biscuitsmama's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.3
- Helpful Votes:67,036
- Reviews Submitted:1148
- First Review:July 13, 2012
- Most Recent Review:December 16, 2020
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Your friend was taken. Are you brave enough to find him?
Overall rating
5
/
5
41 of 46 found this review helpful
THIS ENDLESS FABLES WAS WORTH THE WAIT
PostedMay 5, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromPutting an end to the nightmares as I help Agnes find her brother
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Endless Fables Shadow Within is the fourth game in the series and, IMHO, is the best. Twenty years ago when your father was doing some archaeological research in Mittenwald your childhood friend Hans disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Now you receive a letter from his sister Agnes asking you to return to Mittenwald and help her search for Hans.
The Endless Fables has not been one of my favorite series but Sunward Games has nailed it with this graphically beautiful game. Everything about the game is quality from the gorgeous graphics, voiceovers and well-told storyline. It didn’t take long before I was immersed in the game and had to buy it so I could continue. The game is a long with five chapters, a bonus chapter, and a fifty-six page Strategy Guide. If you choose the custom mode, when setting up the game, you will find that the times pre-set for hints and skips is better than most.
The HOPS are excellent but most of them seem to be finding certain numbers of items but those items require some interaction to find and are not always easy to spot. There is variation with the style including storybook, find matching pairs, and even the list type that I prefer. The scenes are well-crafted and not always easy to complete without using the hint button. I’m not sure of the ratio between HOPS and Mini-games but it seems that they are fairly balanced as I didn’t notice being overwhelmed with Mini-games as I played. Although we can replay the Mini-games and HOPS in the Extras section, those features don’t open until the entire game including the Bonus games have been completed so I’m not sure without going page by page through the SG exactly how Mini-games are included. Even though I don’t know the exact number, I really enjoyed the ones I encountered as I made my way through the game. Some were a bit tricky but I was able to solve them without too much difficulty.
The gameplay was excellent with lots of items to find as I made my way through the storyline. It was not always immediately apparent where some found item should be used and I seemed to cart some around with me for quite some time. Although there is some back and forth in the scenes I don’t see that as a bad thing. I happen to enjoy a game that is not strictly linear where I find something and then use it within a few minutes.
Overall the game is excellent and one, that to my surprise, I enjoyed a lot. I haven’t always been a fan of the Endless Fables series but Shadow Within is an excellent game. Even though I find this game to be perfect for me and the way I enjoy playing, please try the demo to see if Endless Fables Shadow Within is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
There is a shadow hanging over New York City and time is running out.
Overall rating
5
/
5
105 of 146 found this review helpful
AH AT LAST, ANOTHER NEW YORK MYSTERIES IS FINALLY HERE!
PostedMay 4, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromI’ve been waiting years to finally play another game in this series and it’s definitely worth the wait.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It’s been a little over three years since the last New York Mysteries game was released and I wasn’t sure there would be another game in what I consider an excellent series. It’s been a long wait for me and when The Outbreak was released this morning, I purchased the game instantly. Five-BN Games is a developer that gives me what I want in a game and I didn’t need to think about hitting the buy button.
The Outbreak has an excellent storyline that will keep you guessing as you play. You play the game as Laura, an investigative journalist, who not long ago was brought into a secret order by the elusive Mr. Bishop. The Order of the White Stone is not only a secret organization, but it deals with supernatural incidents that the police can’t handle. As you play The Outbreak there are so many twists and turns in the game that you don’t always know who to trust and you soon discover that things are not always what they seem.
I love the interactive HOPS in this game. The scenes are not always easy as you try to find the needed items and then where to use them to perhaps find another required item until you finally complete the scene. The Puzzles are fun and even though there are a lot more of them than HOPS in this game it doesn’t bother me too much since the HOPS are so well-crafted. I love the Puzzles in this game where not all of them are easy to solve.
Aside from the standards such as being able to customize your mode of gameplay, there is also an old school journal or diary included that keeps track of the story as you play the game. It is not often that we find a diary included in more recent games, but I happen to appreciate having one and, at least for me, it enriches the gameplay.
If you purchase CE games because you appreciate the extras you will certainly not be disappointed with New York Mysteries: The Outbreak. The game includes not only one collectible to find but five different sets that each have anywhere between one and ten different items to find. There are also morphing objects hidden in each scene and some are difficult to spot. The Strategy Guide is excellent if you happen to get stuck and are not sure what to do next. It also provides the steps needed to solve puzzles rather than simply showing screen shots of the end result.
