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:
Puss in Boots just showed up at my office with a request. Help investigate the kidnapping of his beloved and delve into a world full of secrets!
Overall rating
2
/
5
25 of 38 found this review helpful
WEEPING SKIES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SO MUCH BETTER
PostedJanuary 13, 2016
biscuitsmama
fromIt is really sad that the tools do not work well in this game. I could have loved it!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Weeping Skies is a HOPA game that could have been so much better, and one that I think you will either love or hate. This is a game from a new developer; at least I have never seen them before, or it has been sitting on in the BFG vault forever. Your father is the famed detective, Sherlock Steel, who has suddenly aged and you are desperately trying to raise enough money to purchase an elixir that will restore his vitality. Enter Puss n’ Boots whose new wife has been kidnapped and he will do anything to find her. If you take the case and return the beloved Beauty to the arms of Puss, you will be able to purchase that very costly elixir and save dad.
The graphics seem old school and rather cartoonish at times, with many characters who are quite odd. With no voiceovers (even though we see flapping lips when a character is speaking) and poorly translated dialogue, it was difficult to follow the storyline. The game offers only three modes of gameplay with no custom mode. There were some technical issues when the game started but I was able to get around those by using the CAD thing to terminate the game. As soon as I selected the task manager the game opened in widescreen and I could proceed. Unfortunately, I am not sure that was a good thing because the game has a lot of technical issues with the tools not functioning as they should. The hint button will either provide a useless hint or the map will open. If the map opens, it only indicates the general area of where there might be something to do so it was not helpful at all. Another tool is the magnifying glass that allows us to have a close-up view in certain areas. The magnifying glass will jiggle to let us know there is an area that must be examined; however, it is not at all obvious where that should be. Those of you who hate sparkles in a game will appreciate not having them in Weeping Skies but it does make it difficult to find that one pixel to click where the magnifying glass will open a HO scene or something else.
The HO scenes are very interactive and I found them challenging as well as entertaining. The items we need to find are not always obvious so it took some time to find what was needed to complete the scene. Unfortunately I can’t really say anything about the puzzles since I couldn’t locate the items needed to trigger them. Progress was very slow and difficult since the magnifying glass and hint button didn’t work as they should. One puzzle I did notice is one where we need to reassemble a picture by sliding various puzzle strips to the correct location. Admittedly I didn’t make much progress in the game so I have no idea how many or what puzzles might be found later.
If the game was more refined and IF the tools functioned well, I would be far more interested in Weeping Skies. It was rather disappointing that the tools didn’t function because I really wanted to like the game since it had a lot of promise to be excellent. The gameplay seemed to be more challenging than in some newer games but perhaps that was only because the tools didn’t seem to function. I hate to admit it, but I was stumped and couldn’t continue the game. Unfortunately, I can’t even recommend the game and that is sad because it has so much potential. As always, at least try the demo because you might have better luck with the game.
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
49 of 57 found this review helpful
SAVE THE KING AS YOU EXPLORE THE ISLANDS TO FIND THE CURE
PostedJanuary 12, 2016
biscuitsmama
fromMerrily exploring and building my way through the islands
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Oh no, the king has been poisoned but the healers have no cure. An old wizard steps up and tells the queen he can save her precious mate but he needs to collect very rare ingredients. Since the wizard is old, the queen recommends YOU, to go on a quest to find the rarest of plants to save the king and the kingdom.
There are very few controls in the game and I didn’t see where we could select a gameplay mode. One of the things about My Island Kingdom is that the levels must be completed by using only a specified number of moves. I was a bit leery at first because I am fairly new to playing TM games but I found that I completed the first level with plenty of moves left. The tutorial is excellent and provides tips on how to accomplish tasks with the least amount of moves.
The graphics are quite bright but the music is that annoying fast paced beat that I hate and the first thing I did was turn it as low as possible. I tend to like to play games at my leisure and at fortunately completing a level within a certain number of moves makes a level more strategic than having to beat the clock. However, each level has progressively more difficult tasks and what a surprise when I found that there is a timer on the higher stages in each level. I was blissfully playing the stage when suddenly it ended and told me I ran out of time. Fortunately, I had the option of moving onto the next level. As I become better at the game, I can go back and try to beat that ole timer so I can earn more XP.
