JulieJay's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.7
- Helpful Votes:2,142
- Reviews Submitted:84
- First Review:December 10, 2011
- Most Recent Review:November 23, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Uncover the mystery behind an artist’s deadly talent.
Overall rating
4
/
5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Dark Canvas: A Brush with Death CE
PostedJanuary 17, 2013
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I beta tested this game mid November time and was looking forward to it being released. I have to say that I was disappointed but only because I could have sworn there were morphing objects when I beta tested. Could be wrong and could definitely kick myself for not doing a review in the sneak peak thread in CCC!
Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure
Gameplay was really smooth.
Graphics very clear.
Puzzles - good fun and very different.
HO scenes - find by word list - interactive, and also some where you find by shadow - interactive.
Map - no.
Tasks - no.
Any hidden extras i.e. morphing - No.
Achievements - yes.
Voiceovers - good and I loved the cut scenes when you found the girl's diary pages.
Inventory - doesn't lock in place but it jumped up whenever you needed it to which is a nice twist.
My verdict - I am going to enjoy playing this game but I'll wait for the SE because as I said at the beginning I was disappointed at there being no morphing objects which is the only reason I will buy a CE now unless it's in a sale.
I recommend this game!
Join Esther as she attempts to influence the past in order to change the future and learn the secrets of the Ambrose family!
Overall rating
4
/
5
104 of 110 found this review helpful
Time Mysteries: The Final Enigma - CE
PostedJanuary 13, 2013
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Brain Teaser, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure
Gameplay was really smooth.
Graphics very clear.
Puzzles - good fun.
HO scenes - find by word list - interactive (or opt to play match 3 game).
Map - yes and transportable - shows active areas.
Tasks - yes in the form of objectives.
Any hidden extras i.e. morphing - No.
Voiceovers - good.
Inventory - doesn't lock in place.
My verdict - I am going to enjoy playing this game but without any hidden extras then IMO was not CE material and will buy SE with PCC.
I recommend this game!
Solve a mysterious case with Inspector Francesca di Porta! Travel to Rome on the trail of a couple that seems to have disappeared!
Overall rating
4
/
5
13 of 13 found this review helpful
Insider Tales: Vanished in Rome
PostedOctober 5, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hidden Object Puzzle game. Great potential. HO scenes slightly challenging - you've got to really scrutinise the scene - and great interactivity. There are puzzles inside the HO scenes. HO's are a mixture of find my list, shadow, put back into place, and find x amount of an item. The only disappointment is the length. A real let down. I didn't skip anything and I didn't use any hints yet by the time I finished the demo, I had completed 4 chapters which only left 1 chapter remaining. Devs, what were you thinking? Looking at the reviews, I would imagine that by skimping on game play, there's been a heck of a lot of revenue lost. A big shame.
I'm going to recommend the game because it is a lot of fun, but only as a demo (and if you're fast enough, you'll complete the game in the demo).
I recommend this game!
Ghost Whisperer™
Join Melinda Gordon in helping ghosts with unfinished business.
Overall rating
4
/
5
73 of 78 found this review helpful
Ghost Whisperer
PostedJuly 9, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (Light).
People complain about no voiceovers. It would have probably cost the devs an absolute fortune to have the real actors and if they'd employed others to mimic the voices, then there would have been complaints about them not sounding the same.
I wasn't blown away with the pop-up cut-out characters but as the game progressed, it stopped bothering me. There is quite a bit of dialogue but if you took it away, how would the story be told? When you are demoing a game it can seem like a lot because I think you tend to rush through trying to get as much of the gameplay as possible.
The HO scenes were find items by list and these were well done. You do revisit scenes and items previously found are returned but some have been moved around.
I enjoyed the puzzles even though they didn't go into full screen. I normally hate that but it didn't bother me in this game. Some were old, some were new. Some were easy, some harder.
There are two stories to play and I've just finished playing the first which took me about 4 hours.
There is a map which if you click on it you can see which areas are open to investigation and jump to them.
In the clues box it will give you objectives and will tell you if there is anything else to find before you move on. This is great.
Thoroughly enjoyed the first game and I'm looking forward to playing the second.
I recommend this game!
Play as a clairvoyant detective and investigate the baffling disappearance of a carnival magician in this colorful Hidden Object game!
Overall rating
4
/
5
148 of 170 found this review helpful
Clairvoyant : The Magician Mystery
PostedJuly 2, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure with bright and clear graphics.
There are voiceovers (not for you though) which are very well done.
There is no journal as such but there is a File which logs information found regarding circus employees to try and determine the culprit.
There is a Map which is found within the file but IMO it's not much use for anyone who likes to know where active areas are and/or teleporting.
