by Don Kwikshot

Created on: January 23, 2009   Last Updated: February 16, 2012

Elven Mists, by Intenium.

I'm not really a fan of board-type games (checkers, parcheesi, etc) or of arcade games, but this one is very pretty and well-conceived.

Overall I would give it 4/5 because it held my attention for the entire trial period.

Game Play: 4/5. Although the plot is a little obscure, and the story woven behind the game really has nothing to do with what's happening on the screen, the game is easy to play with the mouse alone. It simply involves moving different shapes and different colours to make cohesive paths or shapes and thereby to cancel the various point-scoring items on the screen. There is no need to refer to a book of rules, or even really to know why you're doing what you're doing (I certainly didn't), so it's relaxing and enjoyable.

Graphics: 5/5. Very pleasant to look at, the creators have made a true fairy-story kind of screen on which the game is played, with very attractive bursts of stars and flashing lights. I would think that there is a limit to what you can do with this kind of game, but I found the look of it pleasing and relaxing. There are some attractive little bits and pieces dotted about the screen, and the flowers particularly are very pleasant.

Sound: 4/5. Not memorable, but again pleasant and relaxing. Each time a group is cancelled or an object is achieved there is a pleasant fairy-like tinkle which matches the happenings on the screen particularly well. Although the sound is entirely electronic, there is no panic or urgency about it, and, like the game, it serves to relax rather than frustrate.

Creativity and Innovation 4/5. This has really been covered by previous comments, but again, the colours are gentle, the game pleasant to play, and an interesting, if entirely unimportant, story has been woven around the game-play. One can't be terribly creative with this sort of game, but the overall feeling is one of pleasant relaxation and happiness. I certainly can't say that for many computer games!

The net result is: if you are looking to spend a pleasant hour or so relaxing in front of the computer and you don't need to take out your frustrations on the game, this is a very good answer. The player is not driven by any time constraint or any minimum score, so the game can be picked up and put down as you feel like it. I am certainly not a great fan of this type of game, but I found it a very pleasant experience and finished up with a feeling of gentle satisfaction, rather than wanting to throw the entire computer out on the street!

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