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:
Discover a story of mysterious kidnappings of both children and mafiosi.
Overall rating
5
/
5
49 of 68 found this review helpful
Mafia and Secret Societies in Subterranean New York
PostedMay 18, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Hmmm, mafia and butterflies! It sounds like we are in for a treat with this new game from a developer who gave us the exciting Lost Lands, Dark Overlord earlier this year. This time we are off to solve the disappearances of several mafia bosses and children who have all vanished under mysterious circumstances. The only clues are a green slime and butterflies left behind at the crime scenes. Of course you play the game as a renowned investigative reporter/detective who can solve virtually any mystery that comes your way.
The graphics for the game are very good and at least for me are exceptionally clear and crisp. The game has lip-synced voiceovers that are generally very good. The rest of the soundtrack with music and ambient sounds is very good and creates just the right air of mystery as we move through the game. I am having a bit of confusion though regarding time period since there is one thing I noticed in the game that doesn’t quite seem to fit in with the time-period. That being said, game developers often take liberties with time-period appropriate incidences in games – lol. Sometimes the items jump out at me as this one did but in other games they often go unnoticed.
We have the standard set of tools in the game, a diary or journal and a tag that shows our objectives. We have an interactive transporter type map that can be customized to show the location of the collectibles. It is rather nice to be able to customize the game to include the things we want and it seems that more developers are moving in this direction.
The game has great HOPs and it doesn’t seem as if it is top-heavy with them. Because the HOPs are very interactive and are sort of mini-puzzles, I certainly don’t find them tedious or boring to complete. I love having to think about what to do and what to use in order to get through an HOP scene and it is nice to have the extra challenge. All of the HOPs I encountered in the demo are the progressive silhouette type but I can’t say for certain that they will all be like that in the remainder of the game but I hope so. Outside of the HOPs we have puzzles that we encounter on our adventure. I guess that the trend now is for developers to incorporate the normal very easy (almost mind numbing) puzzles in their games to placate those who don’t care for the challenge of a difficult puzzle. I am hoping that as I progress further into the game the puzzles will present at least some progressive level of difficulty. I’ve mentioned it before and will do so again (hopefully the developer reads the reviews), that the games have a skip button for those who are not up to the challenge, so please include some difficult and challenging puzzles in your games.
I purchased the CE of the game and it was a compelling storyline that kept me guessing until the very end. The gameplay was very enjoyable and provided almost two days of great entertainment. I loved the game and have no hesitation in recommending it as a great play. 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!
Find your sister and escape from a terrifying haunted house!
Overall rating
4
/
5
64 of 83 found this review helpful
Great Game - Just Not a CE
PostedMay 17, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Let me begin by sharing a “secret”. Many reviewers, including myself, get a head start on our reviews by playing the beta test of a game. When I played the beta for Tales of Terror House on the Hill, I found the game to be only so-so with nothing memorable that would make it a game that I would ordinarily enjoy. In fact, I had a difficult time playing for a short time without almost falling asleep. That being said, I am very happy to report that some changes have been made since the beta to spice up the game, and I actually find that it is much better than I originally anticipated. I will not give a synopsis of the story only to say that there is a mystery involving a haunted museum on the hill. In the past many visitors to the museum have disappeared and the museum was closed for a period of time. Now that the museum has re-opened for business, foul deeds are once again afoot and we must rescue our sister who has become a victim of the “ghost.”
The graphics in Tales of Terror House on the Hill are generally very good and set the scene for our ghostly adventure. Many times I don’t enjoy live actors in a game but their use in this game is very good and adds to the overall quality. In some games with live actors the devs have not even made an attempt at lip-syncing but not so with this game, since all of our characters are lip-synced. Overall the entire sound package is excellent and adds a lot to the quality of the game.
There is not much to add to what other reviewers have mentioned about the tools or other options in the game, so I am not going to go over them again but what I do want to comment on are the puzzles. Finally we seem to have a game with well thought out puzzles and I am doing my happy dance. The puzzles included thus far in the game have been different than the usual run of the mill type we find in most games. Some of them even seem a bit more difficult up-front, which normally doesn’t happen in HOPA games because the developers might not want to scare people off from purchasing their games. Not so here, we have excellent puzzles that require some thought and at the same time serve a purpose and are quite entertaining.
