tuskel's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.6
- Helpful Votes:1,854
- Reviews Submitted:27
- First Review:November 21, 2011
- Most Recent Review:October 9, 2015
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Help Henri, a high-spirited baker with a penchant for pastries, arrange scrumptious ingredients into groups of three or more to make colorful confections.
Overall rating
4
/
5
7 of 7 found this review helpful
Great to see you here!
PostedOctober 9, 2015
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Large File, Strategy, Arcade & Action, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Family
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I played this game years ago, and when our old computer died, tried to find it again, but couldn't. Over the past few years I have regularly typed "Pastry Passion" into the search window in BigFish, but never had any results. Until now.
Pastry Passion is a fun little M3 game, where you have to match mouth-watering ingredients which get collected at the bottom of the screen. Once you have enough of all ingredients, your cake will be "cooked". You then click on it to collect it and earn stars depending how well it is made (how fast you matched the ingredients). Levels start off easy and get harder (and very hard at the end!), but you get help from power-ups and Score Frenzies.
There is another mode - Arcade Mode, where you just have to keep going as long as you can without letting the cakes fall off the end of the conveyor belt (it does get faster and faster!), plus there are a lot of trophies to get. Most of them are easy, you just get them as you progress, but some are really hard (25x Combo!! Aagh!)
I like the funny graphics - the cakes look delicious! The music can be a bit annoying, and the characters are stereotyped caricatures, but it's just meant to be a bit of light-hearted fun.
If you like simple M3, try it - you might just like it! Definite buy for me!
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
Life's not always a fairytale… especially when you’re a witch! Explore this magical world in The Witch and The Warrior!
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
A Charming Game
PostedMarch 12, 2015
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is an old-style RPG game with interesting storyline and lots of side quests to keep you busy. I love the graphics (fell in love with them in Aveyond and definitely am going to play every game with these I can find!), characters are cute and fun (Mini Witch! Hehee!), dialogue and comments from supporting characters are funny, the music is good, simple and unobtrusive (for example, again, in Aveyond, I got heartily sick of the battle music) and there is plenty to do and explore. Also - pumpkins! It's great they DO actually get a use.
However, it's not all fun and games. :) There are aspects to this game that were annoying, and all together, made it lose a whole star. Firstly, the graphics, although cute, aren't that well executed - it's easy to get stuck behind things, even simple stuff, like flowers, and the corners of pathways, unless you walk right in the middle. You have to be very precise in most places. Secondly, while the game starts well and very enjoyably in the school town, as soon as our main characters have to leave Marnethia, it becomes very hard to know what to do, and I was stuck for ages. Could have been slightly more linear, it would have made it better. Also, I do not like the fact that, as there are time-limited tasks, you may miss out on other quests and rewards. It's all fine to have choices, that can alter the game - but not so much that some parts of the game become impossible to access. I spent over 25 hours on this game, and do not want to play it again, just because I missed a few side quests. It makes me a bit cross that I couldn't finish it 100%.
But all in all it doesn't take anything away from the main storyline, cute looks and good music, so try it yourself to see what you think. Beware - you may need a walkthrough! :)
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
Reveal the secret of an ancient prophecy! Fascinating tasks and exciting puzzles await you behind the breathtaking scenery of a mysterious island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
I want more games like this!
PostedNovember 3, 2014
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I can't even remember how I came across this game, but I liked it immediately. Especially after I read in the reviews that there aren't any dark and gory things in it. I like playing with my daughter, who is 6 at the moment and don't want anything too scary in my games.
The scenes are beautiful and colourful, lots of puzzles (compared to HO scenes), and almost all of them are replayable from the main menu. This is definitely an adventure game, with a little HO twist. You could even skip the HO scene as soon as you had found the essential item you had to use later (in green). I played it with my daughter, and she really liked it as well. Apart from the really abrupt ending. That was strange. Just a little bit more explanation, or slightly longer cut scene would have been good. But hopefully that means we get a sequel!
I really want more games like that. Good job, devs! *thumbs up*
I recommend this game!
Dive into Halloween: Trick or Treat and go on a seasonal Hidden Object Adventure! Explore spooky locations and solve terrifying puzzles!
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 19 found this review helpful
Great kids' Halloween game!
PostedNovember 3, 2014
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
First of all, I cannot understand why people give this game 1 star because it's for kids. Yes, it is for kids. Just because it did not interest you, an adult, doesn't mean it deserves one star.
