westiefan99's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.4
- Helpful Votes:631
- Reviews Submitted:15
- First Review:January 28, 2012
- Most Recent Review:July 21, 2012
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Kingdom Chronicles
Rescue the princess, defeat the villain and save your homeland!
Overall rating
5
/
5
170 of 202 found this review helpful
Buy, Buy, Buy!
PostedJuly 21, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Kingdom Chronicles Collector's Edition
(127)Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Before the CE of this game came out I had rarely bought CEs. After trying the demo of Kingdom Chronicles' CE I couldn't wait to click on the "Buy" button - I wanted as much of the game as I could get!
Buying the SE won't disappoint you. If you are a fan of MKFTP, Island Tribe, Roads of Rome and games of that ilk you will love KC just as much or even more! The graphics are bright and clear, and the characters are slightly larger so you don't feel as though you need reading glasses to spot all the interesting extras the designers built into the scenes. I love the way the workers tap their feet if you are not reacting fast enough!
The formula is familiar - rebuild roads and villages destroyed by nasties, collect supplies and gems and save the Princess. The way the developers bring us the formula is not stale, though, and I admit to playing the demo way past my bedtime just so I could see what was next. Each scene was beautifully rendered, and there have been times when I have gone back to particular ones because I realized I didn't take time to check out the details of the background.
The game is not glitchy so you won't get frustrated waiting for video lags or frozen screens. The bonus chapters in the CE turn the tables by making you one of the baddies, but it is a stand alone bonus so you absolutely do not need to buy the CE to enjoy this game.
Try it and you'll buy it!
I recommend this game!
Kingdom Chronicles Collector's Edition
Rescue the princess, defeat the villain and save your homeland!
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 19 found this review helpful
Gold Standard
PostedMay 28, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I love this game! I rarely pop for Collector's Editions, but 30 minutes of playing this game made me hit "Buy!"
As others have said, it's similar to the MKFTP series and other similar games. But Kingdom Chronicles has more. For instance, the challenge level of each episode is different so, while you can skate your way to success in some episodes, you will really have to strategize on others. There was real thought put into drawing the characters and the scenes, and the overall look is delightful.
There are some different powerups, and you have to work out how to collect some of them in time to be useful. The goals in each episode are not the same, which is a nice change. I think it will also be possible to have a different game experience each time because you can try varying your playing strategy.
You can ask for help if you need, but I preferred to work out how to achieve the gold medal for myself. It's not as easy as you might think, in some cases.
The gameplay is crisp and fun. The music is not grating (which is more than you can say for some games!), and the fun factor is there in bucketfuls.
All in all, a great game. I hope they plan sequels!
I recommend this game!
New Yankee in King Arthur's Court
When a bolt of lightning sends you back to the days of King Arthur, you trade in your farmer's hat for a suit of armor and set off on a journey to find the Fountain of Youth!
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 84 found this review helpful
Bright, Fun and Funny
PostedMay 7, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Okay, so if you are looking for a dark, brooding, difficult game to play this is not the one for you! If you want a game that doesn't hurt your brain, but is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend some time unwinding then this is a must!
I love the MKFTP and Royal Envoy series. This is like those, but gives you that something different that you may have been craving if you've played both of those (and Island Tribe) a lot. The graphics are bright and well-sized (for those of you who may need your reading glasses just to see the screen!), the characters are amusing and it's fun to see what ogre or villain is going to show up next.
The pace is good and the instructions clear. While quite a few of the scenes are easy to figure out, there are some challenging ones where you have to really use time management if you want to win the gold cup (although you don't get booted out if you run overtime so you don't have to get frustrated if you don't beat the clock).
I enjoy playing the difficult, brooding HOS and adventure games, but sometimes I just want to have fun. If you are like me, try New Yankee. You won't regret it!
I recommend this game!
Criminal Minds
Join an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds!
Overall rating
4
/
5
172 of 218 found this review helpful
The Same But Different!
PostedApril 21, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
There were two things that made me try the demo: The show itself and the fact that, according to the video teaser, we are supposed to "slove" these crimes as against the norm of having to "solve" the crimes! (Sorry, Big Fish - I just couldn't resist that one!)
So - the pros: There are some different approaches to the same old stuff. I like the anagram solving inside the hidden object scenes, and I also like that you get to use some of those objects to help you in your analysis of the crime scene. The HOS are the usual clutter, and some of the objects are easy to spot, but there were enough challenges in the scenes to make you feel it wasn't just a throwaway for the developers. I can't tell for sure how long the game is, since this review is based on the demo, but my best guess is that you won't feel cheated after purchase. The video teaser says you will solve 10 crimes. Only two appear on the menu in the demo, so I'm assuming more will show up as you solve one case and move on to the next.
Cons: Oh my gosh! The stilted script with no voiceover! I'm sure the cost of hiring the show's actors would have been prohibitive, but surely they could have done something other than the speech bubbles. Retro is one thing - this is just plain tiresome! The other possible con is the graphics quality - they are clear, don't get me wrong - but rather flat. We have become spoiled in recent times with deep, rich color and flow. These absolutely harken back to the early days of PC games.
Neither of these cons are enough to make me say "don't buy," but you should take into account how important these issues are to you before taking the plunge and purchasing the game.
Happy "sloving!"
I recommend this game!
Treasure Seekers: The Time Has Come
The time has come for Nelly and Tom to stop a potential catastrophe and save the world in Treasure Seekers: The Time has Come!
