Joybelle_2's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.2
- Helpful Votes:7,892
- Reviews Submitted:176
- First Review:October 23, 2019
- Most Recent Review:October 30, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Build a magnificent city in ancient Egypt and free the Pharaoh from the clutches of the creature in this incredible match 3 adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
59 of 60 found this review helpful
This is a good one..you probably own a few!
PostedSeptember 2, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a very familiar M3 from a developer that makes MANY games just like this and simply changes the theme. I was a bit jaded when I started to play expecting the same as all the others and I would get bored. And the gameplay is the same, But....
I am however finding the tiles and minigames in this one really pleasing on the eye and they have bothered to change some of the features around from other games. You dont pick from 3 options as to what bonus you get when you finish a level there is simply a chest and you will get what is given lol. I must admit I didnt finish the demo..but so far it has only given me gold not other resources, I seem to need to earn them from the boards. However many of the resources on the board double or triple your loot. So it may be worth letting the tutorial run for a bit and then you can just turn it off and on at will..
The settlement you build is just like all other games, once you have enough resources you can build and upgrade. The minigames are all pretty good too. I enjoyed restoring the painting as an aside, and beware if you are someone who likes their game achievements perfect, even though you can quickly skip the games and the dialogue, one achievement is 'not skip a minigame'..so check those out.
All in all it is an extremely smooth running game with great colours and historically with this developer you get huge value of level count for your purchase and plenty of powerups and tools to help you along. Large matches attract 'blow up' ball features of varying strengths, and these are also part of your achievements how many times you use them.
I have only one slight grump, but I got used to it, in that I found it hard sometimes to see the odd remaining tile that needed removing and had to do a lot of scanning to find it. But that is a small gripe.
I didn't think I would ever buy another of these type of games because I own SO many in this style, but this one is rich and deep, a pleasure to play, and how I always judge a game..did it make me smile?..Yes! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Follow the Dwarfs on this Match 3 Adventure and help restore their homeland!
Overall rating
3
/
5
9 of 10 found this review helpful
Try the demo..for me its just ok..I need a new computer
PostedSeptember 1, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played this game on a 32 bit computer..and whilst I could actually see the game, it was clunky and played slowly. I had to click to swap each tile. So I tried to judge it on what it might be like if I had a better medium to play it on.
Its seems ok, and as another reviewer stated it gets a bit better as you go and the tiles are not always totally dull, but they are quite small and to be honest I found the gameplay too repetitive. There were different bonuses and obstacles that appeared, but I wasn't enjoying myself. The most exciting part was the graphics around the levels which were quite rich and. entertaining. The quests are really just one repair after another. There is hard, normal and easy modes.
So make sure you try the demo and make sure your computer can cope with this download which I think is meant for 64 bit machines? I think its only just ok. Nothing flash, nothing really novel. Even on a good machine I think I would have passed. Cheers
Who's behind the sinister plot to kidnap the prince?
Overall rating
4
/
5
24 of 31 found this review helpful
Surprisingly some new features and its not bad.
PostedAugust 29, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Its been a long time since I gave this developers TM games more than two stars, but must admit this one has quite a lot of new and interesting features even though it is also one of those 'same games'. Its hard for any TM not to follow its style.
At least in this one there are lots of characters that pop up to make it half interesting. You visit 4 lands (SE) Scotland, Malta, Africa and Europe, and in this CE you get to visit 'Parellel Land' which is a bit fantasy based. (60 levels all up)
There are acheivements, a good strategy guide that comes up large on the screen (but you can only access it from the menu not the game screen), three modes of play relax, normal and hard, and you can toggle these if you change your mind without losing progress.
I only got through most of Scotland in the demo..but even here the tasks were varied and quite a few characters. A lockness monster who you need 'agents' to remove, a robot who needs robots (lol)., and eagles who block the road and you must build a lab and their nests to get them to fly off. The novelty is you don't know which eagle will go to which nest. So the one you wish to get out of the way may not be the one and you must try building another nest to get to what you want. That's quite clever really. And on one level I had to find the bits of a steam harvester..which cutely began mowing the wheat.
Whilst mostly what you build (wood, food, workers sheds etc) is fairly hand held, I did start to have to repeat a level when I didn't build a building early enough to stock up. There is also the 'theif' that needs agents to stop the heisting. The timer is set well. There is also a room that looks like it needs decorating..but I couldn't figure out how??
I can see these devs are REALLY trying which is great. But the games lack warmth and connection or any comical element that may endear and therefore tend to become simply chore based. They dont really make me smile. If they could only throw in some collectibles, and make their graphics more friendly they may do well. This is one of their best and a huge improvement, but those little things, and a strategy guide without screen access, just make me have to say I don't love it. Try the demo, the game is a bit repetitive, but I think its not too bad really. Cheers.
I recommend this game!
Follow the brave warrior Alva on a fantastic time management adventure and help her find a kidnapped druid!
Overall rating
4
/
5
40 of 44 found this review helpful
At first I thought no..then it got tricky!
