I've only played the demo so far, but I am ready to hop aboard the Royal Griffin and travel back to the 17th century! You are looking for a scepter to neutralize a mask stolen by the newest member of the Order of the Griffins which turned him into a bad guy. You have a heirloom brooch that becomes a key when combined with other items you find along the way. There are so many cut scenes -- all very good -- that you don't get very far in the demo. But they are necessary to explain what is going on. I've only solved a few puzzles, but they were interesting. The HOS are a bit cluttered and not up to the quality of the rest of the artwork. Not sure yet if I want to buy the CE or wait for the SE.
This is a unique game where the "rooms" are all part of Laura's dream as you search for pieces of her dreamcatcher to try to awaken her. Once you finish a section, you move on to another breathtaking graphic that represents another part of her dream/nightmare. There are no HOS, perhaps since Playrix normally does Time Management games but the puzzles are interesting and not too hard -- I haven't skipped any so far! The hint button is very helpful when needed and fills instantaneously. You are also looking for 100+ beholders that look like the "golden ball" in Harry Potter's quidditch but they aren't golden, with a number of them associated to each area. Overall, a very satisfying game.
I LOVE this game. Like the three previous games in this genre -- Gardenscapes, Mansion Makeover, and Farmscapes, you solve HOS to get $$$. In this case, you are fixing up the barn Grandpa just bought, and of course Tom the grandson comes along to help. As you make money, you buy flooring or stairs or a comfy chair. Ultimately, you want to buy a tractor. The HOS are of medium difficulty, and you can always use a butterfly hint to find something. The butterflies are replenishable by finding them in the next HOS. For a mindless game that gives you a break from the much harder Hidden Object mysteries, this provides a lot of fun and replayability.
Take a journey through medieval times. Help Joan of Arc to build a new kingdom and change the fate of the people in this epic story of honor and courage.
This review is only on the demo -- I haven't decided to buy yet or not. It is based on the same premise as the Cradle of Rome and Cradle of Persia, but not nearly as much fun. You basically make matches to get money to improve the village with houses, farms, sawmill, etc. But the improvements are only based on money, and it takes a while to gather enough $$$ to make the next improvement. It does have a timed and a relaxed mode, which I like, and allows three types of matches (swap, group or chain). It has the challenges of ice squares and boxes to break, as well as powerups of axe, bomb and more. I like this game -- I just wish it were more exciting!
The storyline for this game is unique, and is told through cut scenes as well as piece by piece as you work through the game. You must find 13 cards, and eliminate mythical beasts to get each card, which has a poem on it that enhances the storyline. It is a long game, but the interactive map allows you to jump to different locations so you don't have to trek all over the place. You don't need the strategy guide; the hint button tells you what to do next when stuck, and refreshes quickly. You also collect morphing pets along the way. The mixture of HOS and mini-games is good. You play a clever card game to "win". The bonus level adds a nice touch and is worth the price of the CE. Additionally, there are jigsaw-type puzzles of each mythical beast and a fun organ grinder mini-game as part of the CE. Well worth the price and the time!
Find the festivalgoer abducted by the gargoyles of Notre Dame and uncover the cathedral’s dark past in this reimagining of the Victor Hugo’s classic tale.
After playing the first "9" SE, I hurried to buy the sequel as a CE. This game is hard, even on the casual level, but quite enjoyable. The HOS are interactive, even including a "build an object" type of HOS. You have your own personal gargoyle who can fly, and you receive awards as you accomplish various tasks. The puzzles, however, are hard. I had to skip quite a few, not having the patience to try, try again. The hint button is very helpful, but I did have to use the strategy guide as well -- something I have not done on most previous CEs. The amulet and the hidden glyphs are back. It does seem like a continuation of the original "9", but is playable even if you did not play the first one. What a clever game!
Eerie music fills the air in Vienna, where shadows terrorize people in the streets. Two musical prodigies have gone missing. Can you save them without striking a single false note?
This is the first Maestro game I've played, but I immediately bought the first two as well. The third in the series has it all -- a great story, clever puzzles, instruments to collect with a reward at the end, and a bonus game that wraps everything up nicely. It has three modes of play, and the strategy guide is not really needed as the game play is rather straight forward. The puzzles are new and different but not too hard in casual mode. Some of the HOS are interactive, most are just lists. The hint button refreshes quickly, but doesn't give hints, just a pointer. Using a violin and music to solve different problems is new and refreshing. What a great game!
Soaring is the third in the Surface series of games and each one is different and not a prerequisite to the others. This is the latest and the best. The story is unique -- winged people living on an island in the sky! The hero is the inventor's brother who is pretty handy himself with fixing things and saving the day. The graphics are beautiful -- each scene is unique and well designed. There is even an interactive map to use to get around. The hint button tells you what to do next, so you don't need the strategy guide. However, the bonus level in the CE is worth the price. It extends the story and satisfies the need for a great ending. The puzzles are clever and not too hard and the HOGs are also interactive and require items from the inventory to complete. Altogether a most satisfying experience!
I recommend this game!
+3points
3of3voted this as helpful.
Agatha Christie: 4:50 from Paddington
Pack your bags . . . for murder. Join Agatha Christie’s famed sleuth, Miss Marple, in this classic whodunit Hidden Object game!
I am a big Agatha Christie fan and have played the other three games with Hercule Poirot and enjoyed them. This one is similar, with Miss Marple as the lead detective instead. The graphics are crisp and clear, and the game sites are faithful to the book. It is fun to discover each new site and search for items within each site. However, there are 11 chapters and by about chapter 8 or 9 there are no new sites and the game becomes repetitive. Having to revisit sites multiple times and search for the same items (sometimes) becomes an exercise just to finish the game, instead of enjoying it. I found myself using hints to find items just to move the game along.
You do get to guess three times as to who you think is guilty, and the story is quite good. Overall, I enjoyed the game but I wish the repetition could somehow be eliminated.
This is one of the most satisfying games I have played. The graphics are clean, the characters are well drawn, the voice overs are good. The puzzles are a nice mixture of HOG and interesting and different puzzles. The hint button is very helpful and refreshes quickly, so the Strategy Guide is not needed. However, the CE is worth it because the bonus adventure moves the game along nicely and provides a quite satisfying ending.