Still even though there is a time factor in the higher stages, this is still an excellent TM game. I have been a huge HOPA fan and I always avoided the TM games as if they were the plague. That changed when I encountered a TM game in the autumn of 2015 that was spectacular. Since that time I have been trying more of these games and have found them to be very entertaining. Some are better than others and, at least for me, My Island Kingdom is an excellent game. I don’t know if I will ever be able to play the higher stages in each level but since I have the option of moving forward it is okay. If you are new to playing TM games, this might just be an excellent game to help you get started. As always, please try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Find lost gems and use special board tools to solve challenging Match-3 puzzles in totally new ways.
Overall rating
5
/
5
78 of 97 found this review helpful
FIND YOUR MISSING COUSIN IN THIS TERRIFIC MATCH-3 GAME
PostedJanuary 11, 2016
biscuitsmama
fromSpecial gems and powerful tools make this a special game
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Antique Shop Lost Gems Egypt is a very interesting match-3 game. One of the unique things about the game is that the power-ups and tools you can purchase as you acquire gems. The tools allow for some very interesting game mechanics that add a new dimension to playing the match-3 boards.
There is a backstory that you learn as you complete each level in the game. Your cousin Emily has gone missing and your search to find her takes you to some very interesting locations. There are some nice background graphics but I found the one in the demo to be very washed out and rather misty in appearance. For me the game becomes excellent with the new style of game mechanics that create a wonderful challenge.
There are so many match-3 games on the market that I have become rather bored with them in general but every so often a game comes along that raises the bar. If you are looking for something different with a bit more challenge than is normally present in a match-3 game, then I recommend that you try the demo because Antique Shop Lost Gems Egypt is a terrific game.
I recommend this game!
Someone's out for revenge, and she'll stop at nothing to get it.
Overall rating
5
/
5
67 of 80 found this review helpful
A VENGEFUL SPIRIT IS CREATING CHAOS IN THIS WONDERFUL GAME
PostedJanuary 10, 2016
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the third game in the Spirit of Revenge series and this one might just be the best. It is, IMHO, a terrific game. Once again, you play the game as Brenda Gale (an investigative parapsychologist) and this time you have recently returned home after some exciting cases in England. It seems that you have returned none too soon when you receive a desperate phone call from your sister letting you know that your niece Lisa has disappeared with the other children while they were at camp. Once you begin your investigation you discover that a horrible fate awaits the children and that you must find them as quickly as possible.
There are four modes of gameplay including a custom mode where you can set your hint and skip options to recharge in a range of 15 to 270 seconds. Graphics are quite good and while the lip-synced voiceovers are generally good, the sheriff’s hokey accent is silly and downright annoying.
Your tools include an interactive map that you find early in the game and a Ghost Catcher that is a scanner of sorts. Fortunately it doesn’t need to be charged each time we need to use it so it isn’t a gimmick and does serve a purpose in the game.
The HOPS excellent and seem a bit different than what we normally see. Some of the HOPS are multi-tiered and almost seem like puzzles. Wow, there are lots of puzzles in this game – far more than there are HOPS. Some of the puzzles are tricky and during the demo there is a super puzzle that I loved. Even though there were some different puzzles, one of the first has appeared in a lot of games and that is one where we must safely navigate our way up a cliff or mountainside while avoiding the pitfalls.
Since I am a huge fan of puzzles in a game, Gem Fury is perfect for me and the way I like to play. There is a lot of adventure and discovery along with HOPS in the game so it is not one puzzle after another but there seem to be more than usual for HOPA games. I found the storyline good (although worn out) and I am beginning to tire of an unspecified evil that has reincarnated, been released, or never died that is seeking to take over the world or wreak revenge on others. Surely, it is time for developers to look outward towards the stars and maybe come up with some new game plans. Of course if you are not a HOPA addict, then you probably are not tired of the plethora of evil that has been unleashed in recent games. In spite of the well-worn storyline, I still loved the game because of all its bits and pieces that came together to create an excellent game. Please try the demo first to see if Spirit of Revenge Gem Fury is the game for you.
I recommend this game!
The past isn’t set in stone. Now’s your chance to change it!
Overall rating
5
/
5
115 of 195 found this review helpful
CAN YOU SAVE PETER AND SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF DEBBY?
PostedJanuary 9, 2016
biscuitsmama
fromIs Debby really ill? Only time will hold the answers you seek.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well, it should come as no surprise that once again you play a game as a detective. This time you receive an alarming call from the director of the agency who needs your help when your friend and colleague, Peter, disappeared shortly after he searched the archives to locate several items that the agency classified as extremely dangerous. What was Peter searching for and why? After arriving at Peter’s home you come face to face with him when he goes on a rampage and tries to kill you. What has happened and why has Peter turned into a madman? Changing the Past is a very good game that allows you to travel to different times and places as you try save Peter, undo the damage he has caused, and figure out why his fiancé is pretending to be terminally ill, which is what started him on this path of destruction.
