks in advance whomever helps me out.

Hi Sherryah,

You have to return to the door in the house with the sparkling globe. Put the stone on the globe and get the key in a niche. Back at gates close up of plate on left. Use key to remoce screws.

Hope this helps you.

carlahelp

carlahelp your a real sweetie I feel dumb getting stuck there I checked out everywhere but where I started in the game. It worked and now I am back enjoying the game again.

Wonderful. I love the game too.

You're welcome and glad I could help. Enjoy!!

Several people on the forum have commented that they like "adventure" like HOGs and not just lists of objects to find. I fully agree and this game is a great "adventure" in the ilk of Ravenhearst and Dire Grove. If you liked those two you will like Castle of Shadows.

A comment above was about the graphics being "dark". I did not find that a problem. Some areas require fixing or lighting a light before you can see but that is part of the game.

This is one fantastic game! For those of you hesitating to buy the collector's edition...DON'T. It is well worth the money. I'm having a hard time pulling myself away from it.

Hi, Redz!

You're not helping at all . I played the demo yesterday and am trying to resist the the temptation to buy the Collector's Edition while waiting for the regular version to be released. I even replayed "Royal House of Stone", but the "To Be Continued" at the end only made me want to buy "The Castle of Shadows" even more.

The only Collector's Edition I have purchased so far is "Curse of Briar Rose". As much as I loved the game and have replayed it several times, I didn't feel the bonus material was worth the extra $13 that I paid.

Susan

I liked the easter eggs or at least the one that I found so far. The one I found is an origami swan.

I agree with you susie...I keep wondering why I buy the things when the extras don't really appeal to me except for the extra play. I never even look at the screens or use anything...and with the blog walkthrough, who needs the strategy guides. More puzzles...please developers. I know y'all work hard on these and I enjoy, and the sketches are fun to look at but nothing to keep! I keep looking at my old adventure games where they used the sketches often for between chapters or for the credits...that's where they should be.

Just MHO! BUT I still enjoy playing and wish they would charge just a little more like 10 or 12 and it might make a difference to me.

Jody

Well, Joan, I took your advice. I'm calling it a delayed B-day gift to myself. I'll wait until tomorrow to start playing so I'll have plenty of time.

I agree Jody, pay a little more for more game content. I really want to buy this game but I have bought too many this month, so will wait.

As for buying the collector's edition, the extras just don't do it for me, although the bonus section of this game does look quite long.

I think they would sell more if they made them more appealing. I really don't think the majority of people are interested in sketches, wallpapers and music. It's the game content that draws people to buy. The more game, the more one is propelled to buy.

Cheryl, you won't regret buying this one. It has all the elements you and I love. I know it beats the septic system you got for your birthday Get your chores done. It's difficult to stop once you get started

Joan

This is a really fun game. I also couldn't wait and "save" money. It is great. I think I'll blame Redz also. lol

It was me and the screen shots on BFG did look dark but... I was very wrong on this one. I tried the demo despite the dark screen shots and yes, there are dark areas, (supposed to be scary) but never in a hidden object scene. Most of the game was very light. For some reason the screen shots on BFG looked dark.

Joan, you're right, I didn't regret it. And I especially liked the bonus adventure. Looking forward to another one like this.

I LOVE this game! I liked the first in the series but this one was so much better. Yea it's sort of cheesy but the CE is worth the extra money.

1/2 way through the game I discovered that mirrors give you more hints... did they tell us that? Or did I simply miss it in my haste to start playing the game?

NYLady, I missed it too. I played nearly all of the game with the 2 or 3 hints that I started with. Then, I found out that the mirrors give you more. Thankfully, I didn't need them earlier on.

Finished the game just now! In a little over 5 hours according the the scores.

I haven't tried the bonus adventure yet but the game was a 10!!

Can't hardly wait for the next one! I loved it!!