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I never got enough time to play the game to be able to write a full review and I wasn't able to find any other reviews apart from short community reviews from Big Fish Games HERE and HERE, plus some game play videos HERE, HERE and HERE.

The giveaway team have secured two more Steam games for Monday. One will run for 7 days, not sure about the other yet. I already have both games and both are different to what we usually get. One in particular is one of my favorite types of game. Can't give any more info at this time without giving away what they are. :) Tomorrow will see another MPC game, which sadly won't run on either system I'm using at this time (both Win 10), so no full review for Sundays game either.

Please only post comments about today's game giveaway; other comments either inappropriate, or comments with only one or a few words; for example good, thank you, TY, bad, rubbish, this game is ~%!£*? etc , or if the comment has nothing to do with today's game they may be deleted at the moderator or administrators discretion; however, a little light banter among community members and with the moderator to keep this a friendly place to visit is acceptable and welcomed. All comments not specifically about today's game giveaway will be judged by the moderator and if deemed inappropriate, will be deleted and usually with no explanation. Please see the moderation policy HERE for details about posting comments. If you are having problems installing the game check the FAQ's thread HERE and read through the communities comments because sometimes fixes have already been posted; and if for any reason you want to contact the giveaway team, for example, you have a game to offer the community, or are unable to download the latest game or other issues that the FAQ's thread or these comments don't cover or solve you can do so HERE

Shamanville: Earth Heart

In Brief

A lemming's like game.

Suggestions:

Please take a few moments to give some positive or negative feedback about today's game giveaway; for example, what you liked or disliked about the game, or how it could be improved from your point of view. If you don't like the genre at all, please explain why and if any, what improvements would change your mind? There are thousands of subscribers to the game giveaway of the day every weekend which makes this an ideal forum for giving developers new or fresh ideas as to what their consumers (i.e you) would like to see in a game. For example, you could suggest extra content such as better or more original mini games, or a level editor that you would like to see that would make it more appealing to you. Maybe you think the graphics are a little dated and are in need of re skinning, or maybe you've just had enough of the genre and want to see something different or something with more originality? Giving such feedback instead of saying nothing or just saying this game is rubbish or good may bring more developers to the site, which could mean more and better games. Would you give away thousands of copies of a game (or extra content for a game) away to a community that complains all the time instead of giving useful feedback? It only takes a few moments of your time.

This site could be transformed if only the community would be more forthcoming in their opinions of the games they are getting for free instead of complaining about the way this site has changed, they don't like MPC games, they hate HOG, have had enough of Match Three and Time Management games, they want to see the latest version of Call of duty or some other big name AAA game given away or that they don't like Steam games. If something isn't for you then please move on to the next giveaway, or check out the forums HERE, HERE and HERE, where a few members of the community post details of various free games and free game sites as well as links to various indie bundle sites etc; you never know, you may find something that really interests you.

If you miss today's game giveaway you can always get the game via MyPlayCity 24/7 HERE, or if you prefer to purchase the game you can get it via Big Fish games HERE. It usually costs £7.70; but, if you are a new subscriber to BFG you can get it at a discounted price of £2.99/$2.99.

Installation:

Shamanville: Earth Heart downloads to a 34.2 MB zip file that unzips to three files, (a setup.gcd security wrapper, the set up file and a read me). Those with multiple hard drives are able to save games on any drive they wish. The newly installed game is 69.8 MB in size. The game installs to the following path by default, but can be changed by the user if you prefer:

C:\Program Files (x86)\MyPlayCity.com\Shamanville - Earth Heart

Four shortcuts are installed to the desktop. three of which can be safely deleted (Play Online Games, MyPlayCity Games and shortcuts to a free online game which vary each week). Also, if you don't like icons installed to the quick launch task bar, make sure you uncheck the box when the additional tasks window appears (after the Select Start Menu Folder window)

Introduction:

The Heart of the Earth has been stolen by dangerous barbarians! Train in ancient magic and go on a dangerous journey to get it back from the thieves. Travel through dangerous environments hot on the trail of the barbarians. Teach the pupils and help them fulfill their destiny and save the Heart of the Earth in Shamanville Earth, a fun Action & Arcade game.

