Opinions on Azada: Ancient Magic

Pretty short - I still have the last 5 books left but am saving them for tomorrow.

I finished most of the books in less than 10 minutes, and some in less than 5.

The only two that have given me trouble were because of the built-in puzzle, not because of finding and using object.

The one where you have to move the ball through the maze by changing the slope of the squares was a pain. That took way way way too long to solve. Took me 10 minutes from the time I got the ball diagonally next to the exit. Aargh. And for some reason, the cryptogram stumped me for the longest time. I think I spent about half an hour on it.

Despite that, it's a cute game, but I agree - short, fairly simple, and lacks replayability. Not really a huge mental challenge.

As other people were, I was somewhat annoyed by the time-subtraction for trying logical but wrong things. Not a big deal, since no book take long to play, but its the principal of the thing. Actually I am not sure why there are count-down timers at all. What's the purpose?

Worth buying if you want something a bit different, but don't expect to spend more than 3-4 hours on it. Still, it's cheaper than a movie, if you have Game Club. (At least I can expect to finish it! There are some games I have played for weeks without finishing...and other I will never finish.)

K, just thought I'd verify something.

Replayibility means different things for different people, so, when I say it's replayible, to me, it is. I personally enjoy playing games over, taking my time, and catching little things I missed the first time (yes, even with the SAME puzzles, etc.) That's just my personal preference. By no means was I attempting to say that anything changed in the game, and if anyone took it that way, you have my apologies. I was just stating my opinion.

OK half way through the game.really enjoying it!the music is a little choppy though.no problem overlooking that. although my first genre is hidden objects ,this is still intruiging.great job on the graphics and storyline.

Oh how I loved the first Azada. Each mini-game was novel and fun. Several even progressed in difficulty. Regarding Ancient Magic (AM), I feel it's a dummied down version of the original. The books are interesting yet fairly predictable and the mini-games lack the diversity and difficulty of those in the first edition. Although I like AM, I am terribly disappointed. I was hoping for an incredibly provocative game that required thoughtful and clever game play. I didn't find it here. The first Azada continues to stand alone without rival.

Yay! Thanks to the developers for a great game! I liked it. Didn't love it, but it was a game that I was looking forward to for awhile since I bought the first one and heard a second one would be out. I do love the first edition, which is the only reason why I bought the second.

For myself as much as I love puzzle games, I will admit that due to the fact that I play a lot of them, I find the game this time around to be relatively easy. I have yet to use a hint, but I like to find out on my own. I'm not complaining. Just wondering like some who want the option of having the timer off (though in my opinion it didn't bother me one iota), an option for different harder levels (during the puzzle levels) would be cool as well. Azada1 had me thinking and pulling my hair out, but I enjoy that aspect. Just for those times though, I did wish for the timer to go out the window. I would get so close to solving it, or think I might have and then it runs out and I have to go through the whole thinking process again. Not that I minded too much starting over as it was fun trying to beat the clock so to speak.

I haven't finished the game, and have played about 3 hours so far. I look at how many books I have left and know it's a matter of time before I'm done. Just a teeny bit disappointed that it wasn't more challenging or longer. But the graphics and the way the books were displayed for the gaming platform is a neat idea and makes up for it.

I like the game I just got to the ghost book I like everything about the book except that I did not have enough time to finish this book. Can someone tell me where the pillow goes I put everything back the way it was before but ran out of time before I finish. I did not finish Azada 1 but if I do not finish it I will not have the code to finish this Azada 2 game with? Is there any way I can get this code without finishing Azada 1?. I only got to the robot section and could not finish it.Please can someone answer these question for me. Thanks BFG Great game better than Azada 1 and easier hurry and come out with Azada 3 I will be waiting.

Yeah, I'm wondering about this code thing too? I never did play Azada 1. With all the hype over Azada 2 I was considering trying, and maybe buying, it. But if I need the code from the first one what's the point of buying this one? Maybe I should just do the first one, huh?

About the code from Azada 1 that you use at the end of Azada 2: it's just a little bonus, it is not necessary to finish the game, it's just a little "easter egg" reward for those that played the first one. Frankly when I did get the code back from 1 (it rmembered me and I did not have to play the whole thing again) I was a bit disappointed. SO don't fret toooo much if you don't have the code. No doubt you can find it somewhere at a game site or someone will send it to you if you send a PM.

I'm stuck on the detective one, and cannot seem to get out of the cryptogram page. When I click on help it highlights the letters CP, when I click on it, it doesn't do anything, not even using the pen, pickaxe or wrench. Can anyone help me, as I have enjoyed the game so far, and will only have four books to complete after this. I read that I will have to play first game again to get a code for this game, which doesn't seem to be a bother, but come on big fish, can you not give better hints than the one you are giving us on the cryptogram one.

To shadowdiana I just want to say, sorry I got you wrong earlier.
You are right about it. The puzzles are the same over again when you replay the books and iI wish as you that there was some new puzzles to play on the replaying.

Angel,
You don't need the code to finish. I played the first game but didn't bother to get the code as it is unnecessary to kill the genie and finish the game. Regarding the cryptogram, use your key board to type in letters. Here are some hints: ice; retrieve; port.
K.

