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:
Can you stop history from repeating itself before it’s too late?
Overall rating
5
/
5
54 of 59 found this review helpful
STOP LANCER BEFORE HE CAPTURES THE ALL THE DEMIGODS
PostedNovember 3, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromI think I need this artifact so that I can communicate with my dogs particularly the headstrong little Chihuahua
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Finally, a game that I could enjoy without having to play puzzle after puzzle. In fact, I became so involved enjoying the game that I lost track of time. For many seasoned gamers, this one might seem very easy, and at times it was. That being said the game flowed well and I did enjoy it.
From the moment the game began, I enjoyed being off on a journey to save my friend Madeleine and put an end to Lancer’s reign of terror across the Empire. For me what made this game more enjoyable was not having to stop to play a puzzle at every turn. I am an avowed HOS fan but not so much of the puzzles. I do enjoy puzzles but I don’t want to play a game that has sixty of them thrown into the game simply to make it seem longer.
For a change I didn’t seem to mind all of the bright colors that this developer normally uses in its games. Maybe because rather than all of those pinks and purples set in dark backgrounds, this game was lightened up by bright skies. There were some darker scenes but not as many in the other games.
The HOS were very creative and some took me a while to make my way through as it was sometimes difficult to find the items I needed. Not because they were to small but because they were cleverly hidden and many required interactions with other items to find. I loved this game even though there is a translation gimmick that allows us to talk to the various animals in the game. Before each use of the device, there is a mini game of finding symbols to translate. I don’t normally enjoy gimmicks but this one didn’t bother me and at times was quite enjoyable.
The puzzles were almost always easy, even when I chose the hard setting. Even the maze puzzle was very easy and it is almost as if the developer didn’t spend as much time in creating the puzzles. I do enjoy good puzzles in a game particularly when they are not all crowded into each scene but these did seem quite easy.
It is not often that HOPA games have me riveted to my chair but I really couldn’t stop playing. For me this game is one I’ve really liked and that is what matters most. Why play a HOPA that you dislike simply to say you completed the game. So even though the game isn’t perfect it is still had what I enjoyed the most with very good HOS. Even though I find this to be a very enjoyable game, please try the demo to see if Enchanted Kingdom Arcadian Backwoods is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
When the game worlds collapse, help can only come from one place. The real world!
Overall rating
2
/
5
24 of 28 found this review helpful
DO YOU LOVE PUZZLES? IF YOU DO THIS IS THE GAME FOR YOU
PostedNovember 1, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromI long for the good old days when HOPA games were filled with wonderful HOS and far fewer puzzles.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
When I saw a new game by one of my longtime favorite developers, Worlds: Align Beginning, I was hopeful that this would be just the breath of fresh air that was needed. Unfortunately, I found nothing new as I waded through puzzle after puzzle to make any progress in the game.
The concept of bringing characters from their favorite series together in a new game series has been done far better, IMHO, by another developer. That being said there were some touches of creativity in the game but overall there was nothing new. Unless you are a fan of puzzles, I doubt you will find much to be excited about in World’s Align.
As always, the graphics in the game are terrific but there was a black screen lag between the scenes and the many cutscenes. For the most part the voiceovers are the same for the characters but the grating voice of death was just terrible.
The HOS were very good and did show some creativity with most scenes while some had quite a bit of interaction as well. I’m not going to get into the puzzles because there were simply too many of them in the game. I dislike the battle type scenes and skipped those off immediately. The other puzzles were okay but they were the same old recycled puzzles that this developer has used for years.
In the end the game is one that I think is okay if you like puzzles. Since I am not a fan of games that use puzzles to fill the time and replace any real attempt at an interesting storyline, the game is not one that I found enjoyable. Although I did purchase the game, it will most likely sit in my Game Manager without being completed. As always, I suggest you try the demo particularly if you enjoy solving puzzles because you will most likely enjoy this game. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
A family reunion at the Sweet 18 hotel turns into a night of terror!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 85 found this review helpful
A GREAT GAME FOR HALLOWEEN NIGHT
PostedOctober 31, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromCandied apple, check. A popcorn ball, check. A bag of candy, check. A cup of hot apple cider, check – oh and a great game to play – perfect for a Halloween night!
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Haunted Hotel Room 18 is probably one of my favorite Halloween games of the season. Actually, it is probably one of my favorite games in the Haunted Hotel series. There is so much to like in this game, starting with an excellent storyline. The graphics are excellent, showcasing the versatility of this developer. I remember when the first Haunted Hotel games were released and this game definitely reminds me of what originally made this one of my favorite series.