I bought this game for my daughter, who is 6 and likes playing games, both computer and board. This game was a perfect mood-setter for the run-up to Halloween. It is easy enough for my daughter to play by herself (even though she likes me or Daddy helping her and has to ask what some of the words mean). HO scenes are spooky, but not too scary, full of cleverly hidden things, yet not too cluttered. Hints are plentiful and puzzles simple, but fun. There are extra mini-challenges - collecting candy canes and trying to get a treat from the flashing pumpkin/skull. She is playing it through for the second time now and asked me not to delete it.
I think I may have to find a similar Christmas game...
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 10 found this review helpful
My first RPG
PostedJune 14, 2014
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Adventure, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I had two Game Credits left over after I recently quit the Game Club, and as there was no new Nancy Drew to have, I thought I'd try one of those RPGs I had seen on offer from time to time. I didn't know which to get really, but I remembered Aveyond, so I decided to give it a go.
From the beginning, I thought it looked silly, the movement was really slow and the landscape seemed to be as awkward as possible - houses really far away with really long winding paths leading to them, clumps of grass and stones in your way... My trial hour ran out just as I was about to leave the village to go chasing sheep (which triggers the proper story).
I was in two minds whether to get it, but then thought, what the heck, this game credit would run out soon anyway, and used it. Straight away, after Rhen was whisked away to Ghalarah, the story became much more interesting, music was great, landscape wasn't as awkward anymore etc. And, after about two days, when the game crashed and wouldn't start, and I had to install it onto the C drive instead of my memory stick, the movement sped up considerably.
I really like the story, old as it is, different lands had their distinctive music, buildings, plants and animals, (lots of creatures to battle!) and it was funny to talk to the characters walking around in towns. I also thought progressing to different areas was well done, first you were confined to Eastern Continent, with access to North and Aveyond, then, as you level up and acquire a boat, ship and dragon (yay!), more and more areas become available with harder to battle monsters.
Final battle is very hard, but there are items to help available, as well as walkthroughs etc.
I think I spent about 40 hrs on this game, over the course of a week, and I felt it was definitely worth the money. Lots of replay value, as there are different characters to use in your party, and different items to acquire, as well as loads of side quests to finish.
All in all, a credit well spent, and I also used up the other credit for Aveyond 2. I think I will have to come back to BigFish to buy other games from the same developer too!
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
Unearth sinister secrets in an ancient Egyptian tomb!
Overall rating
5
/
5
43 of 46 found this review helpful
Nancy in Egypt! Finally!
PostedMay 24, 2013
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I played this when it first came out, and I was initially unsure about the new user interface. In my mind, the previous one is perfect. I have gotten used to the new one, but it's too much like all the other games nowadays.
However, the game itself is a good Nancy Drew mystery. In this game, Nancy has to figure out who attacked Jon Boyle and whether the mysterious tomb is really the one where legendary queen Nefertari is buried.
As always, there are many puzzles, lots of hieroglyphs to decipher (which, actually are "skippable" - you can automatically "solve" them, if you are totally fed up) and lots of clues to pick up from different people. I've been replaying it recently, and it has struck me how hilarious all the characters are, cracking jokes all the time - not intentionally, mind, just their metaphors are so funny! The best one, of course, is prof. Hotchkiss, a legend of ND games! :D
It is very interesting, and a bit educational, like the old games were, there are some books to read about ancient Egypt, scenery is very beautiful and the music really creates the mood. (As always, I only have good things to say about the music and sounds.)
I really recommend it to people who have already played a few of the ND games, maybe not the first one to try. Requires lots of patience!
I am fascinated by ancient Egypt and was really looking forward to this game, I wasn't disappointed. The new UI did bother me for a bit, but this is another good, solid, and quite light "treasure hunt" game in the great series.
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
Use your survival skills to uncover artifacts, solve ancient technologies, and explore the Mysterious Island.
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Would you care for some Jules Verne?
PostedMarch 4, 2013
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love "The Mysterious Island". It was my favourite book for years from when I was about 9. I wanted to do all of that survivalist stuff. And now finally finally I got to!
There are loads of beautiful scenes and environments to explore and while there are very few conventional puzzles, your grey cells are well excercised as you try to figure out how to make something from almost nothing and combine the items in your inventory the right way. Another wonderful thing is that for every problem there are at least two different solutions. For example, making fire. And getting gunpowder. And getting rid of the monkeys or the huge fish in the water etc etc. Like real life, and not linear either, like many other Adventure games. What was slightly unbelievable was the monkey and his incredible talents. But oh well, it's a game. :)
What I loved the most was that it was the actual "Mysterious Island" and we got to explore all the famous places, like Granite House (I was slightly disappointed, but then again it had been derelict for about 150 years...) and the windmill and even Nautilus itself. The fact that the island was supposed to have been blown up in a massive volcanic eruption, was nicely explained away, as was the weird effect I thought was bad graphics in the beginning. And you can see real illustrations from the book, and even the map of Lincoln Island! Eeeee!
