Nilosh's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.9
- Helpful Votes:33,798
- Reviews Submitted:395
- First Review:November 20, 2011
- Most Recent Review:May 3, 2014
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Your strange travels continue in this sequel to the exciting game that took you on an Amaranthine Voyage…
Overall rating
5
/
5
125 of 169 found this review helpful
A Terrific Sequel to Tree Of Life
PostedJanuary 16, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
The Tree of Life was a brilliant game and I am delighted to see that the sequel has arrived. After having completed the demo, I am happy to see that our Ocular friends have produced once again a most entertaining HOPA game with many fun extras.
We take on the role of Sylvia Burns, our heroine who saved the world in the last game. Don’t you just hate it when you go out of your way to save the entire human race only to be ridiculed upon your return? No one believed your fantastic story and even your students have begun to make fun of you. Just when you have had enough, an old man shows up at your door and asks for your help. It seems that his son has disappeared and according to eyewitnesses, there seems to be a portal to another world in the town called Three Stones. And so your adventure begins and off you go exploring another world where many surprises await you.
I love the graphics and visuals applied, all very life-like with wonderful effects and animations and the artwork is stunning to look at. I love the sounds and attention to small details which really bring the game alive at your finger tips.
Your settings include four levels of difficulty which also can be customized according to your preferences. You have a journal with objectives outlines, an interactive map that will indicate areas of progress as well as allow you to jump. You have a very cute little puppy called Bonnie who will help you retrieve far away objects and you also have your bow and arrow which you will use on occasions. A standard HOPA game with adventure, Hidden objects scenes that come in variations and mini-games that range from moderately easy to somewhat challenging However the best thing for me was that you have the choice of playing Bubble shoot during HO scenes, always a favorite game of mine. Hidden Object scenes that I came across were either silhouettes or a list of items with some interactions involved.
As for extras, you have collectables, dog bones to locate and nimble little fairies that are flitting about. You also have a list of achievements to earn and from what I can tell form the main menu, there are extras that are unlocked at the completion of the game.
I loved the occasional humor depicted from our main character, the odd tasks that pop up once in a while like using your bow and arrow and I loved the bright colors, special effects and sound effects, all making it easy to immerse yourself into the game and experience a virtual world. KUDOS to the developers who have so far been consistent in their games, I do so look forward to tonight’s rendezvous with Amaranthine Voyage: The Living Mountain Collector's Edition.
I recommend this game!
Your daughter Cathie has been kidnapped by an evil creature! Solve the mystery of the elephant and bring Cathie home!
Overall rating
2
/
5
39 of 41 found this review helpful
Defintely Macabre!
PostedJanuary 14, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I am sorry to start this review with such a negative tone but SERIOUSLY, what was that all about? I have a headache after playing the demo, which truth be told, I quit after I go to the combination lock. Those who have gotten that far will no doubt understand. Graphics are poor, outdate, blurred and animation is poor. Last night I just re-played Hidden Expedition, Smithsonian and to say that graphics are good would be an injustice on my part. Trying to make your way through Hidden object scenes is like trying to wade through treacle. I made the mistake of choosing Monster Mode and discovered that the hint button was disabled. I had gone back, re-entered a new profile and then chose the easiest mode to allow for the hint button which I have to say has very limited use.
But wait I am getting ahead of myself. I really should start with the story which I normally would if I understood who is who. There is Helen and her daughter strolling through the park. Then we see this creepy boy appear, a vortex and both Helen and her daughter disappear, but apparently not to the same place. So now we have Helen who is reading a diary of Susan and her 'Handyman' Jack. So who are they? Anyhow, we need to get into the castle according to the daughter's frantic phone call.
After my first hidden object scene which entail rummaging through a car trunk in the semi dark with a flashlight that really is of very little use, I realized that some objects are interactive, you just need to figure out which. Thankfully I got to use the hint button which saved me precious time. So now I find myself fishing for the key and then I need to cut the fish open in order to retrieve the key, how charming.