There are lots (and lots# of Hidden Object Scenes which have very clear graphics. You find items by list and there is some interactivity. A bit on the easy side for me. You do revisit HO scenes but the items you found earlier do not reappear. I don't use hints so cannot tell how long it takes to refill.
Puzzles – same old boring ones but on the plus side they do open into full screen. There is no reset button. I don't use skips but it either filled really quickly or was instant. It just seemed to be there.
Extra activity: Find 26 cards #Ace of spades# which refills hint system quickly.
You come across photo’s / newspaper articles etc – they will remain active even after you’ve took note of them. Whatever my final rating is, there will be a minus for that.
Zooming into an area will activate a puzzle if you have the required items. Once the puzzle is done though, the scene does not close itself. Another minus for that.
My overall opinion is therefore, great game with good voiceovers and excellent graphics which runs smoothly but because no thought has been given to the quality of the puzzles, scenes remaining active after you no longer need them, map useless – 3 stars. But because the devs have given us something extra #find cards) which always pleases me, I’ll up it to 4 stars.
No walkthrough so cannot determine approximate length.
I recommend this game!
A unique adventure game containing a perfect balance of mind-bending puzzles and classic Hidden Object game play.
Overall rating
5
/
5
31 of 32 found this review helpful
Curse of the Pharaoh : The Quest for Nefertiti
PostedJune 28, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This was about the 3rd game I ever bought in 2008 and still play it.
It's kind of difficult to describe but it's sort of an Interactive Spot the Difference Puzzle Adventure with a few HO's.
In each chapter, you play between a number of scenes spotting the differences (and collecting coins). In each scene you get an inventory item and you have to find where to put it. It could be in the scene you found it in or one of the others.
When you've completed those scenes, you unlock a secret room where you have to find a handful of hidden objects by shadow. You also need to find the fragments of a pharoahs mask.
At the end of each chapter, you then unlock a final secret room with the mask and use the objects you've just found to complete a puzzle.
Don't be put off by the too much handholding first chapter as it's just learning you the ropes.
Absolutely brilliant game and I can't recommend it enough.
I recommend this game!
Emma and the Inventor
Save Emma’s grandfather who has accidentally trapped himself in a mysterious void in Emma and the Inventor!
Overall rating
3
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Emma and the Inventor
PostedJune 10, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure. Great concept, voiceovers and graphics.
I agree with some comments that it was a nice little filler, although I would put emphasis on the "little". 1 hour 15 minutes for the whole game! I'm sorry but filler or not, that is just a disgrace. I feel disgruntled having even paid $2.99.
I don't recommend this game.
Save your cousin from an evil magician and find the treasure of Cherai! Explore a mysterious palace in the Dark Hills of Cherai!
Overall rating
5
/
5
5 of 7 found this review helpful
The Dark Hills of Cherai
PostedJune 6, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I absolutely loved this game. Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure. Some HO scenes were by list and some find x amount of objects - phobia beware : one was find 12 snakes.
This game was very unique and since it was released in 2009 I cannot understand why more developers have not adopted some of this game's unique qualities.
I recommend this game!
Save the three worlds contained inside of a magical book in Azada: In Libro! Stop a dark magician from conquering Azada!
Overall rating
3
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Azada : In Libro
PostedJune 5, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
As a run of the mill Puzzle Adventure it was okay. Not brilliant. As an "Azada" it was awful. Why call it Azada? Very disappointing. We waited and waited for Azada III and this is what we got. Going off the wink we got off Titus at the end, I can only assume there is going to be an Azada IV. Mmm. Not looking forward to that unless it reverts to the brilliantness of Azada I & II. Ruined a good series.
I don't recommend this game.
Help Rupert and his friends retrieve the Oracle of Ur?
Overall rating
4
/
5
65 of 78 found this review helpful
Jewel Quest Mysteries: The Oracle of Ur
PostedMay 22, 2012
JulieJay
fromWashington, Tyne & Wear, England
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Hidden Object Puzzle / M3 game.
HO scenes are NOT junk pile. I think that term is misused quite regularly. You are searching rooms, not a pile of stuff or a box of stuff. Items are very cleverly hidden but not frustratingly so. Items aren't small, they are the correct size for the environment.
You also need to be on the look out for -
gold coins (x 3 gives you an extra hint# and
gems #which help out in the M3 games) and
shards of the M3 board
gems #which help out in the M3 games) and
shards of the M3 board
M3 games are timed but whilst not being a great M3 fan, I had no trouble finishing within the time given.
Puzzles aren't unique but better than some I've seen.
I recommend this game!