Reference accessed HERE. 17th June 2017

If you have a problem installing or activating or getting Shamanville: Earth Heart to work please visit the problems section, which I've now incorporated into the FAQ's thread, and which you can find HERE

The Game:

What little game play I've been able to play reminds me of a very watered down Lemmings game where you have to direct a small group of people from point A to point B overcoming various obstacles. Creating bridges to complete your path to the exist. As you progress the levels become more complex and you are introduced to new spells. These are conjured up using your mouse. i.e by using different kinds of mouse-drawn lines you can guide your explores to the exit. An arc makes a bridge over a gap, a side-ways “S” makes a portal that leads to another portal on the board. You can also block the explorers path, or the path of any monsters that try to attack them using a slanted slash movement. Unfortunately all these mouse drawn lines are temporary, so, if any one of your explorers goes astray or gets left behind by the others, they are likely to die' whether it be on those huge spiky objects that appear after several levels or by one of the monsters that are gradually introduced. You'll find that keeping these little tribal explorers on the right path can be a frustrating test of will and skill. At the end of each level you gain awards for example Magic Beads, Amber Rod, Shaman's Belt, Courage Pipe and Cave Torch, but they don't appear to have any meaning. That's as far as I've been able to play so far. If I have time I will play more later today (we are going out to buy some jewelry and shoes for my daughters graduation ball to go with the ball gown we purchased a few weeks ago. Then will hopefully update this short review). The next paragraph was posted on the MyPlayCity site to introduce the game. There is no help menu or tutorial available in game,

For many years mysterious Manaitsy, the wanderers, have lived on shores of the millennial Morgul-Usantur Lake. They used to keep great knowledge to fire the ancient heart of the Syakhl land. Once upon a time it happened that the evil invaded the lands of watchmen and took the Heart of Syakhl. Since the Fire got cold, spiritual world and physical one mixed. Thus, it was hard to say where one started and another one ended. Spirits came easily in people's world and men were able to pass an edge between 2 worlds like smoke. Your part in Shamanville: Earth Heart is a spirit-pathfinder who has passed an edge between 2 worlds. Thus, you lost a connection with the spiritual world and you need to explore all your skills once again throughout your journey. In addition, you as a spirit are not enough strong to get to the Heart of Syakhl on your own. Moreover, old teachers never trust spirits so they would never help you as well as any other spirit who wants to reach the Heart. Thus, in Shamanville: Earth Heart, you find 3 assistants to help you to reach all the teachers and learn their spells in order to get to the Heart of Syakhl and inflame a new Fire. Your way will pass through both worlds - physical and spiritual. In Shamanville: Earth Heart you as a spirit are able to summon different facilities/spells in order to help assistants to come through troubles and initiate their mental growth. Reburn the Heart and don't let evil ghosts and worldly problems to spirit away your physical assistants!

Edited reference accessed HERE. Original review written by MPC Edited and added to by Whiterabbit-uk 17th June 2017

Conclusion:

Not played the game long enough to give an unbiased opinion of today's game giveaway. After playing the first several levels, it's like a watered down version of Lemmings, though not as colorful or interesting. The levels can be quite challenging, but only becasue creating the spells can at times be frustrating. you'll see what i mean when you play the game. When trying to create bridges for example, if I didn't sweep the mouse in an arc or didn#t place it properly, it would fail to appear and the adventurers would plunge to the beginning of the level, or one would get separated and it would take twice as long to rescue them.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank MyPlayCity for giving away Shamanville: Earth Heart and also to the game giveaway team, as always, for securing other ways to get free games.

Useful Information not related to today's game giveaway:

The problems section that used to be posted here in the Game review is now included in the Game Discussion FAQ's thread; which you can find HERE.

I've updated the games section that used to be posted with the review. The thread is now called 'Weekly round up of game deals', formerly the games section of the weekly reviews. You can find the new thread (which I've posted in the sticky section of the game discussion forums to make it easier to find if you are perusing the game discussion forums) HERE.

The rest of the information that used to be posted here can be found in the forums HERE. Don't forget, if you have an account with DOT.emu, you need to download any games you have before June, when the site closes permanently. Finally, check out Delenns thread over in the forums HERE. There are games available for free, some of which are limited to the number of free keys available.