Have you ever wanted to step into a fairytale? To dive into the pages of a picture book and actually hear the cackle of a dark witch fill your ears or see the ramparts of a cursed castle envelope you? If ever you've wanted to experience first hand the magic cast between the enchanted covers of such tomes, than the new hidden object adventure game, Princess Isabella: A Witch's Curse, is exactly what you've been craving.
In a refreshing twist on the old fairytale formula, you, the princess, are not the damsel in distress. No pricked fingers, poisoned apples, or countless years of sleep for you. Instead you are the heroine of this story, the last and best hope for a castle placed under a curse. It was the announcement of your marriage to Prince Adam that brought the witch's ire. Whilst you were out, she cast her dark spell on the castle and trapped its inhabitants in mirrors. These mirrors were shattered and scattered about the castle. Now, with your fairy guide there to aid you, you must undo the witch's curse and free the castle's people from their magical imprisonment.
Before you complete your quest, you'll have your wits tested by hordes of puzzles and mini-games, and your sharp eyes challenged by plenty of hidden objects. Luckily, you won't be going it alone, and your fairy guide does quite a bit more than merely cheering you on and giving you the occasional hint here and there. As your explorations through the cursed castle continue, so too will your companion learn more skills that can be used to solve certain puzzles.
Fend off ghosts, traverse darkly cursed rooms, and find and best the witch before it's too late. Just remember, nobody gets the storybook happily-ever-after ending without a few trials and tribulations.
Analysis: Princess Isabella is amazing to say the least. Here's a game that has just as much effort put into production value and story telling as was put into creating a quality gameplay experience. Thus this is easily one of the best hidden object adventures we've seen since Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst.
For most of the settings in Isabella, you are actually treated to two versions, both of which crafted beautifully. You have the dark and foreboding Ravenhearst-like cursed version that sets my spooky-senses tingling happily, and you have the un-cursed version leaving behind the kind of wonderland scenes that would satisfy any would-be princess. This creates the perfect overall setting for the story of Princess Isabella to be told.
Paramount to the conveyance of the plot is the top notch voice acting and to a much lesser extent the animation. Most of the characters you will meet are quite well acted with your fairy companion sticking out as something of a perplexing paradox hovering between extremely cute and teeth jarringly annoying. The end result is a wonderfully told story with a few twists thrown in for fun. This plot and its twists keep you wanting more and drive you to play on.
Not that you need coaxing to play Princess Isabella. From the standard hidden object scenes to the plethora of side puzzles and mini-games, everything here is done just right. Ninety percent of the objects you will have to find are relevant to other puzzles you are faced with, and there are no blatantly out of place objects (hot dogs, roller blades, you get the idea). Meanwhile, the non-hidden object-related tasks are a splendid combination of well executed chestnuts (gear placement, and moving blocks around to allow one block to escape the area to name a couple), and some fairly original offerings as well. Be the game unique or tested by time, Princess Isabella manages to instill its own charm on everything it touches.
If you were to force me, and we're talking force upon threat of violence here, to point out any of Princess Isabella's shortcomings, they would have to be that it's a tad easy and therefore short. Beyond that, Isabella is a rare ride, one that tells a wonderful story in an engrossing way, and provides oodles of fun for hidden object fans of all stripes.
Windows:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Princess Isabella is available to download from these affiliates:
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August 30, 2009 12:22 AM
Walkthrough Guide
Princess Isabella and the Witch's Curse Walkthrough
Courtyard
Find the three mirror shards by the three statues.
Click the sparkling area for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
You should receive in your inventory: a door handle, four gears, a green marble, and a piano key. Use the door handle on the door of the castle to gain entrance.
Grand Hall - Main Floor
In the scene, find Note 1 of 8 and 3 mirror shards.
The three windows on the right wall are puzzles. Find 14 evil objects in the right window, 17 in the center window, and 16 in the left window.
Completing all three windows lifts the first curse!
Examine the portrait in the upper left. Will open a puzzle. Solution:
Hit the top right gear, then bottom left.
Find two more gears in the Hall. Now examine the rear door for a gear puzzle. Solution:
screenshotThe last small gear goes in the remaining spot. Turn the lever on the right to complete the puzzle.
