sabinesa's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.3
- Helpful Votes:821
- Reviews Submitted:70
- First Review:December 2, 2011
- Most Recent Review:April 4, 2018
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A thrilling match 3 adventure about a treasure hunter trying to solve a globe-spanning mystery.
Overall rating
1
/
5
5 of 6 found this review helpful
Zero Stars
PostedApril 4, 2018
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Mahjong, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
If it were possible I'd give this Nil Stars ;(
As an avid Match3 player, I liked the look and feel of this game, reminds me a lot of Jewel Quest, which is a fantastic series. Then comes the actual playing the game and the pieces just don't move properly and there is no explanation around as to what's going on or expected. Looks like weird lock pieces are floating around blocking arbitrarily pieces next to them but at that not consistently. Somebody on the dev team really blew the game mechanics.
This could have been decent, but was somehow totally stuffed up. Pity.
Be the hero Olympus needs and save the city from new threats in this match-three puzzler!
Overall rating
2
/
5
9 of 11 found this review helpful
Hmm ... disapointing
PostedFebruary 16, 2018
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Mahjong, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
It is sort of hard to describe what I feel about this game. I loved this series and thought it had died out, but alas, here is a new installment and I was all excited enough to buy it at full price right away. Then came the slow disillusionment - story dialogue not skipable, laughable puzzles in between (hello, 4 piece puzzles???), endless animations on moves with special stones that interrupt game flow. And, to be honest, in the game, graphics, music, absolutely nothing has changed from how the prior games were years ago. I could have just re-installed one of those and at least wouldn't have the endless story "click to continue"s in between.
So, overall, I rate this poorly for a 2018 release. The few changes which have been made in this installment are rather not conducive to immersive game play. It gave me enough of a taste for the series again that I'll go ahead and re-install an older, better version, to play again.
This one is a flop.
So, overall, I rate this poorly for a 2018 release. The few changes which have been made in this installment are rather not conducive to immersive game play. It gave me enough of a taste for the series again that I'll go ahead and re-install an older, better version, to play again.
This one is a flop.
I don't recommend this game.
Check out a huge variety of new puzzles in what may be the best Clutter game yet!
Overall rating
5
/
5
13 of 15 found this review helpful
Definite buy for Clutter fans
PostedSeptember 15, 2017
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Card & Board, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
I absolutely love the clutter games, though half of it I don't play to the point of outright hating it, like the sentences and pictures. Nevertheless there is soooo much on offer here, that even just enjoying a third of the games makes it a very worthwhile must-have. What so obviously sets it apart from all the regular HOs, etc is it's extreme high "play over and over" value. The sweet thing is the ability to turn off what one doesn't like. This series is a good example of the player being able to customize the experience to a high degree, other game developers could very well learn from that.
This edition has look/feel worse than the one before, though it always is so totally retro and non-technologically advanced, that I sometimes cannot believe myself loving this so much. The animations, the music, the backgrounds .... it is really all too sad for words and could have sprung right out of an old arcade game from the 80s. But again, that's just the window dressing, same with the never ending stories about Joe or weak attempts at pep talk. To me, total unnecessary bollocks ;)
The game itself though is fantastic. This lot holds a lot of new items and variations on the main themes, which are great. After playing for about 2 hours, I am not quite getting what the idea with the vanishing pieces is all about and how it is meant to enhance anything, but alas. Bummer for me is that I haven't been able to find my absolute favs in the game yet, the "extreme" levels where after each match more pieces arrive on the scene somewhere. I play those chasing my own best times and can easily spend hours on them. My old pet hates are also still there, like the split spiral, that I can never get properly with the mouse. Speaking of mouse, the mouse movements aren’t quite slick and again, I blame the overall old technology used to produce these games.
All said and done, super game. If you liked the others you’ll love this one. For example there is a “split in 3” now instead of just 2 pieces. Also a “drag from outside”, which to me is a great new variation on the “drag” theme, another of my favs in the clutter games.
Joe, please keep going.
I recommend this game!
Lost Artifacts Collector’s Edition — a unique strategy game about the Tonauak world. Restore the ancient city and defeat the dark priest!
Overall rating
2
/
5
20 of 22 found this review helpful
10 years behind the times
PostedJuly 18, 2017
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This is a stock standard resource time management game, but boy, what poor graphics. Sure, that's not the key in a TM, but still, a kid from Technicon could have done better.
