Cradle of Empires 4+

Can't give it 5

I played this game not long after it first came out, and had multiple issues with it and my operating system. I ended up deleting it. I returned about 2 months ago, and some of the problems that drove me nuts seem to have been fixed, but some are still there. Problems: 1) It takes way to long to regenerate energy, unless you are willing to fork over cash. 2) it takes too many rare items to finish the collections you need to advance, unless you are willing to fork over cash. 3) I tried to avail myself of one of their "sales" and fork over some cash, (are we seeing the pattern yet?) but the items did not appear even after 48 hours. I contacted tech support and got a bit of run-around telling me they didn't run that sale, my game data wasn't updating, keep my internet on (it was) blah blah blah. I had receipts to prove the sale existed. I ended up asking Apple to refund the money. Awem did try to make it up to me by sending me a lot of useful items (crystals, spells, etc.) but I am afraid to ever try to buy anything again. I don't like to spend money on virtual goods, so when I actually do, I want to receive what I bought. The gameplay is enjoyable, the story line (that went through an overhaul) is enjoyable, it's drawn beautifully, and the music is pleasant. I like the game, but it could be a huge money pit if I permitted. So, no 5th star.

Developer Response ,

Hello, thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We continuously strive to make improvements in the game and your feedback is valuable for us. We'll have this forwarded to the team for further reviewing. Thanks for your understanding and continued support to the game!

Can’t give the 5th star - relays on you buying too much

I really like the game, but it is not worth buying energy, buying crytals, buying this and that to get to another step because as soon as you do there are more items you can’t find without buying them. I don’t mind spending a few bucks - $20 maybe $25, but lets face it, it’s a game and my money is hard earned. The random stuff you find program needs to be tweaked, there is no reason I still can’t find stuff listed when I was level 2 and now I’m level 17. in 15 levels you would think that I could find the items by now. very frustrating. It is programed well, looks good, decent music in the background so it’s relaxing. eventually though I see me moving on to something else because the randomizer isn't forking over what I need in a decent time and I’m bored with playing the same puzzles over and over for something I never use.

Great game but...

This is a fun game with lots of boards, extra games to play when you run out of lives, interesting storyline, and great graphics. Yes, actually collecting all the parts you need to progress, can be almost impossible. I've stopped worrying about that and just play until I run out of lives. Hey, it's free. I'd love to purchase the game outright - I own all the others - but AWEM has chosen a different path. Don't enjoy the pay to win concept. Just feels like cheating to me.
Technical issues:
I have to turn off internet connection when playing the game as my MacBook Pro runs painfully hot if I am connected.
Also, whether or not I'm connected to the internet, I get an error message when I start and quit, every time I play.

Developer Response ,

Hello! Sorry to hear about this issue. Please tap on the settings icon at the bottom of the screen, select Settings - Help and Support - Make sure "Attach saves" is checked - Write to us. We'll be happy to assist you as soon as we receive your request!