caseyduhamel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.4
- Helpful Votes:3,948
- Reviews Submitted:148
- First Review:October 29, 2019
- Most Recent Review:December 23, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
As a newly recruited agent, it’s your job to uncover what lies behind the real declassified UFO sightings in this chilling hidden object game.
Overall rating
5
/
5
167 of 178 found this review helpful
I, For One, Am Really Enjoying This
PostedFebruary 28, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromGod Bless Ukraine
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I see the reviews are mostly...well, not good. And we are all entitled to our opinions. Personally, the premise of this game is right up my alley...you say UFO and I'm aboard. I was personal friends with the late Philip Coppens of the History Channel's "Ancient Aliens" series and was in correspondence with Georgio Tsoukalos for a time. So, obviously this is a genre I enjoy. Now that I'm semi-retired, I casual game a lot. Writing is a marriage that can exhaust and you're never paid enough...unless you are, say, Dan Brown or Ann Rice. The graphics presented in this little epic are very well done and I love how the story is told as we go along. I love the clues and facts we gather as we sleuth along. Now, granted I am only about halfway through, but, WOW, to earn five stars is HARD!! The hidden objects are very well rendered, not impossible to find or frustrating. I think this is a great game- and don't be hatin' on me just because I like this- I am really enjoying this HOG- we all have our likes and dislikes and we are all entitled to that. We all agree to disagree and I think artistically and technically this game is lots of fun. No technical issues at all. So, stay healthy all and game to your heart's content! :-)
I recommend this game!
Can you save your kingdom from a malevolent creature in time?
Overall rating
3
/
5
121 of 138 found this review helpful
The Elephant Snuck One In On Me!
PostedFebruary 24, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromElephant, please have your excellent team of colorists color me dissapointed.
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
When I saw this offering from Big Three member, Elephant, I have to say I was really excited about the storyline. A great and different concept: take one of the most beloved fairytales and twist it. Turn it upside down and the heroine becomes an anti-heroine; the protagonist becomes the antagonist and vice-versa for the villain. She becomes the protagonist. The beloved fairytale, in this case my personal favorite "Snow White", becomes a whole new story but with the same cast of characters. This is a great new way to approach the storyline- there's a lot that can be done with this. BUT (yep, there it is, the dreaded big BUT), I was soon disappointed. Not with the color palette or artwork, that's beautifully rendered, and the preponderance of the color purple everywhere was actually appropriate and placed properly as purple is THE color denoting royalty (see how many times I snuck the letter 'p' in there to allude to the copious amounts of purple...sneaky, huh?). So, color and artwork- beautiful. And, according to the Pachyderm's tradition, we are tasked with the two oldest chores in the casual gaming world as soon as we start the game; the ever-present bush and the crow we have to scare so he drops the other half of the broken key. Every Elephant game begins this way, and these tasks are now beyond old- they are dead and need to be buried...permanently. The HOPs and puzzles, for the most part, were challenging and fun...some puzzles were very challenging. Good job there. The find-'ems were pretty much standard fare but still enjoyable and add to gaming immersion. So, what's my beef? The storyline. This had so much promise, but the Pachyderm chose to take the safe lazy route and stick us with an overdone to undeath theme. I'm not going to go much further into this as I don't want to be a spoiler, but had I known this is where this story was going to land, I never would have purchased it. There are several themes I don't do simply because they don't appeal to me: dragons, elves, faeries, fantasy kingdoms, interplanetary conflict...and this one. Elephant could have taken the high road with this one but alas, the Elephant chose to stay in the zoo where it is safe. And speaking of lazy (well, previously speaking of it), remember that this story takes place approximately during the time of the late European Renaissance. In one HOP, the king's page boy is lying dead on the floor next to a stack of decrees, letters, and books. And what is lying on the very top of this stack? A modern Polaroid photograph. Are they kidding me? There's just no excuse for that.
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save the inhabitants of Atlantis in time?
Overall rating
2
/
5
52 of 58 found this review helpful
The Little Origami Dog Has Trotted Off
PostedFebruary 20, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromGood Bye, little Origami Dog :-(
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Yeah, he's done. The little origami dog knows that there's no more left in his master's bag of tricks. I played the free trial- and that's where it ends. The graphics, well, yes, they are truly well done and not saturated in the color purple. And the rest of what I played is the same ol' same ol'. Same ol' Domini, same bag of boring tricks. Shame they've gone down the road of Seen It Before Street; I've purchased many Domini games in the past and I have given up- I'm not going to donate my money to a roll of the dice any more...will it be good or will it tank? Count me out because as of late, Domini tanks. The little origami dog has trotted off the bench and a clever red fox has jumped up to take his place among the Big Three.
