Aunt_Mabel's Profile
 
 
 
Stat Summary
 
  • Average Rating:
    4.2
  • Helpful Votes:
    223
 
  • Reviews Submitted:
    37
  • First Review:
    February 3, 2012
  • Most Recent Review:
    June 18, 2016
  • Featured reviews
    0
 
 
Aunt_Mabel's Review History
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Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
Very Satisfying!
PostedJune 18, 2016
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Adventure, Match 3, Large File, Strategy, Word, Mahjong, Card & Board, Brain Teaser
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
I haven't written a review in a very long time, but this game prompted me to do so. Okay, it's not the hardest game out there, but it has an interesting storyline and lots of twists and turns. Several times I thought I was coming towards the end only to find more locations opening up. The locations are separated into several batches so there is no tedious backtracking etc., although the map helps if you are feeling a little lazy. Lots to collect and there are extra puzzles attached to the collector items. I love that the developers have a choice of hidden object or majong to chose from, it makes a change when getting fed up with HOPs. If you chose the HOP option the puzzles get harder as you go through the game and have several levels in some of them. The art work is amazing, the rendition of the scenes is very clear and adequately lit (without taking away any spooky atmosphere), which means I was not peering at the screen looking for things in the dark. Finally the bonus chapter actually makes sense, meaning that it has not just been tacked on the end to fulfil the requirements for a CE. The bonus chapter is also very long for an add-on and just as enjoyable as the main game. I do recommend this one, I think it would be hard to be disappointed with it.
I recommend this game!
+1point
3of 5voted this as helpful.
 
 The Big Secret of a Small Town
The Big Secret of a Small Town
Find out what is hidden behind the mysterious disappearance of the Mayor.
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
I puzzled until my puzzler was sore!
PostedMarch 29, 2015
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
For those who like puzzles and like a story, but are tired of HOPs, this is a must-buy. It reminds of the big-box puzzle and adventure games of the late 90s and early 00s, games like Zork etc. I loved it!
I recommend this game!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Depression... You are looking for light, but darkness already has you... Your soul is engulfed by THE EMPTINESS!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
19 of 19 found this review helpful
WOW! At last.......
PostedFebruary 3, 2015
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
 
Current Favorite:
 
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Good
4 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
At last a truly challenging game which expects the player to use their brains, patience and keen eyesight, with no quick fixes and no hand-holding. I can see why it was put into the Hidden Object category, because the letters of the spells (or the words that open the doors) are hidden in the scenes. But that is where the similarity ends. This harkens back to the "good old days" when games were made deliberately tough. This like a cross between Myst and Realms of the Haunting. I am a couple of hours into it and cannot wait to see where it will take me. But I'm in no hurry, games like this are rare these days and I want to savour it! About the warnings for those with nervous disposition and weak hearts - well yes, things do leap out at you and will make you jump, so be warned. But as yet there is nothing truly gruesome. Also,there are choices in some of the side-games, you choose what you want to be. As the story unfolds I think that will be important - what you are will reflect the experience you have! Anyway....gotta go folks, I want to get back to the game. Thank you Big Fish for taking a chance on a developer with something new to offer sometimes game-weary players who long for something more than pretty pictures and all the answers upfront.
I recommend this game!
+19points
19of 19voted this as helpful.
 
Uncover the true cause of the disturbances and track down the disappeared townspeople before darkness falls on Middleport forever!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
21 of 22 found this review helpful
Nice little game (full game review)
PostedJune 15, 2014
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
OK
3 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
First of all, there is nothing new here that will blow the gaming community's mind. But what is here is a really nice, well made little game. You get a lot of things that sometimes appear in CE games such as collectables, and that was a nice change. The graphics are lovely and the action smooth. you get to chose to speak with the characters in some of the scenes or just walk away. The HOS are good, nothing is too small or obtusely described (like wallet and it's a purse for example!). The puzzles are straightforward. But here is a departure on the ordinary, you get a custom choice and can choose how hard you want the HOS and puzzles to be - nice touch! But the bonus for me, being from the UK, is that the characters spoke genuine English accents! That alone is worth the 5 stars in my book! Too many times I have played games which are set in some village or town in England and the voice-overs have been Americans trying to speak the accent and it jars the whole atmosphere. If a CE version is made, I will buy it just for the (expected) bonus chapter.
I recommend this game!
+20points
21of 22voted this as helpful.
 