This opens the Hall of Reflection
Hall of Reflection
You should have all the mirror shards to repair the first mirror. The released servant will open the door on the left.
Go into the hallway. Pick up the vase to gain the Rock Ability.
To use your ability, use the fairy menu in the upper right. Select the Rock Ability and use it on the ornamental vase on the back wall to get Mercury.
Return to the Grand Hall and break the bottle on the blue couch to get a gun stock.
Return to the Hallway and from there enter the Piano Lounge.
Piano Lounge
Find a note and 3 mirror shards.
Break the jar to get Venus.
Examine the piano for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
You will then be prompted to mix the potion. Solution:
Orange, blue, green.
Examine and use the potion on the hearth. The curse has been lifted!
Hallway and Hunting Gallery
Enter the back hallway from the Piano Lounge. Break the china on the table to get a mirror shard.
Break the vase near the doorway to get a piano string.
Enter the Hunting Gallery. Examine the hearth for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
Find two mirror shards in the room. Then click the sheet on the wall to learn your first song.
Observatory
From the hallway, enter the observatory. Find two mirror shards and the constellation book on the table.
Break the globe on the right to get Mars.
Notice the planets hanging from the ceiling.
Examine the telescope. Use the constellation book on the telescope. Move the stars to make the constellations match the pictures in the book.
The stars will turn from red to yellow when the position is correct.
This breaks the 3rd curse.
Once the Observatory is uncursed, click the candelabra for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
You should now have Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury and Pluto. Put them in the ceiling display. A bear claw will drop on the table.
Mirror Two, Back to Hunting Gallery
Return to the Hall of Reflection to repair the second mirror - the Maid. She will give you a gun barrel piece.
Return to Piano Lounge. You should have three keys in your inventory at this point. Place them on the piano and play the song you learned in the Hunting Gallery. When you've played it correctly, receive a bear claw.
Go back to the Hunting Gallery. Use the five claws you have on the stuffed bear. This breaks the curse on the Hunting Gallery.
Select the gun rack in the back of the room. You need four stocks and three barrels, which you should have at this point. Match the shapes with the outlines on the rack.
The stock with the silver spot goes on the very left.
This opens the Tea Room behind the hearth on the bottom right.
Tea Room
Find two mirror pieces and break the china on the floor for a third piece.
Examine the painting on the left wall. Remove 16 evil objects. Screenshot
Examine the painting on the back wall. Remove 20 evil objects. Screenshot. This lifts the curse on the tea room.
Click the side table on the right for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
You will receive a calendar piece and a gramophone turntable in your inventory.
Exit to the new hallway to the right, and break the vase in the hallway for one mirror shard. Then go to the Grand Library on the left.
Grand Library and Crown Jewels
Find three mirror pieces. Break the vase in the center of the room to receive the Flame Ability.
Examine the stairwell on the left to open a hidden object scene. Screenshot
This will give you the ingredients for a potion to heal the library. Solution:
Purple, orange, green, blue
Click the upper balcony on the left to see a fire. Use the potion on the fire to lift the curse on the Grand Library.
Now go to the Crown Jewels across the Hallway. Find a note and three mirror shards. That should be 10, enough to repair a mirror!
But first, use the Fire Ability on the skulls in the room to lift the curse.
Gain the Wind Ability by picking up the Jar on the right side of the room.
Examine the crown in the center of the room. Use the Wind ability on the crown. Notice the three symbols on the crown and remember them.
Now examine the vent on the left side of the room. Solution:
The code is the three symbols from the crown, in order from bottom to top. Screenshot
This opens a hidden object scene. Screenshot. You will obtain a gramaphone needle and horn upon completion.
Mirror Three and Kitchen
Return to the Hall of Reflection and assemble the third mirror. Note that you are told that the lunch bell rang at 1:00 on the day of the curse.
Go back to the Grand Library and click on the Statue in the back. He will ask you two questions. Solutions:
Peacock, five, Jupiter, 1:00
You can now enter the Kitchen. Find a note and break the bottle on the left to get a mirror shard. Hit the two chandeliers with Rock ability for two more.
