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:
Is your husband-to-be guilty of betrayal – or even worse?
Overall rating
5
/
5
77 of 100 found this review helpful
Terrific Soundtrack, Excellent HOPs, a Wonderful Sequel
PostedApril 4, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
When the first game in the series, Cadenza, Music, Betrayal and Death hit the market a year ago, the game skyrocketed to the top of the charts and today still enjoys a 5-star rating with over 213 reviews. It looks like those Mad Men have put their Heads together and once again come up with a game that has a great story and some new innovations for those of us who are looking for something new. As our story opens you are preparing for your wedding to your long time beau Anthony but it looks like fate might conspire against you and delay or put an end to your dreams of wedded bliss. Once again we are in New Orleans and it seems to be some time circa 1930 but it is hard to tell since some things seem out of place for that time period. Tag along on the adventure and enjoy the awesome jazz soundtrack as you prepare to solve the mystery of the black widow murders that have hit New Orleans. Meet some terrific and some not so terrific characters as you move through the game.
The graphics are excellent, crisp and clear and the voiceovers are believable and exceptionally well done. I already mentioned the awesome soundtrack and, IMHO, this is a game that has everything I am looking for when I want to be swept away for a few hours of entertainment.
The HOPs and puzzles contain some new surprises and you will need to pay attention to keep up with some of the new tricks that the developers have thrown into the mix that will be sure up the ante when it comes to HOPA games. I found the puzzles enjoyable and not as simple as they might seem but some are still easy so there is a wide variety that will please most gamers.
Simply because I loved the first game in the series and because of the new twists with the HOPs in Kiss of Death, the game was an instant buy for me. Who is the mystery woman whose kiss brings death? And, is there more to the story of who might be using the “black widow” to exact revenge. I have to find out and know that I will enjoy each chapter as it unfolds. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
In this ghostly continuation of the Fear for Sale series, you've discovered a luxury ocean liner bears an eerie resemblance to a ship that vanished years ago.
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 63 found this review helpful
Take a Ghostly Cruise for Hours of Fun and Entertainment
PostedApril 2, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Endless Voyage is the fifth game in the Fear for Sale series and this time we are investigating a ghost ship that originally went missing in 1930 during its maiden voyage. The ship is now reappearing at various ports collecting unwary passengers and when it docks in Miami you hop onboard to investigate – big mistake! Travel with reporter Emma Roberts as she solves the mystery of the ghost ship and sets things back in order.
Of course the graphics are just what we would expect from one of the top game development teams, with great hand-drawn artwork and beautiful use of color that all blend to set the right ambience for this new mystery game. Along with the graphics we have lip synced voiceovers and an excellent sound package. I enjoy the creepy sound effects of the nasty storm that is whipping up at sea. Along with the standard modes of gameplay we have a custom mode but I do wish the developer would add actual time settings for the hint and skip buttons since “quick” might mean something different to me than to the developer.
We have an interactive transporter type map that is very helpful since this developer always happens to include an icon on the map so that we know we have found all the morphing objects and collectibles.
The various types of interactive HOPs are very much those that we normally see from this developer and those of you who play a lot of HOPA games will recognize them. It is nice that we have the option of completing a puzzle instead of hunting for objects in the HOS if we wish but I happen to enjoy the HOPS and will hunt for all the goodies. The puzzles seem a bit easy but they still are fun and require a bit of thinking.
In the CE you will collect points for finding beyond objects and collectibles (different sets of collectibles each containing 5 objects to locate), and earning achievements which all help you attain your status as an ace reporter. There is nothing earth-shattering in the remainder of the extras and they are what we expect to find in a CE game.
Although the game seems to start of a bit slow it does pick up by the end of the demo I was definitely left wanting more. It seems that the game is going to be very good and since I have never been disappointed with a game from this developer, I know it will be a good story and a very entertaining and long game. Although I take my time and don’t generally rush through games, I have found these games take me longer than some to complete. I know the game is an instant purchase for me but, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
A mysterious Owl Man is terrorizing citizens!
