kgustavson's Profile
 
 
 
Stat Summary
 
  • Average Rating:
    2.9
  • Helpful Votes:
    1,707
 
  • Reviews Submitted:
    116
  • First Review:
    December 16, 2011
  • Most Recent Review:
    October 17, 2020
  • Featured reviews
    0
 
 
Status:
 
 
kgustavson's Review History
<<prev 1 2 3 4 5 ... 12 next>>
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Really enjoyed this!
PostedJuly 29, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromThe Pond
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Good
4 / 5
GrandMa studios really upped their game with this installment. HOPs are varied and well done, puzzles aren't anything new but well executed and I enjoyed the story too. There is a "gimmick" but it didn't bother me as it wasn't used that often.
Enjoy!!
I recommend this game!
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
30 of 48 found this review helpful
Yawn
PostedJune 1, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromThe Pond
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
For some reason you stop to pick up a creepy floating girl who is hitchhiking. Then you're surprised when you're led to a scary old mansion with a lot full of abandoned cars all with the same doomed message.
So, for whatever reason, Elephant has chosen to abandon all of the game play that I always praised them for, most notably the ability to NOT know you have a combinable item, and an auto "grabby hand" on a collectible. Tossed those completely out the window for this game and left us with the usual slog to find this key, that key, another key, an amulet, and some clock hands. Didn't bother playing the demo far enough to encounter the magic rust remover or the missing zipper pull.
I don't recommend this game.
+12points
30of 48voted this as helpful.
 
A mysterious plague casts a dark shadow on the people of Persia. The young apothecary Tara must discover the cause of the illness before it's too late!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
22 of 23 found this review helpful
A delightful game!!
PostedMay 22, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromThe Pond
Skill Level:Expert
 
Current Favorite:
 
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
Good
4 / 5
This was just a joy of a game, especially if you're a beginner or even a seasoned old salt like myself who wants to relax with an enjoyable game that isn't too taxing on the gray cells. Even though the overall story is trite (evil guy who wants to run the world) I loved the team play aspect and the potion-making. A definite buy for me!
I recommend this game!
+21points
22of 23voted this as helpful.
 
It's Aloha Time! Build a Super Luxury Hotel on Hawaii. Keep that "Hang Loose" feeling even when the going gets tough in the service department.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
14 of 20 found this review helpful
Fun for the first bunch of levels but beware...
PostedMay 1, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromThe Pond
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
They run out of things to purchase. Seriously. This was a problem with their previous games and the developer response was something like "yeah, we ran out of ideas". Wow.
I don't recommend this game.
+8points
14of 20voted this as helpful.
 
Design, build and manage your shopping mall with Shopping Empire.
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
53 of 57 found this review helpful
What the heck is this mess?
PostedApril 29, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromThe Pond
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
I don't think I have ever played a worse game. Nonsensical instructions, unclear goals, horrible graphics...I could go on but I think I'm speechless over the abject awfulness of this game.
I don't recommend this game.
+49points
53of 57voted this as helpful.
 
The penguins are off on a new adventure to solve colorful puzzles and find the treasure!
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
14 of 20 found this review helpful
28?? SERIOUSLY?
PostedApril 24, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromThe Pond
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
If you have never played a nonogram with the penguin, then by all means play this one - the first time is quite fun, for about half the game. But TWENTY EIGHT? Sorry, these games are so easy that it's almost insulting and I guess it's just a cash cow to rehash the same game over and over again with the same colors and absolutely no story line whatsoever. This is a do not buy - please end the line of the penguin I beg you!!
PS : If you really enjoy nonograms AND an actual challenge, with a story line to boot, then check out Malcolm and the Magnificent Pie (and there's more from that developer).
I don't recommend this game.
+8points
14of 20voted this as helpful.
 
Unlock the secrets of the moor to save your niece from the banshee!
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
34 of 41 found this review helpful
Gah!! Scary pumpkin!!
PostedApril 14, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromRain Land
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
I have only played the demo but I rather enjoyed this one. Inventory as long as your arm, lots to do. Graphics were good and voice overs were very well done. There are also some fun info items in the achievements book. My only gripe is the need for a reset button on the puzzles. I might wait for a better sale but will definitely pick this one up.
I recommend this game!
+27points
34of 41voted this as helpful.
 
Overall rating 
Disliked it.
2 / 5
21 of 32 found this review helpful
An absolute mess
PostedApril 10, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromspring has sprung in the beautiful Pac NW
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Poor
2 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Poor
2 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
Review of completed game :
My title pretty much sums it up - this is just a mess.
- Story line makes no sense. Someone at Eipix needs to actually communicate with their story board creator as the hinted at Red Riding Hood thing never becomes a thing. It's like they forgot all about the back story and just did something else entirely.
- HOS are nothing but straight lists. And like many other games of theirs, it's like someone else created the graphics after the demo. The demo graphics are just awful, blurry messes. After the demo is just junk pile indecipherable crap. Not like I want anything to be obvious but this is just ridiculous tediousness to take up time.
- Mini games - there were some that were pretty good and then some others that made no sense. I skipped 2 of them but I would have to say they did alright here.
- Back to the story line. Wow, where do I begin. There is no tie-in to Red Robin Hood. Ever. There is a witch and then they forgot about it. This game is like visiting your great-grandma
(both of mine are gone now but it went something like this).
- Please hire story-board writers and then actually interact with them throughout the process of creating the game.
- Run far away from this one
I don't recommend this game.
+10points
21of 32voted this as helpful.
 
Nobody comes back from the Dark Side unchanged, but it’s the only way to re-light the fading flame.
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
11 of 20 found this review helpful
Yaaaaaaaayyyy!!!!!!
PostedApril 2, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromsnow and hail!?!?!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Good
4 / 5
Storyline 
Good
4 / 5
This series just does not disappoint! It might be simpler than their Lost Lands series but I for one just cannot get enough of their graphics and fantastic cut scenes. I didn't find any mindless back-and-forth - most tasks are pretty straightforward with a couple tasks finished later but it makes sense to the story. I also love the custom ability to uncheck what I call "auto-finding" collectibles - adds a nice level of challenge. And no, they do not jump out at you as giant, obvious items nor are they the same item in every scene.
I really think this is a game/series that all levels of expertise can enjoy.
Now, if they would just offer another in their crime series I would be over the moon!!
I recommend this game!
+2points
11of 20voted this as helpful.
 
Can you defend the townspeople from the dangerous black lotus?
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
12 of 23 found this review helpful
In my 15 years with BF, I don't think I've ever given 1 star
PostedMarch 26, 2018
Customer avatar
kgustavson
fromkleenex box
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
Or maybe I just figured it out during the demo that a game was a total dud and never bothered reviewing. I think I'm still going to blame my bad judgement of purchasing this one in the first place on my horrible cold which has obviously clouded my judgement and somehow bouyed my faith in a favorite developer to pull the story through and offer a good game. Was I ever wrong.
Other fish friends have already described the really silly story that at many places makes no sense (to get detailed would be spoilers I suppose) but the game play just killed me. HOS are only simple lists, maybe 2 or 3 interactive things which are banal "move the fan" type interactions. Oh, and they REPEAT. So if you were bored the first time, you'll be bored yet again. Cheap, cheap, cheap production is what that is.
I could go on some more about puzzles that wouldn't complete and HOS items that weren't even in the scene, but you get the picture. This one is a total loser and do not waste your money.
I don't recommend this game.
+1point
12of 23voted this as helpful.
 
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