Okay, so at least for me the gameplay seemed rather easy at times and perhaps a bit predictable but nevertheless, I found Room 18 to be such a wonderful game for Halloween and so enjoyable. Another surprise is that I absolutely enjoyed every puzzle in the game. There was a new puzzle, or at least one that I don’t recall seeing in the past, and I loved fiddling around to move those keys into the correct position. There was also another puzzle that I’ve not seen in ages that is a different spin on the unblock me type. For someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy too many puzzles in HOPA games, I found those in Room 18 to very entertaining.
The HOS were fun and I didn’t have any issues finding the items whether they were on lists by silhouettes. The HOS included various styles but were predominately the list type that I love. The only style of HOS I truly dislike is the one where we need to find matching pairs of items hidden behind other objects in the scene. There were several of the storybook type scenes and I did find some of the required items difficult to locate. Overall, the HOS were very good and as much fun as the puzzles.
The spooky atmosphere added to the creepiness of the game and at times I felt like I was going to jump out of my chair. I love a game that has this sort of feel to it and that the unexpected did happen. Although some of the gameplay was predictable and found items were used right away, at other times some items remained in my inventory until later. There did seem to be a bit of back and forth and the map did help when I wasn’t sure where to get back to the place where I knew that an item should be used. In the end, I think this is a wonderful game that is suitable for teens as well as adults.
Since I had played the beta for the game, it was one that I knew I would purchase right away and I did. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a second game that I wanted for the BOGO so I ended up paying full price for the game. Even though I knew I wanted Haunted Hotel Room 18, as always, please try the demo to see if it is one you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
A journey into the mirror world unleashes a powerful villain!
Overall rating
3
/
5
28 of 44 found this review helpful
ALICE IS BACK FIGHTING THE DARKNESS IN ONE OF THE THIS DEVS MOST DISAPPOINTING GAMES
PostedOctober 27, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromEnemy in Reflection went downhill fairly quickly. I’m still not sure how that happened but I was so disappointed after the demo.
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Darkness and Flame returns with one of the most disappointing games to date. Enemy in Reflection had me fooled and what began as a good game simply didn’t hold up in the end. I’m not sure what happened but maybe having far too many puzzles finally got to me. What I love most about this developer are those amazing HOS they create for their games and, unfortunately, they were sadly lacking in this game. I gave the game a glowing review based on the demo and wish I hadn’t because the game was simply not this developer’s best work at all.
I own every game from this developer and when I see a new one, I grab it as soon as its released. After playing Enemy in Reflection I will make sure I try before I buy in the future. I’m not sure what went so wrong with this game but the storyline didn’t grab me in the end. In fact, I never finished the game which is unheard of when it comes to games from my favorite developer. Sadly the game will sit on the self never to be played again.
If you are familiar with games from this developer then you will know what to expect as you play the HOPS. The scenes take a long time to complete as you must first locate the items either from a list or by silhouette and then you must figure out what to do with the found item before you will be able to find the next one. I love the creativity this developer puts into their HOPS that are some of the best you will find in HOPA game land. That being said, there were not many of those wonderful scenes in this game.
Puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles which is my major complain with Enemy in Reflection. That being said the puzzles will delight most gamers who long for them in HOPA games. My preference would be a balance between the HOPS and Puzzles but that sure didn’t happen with this game. Even though I am not a fan of too many puzzles, I think that most of them are very good, even the ones that I struggled with. In the end I skipped most of them because they were far too time consuming to play.
Darkness and Flame Enemy in Reflection is a game worth owning if all you look for is lots of puzzles to solve, however with the lack of great HOS it’s one I have second thoughts about purchasing. I purchased the game the minute it was released and that was a huge mistake. So I should have taken my own advice to always try the demo first. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
Help Emma dig through the poisonous pieces of this family mystery and solve the case! Play Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises Collector’s Edition!
Overall rating
1
/
5
54 of 92 found this review helpful
COMIC BOOK GRAPHICS AND JUNKPILE HOS MAKE THIS GAME A BUST FOR ME
PostedOctober 26, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromCould have been so much better without the junkpile HOS and more refinement to the graphics
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I love a good whodunit game but this is not one of them. What I played of the game seemed rather hokey to me and simply wouldn’t hold my attention. The cartoonish graphics that seemed flat in the scenes simply made the game seem second rate and couldn’t compare to some of the better games from this developer.
The worst part of this game for me were the overcrowded, junkpile HOS that had almost invisible items to locate and the mini-games that were far too easy. I dislike too many puzzles in HOPA games and it seems like the ones in this game were far too many and simply thrown in to give the gamer something to do.
As much as I appreciate a good mystery, Family Mysteries Poisonous Promises just wasn’t one of the better ones. I guess the voiceovers and the graphics simply didn’t appeal to me at all. At times the game seemed that it was pieced together and rushed to publication. The storyline was okay but the gameplay didn’t appeal to me. In fact, I could hardly complete the demo as the game didn’t hold my attention. I happen to know that this developer is capable of so much more than this comic book type game. I guess the bad HOS in the beginning of the game simply put me off. As always, I recommend that you try the demo because you might enjoy this game far more than I did. Happy gaming!