Overall rating
4
/
5
44 of 59 found this review helpful
Would Love to See Mystery Trackers Return to the Basics of a Great Story Driven Game
PostedMarch 26, 2015
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
As a detective for the infamous Mystery Trackers organization you are needed in the village of Willowsville, Louisiana where locals are being terrorized by the Owl Man. When you arrive you discover that a young boy has been kidnapped and it is feared that he was taken by the dreaded Owl Man who is said to be the protector of the people of Nightsville, a neighboring village. With your trusty companion by your side, will you be able to find the truth behind the mysterious owl man and how his appearances are connected to the neighboring town on Nightsville?
Mystery Trackers Nightsville Horror has excellent graphics as well as lip-synced voiceovers. Although the voiceovers were at times good, they certainly were not typical of those found in Louisiana. That being said, the overall soundtrack was excellent and I enjoyed the background music and special effects that were reminiscent of those in one of my favorite MCF games.
Your most useful tool and the one I love most is your canine companion, Elf, who is one of the few animal helpers I don’t mind because an MT game just wouldn’t be the same without him. Early in the game we encounter a man who provides us with the gift of sight a unique ability that allows us to reconstruct some areas. IMHO, this is just another gimmick in a game, and quite frankly I don’t care for this one. We also have the conversation tabs and a deduction board, but I find it boring to have to click on a dialog tab just to bring up the programmed dialogue. IMHO the “sight” and the dialogue tabs add nothing to the game and are useless “time fillers.” There is an interactive transporter type map and a diary to keep track of notes and other important information, so a big thanks to the developer for adding a diary (something I find very useful) to the game.
The HOS are typical of what we find in most HOPA games at the present time. The first HOS I encountered was a silhouette type that was poorly done. I had such a difficult time determining what some those little silhouettes represented and basically had to click all over the junk pile of objects to find what I needed – very frustrating. I don’t mind the silhouette types of HOS if the drawings are well constructed representations of the items to be found and not just black blobs. On the other hand the puzzles were not bad, and although I love puzzles in games, this developer seems overly fond of the Rube-Goldberg type puzzles that I hate – ugh! Overall, even though most of the puzzles in the demo were easy, I did have to think about some of them and that added a bit more challenge to the game. I just hope that if I purchase the game there is variety in the puzzles and that they are not all the dreaded ones mentioned above.
As with most games from this developer we will have a wide variety of extras that make the game a true CE, IMHO, and I think it is more fun if you find out about them for yourself.
In the end I am left wondering if I really liked the game. The inclusion of the useless dialogue tabs and the “sight” that I found annoying detracted from the gameplay so it seemed more tedious than fun. The earlier games in the MT series remain my favorites but I’m not so sure about this one. I would like to see the developers return to the basics of a great story driven HOPA with far fewer cut scenes and more actual gameplay. Even though I am not certain I will purchase this game without a good sale, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Trapped in the past, Sarah must find a way home.
Overall rating
5
/
5
101 of 130 found this review helpful
Beyond Time is Beyond the Ordinary
PostedMarch 21, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The game starts off with a short recap of the previous games in the series and although it isn’t necessary to play the prior games, I would recommend that you do so if for no other reason than that they were very good. You would also benefit from learning a bit more about the Secret Order and it would bring you nicely into the current game. In Beyond Time Sarah Pennington is on a quest to return to her own time after being stranded in the past. Sarah is in for a journey that will take her from ancient Egypt to Mexico and the time of the conquistadores, all while trying to elude the feared Dragon Clan. Accompany Sarah and her new found friend Nubi as you discover what they now have in store during their epic journey home.
The graphics were truly a mixed bag with some of them being extremely clear and others being gritty, grainy and misty in appearance. Although some scenes have that grainy, overblown appearance the ones that are clear have such beautiful and intense coloring showing the beauty of the areas Sarah visits in the game. There are lip-synced voiceovers that are quite good but this is another game where the sound volume for the voices is a bit too quiet even when at the highest setting.
We have the normal tools including a diary that contains a section for your objectives and another for your notes that will help you as you progress on your adventure. The map is a transporter type map that shows your objectives and areas where there are tasks available. For some reason this developer still seems to think that we require a pet helper in their games and this time we find Nubi who has multiple powers than can be used to assist you during the adventure.
