MSBAM100's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:4.7
- Helpful Votes:8,578
- Reviews Submitted:240
- First Review:January 11, 2013
- Most Recent Review:January 27, 2024
- Featured reviews0
Status:
A murderous figure in a red mask haunts the streets of a small French town, and the mayor needs your help to track him down. But you soon discover that the mysterious Red Masque might not be the real criminal…
Overall rating
5
/
5
9 of 12 found this review helpful
Who's the REAL villain here?
PostedApril 25, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This is the fifth game made from a Poe story, and it is quite satisfying with several new nuances. It does not seem to be quite as hard as previous games (perhaps I need to up my difficulty level from casual!) as I have not had to Skip a puzzle nor use the hint button much. I recommend the CE's of these games not so much for the strategy guide, but because the bonus levels fill in and advance the original story.
You are after a villain called the Red Masque, who is preying on the rich and the mayor's buddies. But the poor people consider him a hero and hate the mayor and the council, who seemed to have taxed them out of existence almost. So you get to help several of the poor, and receive a "Sphere of Guilt" afterwards that you place on Scales of Justice to help determine if the mayor or the Masque is the truly guilty.
Of course there is a map and a diary and even a camera that you can take pictures with. You have your own office where your cat lives and plays with the cat toys you discover. There are 14 awards you can achieve, and the mini-games are not too hard. The HOS are well-lit and include both interactive lists and the more challenging silhouette types as well. A definite buy, for many hours of fun.
I recommend this game!
A late-night subway ride takes a bizarre turn into a mystical cemetery. You have been summoned by a strange entity to free the cemetery’s lost souls. Will you succeed, or is this the end of the line?
Overall rating
5
/
5
54 of 73 found this review helpful
More Redemption!
PostedApril 18, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
This game is the fourth in the series, and the best one yet. You ride a train with your dog and three ghosts and of course wind up in the cemetery. Hina, the keeper of the cemetery keeps your dog until you help the three spirits get redemption. As before, there are 3 stories to solve. New additions include medals to collect for your dog -- 4 sets of 5 and you get to play a game with your dog. Also, the magic raven buddy you receive now not only flies, but digs and has powers of water and fire as well. You have to play a clever mini-game to "turn on" the power of each element. Of course there is the notebook, and the map, and the hint button that fills quickly. You still combine inventory items to make a new, more useful, item. Only one HOS in the demo, but the mini-games are fun. Your first ghost is a zookeeper, so there are lots of things to do at a zoo for the first story. ERS has done it again!
I recommend this game!
Purchase real estate, construct buildings, trade goods and run your competitors into the ground using maps of actual cities in Trade Mania 2!
Overall rating
4
/
5
14 of 15 found this review helpful
A Different Take on Monopoly
PostedApril 15, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
The demo kept my interest even though I did not get to finish the first level. I played against 2 virtual competitors, who seemed competent (although I was winning!). You buy properties, and then charge rent when your opponent lands on them. Also, you get to choose one of three upgrades -- factory, hotel or supermarket. Additionally, you can buy and sell goods at each site, whether you own it or not -- good for adding several $$$ to your balance. There is also a generous casino, plus you receive a yearly salary. Don't land on the taxes circle, however -- it took over half of my income. I think this is a buy, if only to see what happens next!
I recommend this game!
There's a dark force at work in Pilgrim's Hook. Return to your childhood home and save your twin brother from the evil that lives beneath the sea.
Overall rating
5
/
5
10 of 15 found this review helpful
Save Your Brother and the Town!
PostedApril 13, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Your twin brother Arthur has summoned you home to Pilgrim's Hook, the town where you were born, which seems to be accessible only by boat. What you don't know, is that Arthur is now one of the bad guy Castor's "soldiers of the sea." You must save Arthur and the town. The graphics are beautiful -- the ocean ride on the way to the town almost made me sea sick! There is an interactive map, and the HOS are of the find 4 mushrooms, 4 spiders, 4 frogs type, mixed with normal HOS. The mini-games are solvable without skipping. There are also 25 Castor's Creatures to find, and 15 different awards. One of my favorite items is the Hint button. You click it once, and it takes you back, back, back, automatically to wherever you need to be, and then points to the item you need to interact with -- all with the initial click. It also refills quickly. This is a great game with really realistic sea creatures -- a definite buy for me.
I recommend this game!
An ancient phoenix summons Anna to explore a drifting ocean city, confront the Evil Colossus and save her lost tribe.
Overall rating
3
/
5
5 of 13 found this review helpful
Puts you to sleep (like Anna!)
PostedApril 11, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
If I like the previous games, I usually hurry and buy the sequel. Unfortunately, this third entry in the Empress of the Deep series is not up to par. Even the cut scenes drag along. I actually found myself falling asleep while playing the demo! The artwork is not beautiful, and the HOS are cluttered and dark. There is a second type of HOS, which consists of circles containing background pictures that you must match into the original picture, which can be interesting or difficult, depending on the scene. Having a Match 3 game as the Bonus level does not encourage me to buy the CE. I even took a nap and tried it again, but again the story moved so slowly I couldn't even finish the demo.