SO now I have a map and thankfully it allows me to jump from one place to another. I again have to click away in the dark and discover another puzzle which after realizing, there is no reset button; you just need to wait until it resets itself. Suffice to say, after having encountered the safe I gave up after several attempts and decided that nothing about this game peaks my interest and will I call it a day. Sorry folks, but it is just a very poorly made HOPA game with an ambiguous story and my eyes just cant take much more.
I don't recommend this game.
Who am I is an immersive hidden object adventure of an epic scale! Take the role of an undercover agent investigating strange sci-fi incidents in the city.
Overall rating
5
/
5
85 of 108 found this review helpful
A Real Spazzy Game But I Love It!
PostedJanuary 13, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Who didn't love City of Fools? One of my all time favorite game that took me forever to finish. Who AM I takes you back to the town of the bug-eyed people with their mumbling dialogues and never-ending requests. This time you have arrived to our famous town and have absolutely no idea who you are. Your adventure begins as you look for clues, take on tasks and meet up with strange people who each have you doing some tasks. A definite hoot of a time to be had with cartoon graphics, great sound effects, a diary at your side and thankfully a jump map which you will definitely be needing . There are many easy puzzles and mini-games to play and some not so easy. I really loved City of Fools and I loved playing the demo on this one. For those who havent had the experience, it may seem childish and silly at first but you really gotta love the artwork on this one; cute and zany at the same time. So dear friends, dispense with the dark mood that oftens creeps up post-Christmas and take a walk on the wild side with some of the zaniest people you will ever meet. A perfect way to take away the Monday blues! A game that will definitely turn that frown up-side down!
I recommend this game!
Charon's train has left the station, and you’ll never believe who’s on board!
Overall rating
4
/
5
59 of 67 found this review helpful
I Liked It!
PostedJanuary 11, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It has been a while since we have had a creepy tale involving murder, vengeance and retribution. Our story begins with a wedding and unfortunately ends with death as Daniel’s bride is snatched from his embrace and taken away by a shadowy figure. In order to retrieve her from the train of death, Daniel finds himself enslaved to the biddings of Charon, a sort of grim reaper, who strikes up a deal: in return for his bride as well as bestowing peace to several restless souls onboard, he must locate and bring to the train their murderers where they will end up paying the piper. Our adventure begins as we take to the streets of several European cities, first starting with Paris.
A very well constructed and entertaining story turned into a simple HOPA game that unfortunately is brought to us as a CE, not entirely well-deserved. However taking into consideration that there is a sale on today, I am tempted to purchase it in order to see where the story takes us.
The graphics are mediocre at best, a bit dark and blurred in some scenes. I have to applaud developers for sound effects, voice-overs and music which were well done. Main menu offers you three modes of difficulty and your tools include a journal of sorts, a mystical pair of glasses that detect paranormal, a map that will indicate areas of interest as well as transport you and a hint system that merely points the way.
I enjoyed the adventure as you begin to examine scenes and pick up objects necessary. There is a lot of backtracking but thankfully you have the map for this. Hidden object scenes are frequent and standard lists of items with slight interaction. Some objects are very obscured or hidden away on the top far of the scene making it difficult to spot them. Mini-games were old and very simple to solve. Then entire game is mostly running from one spot to another and the real challenge is trying to remember where to use your inventory.
Haunted Train, Spirits of Charon would have been an excellent game had the developers added a bit more challenge as well as some extras. There are no collectables, no achievements, and no real challenge. It is a straight forward HOPA with an engaging story which I found engaging and will prompt me to buy. I liked it and will give it four stars only because of the story. I finished the demo well within the hour without having to use a hint or refer to the SG. The game looks to be long but pretty straightforward. I have managed to put Bluebeard on board and am definitely interested to see what other culprits there are out there. I liked it!
I recommend this game!
Witch hunters have kidnapped Lynn! To save her, you'll have to team up with an old foe and storm their castle.
Overall rating
4
/
5
50 of 62 found this review helpful
I Do Lıke the Imp.