Controls are quite easy if you have played any Kheops games before, I have - Destination: Treasure Island and Echo: Secret of the Lost Cavern. Basically you can play the whole game with just your mouse. This one isn't a long game, but there is plenty to do and it's fun. And there is a sequel!
This game also has a point system, which I have only seen in Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy before, and it was quite fun. Every time you collect 100 points, you get some concept art to look at in the gallery.. I managed to get 295 points by the end. I have heard rumours that max. is 395... I must have missed loads of stuff even with the occasional help of a walkthrough!
The only problem I have is that I don't really like the 360. It makes my head ache. I usually put it on slow level, where possible, but in this game, even slow was too fast and blurry.
Apart from that, definitely one to get if you like Large File and Adventure games.
I recommend this game!
Patchworkz is a relaxing jigsaw-puzzle game with competitive elements.
Overall rating
5
/
5
41 of 45 found this review helpful
Where does it go? Quick!
PostedMarch 4, 2013
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
I tried this game, because I liked the preview picture of the fish. And, again, it's something different from your everyday dark depressing HOGs.
So I started the Glass Pack, and I was delighted. So colourful, nice relaxing music and I liked the sound of pieces falling to their correct places. I tried a few different packs, and I really liked the stone and paper sound as well. Pictures were lovely, a nice mixture of patterns, nature, machines, buildings etc. Before I knew it, the hour was up, leaving me to want more.
I got the game as soon as my next Game Club Credit came up, and I finished it yesterday. There is a bit more to this game than I first found. There are about 20 achievements to get - not as easy as you'd think, although some are very simple and some come along naturally as you play. It is very hard to get three stars on all boards, there were many pictures I had to play more than 10 times before I got them absolutely right.
There is also the "frenzy mode", where you have to complete as many puzzles as possible during limited time. It starts with 1 minute, although every time you complete a picture, you get some time back. Obviously, they aren't as hard as the usual puzzles - only a few pieces are missing. It's very addictive! Once you have played 10 and 20 of those timed games, you unlock a few extra pictures, like Drawn and Felix, our resident Bigfish!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautiful and fun, if you like puzzles - and I do.
I recommend this game!
Sherlock Holmes VS Arsene Lupin
Embark on an investigation as Sherlock Holmes! Stop the legendary thief, Arsene Lupin, before he steals objects from England!
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 17 found this review helpful
More than three pipe problem!
PostedJanuary 31, 2013
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I don't know where to begin really. I have loved Sherlock Holmes since I was 12, and I had kept my eye on this one for quite a long time. So when it came up as Daily Deal last September, I decided to get it straight away. And boy, am I glad I did!
This is a great Large File Adventure game. You, as Holmes, and sometimes Watson or Lestrade, have to figure out Arsene Lupin's clues and try to stop him stealing England's most treasured possessions. There are loads of locations, beautiful environments, tons of characters to interact with, loads of clues and puzzles to solve. I loved it from beginning to end, apart from a few little things I am going to mention below.
The good parts:
* Music. I am a melomaniac, and music is one of the most important things in a game for me. I can cope with poor graphics, but the sound has to be perfect. And it was. Loads of period violin pieces, I recognised two by Saint-Saëns.
* Easy controls. I can't understand people who complain here about the controls. This is the first part I always learn about, and I try out different things. You can play this game purely with the mouse. Right click brings up all the in-game menu, like your inventory bag, documents, clues, map etc. You can walk with left click and run with double click. Meerkat stuff. :)
* Holmes doesn't wear a ruddy deerstalker, but a top hat, as he would have done in the city. Deerstalker is a country hat.
* Graphics are actually good, although the card on our computer can't cope with the max, so I had to use lower settings. No problem, I prefer smooth movement.
* Puzzles. Interesting, huge amount of them, clues are always there, you just have to investigate.
* Loads of different, beautiful locations, from Baker Street to Buckingham Palace.
* Built-in walkthrough. Whenever you got stuck, it was there, and it didn't spoil anything, you could reveal clues one by one.
* First and Third Person options. I love First Person, so I was glad to see I wasn't stuck in Third.
* Different characters to play with. I laughed so much when Lestrade was commenting on the paintings, having previously played as Holmes and heard his detailed information about them.
