HeavenBound7729's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:26,774
- Reviews Submitted:964
- First Review:June 6, 2017
- Most Recent Review:September 27, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Embark on an epic match-3 mystery and explore haunted caves under Cliffmont Castle!
Overall rating
5
/
5
44 of 49 found this review helpful
Challenge Is The Star Of The Show
PostedApril 13, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
What a treat, finding MatchVentures 3 this morning and a good sale to boot. A quality game all around! It's unique and full of what takes all the ho-hums out of Match 3 games. After playing the entire demo, I immediately purchased. It seemed this game would out-do Numbers 1 and 2, and I was right.
I've been playing MV3 long enough now to see that I'm in no danger of being the slightest bit disappointed. The previous games were outstanding and I think this one is even more so. So many fun features and options, quests increase in difficulty as the game progresses, the boards are awesome with nice, big tiles that move smoothly and quickly. The graphics and colors are stellar, I think better than in the previous games.
Each level has a different objective which makes it more interesting. After the level is completed an achievement board shows your stars, earnings, rewards and what remains to be accomplished. The battles are more doable for me than before. Previously I was frustrated, often, with losing and replaying which happens when I won't settle for loser status. When the wins are pre-determined, though, you just have to wait for your turn. The same happens in solitaire. I like having something to rebuild, always a plus. A new extra is Princess, the donkey for which we tend to as she helps with the quests. A cute addition although a little silly. A "meter" shows what she needs and when. I've never been into avatars, just don't see the point. Our humorous leprechaun friend has left the premises and I don't care for his replacement. Not a big-deal change, I just enjoyed his humorous comments along the way.
I really appreciate the progressive challenge, a highlight for me. Much better than before. The play modes are great for testing my M3 skills and I've landed on Limited Moves as my favorite. I think the option to switch around makes it fun for everyone to see how it may change the ease or difficulty of the game. It keeps your brain from going comatose. We all know how boring easy-breezy games become after just a bit of engagement. MatchVentures 3 is just fun-tastic quality all around, in my opinion. The mechanics, power-ups, bonuses, layouts, moving boards and map, info/help displays if needed all add up to lots of fun and quality playtime. The devs put a great deal of thought and effort into their latest creation. Though the changes are small, they are definitely noticeable.
Give the demo a look-see. It was very enjoyable and, as Cyril48 mentioned, don't base your opinion on just a few minutes of play. The game starts off easy, I played 6 levels before it began to change. I believe that giving it a toss too early creates negative reviews that frankly just aren't fair.
I recommend this game!
This is more than just a painting game – explore incredible artwork and let your creative side shine as you complete these colorful paint-by-numbers puzzles.
Overall rating
4
/
5
33 of 39 found this review helpful
I'm Lousy With An Easel, A Master With Art By Numbers!
PostedApril 12, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
It's always a happy start to the day when Art By Numbers is waiting to greet you. Number 12 delivers all the beautiful color and painting magic that we all love in this series. I have noticed, however, that the pictures are shrinking and the artwork isn't as interesting but still offers enough variety to please most of us. My little corner of the world loves color!
I love that all the images are available right from the beginning which is really important in the decision to purchase but I don't love that the robot hasn't gone bye-bye yet. There has been no change in the minimumal features, I wish something new had been added. The color palette is still brimming with gorgeous colors and the huge assortment makes painting lots of fun. Nothing drab in Art By Numbers! I enjoy the Free-Color option so I can let my imagination loose but the color choices are limited and don't seem as vivid as in the main game.
The artwork, as in the last several games, hasn't been as enjoyable to me for a couple of reasons. The images contain more and more of those almost microscopic dots and slivers of area that are impossible to detect. I always appreciate challenge but, surely, there is a more fun way to present it. It's very frustrating and resorting to using hints in most pics is a blow to my ego! (lol) Also, most of the art pieces have no background which shortens the time to complete, eliminates the beauty/interest that the additional surroundings create and takes away much of the pleasure of painting. A few pics were so skinny and uninteresting, they were finished in a flash.