Now comes the difficult part and here is where I have to admit that Tales of Terror House on the Hill falls far short of expectations. IMHO, this is not a CE worthy game and doesn’t come close. Granted it is a very good game but it doesn’t meet the mark of what I want or require in a CE. The major downfall here is that there is no strategy guide to be found, and I have no idea what’s up with that. If there is no strategy guide, then this game in no way deserves the CE label – end of story. The developer just might have made a grave mistake by not including a strategy guide, if there is one available, in the demo. If a developer expects to sell a CE game at a higher cost, then they must include the strategy guide since there is no justification for its absence.
There are many things I like about Tales of Terror House on the Hill, and one of those is the great story. That being said, the lack of a strategy guide gives this game a much lower score as a CE. I hardly ever use the guide in a game but I have come to expect its inclusion in a CE gams. As an SE game I would give House on the Hill very high marks but when it comes to being a CE, I say save your money. For me the CE is a no buy even at the sale price today. I will wait and definitely purchase the SE since Tales of Terror House on the Hill is a good game, it’s just not a CE. 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.
Track down the wily Fox before he slips away into the beauty of Venice!
Overall rating
5
/
5
48 of 61 found this review helpful
Another Contender for Game of the Year 2014!
PostedMay 16, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Off the Record the Italian Affair is another outstanding game by one of my favorite game developers. It seems like it wasn’t too long ago that EIPIX became a familiar name in the casual game industry, and during that time they have, IMHO, presented some excellent games. Although “The Italian Affair” starts in a similar manner to final cut, another game by this developer, who can blame them from stealing one of their own ideas – lol. Once again we are an investigative reporter after a hot story – this time being the target is La Volpe a renowned thief who has stolen a valued treasure. With a mysterious woman popping up now and again this proves to be an interesting adventure.
I always love the exceptional graphics in an EIPIX game and coupled with all the bells and whistles of The Italian Affair, I am not disappointed. Not only are the graphics clear, they are beautiful and coupled with the voice overs and soundtrack we are in for a treat. Another thing I appreciate is that we have a custom mode available for gameplay and it is one that offers a variety of options.
The gameplay tools are those that we normally find in HOPA games but not all of them are readily available. I was very surprised when I was chewing up demo time with the first HOP because I couldn't find something and when I attempted to use the hint button, I was told that it wasn’t yet available. I’ve never seen that before so I had to muddle my way through to find an item that was quite well hidden.
Of course we have the HOPs that this developer normally includes in its games but as I mentioned above some of the items are challenging but the scenes themselves are terrific and have enough variety that they are not boring. I enjoy the incorporation of the progressive silhouette type scenes and those that also include mini-puzzles. We also have puzzles outside of the HOPs that we encounter during the gameplay and I always enjoy these. This developer often includes fairly easy puzzles that do become more challenging as we move forward with the adventure.
As much as I enjoyed the first Off the Record game, This game was even better. The game has an excellent story and an air of mystery. Where Linden Shades was rustic, The Italian Affair is far more sophisticated. This game is a visual feast and it isn’t short as it took me two days to make my way through the adventure. Although I purchased the CE and loved every minute of the game, I recommend that you try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
When his sister is murdered, you must prove your nephew’s innocence!
Overall rating
5
/
5
126 of 158 found this review helpful
IMHO, Best Grim Tales of the Series
PostedMay 15, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
First things first, so let me say that I absolutely love the reality of this game and the way it is presented. I think that our friends at Elephant Games have topped themselves with this one. The game begins with a tragedy, the loss of your niece Elizabeth McGray, with her brother being charged in her murder. The adventure begins as you, a psychic detective and the aunt of James and Elizabeth, arrive at James’ trial. The game is presented in retrospective where you will be able to examine evidence and find clues within different scenes to provide insight to the court for use during the proceedings. Again, I must say that I love the way the game is presented. This game in the Grim Tales series is without a doubt my favorite.
The graphics are wonderful and so realistic. The characters finally are lip-synced and add so much to the power of this version in the Grim Tales series. It seems the creative team at Elephant has really stepped up their, ahem, game – lol. All joking aside, the sound track for the game is excellent and I am just thrilled to see one of my favorite developers present such a wonderful game.
On the lower right side of your screen right above the menu button you have a book that when clicked contains your diary and transporter type interactive map as well as other items.