Overall rating
4
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Enjoyable Series
PostedApril 16, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Current Favorite:
Spirits of Mystery: Song of the Phoenix Collector's Edition
(219)Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I enjoy the Treasure Seekers games. This one is true to form - the graphics are crisp and bright, which makes a nice change from all the doom and gloom that so many of the current games elect to provide. The storyline is not remarkable, but at least makes sense within the game itself, and the game offers some challenges but not so much that you find yourself tearing out your hair before you get to the end.
The game is a little bit short, but it's a perfect sale game and a perfect intro to the series if you are new to Treasure Seekers.
I recommend this game!
Hidden Mysteries: Return to Titanic
After using a secret alias to board the Titanic, things go terribly wrong and you find yourself trapped among the wreckage. In order to earn freedom from your watery tomb you must appease your captor by re-writing history and freeing the spirits trapped aboard the 'unsinkable' luxury liner as well as discover why fate has chosen this destiny for you.
Overall rating
3
/
5
54 of 63 found this review helpful
On The Fence - Or Is That The Rail?
PostedApril 15, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I really wanted to like this game. It is, as everyone has already said, very timely, and I was hoping for a game with a more accurate representation of the Titanic ship than usual. However, it seems more as though the developers were using the name as a draw. The game itself (apart from the obvious Grand Staircase scene) could have been about any ship. And I laughed out loud at the idea of the engine room being at the end of a First Class corridor! ;-)
The story is plain creepy, although I will say it held my interest. I got my usual laugh at the idea that anyone would pack Roman busts and bowling pins when going on a cruise (those hidden object junk piles are often amusing).
The graphics are a bit flat, but I can see that that is a style some people would enjoy. My major gripe, though, is that the game is kind of slow and clunky. The clicking area in each scene is large, so you can unintentionally click back to a character when you mean to click on a doorway. Also, they don't disable the character dialogue after you've seen it, so you keep on going back to the same thing. It's frustrating!
The puzzle games are often basically the same game, which is fine if you happen to like those shifting pieces around until they slip into the right slot but excessively irritating if you don't.
There is a lot of back and forth to pick objects up. I actually found much of that interesting, because there was an element of analyzing the situation and deciding on what would work that is sometimes missing in these games.
As I said, I'm on the rail. I can marginally recommend it. It will involve you for a good bit of time, so if you need to be kept out of mischief go for it!
I recommend this game!
Chicken Invaders 4: Ultimate Omelette Easter Edition
Can you fight off an army of invading Easter Bunnies?
Overall rating
4
/
5
44 of 50 found this review helpful
Secret Obsession
PostedApril 9, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Okay, everyone is right - this is the same game as the last one, but it was still fun. The Chicken Invaders series is my favorite shooting game, perhaps because I get to laugh out loud every time and can still go back and enjoy increasing my score and shooting more chickens, eggs, bunnies - or whatever - out of the blackness of space!
I do hope that they change some things up for the next one, but this is still worth your time. Have fun, and watch out for those omelets!
I recommend this game!
Bluebeard's Castle
Save your sister from Bluebeard’s Castle in this incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Delightful Surprise!
PostedApril 9, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I wasn't sure I was going to want to buy this game when I downloaded the trial. By the time I'd got to the end of my hour I couldn't hit "Buy" fast enough!
The graphics are rich and clear, the music and storyline are as good as one can expect, but the gameplay is just sheer fun. There is some moving around back and forth, but it's not overdone and usually it's just within a certain area. One doesn't have to troop all the way back to the beginning scene to pick up one stray object after going through six other scenes!
The puzzles are similar to others but not so similar that you can complete them with your eyes closed. Some of them took me a while to work out (the instructions are not always too good on these mini-games) but that did not detract from the interest or desire to solve the puzzle. I don't want a game to be like an unbreakable cipher, but I want a challenge if I'm going to spend money on a game.
This game is definitely worth buying. Enjoy!
I recommend this game!
Hallowed Legends: Samhain
Celtic folklore seems to be more truth than lore when the Samhain festival goers disappear! Find the missing people and save the day!
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Buy it!
PostedApril 7, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Strategy, Brain Teaser, Time Management, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I couldn't believe this one was already on sale! You can't go wrong buying this Hallowed Legends game. The graphics are crisp and rich, the sound is not nearly as annoying as some of these games (in other words, you can keep it on!), and the gameplay is absorbing and fun. Even the story is of a higher caliber than most.
While there is some of the back and forth that can drive you nuts in these games, it's not too much in the case of Samhain, so you don't get frustrated before you get anywhere. The minipuzzles are, in most cases, similar to other games, but they have a sufficient twist to make them fun. The HOS are, likewise, similar to others, but they also have a twist and the objects are also findable without a magnifying glass!
As I said above - buy it! You'll not regret your choice.
I recommend this game!
I SPY Mystery
It’s time to put your detective skills to the test! Play I Spy with fascinating mysteries that need your super-sleuth skills.
Overall rating
4
/
5
6 of 9 found this review helpful
Good Game of Its Kind
PostedFebruary 13, 2012
westiefan99
fromMaine, USA
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Adventure, Time Management, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
If you are fond of Mastermind level HOGs this is not the game for you. But if you like playing games that are fun, bright and designed for families to play together, the I Spy series are for you.
The game has bright colors, funny animations, and original riddles for a hidden object list. While it's not that hard to find most of the objects, don't let it fool you. Sometimes you really have to look hard and think laterally. The whole series is great if you have a child you want to play a game with while the child also learns. It also works if you don't have any children and don't want to suffer brain strain!
I recommend this game!