If you want a game that will keep you entertained and involved in the action, then New York Mysteries The Outbreak is the game you have been waiting to play. If you have played the earlier games in the series or even other games by this developer than you know exactly why I love this game. Even though the game is exactly right for me, please try the demo to see if New York Mysteries: The Outbreak is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Whenever heroes gather, villains are sure to follow...
Overall rating
5
/
5
79 of 108 found this review helpful
I THINK AGENT BROWN FORGOT HIS SIDEKICK! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
PostedMay 2, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromElf is probably at home pining for me. I sure hope someone remembers to feed him - lol
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Darkest Shrine is game number two in the Detectives United series and, at least for me, it is far better than the original. I found the first game rather tedious while The Darkest Shrine is a fast-paced game that is not bogged down in minute details. At least I found the progress quite good and far more interesting because it moved along while switching between characters.
Because I don’t expect every detail in a HOPA game to be logical, I tend to focus more on the gameplay rather than spending my time thinking about the minutiae. The Darkest Night is entertaining with a good storyline, great puzzles, and interesting HOPS; which are primarily what I look for in the games I choose to play.
There is some variety in the HOPS and some require a bit of interaction to find the items. As is the case in recent games there seems to be an emphasis on the mini-HOPS that I have come to think of as “quick fixes” because the developers don’t want to spend time creating decent, more involved scenes. I don’t particularly like mini-HOPS but looks like they are here to stay. The puzzles are decent, if not overly difficult, and many are ones that I particularly enjoy solving. At least it seems like there is more of a balance between HOPS and puzzles that I think should be the norm in HOPA games.
The characters in the game are familiar with James from Haunted Hotel, Agent Brown from Mystery Trackers, and Anna Gray from Grim Tales who have now combined their unique abilities to solve cases in the new Detectives United series. In the Darkest Shrine each detective is dispatched to a different location to see what information they can find as they solve the case. I have to agree with Pennmom who thinks that if Anna Gray can tote her dad’s skull with her, then Agent Brown should have had Elf tag along with him as well. Yes, devs a big mistake that maybe you should fix in the next Detectives United game.
All in all I think this is a decent CE game that includes most of the bells and whistles that I look forward to finding in a CE so it is definitely one that I will add to my collection. Although Detectives United II The Darkest Shrine is the perfect game for me and the way that I enjoy playing, please try the demo to see if it is a game that you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Face the legacy of mythical sunken city of Ys!
Overall rating
5
/
5
43 of 47 found this review helpful
Myth Seekers 2 The Sunken Kingdom
PostedApril 28, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromDoes an ancient love story hold the secrets of the two kingdoms?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The Sunken City is the second game in the Myth Seekers series and, at least for me, it is much better than the first game. The Sunken City takes place four years after your search for Vulcan’s Hammer that was featured in the first game. As with that game there is a lot of mystery as you search to unlock the secrets of the ancient kingdom of Ys. Since anything to do with ancient civilizations is one of my passions, this game was an instant purchase for me.
Even though the overall game is excellent with a storyline that kept me wanting more as I moved through the game, I still felt that the graphics tended to be sub-par. The characters seemed flat and at times rather cartoonish many of the scenes lacked the depth and detail that are found in games by other developers. That being said, the storyline and the mini-games made up for the deficit in graphics.
The HOPS scenes highlighted the deficit with the graphics as they were very grainy and misty, which made the items difficult to spot. Although there is an alternate matching game available it was almost more difficult than finding items in the scenes, so it was rather useless and, as a result, I did need to rely on the hint button several times in order to complete the scenes. The MINI-GAMES were fun but once again we have a game where there are far more mini-games than there are HOPS. Some of the mini-games are challenging but most seem to be easily solvable so there is at least something for everyone. Another weakness in the game is that the Strategy Guide does not include complete information on solving a mini-game but only shows a graphic of the solution and even though you know what the solution looks like, the guide does not include the steps required to get there. IMHO, this makes the Strategy Guide unnecessary.
