gingergal's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.6
- Helpful Votes:15,535
- Reviews Submitted:193
- First Review:November 19, 2011
- Most Recent Review:July 23, 2013
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A famous scientist has gone missing! It’s up to his daughter to find him and keep his powerful formula out of the hands of evil!
Overall rating
4
/
5
49 of 55 found this review helpful
different kind of adventure game
PostedJanuary 5, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I love adventure games, I loved the sims. This combines into one game. It looks like the original sims but you don't get as much interaction - you can feed them and they need some sleep but they do that mostly on their own. So don't worry if you don't like sims games or TM games this isn't that!
Each character has their own strength and weakness, ( ie one character can't pick anything heavy up while the other has strength so can do so). So make sure you try both characters on things.
There is a dog who gives you hints, and if you find him bones will earn more hints. There are butterflies and extra things to collect as well.
There is a dog who gives you hints, and if you find him bones will earn more hints. There are butterflies and extra things to collect as well.
You start with a small area and by doing things, and discovering things you slowly open up more places to explore and so on. It's not hard and someone younger should find this fun.
I enjoyed the take the sims to the next step, laid back easiness type game. I didn't think it was overly short very roughly 4-5hr range maybe an hour shorter if you look at walkthroughs and use a lot of hints. It did end quite abruptly.
For a fun, different cute, laid back easier adventure game I give a B++.
I recommend this game!
Play a variety of mini games and build a grand palace on each of the floating islands.
Overall rating
4
/
5
36 of 37 found this review helpful
laid back game
PostedJanuary 5, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I really enjoyed this game as I am not a time mangement player - all that frantic clicking isn't me. So this game gave me my yearning for TM games without the mad rush!
You have your choice of mini games depending if you want to store up on gold, wood, stone/ore or food etc.
You have your choice of mini games depending if you want to store up on gold, wood, stone/ore or food etc.
mini games are - mahjong, ball/brick busting game, making pizza (love this), silhoutte - choose items in a conveyer belt that fits into your food carton, match 3.
You want to store up on each of these (food, ore, wood etc) to build your palaces. You can buy orbs as well.
For TM or people that like 'building' games like build a lot etc then this isn't for you, as it's an easier laid back game.
For TM or people that like 'building' games like build a lot etc then this isn't for you, as it's an easier laid back game.
I think its for people who like TM games but want a break and just enjoy those minigames or people like me that can't get into TM games as it's too hard and just like relaxed game play.
There isn't much variety, storyline is cute but not riveting, but I loved the minigames, real wee gem I picked up as a daily deal.
I recommend this game!
Trail a wild pack of dogs rumored to have risen from the dead in this haunting Adventure mystery game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
18 of 20 found this review helpful
It was an OK game
PostedJanuary 5, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Only one of a few nancy drew games I have played (apart from the dossier series). I play loads of other straight adventure games.
The good - graphics, feeling you are on an adventure, and the maze (the first time!)
The good - graphics, feeling you are on an adventure, and the maze (the first time!)
not so good - I had to keep going back and forth for conversations with people after I did something and this took a lot of time and most of it, nothing new to say - so infuriating.
If you don't like mazes this game isn't for you. I had to keep going back through this out door maze and just kept getting lost. It was very well done but at the end could have thrown the whole game out the window when I had to keep going through it! There is sort of an other maze as well, indoor.
I don't like walkthroughs so spent ages wandering around not knowing what to do next, loads of backtracking and the maze brought down the game for me. (usually in adventure games the objectives are clearer and you know what and when to do something)
If you like mazes I recommend it. I discovered through this game that I don't!
Puzzles were nice when you got to them.
I don't recommend this game.
It's important to know when to investigate and when to seek shelter in Nancy Drew: The Trail of the Twister!
Overall rating
4
/
5
46 of 48 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed it
PostedJanuary 5, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Beginner
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
This is my 5th nancy drew game apart from the dossier games so letting you know I haven't played all of them and sort of a newbie at nancy drew games! (but not at adventure games!) hint - If you are new to nancy drew games this is a good one to start on and do pick the junior level!
