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:
The legacy of the witches continues when Lynn and her husband are lured into a trap by a mysterious sorcerer…
Overall rating
5
/
5
84 of 101 found this review helpful
An Excellent Addition to My Favorite Series!
PostedFebruary 26, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
My favorite bewitching games are back with another in the Witches’ Legacy series. In Slumbering Darkness as Lynn and Edward are attending a puppet show at the county fair as they celebrate their first anniversary. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happens when Edward is turned into a puppet by an evil warlock who promises to destroy Edward unless Lynn comes along so off they go (yes, you guessed it) through a portal. Once again you are on a journey to save your beloved Lynn from the powers of darkness and all the trouble that Lynn seems to attract.
The game comes to us from one of my favorite developers who always presents great games packed with hours of entertainment and mystery. The graphics are excellent and at least for me, crisp and clear. The lip-synced voice overs are very good but poor Lynn always sounds like she is half-asleep.
Your trusty companion Imp is back to tag along and provide help when needed. Although Imp does look a bit creepy, I love his antics when we need his help with something. The game has an interactive transporter type map that is excellent. Something I like about the maps in this series is that they indicate when you still need to find morphing objects or puzzle pieces. Although there is not at diary, Imp holds a scroll that when clicked will open to show us our objectives. As we collect puzzle pieces throughout the game, we will build puzzles that give us more of the background story.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. I like the HOPs in this series as they always contain mini-puzzles. This developer was the first one to use this particular method that has since been emulated by other developers in recent games. The puzzles are not difficult but they are still fun to complete.
IMHO, CEs from this developer always give us a lot of value in that we have the extra challenge of finding morphing objects and puzzle pieces in every scene in the game. Throw in the SG and the other “fluff” and we have a great value.
Although someone commented that Slumbering Darkness is the same rehashed storyline, I still find it to be enjoyable and a wonderful game that stands on the merits of its gameplay, which is at times challenging and definitely very entertaining. The last game in the series took me well over two days to complete and I am hopeful that Slumbering Darkness will continue with that same wonderful gameplay and game length. Needless to say, the game was an instant purchase for me but, as always, I recommend that you try it to see if this is a game you will enjoy.
I recommend this game!
For years, Barton Mansion sat abandoned, a haunting reminder of an obsession gone wrong. But something sinister still lurked there...and it's stirring.
Overall rating
2
/
5
61 of 84 found this review helpful
The Mansion that Ruined the Dark Dimensions Series
PostedFebruary 12, 2015
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
In this fifth game in the Dark Dimensions series you and your sister Corinne set off to investigate the abandoned and very creepy Barton Mansion that was where your parents disappeared leaving you orphans when you were children. When you arrive at the mansion you find that Corinne has been captured by some overly aggressive vines that emanate from the mansion. With the help of Corinne’s trusty canine officer companion, you set off to rescue Corinne and find out what happened to your parents.
The graphics are very good with wonderful hand-drawn artistry. The color palette used is similar to that of other DD games and sets the appropriate tone for a creepy game.
The tools for the game are Corrine’s radio that has your interactive map, notes, video diary, and achievements. After being overwhelmed with animal helpers a couple of years ago, many developers have moved away from including them in their games but this DD has one – your sister’s canine officer – Rocky, who is used more often than I like.
The game was interesting for about the first few minutes and then it descended into one tediously interactive HOS after another. When will developers ever learn that variety is what makes a game interesting. I long for the days of straightforward HOS rather than the ones where I have to search endlessly for something I finally happen to click that will start the ball rolling. Not only were the HOS tedious, I encountered one idiotic puzzle after another to make any progress. I have often commented that I find puzzles to be my favorite part of HOPA games but in Homecoming the overload becomes tedious, which seems to have become my favorite word to describe some of the latest HOPA games to be released.
Many of the previous Dark Dimensions games are excellent and I have always looked forward to the release of the next game in the series but Homecoming is a huge disappointment. I am a hopeless lover of the HOPA genre and since games are my major form of entertainment I eagerly await each new game but Homecoming may well be the first HOPA game I pass on because of the tedium and boredom associated with endless interactive HOS and meaningless puzzles. Not only am I not buying the game, I am giving it a lower rating as well because it had potential to be so much better than the boredom and frustration it presented for this gamer. 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.