As I mentioned the storyline is excellent and the gameplay kept me engaged. I happen to enjoy moving back and forth between scenes when playing a game so that I actually need to use my brain to remember where an item should be used. Because I enjoyed the overall game (which made it worth 5 stars) I can overlook the graphics as being a minor irritation. For me the game is quite long but I am a slow player and don’t like to rush through a game just to see how fast I can complete it. Even though I did purchase the game, I always recommend that you try the demo to see if the game is one you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you uncover the paranormal activity haunting the mall?
Overall rating
5
/
5
82 of 108 found this review helpful
IF YOU ENJOY A LITTLE FRIGHT FACTOR AND A FEW JUMP SCARES THEN THIS IS THE GAME FOR YOU
PostedApril 27, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromRick Rogers is awesome and has become my new favorite game hero!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Creepy things are going on at the shopping mall so who do you call to solve the problem. Well since this is another Paranormal Files game, the go to fixer is Rick Rogers. Paranormal Files is a great series and even though this is only the third game in the series, all of them have been excellent. Enjoy the Shopping is actually my favorite of the three games and, at least for me, it’s been a bit more fun.
The HOPS are something I found excellent in the game as the items to find were not shrouded in mist or indistinguishable. That doesn’t mean that everything is easy to find because it’s not but Elephant Games provides top-notch HOPS. The scenes are also quite interactive and some are very puzzle-like. Although HOPS are what I look forward to most in HOPA games, most of the puzzles in Enjoy the Shopping are some of my favorite types.
The gameplay is something that I also enjoy in Enjoy the Shopping. The game isn’t all about puzzles and HOPS but the storyline as well. There were a few times that I jumped a bit when something happened that I didn’t expect but these moments all add up to making this series one that I thoroughly enjoy.
With the HOPS, Puzzles, Graphics, Voices, Gameplay and Storyline this game adds up to five-stars from me. Not everyone enjoys the same things in HOPA games but for me, Paranormal Files is one that is fresh and hasn’t yet become too cookie-cutter. So if you enjoy a HOPA game that has a little bit of fright factor, then I recommend that you try the demo to see if Paranormal Files Enjoy the Shopping is a game you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you stop a dangerous game from taking more lives?
Overall rating
2
/
5
26 of 37 found this review helpful
ANOTHER COOKIE-CUTTER GAME WITH A REHASHED THEME
PostedApril 26, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromI'm running away as fast as I can from cookie-cutters and objectionable themes
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
Mystery Tales Dealer’s Choice is the latest in the popular Mystery Tales series but unfortunately it has cookie-cutter written all over it. It took only about five minutes to know the gist of the story – someone stealing souls in order to bring a beloved back to life after a tragic accident. The game begins with your friend Virginia receiving an invitation from William Gladstone the billionaire owner of a gambling cruise ship. What could be better than a relaxing vacation with your best friend as you play the onboard games of chance?
This developer always provides us with long games that are filled with extras and for the most part excellent gameplay. My issue with Dealer’s Choice is that I dislike a game where the premise is to steal the gamer’s soul. I find this theme in games much more difficult to accept than a good old cloak and dagger mystery theme. I wonder when developers will use their amazing creativity to come up with something other than soul thieves and demonic entities. This gamer is rather burned out by the same old rehashed storylines.
Not only is the storyline a rehash but Dealer’s Choice is simply puzzles, puzzles, and then more puzzles. Yes, the puzzles are fun and some are challenging even when the “easy” mode is selected. The puzzles were enjoyable but there were simply far too many of them with twice as many puzzles than HOPS in the game. Even though a few squeaky wheels seem to demand more puzzles in HOPA games, there are still many of us who play hidden object games because we love HOS.
The HOS are very good and they are well-crafted, some are even very creative. I found them very enjoyable but wish there had been more rather than finding a puzzle at almost every step in the game. As mentioned earlier the puzzles are very good with some of my favorites included in the mix.
The overall gameplay was excellent and there were a lot of activities to keep me busy. Even though some items were used almost immediately after they were found. Several lived in my inventory to be used later in the game and I had to remember exactly where I had seen the locations where they should be used.
Mystery Tales Dealer’s Choice is an excellent game that many of you will love but for me it was simply another cookie-cutter game with a theme that I didn’t like. Please try the demo to see if this game is for you. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
Can you uncover the origins of a dangerous ancient artifact in time?
