Mythology Island, Reviews

PHB Review: Mythology Island

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Hello, mortals! It is I, Lucky Joker, reviewing and sharing my opinions regarding one of my favorite islands (if not my absolute favorite): Mythology Island. (Check out the PHB’s guide here!)

Playing this island is what really drew me to further look into Greek mythology, and I’ve gained quite an interest! When I saw the trailer for this island back in 2010, I was very thrilled. So much so, I begged my mother to buy me a membership so that I could have early access. Alright, enough about me…

The Basics

Mythology Island is Poptropica’s 12th island and was released to Poptropicans April 1, 2010, but only playable to those who were members. Four weeks later on April 29, 2010, all players could enjoy the mythological quest the newly released island had to offer.

On April 25, 2014, it was re-released as an SUI to members. On May 3, the updated version was available to everyone. (For more trivial amusement and island extras, visit the Mythology Island page here on the PHB and/or the tour page over on Poptropica!)

Disclaimer: This review contains spoilers! If you have yet to complete this island, I suggest you turn away now. With that said, let’s pop right into the review- Olympus awaits!

Storyline & Characters

Mighty Zeus, king of the gods, needs a hero – and he wants you! To satisfy Zeus, you’ll need to battle monsters, swim the depths of the ocean, and descend into the mysterious underworld. Will you emerge a hero like Hercules, or face the fiery wrath of Zeus and his thunderbolts?

Prior to playing Mythology Island, I only knew of some of the more widely-known gods/goddesses like Zeus, Hades, and Aphrodite.  By the time I earned my medallion, I was a greek Mythology pro… well, for a nine-year-old at least. (Another backstory Lucky Joker?)

Throughout the island, we meet a wide variation of characters: mortals, demigods, gods/goddesses and other mythological creatures (like Satyrs and the Minotaur).

A great spot on the island to learn more about the Greek gods/goddesses is the Museum of Olympus. Inside, you can learn some facts about each god/goddess exhibited, by clicking on his or her sculpture. I think this is an excellent feature and a great learning opportunity for kids. It’s also a great pastime if you haven’t got anything to do in Poptropica!

In the quest, you are asked, by Zeus,  to collect five sacred items to gain immortality. Obviously, Zeus doesn’t keep his promise and vows to rule all of Poptropica, but let’s move on. 😛 These items include:

  1. Ring from the Minotaur
  2. Rare Flower
  3. Whisker from Cerberus
  4. Giant Pearl
  5. Hydra’s Scale

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Along the way, we meet the Minotaur, who possesses the ring in his nose. To get it, we must navigate through his Labyrinth – which was absolutely awesome! Secondly (depending on the order you complete the island), we meet the Sphinx and obtain the Rare Flower by rerouting the aqueducts to rejuvenate the garden.

Next, you obtain the whisker from Cerberus by putting him to sleep with a pleasant melody. In Poseidon’s temple, both the Giant Pearl and Hydra’s Scale are found.

In addition to all of those creatures, we meet many gods and goddesses, as said before. They all play a significant role in the island’s game-play, and I really love all of the personalities they possess.

  • Athena: goddess of Wisdom, aids your player throughout the entire quest. From the olive trees that give helpful hints to the string given to you to ease the way out of the Labyrinth, she’s there by your side!
  • Aphrodite: goddess of love and beauty, willingly gives you her mirror which greatly eases travel around the island– and even a bit fun!
  • Hercules: son of Zeus, provides access to the realms of Hades and Poseidon, as well as Mt. Olympus by using his super strength to eliminate the obstacles that block the entrances.
  • Hades: brother of Zeus and ruler of the Underworld, offers you his crown which allows you to grow large.
  • Poseidon: brother of Zeus and ruler of the sea, gives you his trident in hopes of defeating Zeus. With the crown and the trident together at hand, you are able to defeat the mighty Zeus.

As for a story, I’m not sure Mythology told a direct story like some of Poptropica’s other islands. As for situational archetypes, we can see many examples like The Quest – the journey your character goes through to become immortal, The Initiation – when you’re crowned and given the trident thus becoming god-like and Good vs. Evil – the epic battle scene between your character and Zeus.

Visuals/Animation

The backgrounds for the island are absolutely stunning! Mythology Island has great visual depth compared to most classic islands like Shark Tooth and Early Poptropica. There’s so much detail in every scene, it’s overwhelming! …in the best way possible of course. 😉

Some of the best-detailed parts, in my opinion, are Hades’ temple, the Temple of Apollo and the Tree of immortality area. I think the overall design of the island really gives a feel of what Ancient Greece might’ve looked like.