Changing the Past is a game that offers almost everything I look for that, at least for me, makes a game one that I will enjoy. It has excellent graphics that are very sharp and crystal clear. I like the intense color palette the artists used to create the graphics much more than I do those in a game where everything is pink, purple and blue. The lip-synced voiceovers are generally very good, but there is one that could have been better. The game offers four modes of gameplay including a Custom Mode so you have the option to set up gameplay for the way you like to play. The full game includes 5 chapters plus the bonus game.
Your tools include an interactive map and a watch that allows you to turn back time so that you can avoid dangerous situations.
The HOPS are varied with some interaction required to find a few of the items. The scenes were well-crafted and most of the items were fairly easy to find even though some of them were very well hidden. Most of the HOPS were slightly interactive and it wasn’t difficult to figure out what items needed to be used and where in order to complete the scene. There is one HOP where we need to find all of the morphing objects in order to open the list of items to be found.
Even though the puzzles were nothing I haven’t seen before, I still enjoyed them. There was one puzzle early in the game though that really made me very dizzy as I tried to grab the speeding letters as they went flying by. I almost skipped that one but did make it through without too much trouble. That particular puzzle might be difficult for anyone who suffers from vertigo so you might want to skip it. I am sure you will know the puzzle I am referring to as soon as you see it. A puzzle I loved involves restoring a map, but it is not as easy as it seems since it becomes progressively more difficult with each level.
The CE content includes collectibles to find - figurines, artifacts and puzzle pieces. There are also achievements to earn and the other standards that we find in most CE games that include bonus gameplay, a strategy guide, replay of HOPS and mini-games, wallpapers, concept art, and music. Overall it is a decent CE package.
Although I did not care for the last game in the Labyrinth series, this one is a vast improvement. I generally like games from this development team and find that in general they present a bit more challenge that is something most of us want in HOPA games. Not everyone will like this game as much as I do but I think it is excellent as I am enjoying the storyline and gameplay. There is the mystery of Debby and why she is faking her illness – or is she? My recommendation is that you try the demo to see if Labyrinths of the World Changing the Past is a game that you will also enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Turn back time to save your true love!
Overall rating
3
/
5
31 of 43 found this review helpful
A Tale Of Star-Crossed Lovers And The Evil Count Who Strives To Keep Them Apart
PostedJanuary 8, 2016
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
You play the game as Jacques D’ Perrault and you find yourself in prison with no memory of who you are or why you are there. Just before you are scheduled to be executed, you are visited by a stranger who says he is going to help you escape and that is where your adventure begins. The year is 1789 and apparently you have kidnapped and seriously wounded the future countess D’Morten and that is why you are awaiting your execution so now you must reconstruct what happened and prove your innocence before the blade falls.
The game offers four modes of gameplay: Casual, Advanced, Expert, and Custom. I always select the custom mode when it is offered so that I can set up the hint and skip times for my preference. The graphics are excellent and some scenes are beautiful BUT there is also a bit too much use of purple and pink in some of those scenes. The game has excellent lip-synced voiceovers and with the inclusion of the music and special sound effects the game comes to life.
Many of the hidden object scenes are interactive and they are not always obvious. I sometimes didn’t realize when I was in a HO scene because they were woven seamlessly into the storyline. I very seldom have to resort to using the hint button to locate items in the HO scenes in a game but I found that I needed it more frequently in this game. I guess that means either the game is more difficult or the items are just invisible. Frankly, I think it is a combination of both as some items were very well hidden and were not in my face obvious. On the other hand, the puzzles were very easy, in fact extremely so. In the words of another excellent reviewer, his wonder dog Stanley could complete the puzzles with a tap of his paw. Yes, the puzzles are that easy but hopefully they will pick up in difficulty later in the game
The game has an interesting but sometimes familiar storyline of a Count obsessed with power and the young lovers he attempts to destroy. As we delve further into the story we find a more sinister count with a history of many wives. The fact that the count kept ridding himself of wives is a similar theme to the story of Bluebeard but told with a different twist. Although the storyline is familiar and a bit wornout, I like this game and it has enough challenge to keep my brain busy even with the easy puzzles. Even though the game was one I liked, please try Immortal Love Letters from the Past to see if it is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Hidden Expedition: The Fountain of Youth Collector's Edition
There’s more to this restoration project than meets the eye.