I really enjoyed this one as it wasn't as infuriating as some of nancy drew games have been. It was easy to work out what to do next. I enjoyed having the choice to replay 2 different kinds of games (one an arcade) to collect 'pa pennies'. The puzzles were a good challenge, some really head scratching, like all nancy drew games, which surprised when I first started playing as the books are aimed at tweens and teenagers so thought the games would be easy, but boy have I been wrong about that!
The thing I love about nancy drew games is that you learn quite a bit about the subject matter of the game.
I loved driving the car to get to different places and trying to remember the routes, it wasn't timed or hard so that was good. (You do have a gps so you don't need to remember the routes!)
Usually there is more introduction to the game as I was suddenly was looking at a twister without having a clue what was going on and speaking to the characters I was none the wiser so thought that bit was poor. (I did find out by scrolling through the phone)
It is shorter than other games and I would say easier, which is good for me as sometimes I don't have a clue what is going on. But it's still way longer than any HOPA game.
It is shorter than other games and I would say easier, which is good for me as sometimes I don't have a clue what is going on. But it's still way longer than any HOPA game.
I liked the 'go to bed' as you didn't have to if you didn't want to and I hated the clock in the first game (haunted mansion) as I missed a vital part of the game and couldn't recreate it. So you don't have that problem here.
I can see why people don't think this is the best, being shorter and not that many different areas but as I liked all the minigames and objectives were clear it was the least frustrating nancy drew game I played and the talking was kept to more of a minimum in this game so also enjoyed that.
So for good puzzles, replaying 2 in game as much as you want, easier game and fun seeing twisters and learning about them it's a good solid B+ game for me.
I recommend this game!
Return once more to the haunted grounds of Ravenhearst Manor to uncover new details about this poignant saga. What you find could very well be the final chapter of this riveting story-if you escape.
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 26 found this review helpful
Skip the CE version and get the SE version, review giving you a pro and con list
PostedJanuary 5, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I am so divided over this game it's annoying! So doing my pro and con list to help you decide what you like and don’t like.
cons -
-That stupid none helpful non informative SG - what was that all about? If I need the SG I want tips on the objective of a puzzle and to have to go out of the game to look at the free walkthrough - What's the point of the CE?
-The sounds of a child screaming at being whipped, not the sound of hand smacking (that wouldn't be OK either!) was pure sick and they kept repeating it in one level.( I didn't have a problem with most of the 'dark' theme - I thought it was excellently done.)
- I had to skip the fuse puzzle - I never skip puzzles. I'm a LF player, so used to long hard puzzles. When I concentrated on just one number it changed when I moved to the next number. I have played these type games before. Just so annoying.
-Non recording of numbers in the journal that I needed for puzzles, was bad and to confuse matters more, gave me 'false' numbers.
- pixel hunting for 1-2 morphs in every scene
- non contained playable areas, so the backtracking for those door tokens was tedious so ruined a good idea
- I had a glitch with one of the body in the morgue, I couldn't read the toe tag, so an hour looking for a non existent item to make it visible was annoying!
- Could have had more puzzles, there weren't that many
Pros
- an actually hard HOPA!
- challenging puzzles
-non junk pile H O scenes (jumping up and down)
- non repeating h O scenes
- love the morph scenes, something different and challenging
-a long game
-some humour ie with the bodies in the morgue, this could have been expanded, especially in this type of game
- an actually hard HOPA!
- challenging puzzles
-non junk pile H O scenes (jumping up and down)
- non repeating h O scenes
- love the morph scenes, something different and challenging
-a long game
-some humour ie with the bodies in the morgue, this could have been expanded, especially in this type of game
If the sick parts were taken out,(child screaming being whacked) the SG actually gave hints as to what the objective of a puzzle was and it was a walkthrough, the fuse puzzle was fixed, I would have thought it was an excellent game.