PostedAugust 25, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The first few levels of the game are quite painful sitting around waiting for barrels to fill and bushes to ripen..but after the first four..it got really tricky! There is a right way to do it and that's it. Go the wrong way..you will not beat the timer.
For those playing in relaxed this may actually turn out to be quite boring, but if you are up for the challenge of working out which way to go...its a quite cute and ok game that could do with some refinement but I did have to actually resort to a net walkthrough on level 5!! (shame on me lol)
Before that I didn't pay attention and kept wondering where my gold was going..but then I realised that little food bush is NOT free like in so many other games, but you will get used to what you pay for and what you can just pick up.
So not the greatest clear and gather that's ever been but good enough for a coupon or the SE pricetag it has. Gameplay is smooth and you can click ahead. Once again be careful..these show up red if you don't have the resources yet..and will go to the first one you clicked when they catch up. (you can turn them off)..Theres not much dialogue to wade through..just one box at the start of each level.
So come gather gold and wood and build and clear and just enjoy a cute little game that needs some improvement, but there are lots worse out there and it certainly does actually challenge me despite the slow speed of refills and small amounts of resources they give at all. Cheers.
I recommend this game!
Join Princess Miriel’s and fight Darksoul to save her brother in The Enthralling Realms: Knights and Orcs!
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 33 found this review helpful
Its just another one..ho hum
PostedAugust 19, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I guess it depends on what you want in a M3. If all you want is to build things, and just swap tiles for not much reason other than doing that, then this game is for you, as there is no timer as usual.
The tiles are at least a decent size, there are tiles to smash, chained, and spider webbed, (no spiders during demo)..and you move jewels to the bottom of the board, with which you buy your bonuses, bombs, hammer, line destroyer etc from the tools tab.. You build (or in this case rebuild) and get things to chase the orcs with such as a raft, and the ability to put out fires etc with the stars you earn when you hear that familiar voice.. 'stage complete'
There is a mana meter that charges your bonuses, so really the longer you take to keep matching and do large matches is the only real strategy, and to break the board if there are no matches left.
Really to me its just plain boring. It would at least be an ok game if there was a timer or limited moves for some interest. There may be a market for small kids here as training, or for others with needs that just want to build and swap. For me its a wide pass as usual.
I don't recommend this game.
The ghosts are back on a new puzzle adventure and this time they’re going to have a run-in with a famous wizard!
Overall rating
5
/
5
28 of 30 found this review helpful
Always a winner even after all this time.
PostedAugust 10, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is just a fabulous game, and this time its 'medieval' ghosts we are travelling with. This developer has many games of varying difficulty and some are just to difficult for me to actually enjoy..this series is 'just right!', challenging but not hairpulling frustrating,
There is a new feature in this one where the the key you move to open a locked coin actually has to get to a whole different segment of the screen..this is done by moving it over a marked tile and it floats like magic to the 'other' board. Nice!
The tiles all have medieval design, flags, drums,crowns etc and of course doves have managed to come along too. I feel in this game the devs have paid attention to how and where the tiles actually fall so matches are not way away from where you are playing the action thus making it too hard as sometimes you must make a five match to proceed.
There are bonus levels that you get as you proceed..and yuk..some have black dammed tiles that if you touch them your play is over. They are a bit more of a brain stretch. But you can play in one of the three modes including relaxed. There is a book tutorial to read anytime.
Its a same game..(the minigames are the same of course lol)..its a wonderful game..it has some new features and it has bonus levels..grumpy ghosts that give you a laugh and all in all a good value game. I am a lover of this series but I think even if you have just come to the gaming community you will become one too when you play this. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Clear challenging solitaire puzzles and help your friends restore a dying world!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 39 found this review helpful
Sweet, neat, smooth and feel good.
PostedAugust 8, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I have all the games of this series, and this one is now my preferred of them. It is very much the same game as the others but they have at last hastened up the loading process and you cant help but like how clear the cards are and how smooth play is.
Its very much a 'fantasy' fairytale setting, with fairies and wizards restoring damaged settings from the mana you collect as you play the levels. There are the same features of past games like boarded cards you must actually play the card with the axe on, not just find it,..frozen cards to play twice etc. One new feature I came across on the demo was a lantern which you do just 'get to' and it clears mist from covered cards. You can use it on areas even if there is still a card on top in order to reveal whats 'in the mist'
There are three modes, casual, timed and easy..casual is pretty easy for most anyway, so any great challenge will come from beating the clock. But there are many levels, and historically these games are long and we are told there are eighty more levels in the CE. That is the only reason I got it. There are sweet fairytale wallpapers (7), 4 bio's on the characters, 5 music choices and achievements (that you get just for playing really)
There are 8 decks to choose from, and as in other games, as you earn coins you can shop for bonuses, or buy wild cards (lucky dip..no choice) or jokers.
Its a lovely game and my main admiration is just how clear the cards are on the screen you can scan and see the numbers always. If you have the others..not much new here, but I bought it as it is one of my very favourite solitaire series (and I have a few LOL!)...I think this game will delight in either the CE or SE format, just up to personal choice. Enjoy
I recommend this game!
