belamba's Profile
Stat Summary
- Average Rating:3.4
- Helpful Votes:6,536
- Reviews Submitted:161
- First Review:November 16, 2011
- Most Recent Review:April 4, 2019
- Featured reviews0
Status:
Alison Ester, insurance investigator, is responsible for leading the investigation in a dilapidated asylum with a grave and mysterious past.
Overall rating
1
/
5
55 of 68 found this review helpful
I'd give it zero if I could...
PostedOctober 21, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
1
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game is out of the ark! Sparkles everywhere, no mode options, huge eyes and feet to tell you to look here, or move there.
HOPs puzzles with items way too small to find, and zero interaction. Graphics humdrum, and no moving mouths so just text to read.
It's a basic 1990s HOG trying to be something else.
I couldn't stand more than 30 minutes, and I only kept going to see if it improved...it didn't!
The spelling mistakes were numerous.
Seems like something BFG found in a vault having been stored there for 3 decades, and dusted it off and gave it an airing.
I wouldn't even waste bandwidth d/l it...
HOPs puzzles with items way too small to find, and zero interaction. Graphics humdrum, and no moving mouths so just text to read.
It's a basic 1990s HOG trying to be something else.
I couldn't stand more than 30 minutes, and I only kept going to see if it improved...it didn't!
The spelling mistakes were numerous.
Seems like something BFG found in a vault having been stored there for 3 decades, and dusted it off and gave it an airing.
I wouldn't even waste bandwidth d/l it...
I don't recommend this game.
From the makers of the Rite of Passage series comes a ground-breaking new series that's as creepy as it gets.
Overall rating
5
/
5
35 of 38 found this review helpful
Best CE in a very long time....
PostedAugust 4, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
5
/
5
Level of Challenge
5
/
5
Storyline
5
/
5
I love all games that are creepy, and this didn't disappoint! Right from the start it made me jump, and its a game that I could replay as it was so much fun!
Had the four modes of play we've come to expect (including custom).
The HOPs were interesting (had morphing items but I didn't find many)! The puzzles were very different being part of the scene you were in.
The graphics were excellent, the music creepy, the characters were beautifully drawn and I just didn't want the game to end.
Would love more games of this calibre that don't have you looking for amulets, or making potions.
It was as though you were playing a horror movie, rather than just watching one. And it really had you thinking too, so good level of challenge!
Had the four modes of play we've come to expect (including custom).
The HOPs were interesting (had morphing items but I didn't find many)! The puzzles were very different being part of the scene you were in.
The graphics were excellent, the music creepy, the characters were beautifully drawn and I just didn't want the game to end.
Would love more games of this calibre that don't have you looking for amulets, or making potions.
It was as though you were playing a horror movie, rather than just watching one. And it really had you thinking too, so good level of challenge!
I recommend this game!
Adventure into the unknown to save a city from evil!
Overall rating
2
/
5
77 of 153 found this review helpful
Too repetitive...
PostedJuly 18, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Liked the graphics. HOPs nicely drawn and some needed interaction from the inventory list, but mainly same old list of junk with a little interaction.
You have an amulet (are there any HOGs without one these days??) that does various things like mending objects, lighting fires, grow things and so on.
No custom mode option, just the usual three options.
I got fed up with going back and forth between day and night scenes.
My main gripe is the puzzles. Very boring and nothing original, and the same ones kept being repeated. Just pleased when skip charged up, only to find same puzzle cropped up again.
There was far too much repetition in this game, and I quit after 45 minutes of the trial as I just couldn't find any fun element to it.
You have an amulet (are there any HOGs without one these days??) that does various things like mending objects, lighting fires, grow things and so on.
No custom mode option, just the usual three options.
I got fed up with going back and forth between day and night scenes.
My main gripe is the puzzles. Very boring and nothing original, and the same ones kept being repeated. Just pleased when skip charged up, only to find same puzzle cropped up again.
There was far too much repetition in this game, and I quit after 45 minutes of the trial as I just couldn't find any fun element to it.
I don't recommend this game.
Solve logic puzzles and search for important artifacts to challenge the evil force that occupies the mansion grounds.
Overall rating
4
/
5
79 of 101 found this review helpful
Liked this game the more I played it...
PostedJune 2, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
4
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
3
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Finding this game charming although it has a lot of flaws. The English is dire, and in some HOPs you won't know what it is your supposed to be looking for. A 'bundle' is a knot and something else I'd never heard of turned out to be a ball of wool.
The VO is in another language #don't know what it was, there is also a cute little guy who speaks who knows what, and isn't supposed to be a language, but sounds just like the VO :-#
The graphics are nice, no map but a diary. The sounds are creepy.
If you press the hint button #there's two modes of play so I chose sparkle free one# just to know what to do next it has to then be refilled. A pain when you don't know where you're supposed to be, and have to wait for it to take a step forward, wait for refill, then step forwards...