I don't recommend this game.
Can you save the townspeople from a maniacal specter in time?
Overall rating
5
/
5
46 of 59 found this review helpful
ANOTHER EXCELLENT PARANORMAL FILES THAT WILL “HOOK” YOU ON THE SERIES
PostedOctober 25, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromA wonderful ghostly mystery to kick off the Halloween season
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hunky paranormal detective Rick Rogers is back in the third Paranormal Files: The Hook Man’s Legend, a terrific ghostly whodunit mystery. You will have to sort fact from fiction as you strive to find what is real and what isn’t in Ashen Valley. I loved the previous two Paranormal Files games, both of which were rated four plus stars by other gamers and I predict that this one will reach the top of the charts as well.
The HOPS were very creative and I particularly enjoyed the one with a slider component. I hate to give away the details in a game so will only say that I believe all of the HOPS are terrific and for me one of the best components of the game, or more accurately they are the best.
Not only are the HOPS excellent, the well-designed Puzzles are possibly even better, and this comes from someone who is not a fan of puzzles. Even though some were based on puzzles I’ve seen in the past, they were somehow changed to make them even better. The great thing about both the HOPS and Puzzles is that there is a fairly equal balance between the two so we don’t have a game that has far too many more puzzles than HOPS.
As with the previous two games the storyline is well developed and told in a manner that unfolds as you find the usual clues and bits and pieces as you move through the game. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded and soon found myself so interested that I kept wanting to learn more about The Hook Man. The gameplay did involve a fair amount of back and forth but as I was hunting for the items I might need, but I liked that I did not have to stop frequently to play a Puzzle or HOP scene that seemed to interrupt the game flow.
Another thing that I really like in some of the more recent games is that more developers are going back to having larger inventories where we are carrying a lot more items with us as we more back and forth between the scenes so that we need to remember where a particular inventory item might be used. In the earlier days of HOPA games, we sometimes had ten or more items in inventory and there was a lot of back and forth in the games as well, which is something that I really liked. At some point, the games became more linear and with that feature they became much easier and so straightforward, losing some of the challenge that was once found in the HOPA games. Now, at least with the larger amounts of inventory items some of the challenge has returned.
Paranormal Files The Hook Man’s Legend is a game that I highly recommend but, as always, please try the demo to see if it is a game that you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
A trio of masks could bring about an era of nightmares!
Overall rating
5
/
5
122 of 155 found this review helpful
MY NEW FAVORITE HALLOWEEN GAME THAT IS DESTINED TO BECOME A SEASONAL CLASSIC
PostedOctober 24, 2019
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wow, Halloween Chronicles Evil Behind a Mask is an awesome and the perfect Halloween game. There is just enough scare factor to make it great fun without it being far too creepy. I love it, and I am not a huge fan of most of the Halloween games we’ve had this year.
The graphics are terrific and even with this developer’s love of intense coloration in its games, these are far more Halloween appropriate. I enjoy seeing and finding all of the little detail in each scene. There are some in the HOPS that I even though they were not on the item list, they were fun to click to see what happened. Something that I truly appreciate is that this developer has listened to gamers and given us true Custom Setting in its games. I appreciate being able to set my own hint and skip times to my own specifications.
The HOS are very creative and they are not simply ones where we find the items. I’ve had fun playing through the scenes and finding all of the little special details hidden within. One of my favorite HOS is the carousel but there are many more, all of them so creative and well-designed. Some of the HOS are multi-level as well. There is a Match-3 game included that you can switch to if you don’t want to play the HOS.
I found the Mini Games or Puzzles to be as much fun as the HOS. The puzzles were, at least for me, as enjoyable as the HOS, which doesn’t often happen. Most of the puzzles have been seen in other games and most were easy but, of course, I play in the “Easy” mode. One of the puzzles I enjoyed the most was the one where I had to adjust light beams to turn off pairs of orbs but there were still others that were as enjoyable.
Overall, this game was so wonderful that I know I will play it again, and it is destined to become my favorite Halloween classic. The entire game is so creative and filled with Halloween fun that even the bad guy doesn’t seem that creepy. Kudos to the developer for creating one of the best ever Halloween games that I am sure will become a favorite with other gamers as well. Even though I love Halloween Chronicles Evil Behind a Mask, please try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
Painting has never been easier! No stress of picking up colors. Just relax and enjoy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 39 found this review helpful
YAY, A NEW PIXEL ART GAME TO ENJOY
PostedOctober 21, 2019
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
In the past year, Pixel Art has become one of my favorite go to games for when I have a bit of down time during the day. The game is so relaxing. I own every Pixel Art game since they’ve been released so I was delighted to find Pixel Art 5 this morning when I checked BFG. I replay the boards in every game to fill in the time until the next one is released.