PostedJanuary 9, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Match 3, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Witches’ Legacy has returned and although the series wasn’t too popular with me personally, surprisingly I did enjoy this new installment. Our story begins as you take on the role of Carrie and Lynn, the young witch, is now your adopted daughter. Finally both of you have settled down together at the mansion and Lynn even has a new beau. Suddenly there is betrayal and she is kidnapped by an ancient Order of Witch Hunters. To make matters worse, your old enemy, Elizabeth shows up, now transmuted into a shriveled up doll and she offers you help. Can she be trusted and what exactly is her motive? With Imp by your side, you embark in another adventure to find Lynn and try to convince the Hunters that her magic is only used for good.
The graphics and artwork are not spectacular. Hand drawn scenes that occasional blur along with graphics that at time, takes on a grainy quality. There are voice-overs and the cartoonish characters lack certain realism to them. Nevertheless, color is used and some of the animation is well done, especially the character of Imp who seems more real than the rest of the cast.
As you begin your adventure, you have the choice of customizing your difficulty settings which can be changed during gameplay. You are equipped with a journal and a map that will allow you to travel and this time, you have two companions by your side. Imp who is able to retrieve objects when you are stuck and Elizabeth who apparently is trying to help you fight the hunters. This all looks a bit suspicious and I anticipate that there is an ulterior motive in her involvement. You have many items and clues to locate and standard Hidden Object scenes that are junk-piled and involve some interaction. You also have the choice of switching over to a simple game of Matching the Tiles.
There are collectables which include morphing objects and puzzle pieces scattered throughout the game. I found that you need to look closely for the morphing objects as they are a bit obscured. You also have a list of very basic achievements to earn. Mini-games are familiar puzzles that we have all seen and most that I came across were fairly simple to solve. However the one with the hunters and witches that need to switch sides on a board is currently cause some angst as I found my self stuck trying to solve it. Unfortunately my time ran out and you know what this means, I will have to now buy the game to solve that puzzle and probably ask for help as the SG wasn’t very clear on the solution.
Witches’ Legacy, The Hunter and the Hunted is not a great game, a bit forgettable if you ask me, simply because I cannot seem to recall much of the details from the earlier games. However, I found the story intriguing and I am curious to see how it will all play out. There is no WOW factor here but a decent HOPA game that I am sure many will find entertaining.
I recommend this game!
Welcome to the Any Wish Hotel, where guests don't check out – they simply vanish! You've been called in to investigate a perplexing disappearance. Can you solve the case before you become a permanent guest?
Overall rating
3
/
5
57 of 67 found this review helpful
I Have So Many of These Games!
PostedJanuary 8, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Is it me or are standard edition games getting older by the minute. It is like I stepped inside the TARDIS, travelled through time and Poof, its 2008 and I am playing the earlier standard HOPA game with sharp and clean graphics, no voice-overs, minimal sound effects, a cool jazzy music in the background, very easy mini-games that take about thirsty seconds to solve and basic hidden object scenes with slight interaction. You have a journal, a jump map and a hint system that merely highlights direction outside HO scenes.
I suppose the only interesting element of this game is the storyline which takes place in the Any Wish Hotel, a couple of missing guests and you as detective hired to solve the mystery.
It’s not a bad game, just a very old and familiar game. Ideal for beginners and those who enjoy nostalgia but for me, I have enough pre-historic games in my own fault to last me a lifetime. I really am expecting a bit more now that we are in the new year and I-phone 6 is about to come out. Well, I guest it is time to get back into the TARDIS with the Doctor and see what the future holds at BFG.
I don't recommend this game.
Gather resources, solve puzzles and immerse yourself in the history of Europe's most famous landmarks in this fun Match 3 game.
Overall rating
3
/
5
25 of 31 found this review helpful
I actually bought this!
PostedJanuary 6, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
If you are looking for a Match game that is exciting or a game that is beautiful and will help you zone out, look else where! I actually disliked the first 15 minutes of game play but decided to stick to it and guess what? I really started to enjoy this very odd game. Especially the jigsaw puzzles you get to solve after the completion of each level.
The graphics are sharp but not very exciting and the artwork is nothing to write home about, rather boring visuals. The story is a bit discerning; it seems you need to rebuild various monuments and historical buildings throughout Europe. The recent economic crisis has led to mass protests and the demolishing of various sites. Now with your help, you get to collect the necessary resources to rebuild and refurbish. Don’t get too excited, there aren’t any actually buildings or gardens to buy or purchase or build like in some M3 game. This is a much lazy and simple game.