Examine the recipe book on the table until you find the Ghostly Gruel recipe. Tear it from the book and use it on the pantry in the back of the room for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
Once completed, mix the ingredients. Solution:
Green, orange, purple, blue.
Use the gruel on the table to feed the ghosts and lift the curse.
Now you can examine the oven for another hidden object scene. Screenshot. Receive a dial, keg valve, and record in your inventory.
Greenhouse and Cellar
Go into the Greenhouse from the Kitchen. Find two mirror shards and a note. Examine the wilting plant tray with flies on the right. Collect 10 flies.
Give the huge meat-eating plant one fly, then attack with Fire ability, three times. This breaks the curse in the Greenhouse.
Get the Water Ability from the bottle on the chair. Use the Water ability to water the four plants. Each plant gives you an item: a triangle dial, a bone, and two mirror shards.
Return to the Kitchen and from there enter the Cellar. Find three mirror shards.
Examine the wine rack. Weigh the bottles two at a time to determine the heaviest bottle and lift the curse.
Use the keg valve on the keg in the back of the room. Pull the valve to get a cleaning rag.
Mirror Four and Stable
Go back to the Hall of Reflection to repair the fourth mirror. The chef will give you another triangle dial.
Return to the cellar. Use the three dials on the door puzzle in the back. Click the dials to order the numbers from 1 to 6 from top to bottom. You can now access the Stable.
In the Stable find four mirror shards and a note.
Click the black stallion's stall for a sliding puzzle. Solution:
Using the numbers in the screenshot, move the horse forward, 4 up, 5 right, 6 right, 7 down, 3 left, 2 down, 1 right, 4 up, horse right, 2 down, 3 right, 7 up, 8 up, 6 left, 2 down, horse out!
Once the curse is lifted, examine the carriage on the left to open a hidden object puzzle. Screenshot. Receive two piano strings and a sword.
Garden Walkway
From the Stable, go to the Garden Walkway. Find three mirror shards.
Examine the floor for a puzzle. The object is to roll each block to fill the gaps. Solution:
Down, right, right, right, down, right, right
Right, right, up, left, down, down, right, right, right, down, right, right, right, right, up
Up, right, right, down, left, down, right, right, right, down, right, right, right, right, up, up, up, right, down, right
Up, right, right, down, left, down, right, right, right, down, right, right, right, right, up, up, right, right, right, down
You will receive access to the Garden Fountain once you've repaired the Walkway.
Garden Fountain
Find three mirror shards in the Garden Fountain.
Examine the rock wall - use the Rock ability to break the wall and find 10 items. Just click everywhere.
Click the bridge for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
Mix the ingredients. Solution:
Green, orange, orange, blue, purple
Curse lifted!
Examine the fountain for a puzzle. Solution: Screenshot. Receive a calendar piece.
Mirror Five, Second Song, Opening Second Floor
Go to the Hall of Reflection and assemble the fifth mirror. The Gardener tells you to make a note of the date November 18th.
Return to the Tea Room and assemble the gramophone with the turntable, needle, horn, and record to learn a new song.
Go to the Grand Library and examine the globe on the left. Match the notes to the song, then drag the slider all the way to the left to play the song. Screenshot. You receive an axe.
Return to the Grand Hall and examine the door on the second floor. Put the two calendar pieces on the door. Set the numbers to 11 and 18. You can now access the second floor.
East Art Gallery, Dance Hall, and Balcony
Enter the East Gallery and use the Rock ability on the vase in the bottom left for a mirror shard.
Go to the Dance Hall. Break two bottles in the foreground for two mirror shards.
From there go to the Balcony. Find a note and one shard. Water both plants for berries and a mirror shard.
Examine the telescope to see birds. Use the berries on the birds. They will teach you a song.
Return to the Dance hall. Examine the piano and use the three piano strings in your inventory on the piano. Now play the song on the piano. Curse lifted!
Examine the piano again for a hidden object scene. Screenshot. You will receive a pike and halbert.
East and West Art Gallery
Return to the East Gallery, then the West Gallery from there. Find two mirror shards. Notice the paintings on the wall. Each corresponds a coat of arms with a type of weapon.
