gamenast's Profile
 
 
 
Stat Summary
 
  • Average Rating:
    2.9
  • Helpful Votes:
    84
 
  • Reviews Submitted:
    10
  • First Review:
    December 19, 2011
  • Most Recent Review:
    February 14, 2024
  • Featured reviews
    0
 
 
gamenast's Review History
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
Too disjointed
PostedFebruary 14, 2024
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAnn Arbor, MI
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I found I had to click on "find" for just about everything. The story jumps here to there to there to here, etc. I have played for 45 minutes and still don't understand the game. Many of the games did not even work which may be due to a poor translation of instructions. The HOP sections had you looking for items that were too small to see even on a large screen. This is not a fun game. I wish I hadn't bought it.
I don't recommend this game.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
What language is this in??
PostedApril 28, 2018
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I have just finished this game and am ever so glad to see it end. The English is *atrocious*! It was hard to understand what was being said which got monotonous fast. There is one annoying game that repeats endlessly and makes no sense. The music was also repetitive and got on my nerves. I was quite disappointed in this game. It was frustrating and fragmented.
I don't recommend this game.
0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
 
This was supposed to be the happiest day of your life. But instead of walking down the aisle, you're in another dimension, battling a mad inventor to save your family!
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
0 of 1 found this review helpful
Somewhat disappointing
PostedJuly 7, 2017
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I didn't think this game was up to GrandMa standards. The graphics are rather primitive and seem to be geared more to younger children who may need larger images. It wasn't as long as GM games usually are.
I did like the music which was haunting.
But I would probably not buy the game now if I knew what it was like. Nothing really wrong with it, but it was just OK.
I don't recommend this game.
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
 
 Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow Collector's Edition
Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow Collector's Edition
A dark illness has befallen the townspeople of Anaben!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
11 of 11 found this review helpful
Best Dark Parables yet!
PostedMarch 27, 2017
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
This was truly a mind-blowing game! Eipix and Blue Tea have taken this series to a new high. First plus: it is a long, interesting game. Second: the graphics are sumptuous and stunning (Eipix artists are sensational!) Third: it is a good story. Fourth: There are signs, morphing objects (parables), and collectibles. I was able to find only the signs, as the morphing objects are hard to find and the collectibles next to impossible. It would be nice if the developer would TELL us that these things are to be found. There is an indicator for the signs, but not the rest. I never figured it out until I accidentally saw an object morph. I only found the collectibles at the end during the bonus extras. The HO scenes were a departure from past Dark Parables games: you will be glad the cursor has a sharp point on it because you need to hit the object right on it, and the objects have become small and difficult to find. I am actually glad of this because it had gotten to the point where I was able to find all the hidden objects quickly and easily without even looking to see what needed to be located. It was nice to have to work at it. One minor negative: there is a whole lot of rain in this game! It didn’t seem to add anything to the atmosphere. Rain does make things harder to find, but so does mist which is not so annoying. There is lots to do in the bonus extras – which is where I finally found the morphs and collectibles. I’d give this at least 6 stars if I could.
I recommend this game!
+11points
11of 11voted this as helpful.
 
The town of Brightfield is under attack by a mysterious infection!
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Why don't they let us FINISH everything?
PostedJanuary 15, 2017
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I found this game simply OK. The graphics are a bit stiff. My biggest complaint is that the collectibles and fresco pieces are not easy to find as some of them are very small. At the end, you can't go back and complete the search. I really appreciate games that let me go back and find everything. That really finishes the game nicely. So this was disappointing. Plus, the bonus chapter is very short. Why buy a Collector's Edition at all?
I don't recommend this game.
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
It was OK.
3 / 5
6 of 7 found this review helpful
Not up to par
PostedOctober 21, 2016
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Fun Factor 
OK
3 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Poor
2 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
I found that the mini games are not explained very well. I had to skip some of them because it got too tedious to try to figure out what I needed to do.
The game does NOT let you go back in and find missing collection elements. I came up 2 tarot cards short, and since I couldn't retrieve them, I missed out on the final card game. That was disappointing.
I don't recommend this game.
+5points
6of 7voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
9 of 9 found this review helpful
Disappointing
PostedJanuary 25, 2016
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I usually love games from GrandMA. This one, however, fell far short. First of all, it was just that, *short*. Other games of theirs are long and elaborate. "Hidden Object"? The objects were anything but hidden -- just placed on the screen to click on. Boring. The mini-games were unimaginative and annoying. The story line was not inspired. I was very disappointed. GrandMA, what's up?
I don't recommend this game.
+9points
9of 9voted this as helpful.
 