But because the cons were so infuriating, I don't. The flaws are so bad it really let the game down which is such a shame. And I couldn't say this game was fun, even in the parts I enjoyed. (well it's a dark game, so don't think of it as fun!) An easily A+++ game but cons made it a B+ game.
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
lovely game but is short and not hard
PostedJanuary 4, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I loved the first game in the series and this fits in well. Graphics are lovely, mood is nice and is a must for romance fans. The interactions are good, hidden object scenes well done, not too many and a variety. A lot of interactions which is good. Puzzles are on the easy side apart from 1 or 2 which although was easy took some time. There is an option for no sparkles which was good.
The let down for me was the actual story! I don't want to give away the end but would like unique endings. And the ending made no sense as the father was living in the cottage up until a year ago.
It is also short 3-4hrs for me, a normal (HOPA - hidden object puzzle adventure) would be 4-5hr while a hard or long one would be 5-6hr. I got it with a punchcard so didn't mind that side of it.
It is also short 3-4hrs for me, a normal (HOPA - hidden object puzzle adventure) would be 4-5hr while a hard or long one would be 5-6hr. I got it with a punchcard so didn't mind that side of it.
I do like romantic stories, set on the beach and apart from the ending did it well. Would be lovely to see more of these kind of games if they made them a bit harder.
I recommend this game!
Travel from the Dark Middle Ages to the present to save the inhabitants of the Orion kingdom in Echoes of the Past - The Citadels of Time!
Overall rating
4
/
5
32 of 42 found this review helpful
pros and cons list - good game
PostedJanuary 1, 2012
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
For players of the previous games, we are taken into familiar rooms in the castle which gives me a sense of comfort while at the same time being different enough and giving us new puzzles, to not make if feel the same game.
The bonus length was well over an hour for me, so making it much longer than the usual disappointing CEs I have played. But it annoyed me greatly that they had sparkles in the bonus when I played on advanced and had no sparkles in the main game. I loved the other games in the series and this is no exception. The story is pushing it as I thought I had defeated the witch in the last game!
Cons
- Replaying hidden objects scenes over again, especially in bonus
- Strategy guide doesn’t automatically know where you are in a game but did remember where you last had it.
- I actually felt dizzy looking at the cut scenes of the entry and exit of time zones so had to close my eyes
- Having sparkles in the bonus and I couldn’t switch them off
- Best puzzles weren’t in the replay minigame section
Pros
- Good length game
- Long bonus game
- Replayability of some puzzles in CE
- Variety of puzzles and hardness (most were easy or easier side of medium)
- No sparkles at all in advanced mode
- Hints were good for puzzles (telling you objective) also filled the quickest for any game I played in advanced mode. They also helped you in the scene you were in if you could do anything.
- Replaying hidden objects scenes over again, especially in bonus
- Strategy guide doesn’t automatically know where you are in a game but did remember where you last had it.
- I actually felt dizzy looking at the cut scenes of the entry and exit of time zones so had to close my eyes
- Having sparkles in the bonus and I couldn’t switch them off
- Best puzzles weren’t in the replay minigame section
Pros
- Good length game
- Long bonus game
- Replayability of some puzzles in CE
- Variety of puzzles and hardness (most were easy or easier side of medium)
- No sparkles at all in advanced mode
- Hints were good for puzzles (telling you objective) also filled the quickest for any game I played in advanced mode. They also helped you in the scene you were in if you could do anything.
I recommend this game!
Journey across Italy as best-selling novelist Dana Knightstone in Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel!
Overall rating
4
/
5
61 of 73 found this review helpful
Review has more detail about the puzzles
PostedDecember 30, 2011
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I really enjoyed the first game so wanted to buy this. The main story/plot concluded 100% in this SE version (will put at very end what the CE story is - it was just a sideline about the writer)
It had no sparkles at all in the advanced mode I played (great!)