For the most part, the animation was simply fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the cut-scenes throughout the island as well as some of the other animations like Zeus’ lightning strikes.

One of my favorite cut-scenes is where Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon defeat the Titans and claim their realms. I find it pretty neat how the pictures on the wall are able to speak. Also, who can forget about when Cerberus fell fast asleep? Simply adorable.

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On the other side of the bridge, however, there is one glitchy animation I’d like to point out. For years now, The Hydra’s heads do not fully connect with the necks and the rest of the body. Not sure what happened there, but the creators’ deserve some slack. Compared to other SUIs, Mythology isn’t bad at all.

Soundtrack

Mythology’s main theme is one of the most soothing tunes I’ve ever heard, and It’s probably my favorite! It sets a relaxing vibe to the beautiful scenery. Very well composed, Jeff Heim!

There are also other sound effects to admire like the chirping of the birds, the fierce growls of Cerberus, the raddling chains holding the Hydra, the sound of the lovely fish fountains, and even the sound some of the pottery makes when you jump on it.

Conclusion

All in all, Mythology is one of Poptropica’s best islands in my opinion. The characters, the plot, the design, and the soundtrack are all attributes that make this island enjoyable and memorable. Whether you consider it to be a classic or just another SUI, Mythology is still one of the greats. Rating it from 1 to 5, I rate Mythology Island 5 out of 5 seastars!

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Again, if you still haven’t completed Mythology Island and would like some help; go ahead and check out the PHB’s written guide!

Thanks for taking the time to read my review! If you have any other opinions or information you’d like to add, feel free to share them in the comment section! I’ll see you next time, pop on!

-Lucky Joker :luckyjoker~1:

Ghost Story Island, Reviews

PHB Review: Ghost Story Island 👻

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Boo! Slip here. I am your host for today, your… ghost host!

The witching hour is almost here – so what will we do? Last year, we did an omnibus of Poptropica’s scariest moments. Well, scary islands and characters are good Halloween clichés: why not review one of Poptropica’s best and creepiest islands? How about Ghost Story Island? Sure!

This review contains spoilers, so if you haven’t played the island yet, close your eyes and hum throughout the review! However, since you’re still reading this, let’s go!

Announced back in November 2011 (wow, it’s been five years!), Ghost Story Island was peculiarly released after Halloween, despite its spooky themes. In December, a pre-island quest called Spook Central was released and involved hunting ghosts throughout different Poptropica islands and eventually earning the exclusive Ghost Hunter suit!

Are you ready for the review? Oh yeah, we’ll be omitting the Soundtrack section since this is a non-SUI island. We’ll begin shortly—if you dare. No turning back!

Storyline & Characters

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Hemlock Harbor is a town with a secret. Restless spirits are said to haunt its shores, but no one knows who they are, what they want — or how to get rid of them. Can you hunt the ghosts of Hemlock Harbor and uncover the mystery that will set them free?

This island, I think, has one of the best storylines. Why? First, it tackles on a tricky topic for kids like ghosts, apparitions, and other scary stuff. Just the trailer is creepy enough to make you want to hide under the bed.

 

As we explore Hemlock Harbor a bit more, we discover the secret behind all these apparitions — it’s one big connect-the-dots game and it’s up to us to weave the story together. Then comes the boldness of the storyline: a story of love, betrayal, and forgiveness — a type of story that goes beyond the typical fluff of kids’ tales.

What I really liked the most was the plot twist in the end, so I suggest that you try playing the island again to find out what it is! Kudos to Poptropica for doing such a great job in making the storyline of the island. I like this island so much that I think it’s worth revisiting once in a while.

Here on the PHB, we love Ghost Story so much that this island won the Best Storyline award in the 2015 Poppies. Awesome.

As for the characters, what amazes is that almost every character makes an appearance and no one gets left out of the story. There is great character development between the ghosts and as well as the magistrate, Henry Flatbottom, as key characters in the story.

My favorite character would be the superstitious guy in front of the bakery. I find it fascinating that some people still believe in superstitions in the modern era.

Gameplay

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The island has a serious amount of gameplay, with lots of neat features, some of which are unique and can’t be found on other Poptropica islands!

One feature I really enjoyed were the cutscenes, like the scene inside the inn where the couple scares you. It’s one great tool to make the island better and interactive.

I also liked the mechanism used while maneuvering vehicles within Poptropica, similar to the ones in Wild West and Cryptids. The boat in the gif above is one of the examples of this.

Now for the distinct features of this island! One would be the first-person mazes found in the cemetery. It’s one of the best features of the island and I like how it adds to the eerie atmosphere.