Overall rating
4
/
5
76 of 103 found this review helpful
AN EXCELLENT BUT DIFFERENT HIDDEN EXPEDITION GAME
PostedApril 25, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromGolly, I can't seem to find my HE toolbox. Maybe Sam took it when he left. I had better go find him and get it back!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Recently I haven’t been very excited about the Hidden Expedition games but Neptune’s Gift did catch my attention. There is a lot to like about this game and a couple of things that I really didn’t like but for the most part the game is excellent.
The thing that confused me the most is that, although Neptune’s Gift is said to be a Hidden Expedition game, there seems to be only a vague link to H.E.L.P. Some of the things I liked the most about HE seem to be missing in this game and I wonder why the developer has moved away from what made this long-standing series one that many gamers looked forward to each year. I miss Sam who has been around forever but who is no longer is an integral part of the series. The HE interface is missing as well which seems odd but times change and apparently so do games!
The graphics are beautiful and the storyline only makes the game better. The downfall with the graphics is the blurred HOS where some items seem so indistinct or small that it made finding the items difficult. Not all scenes were like that but a good many of them were and I wish that this developer, who once created absolutely the best HOS, would return to what made them my favorite developer in the past. Although HOS are what I love the most in HOPA games, I have to admit that I did enjoy the puzzles in Neptune’s Gift. The puzzles seemed to be so integral to the storyline and they did not seem like they were thrown in everywhere just to have puzzles in the game. Although I found the puzzles very enjoyable, what I did not care for at all was the unnecessary gimmick puzzle that I had to solve simply to use one of my tools. Now that gimmick definitely classifies as a game extender and I can see no real reason it was there at all.
Even though Hidden Expedition Neptune’s Gift didn’t seem like a Hidden Expedition game, it was still one of the best HOPA games this year. The game did get off to a bit of a slow start but as I visited various locations and the story came together it became more exciting. The game might not appeal to die hard Hidden Expedition fans but if you can move away from the idea of having every Hidden Expedition tied to the traditional H.E.L.P. scenario then you might enjoy the game as well. As always, please try the demo to see if Neptune’s Gift is a game you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Reveal the fun paintings beneath the numbers in this colorful pixel art experience.
Overall rating
5
/
5
23 of 27 found this review helpful
A SOOTHING AND RELAXING GAME
PostedApril 23, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromHappily coloring the tiny squares to see the end result
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I absolutely fell in love with Pixel Art 1 last year and play it every day as my relaxing treat. Then this morning I woke up to a very happy surprise when I saw Pixel Art 2 because just a few days ago I was wishing the developer would create another Pixel Art game.
There is really nothing extraordinary about the game but if you ever used those paint by number kits as a kid, then this is the game for you. The concept is simple - find a number and then fill in the matching pixels. For me the game is very relaxing and when I want something to do without having to use too much brain power then this is my go-to game. Now with Pixel Art 2 I no longer have to erase the pictures from the first game and play them over and over again.
One of the differences with Pixel Art 2 is that the pictures are more complicated and offer exactly what I was missing with the first game. Originally there were only about 10 pictures out of the collection that I wanted to play and now with Pixel Art 2 I have a collection of more complicated graphs to complete.
I love that Pennmom called the game Zen-like because that is exactly what it is for me. Pixel Art 2 is a very soothing and relaxing game that takes me to my happy place. The minute I saw the game this morning I purchased it but, as always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if you will enjoy the game as much as I do. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you find out who’s kidnapping jurors before it’s too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
29 of 39 found this review helpful
THE DUPIN I LOVE IS BACK
PostedApril 21, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromIt looks like Dupin had a nice long nap and turned back the clock a bit
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
After either a facelift or a good long nap and an encounter with a razor, the Auguste Dupin I love is back. No more shaggy and worn around the edges Dupin in the game. Of course he still manages to act a bit bumbling as he directs me to do all of his running around, and it is rather impressive that the guy manages to look so fit with the lack of exercise he gets. At any rate Dupin is back in Dark Tales EAP’s Speaking with the Dead. As another reviewer said this is an excellent game and one that I’ve been waiting to see.
As is the case in all AMEX (formerly ERS) games the graphics are top of the line. The characters are created to perfection which has always been a major draw for me with any game from this developer. As great as the characters are however, the dialog is downright corny sometimes bordering on ridiculous.