Other than that there is nothing special here, one can click jobs ahead of time, which to me is a must have in a TM, custom cursor is supported, also a must have.
The story is ... well, what do you expect from a TM story?? :) There are only very few TM games where the story ever fitted and was neat, not too wordy, just so, like the Viking Northern Tales TMs of old. But even back then the graphics quality was already way better than what this has on offer.
Hahaha, if you are a fan of the old Comodore 64 style Pacman look, have at it. If your eyes need a bit more in modern casual games, you might want to give this a miss ... and lets not even talk about the fact that they dare make this a CE. That already is enough in my book to make this an instant fail.
Other than that there is nothing special here, one can click jobs ahead of time, which to me is a must have in a TM, custom cursor is supported, also a must have.
The story is ... well, what do you expect from a TM story?? :) There are only very few TM games where the story ever fitted and was neat, not too wordy, just so, like the Viking Northern Tales TMs of old. But even back then the graphics quality was already way better than what this has on offer.
Hahaha, if you are a fan of the old Comodore 64 style Pacman look, have at it. If your eyes need a bit more in modern casual games, you might want to give this a miss ... and lets not even talk about the fact that they dare make this a CE. That already is enough in my book to make this an instant fail.
I don't recommend this game.
The Queen once again calls upon Don Diego de Leon to fulfill an important mission in this time-management adventure.
Overall rating
1
/
5
30 of 31 found this review helpful
oh my word, they stuffed it up!
PostedMay 2, 2017
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
What a major disappointment.
The Adelantado Trilogy was such a wonderful and enjoyable type of time management game. What made it so exceptional was that exactly it wasn't like all the others, eg Roads of Rome, where it's a given path, given very narrow objectives. No, it was a big map with the freedom to roam and try things out. Now it's just another run of the mill, 2-4 minutes per level, set paths time management game and at that not even with what I consider the bare bones minimum, which is to click on tasks ahead of time. Nope, none of that and the difficulty levels are nothing else but time related.
My bubble burst big time today, after the excitement to see a continuation of Adelantado, to then find an aged Roads of Rome. Sigh. I cannot believe the Adelantado developers allowed that to happen to their outstanding series.
Be warned, there is nothing Adelantado about this other than the music.
I don't recommend this game.
The King and Kingdom are in peril! Find the ingredients for a magic potion to save the King, rebuild the Kingdom and become the hero!
Overall rating
5
/
5
a bit different, very enjoyable
PostedMarch 3, 2017
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Time Management Games are together with Match3 my staple relaxation, so whenever one of those comes along I try it out. Initially I was a bit taken aback by the not so fantastic graphics, but it turns out that this is rather fun indeed. In fact I am uninstalling and re-installing it to play again ... it doesn't offer user name selection.
I'd recommend anybody giving this a decent bash, it deserves it. It's different, but I really very much enjoyed having to earn skills and powerups and was disappointed when it was done.
Good fun. Sequel, please!
I'd recommend anybody giving this a decent bash, it deserves it. It's different, but I really very much enjoyed having to earn skills and powerups and was disappointed when it was done.
Good fun. Sequel, please!
I recommend this game!
The new Clutter is here! Enjoy over 500 new objects, new play variations and follow Leigh's story!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Great Clutter - Good Development from prior games in the series!
PostedNovember 22, 2016
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
I just love the Clutter games and got the lot.
This one is specifically good and am I ever glad to see the end of the bricks everywhere and to be able to turn the totally annoying treadmill noise, clapping and other ongoing interruptions off ;)
Visually definitely another step in the right direction. Now just drop the black/white pics fading to colour and make it clearer what level one is on. Say I enjoy a specific level a lot, go back to the Selection page and have no idea whatsoever where I was. The title of the individual clutters don't show either were one is. Overall though the Level Selection page as a whole is a vast improvement from prior versions, because now at least one can go selectively back or selectively skip a whole lot that one doesn't like.
If anybody in the Joe universe is listening, I'd like to mention that I like clutter, the 3s (don't know what the mix with 2s and 3s is all about, but alas), the 3 pick 2 is super great, and the drag levels are major fun. I also totally enjoy item collections and the ones where more items drop into the clutter after choosing a pair. I cannot handle the "close count" levels (my brain just doesn't work that way and I am looking for look-alikes, after all, that's what it's all about) so those are skips for me also.
