SeaBamboo's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:3,793
- Reviews Submitted:147
- First Review:November 27, 2011
- Most Recent Review:January 21, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Free the trapped souls and reunite a love long lost in Haunting Mysteries: The Island of Lost Souls!
Overall rating
3
/
5
27 of 29 found this review helpful
Good solid hidden object adventure game
PostedJuly 1, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
This is most definitely a hidden object game; I found a lot of them. The graphics were a little fuzzy (sorry couldn’t resist a pun on the developers name) & a lot of the objects were well hidden or blended & took a while to find. The artwork was colourful & the island well depicted & as the game progresses a lot of new scenes will open up. There isn’t a map but you do tend to pretty much finish with one area before moving on to the next so although there is a lot of moving back & forth it is not too onerous.
The mini puzzles were a blend of the usual, put together a photo, join up wires but there were some that I hadn’t seen before & it was fun to try & figure out how to solve them, they ranged from easy (once you know what to do) to average in difficulty.
There are two modes of play, casual with a 30 second hint recharge, sparkles & glints or expert with a 60 second hint, sparkles for the H0s only & a time penalty if you skip a puzzle. The game does keep track of how long you take to play & the hint is useful in that it points where to go & also tells you when a scene has no further actions.
There are 32 awards to win & you can find a list on the main menu; there are also 40 haunted souls to find. These are rather like morphing objects, however if you find them your eyesight must be really good, I only found half a dozen in the whole game. I would have been happier had they been made a little more obvious as they were simply too well blended into the scenery.
The voiceovers were good & I liked the music & the background sounds; the story was interesting & you have to find an object to release each ghost so that they can leave the island. It took me around 3 hours to play & I didn’t feel I needed to get the Collector’s Edition as the ending was OK.
I recommend this game!
Once upon a time in the small, undistinguished town of Silentville people started disappearing. Help uncover the mystery behind these disappearances and save the town from a curse!
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 26 found this review helpful
Excellent hidden object scenes
PostedJune 25, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I don’t know if 2Monkeys is a new developer or simply one I haven’t heard of yet but I love their hidden object scenes. There are so many interactive items & many of them are like a little mini puzzle to try & solve. Apart from the excellent H0s there are some mini games but they are few & far between, there was one where you had to ‘throw’ balls into baskets, I could not get the balls to move anywhere so ended up skipping.
In each scene there is usually at least one task to perform & these were excellent; some took quite a bit of thinking about to solve. Many were along the lines of a ‘chemical’ experiment in that you had to find different objects & put them together in a specific order. As you might imagine with so many tasks you will end up with a rather full inventory.
You get a diary which does contain some helpful clues (for some odd reason it also says task list but there isn’t one) & a little way into the game you get a map; it is interactive between areas but not scenes. This is really useful as there are a lot of places to visit. One thing that really annoyed me was the doors which are everywhere; they open automatically if your mouse gets close so there is the constant sound of them opening & closing at times.
The cut scenes are unusual; rather than being fully fledged pictures they show the type of work the artists used to create the game scenery & I really enjoyed them. The voiceovers are good but not clickable so you either have to sit through them or skip altogether but if you do you will miss the story. I was fooled in the very first scene as after the prologue I went into ‘click’ mode to find where to go; nothing happened & I was wondering what I had done wrong when a pair of hands appeared on screen. It seems I was too eager to start or perhaps the gameplay is a little slow.
The graphics are average; a little blurred in places, the artwork good although I did find some of the scenes rather dark. There are two modes of play; casual with a 35 second hint recharge & lots of sparkles/glints to point you in the right direction or challenge with a 70 second hint & sparkles only for the H0 scenes. The hint is useful as it will take you directly to the location of the next necessary action.
All in all a good game with a great many puzzles/tasks to solve; there are some flaws but don’t let that put you off if you want to give your brain a workout.
I recommend this game!
Pride & Prejudice: Hidden Anthologies
Explore the rich world of Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, Pride & Prejudice! Enjoy this Hidden Object Adventure and get a new perspective to the classic story.
Overall rating
2
/
5
75 of 81 found this review helpful
Rather boring game
PostedJune 25, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This game does faithfully follow an abbreviated form of the book as you play; there are a great many cut scenes which are drawings in a sepia hue & various cut out characters pop into the screen. The dialogue is not voiced over but it is clickable if you read fast. The music is a melodic piano; I personally felt something a little more tinkling would have been better but it is not unpleasant to listen to.
Once you move into a main screen then the graphics are crisp & the artwork colourful; each scene has a great many items as the hidden objects are within these main scenes. Some of the items are very small but occasionally there will be a little glint where one is hidden. Click all around a scene as you never know what you might find; a locked door, an item to go into your inventory, etc. Some inventory items can be joined together to create an object that you need to use in a scene.