Today's collection of art is the same busy style of misc shapes and patterns that never cease to delight. I love how they all come together in color and design to create all these images. This time I thought most of the pics were more of a B+ rather than the usual A++. I found the robot, the skinny jar containing a bunch of doo-dads, the laptop with burger and fries, just to name a few, and one with a stack of pillows very unappealing. There were few animals included this time, again most were just heads, no backgrounds. The pieces included the usual variety of people, animals, flowers, food, etc. The full-size pieces were really nice and more fun than the others, at least for me.
There is always something for everyone in Art By Numbers. Children and adults can paint to their heart's content and do it all again with the Free-Color option. The 72 images can be repeated, I like that they are all accessible up front and we can jump around to whichever one we want. This is always a quality game all the way. I rated 4 stars for Number 12 because there weren't enough full-size pics and too many teensy-weensy areas. That may not bother others like it does me, but this time I have to give purchasing a bit more thought.
I recommend this game!
Around the World 2 with the Johnson Family
You’re invited to tour incredible destinations around the world while solving a variety of fun puzzles and mini games!
Overall rating
5
/
5
42 of 50 found this review helpful
It Earned My 5 Stars For The Challenge
PostedApril 10, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I rarely buy these games because they are just too easy which makes them boring. Surprisingly, this one was very good. This game has very sharp colorful graphics, nice features/options, fun mini games and 3 play modes and more. They all make up a busy hidden object game which I purchased after the demo.
Above the item list are the collectibles and number of each to add to the search: Hearts, GPS Icons, Golden Eggs and Morphing Objects. There's a blurb describing some of the interest points of each city visited but I think that can be skipped in the settings. An animal album receives 3 photos when all 3 Hearts are found. A second album gets a vacation photo when you complete a level. Items can be purchased in a gift shop, they were nothing special but it was fun anyway.
Easy, Normal and Hard Modes are available. I chose Normal because I like playing against time. However, you have the option of switching the modes without returning to the menu to do so. When I clicked Hint in a mini game, it asked if I wanted to change modes, so that was cool. You can earn up to 3 stars and your score is shown after each level. I didn't check but surely the levels can be replayed if you want to improve your score.
There's a good variety of mini games. I only had time for the Spot-The-Difference and Memory games in the demo as I got hung up on the first one which took a lot of time. I was surprised at the challenge of the Spot-The-Difference and was majorly stumped, finally resorting to the Hint and not just once. That's what I love...challenge! I was amazed at how subtle the differences were. The devs did a great job with that.
I don't know if the morphs were actually there or just extremely hard to spot, because I found none at all in my 5 levels of the demo. Some reviewers reported a morph issue in the previous Johnson game so it may not have been fixed, or it is VERY slow or the change is VERY indistinct. However, for me, it is no big deal without it. I found the Hearts and Icons somewhat hard to spot. The Hearts were of different colors and irregular shapes and the Icons were small with pale color. For me, looking for the collectibles at the beginning of the level worked best and keeping count is easy with the info being displayed by the item list. All of the items, with few exceptions, were very well blended, some right under my nose. The devs did a smashing job of hiding things in plain sight and that really improves the quality of the game, IMO.
Maybe this game needs a couple of tweaks to step it up a little but I had a good time with it, mainly because of the challenge. Yes, it is like many other HOGs out there because I think it's hard to get super creative without a solid adventure or story to work with, like in HOPAs. But this dev seems to be interested in making their games entertaining and adding a bit of new to keep them interesting. Also, I so much appreciate the lack of cartoonish grahics and characters! So many devs are stuck in that rut and I find nothing cute or fun about it. It's been done to death.
Today's game is a little different than the first Johnson HOG, the few little changes I noticed were all good. The demo was enjoyable and I experienced no interference from tech issues. Give it try if you like this kind of hidden object game and like the fun challenge this one offers.
I recommend this game!