I don't recommend this game.
Help your good old friend bring the family garden to bloom again in this brand new hit from Playrix!
Overall rating
5
/
5
109 of 129 found this review helpful
Welcome back, Aiden!
PostedApril 10, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
Gardenscapes 2 is very similar to Gardenscapes, except this time you are fixing up Aiden's parents' estate. Your dog is also back -- once you buy the doghouse, you can name him and Aiden will play with him. This game also has Relaxed Mode, and Sparkle Hints which you can turn on via the options menu, although it takes a while before anything "sparkles". You find extra hints when you find the question marks. You also are helped by a magnifying glass, a camera and thermometer, all of which help you quickly find items you are looking for. One difference is, you sometimes have to fix up a room before you can have a sale in it -- hang up a shelf, replace a leg on a cabinet, fix a railing. Another new item is a picture album that stores pictures of Aiden's early life -- quite a nice touch. I love these games, so I bought it right away! A nice, mindless change from all the adventure games.
I recommend this game!
Azada's saga continues when its precious elements are stolen!
Overall rating
5
/
5
19 of 23 found this review helpful
You've been "Chosen" to save Azada!
PostedApril 8, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
While there are three previous Azadas, I tried one a few years back and found it too hard. Either I've improved, or the game is better, but this one is quite good, even if you've never played the others. Panoptes has stolen the air, water and fire from Azada and you have been "Chosen" to save the day. The puzzles are different and challenging, but so far I have not needed help. The Hint Button is very helpful and refills quickly, which is good, because there are so many puzzles in each scene, it is easy to miss one. There is a map which tells you what you still need to complete in areas you have visited. You get a magic blue jar that lets you see special clues when it glows. It is also useful for watering plants and eliminating thorns and other things. You even get a "friend" who so far has not been very helpful (I changed him into a panda) but you earn coins so you can buy him a hat or scarf or mittens. The HOS are very interactive -- not cluttered, but clever. I am off to buy this, even as an SE.
I recommend this game!
Get ready for new adventures and unexpected twists in Book Two of the Adelantado Trilogy!
Overall rating
5
/
5
16 of 20 found this review helpful
Don Diego is finally back!
PostedApril 2, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
It has been sooooo long since Adelantando Book One arrived. Finally, Book Two is here. Our friend Don Diego must still send gold, save survivors and discover new territories. You still build gardens and foresters and granite mines and all the things you need to sustain your workers and meet the challenges. The new book has one GREAT improvement over the first one -- it has a Relaxed Mode for those of us who don't necessarily like to be rushed! Although I did manage to get Expert accomplishment on Chapters One and Two of Part 1. There are five parts in Part 1 and five parts in Part 2. And you get Awards! What fun! Off to buy it now.
I recommend this game!
A wonderful story of the citizens of Joyville. Can you change their destiny? You will see – nothing is impossible!
Overall rating
5
/
5
3 of 5 found this review helpful
The Spider Puppet is Back!
PostedMarch 28, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
This is the fifth PuppetShow game I've played and they've all been quite fun. You don't need to play the others, but you will probably want to. Father, the Puppet Master has once again disappeared and of course you have to find him. His study looks the same as in previous games -- same desk, some grandfather clock -- but the rest of the town appears different. You get a cute little red-headed spider puppet of your own as a helper to reach the items up high. I named mine George, then found out I got to create hats for him so you might want to give yours a girl's name! Anyway, the helper puppet gets all excited and hops around when there is something in the room for him to do, and gets quite sad when he fails to accomplish a task you give him -- a nice touch. The HOS are slightly interactive, but there are more mini-puzzles than HOS. The mini-puzzles have puppet themes, and at least two of them are about trains. The only annoyance is the inventory (called Tools) which is in the way when locked open but you have to click to see what is in it.
This is a definite buy!
This is a definite buy!
I recommend this game!
If you have enough courage to challenge the darkness, then you’ll manage to find out the mystery of the Rossolimo family.
Overall rating
5
/
5
4 of 5 found this review helpful
Third time's the charm!
PostedMarch 21, 2013
MSBAM100
fromTampa, FL
Skill Level:Intermediate
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Time Management
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love this series. Having played the first two, I thought I knew what to expect with this one. But it is even better than the previous two in the series. You do not have to have played the others -- this one stands alone. The evil brother Stefanos has escaped from his crypt and you must replace the energy lamp to capture him. This game has it all. The rooms change by changing the light -- you solve one thing in the past and it affects the present. The HOS are fantastic -- one lets you create a Rube Goldberg-like contraption that eventually coughs up a key for you to use. The puzzles are clever. Some HOS make you put items into the scene. Even the normal HOS are well organized, not jumbled, and make you find the final item instead of giving it to you. Enough said -- I'm off to buy this CE!
I recommend this game!