I don't recommend this game.
In this turn-based role-playing adventure, plunge into tactical battles where your decisions mean either resounding victory or a crushing defeat!
Overall rating
5
/
5
52 of 54 found this review helpful
WOW- This is not what I expected!
PostedFebruary 20, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromD&D comes home to roost!
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I am truly enjoying this!! It takes me back to my good ol' D&D days when our Dungeon group would stay up for days drinking Jolt cola (all the sugar and twice the caffeine!!) and order delivery pizza! This RPG is top notch: the graphics are excellent, the story integral to game play, and the game play makes you think- you have to strategize. Great job! I am hooked!! Now, if you'll pass me a Jolt cola...I'll be here a while!
I recommend this game!
Can a legendary treasure save your family from ruin?
Overall rating
4
/
5
53 of 71 found this review helpful
Not My Friendliest Fox
PostedFebruary 10, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromMr. Fox, couldya puh-leeze learn an accent?
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hello all! I've been absent a bit. The latest offerings were just not to my liking, so as a HOPA gamer there was just nothing I could find that piqued my interest. Gamers have their own tastes as far as gaming goes as I do. Some of you know that I don't do faeries, robots, goblins, dwarves, etc. I am more of a realist with hidden secrets. Which is why I really enjoy the Hidden Expedition series. I also really dislike "chick flicks" (although I am a woman myself). So, when I saw the title "Immortal Love", I immediately said to myself "OK, so this one's 'no'". (funny, but if you remove the 't' from 'immortal' it becomes immoral!!!' LOLOL). Anyway, I stray. I purchased this game only because the developer is the amazing Friendly Fox, now a solid member of the Big Three. Friendly Fox combines amazing graphics, great story lines, terrific scratch-head puzzles, actually really fun HOPs in each and every one of their endeavors. Friendly Fox expertly weaves fairy tales into our day-to-day world. BUT (and yes, there it is, my big 'BUT'), why, with such great talent behind the game, is this wonderful Irish tale being told in a straight-up American accent?! All the characters speak with American accents even though they are Irish- that drives me nuts! I've called out FF about this accent problem before. Everything they do is really top notch, but if you as a developer are striving to be that good, get good voice actors!!! I can do a darn good Irish accent (amongst others) and I'll work for you for cheap!! As a developer, if you want to bring the story home, if the epic doesn't happen in America, get rid of the American accents!! Attention to detail!! Other than that, I am really enjoying the game- of course I am- it's Friendly Fox! :-)
I recommend this game!
The tenacious trio takes on a master of the occult!
Overall rating
3
/
5
29 of 41 found this review helpful
The True Meaning of the Word "Meh"
PostedJanuary 20, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromSouth Dakota, Good Ol' US of A
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Well, Elephant, what can I say? I'm not going to be harsh, but I really think you can do better as your previous editions have proven. The great thing is your graphics. They are actually quite good and have been for quite a while now- great color palette, well rendered characters- you are to be commended for that. Alluding to Restville- that kinda said it all as Restville, in that particular game, was sometimes referred to mistakenly as "Roseville". Gettin' lazy in post-production there. So, I'm playing the game and zipping through it as it is a bit on the easy side (did the devs run out of ideas?). I don't hate it- actually kinda like it. It's just a lackluster game- nothing to make me oooh or ahhhh. Although, again, good job on those graphics. Oh, and please get rid of that silly badge our characters wear- make it look more dignified. Elephant went soft on the puzzles and HOPs- we need more of a challenge. Oh, wait, I almost forgot something...BUT (there it is!! my big 'but').uuhhmm, er uhhhh....hmmm, can't come up a with a big 'But'...huh, kinda sad. Well, that says it all.
I don't recommend this game.
A mysterious bartender gives extraordinary guidance to those in need.