The HOPS are consistent with those normally found in most HOPA games today. There is a variety of interactive types and some took a bit of time to figure out how to find the initial thing that started the ball rolling. Where The Secret Order Beyond Time becomes quite excellent is in the puzzles that are actually a step up from some of the easier puzzles that many developers include in their games. Some of the puzzles are fairly easy but they still are different and very good.
There are achievements that are earned as you progress through the game and collectible objects to be found. We also have the normal obligatory CE content but nothing earthshaking.
Even with the less than perfect graphics the gameplay in The Secret Order Beyond Time is excellent and kept me on my toes. I like it when I encounter a game where I have to think instead of simply move through the adventure on auto-pilot, so now it is time to go hit the buy button and put on my thinking cap for a few hours of fun. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
PuppetShow: The Price of Immortality Collector's Edition
Your friend vanishes after investigating the mysterious Theater of Emotions
Overall rating
2
/
5
36 of 55 found this review helpful
When Will This Series Finally End
PostedMarch 19, 2015
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
Since I have been playing adventure and then HOPA games for many, many years it is not often that I am swept away by the opening scenes of a game and Puppet Show: The Price of Immortality captured me with the voice of the narrator and the game’s intro. Unfortunately, this is also where the game should have ended.
Our story begins with that wonderful opening narration and then cuts to a lottery of sorts where a spin of the wheel can change one’s existence. We soon learn that you are traveling to the town of Immortale to find your friend Enrique Torres who has disappeared after sending you a letter. He advises you to be careful when visiting Immortale and to stay away from the Theater of Emotions. Hmmm, I wonder what our puppet friends are up to in this seventh game in the Puppet Show series. I am one of those who thought that the Puppet Show series should have ended long ago and although I had some fascination with the opening scene of the game, this series is truly ready to meet its finale.
At the beginning of the game we are offered a choice of whether we wish to play the game as male or female and then we are given a choice of character. The Price of Immortality has lip-synced voiceovers that are generally good regardless of the gender we choose. The graphics, however, appear to be different than those we normally expect from this developer and, while at times some of them are still the great hand-drawn artwork that I love, many scenes appear to be the ultra-polished computer generated type Fortunately, the music is still the same signature soundtrack that is the hallmark of the series and this developer.
Our tools include the map that we find and paste together early in the game but there is no journal. Ugh, we do have a helper in the game and, no, this time it is not a furry cute pet but a waif-like little puppet that we must repair before she tags along with us for the remainder of the game. I thought the game would be excellent until the puppet helper showed up with her annoying little voice. Not only do we have a puppet helper we also collect a variety of odd little puppets throughout the game that go into our dollhouse. Yup, you will find tokens in the game that you will use to purchase items for your dolls. I can just see all the male gamers out there groaning when they discover their helper. I changed my character to a male at the beginning of the game just to see if the dolls changed gender as well but they didn’t. There are many men who love HOPA games and I find it rather ridiculous to have them collect dolls. Who knows they might like this feature but I highly doubt it.
There are really no extras except the strategy guide and most experience HOPA gamers won’t need it. There are very obvious tokens to collect and use for your collection of odd little dolls.
All in all, the game was a bust for me. In an effort to be gritty the game became almost ludicrous with its silly little broken dolls hanging around here, there and everywhere. I can only shake my head in dismay and think that this developer really needs to get back to what made them produce what were once some of the best games on the market. The storyline of the game held some promise but even that wasn’t enough. The original games in the series were terrific and creepy without relying on quirky gimmicks. I think this developer should go back to the drawing board and try to figure out where they have gone wrong. IMHO, all of these poor broken little dolls should be scooped up and relegated to the garbage dump and finally put an end to the Puppet Show series.
I don't recommend this game.
A murder mystery party turns deadly in real life!
Overall rating
5
/
5
86 of 104 found this review helpful
Dead Reckoning May Start a New Tradition at BFG
PostedMarch 12, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Wealthy investor Reginald Greer is famous for his murder mystery dinner parties but he never imagined that this would turn out to be his last. After your great success with solving the case last year at Silvermoon Isle, you have been called to Brassfield Manor to investigate the high-profile murder of Reginald. Who did it? You certainly have a plethora of suspects, who it turns out might like Reginald’s parties more than they do the man himself.
