Faces of Illusion: The Twin Phantoms

Not recommended, because it was honestly one of the worst games published by Artifex Mundi, IMHO, and they have been publishing some real stinkers over the last several years. The puzzles were not challenging, many were far to easy, even on Expert Mode. While others were pure trial and error because the clues made no sense. The hidden object scenes were okay, I guess, but several reused the same scene for separate puzzles. The artwork is fine, basically the same as almost every other HOG/HOPA from this time frame. The voice acting seemed dull and forced auite a bit of the time. It had no soul to it, and I guess I feel like the entire game had no soul to it. The story was too choppy, lacked little details that would have added something interesting- the plot twist was entirely too predictable. Playtime from start to finish was 3.9 hours on Expert Mode- the additional time you see is from idling the game for Trading cards, years ago. I got the game in a cheap bundle somewhere, so I likely only paid a buck or 2 for it. I still feel like I overpaid. The whole experience was a few levels below "meh" for me, though it was a pretty quick 100% achievements game, if that's what you are looking for. If you are looking for a casual HOG/HOPA that makes you work your brain a bit and has a reasonably interesting story- probably best to leave this one behind.

Despite the Mixed reviews... I actually like this game. Even if the studio didn't create a magnificent game, it still had charm to it. For one, there were more actions with your "companion". I liked the story/twists, no matter how short it was and that monkey was hilarious af. It wasn't hard, but it wasn't so easy that you are no longer sure where you are. Overall: I am glad I played it. Thanks you. ^-^ :D :>

Прикольная игра) классический поиск вещей, без идиотских моментов с переводом и багов. Сюжет непредсказуемый (ясерьезно). Мило что никто не умирает, смешно как брат балерины нам помогая попадая во всякие ловушки и неприятности.

[h1] Вполне терпимый, хоть и местами нудноватый поиск предметов про книгу чернокнижников - гримуар и слабовольных фокусников [/h1] По традиции тут опять отважная женщина, которой для разнообразия помогает мальчик в деле разоблачения ступивших на кривую дорожку иллюзионистов. Встречаются типичные огрехи, где треугольник почему-то переведён как сквер. Но эти мелочи не помешали получить ещё одну идеальную игру, хоть и с руководством для нахождения скрытых предметов. В остальном же полный набор плюшек магазина, что уже добрая традиция для игр от Артифекс. Все бы следовали этому примеру. Управления с игровых пультов опять же не завезли, хотя похожие игры выходили даже на приставках вроде wii и там вполне нормально игрались со стиков. Могли бы добавить поддержку. По итогу не особо притягательная история и не очень интересные головоломки, но по скидке и на безрыбье пойдёт. [i] Размер игры 920 мб [/i]

This was an underdeveloped and kind of dumb hidden object point and click game. I expect more from Artifex Mundi and this was definitely a let down.