Overall rating
4
/
5
48 of 49 found this review helpful
Bravo to Elephant To Bringing Us a Different Story
PostedJanuary 13, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromSouth Dakota, Good Ol' US of A
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
We're adults that love casual gaming, right? I mean, here we all are. Gaming away...maybe we're empty nesters, maybe we never had a nest, but we do have something in common in that we love escapism. I'm sure most of us love classic film. I usually go into the technical aspects of our games but this time I just want to say thank you. My hubby and I contracted the omicron variant over Christmas and New Year's (it was AWFUL!), thus my absence. I was so happy to start playing this game as it is the first time I began feeling well. What a great story! Something so different. Let me put it this way: if you love dragons, elves, dwarves, other worlds, well-that's great, there's plenty here on Big Fish for you to enjoy. But there are some of us (I think we are in the minority) that enjoy more historical intrigue. I am now also playing a fantastic old HOP- the Spear of Longinus is being hunted by bad guy agents! This is actually true!! I have many books on this. What a story!! So even though the hidden objects are really hard to find and the technology is about 10 years old, that story keeps me absolutely captivated! Why can't we have more like this? So, thank you Elephant, for thinking outside of the box. I am really enjoying this game BUT (hah! there's my big 'BUT'), stop with the old tasks already, ok? You are better off without them- I don't want the thin thing to slide the latch off the door, don't want the thorny bush, don't want the broken key, I want an actual mailbox that has mail. You are on the right track, Elephant, just drop the antiques. Stay healthy, everyone! xoxoxo
I recommend this game!
A quest to recover a mysterious relic has surprising implications!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
THE BEST!!!!!
PostedJanuary 7, 2022
caseyduhamel
fromSouth Dakota, Good Ol' US of A
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the best match 3 game I have ever played! Fantastic storyline, great puzzles, so much to do: a match 3 and adventure game all in one. Do yourself a favor and do play this well presented, well thought out game- a joy!
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover who’s behind the haunting of the McKirk estate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
167 of 180 found this review helpful
A Vast Improvement Since Five Orange Pips
PostedDecember 23, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromMerry Christmas and Happy New Year from South Dakota!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Firstly, I love when developers give us something different like murder mysteries instead of saving the world, or saving other worlds, or saving my missing sister, brother, mother, father, cousins, in-laws, well, the whole family. I was not going to purchase this game as I had played the first installment and was not impressed- there was no mystery to the mystery (we knew the culprit from the start) and the game play and storyline was tepid. Also, it really chafes me when characters played in countries other than America speak with straight-up American accents. And that bothered me in Five Orange Pips- took me out of the story's atmosphere. Here we had the British granddaughter of the most famous British detective ever...speaking with an American accent. Total lack of cultural detail. If I remember correctly, all the characters in that game spoke with American accents. So, I took a chance and purchased Ms. Holmes again to see if the series was starting to mature. TAH-DAH! British accents!! And good ones too! Wonderful!! The graphics and characters are gorgeous and very well executed, wonderful palette with scenes full of appropriate color and detail that really immersed me into the story (love the passing ominous clouds!). As is Elephant is want to do, they hit you with puzzles and HOPs immediately. The HOPs don't have a match-3 option, so you have to play through the junk piles but they are well presented and can be solved with a minimal amount of frustration. Most of the puzzles are tough! Love the new takes on typical puzzle models. Really enjoyable- might take some time though! Now, a couple of things that did make me roll my eyes- right off the bat we are hit with the two oldest tasks in the casual gaming world: the broken key in the keyhole and the thorny bush. Maybe Elephant was just trying to get them out of the way as soon as possible but those two tasks need to be banished from the gaming environment permanently as they are older than the dirt I usually have to dig up that's right next to the thorny bush. Be gone bush and key!!! Then there's the inexplicable items found in inappropriate places. I, Sharlotte Holmes, master detective, need a match to light a candle in my office. One would think a master detective would have a book of matches hanging around. But no, my client gives me her file packet containing her dossier...and a box of matches. This makes no sense...what are matches doing in her file packet? And then there's the dreaded mailbox...what the heck was going to be in this one? The operative word here is "MAIL"...do we dare hope? YES, there's mail in this mailbox...plus two inexplicable items, but hey- MAIL!
And the ghostie- she needs to float a bit more, her movements are a bit stiff and mechanical. BUT (there's my big 'BUT'...did you really think I would leave it out?) the positives absolutely outweigh the negatives in this much improved installment of Ms. Holmes. Great graphics, great characters with depth, terrific storyline, puzzles that really take some thought, enjoyable HOPs. Elementary that dear Dr. Watson would be very impressed.