In addition to the H0s you should also look for scraps of paper which form Lizzie’s diary, once you find the pages of the diary there is a mini task to put the pieces together & then a nicely voiced over reading. Also you will find wax seals, you start the game with 5 hints & you will get an extra one for each seal you find.
It took me a little while to figure out how to move between scenes (when it is allowable) & I had a sort of ‘oh right that’s how you do it’ moment.
It seems there will be a few mini tasks; I found one which was playing piano notes in the correct order but as I only played to the end of the demo I cannot say how many there may be.
This is not a game for me as I prefer my H0s with an adventure & this was too tiresome as I was not in the mood to read through all the dialogue
I don't recommend this game.
Strange Cases - The Lighthouse Mystery
Clair's partner has turned up dead, and police claim it was a suicide. Discover the truth in this fun Collector's Edition!
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 12 found this review helpful
Good hidden object challenge
PostedJune 11, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is mostly about hidden objects; you find tarot cards in various locations, often more than one & collect items from the cards. These are shown as word lists, shadow pictures or fragmented objects; some of the items are quite small or well hidden so these can be pretty challenging. There is no choice of gameplay but there is only the odd sparkle here & there.
Occasionally there is a mini puzzle; pipes, circles of colour to match up, etc.; they are not the easiest I have played & I was challenged by some of them. There is a skip button available.
You get a 45 second hint recharge & it is fine when hunting for objects but if you want a clue where to go next it is not so helpful & occasionally it is difficult to work out what to do next.
There are voiceovers in the cut scenes but not in the main game, the music is not at all suspenseful which given the story I would have thought appropriate; instead it is bland & rather boring. The graphics are nice & crisp & the scenes well coloured.
There is a slow load time between new areas but all in all this is a good H0 with a decent storyline.
I recommend this game!
The Dark Piper unleashes infested rodents into the town of Hamelin! Defeat him before he leaves a trail of destruction all across Europe!
Overall rating
4
/
5
28 of 35 found this review helpful
Fun to play
PostedJune 9, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I don’t know why but my favourite Fragmented Object game developer has decided to go with a normal Hidden Object this time, what a shame as FR0Gs are so rare, however this is a fun game.
As ever the graphics are clear & the artwork pretty; there are average voiceovers & some lovely lyrical music. You do get a list of objectives which is great but every time a new one is created the book pops up on screen to tell you, not so good & definitely annoying. There is also a mini map which is helpful as you will open a lot of scenes & need to go back & forth a great deal, it is a shame it isn’t interactive so that you can hop between scenes. Still it does help you keep track of where you are & what areas still have things to do.
You have 3 modes to play; Casual with a 30 second hint recharge, sparkles & glints, Normal with sparkles for H0s but no glints & a 60 second hint or Hard, no hints, no sparkles, no skip button. You can change the mode during gameplay. The hint is useful as it points to where you should go or tells you that the scene is completed for the time being. In addition there are 20 morphing objects to find; these will make your hint refill more quickly.
Blue Tea Games are getting better & better with their mini games, there are some really good ones here, particularly where you have to solve several puzzles before you complete the solution to the one you are working on. There are a few of the usual such as move around a board to collect specific counters & a skip button if you get stuck. None of these are too hard.
I did end up with rather a lot of inventory items as some areas require several items to be found before you can complete; you will have to find an inordinate number of keys for this game. The H0s have some good interactive objects but there are also many items you can pick up but won’t use; red herrings for tea???
It took me around three hours to play & the ending was satisfactory so I did not feel that I needed to get the Collectors Edition. Did not go for 5 stars as this would be too easy for an experienced player.
I recommend this game!
Help Alex and Lisa return to the present, and each other, before a rumbling volcano spews its contents in this Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
3
/
5
18 of 18 found this review helpful
Lots of mini puzzles
PostedJune 4, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is a fragmented hidden object game (you find pieces of objects which when put together form the item). The graphics are crisp & the artwork nice & bright; after all you are on a tropical island.
You get a journal which contains a task list & there isn’t much of a story. You don’t need a map though as the scenes are ‘grouped’ so you start off with four open scenes & they are completed before you move to the next group.
There is no choice in mode of play, the hint recharges at 30 seconds & you can turn off the tutorial tips. The gameplay doesn’t flow very easily & the hint is not very useful when you are stuck & not sure where to go next; it simply states what your task is & you know that already. You will spend a lot of time going to & fro the various scenes looking for items to find or tasks to perform without much guidance.
This is a game about puzzles & tasks rather than H0s; you have to find objects to perform tasks such as chopping wood & there are lots of good mini puzzles, putting together pieces of paper, maze, build a bridge, move circles to make a picture, untangle wires. There is a skip button if needed.
This was quite a long game due to the number of puzzles to solve so well worth playing; it took me around five hours.
I recommend this game!