There are no voice-overs, no characters, no animation and no great special effects. The music is very quiet and on a loop but I hardly noticed it. So what made me like this game? To begin with, you have three modes of game play, Timed, Semi Timed and Relaxed. I opted to play semi-timed and that means if I am unable to collect enough resources, I have the opportunity to replay game boards within the level until I fill my quota.
Game mechanics is your standard swap Match 3 game but with a twist. After the first level, you start getting these directional arrows that causes your board to switch around and that is what makes the game challenging and frustrating at the same time. If you are playing relaxed no problem but if you are timed, that is where playing requires a bit more strategy. Icons are a bit small and it can strain the eyes a bit.
I really cannot explain why I will probably end up buying this game only that I really started to enjoy it and was rather dismayed when my demo trial ended. The instructions are a bit vague but you do get the hang of it. Not an extraordinary Match 3 game but interesting enough to spend a credit on it. The jigsaw puzzles are interesting and not so easy to solve. I didn’t really care for the story but I did enjoy playing the boards, especially as they got more difficult with each level. This is definitely not a game for relaxing or zoning out. There are no creative animations and no exciting special effects. Rather dull looking but interesting enough for M3 fans to at least try the demo. I am interested what others will say about this very peculiar game with some historical facts about certain buildings in Europe, that is if you are interested.
I recommend this game!
A strange premonition tells you your uncle is missing. Follow him into a world of fantasy, and discover the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone!
Overall rating
5
/
5
191 of 227 found this review helpful
A Game Full of WONDERS!
PostedJanuary 4, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As most of you probably know by now, I am not very generous with giving out five stars. I set the scale rather high and grade according to a set of standards that I expect from a CE game. Mythic Wonders is a much welcomed surprise and after having played the demo, I am most certainly going to add this to my 2014 list of potential favorite games for this year; as it happens, so far this is the only game on the list.
You have been working on a project with Uncle Alfred which involves a strange device that is able to open up portals and transport you to new and undiscovered worlds. Once you discover that your Uncle has already used it and has disappeared, you use the portal to go after him and find yourself teleported to a new and mythical world. While your mission is to find your Uncle, you will also end up trying to uncover the secrets and powers of the Philosopher's Stone!
Although Graphics were again cartoonish, they were nevertheless sharp and bright with amazing artwork created by a very talented group. Animations were a bit blurred and I wish there was a touch of more realism in the characters, like mouth movements. These small details may not seem so important but they do have a greater impact on me when playing a game.
Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher's Stone Collector's Edition offers great adventure game play with two levels of difficulties. If you do select hardcore, puzzles will get more complicated which I thought was brilliant as there are plenty of puzzles and mini-games to solve along with interactive hidden object scenes to play along the way. There is plenty to do in this game as I realized when I found my inventory stacked with items and tools which required a lot of backtracking along with a good memory. Thankfully you have a journal that includes a list of objectives, a map that will transport you to areas of interest and also has indicators, there is also a descriptions of artifacts that you pickup along the way and a list of achievements that are somewhat challenging to earn. Lets us not forget the most important feature, the Artifact Interface which you need to teleport into other Realms which is activated when finding some parts and solving riddles.
A wonderful game that takes you on an adventure as you travel across 6 different Realms, all named after an element that plays an important role in your mission. There is also a baddie to fight off and of course a mystery to solve. Great visuals, great game play and overall, a great game.
I recommend this game!
You came to the town of Brownville, Louisiana hoping to find a new job. But you weren't expecting to stumble upon a strange adventure in a world filled with beauty and danger!
Overall rating
3
/
5
12 of 14 found this review helpful
Good but Not Great
PostedJanuary 2, 2014
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
It’s the era of the Depression and jobs are rare. After having received a letter from your old friend Ben, you leave the big city to start a new life in Brownville, Louisiana, where both Ben and Louise have lined up a job for you. Upon arrival, your new boss, Simon, invites the four of you play a nice game of cards and naturally you accept, after all, he is the Boss. And so your adventure begins as it soon turns out that this simple card game teleports you into a strange world and you are stuck. Not only do you have to find a way back but you have to make sure your friends make it alive as well and all of you become pawns in someone’s deadly game.