Explore the kingdom of Silverdale in this innovative new match-3 adventure.
Overall rating
5
/
5
34 of 42 found this review helpful
A Refreshing and Wonderful Match 3 Game
PostedFebruary 11, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This will be a very short review to the relief of many – lol. Most important to say is that I love this game. Runefall is one of the best match 3 games I have seen in such a long time. The game is refreshing and in a much overused word, awesome.
The graphics are wonderful as are some of the best voiceovers I have ever heard in a game. The story has wonderful narration and soon we meet Hadric, the village constable of Rivermoor, who guides us on our journey. Hadric very politely asks us to help him complete some tasks in order to pay tribute to the king. Not only do we meet Hadric but we encounter others as we move through the game.
The game is a complex mix of genres that blend to create one of the most wonderful match 3 games that I have played in the past few years. The developer of this game, IMHO, “hit the nail on the head” with the creation of Runefall. Needless to say, 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 famous painter finds herself in over her head!
Overall rating
5
/
5
105 of 134 found this review helpful
EIPIX Discovers a Masterpiece with Lots of Intrique
PostedFebruary 7, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Ahh, the art world is in a frenzy. A once lost valuable piece of art has been found, restored, and will soon be sold at auction. Lisa Steiner, the artist who restored the painting, has denied all previous requests for an interview but intrepid reporter that you are, you won’t take no for an answer and are off in pursuit of the reclusive artist for that once in a lifetime interview.
The game is by EIPIX, my favorite developer, and that means top-notch quality in graphics, sound and technical aspects. There is not much left to say because this developer definitely knows how to put a game together so that we have the complete package.
In The Art of Deception you will find the usual tools needed to navigate through the game. Most helpful is the interactive, transporter type map that shows where you have things to do but, as is the case in most EIPIX games, there is no diary or journal to contain important information that you might discover. You will find your objectives by clicking on the exclamation point that is on the upper left of your inventory bar. Throughout the game you will find cassette tapes that provide helpful information when they are played.
There are various types of interactive and multi-level HOPs that EIPIX is known for. We have a great mix that keeps things interesting. However, and I don’t know if it is just me but it seems like after all the complaints of games becoming too easy, some developers are now reverting to junk pile HOS and making it very difficult to find some items. I love HOPA games but, honestly, I am becoming very tired of silhouettes and pictures to find items. That being said, I love that some of the puzzles in this game are different and require thought. I am not going to say they are really hard but they don’t seem as mind-numbingly easy as some puzzles in games have become. Since I look forward to encountering puzzles in my HOPA games, it is great to see that the developers are now attempting to give us a bit more challenge. I know that not everyone is a member of MENSA so many gamers do like easier puzzles, but I am happy to see a bit more challenge in some games.
There are different types of collectibles to be found and many of them I found by accident from clicking around the screen and I still have no idea what many of them actually look like. There are also morphing objects to be found and those of you who play a lot of EIPIX games will know where to look for them. If you like hunting for collectibles, morphing objects and earning achievements then the CE is right for you but others might decide to wait for the SE.
All in all, I really liked this game. Yes, it does start off a bit slow and you need some patience to get through the tedium in the beginning of the game. I generally like a game to grab me from the beginning and this one didn’t but for some reason I kept plodding along. Then suddenly the story came together and then the game became very interesting because before I knew it, I was sucked into the story and just had to keep going. There is intrigue, mystery, and a bad guy who isn’t an evil wizard. The game is very well put together and the gameplay is entertaining. For me the game is an instant purchase since I like all the little extras with a CE 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 dark wizard awakens the ice queen using your daughter!
Overall rating
5
/
5
97 of 121 found this review helpful
A Fairy Tale for the Young at Heart. Well Worth Trying!
PostedJanuary 8, 2015
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
In another offering of evil wizards and a fairy tale game, our game begins in what seems like a very happy kingdom. To celebrate the eighth birthday of his daughter, the Princess Lerione, the king has invited a magician, the mysterious Mr. X, to entertain the princess and her friends. As the highlight of the show the magician asks the young princess to assist him in performing his last trick. Lo and behold, he kidnaps the princess and turns the kingdom to ice. You, the princess’ mother, have escaped the curse thanks to the amulet bracelets you wear on your wrists. Now you must save your daughter and the other poor hapless members of your kingdom. With the help of your royal wizard and faithful friend, Lucio, you set out to save not only your daughter and your kingdom but the entire world. Whew!