Last but never the least, is the violin mini-game in the island. It’s actually amazing to hear music and sounds in classic Poptropica, and this island has become a good recipient of it. Check out our PHB Special about Fiona’s violin song!

Visuals

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Ghost Story received a decent amount of animation — some of which are seen on the banners above. The best thing that I liked in this island was the fog effect seen throughout the Main Street and the cemetery. I also like the ghost glasses being sold by the vendor on Main Street! Poptropica really put in some cool details on this island!

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Another thing to point out in this island was the numerous rooms—so many that I’ve already lost count. With all those rooms, Poptropica filled each one to the brim with detail. What’s more amazing is that while some of the rooms seem repetitive, they’re actually different, such as inside the prison.

Even the concept art made before the island came into being is amazing! It simply shows that Poptropica really gave their best making this island, because their art quality never disappoints!

Verdict

Judging on a scale from 1 to 10, Ghost Story Island gets a… 9.4/10!

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Ghost Story Island is undoubtedly one of Poptropica’s best islands. Being released almost five years ago, it still stands out among classic Poptropica islands.

I see it as one of the underrated islands because it doesn’t get that much attention, and according to the map, it’s not that popular. If so, I hope this review enlightens and encourages you to play the island and explore it for once! You’d be missing out if you didn’t.

Well, that concludes this review! Hope you enjoyed this gif-filled post as much as I do!

Don’t forget, tomorrow is Halloween, and we’ll be announcing the winners of our 8th Annual Autumnal-Halloween Contest! Watch out for that, everyone! Stay awesome.

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To Fiona, the woman in the window.
Monkey Wrench Island, Reviews

PHB Review: Monkey Wrench Island!

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giphyHey guys! I know it’s been a while since we’ve had my last post; so is a PHB review; and a Poptropica island. To quench your impatience for the New Poptropica, why not review the latest Poptropica island?

Every review usually tends to be full of spoilers, so if you haven’t played the island (which I assume you already have), I’d suggest you look away! Well, you’re a rebel, so read along! Hehe.

Monkey Wrench sneak peeks can be traced back in November 2015, which we thought was a PoptropiComic-inspired island at first. Two months later, after Poptropica responded to Slanted Fish’s open letter to Poptropica, we got a hint of what Monkey Wrench will be like. By the end of February, the name was revealed through the medallion list, and out of the blue, Monkey Wrench was officially released to all! A week later, Poptropica released the island page.

Monkey Wrench is often dubbed as the “better” tutorial compared to the previous tutorial on Home island, now we take a look at why.

Let’s start with the name: Monkey Wrench. At first, I thought the name could’ve been better since it looks like it gave the whole thing away. However, according to my sources (*cough* Brave Tomato), “monkey wrench” means a couple things! Informally, it is a term that means “sabotage“, the way the Red Baroness sabotages you in the race. It could also mean the wrench used on the island, yet it appears to be a kind of a combination wrench, not a monkey wrench. 😛

Storyline & Characters

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The Flying Ace Race is underway! But one evil pilot is about to throw a monkey wrench into your plans. To beat the Red Baroness and win the race, you’ll need to build the fastest yellow blimp in Poptropica! Get ready to take flight in a compact adventure made especially for first-time players!

This island’s storyline, compared to the previous Poptropica tutorial, is detailed in every way. What I admire the most in this island are the characters. We welcomed a brand new villain on the block: The Red Baroness! Also, historical figure and renowned pilot, Amelia Earhart serves as our guide on this island and we got to ride her Electra too! The Red Baroness could’ve had more screen time as a villain, though.

Speaking of the Red Baroness, the island is also packed with references, like the lyrics of “I Will Survive” and cameos from different islands too! Along with those references is the constant chucklesome humor that Crusoe gives us, who makes us smile as we play the island.

The biggest revelation in this island is the Poptropica blimp, which has been an enigma for all Poptropicans. Now, in this island, we can confirm that it is through the help of Mongo, his primate pals, and Crusoe’s idea, that we have our all famous golden Poptropica blimp!

Overall, this island has a light storyline at first, but through thorough research and analysis of what the island really is, we can uncover untold mysteries that can blow our minds.

Gameplay

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Overall, I can say that this island has a fair gameplay. One thing that I am bummed about in this island is it’s kind of glitchy. Recently, when I was playing this island before doing the review, I still had some difficulties, like the lever part with the crab, for example. I do hope Poptropica can fix these as soon as possible. Fortunately, it gets smoother as we go along the island. 🙂

Since it’s a tutorial, the island has a rich interaction among its players to the game itself. Pausing the game for instructions is helpful to new players, although for re-players I’m not sure it’s necessary. Some of the other interactive moments in the game are found in the ending, from the race to the face-off with the Red Baroness.