The game has everything we have come to expect from this developer – great quality graphics, lip-synced voiceovers, and an overall excellent sound package. I always appreciate the true custom settings option that this developer includes among its game modes since I appreciate being able to set my own hint and skip times rather than have the developer decide what they should be.
Your tools include the interactive, transporter type map and your evidence board that will open once you have suspects. If you are familiar with the first game in the series, Silvermoon Isle, you will have a good idea how the evidence board works, and if not, it is not difficult to figure out. One of the drawbacks with games from this developer is that there is rarely a journal included for progress notes and I miss it. I know that notes and important pieces of information are catalogued in those re-playable screen shot videos or as “snippets” but I happen to like the old style journal.
Brassfield Manor has the various types of interactive HOPs that this developer always includes in their games, and if you don’t want to search for items you have the option of switching to a bubble-shooter type of game – just be sure to keep your eyes open and search for the morphing items that are included in some of them. The puzzles that we find in Brassfield Manor are also much the same as the ones in every other game by this developer and, unless you are new to the genre, I am sure you have seen them before. Some puzzles are simple while others might require a bit more thought but they are doable.
As you roam around the various scenes in the game you can collect Tarocchi Cards and masks. While most of the cards are fairly obvious and can easily be found some do take a bit more searching to spot. I happen to be a sucker when it comes to collectibles and morphing objects so I most often go for the CE games, and this developer generally includes some very nice extras in their games. If you are new to the HOPA genre, then I always recommend the CE version of a game as it includes the in-game strategy guide that can at times be helpful.
Dead Reckoning Brassfield Manor is a very good game that looks like it will be as good as or possibly better than Silvermoon Isle. I Although I find most games in the HOPA genre enjoyable, it is refreshing to see that we are getting more of the real-life mystery type games rather than constantly encountering witches, warlocks, time portals and princesses or family members in distress. I certainly enjoy the departure and hope to see more games that follow this new trend. For me Brassfield Manor was an instant buy but, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
You're cordially invited to attend the world's greatest magic show! Thurman the Magnificent will give a performance no one will forget!
Overall rating
1
/
5
20 of 52 found this review helpful
Based on Sound I Ran Away
PostedMarch 7, 2015
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
Well detective, you are off to solve another puzzling mystery and this time you travel to the town of Galdor’s Bluff in England. You have received an invitation from master magician Joseph Thurman to attend his ultimate magic show that he predicts will finally put an end to his ongoing friendly rivalry with the town’s other renowned magician Roger Addington. Unfortunately, it turns out that this will also be his final show and now you must solve the mystery of what has gone wrong.
Small Town Terrors Galdors Bluff might be a wonderful game as it has very good graphics, lip-synced voiceovers that are passable and in some cases very good. What I found most annoying and distracting is the sound that occurred every time I clicked on an active area in the game. After the first 15 minutes of the demo it was too much. I love playing a game with the sound and to disable it would take a lot away from the game. I fiddled with all of the sound options and could not make that noise go away.
In the end, although the game has many wonderful aspects, I said enough is enough. I have no idea why a developer thinks they need any kind of noise whatsoever when we click on an active area. I am aware that I have opened the area and it certainly doesn’t need to be accompanied by any sound. Too much for me and I quit. Based on the sound effects this game is a no purchase for me. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I don't recommend this game.
Redemption Cemetery: The Island of the Lost Collector's Edition
You crash-land on an island populated by ghosts. Like them, are you trapped here forever?
Overall rating
5
/
5
66 of 90 found this review helpful
A Return to What Made This Series Great
PostedMarch 5, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Island of the Lost gets off to a great start with every pilots nightmare after a storm sends your plane out of control and you crash land onto a cursed island and then must figure out how to reach the nearby lighthouse to light the signal beacon. Of course being a Redemption Cemetery game getting to the lighthouse is easier said than done and you must help tortured souls find peace in order to get there. Right after you crash you meet Santiago, an ancient fisherman, who acts as your guide as you acquaint yourself with the island. Of course Santiago is your first tortured soul and you must help him to gain something in return. There is adventure and fun ahead as you encounter those you must help.
As with all games from this developer, the graphics are exceptional with wonderful hand drawn artwork. The game also has some of the best lip-synced voices I’ve ever heard in a game with the voice of the “evil one” being the best.