Become the Terror of the Caribbean as you tease your brain—and the tides—in this mind-blowing pirate puzzler!
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
5 of 5 found this review helpful
What story line?
PostedMarch 21, 2014
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
OK
3 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Poor
2 / 5
Very little in the way of a story here, the game is just a series of nonograms and they are not really reflective of any images. By that I mean you can't tell you are making a picture of any one particular object. However, it was a very satisfying game to play, decent length and plenty of variety. Downside (apart from the lack of story/visuals) is that one does have to make a guess sometimes rather than use pure logic. But again, not enough to knock more than one star off. Some reviewers have complained about not being able to use the mouse keys to swap between filling or blanking a square. I had no problem using my mouse for this and didn't need to use the "tick and cross" slider at the side of the game board. No idea why it is that some people can and some people cannot. But if it is a biggie to you, then play the demo first to make sure your right-click works in the game. All in all a quite satisfying little game,
I recommend this game!
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
 
 Demigods
Demigods
Embark on an epic journey through the ancient world in this stunning time-management adventure!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
19 of 20 found this review helpful
You'll be surprised at this one!
PostedFebruary 19, 2014
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Word, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Good
4 / 5
Bought this right after the demo ended because, at last, something a little bit different in TM/strategy games. I've only got to level 6 and can see already how much fun this is going to be. The layouts are complex and not obvious, you really need to think about what to do next and doing that against the clock is a real challenge. I'm going to play this once without the timer just for the joy of the layouts and then go back and play it with the timer for the challenge. If you like TM games, then give this one a try, it's a little belter of a game!
I recommend this game!
+18points
19of 20voted this as helpful.
 
Fabulous holiday themed entertainment with over 100 diverse puzzles for everyone to enjoy.
 
Overall rating 
Liked it!
4 / 5
50 of 53 found this review helpful
Refreshing Change!
PostedDecember 26, 2013
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Good
4 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
What a nice change this game is. Just puzzles, pure and simple. Plenty to chose from and varying levels of difficulty. The pictures on the jigsaws in particular were lovely. I also liked that the makers did not shy away from Nativity scenes etc. After all it is a "Christ"mas game! Good for them to be brave enough to include them! It lost one star for me for the very few games where the placing of objects was just that little bit too finely tuned, meaning they became rather frustrating to complete. But in the main, it was all good fun and worth a game credit.
+47points
50of 53voted this as helpful.
 
3D Puzzle Venture takes puzzle gaming to a whole new dimension! With multiple levels of difficulty and 40 high-resolution puzzle images included, this is a game that every puzzle enthusiast is sure to enjoy!
 
Overall rating 
Hated it.
1 / 5
3 of 4 found this review helpful
Oh dear
PostedSeptember 21, 2013
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Awful
1 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Awful
1 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Awful
1 / 5
Storyline 
Awful
1 / 5
Couldn't get past the first 10 minutes. The controls are awful and the so-called 3D is a playing field that spins around like a gyroscope on a loose gimbal. The result is almost zero control over the pieces and a rather eye-boggling effect akin to sea-sickness. A shame really, we have been long overdue a decent jigsaw puzzle game.
I don't recommend this game.
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
End a centuries-old war between the Guardians and the Clan of the Nine in 9: The Dark Side!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Well above the average game!
PostedJuly 26, 2013
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
Excellent
5 / 5
This game has it all,
1 excellent storyline,
2 decent graphics,
3 sensible HOS which are not junk piles, and not to many of them
4 generous length of game-play
5 challenging puzzles - and plenty of them, with lots of variety
6 overall challenge better than average
This may not be the game for those like maps and hand-holding and being spoon-fed what to do next. But if you like a decent challenge where you have to remember where you have been and what still needs to be done to progress the game, if you like decently challenging puzzles, then give this one a whirl. I loved it, an excellent SE game.
I recommend this game!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Solve the riddles of the faraway land and Asian generosity will know no bounds!
 
Overall rating 
Loved it!
5 / 5
4 of 4 found this review helpful
Very elegant game
PostedJuly 26, 2013
Customer avatar
Aunt_Mabel
fromUK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor 
Excellent
5 / 5
Visual/Sound Quality 
Excellent
5 / 5
Level of Challenge 
Excellent
5 / 5
Storyline 
OK
3 / 5
This is just so lovely and restful. Not the kind of game to play when you need a buzz, but the kind to play when you feel like chilling out and engaging your brain in something contemplative and gentle. As someone else has commented - there is a shop where you can buy things to help you along like extra mistakes. The default is 2 mistakes allowed, but you can buy more chances if you chose. I chose not to because I get really picky about these kinds of games and like to get all the levels played without a mistake. But, the choice is there if you need it. I loved the music, loved the simple elegant art work. This one is a keeper. I can see me downloading it again in the future and replaying it. Nice change of pace BF - more like this please!!
I recommend this game!
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.