And the ghostie- she needs to float a bit more, her movements are a bit stiff and mechanical. BUT (there's my big 'BUT'...did you really think I would leave it out?) the positives absolutely outweigh the negatives in this much improved installment of Ms. Holmes. Great graphics, great characters with depth, terrific storyline, puzzles that really take some thought, enjoyable HOPs. Elementary that dear Dr. Watson would be very impressed.
I recommend this game!
The bad kids are taking over the Polar Express!
Overall rating
4
/
5
59 of 65 found this review helpful
It's Christmas- A Time To be Generous
PostedDecember 9, 2021
caseyduhamel
fromMerry Christmas from South Dakota!
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Christmas games have to be judged a little differently because they will always be of the family-friendly genre which is absolutely understandable. So, there will be a level of cuteness that some of us adults who don't have children in the home will just have to learn to enjoy as it is part and parcel of the genre. If you can't handle the cuteness factor (especially in the voice-overs), don't buy the game.
First the positives: thank you, Domini, for leaving the color purple at home. The graphics are very well done and I for one really enjoy the interactive scenes where things roll, tweet, run, fall, break, bounce etc. Great job there. And I love the find-'ems. Domini unusually has great scavenger hunts for these collectibles, but these are especially good as they are informational. A definite plus. The storyline is good as a Christmas story- it's Christmas and our young hero's name is Christopher...coincidence? lol And the puzzles are lots of fun and some are real head-scratchers- couldn't play difficult mode on all of them. The hops are enjoyable as well, not as difficult as they could be but remember, kids are playing this game. And there's the match-3 option should you get stuck.
Now for the negatives: same maneuvers all the time!!! Every game, same thing!!! I know the Domini developers are imaginative- Domini, put that imagination to work!! No more thorny bushes to hide stuff so we have to get mittens, or oven mitts. I'm sick of your thorny bushes as I am of the broken key in the lock that requires the usual newspaper (in this case a tray) to slide under the door so we can push the key out with something thin and it falls on the conveyance on the floor under the door. We get the broken key out and *voila!!*, the key is magically repaired with a new ornate handle on it! As usual, we have to slide something under the lever holding the door shut...I could go on and on but I'd just drive myself crazy. It's the same moves in every Domini game, every time and I, for one, am tired of it. And they really have to stop congratulating me for those notes.
So, as it 'tis the season to be jolly and generous, I'll give this game four stars. But Domini, please, utilize those imaginations you employ there and change up your paradigm. It really is getting terribly old. Oh, and Merry Christmas! :-)
First the positives: thank you, Domini, for leaving the color purple at home. The graphics are very well done and I for one really enjoy the interactive scenes where things roll, tweet, run, fall, break, bounce etc. Great job there. And I love the find-'ems. Domini unusually has great scavenger hunts for these collectibles, but these are especially good as they are informational. A definite plus. The storyline is good as a Christmas story- it's Christmas and our young hero's name is Christopher...coincidence? lol And the puzzles are lots of fun and some are real head-scratchers- couldn't play difficult mode on all of them. The hops are enjoyable as well, not as difficult as they could be but remember, kids are playing this game. And there's the match-3 option should you get stuck.
Now for the negatives: same maneuvers all the time!!! Every game, same thing!!! I know the Domini developers are imaginative- Domini, put that imagination to work!! No more thorny bushes to hide stuff so we have to get mittens, or oven mitts. I'm sick of your thorny bushes as I am of the broken key in the lock that requires the usual newspaper (in this case a tray) to slide under the door so we can push the key out with something thin and it falls on the conveyance on the floor under the door. We get the broken key out and *voila!!*, the key is magically repaired with a new ornate handle on it! As usual, we have to slide something under the lever holding the door shut...I could go on and on but I'd just drive myself crazy. It's the same moves in every Domini game, every time and I, for one, am tired of it. And they really have to stop congratulating me for those notes.
So, as it 'tis the season to be jolly and generous, I'll give this game four stars. But Domini, please, utilize those imaginations you employ there and change up your paradigm. It really is getting terribly old. Oh, and Merry Christmas! :-)
I recommend this game!