Now go to the East Gallery and examine the display above the door. Place the weapons as follows:
From left to right, Halbert, Pike, Sword, Axe.
This lifts the curse on the East Gallery.
Return to the West Gallery and examine the door for a number puzzle. Screenshot. When solved, gain access to Hallway.
Hallway and Dining Room
Find two mirror shards in the Hallway. Enter the Dining Room from there.
Examine the cart for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
Then mix the potion. Solution:
Purple, blue, orange, green.
Examine the hearth and place the potion in the pot to lift the curse.
Break the bottle on the table for another shard.
Examine the painting above the hearth for another puzzle. Solution:
Top right, bottom right, bottom left.
Obtain a mirror shard.
Examine the candelabra for a candle lighting puzzle. Solution:
Number the candles 1-9 left to right. Light candles 3, 6, and 9.
Receive a red marble.
Mirror Six, Armored Hallway and Royal Bedroom
Return to the Hall of Reflection and assemble the sixth mirror. You receive a dog ball.
Go to the East Art Gallery and use the bone and ball from your inventory on the door handles. You can now access a Hallway.
Continue into the Armored Hallway. Find two mirror shards and use the Rock ability on the jar for another.
Enter the Royal Bedroom from here. Find two mirror shards. Examine the floor to open a bug crushing scene. Crush every bug with your Rock ability to lift curse.
Examine the chest for a lock puzzle. Solution: Screenshot
This opens a hidden object scene. Screenshot. Receive the crossbow.
Return to the Armored Hallway. Use the crossbow on the painting to shoot the ghouls and lift the curse.
Click the table at the end of the hall for a hidden object scene. Screenshot. Be sure to click the drawer inside the scene for some hidden objects. Receive oil and a gear.
Examine the center suit of armor on the left wall. Use the oil on the helmet to pick up the clock face.
Powder Room
Return to the Hallway and into the Powder Room. Find two mirror shards.
Examine the table. Use the rag from your inventory (from the Cellar) to clean the glass and lift the curse.
Now examine the chest of drawers for a hidden object scene. Screenshot. Receive large and small clock hands and gear.
Examine the clock. Place the two gears, then the face, then the two hands on the clock to open it and receive a blue key.
The Study
Return to the Dining Hall and then the Hallway to the right. Examine the door for the Blue Key Puzzle. Solution: Screenshot. You can now access the Study.
In the Study, find the last note and two mirror shards.
Click the shelves on the right for a hidden object scene. Screenshot. Get the net and painting piece.
Click the painting above and unscramble. Then place the missing piece from your inventory. Solution: Screenshot
Once the curse is lifted, examine the shelf on the right to read a book. Notice that the castle is near Spain. Now examine the globe on the left and move the arrow to Spain to get a Red Key.
Break the model ship on the right for a mirror shard.
Dressing Room
Return to the Powder Room and examine the door. Use the Red Key for a puzzle. Solution: Screenshot
This opens the Dressing Room. Find two mirror shards. Examine the area on the right and catch all the flies with the net in your inventory.
Examine the jar on the table and use the flies in the jar. Use your Rock ability on the jar to lift the curse.
Examine the dress on the left. You must undo the buttons. Drag each button down as far as you can, then back up through the hole until it's out before letting go of the mouse. You will receive the blue marble.
Your Bedroom
Find two mirror shards. Click under the bed for a hidden object scene. Screenshot
Then mix the potion. Solution:
Orange, green, blue, white, purple
Use the potion on the fireplace to break the curse.
Examine the closet for a hidden object scene. Screenshot. Receive the ballerina.
Examine the music box on the mantlepiece. Open and use the ballerina inside. Then turn the crank on the left. It will open to give you the last mirror shard.
Mirror Seven and Witch's Lair
Repair the last mirror to release the king, who gives you a yellow marble.
You can finally complete the puzzle in the hallway to the left of the Hall of Reflection. Use all four marbles on the strange doorway. The object of the game is to remove all the marbles in the outside circle by shooting a marble from the center. The marble will be the color indicated, and groups of three will disappear.
When you enter the Lair, the hidden object game is a game of speed with different objects each time. Good luck!
Posted by: eileen
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August 30, 2009 3:45 AM