The puzzles are pretty simple and can be skipped #skip is in a bar on puzzle screen#. Annoyingly you can't skip the things you have to build, and the help isn't much good so you have to work it out. Twice I thought game had glitched, but I'd not spotted a piece I needed which was cleverly hidden.
I used a PCV to buy it.
You'll love it or hate it. Give it the whole trial before making your minds up though, as it does get better!
The VO is in another language #don't know what it was, there is also a cute little guy who speaks who knows what, and isn't supposed to be a language, but sounds just like the VO :-#
The graphics are nice, no map but a diary. The sounds are creepy.
If you press the hint button #there's two modes of play so I chose sparkle free one# just to know what to do next it has to then be refilled. A pain when you don't know where you're supposed to be, and have to wait for it to take a step forward, wait for refill, then step forwards...
The puzzles are pretty simple and can be skipped #skip is in a bar on puzzle screen#. Annoyingly you can't skip the things you have to build, and the help isn't much good so you have to work it out. Twice I thought game had glitched, but I'd not spotted a piece I needed which was cleverly hidden.
I used a PCV to buy it.
You'll love it or hate it. Give it the whole trial before making your minds up though, as it does get better!
I recommend this game!
How much is the famous Liberty Stone worth? A life?
Overall rating
3
/
5
94 of 129 found this review helpful
Boring...
PostedMay 30, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
It's like Groundhog Day as this game nigh on identical to their CE released 2 days ago!
Same everything except stoyline.
4 modes of play including custom.
Collectables, morphing objects in HOPs, map and journal.
HOPs too frequent and wholly boring, there are way better HOPs out there these days. These just feel like a space filler, and similar to what we got 5 years ago.
Puzzles are the same old such as join the numbers with wires. Once again drawing lines around various shaped insignia.
Graphics blurry and music a bit monotonous.
I used to love these devs, but lately their games are bland. Maybe they are just making too many, or I've just I've come to expect better these days.
Same everything except stoyline.
4 modes of play including custom.
Collectables, morphing objects in HOPs, map and journal.
HOPs too frequent and wholly boring, there are way better HOPs out there these days. These just feel like a space filler, and similar to what we got 5 years ago.
Puzzles are the same old such as join the numbers with wires. Once again drawing lines around various shaped insignia.
Graphics blurry and music a bit monotonous.
I used to love these devs, but lately their games are bland. Maybe they are just making too many, or I've just I've come to expect better these days.
I don't recommend this game.
A reclusive star's darkest secrets are coming to light.
Overall rating
3
/
5
56 of 78 found this review helpful
Just couldn't enjoy this game...
PostedMay 28, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
4
/
5
I have all the others in the series, and I enjoyed those, but this was slow, dull and far too linear. Graphics blurry, music monotonous and just generally boring.
There are morphing objects in HOPs, and there's far too many HOPs. Puzzles a bit same old, and easy to solve them. Some collectable but I really didn't find them interesting enough to collect them
Welcome 'custom' mode, and even having set it to no helpful messages etc, it was all too easy.
Not enough to do in each scene either. Just seemed to finish a scene in minutes, and in next room you find what you need in room before. A no buy for me. I like fun games, and colourful games and this was neither sadly.
I don't recommend this game.
Could your little boy be the child of prophecy?
Overall rating
2
/
5
107 of 141 found this review helpful
Worst CE I've ever played..
PostedMay 23, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
1
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
2
/
5
Level of Challenge
2
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
This game failed for me in many areas. The graphics were blurry and grainy, the music drove me nuts (a very short loop - I turned it off which is something I've never done before) and game play very linear.
Took half the trial to figure out what the collectables were (red tissue shape I think), and when I did they weren't worth looking for as boring.
The storyline is the same old...
The HOPs were ok, but again blurry and the items you needed were hard to see.
There were four modes of play including custom (which I always choose), but one custom option was sparkles everywhere for everything 'or' no sparkles at all, so no way of knowing where the HOPs were. The hint was a dragonfly which flew to what you needed.
Had the feel of a boring old SE turned into a CE by adding an SG and collectables.
I only lasted 45 minutes playing the trial and was thoroughly bored.
I buy almost all CEs, but wouldn't want this one for free.
Took half the trial to figure out what the collectables were (red tissue shape I think), and when I did they weren't worth looking for as boring.
The storyline is the same old...
The HOPs were ok, but again blurry and the items you needed were hard to see.
There were four modes of play including custom (which I always choose), but one custom option was sparkles everywhere for everything 'or' no sparkles at all, so no way of knowing where the HOPs were. The hint was a dragonfly which flew to what you needed.
Had the feel of a boring old SE turned into a CE by adding an SG and collectables.
I only lasted 45 minutes playing the trial and was thoroughly bored.