Pixel Art 5 seems to have smaller boards and not as many of the larger more complicated ones that I’ve come to love, particularly those dealing with architecture. That being said there are still a few of those included, along with some automobiles. The majority though seem to be easier and not as detailed as some in previous versions of the game. Most of the boards can be completed fairly quickly so I don’t think it will take long to get through Pixel Art 5, and then I will simply go back and play the earlier games and await the next Pixel Art game release.
Pixel Art 5 is a game that can be enjoyed by most members of the family and it’s the perfect game for teaching some of the younger ones to paint by number. The boards can be increased in size so that the individual numbers cells are easy to fill. I mostly play Pixel Art when I want to relax and have some quiet time so some of the smaller boards in this game will be perfect to play in between projects. Although the game is perfect for me, as always, please try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
Can you rescue your brother from an ancient and deadly fate?
Overall rating
5
/
5
36 of 45 found this review helpful
GETS MY VOTE FOR BEST GAME OF THE YEAR!
PostedOctober 20, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromI love anything sci-fi and wish more developers would jump in and create wonderful sci-fi HOPA games
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wanderlust Shadow of the Monolith is the third game in the series and, IMHO, it is the best. What a terrific and creative game that made me feel like I was truly a part of the adventure. There were surprises at every turn, so fasten your seat belts and prepare to blast off into a sci-fi game that will have you globe-trotting and racing through different time periods. I love Shadow of the Monolith, mostly because of the excitement I felt while playing this ultra-creative offering from a favorite developer.
Many of the HOP scenes are puzzle-like in design and I wasn’t sure if I was actually playing a puzzle or a HOP. Although there is a gimmicky book to use where we must translate various symbols, I actually enjoyed using it. The other HOPS are lists or silhouettes of objects to find, and some storybook scenes. I loved the HOPS but they are rather overshadowed by the puzzles, many of which I skipped because I disliked them and didn’t want to waste my time. That being said there were a lot of puzzles that I did enjoy – those that involved using the old gray-matter to solve.
The storyline is excellent and I couldn’t stop playing as I wanted to see how it ended as I played through this terrific game. It has been a long time since I played a game that was as exciting as Shadow of the Monolith. The feeling of actually being present in the game is something I don’t believe I’ve felt before and I’ve played close to 2,000 of them. There were a few jump-scares in the game and one involved a snake but unless you have ophidiophobia, it won’t be too overwhelming. This is certainly a unique game that showcases the talent of this amazing development team. Wanderlust: Shadow of the Monolith is a game that can replayed and will most likely become a classic favorite with gamers. Although I love the game and purchased the CE immediately when it was available, please try the demo to see if Wanderlust Shadow of the Monolith is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!
A family hike through the woods takes a terrifying turn!
Overall rating
5
/
5
114 of 141 found this review helpful
I PREDICT THAT THIS ONE IS ANOTHER WINNER
PostedOctober 19, 2019
biscuitsmama
fromThe Fire Within made me want to go back and take another look at the first game in the series
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When the first Dreadful Tales game came out earlier this year, I really didn’t care for it and had no desire to play the second game. However, as the earlier game had almost a 5-star rating I decided to try this new one – The Fire Within and found that for me it was a much better game. For one thing the scenery in the game was not nearly as dark. Before long I found myself totally involved in the action and before I knew it, I was hooked.
Everything about The Fire Within is a vast improvement beginning with the lighter graphics. Although some of the HOS are dingy, I could at least find the items I was looking for. The HOS are very creative and even with some of the items being small, I still could find them. I think I only used the hint button once which shows an improvement over many of the past HOS from this developer.
For someone who doesn’t care for a lot of puzzles, I found those in The Fire Within to be excellent. They were not over-the-top difficult and with a little patience I was able to solve them. There were some of my favorite puzzles included in the mix and some that were very well-designed. Overall, I found myself enjoying each new puzzle as it came along. It is also a good thing that I didn’t feel like there was a new puzzle to solve every time I needed to
The storyline held my interest, even though it made me cringe to see fires being intentionally set in the forest. I live in Northern California and we have huge fires here, some that only last year wiped out entire communities, so the subject matter of The Fire Within was a bit difficult for me. That being said the story is very interesting and progresses in a way that it kept me playing in spite of my misgivings.
Overall, Dreadful Tales the Fire Within is an excellent game and one that I predict will have as many high ratings as the first game in the series. As always, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will enjoy as well. Happy gaming!
I recommend this game!