Soundtrack

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What I’m excited about every Poptropica island is the soundtrack. Man, it gets better with each island! I mean, just listen to this track, you can hear the ukulele!

I appreciate the sound effect details in every island. I like how when you jump on the plane, it makes sounds, as well as the finish line and several other places. I just wish that the monkeys could’ve made sounds as well, instead of having speech bubbles, which made it seem realistic as well. Still, the soundtrack is amazing. Kudos to the Poptropica composers, Jeff Heim and Kyle Fox!

Animation & Design

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On every original Poptropica island, the art quality never disappoints. I mean, it’s really amazing! First, the monkeys have been the recipient of the best animation in this island, as well as their design with the Poptropican touch too. Along with the monkeys, the plane is cool, too. The way it broke and flew away, it was superb. Some of the more noteworthy animations were in the retreat and the race.

For the art, I like how they put on a jungle vibe for us, and the way Crusoe’s retreat is made is amazing. The character designs of Crusoe and other contestants of the race are worth noticing too.

Verdict

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This island is pretty awesome for a tutorial; it’s better than the old tutorial as well as even Early Poptropica Island! Poptropica made a good tutorial with all of the elements of a real Poptropica island. I really enjoyed it my first time as well as playing it again. You get celebrated for the race! 🙂

Poptropica has really outdone themselves this time. A great improvement as we go closer to New Poptropica!

If I would rate this from 1 to 10, this gets a….

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…and that concludes our Monkey Wrench Island review! By the way, our Stolen Snapshots game is still on! Feel free to guess whenever you like! 🙂

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-Slippery 💦

Escape from Pelican Rock Island, Reviews

PHB Review: Escape From Pelican Rock Island

Trying to find a way out of prison?
Look no further than our Escape From Pelican Rock Island Guide!

Hey, guys! Slip here.

Welcome to my review on the latest Poptropica island: Escape from Pelican Rock! This review was first published on my site, Slippery Raptor’s Blog. Special thanks to Slanted Fish for letting me play EFPR Island on her account! And now, here we go…

Warning: This post contains spoilers.

With the release of Escape from Pelican Rock, Poptropica proved it could still make a solid island adventure with just the right amount of challenge. EFPR is not your cliché hero island with you chasing the villain – it’s a quest like no other.

We PHB authors were so excited about this island that we already knew it was coming months before its release! It was first known as Prison Break Island but later became known as Escape From Pelican Rock. EFPR also had an island preview similar to Timmy Failure Island’s a month before it released. We were also shocked (and incredibly honored) to find this interesting Easter egg on the island:

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After weeks of free prizes and photo booth specials on the island preview, it finally came without warning on December 10, 2015 for members. And now, let’s see how it plays out!

Storyline

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Pelican Rock is the toughest prison ever built. And after you’re framed for a crime you didn’t commit, it’s your new home! Use your wits to devise an escape plan, and your nerve to pull it off. But getting out is just the beginning — because the real criminal is still out there!

We’ve been through a lot of prisons in Poptropica. Brave Tomato stated that these prisons flopped and got destroyed— whether it was a missing ghost prisoner, glowing meteorites, obsessed rulers, or even Old West bandits! How would Pelican Rock stack up to the rest?

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Pelican Rock is a treacherous place no one would dare to enter. Aside from it being secluded from the streets of Bay City, Pelican Rock prison is feared for being home to the most notorious criminals of Bay City. Now things turn upside down when you try to do something good – collar a thief – and instead end up framed behind the bars of Pelican Rock!

A question bugged me while reading the plot: “How will I find my way out of a prison of maximum security?” The story is intriguing indeed. You’re being framed for something you didn’t do — how harsh.

Overall, Poptropica gave us a fresh spin from the fallen prisons of past Poptropica islands, and Pelican Rock proved to be stronger than the rest.

Gameplay

The gameplay of this island is fairly good. Since it just released, it’s more prone to glitches, but that’ll probably get fixed over time. While I was playing, I got stuck on the first day of work, and the player slides while eating. Although I struggled with a few bugs at first, it was smoother as I progressed.

I also liked the idea of having the NPCs (non-player characters) designed to be the same gender as your player — definitely a Poptropica first. Both the prisoners and police come with male and female counterparts!

The mini-games were also quite enjoyable. I thought making license plates and earning gum was a clever idea, and the vent puzzles were a nice touch as well. What I didn’t like as much was the repetition of each day, going back and forth trying to make a little progress at each turn. But that was all part of the story, so in a way it worked out. It was also pretty helpful to have Marion, the inmate at the metal shop, offer some hints to keep us from getting too stuck.

