Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Echoing my review of Puzzle Vacations: Nordics, this developer still has not corrected the problem of the Fun Fact given at the completion of a puzzle, of not matching the picture. Puzzle Vacations: Ireland was fun and interesting because one learned a little about the country and it was great knowing exactly what you were looking at. Why have pictures of a country then if there is no point to understanding the aspects of that country which are depicted? Also, the settings chosen for a picture (piece shape and preview display for example) are still not being saved when quitting the puzzle. It's a pain having to reset them every time you return to finish the puzzle. I agree with other reviewers that there could have been better choices of pictures in some categories, in fact there are very few pictures in some areas. Yes, and pictures of food need to go. These two countries have beautiful landscapes that would make beautiful puzzles. I implore this company to make an update to at least fix the Fun Facts to match the picture in ALL of their Puzzle Vacation games. You can't believe how irritating it is, hence the 3 star review. I'm sure that it's not a difficult thing to do, Big Fish should also follow up on this.
I am writing this comparing it to Puzzle Vacations Ireland which was outstanding in all aspects. While the photos are as beautiful as Ireland, the fun fact that pops up after you finish a puzzle, do not correspond to the photo as they did in the Ireland Vacation. I am getting food comments on beautiful scenery where I would like to know where the picture was taken! This kinda ruins the learning about other countries factor that I enjoyed in the other game. (The comments after the puzzles in the Christmas Vacation are even worse,) I also miss the "Artistic" puzzle shape option. It gave a nice variety without having to change the piece shape for each puzzle. The Animal shapes are dumb because the same shaped pieces are in the exact same places in every puzzle, I would also like to see the program save my settings for the puzzle I am currently doing when I return to finish the puzzle. it is tedious to have to keep resetting my choices, especially the preview choice. All this being said, playing the puzzle games makes for a nice change from the hidden object/adventure games that I normally play. Sometimes simple is good. (I'm looking at you Match 3 games!)