riefer's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4
- Helpful Votes:191
- Reviews Submitted:14
- First Review:April 25, 2012
- Most Recent Review:November 26, 2021
- Featured reviews0
Enter Ravenwood Park and discover the secrets hidden in the mists...
Overall rating
4
/
5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Didn't seem much different from other HOGs
PostedOctober 1, 2013
riefer
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I'll mention up-front that I tend to find HOGs to be pretty repetitive... I've mostly stopped buying them because they're all basically the same thing, and I started to find them boring. The only things that save them (in my opinion) are top-notch puzzles, or excellent stories, or both. For example, I really liked the first Empress of the Deep, the Drawn series, Return to Ravenhearst, and Eternal Journey: New Atlantis. They were creative and different.
This one had a decent story, but it was pretty obvious from the very beginning where it was going. I mean, it's not a "twist" if it's immediately clear what the twist is. The puzzles were easy. The thing that stood out for me was that the hidden object scenes had a lot of interactive clues, and you could switch to a pair matching game instead if you didn't want to do the hidden object. That was great, because in my opinion the hidden object scenes are just a cheap way to pad games out for length, without adding much to the playability or content. This time I actually did play the majority of the HOs, and even with doing that, the game still only took a little over 3 hours for me to finish. I didn't skip any of the cutscenes either.
So overall, it was nice, but it wasn't really anything out of the ordinary. The story was well told through cutscenes, but it was a pretty typical story, really. I can think of a twist that would have been amazing... SPOILER (kind of)... what if they had made it that the preacher was actually the archangel Raphael, and was there to kill the Reapers? They could explain away his actions from the first game by saying that those people who he killed had been turned evil by the Reapers, and that the only way to save their soul and send them to Heaven was to kill them with the same blade that kills the Reapers. Now THAT would have been a twist! Or he could be the archangel but he turned evil, and is now out to replace Asmodai. But instead it turned out in the most typical way.
It's too bad. Better story or better puzzles could have elevated it to something really great. As it is, I'd recommend it to people who typically enjoy HOGs, this one's nicely done.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious blazing fireball has crashed into the Whispering Woods and jolted the sweet little Peablins out of a peaceful slumber. What could it be? Find out in Joining Hands 2!
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 14 found this review helpful
As good as the first!
PostedSeptember 5, 2013
riefer
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
If you like challenging puzzle games, then this is for you! It may appear simple at first, but anyone saying that it's easy or for kids hasn't gotten very far into the game. I haven't finished it yet, but if it's anything like the first one, it gets very difficult near the end. Difficult, but fun!
It's basically a brainteaser game, there is no timer and there's no quick action required. Just you and your brain. My favourite type of puzzle game! :)
I recommend this game!
In this adventurous romance, outwit powerful villains and break an evil curse inflicted upon your love, Hari, while saving your best friend’s life!
Overall rating
4
/
5
27 of 33 found this review helpful
Not as good as the first
PostedMay 6, 2012
riefer
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Storyline
2
/
5
I loved the first one and had been looking forward to this one for a long time, but unfortunately it just didn't live up to the first. The first one had a lot more story development, and the story was very good (seeing as how it's based on a book), but they really glossed over the story in the second half. It didn't even seem to pick up where the first one left off, unless I'm misremembering.
Anyway, the game was still fun, but not as many puzzles and not as much story as the first one.
I recommend this game!
Enter the Whispering Woods and meet the Peablins in this handtastic puzzle game! Help them join hands and escape the Bogeyman!
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 20 found this review helpful
Great brainteaser, very cute and fun!
PostedApril 25, 2012
riefer
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is a new twist on a puzzle I've seen before. I played about 45 mins of the demo and already have seen 4 different kinds of "monsters", who all have different rules for how they like to be placed. It's been moderately challenging so far, but definitely interesting if you like brainteasers. Also the graphics and sounds are very cute. :)
I recommend this game!