Talismania
Encyclopedia
Talismania is a puzzle game developed jointly by RocketJump Games and PopCap Games
, and published by PopCap Games. It was released on July 20, 2006.
In the game, you play as King Midas
, who has accidentally transformed his daughter, Marygold, into a golden statue with the magical Midas Touch. The Greek god Zeus
will agree to reverse her transformation if Midas uses magical talismans
to create money to spend on others instead of himself, to atone for his sins of greed. To help him with this task, Zeus has presented Midas with a team of builders, so that he can rebuild various buildings and landmarks across the kingdom. This game is similar in design to another PopCap game, Rocket Mania
.
The game was designed by Del Chafe and programmed by Wes Cumberland. It is currently only available for purchase at PopCap's official website, RealArcade
and Steam; with a 60-minute trial period. There is also a free web version available to users of Mac OS X
.
pseudo-anime style designed by Matt Holmberg, of Magi-Nation Duel
fame, with an extremely colourful and cartoony ancient Greek
theme. The soundtrack, by SomaTone Productions
, is done in classical instruments, such as the flute, bouzouki
(a prominent instrument in Greek culture), harp, and various ancient percussion and string instruments.
There are two ways to play Talismania: Story Mode and Hero Mode. In Story Mode, the different chapters of Talismania are various problems that King Midas must solve. Hero Mode is a timed version of Story Mode without cutscenes and with slight changes to the gameplay.
The player is presented with a hexagonal grid, upon which two or more talismans are placed. Inside each tile is a section of pathway, and the player must rotate the tiles until the two (or more, if the path has multiple branches) talismans link up, causing the tiles that linked them to transform into either copper, silver or gold coins, depending on the type of talisman. The coins the player earns are placed on a scale, which lists the number of coins the player has earned, and how many are needed to complete the level. The tiles then disappear, and more tiles fall into place to replace them. More talismans are placed on the grid, and the process repeats. Once the player collects enough coins, the level is over and a new piece of the building is constructed. The chapter ends after five levels, when the entire building is completed.
PopCap Games
PopCap Games is an American video game developer and publisher, based in Seattle, Washington, United States. It was founded in 2000 by John Vechey, Brian Fiete and Jason Kapalka, and currently employs about 400 people...
, and published by PopCap Games. It was released on July 20, 2006.
In the game, you play as King Midas
Midas
For the legend of Gordias, a person who was taken by the people and made King, in obedience to the command of the oracle, see Gordias.Midas or King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold. This was called the Golden touch, or the...
, who has accidentally transformed his daughter, Marygold, into a golden statue with the magical Midas Touch. The Greek god Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
will agree to reverse her transformation if Midas uses magical talismans
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
to create money to spend on others instead of himself, to atone for his sins of greed. To help him with this task, Zeus has presented Midas with a team of builders, so that he can rebuild various buildings and landmarks across the kingdom. This game is similar in design to another PopCap game, Rocket Mania
Rocket Mania
Rocket Mania! is a computer puzzle game by Nuclide Games, published by PopCap Games.-Gameplay:In Rocket Mania, players earn points by quickly and skillfully launching fireworks. This is done by rotating fuse segments on a grid in order to form a path between sources of flame on the left and...
.
The game was designed by Del Chafe and programmed by Wes Cumberland. It is currently only available for purchase at PopCap's official website, RealArcade
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
and Steam; with a 60-minute trial period. There is also a free web version available to users of Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
.
Style
The game is presented in a super deformedSuper deformed
Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...
pseudo-anime style designed by Matt Holmberg, of Magi-Nation Duel
Magi-Nation Duel
Magi-Nation Duel, sometimes abbreviated "MND" or simply Magi-Nation, is a collectible card game published by Interactive Imagination Corp . It was previewed at Gen Con 2000 and was released in October 2000...
fame, with an extremely colourful and cartoony ancient Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
theme. The soundtrack, by SomaTone Productions
SomaTone Productions
SomaTone Interactive Audio Productions is a business that provides original music, sound effects, and voice overs for video games, including casual games, console games, handheld games, MMO's and mobile games. The company has studios in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Canada, and Germany...
, is done in classical instruments, such as the flute, bouzouki
Bouzouki
The bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
(a prominent instrument in Greek culture), harp, and various ancient percussion and string instruments.
Gameplay
The player is presented with a hexagonal grid, upon which two or more talismans are placed. Inside each tile is a section of pathway, and the player must rotate the tiles until the two (or more, if the path has multiple branches) talismans link up, causing the tiles that linked them to transform into either copper, silver or gold coins, depending on the type of talisman. The coins the player earns are placed on a scale, which lists the number of coins the player has earned, and how many are needed to complete the level. The tiles then disappear, and more tiles fall into place to replace them. More talismans are placed on the grid, and the process repeats. Once the player collects enough coins, the level is over and a new piece of the building is constructed. The chapter ends after five levels, when the entire building is completed.