I buy almost all CEs, but wouldn't want this one for free.
I don't recommend this game.
Team up with the Red Riding Hood Sisters to defeat the nightmares!
Overall rating
3
/
5
31 of 42 found this review helpful
Usually love this series but...
PostedMay 21, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Match 3, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
4
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Have all the Dark Parables games, like BlueTea devs, and usually buy their games.
Some way into the trial I discovered that there were some morphing objects and Fleur-de-Lys to collect in each scene. Hadn't seen them in earlier scenes, but you can back track to places that have been completed as they still available on the map!
Way too many similar looking items in inventory. Played custom mode (always welcome) and clicked off most help except the tasks available on the map and fast tracking to them.
I've never had to use a map so much as I did in this game. Couldn't even progress using the map at times as needed a hint to know there was an inventory item that now had the necessary part to complete the + items.
HOPs have moved on a lot of late, and found this FROG a bit boring.
Maybe I've just become a bit tired of same old HOPAs, but I don't think so as I still buy a fair number of them.
Some way into the trial I discovered that there were some morphing objects and Fleur-de-Lys to collect in each scene. Hadn't seen them in earlier scenes, but you can back track to places that have been completed as they still available on the map!
Way too many similar looking items in inventory. Played custom mode (always welcome) and clicked off most help except the tasks available on the map and fast tracking to them.
I've never had to use a map so much as I did in this game. Couldn't even progress using the map at times as needed a hint to know there was an inventory item that now had the necessary part to complete the + items.
HOPs have moved on a lot of late, and found this FROG a bit boring.
Maybe I've just become a bit tired of same old HOPAs, but I don't think so as I still buy a fair number of them.
I recommend this game!
Haunted Legends: The Dark Wishes Collector's Edition
Restore the threads of Fate, before they cause a disaster!
Overall rating
3
/
5
63 of 70 found this review helpful
Usually love Ers games but.........
PostedMay 7, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure, Card & Board
Fun Factor
3
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
4
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
3
/
5
Having bought the game, I then regretted it.
This has to be one of the laziest games ever developed.
Collectables (a pigeon - cursor turns to a hand so no skill finding it).
Although not a huge amount of HOPs, when there was one you quickly got same HOP again but hunting for different items.
Always welcome a 'custom mode' along with the usual casual, expert and hard core.
The game was far too short. Without skipping anything all done within 3 hours (including bonus chapter).
Talking of bonus chapter, it was ok but only took 30 minutes to complete it.
Collectables (a pigeon - cursor turns to a hand so no skill finding it).
Although not a huge amount of HOPs, when there was one you quickly got same HOP again but hunting for different items.
Always welcome a 'custom mode' along with the usual casual, expert and hard core.
The game was far too short. Without skipping anything all done within 3 hours (including bonus chapter).
Talking of bonus chapter, it was ok but only took 30 minutes to complete it.
Puzzles same old, same old. Nothing innovative at all.
Game was weirdly interspersed with a staff that asked you to find this, that or the other. No skill needed, one ginormous item per scene!
My real negative is that it was the most 'linear' game play I've ever come across in a CE. Map shows scenes finished, and really all you need to move forwards in this game is in the scene you are in, and/or a step back, a step forwards and scene finished.
I loved the others in this series, and am a big fan of ERs games but feel I was sold short on this one.
I don't recommend this game.
Flower Fiesta, a colorful match 3 adventure that gives you a chance to travel the world planting flowers and creating beautiful gardens!
Overall rating
2
/
5
27 of 34 found this review helpful
This game was just so boring....
PostedApril 28, 2015
belamba
fromPoole, Dorset UK
Skill Level:Expert
Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Card & Board, Puzzle
Fun Factor
2
/
5
Visual/Sound Quality
3
/
5
Level of Challenge
1
/
5
Storyline
2
/
5
I love M3 games, and there's some great flower ones out there, but this game won't be added to the list.
There's no timer that I could see, and it took several goes to understand the mechanics of the game.
Your'e swapping a seed held in a hand, to make a match of 3 or more with other similar tiles on the board.
Within milli seconds you've a tile jiggling around to tell you what move to make. After 4 rounds of this I quit.
Lots of power-ups and you're supposed to be able to collect building stuff for the garden, but I couldn't have cared as it was too annoying being given the moves over and again....
It looked and felt like an old game. All very basic
There's no timer that I could see, and it took several goes to understand the mechanics of the game.
Your'e swapping a seed held in a hand, to make a match of 3 or more with other similar tiles on the board.
Within milli seconds you've a tile jiggling around to tell you what move to make. After 4 rounds of this I quit.
Lots of power-ups and you're supposed to be able to collect building stuff for the garden, but I couldn't have cared as it was too annoying being given the moves over and again....
It looked and felt like an old game. All very basic
I don't recommend this game.