When I first started playing it was one easy puzzle straight after each other and thought it was going to be a very easy game (I prefer harder puzzles). While this isn’t a hard HOPA it does slowly get a bit harder so some puzzles are more medium by the time you are half way through to the end. But at least the adventure side kept it more interesting and there was not a lot of backtracking in this game.
It had no sparkles at all in the advanced mode I played (great!)
When I first started playing it was one easy puzzle straight after each other and thought it was going to be a very easy game (I prefer harder puzzles). While this isn’t a hard HOPA it does slowly get a bit harder so some puzzles are more medium by the time you are half way through to the end. But at least the adventure side kept it more interesting and there was not a lot of backtracking in this game.
Hint button very helpful as it told you what you could do, so you don't need the walkthrough.
Those who love HO scenes this game isn’t for you. If you love loads of mini games and puzzles but not on the hard side, this is so for you.
SPOILER for type of puzzles and H O scenes -
Hidden object scenes – 5 – one true junk scene (shown in screenshot). And one frog scene. 2 outline scene. One find 15 of “x’ type scene. A couple of scenes of zoomed in clipped shots of place it in the large photo.
PUZZLES a good mix -
There was a fit the shapes in an area (and there was a outline on some of the background which told you where to put them, which made it easier which I didn’t like). There was a machine arcade game of match 3. A lot of drag and put things in the right place type minigame. There were a few ‘ find the pictures that relate to each other.’ Loads of different variation of Swap tiles or put in right order and rotate.
Mechanical arm to get prize wasn’t logical and pure guess and still didn’t show in the cut sequence what order you pressed the buttons.
There were some that were medium hardness games – it would have been helpful to know the greek alphabet, I don’t but you can easily work that puzzle by process of elimination and there were some clues.
Cooking – find the recipe and ingredients in the minigame
There was a fit the shapes in an area (and there was a outline on some of the background which told you where to put them, which made it easier which I didn’t like). There was a machine arcade game of match 3. A lot of drag and put things in the right place type minigame. There were a few ‘ find the pictures that relate to each other.’ Loads of different variation of Swap tiles or put in right order and rotate.
Mechanical arm to get prize wasn’t logical and pure guess and still didn’t show in the cut sequence what order you pressed the buttons.
There were some that were medium hardness games – it would have been helpful to know the greek alphabet, I don’t but you can easily work that puzzle by process of elimination and there were some clues.
Cooking – find the recipe and ingredients in the minigame
OVERALL– I loved the number of puzzles and minigames, storyline, and no sparkles. It would have been good if there were more harder puzzles.
If there were some morphs, a bit harder puzzles I would give this game an A+. As is I would give it a good B+.
5hrs 21mins main (SE) and 6hr 34 min including bonus I played the CE.
spoiler for CE story
It followed her and the professor in a side story. Story plot wise it wasn't involved but at least the SE ending was complete!
I recommend this game!
Journey across Italy as best-selling novelist Dana Knightstone in Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel!
Overall rating
4
/
5
37 of 37 found this review helpful
Information about the puzzles in the game
PostedDecember 30, 2011
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
I really enjoyed the first game so wanted to buy this. This is the longest bonus on a CE I have played, just over an hour. It had no sparkles at all in the advanced mode I played (great!)
When I first started playing it was one easy puzzle straight after each other and thought it was going to be a very easy game (I prefer harder puzzles). While this isn’t a hard HOPA it does slowly get a bit harder so some puzzles are more medium by the time you are half way through to the end. But at least the adventure side kept it more interesting and there was not a lot of backtracking in this game.
When I first started playing it was one easy puzzle straight after each other and thought it was going to be a very easy game (I prefer harder puzzles). While this isn’t a hard HOPA it does slowly get a bit harder so some puzzles are more medium by the time you are half way through to the end. But at least the adventure side kept it more interesting and there was not a lot of backtracking in this game.