* "Real" investigating - we get to use measuring tape and magnifying glass as well!
* No gory or scary supernatural bits.
* Music. I am a melomaniac, and music is one of the most important things in a game for me. I can cope with poor graphics, but the sound has to be perfect. And it was. Loads of period violin pieces, I recognised two by Saint-Saëns.
* Easy controls. I can't understand people who complain here about the controls. This is the first part I always learn about, and I try out different things. You can play this game purely with the mouse. Right click brings up all the in-game menu, like your inventory bag, documents, clues, map etc. You can walk with left click and run with double click. Meerkat stuff. :)
* Holmes doesn't wear a ruddy deerstalker, but a top hat, as he would have done in the city. Deerstalker is a country hat.
* Graphics are actually good, although the card on our computer can't cope with the max, so I had to use lower settings. No problem, I prefer smooth movement.
* Puzzles. Interesting, huge amount of them, clues are always there, you just have to investigate.
* Loads of different, beautiful locations, from Baker Street to Buckingham Palace.
* Built-in walkthrough. Whenever you got stuck, it was there, and it didn't spoil anything, you could reveal clues one by one.
* First and Third Person options. I love First Person, so I was glad to see I wasn't stuck in Third.
* Different characters to play with. I laughed so much when Lestrade was commenting on the paintings, having previously played as Holmes and heard his detailed information about them.
* "Real" investigating - we get to use measuring tape and magnifying glass as well!
* No gory or scary supernatural bits.
Rubbish parts:
* Buckingham Palace scenes. Seriously. I was appalled how the standard suddenly fell when women were involved. I was expecting Lady Leomunda to be older - to be Queen's favourite lady-in-waiting. And why was she dressed and wore make-up like a floozy? Allright, maybe she would have worn a dress like that, but IN THE EVENING! Bare shoulders were not acceptable during daytime. Victorian people were quite strict and puritan and they would NOT have dressed like that. And those godawful puns about the plumber coming to clean her pipes... No, thanks. And I will not believe Queen Victoria would have kissed a burglar. So there is a bit in the middle of the game that makes me mildly nauseous, although the scenery is beautiful. But luckily it picks up after that again.
* Buckingham Palace scenes. Seriously. I was appalled how the standard suddenly fell when women were involved. I was expecting Lady Leomunda to be older - to be Queen's favourite lady-in-waiting. And why was she dressed and wore make-up like a floozy? Allright, maybe she would have worn a dress like that, but IN THE EVENING! Bare shoulders were not acceptable during daytime. Victorian people were quite strict and puritan and they would NOT have dressed like that. And those godawful puns about the plumber coming to clean her pipes... No, thanks. And I will not believe Queen Victoria would have kissed a burglar. So there is a bit in the middle of the game that makes me mildly nauseous, although the scenery is beautiful. But luckily it picks up after that again.
So try it, if you like LFAs, or Sherlock Holmes. It is as close as you can get to being Holmes. :)
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!
A local contest turns into an arson scene and now deceit smolders among the charred ruins of the River Heights Town Hall.
Overall rating
5
/
5
57 of 63 found this review helpful
Light-hearted, but great fun!
PostedOctober 20, 2012
tuskel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Family, Arcade & Action, Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hooray, Alibi in Ashes in BigFish!
This anniversary game finds Nancy going back home to River Heights, and this time she is the suspect! The game begins with Nancy going to the old Town Hall to search for clues, and finding herself trapped when the building catches fire - never before have we seen so much adrenaline-inducing action so soon in a Nancy Drew game!
She manages to escape, but everyone believes her to be the arsonist, and she is arrested. You have to play as Bess, George and Ned to help Nancy prove her innocence, while she is in prison!
It's a fun game, and the fact that it isn't creepy or take place during the night, didn't take anything away from the mystery. There are lots of places to snoop in - and if you are unlucky, to get caught in; lots of evidence to collect, puzzles to play, and ice cream to eat! :) (My little daughter loves watch me play Nancy Drew games and this bit was her favourite, she was eating loads of ice cream every time we went to the parlour)
The graphics and music are great as usual, and you find cookies from other games everywhere. The only complaint I have is that it was tedious to switch between characters - every time you had to call Nancy and she was the one to tell everyone to "Your turn to take over!"
I thought the culprit was quite easy to guess, but you have to prove it as well!
Some people think ASH is quite a short game, and to some extent I agree, I wish the end game had been longer, but great characters and storylines made up for it. Definitely a buy!
tuskel,
sincerely
sincerely
I recommend this game!