Welcome to Primrose Lake 4

[b]Note:[/b] A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^ [h1]A criminal is on the loose. :o[/h1] [h2]Introduction[/h2] [i]Welcome to Primrose Lake 4[/i] is a time management game developed by SQRT3 and published by Next Game. As the name states, it is the fourth game in the [i]Primrose Lake[/i] series. (For my review of the previous game, please click [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/skyeraye/recommended/3055100?snr=1_5_9__402]here[/url].) Although it isn't totally necessary to have played the previous games in the series, it's probably a good idea to do so or at least, read reviews of them to get caught up on the story. It's now winter in Primrose Lake, and Jessica, Jenny, and the other townspeople have had time to adjust to events since the previous game. Even though a certain criminal is still on the loose, the people are vigilant and try their best to move on. Jessica has inherited the old Carlyle mansion and is busy with renovating it as well as getting reacquainted with Charles, her estranged dad. Meanwhile, Jenny is doing her best to get settled in Primrose Lake, wanting to make it her home and wishing to marry her fiance, Matthew. However, plenty of problems and drama arrive, aside from the escaped criminal. :o Persimmon, the owner of the hotel, wants to open a ski resort, and a lot of the townspeople believe that can only spell trouble, what with the possibility of drunk tourists and all. Then, a few townspeople hold secrets of their own, which all get unraveled, so yup, a lot is going on here. As for the gameplay, there are a total of 60 story levels along with 30 side mission levels. Also, there are a few extra mini-game levels, and most of them are short hidden object scenes. You can choose from among the usual three difficulty levels: easy, normal, or hard. (For review purposes, I chose to play on normal mode.) In the story and side mission levels, you have to serve all the customers with their orders as well as find a hidden raccoon (easter egg) and complete the additional task. Depending on how quickly you can do so, you'll earn up to 5 diamonds per level. Diamonds can be used to purchase items in the attic in the Carlyle mansion, purely for cosmetic purposes. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3485170670 Of course, plenty of Steam achievements/in-game trophies are present, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game". [h2]Review[/h2] Despite the occasional gameplay issues I had with the previous game (which I hope the devs will get around to fixing, if they haven't been fixed already), I continue to enjoy this series, so wanting to destress and get my TM fix, I went ahead and played this fourth installment. XD The story is enjoyable as always although there's definitely way more drama this time. It makes sense, though, considering the events that occur. It's great to see the cast of characters again, and Jessica makes more of a presence this time. However, Jenny gets as much time in the game and certain other citizens get the spotlight. For example, one of them is hiding a possibly criminal past, and the sheriff has her suspicions. Now, I'll pause here to say that even though I like most of the characters and the story, I really didn't like the sheriff this time. It bothered me how gung-ho she went after someone, and I mean, [spoiler]has she never heard of double jeopardy? A person can't be tried for the same crime twice, especially if it's a high profile one[/spoiler]. I get that the writers probably wanted to go for drama on this aspect, but I feel like they should have done a bit of legal research in regards to the issue I highlighted. Then there's the issue of Persimmon and her ski resort, which has the older townspeople on edge, as they enjoy their quiet life. It certainly doesn't help that Frank, Persimmon's assistant, is very shady and will stop at nothing to help Persimmon, even resorting to unethical means. As for the criminal on the loose, that is probably the main story focus, and well, let's just say that the game ends on a major cliffhanger. I'll definitely be motivated to play the final installment on the sooner side. :o However, it's probably the gameplay that a lot of people are wondering. Unlike the previous game, I didn't encounter any technical issues. I was able to complete all of the tasks and earn the maximum number of diamonds as well as obtain all Steam achievements. Also, I enjoyed the addition of hidden object scenes. I believe this is the first [i]Primrose Lake[/i] game to have them, and it's a refreshing addition. You definitely won't have trouble finding all of the requested items. If there's a complaint I have, though, it's that a few achievements, like replaying levels and losing customers, can be very grindy. If you're familiar with TMs, you probably won't have trouble getting the maximum score on levels or lose customers. While it wasn't too much of an issue getting the achievements for losing customers, replaying levels is very time-consuming. As for the art, it retains that colorful, cartoony style that is very familiar. The sprites are the same, and while most of the locations are the same, there are a couple of new ones, such as the Carlyle mansion and the doctor's office. Locations, such as Persimmon's hotel and the boat rental place, are closed. I like that this art style is still around, as it makes the game feel very familiar, like you're returning to an old friend. ^^ https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3485170733 Also, the usual opening and ending cutscenes are present, which gets you immersed in the game and maybe, you have to find out what happens next. XD Regarding the music, the tracks are pretty much the same. I believe that a couple of new tracks are present since the Carlyle mansion and the doctor's office are new locations. At any rate, they fit well with the atmosphere of the game, making you feel like you're in a remote town in the Rocky Mountains. [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Would I recommend [i]Welcome to Primrose Lake 4[/i]? If you enjoy time management games, you're especially into the [i]Primrose Lake[/i] series, and/or you want to get plenty of Steam achievements, then I think it's worth taking a look. For the asking price, it's a fair deal, considering that I got all of the achievements and 100% completed the game in a little over 12 hours. Also, there are no gameplay issues, so you can just enjoy the game. Of course, you can choose to wait for a sale, and I'm very excited to get around to playing (and reviewing) the final game in the series. ^^ [quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]