As is the case in all games by this developer, we only seem to find the standard, slightly interactive list type which is okay with me. Sometimes the HOS in games become tedious because way too much interaction is required. The puzzles are not hard and some are a bit different but still doable if you take the time to think about them.
There are collectibles to find, achievements to earn and yes, we have morphing objects as well. Add in the remainder of the content and we have a CE worthy game.
As you can tell by my comments above, I love this game and for me it is an instant purchase. I was not thrilled with the last Grim Tales game so this is a wonderful and refreshing game. There will always be the few who show up and have nothing but negative things to say about almost every game that comes along, and to them I ask, why bother. I find that games are my favorite form of entertainment and I truly enjoy most games unless they are gruesome and what I consider to be horrid and, fortunately, those are few and far between. Thank you to Elephant Games for a wonderful addition to the Grim Tales series and kudos for your creativity – this is a wonderful game. As I mentioned earlier, Grim Tales the Vengeance is an instant buy for me but I always recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
The village of Lumina is in trouble! Defeat your challengers with the help of powerful spells, and find treasures in more than 10 hidden object scenes.
Overall rating
5
/
5
69 of 83 found this review helpful
A Wonderful Combo Type Game. What a Little Gem!
PostedMay 14, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Although my main love in games is the HOPA, every once in a while a game in another genre catches my attention and Mystika 2 The Sanctuary is one of those games. In my humble opinion, Mystika 2 has something to satisfy everyone. It is part builder, part HO, but mainly match 3.
The graphics are lovely, very colorful, and crisp. The music in the game itself is very repetitive but not too annoying if I keep the volume low. One of the things I liked is the beautiful voice of the narrator who sets the stage early in the game.
As we play through the game we build our sanctuary by earning money in the match 3 rounds. As is the case in these types of games the match 3s become progressively more difficult and challenging. While playing we build our reputation and renown and meet challenges from wizards or mages, so there is quite a bit of variety rather than just playing straight match 3 rounds. There is an option to play the game either in relaxed or timed mode and I chose relaxed. For those who want a more challenging game you can choose the timed mode. For me, I love that I can play without pressure in the relaxed mode.
All in all, Mystika 2 The Sanctuary is a lovely little game that I will give 5-stars. If you are looking for something different from the HOPA games, I suggest you try this fun combo type game. 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!
For adventurer Helen Stone, the biggest adventure is yet to come!
Overall rating
4
/
5
20 of 32 found this review helpful
Graphically Inferior BUT Excellent Fun and Gameplay
PostedMay 13, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Black Rainbow opens with a cutscene of a human sacrifice about to take place when a huge black comet of smoke appears on the scene. Initially we get the feel that the game is set in earlier times; however, when the adventure begins it becomes apparent that we are in fact in more modern times since we have a seaplane. Our home in the jungle is being attacked by angry warriors, and we must quickly escape in our seaplane that is anchored at our pier.
I found the graphics in Black Rainbow to be very grainy and foggy at times, particularly in the close-up scenes that seemed very oversized and fuzzy. Given some of the graininess in the graphics it made the game seem a bit dated. At other times the graphics were extremely crisp and clear, so we have a mixed-bag graphically. The sound is very good and that includes the voiceovers. Although there is no lip-syncing, it doesn’t make much difference since some of the top developers seem to be moving away from it as well. I hate to see characters stand in front of us as if we are communicating psychically with them as they stand around looking mute. Yes, I guess I have been spoiled over the last few years and have come to expect a lot more in terms of realistic characters in the games I play.
We find the standard tools in Black Rainbow which include a diary that contains several informational tabs, and an interactive map that shows where we have objectives. I found the hint system in this game to be excellent and when I was lost it proved very helpful.
Black Rainbow is more of an adventure type game than it is a hidden object game. During our adventure we do encounter some FROG scenes when we need to acquire certain items. Some items we can pick up at will as we move along but sometimes we will need to use items in our inventory when the FROG pop-up appears. As is the case with this game developer, we have a great amount of mini-games or puzzles as we travel on our adventure. I like the ones where we have to actually use our brains but not so much the ones that require a lot of dexterity with the mouse. I found some of the motion type puzzles very difficult to solve and ended up skipping them out of frustration.