In conclusion, Poptropica gave us some pretty great and challenging gameplay on this island. Keep it up, Creators!

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Animations & Design

Moving along, Poptropica also improved on their animations. One of the best scenes on the island was the police holding back Big Tuna. Other good examples were the food fight part and the end scene of the island!

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The character designs were also created well. I loved the little details, like Florian’s shiny hair, Big Tuna’s unusual body structure, the abs on Bert, the rollerskating kid’s outfit, and of course, the boots on the Booted Bandit, the only permanent shoe-wearing Poptropican! They certainly did a great job here.

Last but not the least, the rooms were created wonderfully. I like how they made the Main Street to look so friendly and calm with the color palette they used. As for the prison, I like how it made it quite realistic and detailed from the cracks and the rust on the galvanized iron sheets.

Verdict

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Poptropica definitely ended the year on a high note with this excellent island. Compared to the other three islands of this year, this brought on the best challenge. Kudos to Poptropica! I would definitely recommend you to play it when it releases to all at the end of the month.

If I would rate this out of 10, I think Escape From Pelican Rock gets… an 8.2!


Thanks for reading this review! There’s more where this came from!

Blast from the Past, Reviews

PHB Review: Scariest Poptropica Moments

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Happy Halloween Poptropicans! Slip here.

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What a spooky time to do a creepy post, eh? Today, we’ll be reviewing some of the scariest moments in Poptropica! I might as well tell everyone to beware of nightmares and trauma. Read on, if you dare…

Chupacabra

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Let’s start with the cryptids—specifically, the Chupacabra. A creature that is said to look like a coyote-wolf hybrid that has green glowing eyes, sharp quills on its back and leaves a drain on the victim with a fang-like mark. Who wouldn’t be scared of this guy? Did it made you jump? Let’s check the fear meter!

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Jersey Devil

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Ah, of course. Who wouldn’t forget the time when the Jersey Devil, also a cryptid, was peeking at the window looking at your player? You wouldn’t forget that time, right?

That’s the winged creature that looks like a half-horse and half-goat. That face is a face that we all remember when playing Cryptids Island. Let’s check the fear meter!

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Zomberries

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It’s the zomberries of Eastman—these guys give me the creeps. Well, they became zombies from a substance mixed with blueberries, don’t eat brains, and are scared of lights. These guys are really crazy; lurking in dim places and chasing you every time you meet them. Let’s check out the fear meter!

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Count Bram’s obsession

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Oh, Count Bram. He still hasn’t mastered the art of letting go— perhaps what he needs is a consultation from the doctor? It’s sad to lose a loved one, but he reached a ridiculous level of insanity when he turned our player into a vampire and bit Christopher along the way. He did show a soft side at the end, though, and was reunited with his love, Annabelle. ❤

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Giant Eel/Leviathan

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This Leviathan is one of the scariest prehistoric creatures I have ever seen on Poptropica. Before you meet this creature, the lights go out—setting a great mood for a jumpscare—then it peeps through holes on the wall, shows itself – and tries to eat you! The giant eel left fear on me and I never came back… after two tries. Oh fear meter on the wall, is the eel the scariest of them all?

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Fiona’s voice

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One of the creepiest things in the history of Poptropica is this scene from Ghost Story island. Before SUIs (sound-updated islands), sound was pretty rare – making Fiona’s voice all the more spooky when it was heard.

What actually made it scary is that I thought that someone was behind me! I was shocked to know that the voice was from Poptropica. RIP headphone users.

Another bonus point is that the person responsible for Fiona’s voice was Creator Dr. Lange — amazing! What does the fear meter tell us?

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Myron van Buren

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You might not have seen this coming, or maybe you did; I don’t know. Well, this list is not complete if it doesn’t include Poptropica’s most despicable villain — Survival Island’s Myron Van Buren! His face his creepy, his butler is also creepy and his motives are frightening.

“Mister van Buren sat on his tuffet, eating his steak away,
Along came a player, who asked for some supper,
and he invited him right away.

What does the fear meter have to say?

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The Puppet Man

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For the last scariest moment on Poptropica, it would go to Monster Carnival Island’s Puppet Man. At one point, we have to enter the Haunted Lab at night when everyone’s been turned into monsters. If you go in without a flashlight, you can come across this eerie fellow lurking in the shadows of the Haunted Lab — carnie by day; scarer by night. What does the fear meter have to say about this one?

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…and that wraps our special Halloween post! Which of these moments scared you the most? Let us know in the comments if you agree with these ratings, or if you have another moment to add to the list!

Happy Halloween, Poptropicans!

-from the PHB. 😈

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