Find and collect adorable critters as you visit incredible places all over the world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 54 found this review helpful
BoomZap Is On The Ball
PostedApril 9, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Thankfully these devs are delivering some quality games when we are in such a dry spell at BFG. Such a shortage of quality games. I love these HOGs with all the hidden animals and own 3 of them, enjoying every bit of the searching, the mini games and even the frustration of getting stuck sometimes. The features work great. Not boring! Just fun!
The animals are well hidden in the bright, colorful scenes. The locations are very full of all sorts of things. You'll be delighted to know there are morphing butterflies in each scene, too. The items are usually small and not so obvious. That makes it more fun when the items don't stand out like a sore thumb as in many other HO games. I love the challenge and I am rewarded with many, many hours of entertainment.
I always enjoy these quality HOGs as a refreshing change from all the dark-themed games and the save-the-princess and magic kingdoms stories. I've become so tired of them! This style of HOG suits me a great deal because there is a fun assortment of games, some back and forth between scenes to find the list items and the locations contain realistic objects instead of a bunch of cartoonish stuff. In addition, the challenge is very good, I don't lose interest. Also, being an avid animal lover, I really do enjoy them a lot, always.
When considering the quality, the multitude of animals, the morphing butterflies, the puzzles, the extra cities to visit, this CE really is worth the price, for me. It has great replay value, making it even more of a bargain. Other devs should do such a fine job with their CEs instead of the skimpy games they've been churning out for so long.
Try the demo, if you love animals you'll likely be very pleased. There's lots of hidden object fun waiting.
I recommend this game!
Amateur blogger Kate goes on a life-changing adventure through Paris!
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 22 found this review helpful
Another French Excursion
PostedApril 8, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
BoomZap has put out some fine games. I own several which I enjoy to this day. They did pretty well with this new endeavor but I think their true talent lies within the HOPAs. I enjoyed the demo for First Time in Paris. Graphics and colors are great, no glitches, not a huge amount of dialogue, the story was okay but I usually don't pay much attention to HOG stories.
The format pretty much follows the other HOGs we have of this type. There are multiple styles of HOs and a wee bit of interactivity which creates a Zoom Zone containing additional hidden objects. Easy, Medium and Hard Modes are available and I like switching about as I play to keep it interesting. The mini games are okay but a little too easy. I always love the "fun facts" in these hidden object games to other countries. Hopefully, the devs pay close attention to accuracy. I've come across boo-boos in the trivia in other games, which bugs me.
I find the search more entertaining by playing each of the HO styles, it changes the challenge and keeps the boredom from creeping in. All the levels can be replayed if you care to improve your score and the items change each time you replay which prevents deja-vu, I appreciate that a lot.
Though it is very similar to other HOGs at BFG, it never hurts to have a little stash on hand. I usually wait until a good sale comes along to pick up the CE for the extra locations to extend the fun.
I recommend this game!
Pack your bags for an unforgettable trip through sunny France!
Overall rating
5
/
5
90 of 106 found this review helpful
We're Probably All Eager For A Vacation Right Now!
PostedApril 7, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I'll settle for this armchair version, otherwise I'll never get to France. Safe, cheap, no sore feet, no luggage! (lol) Point8Games took us to California previously and now here we are touring the French landmarks in another great HOG. I was happy to find their new release today and enjoyed the demo very much.
The graphics, again, are very crisp and bright, the colors are beautiful. The scenes are all busy and the hunt for items is challenging and fun. The items are small, well hidden or camouflaged and I use the magnifier too often sometimes. So my additional challenge is to avoid that very helpful feature. The game is kept interesting with some great features and a fun variety of HO styles. There are 5 modes for each scene and you can change to whatever pleases you as you play. I love using a different one each time. A couple make it a little more difficult for me but that's half the fun. When you can switch modes it prevents boredom.
In addition to the list HOs be looking for one French flag and one fleur-de-lis in each scene and there are random 8 Balls to collect for extra points, usually easy to spot. There are 3 play modes: Easy, Medium and Hard. I've tried each and so far the Medium is my preference, but I brave the most difficult when I have more time to play. The mini games are a good assortment but I wish spot-the-difference was included. We have Mahjong, Match 3, Memory Card and Sudoku. Upon completion of each level a new one is unlocked and there are many. In the levels labeled with CE there are no Symbols or Balls to locate.