Although the game is not a CE game, we collect “special” items during our adventure to earn and additional achievement.
Even though there were some fuzzy graphics and over all the graphics seem inferior, I still love this game because of the entertainment and gameplay factors. I have found that every game I have played from this developer is top-notch in entertainment value, and all of their adventures and the puzzles provide hours of stimulation. This game might not be for everyone but it is perfect for me and I highly recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
I recommend this game!
You've returned from school to visit your father at his famous Jazz Pepper Club during Mardi Gras, but everyone is hypnotized. Have they heard the wrong note?
Overall rating
5
/
5
11 of 24 found this review helpful
On of the Best Games This Year
PostedMay 11, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
All I can say is that this is one of the best games to come our way in quite some time. Cadenza Music Betrayal and Death, picks up the ambience of old New Orleans. Anyone who loves jazz would want to purchase this game if only for the soundtrack and nothing else. Aside from the wonderful music, there is a mystery here of betrayal amongst friends and of revenge - a mystery to be solved by a daughter bent on saving her father from the wrath of the dare I say it, “undead.”
The graphics are very good and depict the flavor of New Orleans circa 1930’s. The game has excellent graphics and very realistic voiceovers. I absolutely love the soundtrack for this game that takes me back to when I lived in the south and some of the wonderful sounds from Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Another bit of good news is that the “Improviser” gameplay selection has truly covered all the bases when it comes to customizing your gameplay choices.
You will find the usual tools but in a departure from what we normally expect, the HOPs are quite different. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun so I will only say that they are a bit different and sometimes challenging to figure out. It is so refreshing to have a game where we finally get to challenge our brains a bit.
Wow and more wow, I loved the CE version of the game, which I purchased and can highly recommend this as one of the best games of 2014. The game developers have created a game that is different from the norm and one that I hope satisfies a wider range of gamers. Bottom line is that I highly recommend Cadenza Music Betrayal and Death but as always, I recommend that you at least try the demo to see if this is a game you will like.
Your librarian friend wants your help as a journalist – he’s found an ancient book that is still unfinished. Can you save the world in the book before their story ends?
Overall rating
5
/
5
104 of 126 found this review helpful
The Enchanted Crown is a Wonderful and Enchanting Game
PostedMay 10, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
In the beginning cutscene we see an enchanted land where the dark mage Eldor takes over the kingdom, and to spare the life of the king’s servant he demands the enchanted crown that fortunately was magically hidden before Eldor appeared. You are a reporter and receive a call from an old friend telling you about an old book that could be a front page story. The book is about a place called Torelian and the enchanted crown that powers its world. He tells you that the book begins when the crown goes missing but the strange thing is that although the book is ancient it appears to be unfinished. Interested in seeing for yourself you take the book and flip through its pages but as you get to the end a fresh page appears and someone is asking for your help. Will you accept? As you write your answer on the book’s page, you are whisked away to a magical and enchanted land that seems similar to the one that “Alice” must have fallen into.
The graphics are excellent as is to be expected from ERS but they do often appear to have a fine mist over the scenes. It is interesting that when I met the king’s mother she seemed like a character from another ERS game - maybe Reveries. Since ERS created the original concept drawing, it is certainly their prerogative to reuse it in another game but I sure had a feeling of déjà vu. The game has voiceovers but ERS has reverted to the days of non-lip-synced characters. Maybe they have decided that with so many people complaining about their games, it isn’t worth it to go the extra mile. The music is pretty much the standard ERS signature but I tend to enjoy it. One of the interesting things about this game, and of course it goes with the storyline of an unfinished book, is that a magic pencil appears and changes some scenes as you approach, which I think is very clever and well done.
We have the standard set of tools, a diary that notes our progress through the game as well as an interactive map that shows where we have objectives to complete. There are no animal helpers or fuzzy companions in the game but as soon as we enter the book we meet Liev, the king’s faithful servant, who acts as our guide during the adventure.
There are the various types of interactive HOPs which, BTW, ERS was the first to introduce in HOPA games. In this game we have the standard interactive list type, as well as ones where we find so many of a specific item, silhouette type, and then the progressive silhouette where we need to think about what to do next. The puzzles are nothing new, at least in the demo of the game, but usually the puzzles do become a bit more difficult as the game progresses. Even though the puzzles in the demo were easy I did find them to be quite entertaining.
