Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink
Although the game may feel short, the story doesn't outstay its welcome and players will likely appreciate the shorter amount of time spent listening to the variable quality of the voice acting. Adventure fans shouldn't pass this one up, and even those who don't normally play this type of game should perhaps consider splashing out on an easy and enjoyable completion.
Clockwork Tales ends as a disappointing couple hours of play. It may be worth it when the game goes under $5 but before then it just isn't worth your time.
Clockwork Tales of Glass and Ink will last players around 3 or 4 hours depending on how fast puzzles are figured out or how much abuse the hint system gets. It's best to just get absorbed into the world they created and figure it out as best players can. It's not the best looking game or the most elaborate of titles to keep you occupied for hours, but it's charming and aside from the shorter length the only other issue I had with it was the silly animation for talking. Characters come off looking goofy the way they move, and I found myself laughing out loud when I shouldn't have. That aside, if more hidden objects games are like Clockwork Tales of Glass and Ink, I'd be more inclined to give them a try.
Overall, I can't recommend Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink, not when there are so many other better point-and-clicks out there.
The puzzles are incredibly well thought-out and varied. Of course there are the obligatory hidden object puzzles.. but these are bolstered by much more brain-intensive puzzles that really do require you to think
Home consoles aren't great platforms for hidden object games, but as we saw with the Mystery Case Files game on the Wii some years back, it can be done. Clockwork Tales' inconsistent tone, lack of self-awareness, and generally poor presentation let down an otherwise standard example of the genre, which means you'll need to be a really big genre fan to derive much value from this.
The voice acting is not bad, and the story is deep and rich which will keep you engaged until the end, wondering what will happen next. Overall, this is a very fun game with a good variety of puzzles and an easy Platinum trophy to boot. I enjoyed my time with the game for my Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink Review, and I'm sure you will as well! Just be mindful of the missable trophies in the game unless you want to have to do a second run!
Another competent puzzler from Artifex Mundi, with improvements in the right places. Puzzles that are demanding yet fair, and a fantastic steampunk aesthetic. Next time, more story and more Matthew, please!