I love the game but hate the timer and really don't like being penalize for clincking on different thing. I am stuck now inThe Baron with the gears. But I enjoy the puzzle and really like the fact that its not repeat puzzles like the 1st one. I give Azada 2, a big TWO TUMPS UP

angelfrominver wrote:I'm stuck on the detective one, and cannot seem to get out of the cryptogram page.

The same thing happened to me, if I understand your question right, the cyptogram itself would not close so I couldn't continue. There is a *teeny* green "X" up in the right hand corner like to close any WIndow but it's so small it really easy to miss. I did some keyboard slammin' bad word yellin' I'll tell ya before I saw that little thing.

BossBrat wrote:Was really disappointed in this game, compared to the first one. The first one made you think, this one is easy enough for my 9 year old granddaughter to do without much help from me. I can't see anyone needing a strategy guide for this one - even if you mess up over and over you still have time to finish the puzzles before time runs out.

I haven't finished the game yet, but there are some things that I just wish were different. I agree with most people about being annoyed by the timer deductions for wrong clicks when you're just trying to figure out what in the heck you're supposed to do. I really wish there had been an option to reset the in-book puzzle if you got stuck, rather than sitting there looking at the mess I made and trying to figure out just how to fix what went wrong. (TinMan also got stuck in a hedge and nothing would move him away from there. I had to reset the entire game and play every book over again to get around the problem.) Some of the in-book puzzles could use more clarification in the instructions. (i.e. the potion puzzle in the Jekyll and Hyde book)

I finished the whole game in a little over 2 hours, so even though I was impressed with the graphics I was quite disappointed that it wasn't more challening. I thought Azada 1 was much more challenging, maybe because it had more puzzles to solve.

cesse47 wrote:I checked my notes for Azada and found two codes. One is all numbers ... which won't work on the safe behind the picture in Azada 2. The other is all alpha ... which won't work because all the letters are not available. Hmmmmm, have to rethink this.
..
I've had plenty of time for each of the books I've played thus far so have basically ignored the clock. Time penalty for wrong clicks doesn't seem as harsh as several other games so ... no problem.
..
I do like the music ... but did turn it way down after about the sixth book. It sounds like the same orchestra that performed for Amazon. Reminds me of music from Harry Potter movies. I like it. (Normally, after a few minutes I turn sound off completely and listen to books. LOL)
...
Emmanuel_BFG -- please extend my thanks to all who worked on this game. I think they've done a wonderful job and I'm really enjoying it. Thank You.
..
I am really enjoying this game.

q1

cesse47....the code you need was about the last ting that Titus said to you, in A1. and it was delivered in the same way as the magical word at the end of this game... all caps.

Now, that being said, I would like to add my critique of the game. First, I loved the premise! It allowed even us callus oldsters to let a little bit of their "kid" out. Great, colorful choices for the book subjects!

Second, The music and graphics were really well done. They are always a bit loud for me, so I am also grateful for the options button.

I have always enjoyed the "click through pages to gather your solution" type game. It requires a bit of lateral thinking that many games don't give you. I also like the mini-puzzles. I would have liked a few more of those. LOL......listen to me. I am just a puzzle junkie.....I admit it. (as a p.s. here..... i like the timer aspect. A bit of adrenaline every now and then, isn't such a bad thing. ) My one complaint....it was to short. I played through it waaaaaaaay to fast. ;-)

I thought this game screamed quality, from start to finish. Thanks for an excellent game offering. I truly appreciate the attention to detail that BF puts into its games.

While I rather like the premise, the execution is driving me insane.

The cursor speed is maddening. I've adjusted my cursor to the point where it is too fast for everything else, and it still drags in AAM. It was dragging in the original, too.

I miss the puzzles. I hate the timer. I will try the relaxed mode.

Finally, I have arthritis in my hands and use a trackball. Dr. Jekyll's signature is absolute hell. I've been trying it for over an hour, and it won't accept it -- duh. I can't seem to progress without reproducing the signature exactly, which is beyond my motor skills at this point.

I won't be finishing the game today because my hands are killing me. Do you think this aspect of the game could possibly be changed or eliminated at some point? Doctors have horrible handwriting anyway -- why should Dr. Jekyll be such a stickler?

Finished the game in less than 3 hours...nice, but for the money, I expect a longer play. Haven't retried it, so I can't tell you what changes from session to session. Liked the idea of using books, very nice music and graphics, the timer was a bummer at first, but pushed me forward. Also, you could click and be told that "this page is finished", so that made you look elsewhere. Overall, nice game, wish it was longer!!!

BossBrat wrote:Was really disappointed in this game, compared to the first one. The first one made you think, this one is easy enough for my 9 year old granddaughter to do without much help from me. I can't see anyone needing a strategy guide for this one - even if you mess up over and over you still have time to finish the puzzles before time runs out.

I noticed that too, some of the books had very long times so I though it was going to take forever to get through that book, didn't need all that time tho. Still think it's a great game, but I do kind of like the orginal AZADA better. Some parts seem like you have to repete the same action way too many times too.