In a Winter’s Spell you have the standard tools that are found in most HOPA games. There is an interactive transporter type map and a journal that keeps track of details as you move forward in the game. In addition to the map and journal you will find a Scroll, a crystal ball and the Icy Spell Book. Because these tools are so interesting and they are a great part of the game and the fun, I am not going to spill the beans to detail how they work.
Without detailing the various types of HOS or puzzles just let me say that there is great variety to be found in both the HOS and the puzzles. Although the game is a fairy tale it has a lot more depth than it first appears. Quite frankly, I struggled with some of the puzzles and found that for me they were not all easy.
Throughout the game you will find morphing objects that are used to download greeting cards from the developer. Too bad this game was not released before the Christmas holiday season because it seems to really negate a lot of the special CE value by coming out later. That being said you can always revisit the game for the next Christmas. All in all it seems that there are some very nice features to the CE game that definitely make it worth the purchase price.
In summary the game is much better than I anticipated. The game does seem to get off to a slow start and didn’t at first seem to have the type of excitement I look for to hold my interest but eventually I did get into it and found that the game has a lot to offer. Although it might not be for everyone, I am sure it will hold a great deal of appeal and fascination for many gamers. I would suggest that you try the game to see if it is one you might like. That being said, I would like to emphasize that it might take some time to get into but don’t be fooled by what seems like an easy fairy tale game. I highly recommend this game for those of you who love challenges.
I recommend this game!
Stop a vengeful Titan from destroying Athens – and the world!
Overall rating
3
/
5
61 of 79 found this review helpful
Maybe This Legend Should Not Have Been Revived
PostedJanuary 1, 2015
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
On your way to enjoy a well-deserved vacation you run smack dab into the middle of another archeological catastrophe. This time a titan has been released upon the world to wreak havoc with the ancient Greek Gods and may just destroy the world in the process. Can you put a stop to Demos and save the world?
The graphics are just so-so and I have come to expect more than rather cartoonish characters in my games. The voice-overs are passable but just barely. I think that today we are asking for a bit more realism in our game characters and some developers can do it so well. I for one would rather have no voiceovers in a game than some that are so out of character that it is ludicrous.
There is a unique tool, the Amulet of Time, which allows us to travel between times. The only other tool of importance is the interactive transporter type map but I could not find a journal so I guess it’s not needed. There is a task icon included on the side of the inventory box that keeps track of your current goal.
There are various types of interactive HOPs, most of which are the standard list type with a bit of interaction. The HOP in the fruit stand has been changed since the beta and I was rather disappointed with the replacement game. IMHO it’s too bad that the developer changed it from a fun puzzle to a bland silhouette scene. There are a couple of interesting puzzles early in the game but most are only okay and rather predictable.
Statues of the Gods (21) are hidden throughout the game so you will need to keep your eyes open to find them. They are not in all scenes and until you try the demo I don’t want to say more about this type of collectible. The remainder of the CE items are fairly ho-hum but with a great sale it might be worth the purchase.
In the end, this second offering in the Revived Legends series should have stayed buried. This game is the start of a new year and follows closely on the heels of what was a rather bland year for HOPA games, so I hope this game doesn’t set the tone for 2015. This is just my opinion but I would like to see developers stop chewing up memory, disk space, and download time with the inclusion of so many worthless cut scenes. IMHO, these cut scenes often add very little to the game and take away from the great gameplay that once was the basis of HOPA games. Maybe sometimes less is more! I don’t need glitzy cinematics when I play a game; I want great HO scenes and intriguing puzzles, with a good story and lots of adventure. Please developers return to the basics by adding substance to your games rather than useless cut scenes. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like. Wishing all of you a very happy 2015 filled with great games.
I recommend this game!
Welcome to Holy Mountain Hotel, where all criminals are punished.
Overall rating
5
/
5
188 of 225 found this review helpful
Haunted Hotel Death Sentence is One of he Best Games This Year
PostedDecember 18, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In what promises to be one of the best games in the Haunted Hotel series we have an eerie cutscene to start the story. You are reminiscing about some of the cases you have worked with your associate and friend James when you happen to receive a letter from him where he tells you that he has died. He directs you to find answers at the Holy Mountain Hotel – a very dangerous place. Will this truly be the end of your friend’s life or will you somehow be able to save him? Needless to say, you rush off to the Holy Mountain Hotel to seek what answers you might find there and hopefully save James.