Some of the list items are interactive, such as placing a feather on a hat. The Zoom Zones are highlighted with sparkles and the items aren't always easy to spot. The Hint works great but recharge time doesn't go way down as in many HOGs, it is 15 seconds in Easy Mode. I love the trivia provided with each destination. Hopefully the devs did their research carefully when compiling their "fun facts". Learning new things is something I really appreciate and would hate to be misinformed, even in a game.
It's nice to be entertained without combatting a monster or saving a princess or an Elven kingdom. HOGs are relaxing for me and keep my mind safe from brain fog. I started out thinking that HOGs should never be CEs when they were first offered, but after visiting all the extra locations and extra fun, I feel it really is worth the extra price, at least with Vacation Paradise and another is the Park Ranger series.
I'm adding today's game to my HOG collection and know that it will give me many, many hours of enjoyment. If you haven't yet tried Vacation Paradise, check out the demo if you love HOGs with a decent challenge, no cartoonish characters or endless dialogue and beautiful graphics. 5 Stars for Point8Games
I recommend this game!
1001 Jigsaw Home Sweet Home: Back from Vacation is an exciting puzzle game filled with themes to help you relive your favorite vacation memories.
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 35 found this review helpful
8 Floor Does It Again
PostedApril 6, 2022
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
People, buildings, food and MORE of the same. A small number of pet pics were scattered amongst them, but 4 of them I've seen in older 8 Floor puzzles. The colors and clarity of the images are always very good but the subject matter in every game is just terribly dull, uninteresting. There are never any changes, nothing to make the puzzles fun to assemble. Today's game seems to be even skimpier on the options than ever before. This dev doesn't even bother to change the title of their series to read 500 puzzles instead of 1001.
Some of today's puzzles were just plain unattractive and I was amazed that someone thought to include them. People's feet wearing wool socks. Ugly painted fingernails. A pair of tennis shoes. These are a sample of the unappealing puzzles that I immensely disliked. Images of posers and staged settings make up a great deal of this package. The buildings were colorful but nothing especially unique or picture worthy.
I guess it should be no surprise when 8 Floor brings another set of puzzles that are disappointing. I do keep checking every demo in hopes of finding the big "tah-dah", at last we've been rewarded for all the waiting and waiting! Looks like that will never happen, not in my lifetime anyway.
However, if you simply love jigsaws and are not so particular as I am, I think you'll enjoy this collection. And when you consider the cost of store-bought puzzles, you can't deny that 500 puzzles for $6.99 is a bargain. I'm sure other puzzlers will be very happy with Home Sweet Home. My idea of beautiful images just doesn't include what 8 Floor offers here.
Solve fun clutter-clearing puzzles and help the Walker’s build a beautiful greenhouse for Auntie Sheep!
Overall rating
2
/
5
23 of 26 found this review helpful
I Do Really Try To Like The Walkers
PostedApril 5, 2022
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
but I'm just not succeeding! I thought at least helping Auntie Sheep decorate a greenhouse might be kind of fun. But nope! The greenhouse is waiting to be filled with various plants and items I earned but the task wasn't enjoyable at all. I can't imagine hanging in there for 140 levels without being bored to death!
There are lots of levels and 20 puzzles. The 2 play modes are Easy and Difficult. With the timed difficult mode you receive extra points for not using a hint and for time remaining. Your achievement is posted on a scoreboard with other players who are animals. I don't see the point and think it is stupid! I collected all that is required, yet I continued to get a low score, not that it really matters I guess.
There is too much useless dialogue but it can be skipped. The music contained one of my favorite piano tunes used in some of my mosaic games, so that was very pleasant. The graphics were as usual very clear and super colorful. This makes everything so easy to locate along with the items being pretty big. I played 12 levels in the demo and one tile jigsaw puzzle. Nothing was challenging about any of them. The only challenge I met was to finish enough levels upon which to base my opinion of the game.