There is a lot of CE content in the game including collectibles and achievements along with some very interesting activities we can complete. Of course we have all the standard extras that we see in most CE games but, IMHO, this is a game that is very worthy of being a CE. Since I love the artwork scenes that ERS produces, the wallpapers are a definite plus in this game. Another thing I like is the Workshop in the extras section where I get to see photos of the ERS creative team. I think it is a great idea to include photos of the creative geniuses who bring to life the games that I love to play. ERS was the developer who first caught my attention many years ago when I started to play HOPA games and because of them I have spent many, many enjoyable hours.
I have to say that when I originally attempted to play the beta test for the game I might have had an off day because I didn’t like the game and thought it would not be very good game. However, upon replaying it a second time I found that I really enjoyed the game. For me Forgotten Books the Enchanted Crown was an instant purchase because I couldn’t wait to finish “writing” the book and restoring the kingdom of Torelion. I think this is one of the best ERS games to come along in a while and it definitely says that my favorite game developer is back. I can hear some of the critics now, who always have something negative to say about ERS games, and they are entitled to express their opinions as well, but something about the game caught my fancy and I am thoroughly enjoying the gameplay and the huge entertainment factor it provides. 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!
Set out with Bella in search of her brother through the pages of well-known novels and true stories.
Overall rating
2
/
5
47 of 56 found this review helpful
This Fable Should Be Forgotten
PostedMay 8, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Card & Board, Strategy, Marble Popper, Puzzle, Mahjong
In this game you play as Bella, and as the story begins (and I say story because this is definitely a HO game and not a true HOPA game) you are having nightmares about your brother Stan who is missing and you see that he has disappeared into and ancient book. Of course, you now know where to find him and off you go.
Although the graphics are very good they are rather old school and not exceptional. In fact there is nothing exceptional about the entire game only an old school HO game where we visit locations and complete scene, after scene, after scene. You get the idea – and unfortunately there is nothing exciting here. If you happen to like games that are HOS heavy, then this game may just be your cup of tea.
You have a diary or journal but I didn’t find it very helpful, it mainly just recaps your progress. What I did use all of the time, and that is because it is necessary to move around in the game, is the map.
The HOS are standard list or the type where you locate the object pictured in the bar somewhere in the scene. Very minimal interaction is required. You will find coins scattered throughout the game and they are in the HOS as well. There are mini puzzles but nothing exceptional.
I have no idea why this game was released as a CE because, IMHO, there is nothing CE worthy about it. The included SG is really unnecessary for gamers who are familiar with the genre.
Although I did purchase the game because I was bored today and had a good sale coupon, I would say don’t bother. I think the big disappointment may come when those of you who wait for the SE do not get the final chapter of the game that is included as the bonus chapter for this game. All in all, I cannot honestly say that this is more than a game to fill some time when there is nothing better to do. I can only recommend this game for beginners who might love it but for those of us who have seen and played some exceptional CE games, I would say don’t waste your time or money. I'm not going to rate the game as a 5-star game just to have my review posted first! 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!
Embark on your fantasy journey to distant lands and experience this new and exciting collection of mosaic puzzles through 100 custom built levels.
Overall rating
5
/
5
32 of 39 found this review helpful
Reaaly Good Griddler Type Game
PostedMay 6, 2014
biscuitsmama
fromSacramento, CA
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle, Mahjong
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
With nothing new on my plate to play today, I thought I would give this little game a try and have to say that I was quite impressed. I love every little thing about Fantasy Mosaics and can say that this game lives up to the standards and in many ways exceed what I love about the World Mosaics games.
One of the most important things about the griddler or pictogram puzzles, IMHO, is the ease of using the mouse to complete the puzzles. The development team for Fantasy Mosaics has done a terrific job in this respect and I find that the technical aspects of the puzzle are handled quite well. Some of the more recent griddlers are lackluster but this is quite a colorful little game. Another big plus for me is that there is no time limit to complete the puzzle. I can play at my leisure and enjoy every moment with no pressure - my ideal way to play.
IMHO, this is a five-star game and one I will enjoy playing often. Congratulations and kudos to the developers on an excellent game that I heartily recommend to my fellow gamers who are enamored of this type of puzzle game. Needless to say, this game is a definite purchase for me.
I recommend this game!