Overall rating
5
/
5
44 of 147 found this review helpful
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH PROVES THAT THE BAR CAN BE RAISED. AN AWESOME GAME!
PostedJanuary 7, 2016
biscuitsmama
fromI've got to find that Fountain of Youth and rescue the other HELP agents
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As an agent of the prestige Hidden Expedition team you have been called upon to investigate the loss of communication with three HELP agents who were overseeing an archeologic reconstruction site in Sri Lanka that is being financed by a very shady businessman Darius Aturnin. As you arrive at the site you learn that the agents have been captured so now you are on a rescue mission. It soon becomes apparent that more is going on at the site than originally suspected. Will you be able to save the agents and find out what Aturnin is hoping to find at the site? So ditch those expensive anti-aging products, you might just find the mythic Fountain of Youth as you do some globe hopping in this terrific new Hidden Expedition game!
Fountain of Youth has wonderful graphics and top-notch voiceovers. There is my favorite custom setting so I am happy. Tools include the HELP box where you will gather fact cards and other information about your mission. There is an interactive map to help you keep track of locations
After playing so many HOPA games it is not often that I am surprised by the HOPS but all I can say is that this awesome and creative development team has once again raised the bar. The HOPS are varied, interactive and many contain mini-games. I am very impressed and found the HOPS to be excellent. Not only are the HOPS awesome the puzzles are terrific and some of them are quite challenging. AGAIN, I am amazed that this developer just keeps raising the bar and creating such wonderful games. There is no need to tell you all the details of the puzzles and HOPS since discovery is more fun so I will leave it to others to let you know what to expect.
There is a lot of CE content that includes collectibles and morphing objects. You are going to need to keep your eyes open on this one because the morphing objects are not all found in the usual places. Aside from the bonus game and strategy guide there are many extras included so Fountain of Youth is a great CE value.
The Hidden Expedition series has always been a favorite of mine with some of the games being better than others. The Fountain of Youth is probably going to be right up there at the top of the list because it proves that this game developer keeps stretching their creativity to give us what we want in games. All that is left to do now is grab a cup of coffee and play this awesome game! Happy gaming everyone: what a great way to kick off the games for 2016!
I recommend this game!
Sable Maze: Soul Catcher Collector's Edition
After 20 years, you're ready to make peace with your brother's disappearance. But the spirit world has other plans for you... Welcome to the other side!
Overall rating
4
/
5
71 of 117 found this review helpful
A REVISIT TO SULLIVAN RIVER IN THIS NEW SABLE MAZE
PostedDecember 31, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromLooking for Darren: could he still be alive in the maze?
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Our story begins with a revisit to Sullivan’s River where twenty years ago where several people vanished including your brother Darren who has been coming to you in your dreams. Your brother’s body was never found so what is he trying to tell you? Maybe this visit Sullivan River and the creation of a memorial might just be the thing to put your mind at ease. As you are preparing the memorial to your brother and the others who are missing you are suddenly whisked away to another reality and this is where the search for Darren really heats up.
The game does offer a custom mode so if you like to set up your hint and skip times here’s your chance. The voiceovers are good but lip sync is a bit odd and sometimes is shown in close-up circles while there is no lip movement in the larger screen and at other times there is lip-sync without the close-up, which makes it seem rather hit or miss. It is not a big thing in the scheme of the game but it points out a lack of attention to detail.
Your tools include an interactive map that is found early in the game. To access your map you will click on the tablet in the lower left section of your screen. The other tool is a rune sign that wards off evil spirits but, beware, you must complete a mini-game before it can be used. The mini-game is not one of my favorites and I am sure those evil spirits would have devoured me before I ever managed to charge the rune if this was real life and not a game.
The HOPS are interactive and multi-tiered meaning that in many of them we must first find so many of two types of items to open the scene. Even though the list of items to find in some of the HOPS, they were a bit challenging at times. If the game has a strong point, it is the puzzles. There are far more puzzles than there are HOPS and although some of them are easy many seemed more difficult. I particularly disliked the rune activating puzzle because I often find that type of puzzle frustrating.
There is not much to say about the CE content because it is fairly standard and you either like the CEs or you don’t. For those of you who want to know there are collectibles and morphing objects.