[i]Faces of Illusion: The Twin Phantoms[/i] is a rather unusual hidden object game. Despite being as mediocre in (almost) everything as it can be, it still manages to show uniqueness in its own way: the entire game is basically one long chase, thus it should rather be named "The Pursue Beneath Paris" instead. We don't have a name (just like in [url=steamcommunity.com/id/atisz2/recommended/284890/]Left in the Dark: No One on Board[/url]), we're just simply referred to as "Madame Journalist" and we have to attend to a performance of a famous singer. She is kidnapped during the show and as the only person, along with her little brother, Arthur, who didn't flee the scene, we must follow the kidnapper - who happens to be an illusionist - and free Beatrice. There's also a dark Grimoire involved (the rest isn't that hard to deduce from the title) to make things more interesting (it hardly succeeds). Despite the basic chase concept and that almost the entire game takes place underground, it manages to be relatively tense: the kidnapper is literally just one step ahead of us and we get to see a little cutscene every time we make progress as he eludes us. We can read about what is going on in our diary but it barely helps the story. Surprisingly there are just a handful of HO scenes, I can't remember when I've seen this few (in a HO game!), but this doesn't prevent the game from using many of them twice... on the other hand there are lots of items to be used and plenty of them are modifiable (marked with the little green plus sign). Some of the assembled items can't be used directly, we have to give them to Arthur, who acts as a helper (not on the taskbar) as seen in other similar games. The minigames aren't bad, most of them are from the rather easy pictorial type, where we have to arrange associated images. The various rotating puzzles are from the simpler kinds, which I didn't mind. There was 1 puzzle which I liked particularly, that showed previous owners of the Grimoire and we had to arrange vases in order according to items related to each specific person. We have to look for 2 kinds of collectibles: trading cards with Beatrice on them and illusion objects, which blend into the environment - some of these are pretty hard to spot, especially those few at the similar looking labyrinth locations. Despite taking place mostly underground, the locations are neat and colourful. Animations however look clumsy and do not blend into the sharp-looking backgrounds. Like in most hidden object games, sound effects are pretty good and there are subtle noises, which we would hear under a theater like wood crackling or blunt 'thud' noises. Voice acting wasn't as good though and there are also some spelling- and grammar mistakes. As for music there are some generic and some fitting ones... unfortunately we mostly have to listen to the former during the puzzles :/ There is no bonus adventure. While not doing anything particularly wrong, [i]Faces of Illusion: The Twin Phantoms[/i] feels like a lackluster adventure, a long-stretched (despite the 4-hour length) chase which fails to provide surprise with its twist(s). The game is far from being bad however. PROS + decent puzzles and minigames + good ambient sounds + relatively thrilling... CONS - ...but it takes too long for a simple chase - story is simple - quite short RATING 5.5/10

Faces of Illusion: The Twin Phantoms is a typical Artifex Mundi HOG, but a bit below-par for their catalog. There are clearly some Google Translate moments in the notes and text, and while the low-budget voice actors are overall pretty decent, the character "Charles" does not know how to pronounce "grimoire" (and this word is used repeatedly since all of the characters are searching for it) and no one corrected him. :D But it's still ok for what it is. It has many of the same recycled puzzles that you see again and again in HOGs, but players of these games know they're generally going to see that with all but the top 5% or so of the genre. For achievement hunters: You'll have to beat this one on expert level, and I suggest using a walkthrough simply to find all of the collectible objects; the trading cards are pretty easy, but several illusion objects are downright diabolical in their placement and often located in detail-level views to which you cannot backtrack. Otherwise, just play the game, but check the walkthrough for the location of any collectibles you've missed before you leave the area, or else you'll have to replay the entire thing. 5/10 - recommended on sale if you enjoy the genre, but just barely

The first impression was rather good. The game started on the positive note. Unfortunately most of the good stuff became very 'meh' before even reaching the midgame. Visuals are more or less ok, I guess. Gameplay was boring. You barely encounter any HoG scenes. Puzzles were nothing special - you are just clicking stuff most of the time without any thought process. The story is extremely dumb. Most of the time you will chase local villain, but no matter how hard he will try to stop you and how much time you will waste dealing with his traps, the moment you get to another location, you can still see him 'diligently' trying to run away. At certain moment he'll even manage to KO you. It will take you few hours to wake up. But guess what? The moment you enter the next room, you won't believe, he will be right there still 'trying' to run away. The ending is also kinda ridiculous. I mean, if that relic is so important and so powerful... why these sore losers even were tasked to keep and protect it? This is totally senseless. And even less believable. Why even bringing these secret lodges, if you can't write anything meaningful about them? A special word about Arthur, our helper in this adventure. This boy has already become local meme. He is either blind or totally dumb, because will fall in every hole and get in every trap. Literally. Not 1. Not 2. But [b]every[/b] damn trap. Ridiculous. I can't recommend this game, but if you still want it for trading cards - get it on sale.

нет

The HO puzzles were actually annoying in this one, the lighting is so bad and too many of the puzzles get reused I hate it when they do that. And that stupid cockney kid doesn't even die at the end I was hoping all game he would die and he didn't.