Strategy guide always knew where you were in the game so you didn’t have to go through it and find it.
Those who love HO scenes this game isn’t for you. If you love loads of mini games and puzzles but not on the hard side, this is so for you.
SPOILER for type of puzzles and H O scenes -
Hidden object scenes – 5 (1 in bonus) – one true junk scene (shown in screenshot). And one frog scene. 2 outline scene. One find 15 of “x’ type scene. A couple of scenes of zoomed in clipped shots of place it in the large photo.
PUZZLES a good mix -
There was a fit the shapes in an area (and there was a outline on some of the background which told you where to put them, which made it easier which I didn’t like). There was a machine arcade game of match 3. A lot of drag and put things in the right place type minigame. There were a few ‘ find the pictures that relate to each other.’ Loads of different variation of Swap tiles or put in right order and rotate. And some match the pair (one was really good as you had a puzzle to figure out what order to match them)
Mechanical arm to get prize wasn’t logical and pure guess and still didn’t show in the cut sequence what order you pressed the buttons.
There were some that were medium hardness games – it would have been helpful to know the greek alphabet, I don’t but you can easily work that puzzle by process of elimination and there were some clues.
Cooking – find the recipe and ingredients in the minigame
There was a fit the shapes in an area (and there was a outline on some of the background which told you where to put them, which made it easier which I didn’t like). There was a machine arcade game of match 3. A lot of drag and put things in the right place type minigame. There were a few ‘ find the pictures that relate to each other.’ Loads of different variation of Swap tiles or put in right order and rotate. And some match the pair (one was really good as you had a puzzle to figure out what order to match them)
Mechanical arm to get prize wasn’t logical and pure guess and still didn’t show in the cut sequence what order you pressed the buttons.
There were some that were medium hardness games – it would have been helpful to know the greek alphabet, I don’t but you can easily work that puzzle by process of elimination and there were some clues.
Cooking – find the recipe and ingredients in the minigame
OVERALL– I loved the number of puzzles and minigames, storyline, and no sparkles. It would have been good if there were more harder puzzles. It had a good length bonus game.
If there were some morphs, replayability of the puzzles, a bit harder puzzles I would give this game an A+. As is I would give it a good B+.
If there were some morphs, replayability of the puzzles, a bit harder puzzles I would give this game an A+. As is I would give it a good B+.
5hrs 21mins main 6hr 34 min including bonus
I recommend this game!
Plants vs Zombies
Think fast, and plant faster, to stem a zombie attack! Save your home, and your brains, in this exciting Action/Arcade game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3,414 of 4,428 found this review helpful
pure brilliance! First game I have given 100% rating
PostedNovember 25, 2011
gingergal
fromoutside Seattle, WA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
When I first played through the main adventure, I didn't look anywhere else (explore all the main page options). I thought this was so much fun. Then I discovered the bonus stuff and then I was awestruck. It puts any CE to shame. It's the first game that actually got better after you played it! (as you can earn more boxes so have more choice and fun choosing plants)
BONUS AREA - (so many more I am not mentioning)
minigames - I loved that you could concentrate on each type - day, or pool, night time, roof level. And each area had many progressively hard levels and then you can get the gold medal.
puzzles - vasebreaker endlesss is hard and addictive, i zombie - you can actually play as a zombie!
minigames - I loved that you could concentrate on each type - day, or pool, night time, roof level. And each area had many progressively hard levels and then you can get the gold medal.
puzzles - vasebreaker endlesss is hard and addictive, i zombie - you can actually play as a zombie!
acheivments - so much fun
zen garden - I didn't get it at the beginning but when I could earn extra boxes for the main adventure area. I loved it, and it was so addicting.
Nearly 2 yrs after initial play I am still playing it! I usually like to play a game and delete it. I still haven't finished it - the achievements. I only have replayed one game here and that was dire grove. So I think that tells you something.
Great game that can't be beat but I would love to see an equal sequel!
I recommend this game!