In Soul Catcher we are AGAIN dealing with an evil being who steals souls and I am becoming so bored with this overworked theme. Can’t anyone come up with something new? I keep thinking, and I must be wrong, that game developers are very creative but obviously they only know how to do one thing repetitively. Although we are revisiting Sullivan River, Soul Catcher is more of a fantasy type game with lots of color rather than the decaying camp setting of the original game. Even though I am tired of the storyline theme, I do like many of the puzzles, and overall found the game playable and entertaining. It was easier in Soul Catcher to figure out where to go and what to do because of the interactive map but I found the puzzles a bit more difficult. My plea to game devs is that with the start of a new year, perhaps they can close the book on this rehashed storyline and come up with something refreshing. I am still going to give the game high marks for graphics and gameplay because I am sure that there are many of you who will be over the moon with the game. As for me, it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for but there is always next year. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if Soul Catcher is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
Use the power of the magic cards and rebuild the elven island!
Overall rating
5
/
5
44 of 52 found this review helpful
A BEAUTIFUL, AWESOME SOLITAIRE GAME. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!
PostedDecember 29, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromLoving every moment of Far Kingdoms Sacred Grove!
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Yes, I know we have seen the one up or one down type of solitaire games over and over but Far Kingdoms Sacred Grove is really quite beautiful and, IMHO, the perfect solitaire for hours of relaxing enjoyment along with a nice cup of tea. The graphics are lovely and full of elven fantasy. Not only are the graphics just what I look forward to in a game, the music is very relaxing so I don’t feel the need to turn it off. All in all this is a wonderful solitaire game.
You play the game as the elven queen who has arrived at the Sacred Grove only to find that it has been destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake. The druid kingdom was one a place of powerful magic but right now it seems that is no longer the case so what is there to do but roll up your sleeves and get busy restoring the once magical Sacred Grove. As we play through the levels we find or earn crystals that will help us restore the druid kingdom and bring back the magic. After you earn enough crystals you can purchase buildings or items that will help you in your quest to rebuild. Sometimes when you purchase a building it comes with extra surprises and power-ups that will be helpful as you play the levels. I love the extras that come my way such as a jigsaw puzzle to complete. The game is a surprise and certainly not your boring standard solitaire game. I love it!
Even though I probably have enough solitaire games to keep me happy for years into the future, Far Kingdoms Sacred Grove is one I must add to my collection. If you happen to love solitaire and beautiful graphics, please try the demo to see if this is a must have for you too.
I recommend this game!
After being contacted by a secret organization of elite mystery solvers, you're sent out in the field to prove your skills. This job interview may be your last!
Overall rating
3
/
5
43 of 56 found this review helpful
I THINK I SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE DIRECTOR NO RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING
PostedDecember 27, 2015
biscuitsmama
fromA tedious game that should have been left in the Museum of Dusty BFG games
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
In The Curio Society Eclipse over Mesina, you play a detective who has developed quite a reputation in solving previous cases. That reputation has caught the eye of a secret organization, The Curio Society who invites you to join them, well that is if you can pass their tests. So with their card in hand you head for the Museum of Rare Antiquities to see what lies ahead. After playing the game, I think it would have been better had I passed on this one and thrown that card away.
The game has four modes of gameplay: Casual, Advanced, Hardcore, and Custom. If you choose the Custom setting you can fiddle with different settings to set up the game for the way you like to play. In the Custom mode the hints and puzzle skips will recharge in a range of 15 – 90 seconds each. There are not a lot of other settings except to turn of sparkles and the tutorial. The graphics are okay but not as sharp as I like in a game. The voiceovers are hokey and they don’t get any better.
The interactive transporter type map is present at the beginning of the game. Your other tools include a suitcase that is used to analyze bits and pieces of evidence that will provide information on the assembled clues. You also have “Harry” who is useful at times. Although it lives in your inventory you have another tool, a Light Cannon that requires special mirrors before each use.
The HOPS are interactive and varied in style with some being the list type while others are the silhouette type. If you really don’t want to find the items in the HOPS then you can switch to a match 3 game. At least in the beginning of the game, the puzzles were insultingly easy and it felt like they were thrown in to serve as nothing more than time-fillers. The good news is that as the game progresses the puzzles have a bit more substance and improve in difficulty.
The Curio Society Eclipse Over Mesina is one of those games that you will either love or hate. It is not often that I don’t care for a game but this game just didn’t grab me. The dialogue was choppy and seemed ludicrous at times. I it felt like the game was thrown together without a lot of attention to the fine points that make a game at least playable if not interesting. It doesn’t help that Eclipse Over Mesina is another game with the worn out story line of an ancient evil that is wreaking havoc on a city. Given that most game developers have some level of creativity it would be very refreshing if they would manage to come up with something new. Although Eclipse Over Mesina is not the game for me, I recommend that you try the demo because you might have a different opinion.
I don't recommend this game.