For 25 years, you thought you had no family. But one night, a man steps through a mirror from another world, claiming to be your uncle... changing your life forever.
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
22 of 22 found this review helpful
Lots to do in this game
PostedJune 7, 2015
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
This has been one of the best games I have played. The very best part is that it is VERY LONG, unlike many games. The music is easy to listen to and never intrudes, but accompanies perfectly. (I find that other games by GrandMa are also long; you do get your money's worth.)
The only downside: the minigames are somewhat difficult and there is NO RESET button, so if you get lost, you stay lost. I must have hit the SKIP button more times than I played the minigame. Frustrating.
I recommend this game!
+22points
22of 22voted this as helpful.
 
Return once more to the haunted grounds of Ravenhearst Manor to uncover new details about this poignant saga. What you find could very well be the final chapter of this riveting story-if you escape.
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
29 of 38 found this review helpful
Colossal Disappointment
PostedJanuary 9, 2012
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
*Return* to Ravenhearst is my all-time favorite game, and I greatly enjoyed the other MCF games. "Escape", however, breaks the previous mold, and not in a good way. On a positive note, I eventually did get used to the morphing objects and even enjoyed them, but would have preferred some HOS scenes mixed in. The game was so dark that it was hard to see anything, much less anything morphing. I thought the sound track was horrid. Who wants to hear insane people shrieking? Highly unpleasant. The movement between scenes was convoluted. I never did figure out what I was doing in any one place or why I needed to go back somewhere. It would have helped to have a hint button to suggest the next place I needed to go or do. I finally had to have the walkthrough open on my second monitor and had to follow it every step of the way. Most of the puzzles are incomprehensible. You don't know what you are supposed to do nor how to do it. Or, when you do know what to do, it is way too hard. Worse, there is no "revert" button, so if you've botched your attempt, too bad. You are stuck. I think I simply skipped most of the puzzles. Even worse, the solutions given in the walkthrough were not accepted. Huh?? I felt the subject matter was way too unpleasant, i.e. gross, as well as some of the things that we are required to do. Abigail for one and the maternity ward for another. Who needs it? I want to play games to enjoy them, not wish I never played them. I did see the disclaimer, but I had nothing to reference it to. "It's a game! How bad could it be?" Bad.
Big Fish, bring back the good old days! This game is a giant step in the wrong direction.
I don't recommend this game.
+20points
29of 38voted this as helpful.
 
After an archeologist releases the element of water, it’s up to you to restore the balance of the elements!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
3 of 3 found this review helpful
One of the best Collector's Editions I've played
PostedDecember 19, 2011
Customer avatar
gamenast
fromAlexandria, VA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
I loved the demo of this game so much that I bought the Collector's Edition, even tho I'd sworn off of them because they were disappointing. This was anything but disappointing! SPECTACULAR graphics -- the best I've seen yet. Music is good and not intrusive; it keeps the story moving. I didn't like many of the mini-games because I don't like puzzles that make you slide things to fit into certain places. I don't know how people solve those! But you can skip them fairly quickly without missing out on the action. The full game is quite long. The hint system is good; there is also a journal that gives answers as well as the strategy guide. The movement from scene to scene was fairly logical and you don't have to go back dozens of steps to get to where you need to go next. I wish all games were this well put-together.
If nothing else, get it for the graphics!
I recommend this game!
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.