The HOPS are excellent and one of the early ones in the game had me using the hint because the items were so well concealed. Of course there are far too many of the mini HOPS that I think are a bit lazy and an easy way out for us to find an item. I happen to love HOPS and that is true of the old school list type but I guess with gamers from all over the world playing these games, it is simply easier not to have to translate languages for the items to be found. As much as I loved the storyline and the HOPS, I can’t say the same for the puzzles. AMEX is one developer that still relies on the use of the click this or toggle that variety of puzzle and there were too many of those overly familiar ones in this game for my liking. I happened to skip almost all of them in this game and will go back to them one day when I feel that I have more of a tolerance for that model of puzzle. That being said, if I mostly ignore the puzzles this is an excellent game.
The storyline is excellent and does contain a few surprises that I didn’t expect. I always love it when I am playing a game and then something comes along that I hadn’t figured out earlier. When this happens it always makes the game so much more fun, at least for me.
As with most of the endless sequels here at BFG, I thought that Dark Tales EAP’s Speaking with the Dead would be a game I would skip but once I began playing I was hooked. I wasn’t even halfway through the demo before I decided that I wanted to play the full game and hit that buy button. Although I do think this is a wonderful game, please try the demo to see if you will enjoy this game as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
A series of museum robberies leads to a shocking discovery!
Overall rating
5
/
5
40 of 46 found this review helpful
ANNA AND RICHARD RETURN IN AN EXCELLENT NEW GRIM TALES
PostedApril 19, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromOh my, I almost forgot to put dad’s skull in my handbag. He hates to be left behind when there is a crime to solve.
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Anna Gray and the Grim Tales series return with game sixteen – The Nomad. This long-standing favorite series with many gamers is also one with which I happen to have a love-hate relationship. Some of the earlier games had a tendency to be what some might consider a bit gritty but the later games have been far more to my liking. The Nomad happens to fall on the “love” side of the scale for me. From the moment I began playing I found myself involved in what I consider to be one of the better stories of the series.
I generally am fairly outspoken about the lack of a “true custom mode” in games and this one does not allow the gamer to set their preference for the Hint and Skip times. I happen to believe that customization should offer an open-ended scale for those times.
There is no need to recap the story as you can find that information on the game’s home page and when you play the demo. I enjoyed the storyline in the game and it is very well told as you progress with the gameplay.
When the game begins we have the general task to find items that we need to open either HOP scenes or Puzzles. Although the presentation of the HOPS might not be for everyone, I loved them and enjoyed finding the items, even the ones that were well-concealed. There is some variety in the HOPS but most are presented in the list find style that I enjoy the most. As much as I enjoyed the HOPS, I found the Puzzles to be even better. The puzzles might seem easy but they are still excellent and include many of my old-time favorites beginning with the one where we need to move the tiles to open a lock. This particular puzzle is easier than it has been in other games but I still enjoyed it. Of course The Nomad wouldn’t be a game from this developer if we didn’t find a missing zipper pull. Whenever I come across the missing zipper pull I have to chuckle because I know so many gamers hate having to open a case where one is missing.
With several of the last Grim Tales games we have the addition of Anna’s deceased father Richard whose skull is tagging along to help Anna solve each case. I don’t know many people who have an attachment to carting dad’s skull everywhere they go but Richard does add levity to the game. It took me a few games to get used to Richard but he has definitely grown on me and I think he is a needed element in the game. Some might think of Richard as a gimmick but he does provide some help when needed without being too intrusive.
The game has six chapters and I actually consider it to be a long game but that is because I don’t rush to see how fast I can get to the finish line. For me the enjoyment of playing is seeing every little detail in each scene and reading all of the news clippings or slips of paper that are found. CE games are my favorite since I love finding all of the collectibles and morphing objects. Yes many of the items are easy to find but not all of them jump right out at me. Another thing that I enjoy about The Nomad is that there is backtracking between the scenes. I don’t particularly care to pick up a hammer and then glance at the wall and find a nail that I should remove from a board immediately upon finding the hammer or any other tool. I love having a large inventory and then having to remember where I might need to use one of the items. Some might consider this to be a time-filler but I think it makes for a better game and is no more of a time-filler than having to play a puzzle in order to use an item.
Grim Tales: The Nomad is a wonderful game and perfect for the way I like to play. I purchased the game almost immediately and have had no regrets. The gameplay is entertaining and the storyline is excellent. I own every Grim Tales game since the series began with The Bride, and I often replay some of them each year. Even though Grim Tales: The Nomad is one I enjoy, please try the demo to see is it is a game that you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!