The game has incredible graphics and the voiceovers are absolutely wonderful. I love the creepy recitation of Six Green Bottle in the beginning cutscene. IMHO, this is definitely a game that you will want to play with the sound. Not only are the voiceovers excellent but the intermittent sound of a woman humming in the background as well as the creaking floorboards that we can hear add to the overall creepiness of the game. I play a lot of HOPA games and this one has possibly the best and most realistic sound package I’ve encountered in a game.
We have a journal that contains our notes as well as dossiers of the victims as we progress through the game. There is an interactive, transporter map that can be customized to show where you have active tasks if you choose the custom settings. Aside from the standard tools, I didn’t acquire a helper or find any of the tools that some might consider gimmicks. This is a straightforward game that relies on a great storyline and your skill as a player. What a novel idea!!
Elephant has stretched their abilities and now includes various types of interactive HOPs, some are the standard list type and others are silhouette type. You will encounter some great puzzles in the game that add to the gameplay - some are even a bit more difficult than the ones we normally encounter: not because they are hard to figure out what to do but because they take some time to manipulate. I always look forward to solving lock type puzzles so I enjoyed the first puzzle I encountered.
Is this a true CE? Well some of you might not think so but it is a matter of personal preference. When CEs first came on the scene they basically had a bonus chapter and the integrated SG. Over the years they have evolved to include morphing objects, collectibles and achievements. Well, in this game there are mainly three different types of collectibles to find as well as the ever-present, meaningless achievements that are earned just by playing the game. I didn’t find any morphing objects, which is okay with me since sometimes looking for them interrupts the flow of my gameplay. The game extras also include an alternate ending as well as the bonus chapter, SG, wallpapers, and music. Some might think that Haunted Hotel Death Sentence is light on extras but, IMHO, the game is so excellent that I don’t really mind.
In the end, Haunted Hotel Death Sentence is as the top of my list of best games in 2014. Recently we have had so many games where the stories just seem incomplete or thrown together and Death Sentence is well thought out and cohesive which makes this game a wonderful experience to play. I am not left scratching my head trying to figure out what is going on because the pieces of this puzzle come together to make sense. I played the beta for this game several months ago and just replayed it again, with the same enjoyment and sense of excitement that held my interest and let me know this is a game that I must have. For me Haunted Hotel is an immediate purchase with or without a sale. This is a wonderful game to play on one of the many rainy days we have had recently here in CA. As always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
Reveries: Soul Collector Collector's Edition
Your wedding day gets interrupted when your fiancée is kidnapped!
Overall rating
1
/
5
20 of 23 found this review helpful
Bottom of the Barrel and a Huge Disappointment
PostedDecember 13, 2014
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
1
/
5
The story begins as the evil sorcerer Darkwing is trying to open the Gates of Chaos that will plunge the world into darkness but only the true overlord can do this by mastering and collecting human emotions. He fails when he can't feed the Wolf of Love and now must collect the true heart of love to succeed. Darkwing knows where he can find such a heart and this is where our story begins and, quite frankly, should end.
The graphics are still the same great quality with terrific artwork but I cannot believe the voiceovers. I can tell you that if I was about to marry King Richard Milk Toast I would be running away from the altar as fast as possible. What a sap. The dialog was just horrid to suffer through as it was so corny.
The user interface area is way too intrusive into the play area in the game and I found it very annoying. Then we have this horrid, ugly treeling for a helper. He jumps around and is overly hyperactive, which is just another very annoying part of this game. I guess the developers wanted to make a move away from cute and cuddly so this is what they came up with.
The HOPS were old school list type with a bit of interaction, which is actually okay with me since I have tired of HOPS where there is far too much interaction to make them enjoyable. The puzzles were just plain weird and I skipped almost all of them since I didn’t want to be bothered.
What can I say about this game? Well, let’s start with – what on earth has happened to this developer and who is coming up with this sort of game? I can’t believe that this is such a bad offering from a developer who was once at the top. IMHO, I can’t believe this game would appeal to those gamers who have been playing HOPA games for many years since there have been such great offerings in the past and many of them from this developer. Bottom line, don’t waste your time or money on this game. I honestly wouldn’t even recommend the SE of this game.