Time Management in a fairytale setting with beloved Wonderland characters!
Overall rating
4
/
5
23 of 29 found this review helpful
Somewhere between love and like..a really nice game
PostedAugust 1, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is a little different to the other games in that the graphics have changed and you are in an unfamiliar setting, a kitchen, in the first world where you will cook cakes, set tables and use a new resource of bark. By the time I went to the second world, it was just that..just another land.
It is a very basic gather resources/build/meet goals game that does involve some strategy and the characters move at super fast speed which is great. In this one you have the choice of demolishing and building another building to boost your resources which is also new.
Its colourful, its fun and there is a puzzle cup to make your jigsaw, and sometimes an art palette that disappears to make your three pieces of art. (this is not new) There are achievements that appear as little trophies on your map, and there is a numbered strategy guide. I don't think you will ever need it, as the timer was really over generous unless on the hard mode (there is relaxed and normal)
The options are good..you can disable the dialogue and turn off the annoying blue hint arrows. (but had I done that at first I may not have noticed that I could now demolish buildings)
It is a sweet game, but it has a couple of things that cost it a star for me. You cannot see how many worlds there are..but I guess from the BFG guide there will be four plus 10..but you cant go backwards or forwards to see. Meaning I couldn't see the achievements I had earned already? I also feel it can get a bit repetitive as most TM's must to a certain extent, but I just didn't find myself being 'immersed' in it. I just haven't come across any 'fascinating' features yet like 'uncoloured' areas or biographies as when the series was launched and you got that real connection.
Is it worth the CE? Just a matter of levels and whether you can wait I think. You prob wont get the art or the strategy guide with the SE..so really just a matter of choice. But as a TM buff I cant resist the phrase 'extra levels' lol
So a really good little game that moves along..but not different or novel enough at this point for me to give full stars. I like it a lot though! Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Rome continues to flourish, but a hidden threat is looming on the horizon in the latest Roads of Rome adventure!
Overall rating
5
/
5
111 of 129 found this review helpful
Its got the lot..even a cache map this time!
PostedJuly 30, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When I first saw the level count on this game I thought 'oh a bit short'..but only a few levels in, the hours have passed so very quickly!
There are all the familiar features and tasks as in previous games, , clear and build roads, gather food/wood, build resource buildings, repair bridges find treasure cache's, explore caves, make bombs and basically meet the level goals. I am not too far in but there are a couple of new features so far including an alter of elements which needs earth, air, fire and water elements to be gathered (in the shape of jewels) from all parts of the screen before you can light it, and a pathfinders house to build so you can explore caves.
This game may seem short with only 40 + 6 levels, but I have been playing for two hours and only ten in. I chose easy of the four choices (relax, easy, normal, hard)..and could not do any harder challenge! By the time I use all the strategy I can muster and find the cache's (I don't want to look....I enjoy that challenge too) I am playing most levels twice, finding I can either have gold or find all cache's..so I go for the gold play...and go back again to look for the cache's as the gold stands. There is now as said, in order to avoid not having a 'perfect' looking score map...a guide to where they are on all levels this time. A great inclusion! Thanks developers! There is no strategy guide..but it would be near impossible I think for this game? Maybe the next inclusion?
I have a long way to go in this game and am loving every minute. I am sure there will be more surprises..but even if not each level is differently laid out and the graphics are great. (the workers are getting to look a bit cutsie..but that's cosmetics lol)
Its a familiar game..its a new game..its a whole lot of fun and we can all find the cache's now and play how we choose from the options. Its hard not to smile playing this game. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Complete more than 100 challenging levels and earn enough gold to build a worthy Tomb of the Pharaoh!
Overall rating
5
/
5
20 of 22 found this review helpful
A great little game! No fireworks to wait for.
PostedJuly 29, 2020
Joybelle_2
fromAustralia
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management, Word
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
At last an old style chain M3! This game doesn't have the bells and whistles of many of the 'cartoony' games these days have, it is a straight chain style M3 that runs smoothly, has lots of interesting features within the screen play, and every few levels a 'skipable' mini game (but they are good too).
There are three modes, relax, timed and expert. I chose the timed and found the challenge to be just right. I did finish the early levels with a little time..but not much.
Gameplay mainly consists of dropping things from the board, and uncovering artifacts set as goals at the level start. Some require several matches over them to get them to appear even though you may be able to see them. (all this is explained in a very good help tutorial) There are bonuses, pick axe (one tile) several bomb ones and a shuffle. You charge these by joining the certain colour tile that they match. So to charge the pickaxe you collect green, the bomb the red etc. (and they may be away from the area you are clearing to get the artifacts) so there are choices to be made.
All in all its a smooth as silk to play, just loving that it moves along without waiting for whizz bang explosions, and there is also another bonus feature 'The Pharaoh's Tomb' to decorate with the loot you earn from playing the levels. Its just a great little game. Enjoy.
I recommend this game!