Help Nostradamus`s daughter lift a deadly curse from a powerful family.
Overall rating
1
/
5
48 of 57 found this review helpful
360 degree movement
PostedJune 4, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
This is one of those games where I wished I had searched for comments rather than reviews. There is no demo available, you either buy or not & after reading how great the game was in the reviews I bought.
The initial opening cut scenes were really lovely & I really looked forward to playing but once the gameplay started it was impossible for me. The screen juddered badly & instead of remaining static as you move the mouse the screen moves, nausea set in & I couldn’t even get out of the first screen before having to leave the game.
I wish I had known that this was one of those games where the screens are mobile; I would have known not to buy. I definitely do not recommend for players like me who cannot take 360 degree movement.
I don't recommend this game.
A tornado has separated Amy and Tom from their parents! Now it’s up to you to help Amy and Tom make it home safely!
Overall rating
2
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Mediocre game without a complete ending
PostedJune 2, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
The graphics are crisp & the artwork pretty enough but the main characters are sort of drawn on top of the background scenery rather than being part of it. In addition the music will send you to sleep & there are no voiceovers.
There are two modes of play, easy with a 60 second hint recharge & sparkles or hard with a 90 second hint & sparkles where there is a hidden object. The hint will point you in the right direction if you get stuck.
The H0 scenes are not word lists; instead if you click on the sparkles a ‘wheel’ of pictures will appear & you have to find the objects. They are not always in the same scene as the ‘wheel’ & they are not easy to find; mostly because they are well hidden, blended into the scenery or just plain tiny. I had to use a lot of hints.
There are some mini puzzles & these are along the line of Simon Says, join up circuits (lots of these), one slider & a couple of rotate circles to make a picture. Nothing too difficult & there is a skip button.
The gameplay is pretty boring & I really had to work to finish, luckily the game is quite short; it took me a couple of hours. My main beef? It finished with a To Be Continued; I hate that in a great game & even more so in a mediocre one.
I don't recommend this game.
Challenge yourself in the role of the scientist-historian-scholar of ancient civilizations and mystical legends and save your friend from the Demon of Darkness!
Overall rating
4
/
5
36 of 51 found this review helpful
Excellent task oriented game
PostedJune 2, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The artwork is really nicely done & the graphics are clear; in some scenes you can change the ‘light source’ & are taken to a more modern time. This change of time makes for interesting gameplay as you have to find items or solve puzzles in both zones & sometimes have to find an object in one time to use in the other.
The H0s are a little like junk-piles but the items are well depicted & some are well hidden, there are a few interactive objects; they are of both the word list & put objects back in the scene types. There is not an over-abundance of H0s, this game is about finding items for your inventory to open locks or solve mini puzzles. These are the usual move colours to a specific side of the screen, pipes, gears, matching items, etc. nothing difficult but there is a skip button if you need one. Don’t expect to find objects quickly; you might have to wait until you are more than halfway into the game before locating something you need.
There is no map & rather a lot of going back & forth to find inventory items to use elsewhere; the inventory is used quite quickly for the most part although you will carry some items for a lengthy time. Some of these can be morphed into another object of use; you will find a few special places where this can be accomplished. You get a journal & you can zoom in to clues you have found or replay any cut scenes.
This is an excellent adventure but don’t expect a story as there really isn’t one; if you enjoy it then try out the first of the series, Secrets of the Dark: Temple of Night which has the similar shifting time zones but is set in South America. This particular game took me more around 4 hours to play.
I recommend this game!
Find your lost brother by solving puzzles, finding hidden clues, and using the powerful Mystic Diary to travel the world.
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
For hidden object lovers
PostedMay 28, 2012
SeaBamboo
fromLondon, UK
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
From Sunray Games this is for those of us who like our hidden objects; they are in the form of word lists or silhouettes where you have to find an object that matches the shape. Some of the items are very well hidden or rather small so if you have to use the hint button the 60 second recharge can seem like an eternity. I found some objects rather hard to pick up; for instance in the first scene I knew I had to get the pen but it took eight clicks to get it.
There is no choice of gameplay so sparkles & glints abound; you will collect inventory items to use & some will need to be joined together to complete a task. The mini puzzles do not have any help & it can be hard to work out what on earth you are supposed to do but they really are the best part of this game; there is a skip button. Most of the puzzles are reasonable easy, Simon Says, pipes, guide a ball through a maze, etc. Sometimes the dialogue will tell you that magic has been sensed & you will have to guide a magnifying glass around the screen to ‘draw’ a flaming symbol; no idea why & it seems a bit pointless.
The graphics are crisp & the artwork well drawn although it looks a little dated against more modern games. There are no voiceovers & the dialogue is clickable; the music subtle & there are some good background sounds but this does seem to be a very quiet game. It is rather short & I played it in about 2 hours.
I recommend this game!