The tools are fairly standard and include an interactive transporter type map that is helpful. Early in the game your new friend, Santiago, gives you a raven that can help you reach some things that would normally be beyond your grasp. Yes, there is a pet helper but I don’t see that we have to dress or provide for him in any way – thankfully.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. If you don’t want to locate the items in the HOP you can switch to a shooter type of game. I found more puzzles than HOPs in the demo and that is right up my alley. The puzzles were not difficult but were fun without the frustration of the normal sliding bits to place that we often encounter.
The Collector’s Edition of Island of the Lost has collectibles in the form of various items that we find as we move forward with the adventure. The items once clicked will move to an album that is located in the upper right portion of your screen. When you open the the album you will be able to read a story once each one is completed. Of course there are the meaningless achievements that can be earned just by playing the game. The remainder of the CE content is standard so it is a matter of preference when deciding to purchase the CE or to wait for the SE to be released.
For me Island of the Lost is a great addition to the Redemption Cemetery series and is almost a return to the original premise that made this a good series at least early on. Quite frankly, I didn’t care for the previous two games in the series and I am happy to see that Island of the Lost seems much better. The game and story grabbed my interest so for me it was an instant purchase but, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
Join the penguin family on a new exciting mosaics journey!
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 16 found this review helpful
I Love Fantasy Mosaics!!!
PostedMarch 3, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
The pictograph puzzles are my all-time go to puzzles for when I have nothing else to play and a few minutes to spare. IMHO, no one does these puzzles better than the Fantasy Mosaic series. The addition of color options that was available beginning with Fantasy Mosaics 4 made this a series that is hard to beat and the best available in this genre, at least in my opinion.
The new Fantasy Mosaics 7 is a wonderful game and an instant purchase for me. Anyone who loves these logic type puzzles is sure to enjoy the later Fantasy Mosaic games with their colorful grids. I love the ease of playing these games where in casual mode the unused cells automatically fill as complete once you have filled in the used cells. The ability to switch from one color to another is helpful in determining where a specific color should go when the boards get tricky.
I can highly recommend the Fantasy Mosaic games to anyone who loves pictograph puzzles. As always, I suggest that you try the game for yourself to see if you agree.
I recommend this game!
Was Marion Ashworth murdered? Uncover the victim's true identity!
Overall rating
5
/
5
25 of 33 found this review helpful
A Great New Danse Macabre – One of the Best!
PostedMarch 2, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This third game in the Danse Macabre series starts out with a murder, or is it an accident? We are told that all secrets come to light even in death so it looks like we are in for a good old tale of “things are not always as they seem.”
The game is brought to us by one of the top game developers so that means great graphics with all the special touches. The graphics appear to be a mixed bag of hand drawn artwork with some scenes being computer generated. The sound package is terrific and I love the background music. The lip-synced voiceovers are for the most part very good but some of the accents seem a bit off. I am sure that fans of this developer will notice that one of the characters is recycled from a different game. I was having some difficulty figuring out the game’s time period but would think it is set sometime circa 1920s. However as in all games, there are certain things that don’t make sense with the game’s suggested time period, which doesn’t bother me as much as it might some “purists.”
The tools include a transporter type interactive map that will help you navigate during the game. You also have a case file that contains information gathered during your investigation as well as a section for your objectives.
I am sure that most of you are very familiar with the types of HOPs that this developer puts in their games and the ones in Deadly Deception are very much the same. Some of the puzzles seemed a bit frustrating since they are the type where moving one thing will move another but they are doable if you take the time to think about what goes where. I happen to like puzzles that make me think and exercise some of my brain cells, so although the puzzles are not overly difficult they seem to have more challenge than some in recent games.
The game includes collectibles to find as well as morphing objects that are located in some HOPs. The remainder of the CE content is nothing special and I think it is simply a matter of personal preference when deciding to get the CE or wait for the SE release. I am always looking for a new game so I have a difficult time waiting – lol.
Deadly Deception is the third game in the Danse Macabre series and, IMHO, this is the best of the three. The storyline for the game is so interesting and kept me guessing until the end of the game. The game held my attention and I when the demo ended, I had to keep going so I purchased the game and I am happy that I did. It is so refreshing to have a good whodunit without witches and evil demons wanting to take over the world. I loved the game but, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!