What I could easily live without is all the non-clutter, sliders and all the picture stuff or the word jumble. I skip that whole lot always. But why oh why does one have to wait for the time it takes for a level to "build" before one can skip it, most tedious, specifically the word ones where one has to wait out that whole animated lot come together. Luckily now one can go to the selection page and skip the lot.
First thing I always do is turn off the puzzle pieces and the other junk floating around. I only leave the stuff that adds to the hints. I also turn off Black&White, but think it's great that those levels are not unavailable, but indeed in colour. I'd like the same for the the Shadow levels, please. Often those are really not easy to see, but I'd like to play those levels if instead of shadows, once that's off in options, one would get the items with a proper view underneath the clutter area.
Even though I think this was the best story ever in Clutter and the drawings are gorgeous .... honestly, I could happily live without any story, hahahaha, and if I never hear or read the names Joe or Ponte... whatever again, I wouldn't mind either ;) Also, the scoring never made much sense to me, besides there is no score board, so what's the use.
What would be nice would be a score board for times, specifically for all the many levels after the story, where the only thing to beat is ones own time. Instead of showing dots for how often something was played, rather show the best time. And why is that selection screen animated? I think Joe has a thing about these little animations which to my mind, specifically after viewing them for the gazillions time, are a bother as Poo would say.
Anyway, great re-play value here. I think I am on my third round already with all the levels I totally like. And if the development for the next Clutters goes the same way, there is even hope that some of my suggestions might come true.
Well done. More, please!
PS. By the way, can't we have some new music for the game itself? And please, don't turn the music off once a level is finished.
I recommend this game!
Mix potions, pick locks, make magic orbs, and much more - to rescue the magic creatures from the evil wizard in this enchanting match-3 adventure.
Overall rating
2
/
5
17 of 22 found this review helpful
Reacts too slowly to be fun
PostedApril 26, 2016
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Marble Popper, Arcade & Action, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This really had potential, but failed to get there.
The graphics are nice, the storyline isn't convoluted and doesn't require hours of reading, just sweet enough.
I don't know how this pans out after longer play, but I found the overall approach, music, powerups, etc quite pleasing.
But, and that's the big ugly BUT, the matches materialize way too slowly, there is no good flow to the playing and because of that delay in the pieces moving it's tedious. That's very unfortunate because otherwise this could have a lot of what makes a nice match3. Big pity.
I don't recommend this game.
Explore a fantastical world and save the King in this innovative new match-3 experience!
Overall rating
5
/
5
1 of 2 found this review helpful
Great fun for hours and hours
PostedApril 24, 2016
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is another offering by the crowd that did Runefall, which I also enjoyed thoroughly.
I am somewhere past level 90 and keep on hoping that there will be lots more levels to come. Even if it's finished soon, I'll play it again, as now I know for example not to buy gold bars with my raw materials ;)
Any Match3 lover will enjoy this I am sure. As long as you don't mind moving game fields, which some find disconcerting. I am having a real blast.
Thanks, and more, please
I recommend this game!
Help Marcus Victorious save its citizens and bring back life to its previous glory.
Overall rating
1
/
5
60 of 65 found this review helpful
nothing learned in 3 years
PostedJanuary 5, 2016
sabinesa
fromCape Town, South Africa
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Time Management, Adventure, Match 3, Strategy, Marble Popper, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Roads of Rome got me into TM games some years back and I just loved it and bought all the installations in the series. Since then TM games have come a long way and for example the ability to choose tasks ahead of time (queue tasks) I take for granted or at least want as a chooseable option. Nedda, not with this *new* version. That's for me a joy killer when it's missing, because instead of concentrating on strategy, trying to find a "gift" or the nice graphics, I sit and wait for one of the workers to get back, so I can assign the next task ... boring, uncool and so unnecessary.
Also the power-up situation is exactly as it was (meaning old) eg speed shoes one needs to collect, even "gifts" one has to collect instead of just find and click.
In all a disappointment. I surely thought they'd do more than just slap a new story onto the very same mechanics from years back. There is nothing "new generation" about this. Even the graphics and music are identical to the old lot. Could just as well play the first version over again and save the money.
Sorry, these days not good enough and there are much better, more advanced and enjoyable TM games out there, which make TM playing real fun ... this one isn't one of them. Roads of Rome started it all, but they did nothing to advance it, so a no-buy for me.
I don't recommend this game.