It, like the other 13 clutter games, was boring and tedious. The same style of matching throughout, long lists and way too many sun emblems. There were up to 30 in each level, they weren't gigantic but definitely in my way and quickly became annoying. There is simply no need for so many, they do nothing to increase the fun and challenge is never affected.
I believe Winter Garden, as all the Walker games, will be enjoyed by players of any age without threat of a frustrating challenge slowing the fun. Those who want to relax with a very simple game to just fill some idle time will like it. For me it is too monotonous, even in the timed mode. I can't recommend or not, but try the demo. It may be just what you're looking for in a cutter/puzzle game.
Play more than 100 match-3 levels and earn enough gold to fully decorate the Garden of Babylon!
Overall rating
3
/
5
14 of 20 found this review helpful
Mild M3 Entertainment From Seven Sails
PostedMarch 30, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
This isn't my style of choice with M3 games but sometimes they are unexpectedly pretty good. This one is a very simple building one. It has Relaxed, Timed and Limited Moves play modes and a moderate number of power-ups to make the game a little more interesting. The graphics are bright and colorful, very basic artwork. Nothing fancy with the items for building the gardens.
The earnings will purchase what is needed to decorate them, but you need to buy them in succession. That, for me, is not fun. The objective is to uncover the artifacts that are hidden under the sand, that will be used in the game. Extremely easy, the game progressed very quickly, as a result I felt no sense of gratification. It became boring.
There are mini games but I got to play only one which I will call a "drop box" (?), it was crazy-simple, not fun. My demo was cut short so I'm unable to report on any additional games. I do know there are spot-the-difference and jigsaws, wish I could have tried them out.
So my thoughts are that this game is very light entertainment. Great for those who may not care all that much about lots of hectic board action and big, bright explosions. This M3 provides some laid back gameplay to fill some free down-time when you're looking to relax a little. You can enjoy building the Gardens of Babylon at your own pace with your choice of play modes. I think these choices should always be available in Match 3 games.
The game is fine if not looking for challenge or the opportunity to strategize. I need both to make it a fun experience, so this will be a pass for me. Hopefully, the demo will give you a good time and this will be a new addition to your Match 3 collection.
Join Tim as he sets out on a Match-3 quest to protect the fairies and put an end to a new menace.
Overall rating
5
/
5
49 of 57 found this review helpful
I Love That Name, Lord Devious!
PostedMarch 29, 2022
HeavenBound7729
fromOcala, Florida
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This, for me, is a most delightful little game! I own the first Suddenly Meow and it was a lot of fun, though a little confusing at first. Today's new, improved game is still the same silly batch of fun but an excellent help guide has been added to assist if you're stuck. I've tried all three play modes and, like Cyril48, I like the Relaxed Mode which allows me to enjoy the game more at a slower pace, but my first choice for Match 3s is usually Limited Moves. This game is so cute but don't let that fool you. It starts out easy, but becomes quite the challenge as you progress.
Helping Tim make his way to the fish is the goal and there are plenty of obstacles and some battles to contend with to get him there. It all makes this a very enjoyable Match 3 with a good challenge which was unexpected when considering the title of the game. The mini games and the battles are lots of fun and when a cat is involved, well, that's right up my alley!
Very cute concept. The developer did a great job and I'm always so grateful when the reviewers' comments and suggestions matter. I get so frustrated and let down when so many of our devs are not interested in improvements. This dev is tuned into making their creations a fun experience and will gain a lot of fans because they care. Whether you love cats or not, Suddenly Meow is a Match 3 that provides a goal, challenge, fun mini games, nice colorful graphics and, for me, lots of smiles. There are 90 levels to play with and several modes to enhance the fun, the game's progressive challenge will keep it interesting and also from being finished in a flash!
I know it will not appeal to everyone. It will definitely take more than just a few minutes to get a good idea of what's going on and how to help Tim get to those fish. Give the demo a spin, if you hang in there a bit I think you may be pleasantly surprised.
I recommend this game!