I don't recommend this game.
Christmas Eve: Midnight's Call Collector's Edition
Do you have what it takes to save Christmas?
Overall rating
5
/
5
18 of 27 found this review helpful
Vintage ERS an Excellent Game for the Season
PostedDecember 11, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromOut Looking for A Christmas Tree and Lots of Glitz
Skill Level:Expert
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Well so much for a happy over-the-top Christmas story as this one is a bit different at least initially. Our story begins as two little girls are enjoying a wintry outing and ice skating when suddenly the ice cracks and one falls, or is dragged, beneath the ice. Yes you guessed it; you play the game as the sister who since that terrible accident has had the same recurring dream, and now as you are preparing for the holidays a package with a mysterious message arrives on your doorstep. Could it be that what you remember of that terrible childhood accident is not what it seems? You rush off to meet the person who sent you the package and begin a journey that might make this a memorable Christmas for you and your entire family.
As is usual with this developer the graphics are very good and immediately identifiable as ERS. The voiceovers are terrific and lip-synced as well. In fact, the entire sound package is very good with music that is very identifiable as signature ERS.
In the year since the original beta for the game was released some changes have been made to the game mainly with the addition of an introduction that helps the storyline. However, I really wish some of the more Christmas related items had not been removed particularly the Christmas tree game that I found to be quite a bit of fun. IMHO, it’s sad for me that the developer also chose to remove the wonderful Christmas themed lighting as I love all the glitz of the holiday season, although I do realize that there are other gamers who do not hold to the same tradition.
You will find the great variety of HOS that are prevalent in most games of this genre so I don’t need to go into what you will find. The puzzles are not difficult but still they are rather fun to complete. As mentioned above one of my favorite puzzles in the game’s beta was removed - maybe because it was too Christmasy. I really don’t know why the developer made these changes but I guess it was so that the game wouldn’t seem too sugary for those who want games that are grittier. As for me, at this season, I love sugary and colorful holiday images – the more the better – LOL.
There is not a lot of extra content added to the game but that is fairly standard with ERS. We still have the included bonus game and strategy guide so it is a matter of personal choice whether you purchase the CE or can wait for the SE to be released. I don’t believe there are any significant extras that will change your enjoyment of the game.
At any rate, overall the game seems more vintage ERS and they are back to top-form with a great story and all the components that make their games enjoyable. With only one or two exceptions, I love all the games from this developer and find that they are the ones I most often play over and over again. I highly recommend this game for anyone who wants to spend a day immersed in the enjoyment of a well-created game. Even though I was less than delighted with some of the changes made to the game in the year since its beta was released, it was still an instant purchase for me. However, 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 deadly secret lurks in the woods of Dire Grove!
Overall rating
5
/
5
23 of 42 found this review helpful
A Memorable Return to Dire Grove - Not to Be Missed!
PostedNovember 25, 2014
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
As the game begins you are looking at your collection of pictures and reminiscing about Dire Grove when you have a nagging feeling that you have something left unfinished there. Well, lo and behold, it is not long before a “messenger” appears with a note from someone in Dire Grove asking for your help. Will you be able to solve the mystery of an ancient curse that has befallen the citizens of Dire Grove?
With this new installment in the MCF series, the Elephant team has provided us with top of the line graphics and clarity. There are excellent lip-synced voice overs as well as some of the original soundtrack incorporated into this new release. One of the first things I noticed when I started the game is that I can choose my character’s gender either male or female, so I have to ask – if I can choose the voice gender when playing, why is there no custom option of gameplay? As if it isn’t enough to have the usual gameplay modes we are now offered five, yes five, different ways to play but the custom option is not one of them. I am spoiled and happen to like being able to set my own skip and hint times so please consider adding a custom option to your games.
There are so many reviews of the game that I don’t need to go into all the mechanics or nitty-gritty details on the various types of HOPs and puzzles, or even CE content, I can only say that I loved the gameplay and the way everything fit together to make my return to Dire Grove a wonderful experience. I love the storyline and the way the story is developed. There are a lot of new and unique features in the game that make it memorable and one that I will enjoy playing many times in the future – just as I have done with the original Dire Grove.
As a final thought this is exactly the way I wanted my return to Dire Grove to be but, as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.