Dangerous Games: Prisoners of Destiny Collector's Edition is another standard HOPA that does look a bit dated with the graphics and artwork. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the vibrant colors, settings and voice-overs. Not very sophisticated, the look and feel of the game dates back to earlier HOPA Games if you take into account the games we have had earlier this year. Game menu offers three levels of difficulty which you can also customize. Tools of the trade include a diary and a map that will allow for travel and also indicates areas of interest. You also have a deck of cards that will help you with certain tasks like freezing, opening up portals and the rest which I have yet to decipher.
Although I wasn’t overly impressed with the look of the game, I did enjoy the game play during the demo which went by very quickly. I just managed to complete it with one minute to the clock. Unfortunately I cannot tell you how many chapters there are as the SG does not provide this information until purchase. I really would prefer to know before I decide to purchase.
Game play is your standard adventure with Hidden object scenes that are basic list of items with some interactions. There is a lot of backtracking to do, picking up clues and items along the way. The map is of great help here which makes it easier. If you do play without black bar tips, the game does become somewhat challenging as you travel from one scene to another but the HO scenes are very easy to do as are the mini-games.
There are collectables, a set of hidden puzzle pieces as well as very basic achievements. In my opinion, Prisoners of Destiny is much more suited for beginners. I personally did find the story line interesting but the game play was just too easy for me, rather uncomplicated. It is a good game but not exciting enough for me to immediately push the buy button. There lacks that particular WOW factor most of us look for as well as a level of challenge which I prefer with HOPA games.
The developers have always put out good games but I just wished they would be a little more creative with their graphics, puzzles and mini-games. At best this game would be suited as a Standard edition rather than spending double for it. Sorry but I will pass for now.
I recommend this game!
When a new romance blossoms, the door to mystery opens in Love Alchemy!
Overall rating
3
/
5
39 of 51 found this review helpful
Twisted Romance on Christmas!
PostedDecember 31, 2013
Nilosh
fromIstanbul, Turkey
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
OOOh What a Fun Christmas Game....NOT! The first thing that popped into my head when I saw the developers' name was great; the A-Team always comes up with interesting games. Unfortunately either they took a step back or this particular game came out of their archives, because it is a classic, another kind way of saying that the game is old-school. What we have here is a trip to 2008, when the first standard HOPA games came out: There are no voice-overs, no cell phones, no computer or I-pads, no list of objectives, no cute companion or animal to help you out and NO SG. Game features include two play modes to choose from and a rudimentary map that will only allow for travel. Graphics are cartoonish, but the resolution was sharp, art work was mediocre.
Our story is an interesting love story, girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy and girl goes away with boy to spend Christmas at his castle. Why not? After all, he is an artist and has a castle, who would say no? Girl soon discovers that boy is not as charming as he appeared and there seems to be some black magic and occult involved in his life. As she begins to roam about, she slips into portals, meets up with other unfortunate girls and spends her Christmas morning trying to save them, or so I think as I only met the first unfortunate victim being choked to death by some gigantic snake. Talk about a boy who has issues.
Despite the lack of extras, the game does have a certain appeal to those who enjoy classic adventure gameplay. There are many clues and inventory items to collect, a lot of tedious back-tracking to do, many straightforward Hidden Object scenes to play without any interaction and unfortunately the hint system doesn’t seem to work with them. Items are small or well hidden and it was actually a challenge to find them all. There are mini-games to play and so far they were very easy to solve.
Yes the game looks old but gameplay is surprisingly challenging when you have no directions to aid you in your search. The hint button only highlights an area of interest and that is about it. You really need to use those grey cells while playing and a walkthrough will be most welcomed.
I give this a three star but as the storyline did intrigue me and I do have a free game to spare, I think I will go for this one, only because I did enjoy the challenge of roamingaround totally lost as to what I needed to do.
Not exactly a game to end the year off with but then we had some really great games this year. Thanks to BFG and all the developers and everyone in the pond, I do wish everyone a very Happy New Year.
I recommend this game!